MTB Base in Montreal???...

[John McGillivray]

I did a google search and found this site.

http://shipbuildinghistory.com/histo...ada/cpower.htm

[David Dunlop]

John.

Nice find! A short production history for the MTB but just for the heck of it, let's kick the ball into Hanno's side of the field now.

A large part of the Royal Navy contract was cancelled and then signed over to The Netherlands in 1942. Were these boats ever completed and delivered, and where were they operating out of for The Netherlands? and what happened to them at wars end?

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Nice find! A short production history for the MTB but just for the heck of it, let's kick the ball into Hanno's side of the field now.

A large part of the Royal Navy contract was concealed and then signed over to The Netherlands in 1942. Were these boats ever completed and delivered, and where were they operating out of for The Netherlands? and what happened to them at wars end?

The Royal Netherlands Navy adopted the MTB-type of class shortly before WW2. At least one was effectively used in the defence of Rotterdam harbour during the May 1940 attack by Germany. After the capitulation of the Netherlands the RNN continued to operate out of the UK, as were other elements of the Netherlands armed forces. Read more about the exploits of the Dutch MTB's in the English channel here: http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Special_mtb.htm

The above is only about the European part, this class of ship was effectively employed in the Netherlands East-Indies as well.

I did not realise we used Canadian-built MTB's, a quick search revealed it could have been the BPB 72 feet-type class of which 5 were taken into service by the RNN: http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/class/648.html

HTH,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

I did a google search and found this site.
http://shipbuildinghistory.com/histo...ada/cpower.htm

A further search revealed that the subject MTB's were actually known as the TM-22 class MTB - see http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/TM22.htm

All eight of them were transferred to the Netherlands West-Indies (yes, we once truly ruled the world's seas ), after serving there they were transferred to other regions and Navies.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

More info: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canad...r_Boat_Company

See pictures of the construction of these boats here: http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/d...pl6smt7nsocuf0

And today: http://quebecindustrialheritage.blog...mpany.html?m=1

H.

[Marc Montgomery]

There were several photos -then and now- in one of the old Convoy magazines, When I took the pics several years ago, the boat basin had been long filled in and was a gravel parking lot (fairly big)

there used to be a road right along the south side of the canal and a small lift bridge gave access to and from the basin...

the canal is not that wide so manoeuvring the 70 plus foot boats in and out would have been interesting.

guarantee that less than a handful of montrealers....0.0000001% know there were MTBs built here.. Few Cdns would even know what MTB is..being brought up on US tv and PT boats (apparently not too successful or reliable)

Also in an old convoy edition were photos of the Angus yards..big locomotive works..BIG..converted to making tanks..... again then and now photos......now..subdivsions and a part of the former building is a very large supermarket. Strange to think in the exact spot where they used to build tanks, is now rows of American grapes, mexican avocados...monsanto GM tomatoes etc..

Also in another Convoy edition....lots of then and now photos. of the Sorel plant (again huge!) were 25pdrs were made... I could find NO evidence to indicate to anyone the importance of the plant or the city..no plaque ..rien!

There was -ONE- very sad condition 25pdr at a kind of run-down, out of the way Legion and I think it might have had a plaque...but I bet again 99% of the people there dont know of the history. Quebec politics...that all I will say.

[Robert Bergeron]

Dear Marc,

Not all Québecers forget..

My uncle Gerry Plammondon played hockey with the Montéal Canadians and Maurice Richard during the war in between shifts working on torpedoes for the MTB ' s out of the Le Guardeur plant just outside of Montéal.

You see, it was the war and unless you were a star like Maurice Richard , you had to work for the war industry AND play hockey.

Gerry is 91 now and going strong. He told me all about the MTB's and the torpedoes is was making for them.One of his torpedoes surely sank the Bismark. i am sure.. well almost.

So let the war stories come out gents, there are plenty to be told.. even in Québec.

Cheers !



Robert