Inspiration

The Vespa 150 TAP Truppe Aero Portate was an anti-tank scooter made in the 1950s from a Vespa scooter. Modifications from the civilian Vespa included a reinforced frame and a 75 mm (3.0 in) recoilless rifle mounted to the scooter.[1][2]

The scooters would be parachute-dropped in pairs, accompanied by a two-man team. The gun was carried on one scooter, while the ammunition was loaded on the other. Due to the lack of any kind of aiming devices the recoilless rifle was never designed to be fired from the scooter; the gun was mounted on a M1917 Browning machine gun tripod, which was also carried by the scooter, before being fired. However, in an emergency it could be fired while in the frame, and while the scooter was moving.[citation needed]

The "Bazooka Vespa" was relatively cheap.

Wikipedia Contributors. 2025. “Vespa 150 TAP.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. April 1, 2025.

Core Premise

Two teams of paratroopers, A and B, are dropped deep into enemy territory with four Bazooka Vespas. However, Team A and Team B are separated during the drop, and when they land, they realize a terrible mistake has been made: Team A has two gun Vespas, and Team B has two ammo Vespas. Now, the two teams must rendezvous, with Team A bluffing their way through enemy territory with only their ammo-less bazookas and sidearms to protect them, and Team B MacGyvering ways to use their bazooka-less shells. Finally, the two teams unite, and the four paratroopers fend off an enemy onslaught in a bonanza of Bazooka Vespa action.

Additional Ideas

An alternate history, far-future, or post-apocalyptic setting, where the writer can decide who the paratroopers are, who their enemies are, the conflict’s location, and the non-Bazooka Vespa equipment.

Blocking the bazooka’s back vent and firing from the frame, turning the Vespa into a rotating turret.

Blocking the front end of the bazooka and firing from the frame to use it as a nitro booster. 

Team A’s journey to the rendezvous is written as a tense spy thriller.

Team B’s journey is written as a buddy-cop adventure.

Before the final action scene, the paratroopers take control of a munitions dump, but with only two gun Vespas, most of the ammunition is useless to them. Even worse, the enemy plans to attack a local municipality in a matter of days. Luckily, the municipality is full of scooters. The paratroopers help the locals to modify their civilian scooters into anti-tank scooters, and with the town’s resources, Team B modifies their reinforced-frame scooter into an engine of overwhelming destructive force. The paratroopers lead the locals into battle to defend their homes, and together, they gloriously defeat the enemy. The paratroopers ride off into the sunset, secure in the knowledge that the heroic people they leave behind will forever be ANTI-TANK SCOOTER WARRIORS.

Special thanks to Anders Lokensgard for co-creating this concept.

If you have an AO3 presence, you can find Battle Vespas: Anti-Tank Scooter Warriors here.