Tag: Historical

Effect of Hardness upon resistance to Penetration

An increase in the hardness of a given thickness of homogeneous armour may result in an increase or in a decrease or in no change at all in resistance to penetration, depending upon the ratio of the thickness of the armour to the calibre of the projectile concerned. Where under-matching projectiles (those whose calibre is less than the thickness of the armour) are concerned resistance to penetration at normal impact increases as hardness increases; where overmatching projectiles (those whose calibre is greater than the thickness of the armour) are concerned, resistance to penetration at normal impact decreases as hardness increases; and where matching projectiles (those whose calibre equals the thickness of the armour) are concerned, little change in resistance to penetration at normal impact occurs over a considerable range in hardness.

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Sahariana: “The Desert Jeep”

This picture shows vehicle 797 B, from the original "Raggruppamento Sahariano AS".
This picture shows vehicle 797 B, from the original "Raggruppamento Sahariano AS".

As used by Italian Reconnaissance Groups

Designation

Officially the Camionetta 42 ‘Sahariana’ – however, they are also referred to as – Camionetta ‘Sahariana’ AS 42 – or – Camionetta SPA 43 ‘Sahariana’ – (and incidentally the word Sahariana is singular, so if you are talking about more that 1 vehicle it is ‘Sahariane’).

The letters AS are the Italian code for North Africa, “Africa Settentrionale“, which pretty literally translates as “North African” but is often translated as “African Service” in English texts. Any equipment, unit organization, or formation that was designed or organized specially for North Africa was given this designation. In this case, it refers to the mechanical specifications of the vehicle being able to handle the harsh environment.

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Giovani Fascisti: The “Young Fascists” (GGFF)

Gruppo di battaglioni GGFF – Giovani Fascisti

(at Bir el Gubi, November 1941)

GRUPPO GGFF HEADQUARTERS COMPANY

GRUPPO GGFF MG COMPANY

COY HQ

3 MG PLATOONS (each 3 x MMGs)

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Camicie Nere: The Blackshirts (MVSN & CCNN Combat Units)

M.V.S.N – The Milizia Voluntaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale

The MVSN started out as an organization not unlike the German S.A. (Brown Shirts), i.e. a Fascist Militia. They were purely a “Party” orientated organization, and like their German Counterparts wore a distinctive uniform – a Black Shirt and a Fez. This led to their popular nickname of Black Shirts (Camicie Nere – Camicie = Shirt & Nere = Black). Later the term CCNN was adopted for Black Shirt military units, and is taken directly from the initials of Camicie Nere. MVSN and CCNN are generally interchangeable, however the former primarily refers to political orientated parts of the Black Shirts, while the latter is generally used in reference to combat units.

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