World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe AS 42 "La Sahariana" armored cars were built by Fiat based on the chassis of AB 41 armored cars. They were primarily used as reconnaissance vehicles by the Italian Army in North Africa. Armaments varied based on mission, though most of them were equipped with 20-millimeter anti-aircraft guns, 20-millimeter Solothurn anti-tank guns, 37-millimeter anti-tank guns, or just machine guns. They first saw action in Nov 1942 in North Africa. A small number of them saw action on the Eastern Front. After the Italian royal government surrendered to the Allies in 1943, paratroopers of Mussolini's new government in Northern Italy continued to use AS 42 vehicles. After the war, surviving examples served with police forces in Italy until 1954.

ww2dbaseThe "AS" in the designation stood for Africa Settentrionale, "North Africa".

SPECIFICATIONS

AS 42

Machinery	One SPA 6-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 80hp
Suspension	4x4 Wheel
Armament	Various
Crew	3
Length	5.70 m
Width	2.10 m
Height	1.80 m
Weight	4.0 t
Range	400 km off-road; 800 km on-road

Photographs