- Yes.
- No.
- In a future Dutch/BeNeLux techtree.
- In the French BeNeLux sub-tree
- Other (Please explain in the comments).
- I said “No” in the first question.
Today I’m going to suggest a unique British boat of the Netherlands Navy operated.
This is the British Power Boat 72 feet-class, HNLMS MGB 114!
HNLMS MGB 114
Source: Foto's
History
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HNLMS MGB 114
Source: Foto'sThe MGB 114 was part of the British Power Boat 72 feet-class Motor GUN Boat. It’s very important to point out the Gun part here because the British Power Boat company was making the 72 feet boats in two different types. There was the Motor Gun Boat version, and there was the Motor Torpedo Boat version.
MGB 114 would be ordered on the 12th of Februari 1942, and would be finished on the 24th of December 1942. She would not be operated by the British, instead she went straight to Dutch service on the 29th of December 1942, and she would keep the original name.
In Dutch service the HNLMS MGB 114 was part of the 9th MGB Flotilla till early 1944. At that point things get very confusing. One source says that she went to the new Dutch 2nd MTB Flotilla, where she was fitted with torpedo tubes. But I have no proof of this ever being fitted to the boat.
The source continues to say that she was then renamed to HNLMS MTB 433. But when looking at photos of the MTB 433 it is not the same boat. The MTB 433 is a British Power Boat 72 feet-class Motor TORPEDO Boat, the hull is not the same as the MGB 114 which was made as a Motor Gun Boat.
Pretty much all other sources I look at say the same thing, the HNLMS MGB 114 was turned into the HNLMS MTB 433. But as stated before, both ships have different hulls, they are not the same.
My best explanation is that what actually happend is that the HNLMS MGB 114 was replaced by the HNLMS MTB 433. What exatly happend to HNLMS MGB 114 after this is unknown. What we do know is that it’s very likely that the boat managed to return to Dutch service at some point. She would continue to serve the Dutch Navy untill 1955. Her weaponry and role was changed a lot, but she was used mostly as a patrol boat. She was also renamed at this time to HNLMS Jachthond (Hunting Dog).
HNLMS MGB 114 in the English channel
Source: Foto's
Design
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HNLMS MGB 114 was 21,95 metres long, had a beam of 6,27 metres and a draft of 1,53 metres, and displaced 37 tons. She had a crew of 12 men and was able to reach a top speed of 40 knots.
The boat was powered by three 1.350 hp Packard engines.
[u]She were armed with a single 40mm Mark VIII “Pom-pom” autocannon at the front of the boat. This gun was mounted in a Mark XV mounting.
Three crew members sitting in front of the 40mm Mark VIII autocannon, 1943
Source: Foto'sFurthermore she was armed with a twin 20mm Oerlikon Mark V mount at the rear, which was placed on this elevated position giving it excellent firing angles.
A photo taken of HNLMS MGB 114 whilst Prince Bernhard came for a visit in 1943. This photo gives us an excellent view of the rear 20mm Mark V turret
Source: Foto'sLastly HNLMS MGB 114 was also armed with two twin 7,92mm Vickers GO machine guns. These were placed on either side of the bridge.
A closeup photo taken of the bridge of HNLMS MGB 114. On the side we see one of the twin Vicker GO machine gun mounts
Source: Foto'sThe final bit of weaponry onboard were two depth charge mounts, with one on either side of the boat.
Ingame
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HNLMS MGB 114 would just be a cool addition to the game. She’s all round just a normal MGB. The 40mm together with the twin 20mm autocannons will make quick work of any enemy small boats. However when going up against anything bigger it does become a problem due to the lack of torpedoes.
Now where should these boats go to? As usualy with my Dutch vehicle suggestions, I ofcourse want to see this ingame in a Dutch or BeNeLux techtree. Ofcourse the BeNeLux has been added to France, so this is now the only option where Dutch vessels will go to. But it must be said that the Netherlands and France have nothing in common, and do not make sense to combine together ingame.
In the French tree the HNLMS MGB 114 would be a good addition because it’s strictly a motor gunboat. France only has one motor gunboat in their coastal tree right now (The VTB-13), so adding the HNLMS MGB 114 would add another fun boat like it, and also MGB 114 has a 40mm autocannon at the front so it’s quite a lot more powerfull then the French VTB-13.
We actaully have a sister ship of the HNLMS MGB 114 already in the game. It’s the British premium MGB-75. So if you want to know how this boat would perform ingame, then give that one a go.
Specifications
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Displacement: 37 tons
Length: 21,95 m
Beam: 6,27 m
Draft: 1,53 m
Powerplant: 3 x 1.350 hp Packard engines
Maximum speed: 40 knots (74 km/h)
Crew: 12 menArmament:
1 x 1 40 mm Mark VIII in a Mark XV mounting
1 x 2 20 mm Oerlikon autocannons in a Mark V mounting
2 x 2 7,92 mm Vicker GO machine guns
2 x Depth charge racks, with one on each side of the boat
HNLMS MGB 114 whilst on patrol
Source: Foto's
And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed reading about this little boat.
See you on the battlefield!
Sources
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History and information:
Extra sources:
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