Italian Armoured (Corazzata) Division
(Corps Scale Orbat [CSO] annotations in Green)
Divisional HQ
Comd in Fiat staff car (C3)
Signals Vehicle (C3)
Divisional HQ represented by a die-cast taxi and railway model Citroen
Cavalleria Regiment
Comd in car (C3)
AB 41 A/C (R3)
3 Motorcycles (@R1)
AB 41 A/C (R3) + 2 recce markers
The Divisional Recce Regiment – QRF AB41, and FoW Saharina substituted for the M/C
Bersaglieri Regimental HQ
Comd with 47mm Atk and/or 81mm Mortar (CS3) (Same in CSO)
Bersagliari RHQ – Peter Pig Italians, American tank crew and AK47 personality
Bersaglieri Battalion x up to 3
Comd + MMG + Truck (CS3)
3 Rifles (F3) [Everyone fits into the truck.]
Rifle Infantry stand (F3)
Bersagliari Bn – Peter Pig Bersagliari and Italian infantry
Bersaglieri Motorcycle Company
2 Motorcycle stands (@R1) (Omit in CSO)
0-1 HMG Motorcycle Stand (RS1) (Omit in CSO)
Anti-Tank Company
47mm Atk (S3) + Limber (L3)
4.7cm Howitzer + Limber (S3)
Bersagliari Motorcycle troops and 47mm Anti-tank company with a 20mm Chenillette
Tank Regiment
HQ tank (C3)
2-5 CV33 or M11 or M13 Carro Armati (@F3)
3 CV33 or M11 or M13 Carro Armati (@F3)
M13 Tank Regiment – Flames of War
M11 Tank Regiment – Converted Peter Pig T-26s
Understrength L6 Tank Regiment – Flames of War
Artillery Regiment
RHQ comd (C3)
FOO (O1)
100mm Howitzer (S3) + limber (L3)
The 100mm Artillery Battalion and FOO – Peter Pig and Flames of War. Gun by YesthatPhil
75mm Howitzer (S3) + limber (L3)
75mm Gun (S3) + limber (L3)
Semovente SP (S3)
100mm or 75mm Howitzer, or Semovente (S3) + limber (L3)
AA 53mm, or 35mm or 55mm portee in truck (S3) with trailer, or towed. (L3)
The 75mm, Self Propelled and AA components of the Artillery Regiment
Engineer Company
2 Engineers (E1), Truck (L3) + optional Trailer (L3)
2 Engineers with Truck (E3)
The Engineer Battalion with rather cramped transport! – Peter Pig and QRF
Workshop/Transport Battalion (Same in CSO)
Ammo Truck (L3)
Workshop (L3)
The Transport Train, Workshops and Fuel Train – Peter Pig and FoW
For the Western desert, at Maximum strength, for XX Corps at Alamein, Wickepedia gives:
Italian Mobile XX Corp
- 132 Armoured Division Ariete, Major General Francesco Arena
- 132 Armoured Regiment
- 8 Bersaglieri Regiment (motorised)
- 132 Artillery Regiment (motorised)
- 3 Battalion Nizza Cavalleria
- 32 Mixed Engineer Battalion (motorised)
- 133 Armoured Division Littorio, Major General Gervasio Bitossi
- 133 Tank Regiment
- 12 Bersaglieri Infantry Regiment
- 3 Artillery Regiment
- 133 Artillery Regiment (part)
- 3 Tank Group Lancieri di Novara
- 101 Motorised Division Trieste, Brigadier General Francisco La Ferla
- 11 Tank Battalion
- 65 Infantry Regiment
- 6 Infantry Regiment
- 21 Artillery Regiment
- 8 Armoured Bersaglieri Battalion
- 52 Mixed Artillery Battalion
In total, as the strength of the Italian armoured divisions rose and fell, there were three armoured (Corazzata) divisions that fought in North Africa :
132 Divisione Corazzata “Ariete”
133 Divisione Corazzata “Littorio”
131 Divisione Corazzata “Centauro”, which arrived in theatre last and eventually absorbed the remnants of 132 and 133 divisions in Tunisia.
TO&E
2 Command Fiat staff cars, 1 Signals Vehicle, 1 AB 41 A/C, 3 Motorcycles, 1 HMG Motorcycle, 5 Command stands, 1 FOO, 9-12 Rifle stands, 3 MMGs, 2 47mm Atk guns, 1 81mm Mortar, 4-7 Trucks, 1 Ammo Truck, 1 Workshop Truck, 1 Fuel bowser, 1 HQ tank , 2-5 Tanks (CV33 or M11 or M13 Carro Armati), 1 100mm Howitzer, 1 75mm Howitzer, 1 75mm Gun, 1 Semovente SP, 4 Artillery Limbers, 1 AA Truck or towed (53mm, 35mm or 55mm), 2 Engineer stands, 0-1 Trailer.
Sources :
Walker, I. (2003) Iron Hulls Iron Hearts. The Cromwell Press, Trowbridge.
http://reocities.com/pentagon/quarters/1975/g_itardi.htm (1997) [Accessed 1 Jan 2012]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_XX_Motorised_Corps [Accessed 1 Jan 2012]
Not Quite Mechanised 