Fiat SPA-AS42 Saharan Trucks

Another return to the desert for my latest submission to the challenge. Unlike the Chevy's used by the LRDG the Italians designed the Fiat SPA-AS42 "Saharan" specifically for the desert. The result was an armoured scout vehicle that was fast and agile with a very low profile making it ideal for taking advantage of every bit of terrain cover.

Five Fiat SPA-AS42

The AS42 was built around the chassis of the AB41 armoured car but with a completely new hull. The large central open cabin allowed plenty of room for a range of weapons to be mounted including the Breda 20mm AA Gun and an assortment of heavy calibre automatic weapons. In theory it could hold a crew of 5 and had a maximum range of 300km (extended to 1500 with extra fuel loaded). More than a match for the trucks of the LRDG.

Designed in mid 1942 it was in service within a few months and proved to be an effective and popular vehicle. Some vehicles even saw service with the Fallschirmjäger-Division Hermann Göring after the Italian Armistice. They continued in use throughout '44 and '45 as reconnaissance vehicles on the Eastern Front, in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Some feature additional crew

Five vehicles four crew (2 Breda gunners and two standing crewmen) earned me 12 points and one more small step towards my new target of 500.

Carthaginian Generals & Allies

I'm painting up a storm as we head into the final few weeks of the Challenge...I have to as I foolishly upped my target! This week I have several units finished but decided to lump them together in a single post because I felt sorry for our redoubtable stewardess Tamsin. I also completed some WWII vehicles but I'll post pictures of these later in the week.

First up are a selection of Carthaginian generals both mounted and on foot, plus a couple of solo based Hero figures. As with all my 6mm ancients these are from Baccus but unlike the Roman Generals set I painted up a few weeks go these guys had relatively little casting lines and vents to be removed.

Mounted Carthaginian Generals plus a few on foot and some solo hero figures

The armies of Carthage were mostly made up of mercenaries and allies and the first of these that I have painted are some Balearic Slingers. I enjoyed painting these... probably because they were a really simple paint job. More importantly they give my army some much needed firepower.

Balearic Slingers

Balearic Slingers from the side

Next up are some Numidian skirmishers. Trust me there are some cavalry coming soon but I couldn't get them finished in time for this week.

Numidian Skirmishers with cow hide shields

These models are actually listed as Moorish infantry on the Baccus website

The whole gang - Generals, Skirmishers and Slingers

So in total this lost consists of nine Mounted troops and 48 Infantry so they should net me 33 points and get me even closer to me new target of 500 points. Now for the final sprint to the finish line. I have my Curtgeld still to complete and I another desert tank unit to paint that will earn me the extra few points I need to reach my target. 

NVA Dinner Dance

Over the weekend I took time away from painting and wargaming to spend an evening with the Normandy Veterans Association. The NVA officially ceased to exist a couple of years ago but despite dwindling numbers the members of the Southend Branch have continued as an independent group. They hold an annual Dinner Dance supported by members, friends and family, and this year I joined them for an old fashion evening of big band music and dancing. And let me tell you, nobody parties quite as hard as a D-Day Veteran!

The Veterans receive their colours

A piper started the evening off

My Wife and I enjoyed a wonderful meal with family

Dancing to a Big Band and some swinging tunes from the 40's. 

Don Shepherd, Chairman of the Southend branch of the NVA gave a great speech.

Myself and Don towards the end of the evening

Alec Hall, a veteran of Arnhem, signs my brother-in-laws new book The Airborne Club

I know these posts about meeting the Veterans are a bit off-topic for a painting and wargaming Blog but meeting these guys always reminds me of the real cost of war. We treat these periods as 'fun' but for these guys the memory of the sacrifices they made are just as fresh now as they were 70 years ago. Don't get me wrong I think we should wargame modern conflicts - a lot can be learnt from such pursuits - but we should always do so remembering the need to be respectful and sensitive when we play at war, particularly conflicts that are still within living memory.

More Breda 20/65 Autocannon

These Italian Anti-Aircraft trucks are an addition to my North Africa/Desert Raiders project. I painted a small unit of these last year but decided I needed a few more to put in and around the Italian Airfield I have put together. The models are by GHQ and as with all their 6mm (1/285th) scale models the details are crisp, clean and therefore very easy to paint. 

The Breda 20/65 was a fast firing Auto-cannon designed primarily as an Anti-Aircraft weapon. It was developed in 1932 and was soon adopted by the Italian Army and saw use throughout the war although by 1942 it was become a bit redundant in its original role. It was still a pretty good weapon and its lightweight design and general reliability meant that when captured it was often used by the allies in a ground, anti vehicle role. The LRDG in particular liked the 20/65 and mounted it on some of their Chevy Trucks. 

These three 6mm vehicles will earn me six points but more importantly they finish off my Italian airfield defence force that I have put together...that is until I have another brainwave and buy something else!