SPA-Viberti
Camionetta Model 1943/Camionetta AS 43
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Specifications
| Country of Origin/Used by: |
Italy & Germany |
| First Produced/Service Dates: |
1943 |
| Manufactured by: |
SPA (Società Piemontese Automobili)/Viberti |
| Crew: |
4-5 |
| Armament: |
Italian: Front: 8mm Breda Model 1937 Machine Gun; Back: (1) 20/65 Breda Model 35 Cannon or (1) 47/32 Breda/Bohler Model 35 Cannon |
| German: Back: (1) 20mm FLAK 30 or 38 Cannon or (1) 20mm M41 Isotta-Fraschini Cannon |
|
| Engine: |
4-Cylinder Gasoline [SPA 18VT (Variant 4)] |
| Miscellaneous Info: |
At roughly the same time as building the Camionetta Desertica Model 1942**/**AS 42 Sahariana, SPA was tasked with developing another similar vehicle, but using more commonly available parts. Their Sahariana used many of the same automotive components as the AB 41 Armored Car, so the Italian military was looking for another vehicle to supplement them, but without using the same resources. As a result, the Camionetta (Light Truck) Model 1943/Camionetta AS 43 was designed, using the AS 37 Autocarro Sahariano as its base. Unlike early modifications to the AS 37, the AS 43 was VERY different than its predecessor. Besides a completely new exterior body, it also fitted a more powerful engine, 4-wheel drive, independent suspension and hydraulic brakes/shocks. |
This new vehicle reportedly earned a very good reputation for performance and maintainability. Unfortunately, the Italians did not get a chance to use it much (or at all, by some accounts). After the 1943 Italian armistice with the Allies, the German Luftwaffe confiscated many of the vehicles already delivered, and even had approximately 13 new vehicles built exclusively for them. Depending on the source, the total vehicles produced vary greatly from 66 to 169. Lastly, the Camionetta AS 37 was also used as the base for the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA AS 43 (Autoblindo AS 43).|
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Fiat-SPA AS 37 (Modificato)/
Camionetta Desertica Model 1943
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Camionetta Desertica Mod. 43
Specifications
| Country of Origin/Used by: |
Italy |
| First Produced/Service Dates: |
AS 37 (Mod): 1942 |
| Camionetta Desertica Model 1943: 1943 |
|
| Manufactured by: |
Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino)-SPA (Società Piemontese Automobili) |
| Crew: |
5 |
| Armament: |
AS 37 (Mod): Front: 8mm Breda Model 1937 Machine Gun; Back: (1) 20/65 Breda Model 35 Cannon or (1) 47/32 Breda/Bohler Model 35 Cannon |
| Camionetta Desertica Model 1943: Front: 8mm Breda Model 1937 Machine Gun; Back: (1) 20/65 Breda Model 35 Cannon |
|
| Engine: |
4-Cylinder Gasoline |
| Miscellaneous Info: |
From the earliest days of the war in the desert, the Italian Compagnie Sahariane (Saharan Company) mounted weapons on the AS 37 Autocarro Sahariano [Saharan (cargo) Truck] to give them some offensive and defensive capability. The main weapon employed was the Breda 20/65 Cannon, which was simply set in the cargo bed. Although relatively successful, those vehicles had some weaknesses, mainly their height, which made them highly visible in the flat desert. To remedy the situation, a company workshop in Hun, Libya made some modifications to a reported two (2) AS 37 cargo trucks to lower their silhouette. The basic changes made were the removal of the closed cabs and windscreens and to add weapons mounts in the rear cargo beds. One vehicle was built mounting the 20/65 cannon and the other mounted the 47/32 cannon. There was no official designation given to these first vehicles and are only referred to as the AS 37 (Modificato). By all accounts these vehicles were successful, but as only two vehicles were built, their influence was negligible. |
Soon after, the Centro Studi Motorizzazione (Motor Studies Center), built a second batch of vehicles also using the AS 37 truck. The vehicles were designed to be used by the Battaglione d’ Assalto Motorizzato (Motorised Assault Battalion) while awaiting the forthcoming Camionetta AS 43. This second “series” was also referred to as the AS 37 (Modificato), although they are more commonly known as the Camionetta Desertica (Light Desert Truck) Model 1943. The modifications to this second batch of vehicles were similar to the first, although the final product more resembles the cargo truck from which they were converted. Approximately only 11 vehicles were built.|
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i miss Italy and tunisia campaign
2 Likes
I miss Tunisia too.And I want a separate Italy
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