MAS 555

This page is about the Italian motor torpedo boat MAS 555. For other versions, see MAS 500 (Family).

MAS 555

Saetta P-494

MS-53

MAS 555

Saetta P-494

MS-53

Italy

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.0	1.0	1.0

Class:

Motor torpedo boat

Boat

Research:2 900

Purchase:700

Show in game

Description

The Velocissimo Classe 500, MAS 555 is a rank I Italian motor torpedo boat with a battle rating of 1.0 (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

Displacement29 t

Crew13 people

The MAS 555's hull is protected only by 40 mm of wood with the superstructure featuring 15 mm of wood. It does not have any kind of external or internal armour this means that the ship is more vulnerable to ammunition. The survivability of the MAS 555 in general is poor because the ship only has 13 crew members, which makes it an easy target to destroy in combat.

Comparable options to the MAS 555 are the LS 3, the G-5, or the PT-6, they however have more survivability and can resist more shots.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB112 / 45 km/h

RB80 / 32 km/h

The MAS 555 is a very fast ship up to 80 km/h in RB, 112 km/h AB. It is very manoeuvrable, this makes it very fast and agile. Providing the ability to reach the enemy quickly to initiate a first strike by launching its torpedoes and allowing sneak attacks with its use of depth charges to destroy enemy boats easily with a few drops. Thanks to its agility, it can dodge shots and make surprise/lateral attacks.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	82	33	~20	~41.56
	Upgraded	112	45	~13	~25.29
RB/SB	Stock	68	28	~22	~46.69
	Upgraded	80	32	~19	~39.48

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB79 → 97

RB119 → 146

Total cost of modifications2 970

905

Talisman cost190

Crew training200

Experts1 000

Aces20

Research Aces96 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

10 / 20 / 100 %

100 / 100 / 100 %

Modifications

Seakeeping	Unsinkability	Firepower
Dry-Docking Research: 200 Cost: 60 55 Rudder Replacement Research: 165 Cost: 50 45 Propeller Replacement Research: 250 Cost: 75 70 Engine Maintenance Research: 240 Cost: 75 65	Damage Control Division Research: 200 Cost: 60 55 Fire Division Research: 165 Cost: 50 45 Smokescreen Research: 165 Cost: 50 45 New Pumps Research: 240 Cost: 75 65	20mm_it_breda_he_ammo_pack Research: 200 Cost: 60 55 20mm_it_breda_ap_ammo_pack Research: 165 Cost: 50 45 Primary Armament Targeting Research: 250 Cost: 75 70 Depth Charges Research: 250 Cost: 75 70 Artillery Support Research: 240 Cost: 75 65 Torpedo Mode Research: 240 Cost: 75 65

Armament

Primary armament

Turret20 mm/65 Breda anti-aircraft gun

Ammunition1500 rounds

Belt capacity12 rounds

Fire rate240 shots/min

Vertical guidance-10° / 90°

The firing angles of the autocannon, unable to fire directly in front

The primary armament, in fact the only armament, is a Breda 20 mm cannon. It has a rate of fire of 240 shots/min and a 12-shot magazine before reloading for a minimum of 1.8 seconds. The cannon is unable to shot in front of the ship, it is necessary to locate broadside or turn your ship 180 degrees.

Three different belts containing two different shells are available:

• Perforante mod.35 (unlocked by default): API-T · HEFI-T
• Granata mod.35: HEFI-T · HEFI-T · HEFI-T · API-T
• Perforante mod.35: API-T · API-T · API-T · HEFI-T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
20 mm APIT	APIT	38	36	27	19	14	10
20 mm HEFIT	HEFIT	2	2	2	2	2	2

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
20 mm APIT	APIT	832	0.14	1.3	15	1.7	47°	60°	65°
20 mm HEFIT	HEFIT	830	0.14	0	0.1	3	79°	80°	81°

These belts are mostly the same, the HEFI-T belt is slightly more suitable against wooden boats, like PT-6 and the MTB 1, as well as low flying aircraft, while the API-T belt is slightly more suitable against component damage and steel boats, like the LS 3 and the G-5.

Additional armament

Setup 12 x 450 mm steam turbined W.200/450X5,75 torpedo

Setup 26 x B TG depth charge

Setup 32 x 450 mm steam turbined W.200/450X5,75 torpedo

6 x B TG depth charge

Two 450 mm steam turbined W.200/450X5,75 torpedoes on the left and on the right of the ship are a useful tool against larger sub chasers and gunboats when being able to sneak up. They have a maximum speed 81 km/h, a range of 3 km, and an explosive filler of 200 kg, enough to destroy any ship at the battle rating.

The MAS is one of the reserve boats able to carry six B TG depth charges with an explosive filler of 50 kg. These however are extremely situational and most of the time defensive in nature, as you have to drive in front of the enemy ship, or wait for the enemy to pass you, to utilize these weapons. Furthermore, 50 kg of explosives is very weak for a depth charge, as most others have around 100-140 kg of TNT, limiting effective use even further.

But despite the drawbacks, making a kill with these is one of, if not the most, satisfying ways to destroy an enemy player and equally humiliating for those who are on the receiving end.

Usage in battles

The MAS 555 is a rather strange boat, despite being the reserve boat equipped with the largest calibre, its slow rate of fire and small magazine, as well as the inability to fire directly forwards drastically limits its potential. However, it can still be a significant threat to other ships.

The best strategy whilst using the cannon is not to drive forward into battle, but to turn your rear to the enemy, and sailing in reverse. This way you can negate the limiting firing arcs at the front and still only reveal a small part of the hull, which extends your life expectancy by a few crucial seconds. The best way is to stay behind cover and move only rearwards when engaging and then back into cover. A one on one fight against almost any other PT boat will not go in your favour, therefore the element of surprise is most important.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good top speed forwards and backwards
• Good turn time
• Equipped with 2 torpedoes
• Good acceleration.

Cons:

• The 20 mm cannon can't shoot in the front of the ship, angle of fire is only 270°
• The cannon has small magazines and a slow rate of fire
• Very unstable gun platform, can be very difficult to make precise shots
• Although it a good armament for a reserve boat, the 20 mm does not consistently inflict damage
• No anti-aircraft protection
• Poor survivability: no armour and low crew count
• Aircraft can strafe the ship and knock it out with a few well placed shots.

History

After the armistice of 8 September 1943, the MAS 555 was used by Co-Belligerent Italy, in particular it was used together with two British motor boats against a German landing convoy on 12 November 1943, after a few hours the MAS 555 was sunk during the German landing at Rhodes.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the MAS 555 from live.warthunder.com.

Images

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See also

Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the ship;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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