Semovente da 75/18 | |
|---|---|
| Pays | Italia |
| Type | Canon automoteur |
| Période | Années 1942-1940 |
| Construit | 262 |
Lla Semovente da 75/18 était un canon automoteur italien de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Il a été construit en montant le canon de montagne Obice da 75/18 modello 34 de 75 mm sur le châssis d’un char M13/40, M14/41 ou M15/42. Les 60 premiers ont été construits en utilisant le châssis M13/40 et un 162 suivants ont été construits sur le châssis M14/41 de 1941 à 1943, lorsque le châssis M15/43 ont été introduits. Le Semovente da 75/18 devait être un véhicule provisoire jusqu’à ce que le char P40 plus lourd puisse être disponible.
Source: L-29 Semovente da 75/18 sur Wiki
| Semovente da 75/18 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Musee des Blindes, Saumur |
| Photos | 76 |
| Semovente da 75-18 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Unknow |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 42 |
| Semovente da 75-18 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Unknow |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 20 |
Voir aussi :
| Semovente da 75-18 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Unknow |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 101 |
The Desert Surprise
Lla Semovente da 75/18 was Italy’s answer to the German StuG III. Built on the chassis of the M13/40 and M14/41 medium tanks, it dispensed with a fragile rotating turret in favor of a fixed, low-profile casemate. Though originally intended as self-propelled artillery to support infantry, its low silhouette and powerful 75mm howitzer made it a deadly tank destroyer in the North African desert. It was the only Italian armored vehicle truly feared by British tank crews, as it was capable of knocking out Grants and Shermans at ranges where Italian tanks were otherwise helpless.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (M41 Chassis) |
|---|---|
| Rôle | Self-Propelled Gun / Tank Destroyer |
| Crew | 3 (Commander/Gunner, Loader/Radio Op, Driver) |
| First Production | 1941 |
| Armement principal | Obice da 75/18 mod. 34 (75 mm howitzer) |
| Armement secondaire | 1 × 6.5 mm or 8 mm Breda machine gun (Pintel mount) |
| Armor | 30 mm (Frontal – bolted plates) |
| Groupe motopropulseur | Fiat 125 8-cylinder diesel (125 hp) |
| Top Speed | 32 km/h (20 mph) |
Design Engineering: Efficiency Under Constraint
- Low Silhouette: By removing the turret, the Semovente’s height was reduced significantly compared to the M13/40 tank. This made it much easier to conceal in the flat terrain of the Sahara, allowing for effective « hull-down » ambush tactics. [Image diagram of Semovente da 75/18 height comparison with M13/40 medium tank]
- The 75/18 Howitzer: While the barrel was short, it had a high elevation and could fire EP (Effetto Pronto) shells—Italy’s version of the High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) round. These shells relied on chemical energy rather than velocity, allowing the « short » gun to punch through heavy Allied armor.
- Bolted Construction: Typical of Italian armor of the period, the plates were bolted to a steel frame rather than welded. While easier to manufacture, this was a weakness; a non-penetrating hit could still shatter the bolts, turning them into internal shrapnel.
- Twin Transmission: The vehicle used a mechanical transmission that was relatively simple but reliable, provided the desert sand didn’t clog the air intakes—a constant struggle for the Fiat diesel engines.
Combat Legacy and the German « Beutepanzer »
- Lla « Centauro » Et « Ariete » Divisions: The Semovente was the backbone of Italy’s elite armored divisions. In the battles of El Alamein and Tunisia, these vehicles often fought to the last round, covering the retreats of infantry units.
- Inter-Crew Communication: Because the crew was limited to three men, the Commander often had to double as the Gunner. This increased his workload and slowed down the rate of fire compared to German or Allied vehicles with dedicated roles.
- German Use (StuG M42): After Italy signed the armistice in 1943, the German Wehrmacht seized hundreds of Semoventi. They found them so effective for defensive warfare in the rugged Italian mountains that they kept them in production under the name Beutepanzer (Captured Tank).
- Final Evolution: The success of the 75/18 led to the Semovente da 75/34 (with a longer, higher-velocity gun) and the 105/25 « Bassotto, » which was one of the most powerful tank destroyers used in the Italian theater.
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