This is a very
ambitious effort to provide the reader with a broad overview of virtually all
tanks, trucks, armoured personnel carriers, half-tracks and armoured cars in use
by Italian forces in World War II, and to do it with a good amount of detail. In
addition to coverage of the vehicles themselves, this book covers development
and production, organization of parent units, training of these units, use of
Italian vehicles by German forces and Partisans, and use of foreign equipment by
Italian forces. Paint schemes and unit markings are also covered in
detail.
This book is meant to be neither a justification of the defects of
the Italian armoured forces nor a revisionist history, but on the contrary,
consider many factors interwoven in a realistic and comprehensive overview.
Although clearly the efforts of the Italian armour development have never
reached the levels achieved by the Germans or the Americans, the Italians have
made some first-class combat vehicles, particularly in regard to the
self-propelled vehicles and have offered a substantial contribution to Axis
operations in North Africa, the theatre where
they were used. The courage and the personal sacrifice of Italian
self-propelled artillery and tank crewmen are beyond doubt, especially given the
disparity in numbers and technology between the Italians and their
opponents.
With approximately 800 b/w photos and colour illustrations, tables,
drawings diagrams and numerous tables including individual
vehicles specifications tables. There are some full colour vehicle paint
scheme and markings drawings, and scale drawings of a wide range of vehicles.
Dual English/Italian text.
