Italian Tanks

[Wardy64]

Just put the finishing touches to my Italian tank platoon (M11's). This was a butterfly moment, as I was working on something different and fancied a change!







David & Ben

[pbeccas (Paul)]

Great work Wardy

[Colonel Kilgore]

Very good, Dave. The road sign is a nice touch too.

Sumon

[Moggy]

Lovely job. Hope they are fitted with the backwards gearbox as well.

Derek

[martin goddard]

Italian tanks, vehicles and guns all look good.
I like all the big wheeled desert vehicles.


I do feel sorry for the Italian motorised infantry.
They got dropped off and the trucks retired 8 miles to safety.  Ciao
I also have sympathy for the Italian artillery who were frequently abandoned to their fate whilst other units moved away.

martin

[Panzer21]

Italian tanks, vehicles and guns all look good.
I like all the big wheeled desert vehicles.


I do feel sorry for the Italian motorised infantry.
They got dropped off and the trucks retired 8 miles to safety.  Ciao
I also have sympathy for the Italian artillery who were frequently abandoned to their fate whilst other units moved away.

martin

I think the artillery stuck to their guns as part of their "creed" rather than no having the option of retreating; that said they were saddled with a lot of obselete WW1 artillery with a limited range and wooden wheels and lacked trailers for many, as well as having some very slow tractors in the early days.
After Compass the CW captured some heavy artillery that used a rammer.....there's a picture with a bottle of Chianti next to it. If memory serves it's this one:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannone_da_149/35_A

As for the joke about reverse gears; I thought this was long gone.
A study of Bir el Gubi (or Bir el Gobi) should put those notions to bed quite early, as the 22nd Armoured Brigade found out the hard way - CLY and RGH losing badly.
A combination of British propaganda and German blame passing has a lot to answer for.

Anybody who went to war in something they nicknamed "Iron Coffins", much like Sherman " Ronsons", deserves respect. I don't want to come across as "preachy" but looking in the CV33 Lanciafiamme in Bovington I couldn't believe anyone would be able to get in it, let alone voluntarily!
Neil

[Wardy64]

Enjoyed my dalliance with the Italian tanks, but must stay focused on the projects 

David & Ben

[Grey Heron]

Nice work. Love Italian afvs.

The Regio Escertio's land forces had the better softskins for desert and other terrain you could ask for.
Artillery units fought well and in tough conditions. Positive comments from both Germans and allies on their use in action were recorded considering the age of their equipment.

My collection is based around Operation Husky, but larger scale. I would like to in the future if at all possible to paint up a 15 mm force.

Cheers,
Helen

[hammurabi70]

Anybody who went to war in something they nicknamed "Iron Coffins", much like Sherman " Ronsons", deserves respect. I don't want to come across as "preachy" but looking in the CV33 Lanciafiamme in Bovington I couldn't believe anyone would be able to get in it, let alone voluntarily!

Agreed. I doubted that I would physically fit in it; if it took a hit I doubted I would get out of it, if I survived, due to the rearranging of the metalwork.  The Italian Army has not had a good press but then few of them were motivated to fight a traditional friend whom they did not hate, for a traditional enemy for whom they had little love.

[hammurabi70]

The Tank Museum have just issued their You Tube review.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLppoebKK6c