Military Model Scene

Title: Italian Armoured & Reconnaissance Cars 1911-45

Author: Filipo Cappellano & Pier Paolo Battistelli

Publisher: Osprey

ISBN: 978-1-4728-2233-2

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Number 261 in the New Vanguard series from Osprey Publishing, and with  fine illustrations from Henry Morshead as well.  While the reputation for Italian AFV's in WW2 was not all that great to be honest, the one area they did do well was with their armoured cars, though they were not without some issues.

The six chapters start with Historical Background, looking at Italian armoured cars produced between 1911 through to 1935.  In WW1 they produced the Ansaldo Lancia 1Z in some numbers, and the Fiat Terni-Tripoli.  They were also used after the war in Libya.  Interest in armoured cars waned in the inter-war period, though the Fiat 611 and the AB40 were used.  Chapter 3 covers WW2, and this is the most significant section of the book.  This covers equipment such as the AB-41 to -43 and the Sahariana desert patrol vehicle, plus a couple of armoured troop carriers and the Lince, essentially a straight copy of the British Daimler Dingo, a machine which proved popular with their German users.  After Italy surrendered to the Allies in 1943, their equipment was largely taken over by German forces in Italy.  The text provides the background to each of the designs, and their Operational use in chapter 4, Post-Surrender Use.  That then moves on to Camouflage and Markings, which I am sure modellers will enjoy.  This leaves the final section to deal with Surviving Vehicles, plus appendices and bibliography.

The history of their use, coupled with archive photos, modern colour pictures of surviving examples and fine colour artwork, this fits in well with Osprey's New Vanguard series.

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Thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review copy.

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Robin