{"product_id":"soviet-motor-torpedo-boats-of-world-war-ii-tupolevs-aircraft-inspired-fast-attack-craft-9781472866608","title":"Soviet Motor Torpedo Boats of World War II: Tupolev's Aircraft-Inspired Fast Attack Craft","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003eSh-4\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eG-5\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Packed with superb new artwork and unpublished photos, it examines Tupolev's torpedo boats as well as the handful of other MTBs the Soviet Union fielded.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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrzemyslaw Budzbon \u003c\/b\u003eis 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 \u003ci\u003eWarship Quarterly\u003c\/i\u003e and other magazines, and his \u003ci\u003eSoviet Navy at War 1941-45\u003c\/i\u003e was published in 1989. He is a regular contributor to \u003ci\u003eWarship\u003c\/i\u003e and has recently published two books on Polish shipyards from the post-1990 era.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWaldemar G?ralski \u003c\/b\u003eis a highly experienced 3D ship modeller, and \u003cb\u003ePiotr Forkasiewicz \u003c\/b\u003ea renowned digital artist.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Osprey Publishing (UK)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51201251410194,"sku":"9781472866608","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_435c7c8b-a95f-496b-9c0a-0de46a376fc5.jpg?v=1744908800","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/soviet-motor-torpedo-boats-of-world-war-ii-tupolevs-aircraft-inspired-fast-attack-craft-9781472866608","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}