This article is about an Italian World War II armoured car. For the Romanian vehicle, see AB md. 41.
The Autoblindo 40, 41 and 43 (abbreviated AB 40, 41 and 43) were Italian armoured cars produced by Fiat-Ansaldo and which saw service mainly during World War II. Most autoblinde were armed with a 20 mm Breda 35autocannon and a coaxial 8 mm machine gun in a turret similar to the one fitted to the Fiat L6/40, and another hull mounted rear-facing 8 mm machine gun.[1]
During 1937 the Italian Ministry of War issued specifications for a new armoured car (autoblindomitragliatrice), to fulfil the requirements of both colonial police long range patrols and army reconnaissance units for the new armoured formations.[3] In May 1939 the Fiat-SPA and Ansaldo-Fossati consortium unveiled its armoured car proposal, named Abm 1,[4] at the inauguration of the new Fiat Mirafiori plant near Turin; two prototypes had been built, one outfitted for military and one for police use.[3]
After trials by the Army, in May 1940 the armoured car was standardised, adopted with the official designation Autoblindo 40, and a first batch of 176 vehicles ordered.[3] At the request of the Army the prototype had undergone numerous changes before it was adopted: redesigned front hull, recessed headlamps under armoured covers, improved ventilation, new cast spoked wheels, and flat, shortened mudguards.[4] The first AB 40s were delivered in March 1941.[5]
Description
Autoblindo 40
The Autoblindo 40 was built in small numbers in 1940. Armament consisted of two 8 mm machine guns in a turret. During production a need for heavier armament was envisioned and so the AB 40 was redesigned as the AB 41 which was the same vehicle except for a new turret with a 20 mm autocannon. Most of the 24 AB 40s that had been built were then converted to AB 41s.
Autoblindo 41
The Autoblindo 41 (named after its first year of production, 1941) was a further development of the machine gun armed AB 40. Made with an all-riveted construction, the AB 41 had four-wheel drive and a four wheel steering system that proved troublesome.[1] The spare wheels fitted to its sides were free to rotate, thus helping the vehicle over rough terrain and allowing it to drive over higher obstacles. It could also be fitted with wheels that would allow it to run on railway tracks and some were modified further to better serve in this role, with the addition of sand boxes and rail guards to deflect objects from the rails.[6] This version was designated AB 41 Ferroviaria.
It had six forward gears and four reverse gears, with a driving position at the front and one in the rear, so two crew members were drivers. Overall the AB 40/41 family was well thought out, with a top speed of over 70 km/h (45 mph), good armour (15 mm on the front plates) and good road and cross-country performance, but there were some examples of poor detail design like difficult access to the powerplant, an unprotected fuel tank, one-man turret, exposed traverse gear and lack of an interior bulkhead separating the engine and crew compartments. Nevertheless, the AB 41 was considered a good vehicle and one of the best armoured cars of its era.[7] Its chassis was later used as a basis for the SPA-Viberti AS.42. About 550 vehicles were built in all. The Italians planned to upgrade the AB 41 with a 47 mm anti-tank gun as the AB 43, but those plans were disrupted by the Armistice of Cassibile in September 1943.
Combat history
During World War II, the AB 41 operated in North Africa, Yugoslavia, Italy, Hungary, and on the Eastern Front. Italy issued the AB 41 only to cavalry, Italian Africa Police (PAI) and Bersaglieri units. The AB 41 was also organized into reconnaissance battalions (or cavalry groups) of three or four companies each. Each armoured car company consisted of three armoured car platoons of four armoured cars each, one armoured car for the company commander, and one armoured car for the company HQ (Headquarters) totalling 42 or 56 AB 41s in all. Each fully equipped independent armoured car company proved highly suitable for reconnaissance, escort and security duties.[7]
German reconnaissance troop with Autoblinda AB 41 armored cars in front of a church in southern Italy.
The AB 41 could be quickly adapted for operation on any terrain. Sand tires could be fitted for desert work and it could run on railway tracks with special bogies and extra lights. The rail-converted vehicles were primarily used in anti-partisan patrols in the Balkans. After the Armistice the Germans confiscated some 57 AB 41s and also built 120 more.[1] The German designation was Panzerspähwagen AB41 201(i).[8]
Users
The Autoblinde were used by the following countries and organisations:[9][10]
^Chamberlain, Peter and Hilary Doyle. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two. Wigston Leicestershire, UK: Silverdale Books, 2004. ISBN1-84509-012-8. p. 232.
