By the end of 1939, the Italian army had three armoured units the 132nd Ariete division, the 131st Centauro division (which mainly saw action in the Balkans during the war, although part of the unit was sent to Tunisia in 1943 - disbanded April 43) and the 133rd Littorio division. In 1940 the first tanks to see action were in the form of independent battalions in Southern France, East Africa and in Libya. The first steps in organising their armour effectively was in 1940 in Libya. The tanks at their disposal were divided into 2 groups- called Ragggrupamenti - each had 1 battalion of medium tanks and three battalions of light tanks. 1st Raggruppamento Carristi (Col Aresca); attached to 23 corps HQ- 4th tank Regt I M11/39 tank battalion XXI tankette battalion LXII tankette battalion LXIII tankette battalion 2nd Raggruppamento Carristi (Col Trvioli) ; attached to Libyan Divisional Group II M11/39 tank battalion IX tankette battalion XX tankette battalion LXI tankette battalion Battaglione Misto Ca - attached To Raggruppamento Maletti one company of M11/39 (from II M11/39 battalion) one company of Tankettes (from LX tankette battalion) Other independent battalions LX tankette battalion (less one coy, only 2 coy's present) attached to XXI corps after 12/6/1940 IV tankette battalion 'General Monti' from 1st tank Regt V tankette battalion 'Generale Venezian' One of the groups was attached to 23rd corps and the other to Gruppo Divisioni Libya. There also existed a composite battalion of one company of tankettes and one company of medium tanks which was part of Raggruppamento Maletti (destroyed at Sidi Barrani) , and another 2 company strong independent battalion attached to 21st corps. In November 1940 the best tanks held by the Italians were reformed into a special armoured brigade with 57 M13/40's (from VI & XXI battalions) - this would be supplemented by the 87 M13/40's from VI and XXI battalions still in training - attached to this were 3 Bersaglieri battalions, 1 armoured car squadron, 2 motorised A/tank units, 1 artillery Regt, 1 engineer company, and 1 motorcycle battalion. In January 1941, the Ariete 132nd armoured division was sent to Libya - but was held in reserve. It consisted of one Regiment ( the 32nd light armoured regiment) of tankettes (3 battalions) , the 8th Bersaglieri regiment, an artillery regiment (132nd - with 1 battalion of 75mm guns ,and another of 105mm guns) , and an engineer company. Another armoured regiment (132nd medium armoured regiment - 3 battalions) soon followed - this consisted of the new M13/40 medium tank. The other Italian armoured units at this time were part of the Raggruppmento Esplorante - 52nd medium armoured battalion, and the 3rd/32nd light armoured battalion. The Italian armour was reorganised during the battles around Beda Fomm (February 1941) General Babini's brigade consisted of 3 battalions of light tanks , 1 battalion of M11/39 and one company of M13/40's. Attached were a Bersaglieri battalion, motorised artillery and 6 armoured cars. The brigade was more or less completely destroyed in the battle. By the end of 1941, all Italian armoured units, were to have one regiment of medium tanks (3 battalions) , one regiment of Bersagleri, an artillery regiment of 6 groups (2 consisting of Semovente self propelled guns), and an engineer battalion. In 1942, the M14/41 medium tank (a slightly improved M13/40) was the mainstay of the medium tank equipped armoured units. The 3 medium tank battalions remained, but were supplemented by a light tank battalion equipped with two companies of the L6/40 light tank. The divisions were now supplemented by their two Semovente battalions each of only company strength. By June 1942 the Littorio armoured division had joined the axis forces in time to take part in the battle of Tobruk. The Italian armour however, was not of a quality to fight and win a modern war, the tanks were slow, badly made, under armoured and undergunned. Casualties in the battles of 1941 were great, and vastly exceeded what could be replaced. At the battle of Sidi Barrani, December 1940 they lost 73 tanks, at Bardia - Jan 1941 they lost 13 medium and 115 light tanks. At Beda Fomm, the British victory cost the Italians 101 tanks. However, The Italian armour saw some victories under Rommels command, as they took part in the battles of Tobruk and Mersa Matruh. That was until they reached the El Alamein line, were once again their weaknesses were found out and by the end of the campaign in Libya the Littorio and Ariete divisions were completely destroyed. Organisation 1939/early 1940. * Regt HQ - 2 medium tanks Regimental AA company - 4 20mm AA & tows. 5 battalions (4 light with CV33, 1 medium with M11/39) 1 medium tank battalion HQ - 4 medium tanks each with 3 companies: company HQ - 2 medium tanks each company with 3 squadrons of 5 tanks each. 4 light tank battalions HQ - 2 light tanks battalion level Eng. platoon - 4 CV33 flame thrower battalion - each with 3 companies company HQ - 1 light tank each company with 3 squadrons of 4 tanks each *Although many units only had 3 light tank battalions, and no medium tank battalion at all. See text and further study of Italian battles in North Africa such as the recent book The Armies of Rommel by George Forty. Rapid Fire Regt HQ - 1 medium tank, 1 truck - 3 figures Regimental AA company - 1 20mm AA (3 crew) & truck 5 tank battalions (4 light with CV33, 1 medium with M11/39); 1 medium tank battalion - (total of 10 M11/39) battalion HQ - 1 medium tank, 1 truck - 3 figures each battalion has 3 companies of 3 squadrons of 1 tank each. 4 light tank battalions - (total of 10 Cv33 tankettes) : BHQ - 1 light tanks, 1 truck - 3 figures, 1 CV33 Flame-thrower each Battalion has 3 companies of 3 squadrons of 1 tank each. Organisation mid 1940 - early 1942 Regt HQ - 2 M13/40 medium tanks Regimental AA company - 4 20mm AA & tows 3 tank battalions (M13/40) BHQ - 4 medium tanks battalion - each with 3 companies company HQ - 2 medium tanks each company with 3 squadrons of 5 tanks each. Rapid Fire Organisation mid 1940 - 1942 Regt HQ - 1 M13/40 or 1 turretless M13/40 medium tank Regimental AA company - 1 20mm AA (3 crew) & light truck 3 battalions (M13/40) BHQ - 1 medium tanks battalion - each with 3 companies of 3 squadrons of 1 tank each. Organisation 1942 Regt HQ - 2 M13/40 medium tanks Regimental AA company - 4 20mm AA & tows 3 medium tank battalions (M14/41) BHQ - 4 medium tanks battalion - each with 3 companies company HQ - 2 medium tanks each company with 3 squadrons of 5 tanks each. 1 light tank battalion (L6/40) BHQ - 3 tanks battalion - with 2 tank companies Co. HQ - 2 tanks tank company: 3 squadrons of 5 tanks each Rapid Fire Organisation mid 1940 - 1942 Regt HQ - 1 M14/41 Regimental AA company - 1 20mm AA (3 crew) & light truck 3 medium tank battalions (M14/41) BHQ - 1 medium tanks battalion - each with 3 companies each company with 3 squadrons of 1 tank each. 1 light tank battalion (L6/40) BHQ - 1 light tank 1 light truck 2 tank companies each with 4 tanks Back to Frontline Vol. 1 Iss. 3 Table of Contents Back to Frontline List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Rolfe Hedges This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com