Saetta P-494

Saetta P-494

Alano

Saetta P-494

Alano

Italy

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.7	4.7	4.7

Class:

Motor torpedo gun boat

Heavy boat

Boat

Research:280 000

Purchase:780 000

Description

The MC 590, Saetta P-494 is a rank V Italian motor torpedo gun boat with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update "Starfighters". As of Update "Starfighters", it is the only naval vessel in the game to be equipped with guided weapons.

General info

Saetta sails into battle

Survivability and armour

The only armour on this vehicle surrounds the two 40 mm main cannons, which can be useful for keeping the guns operational when coming under fire. However, the rest of the vehicle has no armour protection.

The Saetta can survive a number of hits when dealing with gunboats, but higher-calibre cannons such as those on destroyers will have no trouble sinking it.

The hull of this vessel is made up of 8 mm of steel, and the superstructure is made up of 4 mm of steel.

Mobility

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	99	39
RB/SB	Stock	___	___
	Upgraded	74	29

The Saetta has the highest top speed of any non-premium tier 2 Italian boat. With such speed, it is often able to reach desirable locations on the map before the enemy is able to.

Armament

The front 40mm mounting on the Saetta

Primary armament

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The Main armament on the Saetta is a Pair of '40mm/70 Breda-Bofors Type 107 Cannons, one at the bow and one at the stern, these guns have access to two ammunition belt types, 'High Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary tracers belts' or 'High Explosive variable time fuse belts, the latter of which has a 7m trigger radius making it quite useful for dealing enemy aircraft, especially when they are at relatively close range.

Both turrets have a full 360° arc of horizontal rotation and traverse at 95°/second, certainly fast enough to keep up with most surface and air targets. These guns are protected by some armour which will aid in keeping them operational against enemy fire, although this is the only armour on the whole vessel. 

Special armament

Nettuno Missile

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The Secondary armament on the Saetta is the Nettuno (Sea Killer Mk.1) missile, these missiles have a range of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) with a max velocity of 280m/s and carry a warhead with just over 25kg of TNT equivalent, these also feature a proximity fuse making them ideal for engaging enemy air units as well as their usual anti ship-role.

The missiles are carried in a five-round launcher just behind the Saetta’s bridge and smoke funnel structure which does mean that the launcher cannot be aimed towards the bow but rather has a 260 degree turning arc of which it navigates at a speed of 11 degrees per second. 

Usage in battles

Saetta fires a Nettuno missile, has a user skin https://live.warthunder.com/post/912798/en/

The guided missiles are the Saetta's most unique feature. This missile can be used to attack ships quite effectively (usually it can destroy a smaller vessel in one hit), and is also very capable of destroying enemy aircraft, thanks to its proximity fuse. When using the missile, remember that the launcher cannot point directly forwards, and that the enemy must be near the sides or rear of the vessel before a firing solution is achieved. Also keep in mind that the missile is not very fast (280m/s), and that it can take a considerable amount of time to reach the target.

As for the main cannons, the Saetta's 40 mm Bofors are great for dealing with smaller boats. They can be used to sink destroyers, but it will usually take a considerable length of time to do so. The Saetta is equipped with a radar, and has a lead indicator for use in an anti-air role. The lead indicator, when used with the vehicle's 40 mm cannons, makes dealing with aircraft a breeze.

This vessel has quite a high top speed, and is often able to reach favourable positions on the map before the enemy. This speed can also be used to help the vessel outflank the enemy and take them by surprise.

Since the Saetta is unable to survive more than a few hits from an enemy destroyer, it is recommended to stay away from their firing lines, and to keep to cover if possible. Certainly, it is almost never a good idea to engage an enemy destroyer at ranges above one or two kilometres.

Modules

Tier	Seakeeping	Unsinkability		Firepower
I	Dry-Docking	Tool Set
II	Rudder Replacement	Fire Protection System	Smokescreen	40 mm HE-PFF
III	Propeller Replacement			Primary Armament Targeting	Rocket Launcher
IV	Engine Maintenance	New Pumps		Artillery Support

Saetta while sailing, Featured user skin https://live.warthunder.com/post/912798/en/

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Equipped with guided missiles (Nettuno).
• Guided missiles are able to make quick work of enemy ships.
• High speed.
• Radar with lead indicator.
• Cannons provide, great stopping power.
• Great agility.

Cons:

• Not suited for fighting destroyers.
• Not suited for long range combat with it's cannons.
• No armour.

History

Saetta firing a Nettuno missile, user skin: https://live.warthunder.com/post/912798/en/

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The Saetta is a MC590 (Freccia class) motor gun boat, this series was an evolution of the earlier Lampo class which itself was a development of the MC490 Folgore. The Saetta is the second ship of the Freccia class, being laid down after the Freccia P-493 and before the never completed Dardo P-495. After its launch in 1965 the Saetta was outfitted and entered service with the Italian Navy on the 25th April 1966, In the same year as its commissioning the centrally mounted 40mm turret was replaced with a five round launcher for the Nettuno (Later called Sea Killer Mk.1) Anti Ship Missile, these missiles were carried onboard until the mid 1970's after which the main role of the Saetta (P-494) and its sister ship Freccia (P-493) had be taken over by the Sparviero class patrol boats of which more were available, with 7 in active service at the time, with less demand for the use of the two ships the Freccia was decommissioned on the 15th of February 1985 and the Saetta on the 15th of May 1986.

Media

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A look over the Saetta just after its initial release

See also

Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the ship;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the ship;
• other literature.