Technical refinement did not guarantee fleet efficiency. A Schnellboot offered range, two ready torpedoes, and reloads in a roughly 100-ton boat. A 45-ton Vosper could carry two or four ready torpedoes, or exchange part of that battery for a six-pounder, while still reaching about 40 knots or more in favorable conditions. For similar total displacement and less construction effort, a navy could field two simpler British boats and distribute weapons across more hulls. On that measure, more tactical opportunities mattered more than concentrating every advantage in one highly optimized craft.
Notable Point · 45:41-47:31
Vosper boats versus the heavier Schnellboot
A 45-ton Vosper could deliver comparable ready weapons at high speed, allowing two boats for roughly the displacement of one 100-ton Schnellboot.