Pignato, Nicola (2004). Italian Armored Vehicles of World War Two. Squadron/Signal publications. ISBN0-89747-475-9.
Pignato, Nicola; d'Inzéo, Fabio. "Le autoblinde AB 40, 41 e 43" (PDF). Gli appunti di… Modellisimo Più. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Autoblindo AB 41.
Autoblindo AB 40, AB 41, AB 43 armored cars at wwiivehicles.com
May 04, 2023
autoblindo, fiat, ansaldo, this, article, about, italian, world, armoured, romanian, vehicle, autoblindo, abbreviated, were, italian, armoured, cars, produced, fiat, ansaldo, which, service, mainly, during, world, most, autoblinde, were, armed, with, breda, au. This article is about an Italian World War II armoured car For the Romanian vehicle see AB md 41 The Autoblindo 40 41 and 43 abbreviated AB 40 41 and 43 were Italian armoured cars produced by Fiat Ansaldo and which saw service mainly during World War II Most autoblinde were armed with a 20 mm Breda 35 autocannon and a coaxial 8 mm machine gun in a turret similar to the one fitted to the Fiat L6 40 and another hull mounted rear facing 8 mm machine gun 1 Autoblindo 40 Autoblindo 41 and 43An Autoblindo 41TypeArmoured carPlace of originKingdom of ItalyService historyIn service1941 1945Used byKingdom of Italy Nazi Germany Italian Social Republic ItalyWarsWorld War IIProduction historyDesigned1940ManufacturerFiat AnsaldoProduced1941 1944 No built600 700 AB40 24 units later partly modernized AB41 about 600 units AB43 about 70 units VariantsAS 42 Camionetta Sahariana SPA Viberti AS 42SpecificationsMass7 518 tonnesLength5 21 m 17 ft 1 in Width1 93 m 6 ft 4 in Height2 48 m 8 ft 2 in Crew4 forward driver rear driver gunner and commander Armour18 mm maximum 1 MainarmamentAB 40 2 8 mm Breda mod 38 machine gunsAB 41 1 20 mm Breda mod 35 autocannon456 roundsAB 43 1 47 mm Cannone da 47 32 M35 anti tank gun 63 roundsSecondaryarmament2 8 mm Breda mod 38 machine guns one in rear hull one coaxial with main gun 1 992 roundsEngineAB 40 41 SPA I6 petrol88 hp AB 40 and 120 hp AB 41 Ground clearance40 cm 16 in 2 Operationalrange400 km 250 mi Maximum speed78 km h 48 mph on road 1 Contents 1 Development 2 Description 2 1 Autoblindo 40 2 2 Autoblindo 41 3 Combat history 4 Users 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDevelopment EditDuring 1937 the Italian Ministry of War issued specifications for a new armoured car autoblindomitragliatrice to fulfil the requirements of both colonial police long range patrols and army reconnaissance units for the new armoured formations 3 In May 1939 the Fiat SPA and Ansaldo Fossati consortium unveiled its armoured car proposal named Abm 1 4 at the inauguration of the new Fiat Mirafiori plant near Turin two prototypes had been built one outfitted for military and one for police use 3 After trials by the Army in May 1940 the armoured car was standardised adopted with the official designation Autoblindo 40 and a first batch of 176 vehicles ordered 3 At the request of the Army the prototype had undergone numerous changes before it was adopted redesigned front hull recessed headlamps under armoured covers improved ventilation new cast spoked wheels and flat shortened mudguards 4 The first AB 40s were delivered in March 1941 5 Description EditAutoblindo 40 Edit The Autoblindo 40 was built in small numbers in 1940 Armament consisted of two 8 mm machine guns in a turret During production a need for heavier armament was envisioned and so the AB 40 was redesigned as the AB 41 which was the same vehicle except for a new turret with a 20 mm autocannon Most of the 24 AB 40s that had been built were then converted to AB 41s Autoblindo 41 Edit The Autoblindo 41 named after its first year of production 1941 was a further development of the machine gun armed AB 40 Made with an all riveted construction the AB 41 had four wheel drive and a four wheel steering system that proved troublesome 1 The spare wheels fitted to its sides were free to rotate thus helping the vehicle over rough terrain and allowing it to drive over higher obstacles It could also be fitted with wheels that would allow it to run on railway tracks and some were modified further to better serve in this role with the addition of sand boxes and