FIAT Spa. A.S.37 Autocarro Sahariano
Italy (1942-43) - Light 4x4 Truck - 802 built
The SPA AS.37 was an Italian military light truck of World War II. It was developed from 1937 based on the
TL.37 artillery tractor and tailored to carry a crew of three and payload in the North African desert. Compared to the tractor, it had an increased range of 900 km with added water tanks and its total capacity was up to 8 men between its flatbed and cabin. About 802 were manufactured (the Production went from 1938 to 1943), and it was declined into the
Autocarro Protetto 37 light armoured personnel carrier variant (200 built, Balkans-Italy). The AS 37 Sahariano was also declined into an heavily armed vehicle.
Design of the SPA AS.37, Trattore Autocarro Sahariana
Originally, military authorities in Rome did not judge the problem of desert-capable vehicles urgent. So FIAT was approached directly by Marshal Italo Balbo, Governor of Libya at the time, to create a saharian truck of its own initiative under prvate venture. This combined effort, later pushed forward by Balbo to central authorities, resulted in the A.S.37. The first 200 A.S.37s were thus all sent in Libya by 1938, assigned to "Commando LED Sahara Libico" and to "Autogruppo della Tripolitania".
The SPA AS.37, Trattore Autocarro Sahariana was from 1938, based on the Fiat-SPA TL37 light artillery for the Libyan theater. It retook the the TL37 4x4 large driving/steering wheels formular perct on soft terrain such as the desert. It was equipped with a compressor to regulate tire inflation from the dahsboard (firest centralized tire inflation system). It also used a oil air filter, good for sandy environments plus hydraulic shock absorbers, only on the front axle. The rear suspensions were strengthened, still.
The fuel capacity was increased thanks to larger fuel tanks and the addition of a drinking water tank, all ideally suited for missions behind enemy lines. The vehicle differed from the TL.37 by in its bodywork: Instead of an all-open cab, it had a rigid, closed driving cab. On the roof was located a pannier for additiona gear inside a storage box of left loose. It had a large flatbed behing covered four frames and covered with a tarpaulin, and capable of hosting 8 fully equipped troops on folding benches, or 1,530 kg of load.
It was enclosed on three sides by folding panels, frames enclosed by wooden planking. Part of the sides had an upper folding section for better protection and holding tall payloads. The vehicle had a spare wheel located between the cab and the flatbed, behind the driver's seat. The engine was the same, the FIAT 18TL 4 cylinder inline, which developed 52 hp and enabled initially c38.2 km/h road. It had a manual heabox 4+4 speeds, but a much greater range than the original 170 km thanks to the additional fuel capacity.
Production
Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino)-SPA (Società Piemontese Automobili) was in charge and delivered 803 vehicles as records shows, all sent to Africa. They were likely all lost in battles on this front, such as the second El Alamein in November 1942. Those which survived and could be repatriated after the long retreat in Tunisia, ende din Sicily for the last stand of Italian troops. In addition FIAT produced some 207 APC variants in 1942-43 as the Autoprotetto S.37 or AP.37.
Variants
Camionetta Desertica AS.37:
A Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 at the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione in Rome. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
In 1941, the need for fire support in order to beef up and protect Saharania companies pushed Libyan workshops of the Royal Army to transform Sahariano truck into well armed "exploration" (esploratori) vehicles, unofficially renamed "Camionetta Desertica AS.37". The flaw of the high profile making these easily identifiable in the flat desert was resolved by removing the cabin, making the vehicle also lighter. The rear flatbed was kept but its wooden box was partly eliminated, replaced by a platform to mount by default the Breda 20/65 Modello 1935 anti-aircraft autocannon, or the 47mm/32 Modello 1935 "elefantino" anti-tank gun placed on 360° capable supports to fire in all directions, including over the former cabin, now freed.
Additional fuel and water cans were aslo placed on special racks on the sides and front fenders to increasing their autonomy. This Comando (assault) vehicle was fitted on the front with a pintle mounted 8mm Breda Model 1937 Machine Gun, manned by the co-driver. The aft flatbed as seen above supported either the the 20mm/65 Breda Model 35 Cannon or the 47mm/32 Breda/Bohler Modello 35 bolted on the floor with extra space taken by ammo boxes, although they were carried as the crew's gear usually in a regular AS.37 truck. Alongside the heavier
AS.42, they formed a potent mix that proved deadly for the LRDG patrols...
