Italian Armoured & Reconnaissance Cars 1911-45

by Filippo Cappellano, Pier Paolo Battistelli, Henry Morshead (Illustrator)

Overview

The first Italian armoured cars were used in the war in Libya in 1911-12 against the Ottoman Empire. With few tanks being developed, the Italians relied instead on the development of more mobile armoured cars like the Ansaldo Lancia 1 Z, during World War I, but post-war the army, focusing on the Alpine battlegrounds of Italy's northern borders, did not consider armoured cars suitable for reconnaissance duties.

The experience of the Spanish Civil War would provide the much needed last push for the Italians to develop modern armoured cars. The result were the famous AB 41-43 models, which fought against the British in North Africa and Marshall Tito's forces in Yugoslavia, along with other vehicles such as the AS 36 light armoured car.

Using detailed colour plates and contemporary photographs, this book examines the development of the Italian armoured car in the two world wars and the inter-war years, from the deserts of North Africa to the slopes of the Alps.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472824349
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	07/26/2018
Series:	New Vanguard , #261
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	708,421
File size:	62 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Filippo Cappellano is a lieutenant-colonel of the Fanteria Carrista (tank corps) currently serving at the army historical branch (Ufficio Storico Esercito) in Rome. He is the author of several books and essays on the history of weapons, organization and tactics of the Italian army in the 20th century. He frequently collaborates with Italy's defence industries and military history journals.

Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in Military History at the University of Padua. A scholar of German and Italian politics and strategy throughout World War II, he is active in Italy and abroad writing titles and essays on military history subjects. A contributor to the Italian Army Historical Office, he is currently revising his PhD thesis for publication: The War of the Axis: German and Italian Military Partnership in World War Two, 1939-1943. He lives in Foligno, Italy.
Colonel Dr Filippo Cappellano is the chief of the Italian Army Historical Branch (Ufficio Storico SME). A renowned military historian, he is the author of several books, essays and articles on the history of the Italian Army and particularly in the field of 20th century weapons, organization and tactics. He has collaborated with the leading Italian defence industries and universities, and for Osprey he has written Italian Light Tanks 1919–45 and Italian Medium Tanks 1939–45.
Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in Military History at the University of Padua. A scholar of German and Italian politics and strategy throughout World War II, he is active in Italy and abroad writing books and essays on military history subjects. A contributor to the Italian Army Historical Office, he is currently revising his PhD thesis for publication: The War of the Axis: German and Italian Military Partnership in World War Two, 1939-1943.
Henry Morshead is the Chief Designer for the Hill HX50 helicopter. He also works in the automotive and bespoke sectors, with clients including BAC Mono and Arrival, and is a STEM Ambassador with the Bloodhound supersonic car project. A former officer in the Royal Engineers and illustrator for Jane's, he maintains a keen interest in the design and use of military land and air vehicles.

Table of Contents

Early armoured cars, 1911?35 /Interwar design and development: the Fiat 611 and the AB 40 /The AB 41?43 armoured cars /AB 41?43 development: the Sahariana /Reconnaissance and armoured personnel carriers /Field conversions and captured vehicles /Field conversions and captured vehicles /Bibliography /Index

Editorial Reviews

"The book is well researched and I'd recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the development of Italy's armored cars leading up to and during World War II." - IPMS / USA

From the Publisher