Carro Leggero 3/35 | |
|---|---|
| Pays | Italy |
| Type | Chenillette |
Photo gallery on a Carro Leggero 3/35, La chenillette L3 is a series of Italian caterpillars in use before and during World War II. They were developed from the British Carden-Loyd Mark VI. With a crew of two, its weight is 3.2 tons with armour of 6 to 14 mm (front).
Source: Carro Leggero 3/35 on Wikipedia
| CV35 Lanciafiamme | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Paolo Fanin |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 16 |
| Carro Leggero 3/35 – Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 22 |
See also:
General Characteristics and Role
The CV35 Lanciafiamme (Flamethrower) was a specialized variant of the Italian L3/35 tankette, originally designated as the Carro Veloce (CV, “Fast Tank”). These tiny, two-man armored vehicles were a key part of Italy’s armored forces in the 1930s and during the early stages of World War II. The Lanciafiamme variant replaced one of the standard machine guns with a fixed flamethrower nozzle. This configuration was intended for close-quarters infantry support, particularly for clearing enemy fortifications, pillboxes, and entrenched positions where its flame weapon was devastating. Despite its heavy weapon, the L3/35 chassis was critically limited by thin armor and a lack of mobility off-road, making the flamethrower variant highly vulnerable to anti-tank fire and even heavy machine gun fire.
| Property | Typical Value (CV35 Lanciafiamme) |
|---|---|
| Role | Flamethrower Tankette, Close Support |
| National Origin | Italy |
| Manufacturer | Fiat-Ansaldo |
| Service Entry (L3/35) | 1935 |
| Crew | 2 (Driver, Gunner/Flamethrower Operator) |
| Main Armament | Flamethrower (nozzle mounted in a ball mount) |
| Secondary Armament | 1 x 6.5 mm machine gun (sometimes fitted) |
| Length | 3.17 m (10 ft 5 in) |
| Width | 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) |
| Height | 1.28 m (4 ft 2 in) |
| Combat Weight | 4.2 tonnes (4.6 short tons) |
Powerplant and Performance
- Engine: 1 x Fiat SPA CV3 4-cylinder water-cooled gasoline engine.
- Power Output: 32 kW (43 hp).
- Maximum Speed (Road): 42 km/h (26 mph).
- Range (Road): 125 km (78 mi).
- Suspension: Bogie system on leaf springs.
Flamethrower System and Protection
- Flamethrower System: Flamethrower nozzle fed by a large armored trailer or a tank mounted on the rear deck.
- Fuel Capacity: 500 liters (132 US gallons) of fuel/tar mixture in a towed trailer; 60 liters (16 US gallons) in the vehicle-mounted tank.
- Range (Flamethrower): Up to 20 meters (66 ft) with the fuel mixture.
- Armour: Riveted steel plate, 6 mm to 12 mm thick. This provided inadequate protection, especially on the thin side armor.
- Operational Use: Used extensively in the Abyssinian campaign (Ethiopia), the Spanish Civil War, and limited use in North Africa and the Eastern Front early in WWII.
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