Forged on the battlefields of France, Greece and North Africa, the Italian Army's armoured units fought effectively despite inferior weapons and equipment and the challenging conditions experienced. Steel Centurions: Italian Armoured Formations of the Second World War 1940-43 chronicles the formation and battle performance of the major armoured divisions such as the Ariete, Littorio and Centauro together with lesser known special forces such as the motorized X Arditi Regiment and the Raggruppamenti Esploranti or special reconnaissance unit. It traces their development during the 1930s before focusing on combat experience in France, Greece, Albania, Yugoslavia, East Africa, North Africa, and Sicily. Finally, the book also describes the establishment of the 1. Divisione Corazzata M. Camicie Nere (M Blackshirts Armoured Division) of 1943 which was fully equipped with German supplied tanks and self- propelled guns. Steel Centurions is based on official histories, contemporary war diaries and other rare archival documents. Illustrated throughout with wartime photographs and maps, it is a welcome addition to both specialist and enthusiast alike.