With this small torpedo boat we travel back in time, in 1940. Italy had the MAS451/501 small MTB, and HLK has also an equivalent vessel, the Zeis LMTB (Light Motor Torpedo Boat). Designed by Alcibiades Zeis, was the successor of British CMB 55' MTB, of which RHN bought total 20 (10 from Grat Britain and 10 more licensed made in HLK. Zeis shipyard located in Lavrio was the larger of several small shipyards in Attica building wooden speedboats similar with US Chris Craft, Garwood etc. First appeared in 1937, the Zeis LMTB was developed to replace the CMB in RHN service. She was a bit larger than its Italian counterpart, powered by twin McDowall MachineWorks V12 petrol engines - a derivative of French Hispano Suiza 12Y aircraft engine. With 1,700 hp she reached 40 kn in trails and with 2,000 hp and different props more than 43kn. She was an all wooden vessel, with a hydroplane type hull, originally designed by Alcibiades Zeis for racing speedboats in late 1920's. RHN was indeed interested and ordered the type in 1939. An enlarged variant was developed in 1941, armed with longer torpedoes and greater range. Also range was greater than Italian MAS, due to larger fuel capacity.
1939 model (as ordered by RHN)
Dimensions 18,5 x 4,8 (m)
Displacement : 21 tn
Propulsion : 2 x 1,000 hp McDowall MachineWorks V12 petrol engines + 2 x 80 hp Ford Flathead V8 (built by Kontellis factory in Patra in V8-78 variant)
Armament : 1 x Vickers Class D 0,5" machine gun or 13,2mm Hotchkiss, 1 or 2 x 8mm machine guns, 2 x 450mm torpedoes
Speed : Max 43,5 kn (with auxiliary engines 7 kn)
1941 model
Dimensions 19,5 x 5,0 (m)
Displacement : 22,5 tn
Propulsion : 2 x 1,150-1,200 hp McDowall MachineWorks V12 petrol engines + 2 x 100 hp Ford/Jen V8 (a innovative OHC conversion)
Armament : 1 x Vickers Class D 0,5" machine gun or a 13,2 mm Hotchkiss, 1 or 2 x 8mm machine guns, 2 x 450 mm torpedoes
Speed : Max ~45 kn (with auxiliary engines 7,5 kn)
The Jen conversion was similar with the C-T/Adams Moeller and the Davies conversions (see link), but with 2 camshafts only in intake side and horizontal rods to operate the exhaust valves. In other words, similar with Alfa Romeo Busso 12-valve V-6 but upside down and with shaft drive camshafts,which originally developed before WW2 but did not raced. The Jen V8 continued in production long after the war, until well into the 1970's, but this is another story. The WW2 built Jen V8 had only a single carburetor and chain drive, while its was more efficient than the original flathead. Post war engines were also chain drive, in SOHC and DOHC variants.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/the-tool ... head/30958
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