Italian Army & Blackshirts

Bolt Action: Italian Army & Blackshirts

Mussolini boasted that the Italian Army had eight million bayonets ready for action. In reality, the standing Italian Army was much smaller than this number, and a large number of soldiers were conscripted into a war they neither believed in nor understood. The fighting capability of Italian Army units varied greatly, with much of the force lacking suitable equipment, transport, and even motivation. Nevertheless, they performed well in several important battles in North Africa and on the Eastern Front.

Initially, the standard rifle was the Carcano Model 1891, as used in World War One. In 1941 a shortened version was introduced (M91/41) which, along with the M38 carbine, was to replace the M1891 – the shorter barrels being much more practical for infantry to carry and manoeuvre. Both these latter weapons are represented in our new plastic kit. Also represented is the M91/38 Cavalry Carbine, typically fitted with a fixed rear sight (set to 200 metres) and a folding bayonet. The excellent 9mm Beretta M38 was the standard sub-machine gun. Italy’s light machine gun – the Breda Model 1930 – suffered from a slow rate of fire, the same small calibre ammunition as the troops’ rifles, and a mechanism prone to jamming and breakages.

Camicie Nere (Blackshirt) Militia

The MVSN or Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (Voluntary Militia for National Security) was fashioned by the Fascist Party into a paramilitary organisation with a similar concept to Germany’s SS. The MVSN used rank and organisational terminology heavily influenced by ancient Rome, with Legions, Centuries, Cohorts, Maniples, etc. Primarily, the Camicie Nere were responsible for territorial security and anti-partisan duties. During wartime, Camicie Nere were organised into ‘Assault Legions’ which were attached to regular army infantry divisions to reinforce them and ‘politicise’ the Regio Esercito.

The quality of these militia units varied widely, ranging from poorly trained village tyrants to veterans of the Spanish Civil War to highly motivated ‘Giovani Fascisti’ (Young Fascists).

• From the box:
• Italian uniforms changed several times during the war, and we selected the pattern which could best represent a wide variety of troops at different times during the war and in different theatres. In 28mm scale they are ideal for representing M37 or M40 tunics. We have also included the Camiciotto Sahariana pullover smocks for extra variety.

Weapons included are the M91/41 rifle, M91/38 Carcano Cavalry Carbine, M38A Beretta SMG, M38 Carcano Carbine, M1934 9mm Beretta pistol, and the Breda M30 LMG.

A huge variety of headgear for the Italian Army & Blackshirts are included – M33 steel helmets, Bustina field cap, M1935 tropical helmet, Blackshirt soft fez & Blackshirt hard fez.
Additionally, the box contains masses of optional extras such as two types of gas mask pouches, goggles, bayonets, fighting knives, etc!

The box contains 30 highly customisable plastic Italian infantrymen, with decal sheet and assembly instructions.