normandie 44 kstn and Italian stuff?

[Bullitt]

Hi all

what units did have the italian AB 41 or 43 (Autoblinda) in their Gliederungen during the Normandiy event from june till august 44

the 21 pz div had a mixure of German and French vehicles fielded, but I didn't find any Italian stuff on their kstn
so was there another unit with some exotic moterpool?
at least one such AB 41 or 43 was there and got ko'd

ciao
Bullitt

[Alanmccoubrey]

There were no Italian armoured cars in Normandy 1944. What makes you say that a italian Armoured Car was knocked out in Normandy ?

[Bullitt]

Autoblinda

hi,

Well books make a discription of history...and we believe it.
but items that were found on site are facts.
the cracked front armorplate of such an AB 40, 41 or 43 was found near Mont ormel "262". hence my question to what unit it was attached.

possibly it was the only AutoBlinda in the Normandy area...but it proof that at least one such vehicle was there and met its faith.

has someone allocation lists of these vehicles ?

ciao
Bullitt

[H BABERT]

Hello,
at least, 4 AB 41 were in Brest area in 1944 with 2nd FJD, 2 were destroyed/captured before september, the two other were destroyed by crew due to the lack of ammunition/gazoline in brest pocket in september 44

Herlé

[Bullitt]

autoblinda 41

Hi Herlé

great ..thanks for the info
but if all 4 were ko'd in the Brest pocket that armorplate couldn't have flown to Mont ormel
Could it be that 3FJD had such an autoblinda too ?....they were in the Falaise pocket and passed the Mont Ormel in their retreat.
do you have any info on 3 FJD?

ciao
Bullitt

[Telamon]

Good evening,

I'm sorry that dig up an old topic but it is important for me.

the cracked front armorplate of such an AB 40, 41 or 43 was found near Mont ormel "262". hence my question to what unit it was attached.

possibly it was the only AutoBlinda in the Normandy area...but it proof that at least one such vehicle was there and met its faith.

And.

at least, 4 AB 41 were in Brest area in 1944 with 2nd FJD, 2 were destroyed/captured before september, the two other were destroyed by crew due to the lack of ammunition/gazoline in brest pocket in september 44

Can I ask about the source of this information?

This AB from Mont Ormel could come from 12 Fallschirm-aufklärungsabteilung - fought in the Battle of Falaise

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtop...?f=83&t=181491

“Its E-M (Stabs Kp ?????) it’s equipped with 6x Italian armoured car and 3x Italian light cars type AB 41/43. These unite it’s composed by 5 companies.

1 Kp- (Lt Von Konitz): Equipped with 3x Panzerspahwagen for each of its five sections. The three firsts are modelled on sections of the infantry of the Heer. The four is heavy (schere) and the five is a section of assault (sturmtrupp).
Each section has 2xlight machine guns, 1x weapon with telescope, 1x rifle grenade launcher and several FG 42, Stg 44 and MP 40. The first three also have 2x trucks. The four have 1x Kubelwagen and 2x trucks, but only 2 platoons. The first has s.MG and the second 2x mortars of 81mm."

and

"This coul make an effective unit, but at 17 May this unit received no armoured car and only half of the mortars. Instead of the armoured cars this unit received “tourism cars” Volkswagen and trucks. The effective has 900 men´s"

[H BABERT]

Hi,
about AB 41 in Festung Brest , the fact is well known, testimony of veterans.... and i must also have one or two picture of these AB 41 in the area of Brest
regards
Herlé

[mufasa]

thank you all for this great topic!

I knew only, so far, that the 2nd Fallsch. Div., after the German occupation of Rome in September 1943, was tasked to collect and make the inventoy of the many armored fighting vehicles. I found news that at the end of 1943 the division left Italy from the Estern Front, together with six AS 42 Sahariana (and some italian volunteers as crewmen, as the photo below, I think just taken in Ukraine in 1944) but any notice for the AB41 armoured cars....

really very interesting!
Oriano

[Tom B]

Many thanks for all the great info !! Tom

[mufasa]

all the six AS 42 Sahariana (manufactured for the desert , not for the Russian snow) were lost in the spring of 1944 (along with the commander of the Italian, Reparto Arditi Camionettisti, captain Paris) ...

Survivors follow the German paratroopers in western France, where the last were captured from the Americans at the end of September 1944 ... most likely the AB41 and Lince armored fighting vehicles were provided to 2nd Fallsch. Div. after Russia at the end of May 1944..... another photo of the Arditi Camionettisti in Ucraina in the early months of 1944

[H BABERT]

Hello
my friend Hill 192 just send me this picture of a knocked out AB41 destroyed near ST LO on Hill 192....


regards
Herlé

[H BABERT]

Hi
some ground dug on destroyed AB 41 of 2nd Fallschirmjägerdivision, near Brest in Brittany

Some Breda magazine....

[H BABERT]

Hi,
radio antenna protector...

maybe more later...

Herlé

[Heer Feikert]

Very cool and interesting pictures mufasa, H BABERT.
Thanks for posting!

[H BABERT]

Hi,
better picture of Italian AB40/41 in Normandy, Saint Lo area
regards
Herlé