Speedboat MTS
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The MTS speedboat (MTS = Motoscafo Turismo Significare) was a small-series speedboat of the Italian Navy , which was based on its larger predecessors, the conventional MS-type speedboats. The MTS was designed in such a way that it could be brought by tugs or speedboats into the target area that was outside its range, which was 90 nm . Once there, it was supposed to attack and sink enemy ships with quick operational advances using two torpedoes it carried .
Development history
The planning for the MTS began in December 1939. The background to this was the requirement of the Italian naval command to create an additional small weapon in addition to the small explosive vessels already in use . The catalog of requirements issued for this stipulated that the small boat should be designed as a 2-seater. It should be able to be equipped quickly and with two torpedoes with a low load. In addition, speed, maneuverability, seaworthiness and range had to be selected in such a way that the small boat could successfully carry out such lightning operations against moving and anchored sea targets.
In December 1939, Baglietto in Varazze (hull) and CABI in Milan (engines) were commissioned to build four such boats . Production-related delays in construction meant that the boats could not be delivered until the summer of 1940. The naval management subjected all four ships, which were given the designations MTS 1 , MTS 2 , MTS 3 and MTS 4 , to extensive and lengthy tests off Porto Edda ( Albania ), which lasted until April 5, 1941. It was then clear that the MTS had fulfilled the criteria, but was only partially seaworthy due to its small, stepless V-shaped tension wood body. The demand for an improved and larger successor ultimately led to the development of the MTSM
War effort
Immediately after the test phase of the four miniature speedboats, the two boats MTS 2 and MTS 4 were assigned to the operational area off Porto Ebba ( Albanian coast) in April 1941 . The first sea targets were made on the night of April 5, 1941. But the attackers were discovered and damaged by Greek defensive fire, so that the mission had to be canceled. On July 27, 1941, another combined attack from speedboats, SLCs, explosive devices and MTS took place against the port of Valletta on Malta , the Operazione Malta Due . However, this operation failed. Only the MTS involved survived the attack and returned with 11 survivors to the Diana speedboat , which had waited outside the combat zone and returned with the miniature speedboat in tow. Further uses and whereabouts of the MTS are not known. It can be assumed that they have been retired and replaced by the successor type.
Intended use
As a primary weapon, the MTS had two 45 cm torpedoes under the hull, 3.2 m in length and with an explosive charge of 150 kg each. The torpedoes had a range of 1000 meters and a speed of 12 knots , which meant that the boat had to drive very close to its target. The helmsman brought the boat to top speed when approaching the target, brought himself into the optimal shooting position and released the torpedoes, then turned hard and drove away. Due to the lightweight construction made of frame wood, the boat was very sensitive to fire.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Harald Fock: Naval small weapons. Manned torpedoes, small submarines, small speedboats, explosives yesterday - today - tomorrow. Nikol, Hamburg 1996, ISBN 3-930656-34-5 , pp. 36-37.