In 1949, the Italian Vespa Company unveiled prototypes of a scooter with a bazooka cannon mounted on it. In 1952, the Vespa 150 TAP (Troupes Aéro Portées) scooters were modified for use by paratroopers. The “150” part of the model name was used because the Vespas used a 150cc engine. With this upgraded engine and lowered gearing, the Vespa’s could go 40mph.
The Vespas were also modified by the French company, Ateliers de Construction de Motocycles et Automobiles (ACMA). This was the assembly plant for Vespas in France at the time.
Some of the modifications made were a reinforced frame and a three-inch M20 75mm recoilless rifle mounted to the Vespa. The gun, or at this size more of a cannon or a bazooka, used a High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead. The bazooka Vespas were cheap, being sold at only $500.
The TAP Vespas were dropped with two-person parachute teams. To avoid damage to the scooters when dropped from planes, they were protected by hay bales. On one Vespa, there would be the gun; on another, a tripod. Although the preferred way to shoot the cannon was on a tripod, it could be fired directly from a moving Vespa in an emergency.
The M20 was initially designed as an armor-piercing, anti-tank weapon using the HEAT warhead. Manufacturers said the M20s could penetrate 100mm of armor and had a range of 7,000 yds. Although this didn’t prove to be the case, it could fortify positions in war.
In 1959, because there were many new vehicles, weapons, and ways to quickly and easily get things into battle areas, production of the Vespa 150 TAP scooter ceased.
Please let us know what you think of this article by posting this blog’s URL on your Facebook page with your comment. Finally, check out our Major Motorcycle Rallies and Motorcycle Events Calendar.