rail guards to deflect objects from the rails 6 This version was designated AB 41 Ferroviaria It had six forward gears and four reverse gears with a driving position at the front and one in the rear so two crew members were drivers Overall the AB 40 41 family was well thought out with a top speed of over 70 km h 45 mph good armour 15 mm on the front plates and good road and cross country performance but there were some examples of poor detail design like difficult access to the powerplant an unprotected fuel tank one man turret exposed traverse gear and lack of an interior bulkhead separating the engine and crew compartments Nevertheless the AB 41 was considered a good vehicle and one of the best armoured cars of its era 7 Its chassis was later used as a basis for the SPA Viberti AS 42 About 550 vehicles were built in all The Italians planned to upgrade the AB 41 with a 47 mm anti tank gun as the AB 43 but those plans were disrupted by the Armistice of Cassibile in September 1943 Combat history EditDuring World War II the AB 41 operated in North Africa Yugoslavia Italy Hungary and on the Eastern Front Italy issued the AB 41 only to cavalry Italian Africa Police PAI and Bersaglieri units The AB 41 was also organized into reconnaissance battalions or cavalry groups of three or four companies each Each armoured car company consisted of three armoured car platoons of four armoured cars each one armoured car for the company commander and one armoured car for the company HQ Headquarters totalling 42 or 56 AB 41s in all Each fully equipped independent armoured car company proved highly suitable for reconnaissance escort and security duties 7 German reconnaissance troop with Autoblinda AB 41 armored cars in front of a church in southern Italy The AB 41 could be quickly adapted for operation on any terrain Sand tires could be fitted for desert work and it could run on railway tracks with special bogies and extra lights The rail converted vehicles were primarily used in anti partisan patrols in the Balkans After the Armistice the Germans confiscated some 57 AB 41s and also built 120 more 1 The German designation was Panzerspahwagen AB41 201 i 8 Users EditThe Autoblinde were used by the following countries and organisations 9 10 Australia Independent State of Croatia Free France Army of Africa French Forces of the Interior France French Army National Gendarmerie Germany Wehrmacht Greece Greek People s Liberation Army Kingdom of Italy Regio Esercito Polizia dell Africa Italiana Italian Co Belligerent Army Italian Social Republic Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano Italian partisans Italy Carabinieri Polizia di Stato Reggimento genio ferrovieri it Esercito Italiano Poland Polish Armed Forces in the West Romania see Romanian armored cars during World War II United Kingdom evaluation only Yugoslavian partisans Socialist Federal Republic of YugoslaviaSee also EditAB md 41 a similar Romanian vehicleReferences EditNotes a b c d e The Complete Guide to Tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles Hermes House p 302 ISBN 978 1 84681 110 4 Cappellano amp Battistelli 2012 p 46 a b c Pignato and d Inzeo p 1 a b Pignato 2004 p 56 Pignato 2004 p 55 An artist s view of an AB 41 Ferroviaria a b Pignato 2004 Chamberlain Peter and Hilary Doyle Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two Wigston Leicestershire UK Silverdale Books 2004 ISBN 1 84509 012 8 p 232 Pignato and d Inzeo p 4 5 Giusti Arturo 12 March 2022 Autoblinda AB41 in Regio Esercito Service tanks encyclopedia com Retrieved 22 March 2022 BibliographyCappellano F Battistelli P P 2012 Italian light tanks 1919 45 Oxford Osprey Publishing ISBN 9781849087773 Pignato Nicola 2004 Italian Armored Vehicles of World War Two Squadron Signal publications ISBN 0 89747 475 9 Pignato Nicola d Inzeo Fabio Le autoblinde AB 40 41 e 43 PDF Gli appunti di Modellisimo Piu Retrieved 2 February 2016 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Autoblindo AB 41 Autoblindo AB 40 AB 41 AB 43 armored cars at wwiivehicles com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Autoblindo Fiat Ansaldo amp oldid 1151873697, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
