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Camionetta Desertica Model 42/

AS 42 Sahariana Reconnaissance Vehicle


Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by: Italy
First Produced/Service Dates: 1942
Manufactured by: SPA (Società Piemontese Automobili)/Viberti
Crew: 4
Armament: Main: (1) 20mm Breda M35 Cannon OR 20mm Soluthurn Anti-Tank Gun OR 47mm M39 Anti-Tank Gun; Secondary: (1-3) 8mm Breda M38 Machine Guns.
Engine: 6 Cylinder Water Cooled Gasoline Engine
Miscellaneous Info: The Camionetta Desertica (Desert Van) Model 1942, based on the chassis of the Autoblinda AB 42 (Prototype), was originally envisioned as a desert raiding vehicle. However due to the course of the war, it was mostly used as a reconnaissnace vehicle instead. This vehicle is more commonly referred to by its informal name, the AS 42 Sahariana; shortened from "Autocarro Sahariana", which translates into English as "Sub-Saharan Africa Truck". 

After the Axis' exit from North Africa, an updated version was created which had the side-mounted upper jerry can racks replaced by storage bins and eliminated the sand channels.  This vehicle was informally named the "Metropolitana" as it was only used in Sicily and mainland Italy. This version soldiered on in Italian service for a few years after World War II.
Data Sheet Available:   None Available

Photos

Reference Source/Provider
  Camionetta Desertica Mod. 42 Recon Vehicle Photos David Haugh - Content Editor
  Camionetta Desertica Mod. 42 Recon Vehicle Photo Regio Escerito (Italian Royal Army)
  Camionetta Desertica Mod. 42 Recon Vehicle Photo Ufficio Storico, Stato Maggiore Esercito via Ralph Riccio - Elverson, Pennsylvania USA
  Camionetta "Metropolitana" Mod. 42 Recon Vehicle Photo David Haugh
  Camionetta "Metropolitana" Mod. 42 Recon Vehicle Photo Ufficio Storico, Stato Maggiore Esercito via Ralph Riccio - Elverson, Pennsylvania USA
    Camionetta "Metropolitana" Mod. 42 (Post War) Recon Vehicle Photos David Haugh

References Available

Online

Reference Source/Provider
Camionetta Desertica Mod. 42 Recon Vehicle Information and Photos Comando Supremo: Italy at War Website
Camionetta Desertica Mod. 42 Recon Vehicle Drawings The Blue Prints.Com Website

Printed

Reference Author
A Century of Italian Armored Cars (Roadrunner) Nicola Pignato
A Photo History of Armoured Cars In Two World Wars George Forty
Encyclopedia of Armoured Cars Duncan Crow and Robert J. Icks
Italian Armored Vehicles of World War Two (Squadron-Signal Publications Nicola Pignato
Italian Armoured & Reconnaissance Cars: 1911-45 (Osprey Publishing) Filippo Cappellano & Pier Paolo Battistelli
Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War 2

Book Review by Patrick Keenan - Editor
Ralph Riccio
Italian Truck-Mounted Artillery In Action

Book Review by Patrick Keenan - Editor
Ralph Riccio and Nicola Pignato
Light Trucks of the Italian Army in WWII (Mushroom Model Publications - MMP) Enrico Finazzer & Luigi Carretta
World War II AFV Plans: Other Axis & Allied Armored Fighting Vehicles George Bradford

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Kit Manufacturer Scale Other Information
SPA Viberti Mod 42 with 20mm Solothurn Model Kit (R078) Criel 1/35 Resin
SPA Viberti Mod 42 with 47/32 Cannon Model Kit (R079) Criel 1/35 Resin
SPA Viberti 42 Desert Vehicle Series IIA (Metropolitana) with 47/32 Cannon Model Kit (R084) Criel 1/35 Resin
SPA Viberti Mod 42 with 20mm Breda Cannon Model Kit (R080) Criel 1/35 Resin
SPA Viberti 42 Desert Vehicle Series IIA (Metropolitana) with 20mm Breda Cannon Model Kit (R083) Criel 1/35 Resin
SPA Viberti 42 Desert Vehicle Series IIA (Metropolitana) Police Vehicle Model Kit (R087) Criel 1/35 Resin
AS 42 Sahariana Armored Car Model Kit (GAS50090K0 Gaso.Line 1/48 Resin and Photo-Etch
SPA AS 42 Sahariana Recce Vehicle (1005) Historia Production 1/35 Resin.
ABM 41/42 with 47/32 Gun Model Kit (6455) Italeri 1/35 Styrene Plastic.
ABM 41/42 with 47/32 Gun Model Kit (7053) Italeri 1/72 Styrene Plastic.
Camionetta AS 42 Sahariana with 20mm Breda Cannon Model Kit (6452) Italeri 1/35 Styrene Plastic
Camionetta AS 42 Sahariana with 20mm Breda Cannon Model Kit (7044) Italeri 1/72 Styrene Plastic
Camionetta Mod 42 Sahariana Viberti Model Kit (35031) Wespe Models 1/35 Resin
SPA Viberti Sahariana Model Kit (87047) Wespe Models 1/87 Resin
       
Aftermarket Set Manufacturer Scale Other Information
AS 42 Sahariana Wheels with Spare Set (35064) Hussar Productions 1/35 Resin
AS 41/42 Metropolitana Wheels (HSR35142) Hussar Productions 1/35 Resin
AB 41/AS 42 Libya Sand Tires (72314) ModellTrans Modellbau 1/72 Resin. For Italeri Model Kit
AB 41/AS 42 Artiglio Tires (72315) ModellTrans Modellbau 1/72 Resin. For Italeri Model Kit.
AS 42 Metropolitana Conversion Set (72313) ModellTrans Modellbau 1/72 Resin. For Italeri Model Kit
AS 42 Sahariana Detail Set (72-012) NH Detail 1/72 Photo Etched Detail Set for Italeri kit.
AS 42 Sahariana Libya Tire Set (72403) Retrokit 1/72 Resin; For Italeri Model Kit.
AS 42 Sahariana Detail Set (495) Royal Model 1/35 Photo Etched and Resin.  For Italeri kit.
AS 42 Sahariana "Deck" (Floor) Detail Set (496) Royal Model 1/35 Photo Etched.  For Italeri kit.

Model Photos

Reference Source/Provider
Camionetta AS 42 Sahariana Mod. 42 with 47/32 Cannon Model Photos (1/35 Italeri) Eduardo Mamoretti - Buenos Aires, Argentina