Book Review of
The MAS-15 Italian Navy Torpedo-armed Motorboat
Author: Oleg Pomoshnikov
Kagaro Super Drawings in 3D, No.16082
ISBN: 978-83-66673-36-6
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $37.95
ISBN: 978-83-66673-36-6
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $37.95
HISTORY:
The limited basin of the Adriatic Sea favored operation of the light ships and various types of “micro-organisms”. The Italian command at the end of 1914 already drew attention to the combat capabilities of motor torpedo boats.
The design of such a unit was presented in November, 1914 by the Italian company Maccia Marchini. The cutter had a displacement of 7-8 tons, a length of 15meters and was propelled by two engines, 200 hp. each.
It was supposed to reach a speed of 30 knots. The armament was two torpedoes dropped from both sides. However, the Italian Navy decided not to work with a small and not very well known company SVAN (Sociea Venziana Automobili Nautiche-Venetian Society of Self-Propelled Boats) was different. Torpedo boats designed by engineer Atillia bisio was somewhat reminiscent of the design of the Maccia Marchini company. It had a similar displacement (7-8 tons)and a length of 15meters. The drive consisted of four engines, with a power of 100 hp. each, working on two torpedo shafts. The armament was limited to two 450 mm torpedoes and one 37 mm gun.
After making corrections in the design, the fleet ordered two torpedo boats on 5th of March, 1915. They received the designation MAS (Motobarca Armata SVAN –SVAN armed motor boat).The boats were to be ready the same year. To meet the requirements of the fleet, the dimensions and displacement were enlarged, also engine power was increased to 220 hp. These were 6-cylinder Isotta-Fraachini L-56 petrol engines. Torpedo's were fired from the stern’s channel launchers.
THE BOOK:
Kagaro is based in Lublin, Poland. This book is in English.
This book is soft-cover of 50 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows a color illustration, above-view, from the box end of the MAS-15, posed against an all navy-blue background.
The torpedo-boat is overall medium-grey, with a thin black waterline stripe and brass-colored torpedoes with black noses. It has tan cushions on its nose and each side of the stern. It is flying the Italian flag on a pole on it’s rear deck.
Another above view of it is on the back cover, as a stern-forward view.
There are 6 black and white photos in the book. They include:12 ton SVAN cutters tied up at dock, the battleship “Szent Istvan” at Pola base, followed by “Viribus Unitis" and “Tegetthof”, MAS-21 in anti-submarine version with a 37 mm gun, Italian torpedo boat OS-18 Spezia, 1916, Italian OS-15 torpedo boat and MAS-15.
There are 61 color illustrations. These include 43 of the walk around type, that show: sections of the hull, the torpedoes and their launchers, the Colt Browning 37mm machine gun, 3 ills of the engine, the dashboard, 2 of the gearbox and electric motor, the warhead on the torpedoes with net cutting blades, four cut-away illustrations of the boats interior ribbing. The torpedoes were held in hoists on each side of the boat and raised to launch them.
There is a 7-view line drawing in 1/72nd scale of the MAS-15.
On the last page of the book there are 9 black and white tiny Cover arts of other books in Kagero’s Naval Series. However, only the word NAVAL is readable, so I cannot make out what subjects the books cover?
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Kagero Books and all Kagero titles can be seen on Casemate’s web-site at:
The limited basin of the Adriatic Sea favored operation of the light ships and various types of “micro-organisms”. The Italian command at the end of 1914 already drew attention to the combat capabilities of motor torpedo boats.
The design of such a unit was presented in November, 1914 by the Italian company Maccia Marchini. The cutter had a displacement of 7-8 tons, a length of 15meters and was propelled by two engines, 200 hp. each.
It was supposed to reach a speed of 30 knots. The armament was two torpedoes dropped from both sides. However, the Italian Navy decided not to work with a small and not very well known company SVAN (Sociea Venziana Automobili Nautiche-Venetian Society of Self-Propelled Boats) was different. Torpedo boats designed by engineer Atillia bisio was somewhat reminiscent of the design of the Maccia Marchini company. It had a similar displacement (7-8 tons)and a length of 15meters. The drive consisted of four engines, with a power of 100 hp. each, working on two torpedo shafts. The armament was limited to two 450 mm torpedoes and one 37 mm gun.
After making corrections in the design, the fleet ordered two torpedo boats on 5th of March, 1915. They received the designation MAS (Motobarca Armata SVAN –SVAN armed motor boat).The boats were to be ready the same year. To meet the requirements of the fleet, the dimensions and displacement were enlarged, also engine power was increased to 220 hp. These were 6-cylinder Isotta-Fraachini L-56 petrol engines. Torpedo's were fired from the stern’s channel launchers.
THE BOOK:
Kagaro is based in Lublin, Poland. This book is in English.
This book is soft-cover of 50 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The cover art shows a color illustration, above-view, from the box end of the MAS-15, posed against an all navy-blue background.
The torpedo-boat is overall medium-grey, with a thin black waterline stripe and brass-colored torpedoes with black noses. It has tan cushions on its nose and each side of the stern. It is flying the Italian flag on a pole on it’s rear deck.
Another above view of it is on the back cover, as a stern-forward view.
There are 6 black and white photos in the book. They include:12 ton SVAN cutters tied up at dock, the battleship “Szent Istvan” at Pola base, followed by “Viribus Unitis" and “Tegetthof”, MAS-21 in anti-submarine version with a 37 mm gun, Italian torpedo boat OS-18 Spezia, 1916, Italian OS-15 torpedo boat and MAS-15.
There are 61 color illustrations. These include 43 of the walk around type, that show: sections of the hull, the torpedoes and their launchers, the Colt Browning 37mm machine gun, 3 ills of the engine, the dashboard, 2 of the gearbox and electric motor, the warhead on the torpedoes with net cutting blades, four cut-away illustrations of the boats interior ribbing. The torpedoes were held in hoists on each side of the boat and raised to launch them.
There is a 7-view line drawing in 1/72nd scale of the MAS-15.
On the last page of the book there are 9 black and white tiny Cover arts of other books in Kagero’s Naval Series. However, only the word NAVAL is readable, so I cannot make out what subjects the books cover?
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Kagero Books and all Kagero titles can be seen on Casemate’s web-site at:
Highly recommended.