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Researched from unpublished primary sources, this is the first authoritative book in English to study the MAS boats, their larger MS successors and their wars in the Adriatic,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Illustrated with unpublished photos and superb original artwork, it traces their history from the famous actions of World War I to the troubled search for a real velocissimo (very fast)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.
 
Table of Contents:

• INTRODUCTION
  The first MAS: World War I
• DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
  Interwar developments: 1919–34
  The looming war: 1935–40
• OPERATIONAL HISTORY
  The first phase: June 1940–June 1941
  The MS: a new boat
  The second phase: July 1941–December 1942
  The third phase: January–September 1943
  North and south
• ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION
  After the end
  The last bow
• FURTHER READING
• INDEX

Illustrated by Gareth Hector & Edouard A. Groult.

Edition: 2026