  
Camionetta Desertica 42 Sahariana AS 42
SPA Camionetta Desertica 42 'Sahariana' AS 42 in Photographs
The letters AS are the Italian code for North Africa, "Africa Settentrionale", which basically translates into "North African" but is often translated as "African Service" in many English texts... 
After the LRDG raided Kufra in 1941 the Italian set in motion a plan for dealing with allied incursions behind their lines, calling on their "colonial" experience of 30 years in Libya they formed a specialist group of desert veterans to hunt down the British raiders. They had extensively detailed maps and training in desert navigation...
TL-37 mounting the 47/32 gun
In 1941 a special vehicle designed for this task was requested. It was required to be fast, well armed and able to operate over long distances. Viberti of Turin (a division of SPA, of the FIAT motor group) produced the Sahariana AS-42 from this brief and the first vehicles were delivered in late 1942 and went into action from November 29. Duo showing both types...
 Raggruppamento Sahariana AS
The first unit to be armed with the Sahariana was the Raggruppamento which was active on the African front from November 29, 1942 until April 8, 1943.
The Raggruppamento was equipped with 10 vehicles, their details are:
Sahariana AS-42 : 1 x 20mm AA & 1 x 8mm MG
Sahariana AS-42 : 1 x 47mm CAN & 1 x 8mm MG
Sahariana AS-42 : 1 x 20mm AA & 1 x 8mm MG
Sahariana AS-42 : 1 x 20mm ATR & 2 x 8mm MG
Sahariana AS-42 : 2 x 8mm MG
SPA TL37 AS : 1 x 47mm CAN
SPA TL37 AS : 1 x 20mm AA
Sahariana AS-42 : 1 x 20mm AA & 2 x 8mm MG
Sahariana AS-42 : 1 x 20mm ATR & 1 x 8mm MG
SPA TL37 AS : Unarmed supply vehicle
103rd Compagnia Arditi Camionettisti
On the success of the Raggruppamento Sahariana AS, four new units were raised and titled "Compagnia Arditi Camionettisti". Each contained approximately 100 personnel and 24 Saharianas divided into 3 platoons of 8. Of the four Compagnia formed only the 103rd was stationed in North Africa, seeing action around Sfax and central Tunisia. Of the other three Compagnia, the 112th and 113th were stationed in Sicily and the 123rd in Rome. Seeing the excellent results of operations by the first group against the LRDG four new units were raised, called "Compagnie Arditi Camionettisti" (or literally Jeep Scouting Companies) and containing about 100 personnel. These new units were stationed & equipped as follows:
103rd Co.Ard.Camion.
24 x AS 42
Stationed in North Africa, it was in action around Sfax & central Tunisia
112th Co.Ard.Camion.
24 x AS 42
(II series)
Stationed in Sicily but may not have been engaged during Allied conquest.
113th Co.Ard.Camion.
24 x AS 42
Stationed in Sicily and participated in defence against Allied conquest.
123rd Co.Ard.Camion.
24 x AS 42
and AS 43
Stationed at Rome and appears to have seen no further action (although elements may have fought against the Germans in defence of Rome after the armistice).
A Sahariano in North Africa crewed by the PAI they are also referred to as - Camionetta 'Sahariana' AS 42 - or - Camionetta SPA 43 Sahariana were later up-gunned with a 20mm Breda it is part of the "103rd Compagnie Arditi Camionettisti", half of which fought on the Tunisian Front and the other half on the Libyan Front. 
The Camionetta Desertica 43 in one of several variant configurations 
Camionetta Sahariana AS 42 Specifications
Bibliography
SOON!
AANA Members Comments and Additions
| Much more to add to this page! |
| 
Link-IT, LLC Copyright© 2008, 