The Vespa 150 TAP was a French military adaptation of an iconic civilian scooter for post-war urban and airborne combat.

Designed in 1956 and used by the French Foreign Legion and paratroopers, this Anti-tank vehicle, derived from the Italian scooter brand, features a 75mm M20 recoilless rifle mounted on its reinforced frame to balance the weapon’s weight and maintain the vehicle’s stability. In addition to being affordable, agile, compact, and manoeuvrable, the Vespa can reach a speed of 60km/h and an additional 200km without refuelling, making it an ideal tank-killing platform suited for rough terrain and urban settings.

As indicated in the word “TAP,” which stands for “Truppe Aero Portate”, referring to “Air Troops Carrier”, the scooter can be deployed via airdrop. Two units of paratroopers would carry the recoilless gun and racks of ammunition, while the scooter would be strapped to a pallet with hay or a micro trailer to soften the drop.

The Vespa TAP saw action during the French-Algerian War (1954-1962), with 500 units produced and deployed. By this point, however, the M20 recoilless rifle mounted on the scooter was ageing out of use against modern tanks, though it had proved effective against light armoured bunkers and vehicles. Moreover, many French troops favoured its design, due to its simplicity and maintenance, making repairs straightforward and less costly.

https://www.museopiaggio.it/en/models/1-vespa/11-150-t-a-p