MS-473

This page is about the Italian motor gun boat MS-473. For other versions, see CRDA60t (Family).

MS-473

MV-611

RN Gabbiano

MS-473

MV-611

RN Gabbiano

Italy

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	3.0	3.0

Class:

Motor gun boat

Boat

Research:89 000

Purchase:300 000

Show in game

Description

Built as the MS-31, this vessel was launched on June 18, 1942, and was swiftly completed and commissioned into the 2nd Squadron on June 24, 1942. It was promptly deployed to the Strait of Sicily, where it engaged in several operations against the British Navy. Among its notable endeavours was its involvement in the Battle of Mid-August (Operation Pedestal), as well as a successful ambush south of Ra’s Muşţafá where it sank a British ship. Following the Italian armistice in 1943, the vessel joined the Italian Co-Belligerent Navy and took part in special missions, including the renowned operation that involved rescuing British saboteurs in Fano, where it destroyed an enemy train. In 1957, the vessel underwent modernization, with the installation of a more powerful engine and the replacement of its two 20 mm Breda cannons with two 40 mm Bofors guns. It was subsequently renamed MS-473. During this period, the ship primarily engaged in training exercises and coastal control duties. On December 1, 1974, it was decommissioned in Taranto and subsequently transferred to Venice, where it is now on display at the Venice Nautical History Museum.

Introduced in Update "Starfighters", the MS-473 is equipped with two single Bofors 40 mm guns, which are highly effective against most naval and aerial targets. As additional armament, it carries 8 depth charges; although they prove to be somewhat impractical, in close encounters with a naval target, they can be used to inflict significant damage or destroy the enemy vessel outright. The manoeuvrability and speed of the ship are sufficient, allowing for evasion of enemy attacks. In terms of survivability, it is comparable to other ships of the CRDA 60(t) class.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull40 mm (wood)

Superstructure15 mm (wood)

Number of section3

Displacement63 t

Crew20 people

The survival of MS-473 mainly is not one of the best but still, it can withstand various damage from enemies up to 40mm calibre, after this calibre it is easily destroyed by anything it is not to be used in confrontation but flank enemy boats and ships, the armour itself is almost the same as all other CRDA 60(t) boats.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB82 / 31 km/h

RB61 / 23 km/h

The speed of the MS-473 is quite good, and thanks to its manoeuvrability that gives you the ability to curve quickly you can dodge several hits from enemy ships, the acceleration is also not bad.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	82	31
RB/SB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	61	23

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 211 → 3 946

RB4 203 → 5 165

Total cost of modifications90 300

154 800

Talisman cost1 700

Crew training87 000

Experts300 000

Aces1 100

Research Aces520 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 200 / 100 %

172 / 172 / 172 %

Modifications

Seakeeping	Unsinkability	Firepower
Dry-Docking Research: 6 000 Cost: 10 000 220 Rudder Replacement Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 700 185 Propeller Replacement Research: 7 500 Cost: 13 000 270 Engine Maintenance Research: 9 800 Cost: 17 000 360	Damage Control Division Research: 6 000 Cost: 10 000 220 Fire Division Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 700 185 Smokescreen Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 700 185 New Pumps Research: 9 800 Cost: 17 000 360	40 mm HE clips Research: 6 000 Cost: 10 000 220 40 mm AP clips Research: 5 100 Cost: 8 700 185 Primary Armament Targeting Research: 7 500 Cost: 13 000 270 Depth Charges Research: 7 500 Cost: 13 000 270 Artillery Support Research: 9 800 Cost: 17 000 360

Armament

Primary armament

2 х Turret40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3 gun

Ammunition2000 rounds

Belt capacity4 rounds

Fire rate160 shots/min

Vertical guidance-6° / 90°

The main armament consists of only two single 40mm guns positioned one in the front and one in the back of the Motor gun boat, this armament is pier good against almost any enemy target, thanks to the selection of shots and penetration, the belt HE very useful for destroying light targets such as other coastal ships and enemy aircraft, while the belt AP even though it causes little damage can penetrate even motor torpedo boats and damage them the main advice is to target the engines to remove the enemy crew faster

• Universal: AP-T · HEFI-T
• 40 mm HE clips: HEFI-T · HEFI-T · HEFI-T · AP-T
• 40 mm AP clips: AP-T · AP-T · AP-T · HEFI-T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
HEFI-T	3	3	3	3	3	3
AP-T	81	78	68	58	49	41

Shell details
Ammunition	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
						0%	50%	100%
HEFI-T	874	0.9	0	0.1	67.13	79°	80°	81°
AP-T	874	0.89	-	-	-	47°	60°	65°

Additional armament

Setup 18 x B TG 100 depth charge

The only additional armament that the MS-473 carries are depth charges that are very useless because of the speed of your vehicle and your survivability, but if you happen to have a naval enemy very close to you use them because they will be able to destroy them quickly or create a hole in them that is difficult to repair.

