{"product_id":"italian-mas-ms-boats-enrico-cernuschi-9781472870216","title":"Italian Mas \u0026 MS Boats: Italy's Fast Coastal Forces","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn illustrated history of the motor torpedo boats of Italy's fast coastal forces, from their raids on enemy battleships in World War I to the dashing campaigns of World War II.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The confined seas around Italy made fast torpedo boats particularly suitable for the Regia Marina. The first were derived from the glamorous prewar hotel motorboats of Venice; although too slow, they scored remarkable successes against Austro-Hungary, sinking, among other successes, two battleships, as well as conducting valuable and little-known anti-submarine work. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Researched from unpublished primary sources, this is the first authoritative book in English to study the MAS boats, their larger MS successors, and their wars in the Adriatic, Mediterranean and beyond. Renowned Italian naval historian Enrico Cernuschi explores their evolving technology, roles, and how the boats fought in two world wars. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Illustrated with unpublished photos and superb original artwork, it traces their history from the famous actions of World War I to the troubled search for a real 'velocissimo' (very fast) MAS boat and their multifaceted roles in World War II, from the Malta convoy battles to the Black Sea naval war. It also explores little-known episodes such as their dangerous, clandestine roles post-1943, landing intelligence agents and commandos, and their secret 1945-48 battles against Yugoslavian communist infiltrators.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Enrico Cernuschi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1472870212\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781472870216\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Osprey Publishing (UK)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/21\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 48\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.76h x 7.24w x 1.00d","brand":"Enrico Cernuschi","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48217381208319,"sku":"9781472870216","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_5bcfba27-13f8-4fe1-b45a-5952d67f6a19.jpg?v=1771996862","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/italian-mas-ms-boats-enrico-cernuschi-9781472870216","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}