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All auctions / Medals, Arms & Armor / A scale model of the Royal Navy Fairmile D Class Motor Torpe...
A scale model of the Royal Navy Fairmile D Class Motor Torpedo Boat 652, scale ½in to one foot and built by the Constructive Department (MCD) Chatham, of painted wood in glazed mahogany case, case 53cmh; 35 x 159cm Sold on behalf of the Birmingham Vernon Sea & Royal Marine Cadets Charity HMS MTB 652 was a 115-foot "Dog Boat" Fairmile D-class Motor Torpedo Boat built for the Royal Navy during World War II. Built by S. B. Hall in Glampton, England, and commissioned in January 1943, she served in the English Channel, survived the war, and was sold for civilian use in October 1945. Design & Specifications Class: Fairmile D Length: 115 ft (35 m) Speed: 31 knots Propulsion: Four Packard V12 4M-2500 petrol engines Armament: Heavy and highly adaptable, featuring a 6-pounder gun, Oerlikon cannons, machine guns, and two 18-inch torpedo tubes Operational History Conception: The Fairmile D design was developed as an answer to the German E-boats. Their prefabricated, mass-produced kit-style assembly allowed them to be constructed in dozens of small yards across Britain. Active Service: Operating primarily in the English Channel and the North Sea, MTB 652 was part of the 31st Flotilla. She frequently conducted night raids and offensive patrols against German naval assets, including armed trawlers and E-boats. Notable Engagements: War Diaries from May 1943 document MTB 652 engaging heavily armed German vessels in the English Channel, firing torpedoes and maintaining heavy cannon fire against the enemy despite returning fire. Famous Patrols: In 1943, she was famously photographed on patrol in the English Channel by photographer Hans Wild, capturing a moment as a 21-inch torpedo was lowered onto the deck for a LIFE Magazine archive. The commanding officer of HMS MTB 652 throughout the height of its World War II service was Temporary Lieutenant Geoffrey William Claydon, RNVR. He took command on the day she was commissioned, 25 January 1943, and remained her skipper until mid-1945. Another documented crew member who braved the Channel patrols aboard this boat was Sydney Ronald Kirk. The most well-documented tactical patrol involving MTB 652 occurred on the night of 19–20 September 1943 off the Dutch coast near Ijmuiden, operating under the command of the Commander-in-Chief, Nore. MTB 652 sailed as part of a joint offensive strike unit composed of six "Dog Boats" from the 31st and 17th Flotillas, hunting German enemy supply convoys. The unit included: 31st Flotilla: MTB 617 (the lead boat), MTB 621, and MTB 652 17th Flotilla: MGB 606, MGB 610, and MGB 612 1. The Initial Clash The unit intercepted a German convoy and immediately engaged two heavily armed German trawlers, severely damaging them. As the battle intensified, four German M-class minesweepers and several R-boats (motor minesweepers) rushed out from the heavily fortified port of Ijmuiden to counter-attack. The boats exchanged blistering gunfire, and MGB 610 was hit but managed to stay afloat. 2. MTB 652 Takes the Lead on Radar The British force briefly broke contact and retired under the cover of a smoke screen to assess damage. During the chaotic firefight, the lead boat (MTB 617) had its radar equipment destroyed. MTB 652 immediately assumed radar watch for the surviving flotilla. 3. The Second Engagement At 01:38 AM, MTB 652's radar operators successfully picked up contacts at a range of three miles. She guided MTB 617, MTB 621, and MGB 612 back into the fray. They slipped through the dark to find three German M-class minesweepers and two heavily armed Flak Lighters waiting for them. The British boats closed the distance but were met with a wall of heavy, coordinated defensive fire. Realising the tactical disadvantage against the heavily armoured flak ships, the flotilla broke away to the west and received orders to return to harbour. While several sister boats suffered heavy structural damage and casualties that night, MTB 652 played a vital role in keeping the unit cohesive using her operational radar.
Estimate:$401.06
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