Fiat L6-40

Fiat L6-40 tank

LandItalië
TypeLichte tank
In gebruik1940-1944, naoorlogs tot begin jaren 1950
Gebouwd402

De L6/40 was een lichte tank die van 1940 tot de Tweede Wereldoorlog door het Italiaanse leger werd gebruikt. Het werd ontworpen door Ansaldo als een exportproduct en werd overgenomen door het Italiaanse leger toen ambtenaren van het ontwerp hoorden en interesse toonden. Het was de belangrijkste tank die werd gebruikt door de Italiaanse troepen die aan het oostfront vochten naast het op L6/40 gebaseerde Semovente 47/32 zelfrijdende kanon. L6/40's werden ook gebruikt in de Noord-Afrikaanse campagne.

Bron: Wikipedia

Fiat L6-40 Walk Around
FotograafNino Cogliandro
LokalisatieOnbewust
Foto 's39
Wacht, Zoeken Fiat L6-40 tank voor u...

SSMODEL 48684 V1.7 1/48 3D-geprinte hars modelbouw IA Fiat-Ansaldo M15/42 middelgrote tank - Amazon

Zie ook:

Tweede Wereldoorlog: de definitieve visuele geschiedenis van Blitzkrieg tot de atoombom (DK Definitive Visual Histories) - Amazon Kaart voor kaart van de Tweede Wereldoorlog (DK History Map by Map) - Amazon


General Characteristics and Role

The Fiat L6/40 was the standard light tank of the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito) during World War II. Its name follows the standard Italian nomenclature: L for Leggero (Light), 6 for its weight in tonnes, and 40 for its year of adoption. Designed as a significant upgrade to the L3 tankette series, it featured a fully rotating turret and improved armor protection. While a decent design for reconnaissance and mountain warfare due to its narrow width and agility, it was often forced into frontline combat roles against much heavier Allied tanks, for which it was vastly overmatched. Its low silhouette made it difficult to spot in desert or brush terrain, a trait highly valued by reconnaissance crews.

Property Typical Value (Fiat L6/40)
Type Light Reconnaissance Tank
National Origin Kingdom of Italy
Fabrikant Fiat-Ansaldo
Entered Service 1941
Bemanning 2 (Commander/Gunner and Driver)
Gewicht 6.8 tonnes
Harnas 6 mm to 40 mm (riveted construction)

Powerplant and Armament

  • Engine: 1 x SPA 18D four-cylinder gasoline engine.
  • Engine Power: 70 hp (52 kW).
  • Maximum Road Speed: 42 km/h (26 mph).
  • Operational Range: Approx. 200 km (125 miles) on road.
  • Main Armament: 1 x 20 mm Breda Modello 35 autocannon. This weapon was effective against light vehicles and aircraft but struggled against enemy tanks at long range.
  • Secondary Armament: 1 x 8 mm Breda 38 coaxial machine gun.
  • Ammunition Capacity: 296 rounds of 20 mm and 1,560 rounds of 8 mm.
  • Suspension: Torsion bar bogie system, which was quite advanced for its time compared to the leaf springs used on many larger Italian tanks.

Service History and Legacy

  • Diverse Fronts: The L6/40 saw service in the Balkans, North Africa, and extensively on the Eastern Front (USSR), where it was the primary Italian tank used by the ARMIR.
  • Obsolescence: By the time it was deployed in significant numbers in 1942, it was already outdated by the standards of British Crusaders and American Stuarts.
  • Specialized Variants: The L6/40 chassis was highly versatile and served as the basis for the Semovente 47/32 self-propelled gun, the most successful variant of the family.
  • German Service: After the 1943 armistice, many L6/40s were seized by German forces (designated Pz.Kpfw. L6/40 733(i)) and used for anti-partisan operations in Italy and the Balkans.
  • Post-War: Small numbers remained in service with the Italian Polizia di Stato (State Police) for civil order duties until the early 1950s.

Aantal keer bekeken: 555

Reactie achterlaten

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong> 

verplicht

Deze site maakt gebruik van Akismet om spam te verminderen. Meer informatie over hoe uw reactiegegevens worden verwerkt.