Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 28:45-30:08

Schnellboot armour versus speed

A discussion of German fast-boat armour shows why protection could help the crew yet could not be increased much without compromising the boat’s balance and speed.

Armour ProtectionMotor Gun BoatsSchnellbooteShip Design
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Question

How much armour did German Schnellboote carry, and did it cause the British to up-gun their craft?

Short answer

They had limited protective armour around vital crew positions, but too much would undermine speed; British heavier armament chiefly answered the need to kill fast boats quickly.

Notes

Schnellboote received limited protection, especially around the cockpit and conning position, measured in millimetres instead of ship-like armour. More armour would have threatened the speed and balance on which the design depended. British movement toward heavier gun armament chiefly answered the need to destroy fast opponents rapidly. In this interpretation, German confidence in the Schnellboot delayed a dedicated motor-gun-boat response after the British and Italian shifts toward heavier gun armament.