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The Jymy-class motor torpedo boats (English: "Rumble") or J class was an Italian-designed and built class of motor torpedo boats, seeing service during World War II with the Royal Italian Navy and later with the Finnish Navy. The four boats of the J class were built by Cantieri Baglietto in Genoa, Italy and purchased by the Finns on 5 June 1943. Following World War II, the vessels were rearmed according to the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947, losing their torpedo capabilities and given more guns. They were removed from service in 1961.

Design and description

The J class were initially four motor torpedo boats of the Italian MAS 526 class. The MAS 526 class were a lengthened version of the preceding MAS 501 class with a displacement of 25 tonnes (25 long tons), measuring 18.7 metres (61 ft 4 in) long with a beam of 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) and a draught of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in). The motor torpedo boats were propelled by two propellers powered by two Isotta-Fraschini petrol engines creating 1,500 kilowatts (2,000 bhp). They had a maximum speed of 42 knots (78 km/h; 48 mph). The vessels carried 1.25 t (1.23 long tons; 1.38 short tons) of fuel giving them a range of 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) or 360 nmi (670 km; 410 mi) at 42 knots. The J class were armed with two 450-millimetre (18 in) torpedo tubes, one 20 mm (0.79 in) Breda gun and one 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine gun.

Vessels of the class

Construction and career

All four vessels were constructed in Italy and served with the Royal Italian Navy during World War II. Finland acquired the four motor torpedo boats on 5 June 1943. The Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 was signed following the end of World War II, and Finland was prohibited by the treaty from having torpedo-carrying vessels. The ships were converted into motor gunboats in 1949, in accordance with the treaty. The vessels were rearmed with a 40 mm (1.6 in) gun in addition to the 20 mm gun. Their maximum speed was reduced to 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) and their displacement decreased to 22 tonnes (22 long tons). The J-class vessels were stricken from the naval vessel register in 1961.

Citations

1. Roberts 1980, p. 313.
2. Westerlund 1980, p. 336.
3. ^ Westerlund 1980, p. 367.
4. ^ Fraccaroli 1974, pp. 168–169.
5. Blackman 1953, p. 141.
6. Blackman 1960, p. 141.

References

• Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1953). Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54. London: Sampson, Low and Marston. OCLC 913556389.
• Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1960). Jane's Fighting Ships 1960–61. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. OCLC 946722815.
• Fraccaroli, Aldo (1974) . Italian Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0002-6.
• Roberts, John (1980). "Italy". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 280–317. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Westerlund, Karl-Erik (1980). "Finland". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 363–367. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.

• Torpedo boats of the Finnish Navy
• Torpedo boat classes