For the main part of the Second World War were Germany and Italy allies. When mid 1942 Italy wanted to participate in the planned German invasion of Malta (codename Hercules) lacked the Italian armed forces suitable landing rafts. As a result were the German designs for their so-called Marine fähurrahed asked. The Italian version - the Motozattera- was to be fitted out with 3 diesel engines and 3 shafts. Capacity 65 tons. The armament was to consist of 2-2cm guns and 1-7,6cm anti aircraft gun. The Italian built totally 95 of this landing craft numbered MZ 701-800 in the types A and B. Type A dates from 1942 with as dimensions 47 x 6,5 x 1,4 (maximum) metres. Maximum speed was 12 knots and with a speed of 7 knots was the range around 1.200 nautical miles. There were 65 boats of this type built.
In 1943 was the improved type B built, more suitable for sea duty and with an increased range. Dimensions 46,5 x 6,5 x 1,8 metres. The speed was decreased with one knots to 11 knots.
The Motozattera were never used for an invasion of Malta but used for several tasks, mostly for the forces in North Africa. Around 66% of the boats was lost in that period. When Italy choose the sides of the Allies took the German navy the resting 16 boats over and classified these as MTC. At the end of the war were still nine of these MTC in actual service. Nowadays is the MZ 737 still existing and stored in the Arsenal at Venice, Italy.
The type D is never built for Italian service although Italian shipyards were forced to built of this type for the Germans.
