Italian AA Guns

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Dili
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Re: Italian AA Guns

#16

Post by Dili » 09 Nov 2017, 00:59

Correct. Regarding 88mm guns i would put a question mark of what was the real model. If it was WW1 capture or were already the ones that Germany employed to pay their debts towards Italy in summer 1940. The Skoda 75/50 was also to pay debts and all my information tells me that Italians went to Germany to train on modern 88/56 and they only arrived in Italy by Sept or Oct 40.

Knouterer
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Re: Italian AA Guns

#17

Post by Knouterer » 12 Nov 2017, 14:01

According to Finazzer & Riccio, Italian Artillery of WWII, on the German 88/55 guns (p. 107):

"The first batteries reached Italy shortly after Italy's attack on France in June 1940. The supply continued during the entire war, because the production of the Italian anti-aircraft piece, the 90/53 was always too slow to face the mounting needs. By December 1940 there were 44 of the German guns in Italy, and a year later in late 1941 there were 21 batteries equipped with a total of 84 of the 88 mm FlaK guns."

Total deliveries were about 600; Ansaldo produced various gun parts from May 1942 and OTO produced replacement barrels from 1943.

The Italians had already asked for 88 mm guns in June 1939. At that time Germany had none to spare but supplied a few dozen 75 mm Skoda Vz. 37 guns instead.

The Italian 90/53 AA gun was an excellent weapon by all accounts and over 2,000 had been ordered by the end of 1940. However, production was seriously delayed, notably because the platform had to be redesigned several times before the army accepted it. The static version was available sooner, but the first mobile batteries were not ready before the very end of 1942. As a stop-gap measure a number of guns were mounted on Breda and Lancia trucks from early 1941. Total production was 982 according to F & R; the gun remained in service with the Italian army until 1970, from the mid-1950s with a British Contraves fire control system.
"The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man's observation, not overturning it." Edward George Bulwer-Lytton


nmao
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Location: Portugal

Re: Italian AA Guns

#18

Post by nmao » 14 Nov 2017, 16:08

Hello.
About the 88mm & 90mm guns please check the article "THE ITALIAN 88mm & 90mm AT/AA GUNS IN NORTH AFRICA" by Alessandro Massignani & Jack Greene.
There are several versions available online, one is here:
http://fowbelgianarmy.virtuaboard.com/t ... e-ariete-1

regards

-Nuno

Dili
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Location: Lusitania

Re: Italian AA Guns

#19

Post by Dili » 15 Nov 2017, 21:01

The units i have for 1940:

XVIII Gruppo(3 batt) later renamed V Gruppo Oct 1940
XXIX Gruppo(3 batt) Oct1940(formed Sept40)

this would made 24 guns.

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David W
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Re: Italian AA Guns

#20

Post by David W » 15 Nov 2017, 21:38

Hi Dili.

Did XXIX arrive in North Africa as early as October? I thought that it was December.

Dili
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Re: Italian AA Guns

#21

Post by Dili » 17 Nov 2017, 08:33

Have no date available for Africa. October was when they finished training.

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David W
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Re: Italian AA Guns

#22

Post by David W » 17 Nov 2017, 08:53

Thanks.

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