Lancia IZM
Encyclopedia
The Lancia IZ and the Lancia IZM were two variations of an Italian armoured car built during World War I
and which saw limited service during that war, the interwar period
, and during World War II
.
s. The initial ten vehicles featured a further small turret on top with yet another machine gun. This gave the vehicle considerable firepower for the time. As a result of experiences in World War I
, steel rails were installed over the top of the vehicle for cutting wire.
Having had good results with the early car, another production run of a slightly modified version (the Lancia IZM) or "Model 1918" was ordered. The major difference between the IZ and IZM was that the IZ had a top turret on the main MG turret, whereas the IZM did not.
The Lancia IZM was the second batch of Ansaldo-Lancia armoured cars built. 110 cars of the improved model were ordered in 1917 and all were delivered before the end of 1918. Sometimes difficult to identify from the original Lancia IZ ("Model 1916"), the most obvious difference is the removal of the top machine gun turret. This left the IZM with just the one larger, twin machine gun turret. Other features that will help are that the first IZM's usually have two spare tyres mounted on the right side of the vehicle (on the IZ they were under the rear). The cooling vents and front armour of the engine compartment are slightly different and there are fewer vision ports in the armoured crew compartment. The front bumpers were also simplified. However, some of the original IZ series were modified to initial IZM standard by the removal of the extra top turret and up-dating the chassis. This makes it possible to find photos of IZM armoured cars with both IZ and IZM features. American troops
on the Italian Front
during World War I trained with and used some of these vehicles.
due to the mountainous terrain in which the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito Italia) fought. However, a few were deployed in the northern parts of the country where they saw combat against the Austro-Hungarian Army
.
After World War I, Lancia IZ/IZM armoured cars were sent to North Africa
and to East Africa
for policing duties. Many were also sent to the Albanian Kingdom
where they were to form the sole armoured force of the country for many years. Some Lancia IZ/IZM played a minor role during the Italian invasion and the occupation of Ethiopia
. Some Lancia IZ/IZM were sent to Spain
during the Spanish Civil War
and were used by the Italian Corps of Volunteer Troops
(Corpo Truppe Volontarie Italia
, or CTV). These armoured cars were already hopelessly outdated by this point and performed poorly for the CTV against the Spanish Republican
forces.
A few obsolete Lancia IZ/IZM armoured cars were still in use with the Italian Royal Army during World War II
. In 1940 and 1941, several vehicles served with the Royal Army during the East African Campaign
. In some instances, operable machines were pressed into service by other Axis
forces even after Italy quit the war. In the service of the forces of Nazi Germany
, the vehicle was identified as the "Lancia IZM Panzerspähwagen, PK 501."
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and which saw limited service during that war, the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Design
The Lancia IZ armoured car was built by Ansaldo of Italy starting in 1916 and was the most common of the early Italian armoured cars. Based on a Lancia truck, the armoured car was an advanced design for its day. For firepower the vehicle was equipped with twin turret mounted machine gunMachine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
s. The initial ten vehicles featured a further small turret on top with yet another machine gun. This gave the vehicle considerable firepower for the time. As a result of experiences in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, steel rails were installed over the top of the vehicle for cutting wire.
Having had good results with the early car, another production run of a slightly modified version (the Lancia IZM) or "Model 1918" was ordered. The major difference between the IZ and IZM was that the IZ had a top turret on the main MG turret, whereas the IZM did not.
The Lancia IZM was the second batch of Ansaldo-Lancia armoured cars built. 110 cars of the improved model were ordered in 1917 and all were delivered before the end of 1918. Sometimes difficult to identify from the original Lancia IZ ("Model 1916"), the most obvious difference is the removal of the top machine gun turret. This left the IZM with just the one larger, twin machine gun turret. Other features that will help are that the first IZM's usually have two spare tyres mounted on the right side of the vehicle (on the IZ they were under the rear). The cooling vents and front armour of the engine compartment are slightly different and there are fewer vision ports in the armoured crew compartment. The front bumpers were also simplified. However, some of the original IZ series were modified to initial IZM standard by the removal of the extra top turret and up-dating the chassis. This makes it possible to find photos of IZM armoured cars with both IZ and IZM features. American troops
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
on the Italian Front
Italian Campaign (World War I)
The Italian campaign refers to a series of battles fought between the armies of Austria-Hungary and Italy, along with their allies, in northern Italy between 1915 and 1918. Italy hoped that by joining the countries of the Triple Entente against the Central Powers it would gain Cisalpine Tyrol , the...
during World War I trained with and used some of these vehicles.
In combat
The Lancia IZ/IZM armoured car saw little combat in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
due to the mountainous terrain in which the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito Italia) fought. However, a few were deployed in the northern parts of the country where they saw combat against the Austro-Hungarian Army
Austro-Hungarian Army
The Austro-Hungarian Army was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint army , the Austrian Landwehr , and the Hungarian Honvédség .In the wake of fighting between the...
.
After World War I, Lancia IZ/IZM armoured cars were sent to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and to East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
for policing duties. Many were also sent to the Albanian Kingdom
Albanian Kingdom
The Albanian Kingdom was the constitutional monarchal rule in Albania between 1928 and 1939. During this period Albania was a de facto protectorate of the Kingdom of Italy Albania was declared a monarchy by the Constituent Assembly, and Zog I was crowned king...
where they were to form the sole armoured force of the country for many years. Some Lancia IZ/IZM played a minor role during the Italian invasion and the occupation of Ethiopia
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
. Some Lancia IZ/IZM were sent to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
and were used by the Italian Corps of Volunteer Troops
Corpo Truppe Volontarie
The Corps of Volunteer Troops was an Italian expeditionary force which was sent to Spain to support General Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War...
(Corpo Truppe Volontarie Italia
Corpo Truppe Volontarie
The Corps of Volunteer Troops was an Italian expeditionary force which was sent to Spain to support General Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War...
, or CTV). These armoured cars were already hopelessly outdated by this point and performed poorly for the CTV against the Spanish Republican
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
forces.
A few obsolete Lancia IZ/IZM armoured cars were still in use with the Italian Royal Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1940 and 1941, several vehicles served with the Royal Army during the East African Campaign
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
. In some instances, operable machines were pressed into service by other Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
forces even after Italy quit the war. In the service of the forces of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, the vehicle was identified as the "Lancia IZM Panzerspähwagen, PK 501."