@Rorschach:
@reloader-1:
Aha!!!
It is correct - the AB 41 had two drivers, so it does not have a FRONT or a REAR - it is a true multi-way armored vehicle.
Quote:
“It had six forward gears and four reverse gears, with a driving position at the front and one in the rear, so two crew members were drivers.”
Ah, good to know. I kind of wondered why half the pictures you see have the turret one way, and half have it the other … yet in both pictures it seems/feels like it’s driving forward. :)
Most armored cars in WWII had front and rear drivers (in fact I can’t think of any that didn’t, but I’m sure there is). However as reloader mentioned, the rear driver only has 4 gears, not 6 as the vehicle is meant to drive the other way primarily (that driver has a much better view without the hood blocking it). Yes, the turret is backwards. :-(
Edit: The reason most armored cars had rear drivers is that they were light recon vehicels. The look for the enemy and get out fast when they find him. The rear driver comes in handy here as it lets the vehicle withdraw while keeping it’s front (with the thicker armor) pointed toward the enemy. The vehicle is not a “true multi-way” vehicle as reloader implied, it does have a distinct front and back by design. The turret on the model is pointed toward the weak side as if the vehicle is trying to disengage. And even when disengaging it would probably keep it’s turret pointed towards the enemy unless it found itself surrounded. Unfortunate.
In the case of the well known photo in the link below (which I assume is the one some of you referred to), you will see the two on the left are turret forward and the one on the right is turret backward. This does not mean either way is fine. It means the one on the right is the last vehicle in the group of 3 and is watching the rear when they are driving. It is still driving forward with turret pointed backward so no nothing sneaks up behind it. Sadly, this the only reason I can think of for this vehicle to be in this position, so place it behind your tanks on the board with the turret watching the rear of the column and the vehicle facing forward or get a really good exacto knife. :-D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-526-2323-25A,_Balkan,_italienische_Spähpanzer.jpg