Quote:
Originally Posted by kapuhy
"MTB 71 was initially fitted for Asdic and originally had provision for 4 x depth charges, later reduced to two. The craft was fitted with radar about 1942 when the bipod mast was removed and replaced by a pole mast fitted to starboard."
Not a native English speaker here, but I think "fitted for", as opposed to "fitted with", means there is possibility to install hardware in question but it is not normally included (sort of like PC mainboard has slots for additional RAM but it is not included in PC when you buy it). How I would read this fragment is that MTB had provisions to install asdic if needed, for example if an MTB flotilla had to be used as convoy escorts for lack of other craft. To know whether this actually happened during WW2, one would need to do further research.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Pancoast
Hard to say. It could just as easily mean it had it and then got rid of it.
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Some of them had sonar initially, but as had been pointed out to the designers before release, the sonar would be "impractical" to use on a moving PT boat, due to the noise of the boat. However, they did like with the radar, and some boats had it, some did not, which could also have been due to "availability". It was skipper's choice as to the weapons carried, unless the flotilla commander changed their mind. Kind of like the subs, catch as catch can. "Rockets? Sure, I'll take some rockets..."