AB 41:

Italy's AB 41

Italy's AB 41

Italy's AB 41

On patrol through a village in North Africa.
Italy's AB 41

AB 43:

Italy's AB 43

Design specs called for a high performance vehicle to be used by Italian colonial police. Set of driving controls on each end of vehicle.

AB 40:

Initial production model. Few were built.

AB 41:

Turret from L6/40 was used. Was 4-wheeled drived. One vehicle in 4 had mounting for AA machine gun on turret roof. Special sand tires could be fitted and there was a kit to convert it to go on railroad tracks. This included rail wheels, extra lights and a spotlight. These rail converted vehicles were primarily used in anti-partisan patrols in the Balkans. Used in North Africa, Soviet Union, Italy and Hungary.

AB 43:

This was to mount a 47 mm gun but was never put into production.

Other variants: One that had no turret and was used as a command vehicle or artillery observation post.

German Use:

Panzerspähwagen AB41 201(i):

37 confiscated from Italian Army in September 1943.2 20 more were produced.2 Later models had a new motor installed and were called the AB41/43.2 This had a 108 HP engine, could go 81 kph, and go 350 km.2

    AB 40 AB 41 AB 43
Crew 4 41 4: Commander/gunner/loader, 2 drivers, radioman4
42,3
 
Physical Characteristics        
Weight   15,344 lb
7.38 tons1
7,500 kg1
16,576 lb
7.4 tons4, 7.5 tons2,3
16,732 lb
Length w/gun 17' 3.5" 17' 1"1
5.2 m1
17' 1.5"3
5.2 m2,3,4
 
Length w/o gun        
Height 8' 1" 7' 11"1
2.48 m1
7' 11.5"3
2.4 m4, 2.48 m2,3
 
Width 6' 5" 6' 4"1
1.92 m1
6' 4.25"3
1.92 m2,3, 2.33 m4
 
Ground clearance        
Ground contact length        
Ground pressure        
Turret ring diameter        
Armament        
Main   20 mm1, 2: 8 mm
2: MGs4
20 mm Bred modello 35 AA
20 mm modello 35 L/652
20 mm4
47 mm
47 mm L/404
Secondary        
MG 8 mm Breda modello 38, coaxial, rear hull 2: 8 mm MGs1
8 mm MG, rear4
2: 8 mm modello 382
8 mm MG, rear4
MG, coaxial4
8 mm MG, rear4
Side arms        
Quantity        
Main     4562  
Secondary        
MG     1,9922  
Side arms        
Armor Thickness (mm)   91 Front: 154
Side: 94
 
Hull Front, Upper     9@23°2  
Hull Front, Lower     9@45°2  
Hull Sides, Upper     9@30°2  
Hull Sides, Lower     9@0°2  
Hull Rear     9@20°2 & 9@40°2  
Hull Top     6@90°2  
Hull Bottom     6@90°2  
Turret Front     18@16°2
Mantlet: 18 round2
 
Turret Sides     9@20°2  
Turret Rear     9@16°2  
Turret Top     6@90°2  
Engine (Make / Model) SAP Abm 1, water cooled
Ansaldo1
  SPA Abm 12,3
5 liters2
water cooled3
 
Cylinders 61   62, I-63  
Net HP 801   803,4
882 @ 2,700 rpm2
 
Transmission     6 forward, 4 reverse.2  
Fuel type Gasoline1   Gasoline2  
Octane        
Capacity        
Performance        
Traverse     360°, hand.2  
Max Speed 49 mph 49 mph1
78 kph1
49 mph3
76 kph4, 78 kph2,3
56 mph
Cross Country 24 mph   24 mph3
38 kph3
 
Road radius 248 miles 248 miles1
400 km1
248 miles3
400 km2,3
334 miles
Turning Radius        
Elevation Limits     -10° to +20°2  
Fording depth 2' 4"   2' 4"3
0.7 m3
 
Trench crossing        
Vertical Obstacle 1'   1'3
0.3 m3
 
Suspension (Type)        
Wheels each side        
Return rollers each side        
Track length        
Tires 4      
Track width        
Track centers/tread        
Production   24 550
Ansaldo2
 

Sources:

  1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
  2. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
  3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  4. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
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