S-Boats in the Royal Norwegian Navy 1940 - 2010 (Sjøforsvaret)

MTB 56-Class

In winter 1941/42 the Norwegian Sboat-force was strengthened to a total six boats. blev den norske S-båd-styrke forstærket på seks både. "MTB 71" of the same class as was commissioned on 10.11.1941 and returned to the RN on 04.02.1942. As substitution they got five new boats of type Thornycroft 75 ft ("MTB 56", "MTB 52", "MTB 50", "MTB 51", "MTB 54"), operated in the Channel until summer 1942. Also these boats were built too weakly and had frequent engine-problems. Therefore, these boats were returned to RN in summer 1942. 

"MTB 102" type Thornycroft 75 foot - Picture: Imperial War Museum

The task of these boats was to operate against the German support-trafic i Norwegian waters. In fulfillment of that task the boats were camouflaged in the Norwegian skerries during daytime and sailed patrols during the nights.

The first boat under Norwegian crew was "MTB 56". In the night 08./09.09.1941 the crew of "MTB 56" together with two British boats performed an attack against  a German convoy off Cape Blanc Nez. "MTB 56" sank a Freighter out of the convoy.

"MTB 56" performed a sortie against the Norwegian coast on 02./03.10.1941. Since her range was not big enough she was towed by the chaser "Draug" to about 120 nautical miles off the coast. In the darkness she sailed into Korsfjord with her auxiliary motors, where she was camouflaged at a little ununinhabitated island and sailed patrol during the night. "MTB 56" sank a supply-ship which had loaded 3.500 liters of kerosine. On her way back to the shetlands she was towed again by "Draug".

Technical Data