Italian [African Service] Infantry Division 1940

Italian [African Service] Infantry Division 1940

Here is a typical African Service Infantry Division as used by the Italians throughout the North African campaign. Italian infantry divisions were of the binary type. This meant that they only contained two infantry brigades instead of the more usual three found in British and German divisions. They did this to inflate the size of their army whilst not actually providing anymore soldiers. Their fighting power was much diminished by this decision and they were forced to attach a Black Shirt Legions and a Machine Gun Battalion to make up for the lack of infantry You will note that there is almost no organic motor transport, a huge liability in the wastes of the desert.

The Italians also deployed a couple of motorised divisions to North Africa after their defeat at Beda Fomm. They tried to get round this problem by providing specialist transport companies to ensure resupply and if necessary the Italians could gather together sufficient trucks to move one infantry division at a time. After Operation Compass the British captured about 1500 operational trucks of different types.

The two Infantry Brigades with the Divisional HQ in the centre

The Divisional Support Troops & Black Shirt Legion

One of the Infantry Brigades

The other Infantry Brigade plus Divisional HQ bottom left

Attached Artillery Group

One battalion of 100mmL/17 Howitzers

1st battalion of 75mm L/27 Field Guns

2nd Battalion of 75mm L/27 Field guns plus Artillery Group HQ

Attached Battalion of L3/33 Tankettes

Attached battalion of Medium Machine Guns

Attached Black Shirt Legion

I am currently working on the various Corp troops that would support this division plus replacement armoured units to create a 1941-43 era Armoured Division.

 

Babini Armoured Brigade 1940

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.

The four Bersaglieri Infantry Battalions & attached artillery formations

The two Armoured Groups & Engineer Company

Bersaglieri Infantry HQ, Motorcycle & 1st Motorised battalion

2nd & 3rd Bersaglieri Motorised battalions

Attached 47mm AT Company & 20mm AA Company

Attached two 75mm Artillery Battalions

Attached Engineer Company with specialist L3 tankettes

1st Armoured Group 1st M Tank Battalion of M11/39 tanks & three L3 tankette battalions

1st Armoured Group 2nd M Tank Battalion of M11/39 tanks & three L3 tankette battalions & the Babini Command Section

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.

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.