Italian AB 41 Autoblinda Ferroviaria

Plastic kit for an Italian armored reconnaissance vehicle Autoblinda AB 41 Ferroviaria

• Scale 1:35
• Metal springs, metal and photo-etched parts included
• Rail track parts included
• 4 marking options
  • 1942, Italian Army, Balkans
  • 1943, Italian Army, Balkans
  • 1943, German Wehrmacht, Balkans
  • 1943, German Wehrmacht, Balkans
• not built, not painted
• Paint and glue not included

The Autoblinda AB41 Ferroviaria was a variant of the Italian AB41 reconnaissance tank that was converted for railway use. It was developed during the Second World War to monitor important railway lines in the Italian-occupied territories and protect them from acts of sabotage and partisan attacks. For this purpose, the vehicles were equipped with special railway wheels that could be mounted instead of the normal road wheels, so that the armored cars could run directly on rails. In addition, they had equipment for railway security and the control of route sections.

The AB41 was based on the proven Autoblinda family chassis and was armed with a 20 mm Breda M35 machine cannon in the turret and a coaxial 8 mm Breda machine gun. Another machine gun was in the rear. Thanks to its all-wheel drive and the special design with a second driver's seat in the rear, the AB41 could be used very flexibly both on the road and on rails. Particularly advantageous was the ability to reach almost the same speed in both directions without having to turn - an important advantage when patrolling railway lines.

The Ferroviaria vehicles were used primarily in the Italian-occupied areas of Yugoslavia, where they monitored railway lines, accompanied transports and secured connections between military bases. Their stronger armament made them significantly more powerful than the previously used AB40 Ferroviaria and allowed them to take effective action even against lightly armed opponents.

Although only built or converted in limited numbers, the AB41 Ferroviaria proved to be a useful vehicle for railway security. It combined the mobility of a modern reconnaissance vehicle with the requirements of rail operations and is now one of the most interesting special variants of the Italian Autoblinda family.