132 Armoured Division 'Ariete' - part 1

While I had Ariete out of it's box (as part of the most recent 'Box File Project' post), I decided that then was a good opportunity to take a few photos.  Ariete is quite an old Megablitz division having first seen action in 1997 and (unusually) has remained almost unchanged since then.  This incarnation of Ariete has so far been engaged (in full or part - either as itself or masquerading as another unit) in North Africa, Sicily and Russia(!)

The complete division as it might have appeared at the peak of it's powers - during the Gazala battles of 1942.

'Recce' elements - AB41 and L6 are both RAFM metal kits, albeit with the fragile original gun barrels replaced with wire.

As someone once said, "You can never have too many lorries."  The rather splendid Lancia is a Skytrex metal kit and the Morris fuel bowser is a Corgi die-cast.

Div HQ - the command variant of the M15 tank is a resin casting by Grubby Tanks with a Raventhorpe figure, and the radio van is a Lledo die-cast.

The tank battalions - Esci M13/40 - the proper kit - none of your new fangled fast-builds here!

The Bersaglieri Regiment - two infantry battalions (Raventhorpe) with their Fiat lorry (unknown resin kit) and an AT unit - a Semovente 47 by RAFM.

Still to come in Part 2 - the artillery and AA regiments