Thursday, 23 May 2024

15mm AB41 Armoured Car

 The Italians didn't have huge numbers of armoured cars in the desert, partly as they had swarms of light tanks, but as with my 6mm troops, I thought they needed one or two at least.


Hey presto, an AB41 Autoblinda. This is a BPM 3D print.


Not much to say about assembly, it only has a separate turret, but as ever the big job is getting all the print support flash off cleanly. For an APL print this is a pretty clean model though, with lots of nice detail. Even the rounded mudguards have come out well, these are often a bit problematic on 3D prints.


Engine deck etc. I forgot to paint the spade on this one too, funny how I only notice in photographs!


Nice printing on the wheels I must say. I did the whole thing in plain dark ochre, with the usual layers of ink washes and dryrbushing. The final drybrush has really picked out the highlights well I think.


And here it is along with its mates the Novarra Lancers in their L6 tanks, grouped together as part of RECAM. Funnily enough I have a scenario which requires all of these. The photo also neatly demonstrates how small the L6s are as well.




2 comments:

  1. Martin,
    As I understand it, RECAM (Raggruppamento Esplorante del Corpo d'Armata di Manovra) was a formation in the Crusader battles and consisted of :
    III Light Tank Battalion (attached from the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment, Ariete division) CV33/35
    LII Medium Tank Battalion (few if any M13/40)
    "Romolo Gessi" Battalion, Italian Africa Police comprising 2 motorcycle companies and an armoured car coy AB41 although some state AB40
    "Giovani Fascisti" Infantry Group (2 bns) supposedly motorised which is why they were attached
    Raggruppamento Batterie Volanti ("Portees" - truck mounted - Artillery Group) mostly British Morris with 65mm but various trucks and guns of different calibre.
    L6/40 didn't arrive until 1942, by which time RECAM had been disbanded, it doesn't appear in the Gazala battles where the following appear:
    Battaglione Carri 3., Reggimento "Lancieri di Novara" (2 Co.) – 33 x L6/40
    ----Battaglione Autoblinda 3., Reggimento "Nizza Cavalleria" (2 Co.) – 40 x AB41

    More on RECAM here:

    https://comandosupremo.com/forums/index.php?threads/recam-e-raggruppamento-celere-africa-settentrionale.133/

    Neil

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  2. The pairing with the Novarra Lancers happened during Alam Halfa in 1942 as far as I can tell. I'm hoping to put on a big Op Crusader game soon, and I'll give RECAM L6s, just to tell them apart from from other units.

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