JonS Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Hi Folks, does anyone have a good line on info about the Italian forces? This request is, I suppose, in two parts. In general, I haven't been able to find anywhere near the level of information and detail as is regularly available for UK, CW, and German forces. Most of the stuff that I have seen just lists raw numbers - "250,000 men, 1,600 pieces of artillery, and 200 tanks moved into position", that sort of thing. While kind of interesting, it doesn't help at all for CM level scenarios. In particular, I'm after TOE data about I/66 Regt from Trieste Division, and III/47 Regt, from the Young Fascists Division, for April 1943 just before the final victory/defeat in North Africa. Also, the Folgore Battalion, apparently made up of a grenadier company and two companies of parachutists - but how were the companies arranged? All were involved in the battle for Takrouna, a hilltop village a few miles east of Enfidaville, and were attacked by X Corps of the 8th Army. Apparently there were a limited number of Germans there also, any info on those guys would be appreciated. I've cross-posted this in the Scenario Talk forum. Many thanks JonS 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 http://www.stormpages.com/garyjkennedy/Italian/italian_infantry_battalion.htm Very limited info, but something. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cull Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 The Italian forces may have been query, but no more so than those of any other nation. And if they were, I have no problem with that. If you're implying that their ineffectiveness in North Africa was a result of that, why I'd object. Wow, that was an overkill of not-so-funny, wasn't it? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooz Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 You should scour the Used Books stores and the many web book store for the "Italian Order Of Battle" written by a Victor Madej. This is actually a reprint of the US Army Manual on Italian forces. Although some info proves specious, it DOES contain a lot of info that proves invaluable. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooz Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Also...the best book on the Italian Forces, IMHO is "Hollow Legions" by Mario Cervi. This too, is out of print but invaluable. I would recommend searching for "QM Dabney books". Although expensive, their collection is extensive. For those ASL fans, yes, the Italian module takes this book's title as its name. The BEST book about Italy in the Africa (actually East Africa) is Eritrea 1941, by Arthur Swinson. If ever their was a book written for scenario designers, this is the one. While researching Italy in WW2 for the then Avalon Hill Game Company, I found a dearth of books dedicated solely to the Italian Army in WW2. Most references are "side" references added by authors touting the DAK. I have never found a unit history on the Trieste, or--the best Italian Division (IMHO) in Africa, the Ariete (Ram)Division. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlichtingen Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 Hollow Legions at Articles of War 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted December 4, 2003 Author Share Posted December 4, 2003 Jason: thanks. Tooz: thanks. I've looked up the books you've suggested, but couldn't find Madej's book. The others (Hollow and Eritrea) go some way to answering the general question, but can't help with Takrouna. I found that Nafziger (surprise surprise ) has a three volume set, but US$60 is a bit rich for what I want them for, and none of the libraries around here seem to have them Cheers JonS 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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