A WW2 British Royal Navy Vosper Motor Torpedo Boat Binnacle Steering Compass

In superb condition for age. A Cockpit enclosed MTB steering compass with side mounted petrol lamp and red glass filter in order for the boat to avoid being seen by Kriegsmarine ships and u-boats at night. Top viewing lid opens, the top section may be removed entirely revealing the compass fully, the bottom plinth section is still painted battleship grey, and also bears its patent number and serial number stamped upon its makers base plate. The top section is brass and naturally age discoloured as it hasn’t been polished for likely 20 years or more.

There is a photo of the open bridge of a WW2 Vosper 73-foot boat (MTB 383) showing the ship's wheel, with this MTB steering compass above it. To its right are (in order) the engine throttles, the engine telegraph, the torpedo firing levers, and the engine room voice pipe. The hatch and companion way to the left of the wheel leads down to the wheelhouse.

The wartime success of Vosper is largely due to Commander Peter du Cane, a former naval officer and aviator who joined Vosper in 1931 to boost their involvement in high-speed craft The following year he won a controlling interest in the company and secured the contract from Sir Malcolm Campbell to build his record-breaking speedboat Bluebird II. By this stage the company was already building launches for the Royal Navy, and du Cane naturally considered tendering a bid for high-speed 'offensive torpedo boats'. The award of just such a contract to Vosper s rival, the British Power Boat Company, spurred du Cane on to develop a Vosper design, and he personally funded the design and construction of a 68-foot experimental boat with a hard-chine hull, designated PV 1 (standing for 'private venture'). It was duly purchased by the Admiralty as MTB 102. Unlike the Thornycroft and BPB designs (and after some experimentation), it was capable of firing its torpedoes from deck mounts rather than by dropping them astern. To power the craft, du Cane selected the powerful Italian Isotta-Fraschini petrol engine.

Being made of brass, we have seen the upper sections in the past versions we have had, fully polished, and the resulting finished instrument is very beautiful and can look amazing in the right setting..

Code: 24826