Usage in battles

MS-473 unlike the MS-472 doesn't carry torpedoes which are very useful for any naval target so you'll have to watch out for enemy destroyers and ships with good survivability because your two 40mm don't kill instantly you'll need some time to destroy the enemy target in fact you'll aim to destroy more at enemy coastal ships, instead you need to start learning how to shoot at enemy aircraft being that you are only equipped with main armament then controlled by you, but it is not just the difference of the lack of torpedoes, in fact the MS-473 carries 8 B TG 100 depth charges instead of torpedoes, these charges are always useful against any enemy ship and manages to create holes in the hull of enemy ships that take a long time to be closed, this will be your only armament against ships much larger than you, in the end always try to go out suddenly and shoot at the enemy never frontal collision because if not you can not use the second 40mm in your possession, and remember to check the tide during the game because if you find it calm you will not have problems to aim at the enemy instead if it is moved it will be much more difficult and you will have to adjust your speed to be able to aim well.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Adeguate armament
• Effective speed and acceleration

Cons:

• No torpedoes
• Mediocre survivability

History

MS 31

Launched on June 18, 1942, CRDA at Monfacone, built and commissioned on June 24, 1942, was assigned to the 2°Squadriglia, transferred to bases in the Sicilian Channel in late July 1942, in the same month specifically on the 12th and 13th participated in operations against the British convoy bound for Malta during the Battle of Mid-August, on the night of August 13, 1943, MS 31, under the command of Lt. Calvani, was in an ambush south of Ras Mustafa, which had intercepted a signal to discover MS 22, found an enemy formation just south of Kelibia, was spotted by enemy ships and retreated only to later attack from 700 meters with torpedoes, the targets whose torpedoes were fired were a destroyer and a steamer, the only target to be hit being the steamer Glenorchy which sank soon after.

Between 1942 and 1943 it participated in various attack, rescue and escort operations, on the date of the armistice MS 31 was in Taranto and remained stationed at that base until October 10, 1943, on the same date it moved to Brindisi joining the reconstituted 1°Flottiglia Motosiluranti, also in the same month with MS 33 and MS 74, it was stationed in Termoli from where it began operations against the Germans in the Adriatic, in which it participated until the spring of 1945.

On the evening of June 19, 1944, under the command of Vessel Scialdone, together with MS 64 she carried out a daring operation to land and recover British saboteurs near Fano. Having carried out the release and recovery of the saboteurs, who had undermined the coastal railroad, she together with MS 64 carried out a firing action against a stationary German military train near the beach, MS 64 and MS 31 fired for a good 5 minutes in which they caused the tank car full of gasoline to explode, and numerous fires on the train after ceasing fire the two units pulled out and headed for Termoli, where they returned the next morning.

After the end of WW2, even though they were to be handed over to the U.S. because of the Peace Treaty, she remained in service with the Italian Navy, after a certain period of inactivity, she became part of the Coastal Forces Group, being employed for exercises in the Adriatic, later transferred to the dependencies of the Gruppo Forze Costiere, in 1957, together with the MS 24, she went into reserve and put under modernization.

MS 473

Before modernization and Italy's entry into NATO, the ship was classified MV-613, after entry renamed MS 613 and eventually after the radiation of the old destroyed units it was named MS 473.

After World War II in 1957 together with MS 24 she was put under modernization, modernization decided by the General Staff consisted only of some modifications to the hull and outfitting, embarkation of new more powerful engines specifically CRM 185-ASM of 1500 HP and eventually outfitting with more modern and efficient armaments.

The MS 473 was modernized by removing 2 front 553mm torpedo launchers, and 2 side 450mm pulse launchers, the 20/65mm Breda towers present in the torpedo boat were replaced with single 40mm Bofors guns.

After various training activities and coastal control missions, MS-473 was decommissioned in Taranto on Dec. 1, 1974, and transferred to the reserve, was not scrapped instead was repainted and placed in the Naval Historical Museum in Venice.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

• MS-472
• MV-611

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)