A motor torpedo boat is a fast torpedo boat, especially of the mid 20th century. The motor in the designation originally referred to their use of petrol engines, typically marinised aircraft engines or their derivatives, which distinguished them from other naval craft of the era, including other torpedo boats, that used steam turbines or reciprocating steam engines. Later, diesel-powered torpedo boats appeared, in turn or retroactively referred to as "motor torpedo boats" for their internal combustion engines, as distinct from steam powered reciprocating or turbine propulsion.
Israeli MTB formation, c. 1967
MTBs in the Mediterranean, February 1945
MTB-460 of the Royal Canadian Navy
A torpedo boat is a relatively small and fast naval ship designed to carry torpedoes into battle. The first designs were steam-powered craft dedicated to ramming enemy ships with explosive spar torpedoes. Later evolutions launched variants of self-propelled Whitehead torpedoes.
Confederate torpedo boat CSS David
HMS Lightning, the first modern torpedo boat, built in 1876
Chilean torpedo boats in Valparaíso, used during War of the Pacific
HMS Havock the first modern destroyer, commissioned in 1894