- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
The Camionetta Desertica Model 1943 (unofficial name) was a light desert reconnaissance vehicle of the Italian Royal Army created in mid-1943 by modifying the FIAT-SPA Autocarri Saharani Model 1937 trucks. In the first years of the war in North Africa the so-called cannon trucks were created (armaments mounted on trucks and lorries) in order to better face the English motorized forces. The first jeeps were based on the FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Model 1937, a truck developed on the TL37 tractor. Over time various A.S. trucks 37 (11 to be precise) were modified with the experience acquired in North Africa in order to have a fast reconnaissance and combat vehicle. The vehicle was called the “Modified A.S.43 Camionetta”: compared to the A.S.37, the vehicle had no cab and the vehicle was armed with a 20 mm anti-aircraft piece and a machine gun. After the test at the Centro Studi Motorizzazione, rhe 11 examples produced were distributed to the Motorized Assault Battalion (a company made up of veterans of the “A” Formations Group), who used them during the defense of Rome against the German units. At least one vehicle was used by the RSI after the armistice and one by the Italian Africa Police and subsequently by the State Police for a few years.
Armaments and propulsion.
The vehicle was powered by a FIAT-SPA Tipo 18TL petrol engine with 52 hp, which could push the vehicle up to a maximum speed of 50 km/h.
As armament, the vehicle was equipped with a Breda 20/65 Model 1935 anti-aircraft cannon placed in the rear of the vehicle, and a Breda Model 1937 medium machine gun mounted on a gooseneck support on the left side of the cabin.
Specifications.
Spoiler
Weight: 5 tonnellate
Length: 4,65 m
Width: 2 m
Height: 2,7 m
Crew: 5
Engine: FIAT-SPA Tipo 18TL
Maximum speed: 50 km/h
Armament: 1x Breda 20/65 Modello 1935 and 1x Breda Modello 1937
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.
Spoiler
Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 - Tank Encyclopedia
Fiat-SPA AS37 - Wikipedia
“Dal TL 37 all’AS 43”
LA MECCANIZZAZIONE DELL'ESERCITO FINO AL 1943 tomo I -parte 2 by Biblioteca Militare - Issuu
GLI AUTOVEICOLI TATTICI E LOGISTICI DELL’ESERCITO ITALIANO FINO AL 1943 TOMO II by Biblioteca Militare - Issuu
GLI AUTOVEICOLI TATTICI E LOGISTICI DELL’ESERCITO ITALIANO FINO AL 1943 TOMO I by Biblioteca Militare - Issuu
Gruppo Formazioni "A" - Wikipedia
WarWheels.Net-Fiat-SPA AS 37 Modificato/Camionetta Desertica Model 1943 Index
“Italian truck-mounted artillery in actions”