Italian Armoured & Reconnaissance Cars 1911–45

With few tanks being developed, the Italians relied on the development of more mobile armoured cars like the Ansaldo Lancia 1 Z during World War I. But post-war, the army did not consider armoured cars suitable for reconnaissance duties in Alpine battlegrounds. The experience of the Spanish Civil War would provide the much needed last push for the Italians to develop modern armoured cars. The result were the famous AB 41-43 models, which fought against the British in North Africa and Marshall Tito’s forces in Yugoslavia, along with other vehicles such as the AS 36 light armoured car. Featuring detailed colour plates and contemporary photographs, this book examines the development of the Italian armoured car in the two world wars and the inter-war years, from the deserts of North Africa to the slopes of the Alps.

With few tanks being developed, the Italians relied on the development of more mobile armoured cars like the Ansaldo Lancia 1 Z during World War I. But post-war, the army did not consider armoured cars suitable for reconnaissance duties in Alpine battlegrounds. The experience of the Spanish Civil War would provide the much needed last push for the Italians to develop modern armoured cars. The result were the famous AB 41-43 models, which fought against the British in North Africa and Marshall Tito’s forces in Yugoslavia, along with other vehicles such as the AS 36 light armoured car. Featuring detailed colour plates and contemporary photographs, this book examines the development of the Italian armoured car in the two world wars and the inter-war years, from the deserts of North Africa to the slopes of the Alps.