Britain kept motor torpedo boat development in private hands

Did Britain neglect motor torpedo boats during the interwar years?

Not entirely; private companies continued development, giving the Admiralty tested designs to order when war approached.

The answer distinguishes a lack of large peacetime naval orders from a halt in technical development. British private companies continued to experiment with motor torpedo boats during the interwar years. This shadow construction program allowed industry to preserve design experience and competing prototypes. When war approached, the Admiralty could select and order the strongest available products instead of beginning from nothing.