| Page Created |
| January 17th, 2025 |
| Last Updated |
| January 19th, 2025 |
| Italy |
 |
| Length |
| Wide |
| Height |
| Tonnage |
| between 20 and 30 tonnes |
| Propulsion |
| Isotta Fraschini ASM 184 marine engines |
| Armour |
| – |
| Armament |
- two 450-millimetres torpedoes
- heavy machine guns
- a 37-millimetres or 20-millimetres cannon
| Related Pages |
| Motoscafi Armati Siluranti |
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The Motoscafo Armato Silurante (torpedo-armed motorboat), or MAS, was a class of fast attack vessels used by the Regia Marina during both World War I and World War II. Their compact size, high speed, and versatility made them a crucial element in Italy’s naval strategy. The MAS acronym initially referred to Motobarca Armata SVAN, named after their manufacturer, the Società Veneziana Automobili Navali, but the vessels evolved significantly over time, especially during World War II.
| Specifications |
MAS boats were lightweight, petrol-engined planing craft with displacements between 20 and 30 tonnes, depending on the class. They were manned by a crew of 10 and armed with two 450-millimetre torpedoes, heavy machine guns, and sometimes a 37-millimetre or 20-millimetre cannon for additional firepower. During World War II, their speed reached up to 45 knots, powered by Isotta Fraschini ASM 184 marine engines, which were 18-cylinder engines delivering 1,500 horsepower at 2,000 rpm.
Their small size and rapid acceleration made them ideal for torpedo attacks and raids, while their planing hulls provided the necessary agility. These vessels were used primarily for hit-and-run torpedo strikes but were also adapted for anti-submarine warfare, convoy harassment, and special operations. The MAS demonstrated that small, fast vessels could strike much larger targets and escape before retaliation.
After World War I, Italian engineers refined the MAS boats. The 1930’s saw improvements in speed, firepower, and modifications for new roles. Four MAS boats were built in 1926 for the Royal Albanian Navy, named Tirana, Saranda, Durres, and Vlorë. These vessels were later seized during Italy’s invasion of Albania in 1939 and incorporated into the Italian fleet. Similarly, four units were sold to the Spanish Nationalist Navy during the Spanish Civil War in 1938. Renamed Sicilia, Nápoles, Cándido Pérez, and Javier Quiroga, they served under Spanish command until the war’s conclusion.
| Operational Use |
At the start of World War II, the Regia Marina possessed 48 MAS 500-class boats, with older models relegated to secondary theatres such as East Africa. MAS boats were instrumental in several daring attacks, including the torpedoing of the British light cruiser HMS Capetown by MAS 213 on April 6th, 1941 off the coast of Massawa, Eritrea. However, not all missions were successful. The raid on Grand Harbour, Malta, in July 1941 ended disastrously when MAS 451 and MAS 452 were lost. The British salvaged MAS 452, renamed it XMAS, and used it as a tender.
In East Africa, Italian MAS boats were scuttled in Massawa Harbour in April 1941 to prevent their capture during the British advance. These included MAS 204, 206, 210, 213, and 216, some of which were already non-operational due to mechanical failures.
The Mediterranean theatre saw the MAS boats participating in high-stakes operations against Allied shipping and naval forces. On 24 July 1941, MAS 532 attacked the British transport ship Sydney Star, part of Operation Substance, crippling it under heavy escort fire. Although the vessel managed to reach Malta, this action demonstrated the boldness of MAS operations.
On December 1st, 1941, two MAS units attacked the Soviet icebreaker Anastas Mykoyan near Kastelorizo, forcing it aground with heavy machine gun fire and narrowly missing with torpedoes. The attack disrupted Soviet supply lines, compelling the Turkish government to intern eight Soviet ships attempting similar journeys.
In August 1942, during Operation Pedestal, MAS boats 554, 555, and 557 sank three Allied freighters off Cape Bon, claiming a total tonnage of 48,500 tonnes. Shortly afterward, on 29 August 1942, a smaller MAS variant, the MTSM, disabled the British destroyer HMS Eridge off El Daba, Egypt, rendering it unfit for further service.
By 1942, MAS boats supported German operations in the Black Sea. A flotilla of MAS units participated in the assault on Sevastopol, sinking the Soviet steamer Abkhazia and damaging the transport Fabritius, which was later destroyed by German dive bombers. They also engaged Soviet troop barges and warships, demonstrating their versatility in a challenging operational environment. However, the MAS units suffered heavy losses from Soviet air attacks. In August 1943, the remaining MAS boats in the Black Sea were transferred to the Romanian Navy.
On Lake Ladoga, MAS boats supported the siege of Leningrad, targeting Soviet supply lines. While Italian sources claimed successes, including the sinking of a Soviet gunboat and barges, Soviet reports state that damage was minimal.
After the amistice on September 8th, 1943, MAS boats remained active in combating German forces. On September 11th, 1943, MAS units sank the German torpedo boat TA11 (formerly the French destroyer L’Iphigénie) near Piombino. However, the obsolescence of the MAS became evident as the war progressed. They were gradually replaced by more advanced motor torpedo boats, such as the MS (Moto Siluranti) series, and by German-built E-boats.
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