During the Second World War, flotillas of the Royal Navy's Motor Torpedo Boats and other coastal forces fought a deadly war for control of the English Channel and the North Sea. These small, fast boats attacked enemy convoys, escorted freighters, landed secret agents and even raided enemy ports. Unsung heroes, these craft and their tiny crews helped stave off defeat in the dark days of 1940. The same vessels then took the fight to other waters, and by the end of the war, British MTB's had seen service in the Mediterranean, the Baltic and the Far East. This book examines the development and operation of these frail, sleek little warships, and describes the way they were manned and how they fought. “Overall this book provides a useful potted history of these often-overlooked vessels, alongside a wealth of reference material that will prove invaluable to the modeller. Available at a keen price the book is excellent value for money and comes very highly recommended.” ― Graham Townsend, Model Shipwrights The unrivalled illustrated reference on fighting vehicles, transport and artillery through the ages. Each volume is illustrated throughout, making these books uniquely accessible to history enthusiasts of all ages. Angus Konstam is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and has written widely on naval history, with well over a hundred books in print. He is a former Royal Navy officer, maritime archaeologist and museum curator, who has worked in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. Now a full-time author and historian, he lives in Orkney. Tony Bryan is a freelance illustrator of many years' experience who lives and works in Dorset. He worked for a number of years in Military Research and Development, and has a keen interest in military hardware. Tony has produced many illustrations for partworks, magazines and books, including a number of titles in the New Vanguard series. Reference Book Osprey New Vanguard : British Motor Torpedo Boat 1939-45 Angus Konstam & Tony Bryan #74