Babini Armoured Brigade 1940
After a long hiatus I have restarted my 6mm WW2 forces. I have other stuff to photograph but most of it isn't finished yet. This is my version of the Babini Armoured Brigade as fielded in September 1940 just before the start of Operation E the Italian Invasion of Egypt.
The castings are mixed makes in 6mm including H&R, Scotia & GHQ. The Italians had limited industrial capability in WW2 & this reflected on the type of forces they deployed in the various combat zones.
This formation was unique & involved the Italians putting together a scratch force of the best troops they had available after examining the operational tactics of the Germans in Poland & France. It wasn't a particular well balanced formation & was broken up almost as soon as it was fielded by Marshal Graziani who really had very limited understanding of how to use motorised & armoured forces. This formation was fully motorised & had plenty of additional spare truck capacity to support its operations when first deployed.
The first two pictures are the entire brigade in its storage boxes followed by some more close up pictures illustrating the various units within the formation. Each model vehicle represents on average 4 real life vehicles.
I am currently working on an African Service Infantry Division which is 90% complete and will also be adding some Corps Assets which were used to support the Italians against the British.
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| The four Bersaglieri Infantry Battalions & attached artillery formations |
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| The two Armoured Groups & Engineer Company |
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| Bersaglieri Infantry HQ, Motorcycle & 1st Motorised battalion |
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| 2nd & 3rd Bersaglieri Motorised battalions |
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| Attached 47mm AT Company & 20mm AA Company |
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| Attached two 75mm Artillery Battalions |
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| Attached Engineer Company with specialist L3 tankettes |
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| 1st Armoured Group 1st M Tank Battalion of M11/39 tanks & three L3 tankette battalions |
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| 1st Armoured Group 2nd M Tank Battalion of M11/39 tanks & three L3 tankette battalions & the Babini Command Section |
Found this picture of Lancia 3RO heavy trucks with trailers transporting M13/40 tanks to the front line. It looks like the standard heavy lift cargo trailer instead of the purpose Viberti Tank Transporter trailer.
Very impressive, well done!
ReplyDeleteThe Group Maletti was formed by detaching one of the M11/39 battalions, a single L3 tankette battalion and some supporting troops and artillery to operate with the two Libyan Infantry Divisions which were fully motorised!
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