Difference between revisions of "MS-53"

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* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
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{{ShipManufacturer CRDA}}
 
{{Italy boats}}
 
{{Italy boats}}

Revision as of 09:30, 11 December 2021

Rank IV USSR | Premium | Golden Eagles
Tu-1 Pack
This page is about the Italian motor torpedo boat MS-53. For other versions, see MS (Family).
it_ms53_2a.png
GarageImage MS-53.jpg
MS-53
Research:11 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:22 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The CRDA 60t (2a), MS-53 is a rank II Italian motor torpedo boat with a battle rating of 1.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Starfighters".

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull40 mm (wood)
Superstructure15 mm (wood)
Number of section3
Displacement68 t
Crew19 people

The MS-53 has a crew of 19 people, 40 mm of wood for protection in the hull and 15 mm of wood for the structure, meaning it can be easily destroyed by HE belts.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB82 / 33 km/h
RB58 / 23 km/h

The MS-53 is powered by 3 Isotta Fraschini "ASSO" Engines that make it reach 58 km/h. It's slower than its predecessor MS-15 because it carries more additional armament. Turning speed and manoeuvrability are good for its BR.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 82 33
RB/SB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 58 23

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB611 → 753 Sl icon.png
RB898 → 1 107 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications10 360 Rp icon.png
13 810 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost750 Ge icon.png
Crew training6 300 Sl icon.png
Experts22 000 Sl icon.png
Aces250 Ge icon.png
Research Aces220 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
70 / 90 / 100 % Sl icon.png
124 / 124 / 124 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Research:
690 Rp icon.png
Cost:
910 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Research:
840 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 100 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Research:
690 Rp icon.png
Cost:
910 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Research:
840 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 100 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
20mm_it_breda_he_ammo_pack
Research:
690 Rp icon.png
Cost:
910 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
20mm_it_breda_ap_ammo_pack
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods depth charge.png
Depth Charges
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 200 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods torpedo.png
Torpedo Mode
Research:
840 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 100 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png
Mods ship art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
840 Rp icon.png
Cost:
1 100 Sl icon.png
135 Ge icon.png

Armament

Primary armament

2 х Turret20 mm/65 Breda anti-aircraft gun
Ammunition1500 rounds
Belt capacity12 rounds
Fire rate240 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 90°

As main armament, the MS-53 uses 2 x 20 mm/65 Breda cannons. These cannons cause little damage, and have magazines of only 12 shots before reloading. The cannons can take motor torpedo boats but not bigger targets.

Additional armament

Setup 12 x 533 mm steam turbined torpedo S.I. 270/533X6.84 Tipo L
2 x 450 mm steam turbined W.200/450X5,75 torpedo
Setup 212 x B TG depth charge
Setup 32 x 533 mm steam turbined torpedo S.I. 270/533X6.84 Tipo L
2 x 450 mm steam turbined W.200/450X5,75 torpedo
12 x B TG depth charge

As additional armament, the MS-53 can carry 2 different types of torpedoes and depth charges. The torpedoes S.I.270 have a maximum speed of 93 km/h (81 km/h with torpedo mode), 270 kg of explosive and a range of 4 km (8 km with torpedo mode) while the torpedoes W.200/450X5,75 have a maximum speed of 81 km/h, 200 kg of explosive and a range of 3 km (with the torpedo mode or not). The depth charges B TG have 50 kg of explosive.

Usage in battles

The MS-53 is a slower version of the MS-15 but it got more additional armament that is 2 torpedoes so you have more possibility to destroy some enemies with the torpedoes. The cannon are quite bad because the 20 mm cause too much little damage, the best advice is not to attack frontally or get surrounded by the enemy but to go around them and shoot them from the side. You will immediately notice the little damage the cannons cause so it is recommended using 2 belts one AP for tough targets and armored and the other HE for targets with little protection.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Can carry 4 torpedoes with various degrees of spread.
  • Good reload speed for the main guns
  • Good speed (58 km/h)
  • Good turn radius 

Cons:

  • Lacks armament (only 2 x 20 mm cannons)
  • The 20 mm cannons have small magazines and a slow rate of fire
  • Terrible survivability
  • No anti-aircraft guns
  • Bad rear cannon placement with mediocre firing angles

History

Main article: History of the MS-15
MS-53 During Sail

Operational history of MS-53

On 22 October 1942, MS-53 was launched at the Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico in Monfalcone, entered service on 9 March 1943 and was assigned to the 5th Torpedo Boat Squadron (Va Squadriglia Motosiluranti).

