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Hello everyone! Today I’m going to start suggesting one of the many Torpedo boats Israel operated.
We’re starting of with this one, the Meulan 85ft Diesel-class Motor Torpedo Boat, INS Tachmas (T-206) (1957).
Source: File:Str206.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
History
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Source: File:Tsqd914.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
The story of the boats bought by Israel from the French Meulan company is quite interesting. In the late 40’s, early 50’s, it was very hard for Israel to buy fully armed vessels from any other country due to restrictions being put on deals like that. And so many ships were bought stripped of all their weaponry and Israel then added their own weapons to them, which led to some very unique modifications of foreign ships.
But there was always demand for a way to buy armed ships, and in comes the French Meulan company. Meulan had only built private yachts and never did anything that included armed militairy vessels. This made it so that they didn’t have any restrictions placed on them regarding the rules for selling armed vessels to other countries. Meulan was given one of the Israeli boats they bought of the British Power Boat Company, and they examined the boat and set out to create their own with some improvements. And so Meulan created their 85 foot Motor Torpedo Boats for Israel.
Meulan would sell a total of six of these boats to Israel. The first four being powered by Junkers Jumo Gasoline engines, and the last two having Napier-Deltic Diesel engines.
INS Tachmas originally had the Gasoline engines fitted. But due to an explosion, which severely damaged the ship, she was send back to the Meulan dockyard for repairs. You can read more about her during this time here: Meulan 85ft Gasoline-class Motor Torpedo Boat, INS Tachmas (T-206) (1950)
While the ship was being repaired, it was decided to not use the Junkers Jumo Gasoline engines again, but instead new Napier-Deltic Diesel engines were added instead. Two of these Napier-Deltic engines were added, which produced about 2500 horsepower. Aside from the deafening sound these engines made, their installation inside the boat was a big succes. And it wouldn’t be long before Israel would order two more of these boats with the Napier-Deltic engines for the torpedo boat fleet.
Tachmas would return to Israeli service in 1957.
There were more interesting features added to the ship, but if I have to describe it all we’re going to be here for awhile.
INS Tachmas had kept her original weaponry, but the location of the turrets was swapped, and two 12.7mm machine guns were added to the side of the bridge. Also the two torpedo tubes were removed and replaced with more simple torpedo launchers that just dropped the torpedo to the side of the ship instead of launching it forward.
Specifications
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Displacement: 62 tons
Length: 85,3 feet (26 meters)
Breadth: 20,7 feet (6,31 meters)
Draught: 5 feet (1,52 meters)
Machinery: 2 x Napier-Deltic Diesel engines
Max speed: 42 knots (78 km/h)
Complement: 16
Armament:
1 x 1 40 mm Bofors Mark VII
1 x 1 20 mm Oerlikon Flak 29
2 x 1 12.7 mm M2
2 x 1 17.7" (450 mm) F5W Torpedoes
Well that is all for this little boat. Many more suggestions like these to come in the future!
See you on the battlefield!
Source: File:MTB206TorpedosShimshonCrane.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
Sources
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Main source:
https://www.amutayam.org.il/?CategoryID=590&ArticleID=1037Secondairy source:
https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/שייטת_הטרפדות