During the post-war period, Italy began to experiment with new coastal units capable of adapting their armament to various roles as needed. This led to the development of the convertible Motosilurante, which could quickly change their armament in port to enhance combat capabilities and support coastal units. The first examples of convertible Motosilurante were the MS boats from World War II, which underwent significant modifications. Subsequently, the unique MC-490 was built, equipped with new armament systems. The development continued with the Lampo and Freccia classes.

The MC-490, launched on June 21, 1954 and commissioned on August 1, 1955, primarily served as a test platform for navigation and convertible armament. It was later renamed as P-490 and had its old 40 mm Bofors guns replaced with the 40 mm Breda-Bofors. It remained in service until its decommissioning on October 15, 1976.

Introduced in Update "Starfighters", the MC-490 is a convertible torpedo boat armed with two single 40 mm Bofors guns. These guns are highly effective against most targets, except for large ships. In such cases, targeting the engine room with armour-piercing rounds can cause significant crew loss on the enemy vessel. Additionally, the MC-490 is equipped with four torpedoes, offering the chance to destroy destroyers and light cruisers. The boat possesses good manoeuvrability and speed. While the boat can withstand several hits, it is only resilient against small-calibre shots. It is advisable to flank the enemy by navigating between islands and utilizing obstacles.