Italian Soft-Skinned Vehicles of the Second World War Volume 1

The importance of land transport vehicles within an armed force is often underestimated by the average reader, attracted by more ‘martial’ subjects such as tanks and artillery. Nevertheless, it was thanks to motorcycles, cars, trucks and tractors that – since the early years of the twentieth century – men, weapons, ammunition, provisions, fuel, equipment and orders were transported, all elements without which AFVs, guns and infantry are unable to fight.

This first volume opens with a historical and technical introduction to the civil and military motorisation in Italy from the 1920s to the end of the Second World War. This is followed by chapters dedicated to motorcycles, cars and light trucks. Each subject is described through its history, technical evolution and specifications, all supported by numerous contemporary photographs.

The second volume includes the remaining chapters dealing with medium and heavy trucks, artillery tractors, special-purpose vehicles and trailers. The main text is complemented with appendices on vehicle colouring and markings, manufacturers, production facts and further details.

It is common opinion that the Italian Army was beaten above all because of the poor quality of its combat vehicles. Actually, impartial and in-depth studies, made since the end of the war, have revealed that the main problem was the shortage of vehicles, as well as an entirely insufficient logistics chain. The tank crews were able to compensate with bravery and experience for the fact that their tanks were, from a certain point on, inferior to those of their enemies, but the inadequate number of AFVs and other material was impossible to remedy. The same problem plagued the entire sector of military soft-skinned vehicles, a sign of Italy’s limited industrial capacity (and of procurement of raw materials and components) compared, for example, to its ally Germany. There were too few factories, too few skilled workers, and poor management skills within the armed forces.

However, if quantity was lacking, the same cannot be said for quality. Many models of efficient, robust and resistant vehicles were produced, especially in the sector of the so-called ‘standardised’ motor vehicles, such as those mentioned above and others that we will see. These vehicles allowed the Italian troops to move and fight in the large and difficult territories of North Africa, the Balkans and the Soviet Union and which brought home what was left of the defeated soldiers.

This is the first English-language study describing the soft-skinned vehicles of the Italian Armed Forces, starting from the 1930s, when Mussolini’s Italy faced some colonial conflicts and participated - albeit unofficially - in the Spanish Civil War, and throughout the Second World War. For each vehicle there is a file describing its evolution and the main technical aspects, accompanied by one or more photographs and, for the most significant examples, line drawings. The work is enriched by a historical introduction, various appendices and colour profiles.

 

"The book is highly illustrated throughout, with a lot of archive images, giving us multiple views, as well as a number of good colour profiles and plenty of line drawings/plans of many of the different vehicles.....I for one am really looking forward to the release of volume 2, which is in preparation, and which will go on to cover medium and heavy trucks, artillery tractors, special purpose vehicles and trailers. Together, the two volumes will be an invaluable English language reference on the whole topic of Italian soft-skinned transport for WW2." Robin Buckland, Military Model Scene

"This new book from Helion promises to shed some much needed light on the non-armored vehicles used by the Italian armed forces of WWII, including vital background on the how’s and why’s of Italian military vehicle development and production." AMPS

"...a very nice reference book that contains a well written informative text, many subject specific photographs and illustrations, well detailed captions and more..." Armorama

“There are a ton of great period photos and diagrams in this one, making it a real treasure for enthusiasts.” ModelingMadness.com

"I was delighted to receive these books [Volume1 & 2] to review, and I immediately started flipping through the pages, and getting sucked into the content. On first viewing it’s hard to focus on any one subject, or its derivatives. There’s just so much in there; And I mean this as a compliment. The scope of these books is very wide ranging, and quite impressive. Looking at the list of sources (often absent from such volumes) and of course the subject matter itself, it’s evident that a large amount of research and work have gone into the production of these volumes. Highly recommended." WarWheels.net

"The introduction and appendices look at wheels and tires, camouflage, markings, in addition to provide company profiles of manufacturers. Illustrations and captions are clear, concise, and meaningful. These two volumes fill a critical void in the history of WWII military vehicles." History in Motion

“….you will find endlessly fascinating and interesting subjects in both volumes.” War Wheels

"....A neglected subject and strongly recommended." The Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicle Association, Aug 24 & Model Military International Magazine Issue 122, 2024

".....These are two excellent reference volumes for anyone interested in vehicles used in World War Two by the Italian Army. Knowing exact capabilities of machines also allows the rules writers among us to more accurately model capabilities in our games. Outside of that, the photographs are often very interesting, such as the Lancia 3Ro towing an M13 tank on a trailer, which gives you a true grasp of just how big the trucks could be (clue: they are massive)." hamsterwrangler.com

“Paired with Volume 2, this makes for an excellent reference of the topic. Enjoyed it.” The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society