The first marine application of this design, known as the VRB, was on an experimental motor torpedo boat (MTB) called the "TARRET". This vessel, designed by F Gordon Pratt, of Cox and King, was built for the Royal Navy by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardsons, of Wallsend, in 1939 and was powered by two 16 VRBs, each rated at 1000 bhp. A 110 ft long vessel of all-welded steel construction, it displaced 115 tons and achieved 30 knots on trials but without armament. The hull form was a successful attempt at achieving rough weather ability - it was a semi-planing design with concave sections turning to convex at the outer chine, the latter also being carried far higher forward than was then normal. The VRBs installed were of an early type with uncooled exhaust manifolds which glowed red hot during full power trials making attention to the combustion side, in the vee, highly dangerous! Despite its success, the "TARRET" was then considered to be too slow (though nowadays 30 knots is an acceptable maximum for fast patrol boats), and lightweight diesels of suitable power-to-weight ratio could not be produced in time for general adoption in fast fighting small craft.
A friend is researching this vessel and I would be grateful for any help in locating the builder's plans/drawings, sadly, this shipyard is now closed down.
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Topic: HMS Tarret - 1939 (Experimental MASY) (Read 5040 times)