BARCHINO EXPLOSIVE MOTORBOAT

• SCALE: 1/300TH
• 6 VESSELS
• Metal

Developed in the inter-war years by the Royal Italian Navy, these explosive boats were developed for special operations and would inspire the German Linse program. They were designed to be launched from a mothership, making a silent approach while avoiding any harbour defences, before the pilot locked the rudder and rammed it against the side of an unsuspecting ship.

The Barchini would first see action against the British fleet moored at Crete's Souda Bay, severely damaging the heavy cruiser HMS York and sinking the Norwegian tanker Pericles.