The Soldier Who Rode an Exploding Boat

Added: 2026-06-02

During World War II, Italy developed MT (Motoscafo da Turismo) explosive motorboats, essentially manned torpedoes, as a secret weapon. Italian Lieutenant Roberto Frassetto exemplified this dangerous tactic in 1941 when he steered his MT boat at maximum speed toward a British cruiser in the Mediterranean, ejecting himself at the last moment while the boat exploded against the hull. This audacious attack, designed to destroy enemy ships through direct impact and explosion, represented one of the most extreme naval warfare tactics of the era, demonstrating how desperate military situations led to innovative and highly dangerous weapon designs.