Fiat TL.37 – Photos & Videos

Fiat TL.371
Страны	Италия
Тип	Легкий военный грузовик
Производства	1938-?
Построен	Неизвестная

Teh TL.37 was an Italian military artillery tractor of World War II. It was manufactured by SPA (Società Piemontese Automobili), an Italian car maker that was a subsidiary of Fiat.

Источник: Fiat TL.37 on Wikipedia

Дополнительная информация:

The Fiat TL.37, or Trattore Leggero per artiglieria Modello 37, was a light military artillery tractor developed and produced in Italy by the Società Piemontese Automobili (SPA), a subsidiary of Fiat. Designed in the mid-1930s, it became one of the most capable and well-regarded wheeled vehicles in the Italian Army during World War II, particularly for its excellent off-road performance.

Development and Design

• Purpose: The Royal Italian Army issued a requirement in 1935 for a new light artillery tractor to replace older, less mobile vehicles. The new tractor needed to be able to tow 75mm and 100mm artillery pieces, carry a crew, and navigate rough, mountainous terrain.
• Design Win: The Fiat-SPA design, initially known as the TLa, won a competition against a rival from Breda. It was officially adopted in 1937 and production began in 1938. The “37” in its designation refers to the year of its adoption.
• Key Features: The TL.37 was a distinctive-looking vehicle, known for its short wheelbase and large, semi-pneumatic or pneumatic tires which gave it high ground clearance.
  • Двигатель: It was powered by a Fiat Tipo 18TL 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a displacement of 4,053 cm³ (4.05L), producing around 52 hp at 2,000 rpm.
  • Трансмиссия: A key feature was its 4×4 all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, which gave it an exceptionally tight turning radius (as low as 4.5 meters). This was crucial for maneuvering in narrow, mountainous terrain.
  • Payload: It was designed to carry a driver and five gun crew members, along with up to 290 kg of ammunition in a rear compartment.

История эксплуатации

• Service and Praise: The TL.37 entered service with the Italian Army in 1938 and served on all major fronts where Italian forces were deployed, including North Africa, Russia, and the Balkans. It proved to be an outstanding vehicle in the North African desert, where its wide tires and robust design made it highly effective on sandy and rocky terrain. Australian troops who evaluated captured units in North Africa considered the TL.37 to be the best artillery tractor in the theater.
• German Use: Following the Italian Armistice in 1943, many TL.37s were captured and used by the German Wehrmacht. The Germans were so impressed with its capabilities that they ordered the continuation of its production for their own use.
• Post-War Service: The TL.37 had a remarkably long service life. It remained in service with the reorganized Italian Army well into the late 1940s and was even used by the Italian Navy until 1948.

Variants and Related Vehicles

The TL.37 chassis was so successful that it served as the basis for several other vehicles, including:

• AS.37: A general-purpose light truck.
• S.37 Autoprotetto: A lightly armored personnel carrier (APC) for use in anti-partisan operations in the Balkans.
• Autocannone da 75/27 su TL.37: A self-propelled gun variant created by mounting a 75mm artillery piece on the rear of the chassis.