Fairmile D motor torpedo boat
The Fairmile D motor torpedo boat was a type of British motor torpedo boat (MTB) and motor gunboat (MGB) designed by Bill Holt and conceived by Fairmile Marine for the Royal Navy. Nicknamed "Dog Boats", they were designed to combat the known advantages of the German E-boats over previous British coastal craft designs. They were bigger than earlier MTB or motor gunboat (MGB) designs (which were typically around 70 feet) but slower, at 30 knots compared to 40 knots. Boats The first twelve boats were ordered on 15 March 1941, becoming MGB 601 to MGB 612. The prefix was altered from "MGB" to "MTB" in September 1943. Another 28 boats were ordered on 27 April 1941, as MGB 613 to MGB 616, and ML 617 to ML 640, although the MLs were quickly reclassed as MGBs. All (except early losses 622 , 631 and 639) were reclassed as "MTB" in September 1943. Eight of these were handed over to the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1942. A further 60 boats were ordered on 18 November 1941, numbered from 641 up to 700, some with the "ML"prefix, others as "MGB" or "MTB", although all survivors later became "MTB". However, from No. 697