MAS (ships)
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Motoscafo Armato Silurante (Italian: "Torpedo Armed Motorboat", commonly abbreviated as MAS) was a class of fast armed vessel used by the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II. Originally, the acronym "MAS" referred to Motorbarca Armata SVAN ("Armed Motorboat SVAN"), where SVAN stood for Società Veneziana Automobili Navali (Naval Automobiles Society of Venice)[1]
MAS were essentially motorboats with displacement of 20-30 tonnes (depending from the class) with some 10 men of crew, with armament composed of two torpedoes, machine guns and occasionally a light gun.
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[edit] World War I
MAS were widely employed by Regia Marina during World War I in 1915-1918. Models used were directly derived from compact civilian motorboats, provided with compact and reliable (characteristics wich were not common at the time) petrol engines. They were used both in the anti-submarine patrol role, but also for daring attacks against major units of the Austrian navy.
The greatest success of Italian MAS was the sinking of the battleship Szent István at Pula on June 10, 1918.
[edit] World War II
Italian MAS continued to be improved after the end of World War I, thanks also to the availability of Isotta Fraschini engines. World War II MAS had a maximum speed of 45 knots, 2 450 mm torpedoes and one machine gun for anti-aircraft fire. In 1940 there were 48 MAS500-class units available. Old units were used in secondary theatres, such the Africa Orientale Italiana.
Notable war actions performed by MAS include: torpedoing of the South African cruiser Capetown; the failed attack to the harbour of Malta in January 1941, which caused the loss of 2 motorboats; the sinking of several Soviet submarines in the Black Sea.
Obsolescence of small MAS was apparent during the conflict, and they were incresingly replaced by Yugoslavian torpedo boats built in Germany (classified "MS" - Moto Siluranti by the Regia Marina).
[edit] Trivia
The Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio used the MAS acronym for his Latin mot: Memento Audere Semper.
