Deweycat returns to Italians with the release of an STL for the Lancia IZ/ 1ZM armoured car. The 1Z first saw serve in the Frist World War. The armoured cars were built on the chassis of a Lancia truck and were armed with three 6.5mm (later change to 8 mm MGs) in the curious stacked turrets arrangements. This arrangement was later modified to a single turret with two MGs and a third MG mounted to the vehicles rear. The Bolt Action reinforced platoon listing provides both options.
The Lancia 1Zs saw extensive service in that war, engaged against the Austro-Hungarians and Germans. After the war the Lancias saw further service in the Italian colonies, engaged in actions against rebels in Libya and Italian Somaliland. They were also supplied in small numbers to Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Albania, and Afghanistan.
The Lancias were engaged in the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, and also served with Italian forces who fought with General Franco’s Nationalist army in the Spanish Civil War.
When Italy joined Germany in the Second World War in 1940, the Lancias, although clearly obsolete, were again pressed into front line service, and served in the Western Desert and in security duties in the Balkans after the defeat to Yugoslavia and Greece. Following Italy’s capitulation, the Lancia 1ZMs in the Balkans were taken over by the Germans, who continued to use them in anti-partisan duties.
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