"Jap MTB MGB decking" Topic

Does anyone know whether the decks of what few Japanese MGB/MTB boats there were in WW2 were they of wooden or metal construction, i.e. should I paint them grey or brown. Thinking of the Hayabusa, Type C etc.

I don't really know.

Given that they were rather small, I imagine they were probably of wooden construction, since presumably they might have had a chance to capture an American boat at some point, and to copy parts of its design

I have no idea on the painting issue either.

Perhaps Dave, of PT Dockyard will chime in shortly on the subject. I imagine he may have some insight on the subject.

I think they had some Vospers, either purchased just prior to the war or salvaged but thats as far as I can find anything apart from the odd very rare picture which of course is side on in b/w so you can't tell.Hopefully Dave can shed some light so I can do his models justice.

It seems to me they had Vospers also – probably bought a few then copied the design. There is precious little info on them. I would assume wood as they weren't any bigger then anyone else's MTB/MGBs.

According to 'Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945" by Jentschura, Jung, & Mickel, the IJN MGB/MTB boats were a mixed bag of wood and steel.

T.1 type – Wooden V-Hull
T.51 type – based on German schnellboat plans – steel?
T.23 type – steel
T.25 type – wood?
T.31 type – steel
T.32 type – steel
T.33 type – steel
T.34 type – wood?
T.35 type – wood?
T.36 type – wood?
T.37 type – steel
T.38 type – wood?
T.39 type – wood?
No. 114 – ex. Philippine Q.III – wood
T.14 type – wood
T.15 type – wood
No. 101 – 120 – some were ex. Dutch boats – steel
H.1 – Italian MAS type – wood
H.2 type – steel
H.35 type – wood
H.38 type – steel

Wow, thanks for taking the time to type that lot out thanks a million.