TM-4 class
MTBs were in the late thirties popular ships, mainly because they could seriously harm an enemy fleet while they didn't cost too much and were quickly and easy to build. In the NEI, where every means of defence was welcome after years of decay, they were considered a major extension of the already existing fleet of cruisers, destroyers and submarines. These ships, in 1942 consisting of TM-4 to TM-15 (TM-16 to TM-21 were still at the dockyard) took part in several actions near Java. With their base of operation in Soerabaja and limited range, they could only try to harm the enemy when it was already too late. They were unsuccesful in the Battle of Badung Strait, and while the invasion of Java came closer and closer, they started patrolling the northern coast of Java in late February, near Kragan and Toeban. They found the Japanese fleet near Toeban in the night of 28 February/ March 1, and one ship (supposedly a destroyer or flotillaleader) was reported hit and lost (although this wasn't confirmed by the Japanese), with no own losses. A later patrol in the night after was unsuccesful. They were scuttled in Soerabaja on March 2 and 8. Three of them returned to the RNN after the war, and were later handed over to the Indonesian navy.
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| TM-8 during practice (Collection webmaster) |
| Construction details | ||
| Name | TM-4 to TM-21 | |
| Dockyard | Marine Etablissement, Soerabaja (Navy Yard Soerabaja) | |
| Commissioned | TM 4 | September 20, 1940 [1] |
| TM 5 | July 6, 1940 [1] | |
| TM 6 | August 14, 1940 [1] | |
| TM 7 | July 6, 1940 [1] | |
| TM 8 | September 20, 1940 [1] | |
| TM 9 | 1941 | |
| TM 10 | 1941 | |
| TM 11 | 1941 | |
| TM 12 | 1941 | |
| TM 13 | 1941 | |
| TM 14 | 1942 | |
| TM 15 | 1942 | |
| TM 16 | 1943/1944 for IJN | |
| TM 17 | 1943/1944 for IJN | |
| TM 18 | 1943/1944 for IJN | |
| TM 19 | 1943/1944 for IJN | |
| TM 20 | 1943/1944 for IJN | |
| TM 21 | 1943/1944 for IJN | |
| Notes | [1]: Commissioning dates according to GB110 [volume 1, chapter 1.2] | |
| Specifications | ||
| Dutch Navy | Japanese Navy | |
| Displacement | 17.5 tons | |
| Dimensions | 19,2 (oa) x 4,3 x 1,4 m | |
| Crew | 6 | 7 |
| Armament | 2 x .30 Lewis MG (1x2) 2 x 17.7" torpedotubes * |
1 x .303 MG (from 1944: 1 x 13 or 25 mm) 2 17.7" torpedotubes 4 DC |
| * Taken from old Roofdier-class destroyers and Z-class torpedoboats. Type II 45 torpedoes were used. ** TM-12, 13 and 14 carried depthcharges instead of torpedoes |
||
| Propulsion details | ||
| Dutch Navy | Japanese Navy | |
| Boilers | - | |
| Machinery | 3 Lorraine Dietrich petrol engines* | |
| Shafts | 3 | |
| Range | 450 nm @ ?? knots | 310 nm @ 30 knots 370 nm @ 18 knots |
| Bunkerage | ||
| Performance | 1350 hp | |
| Max Speed | 36 knots (average) | 20 knots from 1944 |
| *These engines were taken from scrapped Dornier Wal and Fokker T-4 aircraft. It seems they had a lot of trouble with these (they dated from the late twenties and early thirties. There are also indications of combinations with other types of engines | ||
| Histories | |
| Gyoraitei No. 102 (ex-TM 4) |
Scuttled Soerabaja March 2 1942, but raised and repaired. Lost or badly damaged August 1 1945 at Nagasaki by USAAF B-24's (Far East Airforce) |
| Gyoraitei No. 112 (ex-TM 5) |
Scuttled March 2 1942 at Soerabaja, but raised and repaired by the IJN. Completed May 6 1943, sunk August 2 1943 by B-25 bombers and P-38 fighters at Lae, New Guinea (07 N-147 E) |
| Gyoraitei No. 103 (ex-TM 6) |
Scuttled Soerabaja March 2 1942, but raised and repaired. Became trainingboat at Yokosuka Torpedo School in 1942. Taken over by USA in 1945. |
| Gyoraitei No. 113 (ex-TM 7) |
Scuttled March 2 1942 at Soerabaja, raised and repaired for the IJN. Completed on May 6 1943, badly damaged B-25's and P-38's on August 2 1943 at Lae, New Guinea |
| Gyoraitei No. 104 (ex-TM 8) |
Scuttled Soerabaja March 8 1942, but raised and repaired. Training duties at Yokosuka Torpedo School. Taken over by USA in 1945. |
| Gyoraitei No. 105 (ex-TM 9) |
Scuttled Soerabaja March 8 1942, but raised and repaired. Training duties at Yokosuka Torpedo School. Taken over by USA in 1945. |
| Gyoraitei No. 106 (ex-TM 10) |
Scuttled Soerabaja March 2 1942, but raised and repaired. Training duties at Yokosuka Torpedo School. Taken over by USA in 1945. |
| Gyoraitei No. 107 (ex-TM 11) |
Scuttled Soerabaja March 8 1942, but raised and repaired. Training duties at Yokosuka Torpedo School. Taken over by USA in 1945. |
| Gyoraitei No. 108 (ex-TM 12) |
Scuttled Soerabaja March 2 1942, but raised and repaired. Training duties at Yokosuka Torpedo School. Taken over by USA in 1945. |
| Gyoraitei No. 109 (ex-TM 13) |
Scuttled Soerabaja March 2 1942, but raised and repaired. Completed October 9 1943. Later sunk. |
| Gyoraitei No. 110 (ex-TM 14) |
Completed January 1942 as TM 14, scuttled March 2 1942 in Soerabaja. Raised and repaired for the IJN (completed October 9 1943). Accidentally sunk |
| Gyoraitei No. 111 (ex-TM 15) |
Completed January 1942 as TM 15, scuttled March 2 1942 in Soerabaja. Completed May 6 1943, lost in accident. |
| Gyoraitei No. 115 (ex-TM 16) |
Scuttled incomplete at Soerabaja March 2 1942, completed for the IJN May 6 1943. Sunk July 26 1943 by gasoline explosion at Rabaul (04.12 S, 152.12 E) |
| Gyoraitei No. 116 (ex-TM 17) |
Scuttled incomplete at Soerabaja March 2 1942, completed for the IJN May 6 1943. Sunk at Rabaul in 1944 |
| Gyoraitei No. 117 (ex-TM 18) |
Scuttled incomplete at Soerabaja March 2 1942, completed for the IJN May 6 1943. Sunk in 1944 off Rabaul. |
| Gyoraitei No. 118 (ex-TM 19) |
Under construction at dockyard in March 1942, completed for the IJN October 13 1943. |
| Gyoraitei No. 119 (ex-TM 20) |
Under construction at dockyard in March 1942, completed for the IJN November 15 1944 |
| Gyoraitei No. 120 (ex-TM 21) |
Under construction at dockyard in March 1942, completed for the IJN November 15 1944 |
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