Otter used by Artillery Regiments
 

I know Otter armoured cars were used as FOO vehicles by artillery regiments. Were Otters in this role always with the turrets removed?

Thanks!

Luigi

There are not a lot of otter pictures out there, the ones that I have seen marked as RA, did not have turrets, the others I have seen without turrets are signals otters, the ones I have seen with turrets or modified gun mounts were used in recce regiments in Italy, and then as bridging vehicles for REME, and also support vehicles for RASC in NWE, in late 44 early 45 you see a lot more Otters after Operation Goldflake, where Canadian units were sent to NWE. I am currently restoring one, and have a repro turret for it.

Luigi,

See the threads GM Otter light recce car and GM Otter with the RAF Regt in India / Burma in WW2 for the source of the pictures posted above.

HTH,
Hanno

Thank You! These are very useful information for my research.

I asked this question because according to some testimonies and sources, some Otters to be used as FOO vehicles were delivered to Italian co-belligerent troops, in late 1944. So these armoured cars had to be without turrets.

By the way, four Otters MK I, all with their turrets on, equipped the "Compagnia Pesante Mista" (Heavy Mixed Company, a sort of support company with mortars and machineguns) of the "Maiella" Brigade, a famous Italian Partisan unit which operated alongside British 8th Army (5th British Corps and then 2nd Polish Corps).

Ciao from Italy!

Luigi

Hello Luigi,

I would like to see some pictures of Otters in use by the Italian Army.

Regards,
Hanno

Hello Hanno,

Pictures of Otters in Italian service are extremely rare to find. One or two photos of these armoured cars can be find in this book: "Gli Autoveicoli da combattimento dell'Esercito Italiano" Vol.III: 1945-1955. Pignato,Nicola. Cappellano,Filippo. Editore: Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito, Roma, (2007).
The authors state that Otters and, to a greater extent, C15TA armoured trucks, were delivered to some Italian units immediately after the war.

My focus is exclusively on WW2. During my research on Italian Co-belligerent Army I found that Otters were employed by the Partisan Brigade "Maiella" and (but I haven't found any clear photos related to this particular matter) by Artillery Regiments and HQ Companies of the Combat Groups.

Here are three interesting pictures:

The first is an Otter of "Maiella" Brigade. The emblem of the unit is visible on this vehicle: the white silhouette of the Maiella mountain massif, located in the Abruzzi region of Central Italy, on a circular light blue background. This marking is the same as the one reproduced on the shoulder patch sewn on the battledress worn by partisans of the brigade.

I'm not able to attach other files at the moment for copyright reasons related to the publication of my book. As soon as it goes on sale I will try to post other pictures.

...but i have two other images regarding C15TAs in service with Italian Army in 1947. These armoured trucks of the 114th Infantry Regiment, Mantova Division, were photographed on 14 September 1947, when the city of Gorizia returned to Italy.

Hope my English is understable, I'm alwais afraid of mistakes :wacko: :)

Regards,

Luigi