Motozattera Mz 759 - WWII Italian landing ship

[Emanuele]

Foreseeing the invasion of Malta, the Regia Marina found itself without landing ships, so it ordered to the Italian shipyards the light ML class (15 tons displacement, only 9 built) and the more heavy Bette MZ, based on the German "Marinefährprahm (MFP-A)". The Regia Marina ordered 100 of them in two series, the first of 60 and the second one of 40 using the German numeration (from 701 to 799). The first series differs from the German one for the engines (three OM diesel of 150hp) and armament (one 76/40 gun plus a Scotti 20/70mm). The second series had two Scotti 20/70mm and an upper bow.
As you know, Operation C3 was never launched, and the Motozattere were used as transport ships, mine-laying and other duties. On September 1942, the English launched a Commando raid against Tobruk (Operation Agreement). The Mz 759 spotted the English force and moved, together with the Mz 756, against the English Pt-boats. Practically immune to torpedoes and with their heavy armament, the two MZs put in disarray the landing force, destroying three Pt-boats and disbanding the landing ships. Originally, I thought to built the Mz 756, which even shot down the Beaufighter that sank it, but in an Italian forum I meet the nephew of the Mz 759 Captain... so I had to built the second one.

These are the pictures of the 3d model:

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

It looks like you are off to a really good start on this project.

 

[Longbow]

Very interesting subject !

 

[Emanuele]

Thanks, the Italian Navy is a little neglected by modelers...
hope to fill the gap.

These are the pictures of the hull structure

 

[zathros]

Great looking start here. What are you modeling in?

 

[Emanuele]

Well, I use Blender, Sketchup and an old version of 3dsmax...
depend of what I need to do: I'm not good at any of this program and I use the easiest tool of all them... then I spent lots of time converting files from one to another.

This is the hull nearly completed:

 

[zathros]

I could not build a box in 3DSMax. My hats off to you! It really is a nice model. There is a website I found that showed the last one of these being stricken from the registry in 1995!! I do not know if any are left, but they were a robust design and built to last. The picture below is from 1967.

 

[Emanuele]

Oh, yes, Zathros they remained in service until the '80 in various roles, whilst more of these survivors were from the second series and were completely rebuilt (mostly with a closed bridge for the crew).

This is the main gun and the Scotti 20mm finished:

 

[Emanuele]

This is the Safe boat completed and the "bridge"



/

 

[zathros]

I am most happy to see your progress continues on these wonderful ships.

 

[scifimodelfan]

Beautifully done

 

[Emanuele]

Some upgrades...

 

[zathros]

The detailing is really making it come to life.. Superb.

 

[Emanuele]

The model is now completed! Hope you enjoy it.

Here are the pictures of the Motozattera in its base. The next model would be the italian submarine x2 or the destroyer Tigre. See you soon!

 

[zathros]

AWESOME!!