The Soviet motor-torpedo-boat line inherited the British coastal motor boat's unusual stern-launch arrangement. A torpedo dropped from a cradle behind the boat and began its run while the craft accelerated away. That sequence imposed careful handling because a badly timed turn could bring the boat back across its own weapon. Most navies avoided the extra complexity, but Soviet designers valued a method they believed could launch in rough seas. The rough-weather capability explains the operational trade-off behind a feature that otherwise looks needlessly hazardous.
Chapter · 1:24:42-1:27:28
Why Soviet boats retained stern-cradle torpedoes
Soviet designers retained the British coastal motor boat's stern-cradle launch because it worked in rough water despite demanding careful manoeuvring around the released torpedo.