Hydrofoil for Polish Navy

Description by Marek Twardowski 1^st June 2003

In 1936 Polish Navy began to look around for motor torpedo boats. In the beginning of 1937 they were approached by Aktiengesellschaft Gebruder Sachsenberg (Dessau/Rosslau, Germany) with an offer of a hydrofoil motor torpedo boat:

displacement: 15 t;
dimensions: 13.40 wl x 5.00 x 0.80 m;
propulsion: 1 Mercedes BF2 petrol engine, 700 HP continuous (800 HP maximum) = 75 km/h
armament: 2-450 mm torpedoes; 1-20 mm MG, 2 depth charges 180 kg each

The complement seems to number 2 men. The proposed cost was to be 218,000 marks with delivery time of 12 months since contract is signed. The shipyard informed that they have already built a similar motorboat, fitted with a 50 HP engine and able to achieve speed of 50 km/h at displacement of 1.2 t.

The proposition was taken seriously by Polish Navy and a representative was sent to Germany to get more information. Unfortunately we do not anything more on that subject, except that the proposition was evidently turned down, as two conventional MTBs were ordered in 1939 in JS White yard at Cowes.

If anyone knows more on above matter, please contact me through the Photo Archivist

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