Yesterday's Weapons Forums

While looking into French camel cavalry as discussed in another thread, I found mention Italy also had those patrolling the remote, dusty corners of Italian East Africa.

Called "Zaptie", companies consisted of Italian officers and NCOs who led native enlisted.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapti%C3%A9

Looks like they were mostly issued Vetterlis, but I have a Steyr M.95 long rifle with AOI brand that is badly worn. It certainly could have been carried all over East Africa on a camel, but we will never know for sure.

Now to find a fez as shown!

I had never heard of these units before and will look for more pics. SW


0.cs1.jpg [ 78.75 KiB | Viewed 5730 times ]



0.cs2.jpg [ 74.44 KiB | Viewed 5730 times ]



0.cs3.jpg [ 14.01 KiB | Viewed 5730 times ]



0.cs4.jpg [ 235.7 KiB | Viewed 5730 times ]

_________________
Slava Ukraini!!

OK - where are the camels ?

Waiting on the Italian Quartermaster Corps to deliver them. Please don't try to hold your breathe!

_________________
David

"We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat; they do not exist"
Victoria 1899

Only certain tribes had camels, I've been told. The rest were "straight leg grunts" = acted as infantry.

I've always considered it odd they would wrap their lower legs in puttees but would go about barefoot. SW

_________________
Slava Ukraini!!

Found another Italian camel cavalry pic. This one is from the Italo-Turk war in Libya ca. 1911. Actually, rather than cavalry, Italians used camels in place of mules for transportation. In this case signore Camel gets to hump (literally) light artillery.

Italy won the short war - mostly by way of a strong navy. SW


0000.ital1.jpg [ 64.91 KiB | Viewed 4949 times ]

_________________
Slava Ukraini!!