Soviet Motor Torpedo Boats of World War II
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
Soviet Motor Torpedo Boats of World War II
By (Author) Przemyslaw Budzbon
Illustrated by Waldemar Gralski
Illustrated by Piotr Forkasiewicz
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Osprey Publishing
1st July 2025
13th March 2025
United Kingdom
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
Naval forces and warfare
Ship design and naval architecture
Maritime history
359.83580947
Physical Properties
Paperback
48
Width 184mm, Height 248mm
Description
In the 1920s and 30s, aircraft designer Andrey Tupolev designed a series of advanced torpedo boats for the USSR. Superbly illustrated, this is their first history in English.
The Soviet Navy's fast attack craft were inspired by the 1919 Kronstadt raid, conducted by British hydroplaning, torpedo-armed Coastal Motor Boats (CMBs). The first were to be CMB copies, but with Soviet shipbuilding incapable of the project, it was handed to the Aerodynamic Institute, headed by Andrey Tupolev. Built with aircraft engines and technology, his 50kt boats were as photogenic as they were bumpy and noisy, and made a vivid impression on propaganda newsreels. Some were adapted with remote control guidance, a pioneering development of the naval drone.
Written by a former Soviet naval architect, this book is the first in English to offer a history of these fascinating, dashing craft. He explains that, technically advanced but flawed, the Sh-4 and G-5 had no opportunity to act in their designated role in World War II. Instead, some were employed instead as landing craft, while others were rearmed and used as minelayers or subchasers. Many were adapted as fire support craft with Katyusha rocket launchers installed.
Packed with superb new artwork and unpublished photos, it examines Tupolev's torpedo boats as well as the handful of other MTBs the Soviet Union fielded. It is an account of a rare impressive design in the prewar Soviet Navy.
Author Bio
Przemyslaw Budzbon is a naval architect who worked on Soviet warship construction in the 1980s. He has written widely on the history of the Polish and Soviet navies for Warship Quarterly and other magazines, and his Soviet Navy at War 194145 was published in 1989. He is a regular contributor to Warship and has recently published two books on Polish shipyards from the post-1990 era.
Waldemar Gralski is a highly experienced 3D ship modeller, and Piotr Forkasiewicz a renowned digital artist.