MS-53 was sent in July to Sicily to operate against the Anglo-American naval forces engaged in the invasion of the island. In the same month, the MS-53 and its twin MS-51 took part in a violent battle against Allied torpedo boats off the coast of Acireale. In the night of July 21, MS-53, along with her sister ships MS-21, MS-51 and MS-66, attacked the British destroyer Quantock and the Greek destroyer Adrias east of Cape Campolato. During the combat at close range, the MS-66 was seriously damaged, on which the commander of the 5th Torpedo Boat Squadron, Lieutenant Commander Curzio Castagnacci, died. The destroyers Quantock and Adrias were slightly damaged and some members of the crew died after being hit by the guns of the Italian torpedo boats.

Afterwards, the MS-53, together with the MS-21, MS-65 and MS-66, clashed against the American PT-203, PT-214 and PT-218 motor torpedo boats in a confused night skirmish on July 21. The American torpedo motorboats, returning to Palermo (already occupied by the Allies on 22 July 1943) after a fruitless night attack to attack the ships involved in the evacuation of the Axis troops through the Strait of Messina, detected the Italian MS on radar and launched a salvo of torpedoes against them. The torpedoes, however, passed without exploding under the hulls of the Italian MS. Then, PT-218 attacked the Italian MS with its machine guns in a close encounter. A fight ensued, which ended with the PT-218 riddled with bullets and having suffered very serious damages, with many losses among the crew meanwhile the Crew of MS were unharmed and the Italian boats got minimal damage.

On 8 September 1943, upon the announcement of the armistice between Italy and the Allies, MS-53 was located in Crotone. The next day, at 2:00 AM, the MS-53, together with the MS-65 and the MAS 547, left Crotone bound for Taranto to avoid the risk of being captured by German troops moving in the area. The three small units reached Taranto at 8:30 AM. In the evening, the MS-53 (Second Lieutenant Mario Manusardi), together with the corvette Flora (Lieutenant Giorgio Volpe), escorted the tug Tarantola and the motor raft MZ 758, which carried a company of the Battalion "San Vito" sent to reinforce the garrison of the coastal battery "Toscano", which reported that German troops are approaching its stronghold with unclear intentions. The MS-53 remained based in Taranto until November.

During November and December 1943, the MS-53, together with the MS-54, 55, 56, 61, 65 and 73, was transferred to Termoli to be employed in special missions, alongside MS-31, 33 and 74 (moved there in October) of transporting and landing British informers and commandos on the Adriatic coast of Central and Northern Italy occupied by German forces.

Sinking

The operational life of the MS-53 came to an abrupt end on the night between 31 December 1943 and 1 January 1944. That night a violent storm broke out in Termoli and created a breach in the pier, removing the mooring holds of the MS 53. The commander of the torpedo boat, Lieutenant Mario Manusardi, tried in vain to bring his unit to a sheltered corner of the port, but the engines did not respond, and the MS 53 would end up going on the land, causing damage to the hull.

On 22 January 1944 the MS-53 was towed to Manfredonia, with the escort of the MS-31. Here it could only be ascertained that it was impossible to restore the torpedo boat to full efficiency: consequently, the MS-53 - declared out of service - was laid up in December 1944, and never returned to service.

After the 1947 peace treaty, the MS-53 was assigned to the Soviet Union; on 18 May 1949 the MS-53 was removed from the naval cadre and formally incorporated into the Soviet Navy under the new name of TK-971, but was refused by the Soviet Navy because of her poor condition (in 1948 she was reduced to the hull), which made her restoration inconvenient. Returned to the Italian Navy, the motor torpedo boat was again decommissioned on 1 July 1950 and subsequently demolished.

Media

Images

See also

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (C.R.D.A)
Motor Torpedo/Gun Boats 
Motosilurante CRDA 60 t Type I  MS-15 · MV-611*
Motosilurante CRDA 60 t Type II  MS-53
Motosilurante CRDA 60 t Convertibile  MS-472 · MS-473
Folgore-class  MC-490
Freccia-class  Saetta P-494
Light Cruisers 
Etna-class  RN Etna
  *MS-11 converted to a motovedette (patrol boat)

Italy boats
Motor torpedo boats  MC-490 · Freccia P-493 · MAS 555 · MAS 561 · MAS 569
  MS-15 · MS-53 · MS-472 · Stefano Turr · VAS 201 · GIS 811 · MC 485
Motor gun boats  MAS 441 · MS-473 · MV-611 · Alano · Sparviero
Motor torpedo gun boats  Saetta P-494
Gunboats  Albatros · Alcione