The Commander Series Forum

I picked up some Pendraken army packs at Colours over the weekend, one Italian armoured pack and one Italian 1000 point starter pack. I now have lots of shiny new toys and would like to get painting

Any suggestions as to paint shades for the AFV's would be very helpful. I use GW, Foundry and Vallejo.

Many thanks

Jim

PS How were Italian armoured units organised c1941?

Can't help with colours but heres some info gleaned from Nafziger OOB's, CD Armies of the Second World War and the commando supremo website.

In 1941 132nd Armoured Regiment had 3 battalions of 52 M13/40 3 comanies of 3 x 5 tank platoons. The other 7 were presumably command tanks but I have not found any further info for 1941 but the 1942 organistion has 1 gun tank as company command and 2 gun and 2 radio tanks at Bttln HQ. In game terms I would suggest the following for a Bttln at platoon level;

1 x HQ (command tank)
9 x M13/40

Looks as if you have enough to do 2 understrength M13/40 bttlns (not sure when M15/42 was available from and how it fits in the OOB) probably 2 Bttlns of Bersagrlieri and a SP Arty Bttln.

References to look for are 941IKAA, 941IGAA & 942IQAN at the following link;

http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/nafziger.htm

This is the best source of info I've found so far.
http://www.matadormodels.co.uk/tank_museum/xcam...

This site has some nice pics of camo schemes, especially the tankettes.
http://www.warandgame.info/2008/05/wwii-italian...

The other useful option I've found is to use Google images to search for each particular vehicle and you will often find lots of great camo schemes to choose from.

Not exactly camouflage guides but I thought they might help

http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1...

http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1...

http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1...

For Desert forces FoW recommend GW Desert Yellow, or Vallejo 977 possibly with GW Catachan Green or Vallejo 888 camouflage!

Hope this helps!

Following up on my post with Tank organisation here is my suggestion for the 1941 Bersaglieri Regiment which is basically converted from CD. (Note there seems to be no firm details on when or even if the motorcylce battalion was converted to a weapons bttln.)

Regimental HQ

1 x CO
1 x Recce Unit (AB41)
3 x Infantry Unit
1 x Support Unit (MG Breda)
4 x Transport Unit (Motorcyles)

2 x Motorized Battalions each;

1 x HQ
1 x Recce Unit (Infantry)
1 x Transport Unit (Motorcyles)
6 x Infantry Unit
2 x Support Unit (MG Breda)
2 x Support Unit (ATG, 47mm)
10 x Transport Unit (Trucks)

Weapons Battalion

1 x HQ
2 x Air Defence Unit (20mm)
1 x Support Unit (Mortar, 81mm)
2 x Support Unit (MG Breda)
5 x Transport Unit (Trucks)

Anti Tank Battalion

4 x Anti Tank Unit (ATG, 47mm)
4 x Transport Unit (Trucks)

The list is based on the full strength TO&E so I have not conformed to the Battlegroup Selection Rules on p109. I leave it to others as to rating the Bersaglieri as Conscript/Regular/Veteran at this time.

This is a great resource for information on Italians in WW2:
comandosupremo.com

Thanks guys...that's really helpful