E-Boats: - E-boats vary in length from 92 to 106 feet, beam 13 1/2 to 16 1/2 fee, displacement from 63 tons to 95 tons full load, draft approximately 5 1/2 feet. Type "C" is the largest and newest type of E-boat and operated in the English Channel. It carrys 2 torpedo tubes, 4 torpedoes and has a maximum speed of 38 knots without a super-charger - with supercharger, approximately 42.5 knots. Cruising speed of 31 knots can be maintained for long periods. Range at 31 knots is roughly 600 miles; oil capacity is 17.1 tons and the usual load carried is 12 tons. Below decks, the E-boat has 7 water-tight compartments of double wood-planked construction. The boat has a low silhouette and cuts the water cleanly.
Minimum
armament -
1-20 mm. gun in well on forecastle
`1-20 mm. on stand aft
1-40 mm. gun aft to replace 20 mm. (on newer equipped
boats).
4 - twin .30 cal. machine guns port and starboard side
of bridge.
(probably replaced
by twin .50 cal. in most instances.
6 - depth charges as well as foot-ball sized mines linked
together to discourage possible stern chase.
R-BOATS - R-boats range in size from, 45 to 100 tons, 85 1/2 to 115 feet in length, 4 feet 10 inches to 5 1/2 in draft, speed of 18 to 21 knots and cruising speed of 15 knots.
Type "C", the 115 feet in length class carries the following
minimum armament:
1 - 37 mm. gun aft.
1 - or possibly 2 - 20 mm.s amidships.
1 - 20 mm. forward
1 - star shell profector aft with range up to three miles.
Floating depth charges
6 - mines
Armor plate around bridge
Mine-sweeping gear
A later type of R-boat, 130 feet in length, carries 2-37mm or 2 - 40 mm. guns forward. These boats are several knots faster and are believed to carry several twin .t0 cal. machine guns.
M-TYPE MINE-SWEEPS - 500 ton displacement, approximately 200 feet in length, 27-foot beam, turbine propelled coal burners. Maximum speed and cruising radius knot known.
Minimum armament consists of:
1 - 4.1 inch gun
2 - 1.46 inch guns
11 - 0.79 inch guns (one a quad-mount)
TANK LANDING CRAFT - Flat-bottomed, blunt-bowed, straight-sided, square-sterned with draft of 4 feet forward and 6 feet aft. Approximately 165 feet in length with a 21-foot beam, these TLCs have a probable speed of 10 knots.
Minimum armament is:
2 - single mount 3.5 inch (88 mm.) guns midships
1 - twin 1.46 inch gun
1 - 0.79-inch gun aft
1-twin 1.46 or 3.5-inch gun forward.
It is very probable that these craft also carry a number of light machine guns although no definite information is available.
These four enemy craft were the types that PT boats of
the Channel Area Task Group engaged in action.
10-18-2000