Regia Marina Submarines & MTB sections

Regia Marina Submarines & MTB sections

Submarines: Compared to a German Type VII C U-Boat, the Marcello class submarines were much larger, displacing 1,060 tons as opposed to 769 tons. Speed and range between the two classes were almost similar, but the Marcello class had more torpedo tubes than the famous U-boat. The Marcello class was to be considered one of the most successful of the Italian shipyards and exhibited very good characteristics – it was fast, structurally robust, and relatively manoeuvrable.

MTBs: Capable of 45 knots, Italian Motoscafo Armato Silurante (Armed Torpedo Boat) or MAS boats were extremely active in the Mediterranean. While not well suited to rougher seas, they still achieved much notoriety, including the torpedoing of HMS Capetown and an attack on the harbour at Malta, the latter being an abortive failure that cost two MAS boats.

Based on German S1-class S-boats found by the Italians at the port of Cattaro in Yugoslavia, the MS boat was larger and far more seaworthy than the MAS boats. While not as fast, it was far better suited to long-range patrols in the Mediterranean due to its greater stability and comfort. It was an MS boat that sunk the largest ship of any MTB in the war in 1942 with HMS Manchester.

Box contains:

• Marcello-class submarines x 3
• MAS MTB sections x 2
• MS MTB sections x2
• Ship cards

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted.