Schnellboot S-38 class.

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

In 1950's Italy the relatively new Marina Militare had a desperate need for all manner of vessels.  Much of the Regia Marina had been destroyed during World War 2 and treaty limitations and post war reconstruction further limited the availability of ships during the 1940s.  However, by the early 1950s the pressures of the Cold War and the formation of NATO had eliminated the treaty restrictions and provided Italy with a threat that needed countering.  One of the changes brought about by eliminating the treaty restrictions was to allow Italy to field torpedo boats (motosilurante).   In this effort Italy began redesignating existing vessels and acquiring new ones.  One of the most unique of these vessels was the MV 621. 

 

The MV 621 started life as the S-67, a S-38 class schnellboot of the Kreigsmarine.  She was a typical S-38 class armed with various AA guns and two 533mm torpedo tubes.  She would serve with the Kreigsmarine in the Mediterranean Theater and survive World War 2.  After the War she would be converted into a merchant vessel, the Torus, and ply the Mediterranean until 1953 when she was acquired by the Marina Militaire in 1953 and refitted for military service.  The Italians would arm her with 2 X 1 40/60 Mk 3 and 2 X 1 533mm torpedo tubes.  The Italians would initially refer to her as MV 621, but before she completed her overhaul she would be renamed MS (MotoSilurante) 621.  In 1954 she was renamed the MS 485.  She would be renamed again in 1954 to the MC 485 and stricken in 1966.

 

Some amplifying information from the excellent @qwert96

Spoiler

 

She was purchased by the Italina Navy in 1952 and named MV 621. On November 1, 1952 She was renamed MS.

In 1953 She recheived the NATO pennant number 460 but, as the Higgins in the same years, keeping also the Italian number (MS 621).

In January 1954 she was renamed MS 485 and also the NATO pennant number was changed in 485. In September 1954 She changed classification from MS to MC keeping the same number.

After the Italian modification the technical characteristic were quite different:

Full load displacement: 135,39 t

Draft on full load: 2,1 m

Engines: 3 MB 511, 7500 hp

Max speed at 1953 trials (when She entered service with the Italian Navy): 32 knots

Crew: 26 

 

 

 

In Italian service she had the following specifications:

 

Displacement Full:  135.39 tons

Length: 34.9m

Beam: 5.28m

Draft (Full): 2.1m

Machinery: 3 Daimler-Benz MB511Diesels generating 7500 h.p.

Max Speed:  32 kts.

Armament 2 X 1 40/60 Mk 3, 2 X 1 533mm Torpedo Tubes.

Crew: 26.

 

The purpose of adding this vessel is to complement the 1.7 BR ranks of the Coastal Fleet.  The Mk3 has a low sustained rate of fire but their hitting power would augment the 20mm armed Italian vessels of those BRs.

 

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-boat

https://www.navypedia.org/ships/italy/it_cf_mv621.htm

https://www.naval-encyclopedia.com/cold-war/marina-militare-italian-cold-war-navy

https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/mas/mc_485.aspx

 

Respectfully Submitted,

                              Conte Baracca.

Edited January 20, 2021 by Conte_Baracca

[Miki_Hoshii 2,449]

Open for discussion.

[Nicholas_Concu 2,634]

+1, can be added to both Italian and German trees. 

[Milocat 4,857]

I'm okay with this one too.  +1 to fill out the Italian coastal naval tree.

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

+1 

Btw why do you use the original name of the vessel, but not the Italian of the reworked one in the title? 

Also not MS 485 in the poll, but MC 485.

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC_485

Motocannoniera.

 

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

4 minutes ago, _Condottiero_ said:

 

Btw why do you use the original name of the vessel, but not the Italian of the reworked one in the title?

Because it changed name in Italian service multiple times.

4 minutes ago, _Condottiero_ said:

 

Also not MS 485 in the poll, but MC 485.

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC_485

Motocannoniera.

 

According to other sources it changed names multiple times.  Part of it had to do with the fact that Italy wasn't allowed Torpedo boats after World War 2 so they referred to their ships as Motocannoniera as a way around that restriction.  Then in the 1950s when the rules for Italy was changed they renamed all of their Torpedo Boats Motosilurante.  At least that's what I read in a few places.

[EvenManatee887@live 129]

+1, anything to offset and help the number of 20mm armed boats which are frankly underwhelming at times. 

[Охраняет-Камни 6,650]

https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/mas/mc_485.aspx

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

1 hour ago, _Condottiero_ said:

https://www.marina.difesa.it/noi-siamo-la-marina/mezzi/mezzi-storici/Pagine/mas/mc_485.aspx

Fair enough.  Started as MS, became MC.  Honestly either would work. But I will change the poll question to the final name.

 

Thanks for all the help.

Edited January 11, 2021 by Conte_Baracca

[ironcell26 252]

+1, it's ok, a fine addiction to my collection

 

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

6 hours ago, ironcell26 said:

+1, it's ok, a fine addiction to my collection

 

Italy needs a deeper bench for it's low tier coastal for sure.

[qwert96 700]

On 10/01/2021 at 19:57, Conte_Baracca said:

After the War she would be converted into a merchant vessel, the Torus, and ply the Mediterranean until 1953 when she was acquired by the Marina Militaire in 1953 and refitted for military service.  The Italians would arm her with 2 X 1 40/60 Mk 3 and 2 X 1 533mm torpedo tubes.  The Italians would initially refer to her as MV 621, but before she completed her overhaul she would be renamed MS (MotoSilurante) 621.  In 1954 she was renamed the MS 485.  She would be renamed again in 1954 to the MC 485 and stricken in 1966.

She was purchased by the Italian Navy in 1952 and named MV 621. On November 1, 1952 She was renamed MS.

In 1953 She recheived the NATO pennant number 460 but, as the Higgins in the same years, keeping also the Italian number (MS 621).

In January 1954 she was renamed MS 485 and also the NATO pennant number was changed in 485. In September 1954 She changed classification from MS to MC keeping the same number.

On 10/01/2021 at 19:57, Conte_Baracca said:

Displacement Full:  115 tons

Length: 34.9m

Beam: 5.28m

Draft: 1.67m

Machinery: 3 Daimler-Benz MB501 Diesels generating 6000 h.p.

Max Speed:  39 kts.

Armament 2 X 1 40/60 Mk 3, 2 X 1 533mm Torpedo Tubes.

Crew: 22.

After the Italian modification the technical characteristic were quite different:

Full load displacement: 135,39 t

Draft on full load: 2,1 m

Engines: 3 MB 511, 7500 hp

Max speed at 1953 trials (when She entered service with the Italian Navy): 32 knots

Crew: 26 

Edited January 20, 2021 by qwert96

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

5 minutes ago, qwert96 said:

She was purchased by the Italina Navy in 1952 and named MV 621. On November 1, 1952 She was renamed MS.

In 1953 She recheived the NATO pennant number 460 but, as the Higgins in the same years, keeping also the Italian number (MS 621).

In January 1954 she was renamed MS 485 and also the NATO pennant number was changed in 485. In September 1954 She changed classification from MS to MC keeping the same number.

After the Italian modification the technical characteristic were quite different:

Full load displacement: 135,39 t

Draft on full load: 2,1 m

Engines: 3 MB 511, 7500 hp

Max speed at 1953 trials (when She entered service with the Italian Navy): 32 knots

Crew: 26 

Thanks again.

Changes made to OP.

Edited January 20, 2021 by Conte_Baracca

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

Sure! The Italians modified it, so it isn't copy-paste. 

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

3 hours ago, JamesPond1200@psn said:

Sure! The Italians modified it, so it isn't copy-paste. 

It's so extensively different it's a shame to think of it as a German boat at all.

[ItalianAce02 40]

+1 for a good vessel

[Ruthless95 1,177]

italians are known for massive overhauls of their military vessels. from BBs to torpedo boats. +1

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

Italy has so few torpedo boats.  The Coastal TT needs more for deeper lineups and more engaging gameplay.