"Italians for SCW and early North Africa?" Topic

I'm a new convert to Chain of Command, and I've downloaded their "España!" pdf. I am new to the SCW, but am thinking of ways to get into it.

I've got a Warlord "Army Deal" of 28mm scale Italians. They are, as of now, unassembled. Each comes with different heads – Helmets (M33) or sun-helmets, with Bersaglieri feathers or without.

I'd like to build these into an army that is usable for SCW or WWII; whatever gives me the most flexibility is best. I figure I'll add tanks and support weapons as appropriate.

Would it make sense to paint them in tropical uniforms with M33 helmets? Or is there a better way to approach this?

Hope you enjoy gaming the SCW. The Italians in Spain were the CTV or "volunteers". This helped Italy fudge the issue of its regular army being there. You cannot make berseglieri units, but normal looking Italian infantry can be made by the hundred. Good colours and picture in the Osprey SCW book. Probably those images are available from a search too.
The Italians get a bad press, which is often truer for them at the strategic )army. battalion ) level more so than the tactical (company level).
I advise steel helmets for maximum flexibility .

Scott,

The CTV headgear was the Adrian helmet and later the more recent M33 helmet. Bustina s and berets were also very common. So you can field your units with some variety., (no sun helmets though, maybe some eccentric officers?)

Here Early 1937 in the Guadalajara battle: link

link

The saharianna jacket was used so maybe some of the figure's jackets can be of a lighter color like in Africa, but as Martin posted, the grey green uniform was the most common.

The Italians units in the Spanish theater were probably the best equipped of all involved, fully motorized and with large air support .

One company of Bersaglieri served with the Ragruppamento and are displayed on their motorbikes during the Madrid victory parade in 1939 feathered helmets and all .
Italian troops in Spain always have a somewhat ''scruffy'' look and a mix of 33 pattern helmets and Bustina caps IMHO would look good ( no solar helms ) .

swipe right 4 or 5 times for the rooster feathers on their motor bikes … link

It's heretical of me, I know--but cut yourself a little slack on uniforms as long as you stick to a period and troop type. I once worked out that I'd need four different armies for Napoleonic British--not including the French Revolution--and three or four for French Napoleonics. SCW and WWII could be about as bad if you let it.

Me? Uniforms are accurate for at least some portion of the period. I can tell which side they're on, what sort of troops they are and--when possible--which castings are in which unit.

Often that's better than was done in real life.

Peter Turnbull in his Osprey shows the Italians in khaki, very compatible with N Africa. He depicts the Littorio division. Maybe the blackshirts differed.