Do it with style: Bazooka Vespa

After World War II, the French military was looking for new vehicles that could be dropped from an airplane and used on rough terrain. Additionally, it should be able to transport an anti-tank weapon.

That was the basic idea and three vehicles were considered. Bernardet was one option, but it was very expensive to produce and the differences from the civilian model were too large, making it difficult to repair. Valmobile was another option, but it was also difficult to repair. So, the third option won - and the Vespa 150 TAP was born. TAP stands for "troupes aeróportées" which roughly translates to paratroopers in English. The Vespa was, as is typical for military vehicles, reinforced and its performance increased. The cannon is also striking. This is a 75mm cannon "M20," which is recoilless. It could also be detached if necessary and mounted on a tripod or fired from the shoulder. In addition to the Vespa, the ammunition was also transported. The Vespa was designed for a total weight of 250 kilograms and was dropped on a pallet - protected with straw. If you would like to know more about the VESPA, you can find more information HERE.

Historical picture: the Bazooka Vespa in field testing with French soldiers.