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Italy's Autoblinda AB 40, AB 41, and AB 43 armored cars
AB 41 |
AB 41 |
AB 41 |
AB 41, on patrol through a village in North Africa |
AB 43 |
Design
The requirements for and new armored car for the Italian Colonial Police and the Italian Cavalry were combined into one specification.5
The four wheel steering did cause problems for the Autoblindas.5 There were two drivers in the crew as there were positions in the front and the rear that could drive the Autoblinda.5
Wheels
The Autoblindas could be outfitted with extra wide sand tires for used in North Africa.5
There were also kits that could allow the Autoblindas to ride on railroad tracks.5 These could be changed in 30 minutes by the crew.5 These were primarily used in anti-partisan patrols in the Balkans.
Production
Production started in 1940 with the AB 40.5 These were the most produced Italian armored car in World War II.5
- AB 40: 24
- AB 41: 550
- Manufacturer: Ansaldo2
- AB 43:
Variants
- AB 40: Initial production model. Few were built. Initially had two MGs in the turret, one of which was facing to the rear.5
- AB 41: Turret from L6/40 was used. Was 4-wheeled drive. One vehicle in 4 had mounting for AA machine gun on turret roof. 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.
- ??: One that had no turret and was used as a command vehicle or artillery observation post.
- Panzerspähwagen AB41 201(i): 37 (575) confiscated from Italian Army in September 1943.2,5 20 (1205) more were produced.2,5 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 | 41,5 | 4: Commander/gunner/loader, 2 drivers, radioman4 42,3,5 |
|
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 15,344 lb 7.38 tons1 7,500 kg1 |
16,576 lb 7.4 tons4,5, 7.5 tons2,3 7,518 kg5 |
16,732 lb | |
| Length w/gun | 17' 3.5" | 17' 1"1 5.2 m1 |
17' 1.5"3, 17' 2"5 5.2 m2,3,4,5 |
|
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 8' 1" | 7' 11"1 2.48 m1 |
7' 11.5"3, 8'5 2.4 m4, 2.48 m2,3,5 |
|
| Width | 6' 5" | 6' 4"1 1.92 m1 |
6' 4"5, 6' 4.25"3 1.92 m2,3,5, 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 Breda modello 35 anti-aircraft5 20 mm modello 35 L/652 20 mm4 |
47 mm 47 mm L/404 |
|
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 2: 8 mm MGs1 | 2: 8 mm modello 382 | ||
| MG - coaxial | 8 mm Breda modello 38 | 8 mm (0.315") modello 38 air cooled MG5 | MG4 | |
| MG - rear | 8 mm Breda modello 38 | 8 mm MG4 | 8 mm MG4 8 mm (0.315") modello 38 air cooled MG5 |
8 mm MG4 |
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 4562 | |||
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | 1,9922 | |||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 91 | 175 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 |
SAP Abn5 SPA Abm 12,3 5 liters2 |
||
| Cylinders | 61 | 62,5, I-63 | ||
| Cooling | Water3,5 | |||
| Net HP | 801 | 803,4 882 @ 2,700 rpm2 |
||
| Transmission | 6 forward, 4 reverse2,5 | |||
| Fuel type | Gasoline1 | Gasoline2,5 | ||
| Octane | ||||
| Capacity | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 360°, hand.2 | |||
| Max Speed | 49 mph | 49 mph1 78 kph1 |
49 mph3,5 76 kph4, 78 kph2,3,5 |
56 mph |
| Cross Country | 24 mph | 24 mph3 38 kph3 |
||
| Road radius | 248 miles | 248 miles1 400 km1 |
248 miles3,5 400 km2,3,5 |
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 |
Sources:
- 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
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006