A.P.37
A FIAT-SPA S.37 Autoprotetto ready to be delivered. Source: italie1935-45.com
The A.P.37 was a specialized armored carrier variant, protected with 6-8mm of armor, armed with a 8mm Breda machine gun behind a folding shield. Extra folded shields could be installed on either sides to fire on the move. Troop carrying capacity was typically 7 troops. The A.P.37 variant was only deployed to Italy and the Balkans.
Operational use
They were given at first to the Saharan companies of the governor of Libya Italo Balbo, 22 vehicles per company. At the outbreak of hostilities, they equipped the Saharan companies and participated in all north african theater actions, from Graziani's offensive in 1940 to the defense of Tunisia in 1943. By March 1942, 584 A.S.37 were in service total, and by April 30, 1943, 802 were in service, all in North Africa. The crews of A.S.37 put forth very favourable judgements on these vehicles, with their four-wheel drive and large diameter wheels preventing them to be easily bogged down. The A.S.37 only defect was in a high silhouette, too visible on the flat background.
From the earliest days of the war in the desert, Italian Saharan Companies mounted weapons on the AS 37 Autocarro Sahariano to bolster their offensive and defensive capability. Although relatively successful, those had the conspicuous height. A company workshop in Hun, Libya, reported two AS 37 cargo trucks had their cab cut down to lower their silhouette. Basic changes made were its removal as well as the windscreens and fitting of two pintles plus rifle holders as well as a new platform on the cargo beds to receive a modified mount. One tested the 20/65 cannon, the other the 47/32 cannon. No official designation was given but they were called AS 37 (Modificato). Their influence was negligible however in operations.
Soon after, the Centro Studi Motorizzazione (Motor Studies Center) built a second batch using the AS 37 truc for the Battaglione d' Assalto Motorizzato (Motorised Assault Battalion), while awaiting the forthcoming Camionetta AS 43. This second "serie" was also called AS 37 (Modificato) or Camionetta Desertica (Light Desert Truck) Model 1943. Same modifications but ot more resembled the former cargo truck with circa 11 vehicles built.
Derived armoured version AS.37
- TL.37 autocarro: Base 4x4 artillery tractor, 3,600 made.
- AS.37 Autocarro Sahariano: Regular 4x4 desert truck: 802 made 1938-43.
- AS.37 (Modificato) I and II: 13 made 1942-43.
- AP.37 (Autoprotetto): APC, 207 made 1942-43.
Sources
Gli Autoveicoli tattici E logistici del Regio Esercito Italiano fino Al 1943, tomo secondo, Stato Maggiore dell' Esercito, Ufficio Storico, Nicola Pignato & Filippo Cappellano, 2005
Gli Autoveicoli del Regio Esercito nella Assisted Guerra Mondiale, Nicola Pignato, Storia Militare
Dal TL 37 all ' A.S. 43, It trattore leggero, the autocarro sahariano, I derivati, artigliery, GMT, Nicola Pignato, Filippo Cappellano
LE CAMIONETTE DEL REGIO ESERCITO - FIAT-SPA AS/37, SPA-VIBERTI AS/42, FIAT SPA AS/43, DESERTICA 43, I REPARTI CHE LE IMPIEGARONO. Finazzer Enrico, Carretta Luigi
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Amatori, Franco; et al. (1992). Storia della Lancia — Impresa Tecnologie Mercati 1906–1969. Milan.
specifications |
| Dimensions | 4.670 x 2.020 x 2.650 m |
| Wheelbase | 2.500 mm |
| Ground clearance | 390 mm |
| Total weight, battle ready | 3.770 kg |
| Crew | 4 |
| Propulsion | SPA petrol 4-cyl. 4053 cm3: 52 PS (38 kW) at 2,000 rpm |
| Top speed | 50 km/h |
| Payload | 1,530 kg |
| Transmission & suspension | 4 forward 1 reverse, 4x4 |
| Maximum range (on/off road) | 870 km |
| Armament | None |
| Production | 802 (+207 APC) |