TM-51 class motortorpedoboat

TM-51 class

TM-51 on May 24 1940 in Britain

Construction details

Name TM-51 - TM-61

Dockyard TM-51: British Power Boat, Hythe

TM-52 - TM-61 Gusto, Schiedam

Laid down TM-51 1939

TM-52 - TM-61 1940

Launched TM-51: 1939

TM 52 / 53: 1940

TM-54 - TM-61: 1940 / 1941

Commissioned TM-51: November 6 1939

TM 52 / 53: August 1940

TM-54 - TM-61: December 1941 / September 1942

Specifications

TM-51 - TM-53 TM-54 - TM-61

Displacement 32 tons 57 tons

Dimensions 21,34 x 6,1 x 1,4 m 28 (oa) x 4,3 x 1,2 m

Crew 9 - 10 21 - 25

Main armament 2 x 20 mm Hispano Suiza* 2 x 20 mm

Torpedoes 4 x 17 " tubes 2 x 21" tubes

* TM-51 also had 1 extra 20 mm Oerlikon added

Propulsion details

TM-51 - TM-53 TM-54 - TM-61

Boilers - -

Machinery 3 Rolls Royce petrol 3 Daimler Benz diesels

Shafts 3 3

Range 350 miles @ 30 knots

Bunkerage 9,25 tons

Performance 3000 - 3300 hp 2100 - 2850 hp

Max Speed 39 - 42 knots 30 - 34 knots

Class history

The TM-51 class was the first real attempt of the RNN to build a small but powerful warships, able to sink much larger opponents. The type had an extensive service record, dating back from before World War I, with some remarkable good results. The Dutch, lacking the experience of designing these ships themselves, ordered a prototype to be built in England at the Power Boat Company in Hythe. Work started on her, the TM-51 in 1939, and she was commissioned on November 6 1939. Before the war, the British had planned to seize all warships under construction in the UK for own use if the war broke out. The Dutch, aware of this plan, decided to move her to a Dutch port to prevent loosing her. Lt. Cdr O. de Booy, in command during the working up-period, took her for a long "trial", all the way to Holland. The Gusto Dockyard received the order for ten units, numbering TM-52 to 61, of which the first two apparently were identical to the prototype, but the others seemed to be considerably larger. A second order was placed in March 1940, numbering TM-62 to TM-70. The intention was to use the TM-51, TM-60, TM-61 and TM-62 in Holland (as the 1st MTB-division, which was to be stationed in Hoek van Holland) and the TM-52 to 59 in the Netherlands East Indies. The TM-63 to TM-66 would have been combined in the 2nd MTB-division in IJmuiden, and the TM-67 to TM-70 in the 3rd division in Den Helder. Unfortunately, by May 1940, none of the serie TM-52 - TM-70 had been even launched ( Only the first three were ready for that ), mainly due to shortages in materials. The order was given on May 14 1940 to destroy all boats at the dockyards, but chaos and hesitation prevented it. The TM-51 on the other hand was fully battleready in Schiedam on May 10 1940. She actively participated in the fighting in Rotterdam against the German paratroopers near the Willemsbrug with her 20 mm'ers, but was damaged herself. On May 14, the order was given to scuttle her, but an engineer at of the Gusto dockyard, Paul Hecking Colenbrander took her to sea with evacuees. After these transferred to HMS Versatile, Lieutenant-Commander (RNNR) A. van Beusekom made the cross to Britain. The other boats, uncompleted at the dockyard, were captured by the Germans. The work on TM-52 and 53 had progressed far enough to complete her, and they were commissioned in August 1940. They were sent to Germany for trials, but didn't work satisfactory, mainly because of sabotage of a dockyard engineer at Gusto. The others were commissioned in the period between December 1941 and September 1942 with modified designs by Fr. Lussen Werft in Vegesack, Germany. All were commissioned in the 3rd S-flotilla, which was later transferred to the Mediterranean. The boats navigated in two groups through the inland waterways of France camouflaged as Air-Sea rescue vessels. Most of them were lost in the war.

Ship histories

TM-51 War with Germany. The TM-51 actively participates with her 20 mm'ers near the Willemsbrug, but is damaged herself. She left for England in the night of May 14/15 and arrived there the next morning. She was loaned to the Royal Navy on July 11 1940 and used as a submarinechaser ( with the name MGB-46 ), but returned on March 7 1941. She was loaned to the Royal Navy on November 25, 1942. The Royal Navy used her as a training hulk for engine room personnel. Fate unknown.

TM-52 Captured incomplete at dockyard May 1940, commissioned in August 1940 as S 201. Sold to the Bulgarian navy in 1942 and was renamed S 1. Broken up 1955. ( she's also listed with the Bulgarian navy as patrolboat No. 3 )

TM-53 Captured incomplete at dockyard May 1940, commissioned in August 1940 as S 202. Sold to the Bulgarian navy in 1942 and was renamed S 2. Broken up 1955. ( she's also listed with the Bulgarian navy as patrolboat No 4. )

TM-54 Commissioned as S 151 on December 19 1941. Surrendered at Pola, Italy on May 3 1945.

TM-55 Commissioned as S 152 on March 31 1942. Surrendered at Pola, Italy on May 3 1945.

