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Compagnie avio-sahariane

I have tried using the search in case this has already been posted, but got no hits.

What was the composition of the original five air-Saharan companies in mid 1940?
 

FrancoFB

Member
if my memory is not going wrong
the compagnie sahariane were mobilitated on:
1 HQ
1 Ghibli section
2 plt motorized
1 plt mg
 

jwsleser

Administrator
Staff member
From Struttura, uniformi, distintivi ed insegne delle truppe libiche 1912-1943 pp. 78-83.

1939-1942
The cp. sahariane consisted of cp. comando, two plt. autosahariani, and a plt. mitraglieri.

Compagnie comando:
-Comandante
-Plt comando:
--sqd. maggiorità (12 soldati e 4 autocarri A.S. 37)
--sqd. collegamenti (2 soldati)
--sqd. officina (6 soldati)
--sqd. servizi (5 soldati e 3 automezzi pesanti)
-sezione aeroplani

two plotoni autosahariani (each with):
-Sqd comando (6 soldati e 4 autocarri A.S. 37)
-Three buluc fucilieri (8 soldati with 2 F.M.)

Plotone mitraglieri
-Comandante
-Sqd comando (8 soldati e 4 autocarri A.S. 37)
-Two buluc mitraglieri (enough with 10 soldati e 2 mitragliarici)

Totals are: 4 ufficiali, 7 sottufficiali, 32 nazionali, e 77 libici con 6 F.M, 4 mtr., 16 A.S. 37 e 3 automezzi pesanti.
 

jwsleser

Administrator
Staff member
1942 (Marz 25 1942)-43

The cp. sahariane consisted of plt. comando, one plt. fucileri, plt. mitraglieri, plt. cannoni da 20mm ed plt. cannoni da 47/32.

Plotone comando:
-24 soldati e 3 A.S. 37 e 2 autocarri pesanti Lanica 3 RO.

Plotone fucilieri
-32 soldati, 2 F.M. e 4 A.S. 37.

Plotone mitraglieri:
-32 soldati, 2 mtr. e 2 autocarri pesanti Lanica 3 RO.

Plotone cannoni da 20mm
-26 soldati, 3 pezzi da 20mm e 3 autocarri pesanti Lanica 3 RO.

Plotone cannoni da 47/32
-23 soldati, 3 pezzi da 47/32 e 3 autocarri pesanti Lanica 3 RO.

A total of 18 camionette SPA-Viberti AS42 «‘Sahariane» were issued as they arrived.
 
Thanks Jeff. And Franco.

jeff. do you have any details on the arrival of the SPA-Viberti AS42. Other than 18 in total? Specifically when each batch arrived?
Thanks.
 
Last edited:
1942 (Marz 25 1942)-43

The cp. sahariane consisted of plt. comando, one plt. fucileri, plt. mitraglieri, plt. cannoni da 20mm ed plt. cannoni da 47/32.

Plotone comando:
-24 soldati e 3 A.S. 37 e 2 autocarri pesanti Lanica 3 RO.

Plotone fucilieri
-32 soldati, 2 F.M. e 4 A.S. 37.

Plotone mitraglieri:
-32 soldati, 2 mtr. e 2 autocarri pesanti Lanica 3 RO.

Plotone cannoni da 20mm
-26 soldati, 3 pezzi da 20mm e 3 autocarri pesanti Lanica 3 RO.

Plotone cannoni da 47/32
-23 soldati, 3 pezzi da 47/32 e 3 autocarri pesanti Lanica 3 RO.

A total of 18 camionette SPA-Viberti AS42 «‘Sahariane» were issued as they arrived.
Also, in this configuration, how many of the seven proposed companies were raised? And when please?
 

FrancoFB

Member
5 were raised with the mobilization, the peacetime establishment was 4
i known they had 7 coy sometime, need to check the books
 
Despite the continuous reminders of the Italian commands in AS, the delivery of the first samples of "Sahariana" arrived at their destination with considerable delay because the first production batch was destroyed during an air raid on Turin in November 1942. The first eight "Sahariana" they arrived in Libya on November 8, 1942, and were immediately assigned to the 3rd "Saharan" company of Zella. They were all used to set up the "Trucker Training Department of the Saharan Group, later renamed" 3.o Rapid Department "of the" Saharan Group. "Following the arrival of ten other" Saharan ", the unit considered experimental was sent to Hon for training, particularly to train in long-range desert travel, with the aim of completing the training course by mid-December 1942. Needless to say, the training was never completed. unit had its baptism of fire on November 17, 1942 when it collided with a patrol of the LRDG, losing one of its "Sahariana". On November 25 another clash followed, but this time the Italians showed that they had learned their lesson and the LRDG lost half of its eight vehicles, while the Italians none. After the defeat of El Alamein the "Saharan Group" retreated to Tunisia where it formed the "Mannerini Group" to which it was added by 103 to "Arditi Truckers Company". This latter unit also had a theoretical strength that was to include, among other things, 24 "Saharan", plus eight trucks and two cars for staff for services and supplies. Instead it had only 8 which were joined by 5 other war machines during.
All the best
Maurizio
 
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