I'm looking for any information regarding the Motor Torpedo Boat 209 on which my recently dead uncle served. Unfortunatly I have very little information on the boat apart from a photo of the boat at speed although I have traced the boats captain a Lt J. Ferguson of the Australian Navy and information would be gratefully received.

Many thanks.

Kevin

Hello Kevin

So far I have traced MTB 209 as being one of a group of 12 that were ordered from Messrs J S White to a Vosper design. This batch was ordered on 20 May 1940 - I am not able as yet to find what Flotilla she was attached to but I have able to trace a Lt J Ferguson RANVR who was awarded the DSC in 1945 for distiguished Service during the Normandy Landings.

 I shall delve deeper.

Above source: J Lambert and A Ross - Allied Coastal Forces Volume 2

Digger History Chapter 14

Regards

Hello Kevin,

MTB 209 was as Pioneer writes a 72 or 73ft (my book quotes both sizes for 209) Vosper design White built boat. The batch of which she was a part were commisioned between June and October 1941. She was powered by 3 Sterling engins with a speed of 39 knots and a compliment of 12.    

Source British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939-45 Angus Konstam

Regards        

Hi,
Some more info on MTB 209.  She was completed 9/9/42 and put up for sale in December 1944.  She served with the 13th flotilla which in June 1944 consisted of MTB 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212.

From: http://www.unithistories.com/units_british/RN_MTBs.html - http://www.unithistories.com/units_british/RN_MTBs.html

Some information on Lieutenant Commander John Ferguson, DSC, RAN who was  C.O. of MTB 209 from  Nov '42 to June '44.

He's number 6 on the list (of 8) at:

          http://home.vicnet.net.au/~mildura/CommandingOfficers.htm



There is a mention of 209 in an action at:
                 http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/44-08.htm

The gist is that  MTB 212, MTB 208, MTB 209 and MTB 210, torpedoed and sunk the german boat R 218 on the night of 18th/19th August 1944.    

Hope it helps

S R Wilson wrote:    Source British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939-45 Angus Konstam

Take that book with a pound or two of salt - it's full of errors.

Al Ross

Al,

Thanks for comment. The book indeed contradicts itself on occasion, (see my earlier post). There are other better books I am told, one of the co authers is ermmmm Al Ross. I have ordered a copy!!

S R Wilson wrote: Al, There are other better books I am told,

John did his usual masterful job

Al

alross2 wrote: S R Wilson wrote:    Source British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939-45 Angus Konstam       Take that book with a pound or two of salt - it's full of errors. Al Ross

Here they are;

Since I wrote this review I've been contacted by MSW member Al Ross, who as you will know is a great authority on Allied Coastal Forces, with several highly-regarded books to his credit. Al highlighted to me that this book does actually contain numerous factual errors - he drew the publisher's attention to this, with no result.
I still thinks it's a good little volume and provides a useful reference for us, but clearly I must add the caveat that some of the info in it should be cross-checked against other sources before being taken as gospel. Here are the mistakes that Al kindly identified, there may well be more...


On pp 19-20 Konstam talks about ex PT88, 90-94 (MTB 419-424) as being 77' ELCOs (which they were not), then as being 78' Higgins (which they were). The photo caption at the top of p.19 identifies the boat as a 70' ELCO; it's a 77' boat. Only the 77' ELCOs mounted the single Vickers MKV turret on the centerline of the trunk cabin. The 70' boats initially had two DeWandre turrets abeam each other at this location.

Continuing on p.19, Konstam identifies PT5-8 as Higgins boats. PT5-6 were, but 7-8 were built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He also identifies both 7 and 8 as aluminium; 8 was, 7 was wood. This information can easily found in readily-available credible published sources like Friedman's US Small Combatants. "