- 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 the second Motor Torpedo Boat class operated by the Netherlands Navy.
This is the TM 4-class!
HNLMS TM 5 going at speed
Source: Foto's
History
Spoiler
During the 1930’s the Dutch navy in the Dutch East Indies started to expand their Motor Torpedo Boat fleet. The first ships of this type were the four TM I-class boats. These were made around 1928, but ofcourse only four boats wouldn’t be enough. That is when the TM 4-class came around, and dispite them being rather simple and basic torpedo boats, they are quite interesting since they are mostly made of outdated left over parts.
Two photos taken of HNLMS TM 5, 6 and 8
Source: Foto's
Source: Foto'sThe Dutch had quite a lot of outdated equipment in the East Indies. The equipment important to us are the outdated Dornier Wal and Fokker T.4 aircraft, and the decomissioned Wolf-class destroyers.
The Lorraine Dietrich engines used on the Dornier Wal and Fokker T.4 aircraft were getting old and required more maintenance to keep running. This was no longer suitable for the airforce, but for Naval use the engines might still be of some use.
And the decomissioned Wolf-class destroyers still had functional 45cm torpedoes which would be a waste to throw away.
Combine the engines of the aircraft and the torpedoes of the destroyers onto a small boat hull and you get the TM 4-class! The total number of TM 4-class boats made is 18. They were given the names TM 4 up to TM 21. According to the “Marine-torpedodienst 1875-2000” book by J.M. Mohrmann, three of the boats (TM 12, 13 and 14) didn’t have torpedo tubes fitted. Instead they had depth charges.
The boats of this class were all built around 1940. Sadly the boats didn’t see much action afterwards. Most were just used for patrol duties.
When Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies the TM 4-class boats were scuttled by her own crews to avoid capture. The Japanese would raise them back out of the water again and repair them around 1943. They would then be taken back into service and were given the names “Gyoraitei No. 102 up to 120”. Most of the boats would meet their end due to allied attacks that destroyed them.
HNLMS TM 5 going at full speed and firing a torpedo
Source: Foto's
Design
Spoiler
The TM 4-class boats were 19,2 metres long, had a beam of 4,3 metres and a draft of 1,4 metres, and displaced 17,5 tons. They had a crew of 6 men and were able to reach a top speed of 36 knots.
The boats were powered by three 450 hp Lorraine Dietrich 12E engines taken of outdated Dutch Dornier Wal and Fokker T.4 aircraft.
The TM 4-class were armed with two 450mm torpedoes. The torpedoes used were the Whitehead Type II 150 (Also known as Type II 45). This torpedo had a 85 kg TNT warhead, and a range of 1.000 meters at 40 knots, and a rage of 3.000 meters at 28 knots.
These torpedoes were taken of the old Wolf-class destroyers that were taken out of service by then. The torpedoes were mounted in torpedo tubes at the rear of the boat. These tubes were mounted on a mount that could swivel very slightly, but were not able to fire directly forwards.
The crew of HNLMS TM 5 working on a torpedo
Source: Foto'sThe boats also had a “7,7mm No. 1 dubbel” machine gun mount at the front, this is a twin 7,7mm Lewis machine gun mount.
The 7,7mm No. 1 dubbel mounting as seen on HNLMS TM 5
Source: Foto'sOne final thing I have spotted whilst looking at photos of the TM 4-class is the use of depth charge racks. On the photo below we clearly see one of the racks on the rear of the HNLMS TM 6. I have not found any other photos of a TM 4-class boats with torpedoes and depth charges so it’s unclear how common this was. But it’s still something cool to mention for the TM 4-class.
HNLMS TM 6, a sister ship of TM 5, equipped with a depth charge rack at the stern
Source: Foto's
Ingame
Spoiler
With the most recent changes made in the Major Update “Hornet’s Sting”, this boat would no longer be viable as a reserve boat ingame. In the “Hornet’s Sting” update many of the weaker, only machine gun armed, reserve boats have been hidden and replaced by more powerfull counterparts.
The TM 4-class is just like the boats that have been hidden in this update.
Should that ever change then the TM 4-class would ofcourse be just a reserve boat. All round the TM 4-class is a very basic design for torpedo boats, and from an ingame point of view one of the weakest onces. But when looking at it from a independent Dutch or BeNeLux techtree perspective the TM 4-class would be a nice addition to start the coastal tree with.
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.
Specifications
Spoiler
Standard: 17,5 tons
Length: 19,2 m
Beam: 4,3 m
Draft: 1,4 m
Powerplant: 3 x 450 hp Lorraine Dietrich 12E engines
Maximum speed: 36 knots (66,7 km/h)
Crew: 6 menArmament:
1 x 2 7.62 mm Lewis machine guns
2 x 450 mm torpedo launchers firing Whitehead Type II 150 torpedoes
Depth charge racks could also be installed at the stern
HNLMS TM 7
Source: Foto's
And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed reading about this little boat.
See you on the battlefield!
Sources
Spoiler
History and information:
Extra sources:
- “Marine-torpedodienst 1875-2000” book, by J.M. Mohrmann
- TM-4 class motortorpedoboat
Photos: