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Italian MAS & MS Boats 1915–49
Italy's fast coastal forces
Series: New Vanguard
Brief Description
An illustrated history of the motor torpedo boats of Italy’s fast coastal forces, from their raids on enemy battleships in World War I to the dashing campaigns of World War II. The confined seas around Italy made fast torpedo boats particularly suitable for the Regia Marina....
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Italian MAS & MS Boats 1915–49
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See moreAn illustrated history of the torpedo boats of Italy’s fast coastal forces, from their raids on enemy battleships in World War I to the dashing campaigns of World War II.
An illustrated history of the torpedo boats of Italy’s fast coastal forces, from their raids on enemy battleships in World War I to the dashing campaigns of World War II.
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Description
An illustrated history of the motor torpedo boats of Italy’s fast coastal forces, from their raids on enemy battleships in World War I to the dashing campaigns of World War II.
The confined seas around Italy made fast torpedo boats particularly suitable for the Regia Marina. The first were derived from the glamorous prewar hotel motorboats of Venice; although too slow, they scored remarkable successes against Austro-Hungary, sinking, among other successes, two battleships, as well as conducting valuable and little-known anti-submarine work.
Researched from unpublished primary sources, this is the first authoritative book in English to study the MAS boats, their larger MS successors, and their wars in the Adriatic, Mediterranean and beyond. Renowned Italian naval historian Enrico Cernuschi explores their evolving technology, roles, and how the boats fought in two world wars.
Illustrated with unpublished photos and superb original artwork, Italian MAS & MS Boats 1915–49 traces their history from the famous actions of World War I to the troubled search for a real ‘velocissimo’ (very fast) MAS boat and their multifaceted roles in World War II, from the Malta convoy battles to the Black Sea naval war. It also explores little-known episodes such as their dangerous, clandestine roles post-1943, landing intelligence agents and commandos, and their secret 1945–48 battles against Yugoslavian communist infiltrators.
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Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781472870216
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 23 April 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Osprey Publishing
Illustration: Illustrated throughout with 40 photos and 8 pages of colour illustrations
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Edouard A. Groult
- Illustrated by Gareth Hector
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 6.0mm
Width: 182.0mm
Height: 246.0mm
Weight: 165g
Pages: 48
About the Author
Enrico Cernuschi is a naval historian based at Pavia, Italy. He has written dozens of books and monographs, and he has published extensively with Italy’s professional naval organizations. His major works include “Ultra” La fine di un mito (2014) and Sea Power the Italian Way (2016). He is a regular contributor to Warship.
Gareth Hector is a renowned digital artist who lives in Scotland.
Edouard A. Groult is an experienced illustrator and history enthusiast who lives and works near London.
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