TM-56 Commissioned as S 153 on April 19 1942. Sunk by gunfire from the Hunt-class destroyers Eggesford and Blackmore in the Adriatic Sea off Lissa Island, Yugoslavia on June 12 1944. Position was 43.31 N, 15.52 E.

TM-57 Commissioned as S 154 on June 10 1942. Sunk at Pola, Italy by Allied aircraft in January 1945.

TM-58* Commissioned as S 155 on July 19 1942. Transferred to the Bulgarian navy as S 5 in 1942.

TM-59* Commissioned as S 156 on September 5 1942. Transferred to the Bulgarian navy as S 6 in 1942.

TM-60* Commissioned as S 157 on September 8 1942. Transferred to the Bulgarian Navy as S 7 in 1942. Sunk by mortarfire of Yugoslavian partisans west of Trieste, May 1 1945.

TM-61* Commissioned as S 158 on September 9 1942. Transferred to the Bulgarian Navy as S 8 in 1942. Bombed and sunk by allied aircraft in Sibenik, Yugoslavia on October 25 1944.

* In retrospect, TM.58-61 never seem to have served in the Bulgarian Navy. The information about their transfer is from H.T. Lenton "The Navies of the Second World War: the Royal Netherlands Navy", which appears to be incorrect. They served with the 7th and 3rd S-flotillas during their careers.

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Construction details
Name	TM-51 - TM-61
Dockyard	TM-51:	British Power Boat, Hythe
Dockyard	TM-52 - TM-61	Gusto, Schiedam
Laid down	TM-51	1939
Laid down	TM-52 - TM-61	1940
Launched	TM-51:	1939
	TM 52 / 53:	1940
	TM-54 - TM-61:	1940 / 1941
Commissioned	TM-51:	November 6 1939
	TM 52 / 53:	August 1940
	TM-54 - TM-61:	December 1941 / September 1942

Specifications
	TM-51 - TM-53	TM-54 - TM-61
Displacement	32 tons	57 tons
Dimensions	21,34 x 6,1 x 1,4 m	28 (oa) x 4,3 x 1,2 m
Crew	9 - 10	21 - 25
Main armament	2 x 20 mm Hispano Suiza*	2 x 20 mm
Torpedoes	4 x 17 " tubes	2 x 21" tubes
* TM-51 also had 1 extra 20 mm Oerlikon added

Propulsion details
	TM-51 - TM-53	TM-54 - TM-61
Boilers	-	-
Machinery	3 Rolls Royce petrol	3 Daimler Benz diesels
Shafts	3	3
Range		350 miles @ 30 knots
Bunkerage		9,25 tons
Performance	3000 - 3300 hp	2100 - 2850 hp
Max Speed	39 - 42 knots	30 - 34 knots

Ship histories
TM-51	War with Germany. The TM-51 actively participates with her 20 mm'ers near the Willemsbrug, but is damaged herself. She left for England in the night of May 14/15 and arrived there the next morning. She was loaned to the Royal Navy on July 11 1940 and used as a submarinechaser ( with the name MGB-46 ), but returned on March 7 1941. She was loaned to the Royal Navy on November 25, 1942. The Royal Navy used her as a training hulk for engine room personnel. Fate unknown.
TM-52	Captured incomplete at dockyard May 1940, commissioned in August 1940 as S 201. Sold to the Bulgarian navy in 1942 and was renamed S 1. Broken up 1955. ( she's also listed with the Bulgarian navy as patrolboat No. 3 )
TM-53	Captured incomplete at dockyard May 1940, commissioned in August 1940 as S 202. Sold to the Bulgarian navy in 1942 and was renamed S 2. Broken up 1955. ( she's also listed with the Bulgarian navy as patrolboat No 4. )
TM-54	Commissioned as S 151 on December 19 1941. Surrendered at Pola, Italy on May 3 1945.
TM-55	Commissioned as S 152 on March 31 1942. Surrendered at Pola, Italy on May 3 1945.
TM-56	Commissioned as S 153 on April 19 1942. Sunk by gunfire from the Hunt-class destroyers Eggesford and Blackmore in the Adriatic Sea off Lissa Island, Yugoslavia on June 12 1944. Position was 43.31 N, 15.52 E.
TM-57	Commissioned as S 154 on June 10 1942. Sunk at Pola, Italy by Allied aircraft in January 1945.
TM-58*	Commissioned as S 155 on July 19 1942. Transferred to the Bulgarian navy as S 5 in 1942.
TM-59*	Commissioned as S 156 on September 5 1942. Transferred to the Bulgarian navy as S 6 in 1942.
TM-60*	Commissioned as S 157 on September 8 1942. Transferred to the Bulgarian Navy as S 7 in 1942. Sunk by mortarfire of Yugoslavian partisans west of Trieste, May 1 1945.
TM-61*	Commissioned as S 158 on September 9 1942. Transferred to the Bulgarian Navy as S 8 in 1942. Bombed and sunk by allied aircraft in Sibenik, Yugoslavia on October 25 1944.
* In retrospect, TM.58-61 never seem to have served in the Bulgarian Navy. The information about their transfer is from H.T. Lenton "The Navies of the Second World War: the Royal Netherlands Navy", which appears to be incorrect. They served with the 7th and 3rd S-flotillas during their careers.