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.
Martin,
ReplyDeleteAs 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
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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