- 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 specific boat of the MTB 202-class used by the Netherlands Navy.
This is the HNLMS Valk (MTB 204)!
HNLMS Valk (MTB 204) in 1943
Source: Foto's
History
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HNLMS Valk (MTB 204) in the harbour of Dover 1942, before receiving her refit
Source: Foto'sThe HNLMS Valk (Meaning Falcon) was a boat of the MTB 202-class motor torpedo boat. These are British White 73-feet boats in Dutch service. HNLMS Valk had the MTB number 204, and it was part of the 9th MTB Flotilla. This flotilla was originally a British and Dutch crewed flotilla, but in 1943 it was decided that it would become fully crewed by Dutch crews. HNLMS Valk was one of nine boats in service in this flotilla.
The reason I’m suggesting HNLMS Valk specifically here is because unlike her two other sister ships of the same class, we’ve got photos of her with additional guns which were added during a refit around 1943.
The 9th MTB Flotilla carried out all kinds of different missions in the English Channel. Convoy protection, minelaying, bringing spies to German occupied coasts, and harassing enemy shipping in the channel were all things the boats did during the war.
As far as HNLMS Valk is concerned we actually don’t know what exact missions she carried out and if she sank any enemy ships. The only thing I do know is that when her sister ship HNLMS Arend (MTB 203) ran into a German mine in 1944, it was HNLMS Valk who would rescue the crew and take them to safety.
At then end of 1944 HNLMS Valk was taken out of service and put in reserve. It was after the war in 1946 when she was sold.
HNLMS Valk (MTB 204) whilst on patrol
Source: Foto's
Design
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HNLMS Valk (MTB 204) was 22,25 metres long, had a beam of 5,9 metres and a draft of 1,6 metres, and displaced 35 tons. She had a crew of 17 men and was able to reach a top speed of 39 knots.
The boat was powered by three 1.120 hp petrol engines.
She was armed with two 533mm torpedo tubes firing Mark VIII** torpedoes. These torpedoes had a TNT warhead size 327 kg, and a range of 4.570 meters at 45,5 knots, and a range of 6.400 meters at 41 knots.
Originally the boats was only armed with a single twin 12,7mm Mark V machine gun turret. But somewhere in 1943 she went through a small refit which would add more guns to her.
First was a 20mm Oerlikon autocannon added in front of the bridge together with some thin shielding around the mount to protect the crew a bit from the elements.
Another addition was two twin 7,92mm Vickers GO machine guns added to each side of the boat.The two depth charge racks which the boat had on each side were kept during this refit.
Ingame
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HNLMS Valk would be an nice addition to the game in my opinion. Unlike her sister ships of the MTB 202-class, HNLMS Valk with her additional guns can be put at a higher BR, which would be excellent to fill the 1.7 - 2.0 BR range. And the torpedoes this class has are excellent and can even still be used in much higher ranking battles.
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 HNLMS Valk might give some people a feeling of Déjà vu. That is because the French MTB-96 is of the exact same class as the HNLMS Valk. And on top of that the weaponry on MTB-96 is also an exact copy of HNLMS Valk. The only difference is that visually the HNLMS Valk has that thin protected sheet around the front 20mm autocannon.
When looking at the French MTB-96 and the Dutch HNLMS Valk, I think the Valk would be a perfect premium boat in the French tree. It’s pretty much exactly the same as the boat in the tree (which also happens to be a fun boat to play ingame), only now we get to add it as a Dutch boat with premium benefits. Which is also nice considering France has no Rank II premium boat at the momeny I’m writing this suggestion (3rd of June 2025).
Specifications
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Displacement: 35 tons
Length: 22,25 m
Beam: 5,9 m
Draft: 1,6 m
Powerplant: 3 x 1.120 hp petrol engines
Maximum speed: 39 knots (72,23 km/h)
Crew: 17 menArmament: (1943 refit)
1 x 1 20 mm Mark II autocannon in a Mark V mounting
1 x 2 12,7 mm Mark III machine guns in a Mark V mounting
2 x 2 7,92 mm Vicker GO machine guns
2 x 533 mm torpedo launchers firing Mark VIII** torpedoes
2 x Depth charge racks with one on each side of the boat
HNLMS Valk (MTB 204) at the British coast in 1943
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:
- “Marine-torpedodienst 1875-2000” book, by J.M. Mohrmann
- MTB 202-class motortorpedoboats
Photos: