"Warlord's Fairmile boats MTBs and MGBs " Topic

I have currently got some Ospreys on order but have to admit, my knowledge is very little on this topic. If truth would ne known I am more of a tread head.

But my question is – All these different Fairmile models that Warlord produce , did they work alongside each other or are they from different periods of the war ? I am trying to make a varied RN fleet.

Strictly speaking they are from different periods, that said those periods were quite short, and it often took some time for older boats to be refitted to later standards (if indeed they were at all), so go ahead and mix them up :)

Fairmile A's were produced in 1940
Fairmile B's were produced from 1940-1945
Fairmile C's were produced in 1941
Fairmile D's were produced from 1942-1945

So I would say that they were produced at the same time.But I am not sure they served together in the units. But with the variety of armaments on the boats you can get a lot of different looks in a unit.

Thanks guys that is very helpful as I do like the Fairmile boats and having acquired a couple of the 624 types . This is probably another numpty question but I presume the "624" bit is a sub class of these boats with MTB 624 being one of the class possibly the first ?

I have just ordered a book title "Dog Boats at War " as well. I think I have a lot of reading to do !

624 was not a member or lead boat of a specific sub class, just a typical Dog boat afaik. The Dog boats were numbered 601 to 800 and built between 1942 and 1944. 29 were completed to a modified design with different hull numbers. 40 were completed as RAF long range rescue boats intended for the Pacific
The modified D class was built built in 1944, numbered from 5001 to 5029 but some were cancelled or completed as RAF long range rescue boats

Thanks mate. A pile of books has just arrived today .So much reading and learning to do.

Okay having read a couple of the early chapters of the Book Dogs Boats at War by Leonard C Reynolds of which so far I can recommend if like me you like the Fairmile D boats . It does also contain info on the C type as well.

The Flotilla I have adopted to base my models on is the 31st MTBs later renumbered 55th MTB and based at Yarmouth and later Portsmouth . They are a home waters unit. I wouldn't say its a particular exciting unit when it comes to mixes of boats but some did adopt the Sharks Teeth on the hulls.

The actual boats they had are as follows 617,621,622,624,628-630,632,650,652,668,671,682,741,759,771 & 773. Boat 622 was lost in 1943.

Going off the Warlord models that are produced . Their model Fairmile D MTB 624 will cover my selection up to and including 630. These are of the standard unscalloped hull and represent the early boats. Most were fitted with 2 tubes . Most of my fleet will be of this type.

Warlords original Fairmile D model which is described as MGB/MTB will cover the later boats with 4 tubes . In my case boats 741 onwards .

Warlords new model which is the MGB660 is mainly used in the Mediterranean theatre as the torpedoes were not deemed as necessary .

That's my understanding so far but its only early days in the book.

I am not going daft and modelling all the boats but will be looking at doing 8 in total . 6 earlies and 2 lates .

Your research sounds spot on. Sounds like a great project!

Joe

You're becoming a Dog Boat expert right before our eyes!

(like your selected Flotilla approach to feature as models too)

Thanks guys. Especially for the encouragement.

The decals obtained from Miscellaneous Miniatures in the USA are of very good quality. They are spaced apart so its easier to cut them out with fine scissors ( acquired from the Mrs). The carrier film is thin enough so it doesn't show but thick enough so it doesn't disintegrate when you move the decal . Another words these are just about right IMHO. Depending on ones chosen boat numbers I would order both RN packs as only one set has the MGB and MBT letters. The other set is mainly numbers .

I ordered the German set as well for my S boats when I start building them .

I havn't decided what to do with the set Vospers as yet, as to use these effectively you would need targets for the torpedoes.

This for me is the major drawback in the game as you pay points for the number of torpedo tubes and yet you may not have suitable targets available. Perhaps a house rule whereby these points are deducted if the game doesn't have suitable targets ? However back to the Vosper issue as a gun boat, these are very limited in effectiveness . This is why I went for the Fairmile D as my "standard" British boat.

The club have house ruled that anything can be targeted with torpedoes . This does lead to fun games but doesn't IMO look very realistic to look at.

That is why I don't use Vospers much or RuSSIAN g-5S. They are 1 trick ponies. Historically I understand their use just don't think it makes for as compelling of a game. I converted 2 of my Vospers to early MGBs and left the other 2 primarily so my Romanians have them.
The early Dog boats are a great mix to game with and I think you will have fun with them. When you get your squadron ready e-mail me.

Joe

That makes you wonder why the Fairmile wasn't available as the set plastic model. From 2 hulls you could have all the versions covered with extra accessories on the sprue. Numbers wise it was probably the MGB/MTB equivalent of the Sherman tank with over 220 built . Opportunity missed by Warlord I think .

The choice of Vospers was probably financial. They were more likely to be able to sell more expensive resin/metal models of Fairmile Ds rather than little Vospers.

My theory is that the Vosper is probably John Stallard's favourite boat and like me he was brought up in the Airfix era. So he wanted to make sure that it was ever present in the game.