MAS (Torpedo boat)

[Louis]

Motoscafo Armato Silurante (Italian: "Torpedo Armed Motorboat"), commonly abbreviated as MAS was a class of fast torpedo armed vessel used by the Regia Marina (the Royal Navy of Italy) during World War I and World War II. Originally, "MAS" referred to Motobarca Armata SVAN ("Armed Motorboat SVAN"), where SVAN stood for Società Veneziana Automobili Navali (Naval Automobiles Society of Venice)[1]

MAS were essentially motorboats with displacements of 20-30 tonnes (depending on the class), a 10 man crew, and armament composed of two torpedoes, machine guns and occasionally a light gun.

The term MAS also came to mean Mezzi d'Assalto, (Assault Vehicle) in the unit name Flottiglia MAS (Assault Vehicle Flotilla), the most famous of which was the Decima MAS of World War II.-

 

[Bootie]

 

[Louis]

Cleaned thread

 

[Louis]

 

[Gunner]

Looked up how fast this bad boy can go....42 knots! (78KPH or 48MPH)
The Ferrari of the water

Only two complete examples survive to this day

MAS 15 is preserved at the Sacrario delle Bandiere naval museum located at the Vittoriano in Rome. In June 1918, it was the boat which sank the SMS Szent István.

SMS Szent István in the Fažana Strait

MAS 96 is preserved at the Vittoriale degli italiani at Gardone Riviera by Lake Garda. In February 1918, it was the boat on which Gabriele d'Annunzio participated in the "Bakar mockery" raid.