Jump to content

Semovente da 75/18

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected fromSemovente 75/18)
Semovente da 75/18
TypeSelf-propelled gun
Place of originKingdom of Italy
Service history
In service1942–1944 (?)
Used byKingdom of Italy
Italy
Nazi Germany
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Designed1941
ManufacturerAnsaldo
No.built467 (pre and post armistice production utilizing M40/41/42 chassis)[1]
Variants
  • M. 40 da 75/18 (M13/40chassis)
  • M. 41 da 75/18 (M14/41chassis)
  • M. 42 da 75/18 (M15/42chassis)
  • Carro comando (command tank)
Specifications
Mass13.1 t (29,000 lb)
Length4.915 m (16 ft 1.5 in)
Width2.280 m (7 ft 5.8 in)
Height1.850 m (6 ft 0.8 in)[2]
Crew3 (commander/gunner, driver, loader/radio operator)
Armour
  • Front: 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in)
  • Sides/rear: 25 mm (0.98 in)
  • Floor/roof: 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in)
Main
armament
1 × 75 mmobice da 75/18 mod. 34,
44 rounds
Secondary
armament
1 × 8 mmBreda mod. 38or 6.5 mmBreda mod. 30machine gun
Engine
SuspensionSemi-ellipticalleaf springbogies
Operational
range
200 km (120 mi)
Maximum speed
  • M. 40:32 km/h (20 mph)
  • M. 41:34 km/h (21 mph)

TheSemovente da75/18was an Italianself-propelled gunof theSecond World War.It was built by mounting the 75 mmObice da 75/18 modello 34mountain gunon the chassis of aM13/40,M14/41orM15/42 tank.[2]The first 60 were built using the M13/40 chassis and a subsequent 162 were built on the M14/41 chassis from 1941 to 1943.[4]A total of 190 were built utilizing the M42 chassis before the armistice and an additional 55 were built afterwards.[5]The Semovente da 75/18 was intended to be an interim vehicle until the heavierP40 tankcould be available.[4]

History

[edit]

Italian artilleryColonelSergio Berlese, who also designed theObice da 75/18 modello 34howitzer, suggested that Italy create anarmoured fighting vehiclesimilar to the GermanStuG IIIassault gun, which had been successful in theFrench campaignin 1940.[6]The firstprototypewas quickly assembled and delivered, on February 10, 1941, only 13 months after the first M13/40 tank upon which it was based.[6]After that, 60 more examples were ordered. They were delivered in 1941, and were then shipped toNorth Africain January 1942.[6]This initial batch was based on the M13 chassis, with its weak 125 hp engine (later to be replaced by one of 145 hp, with the M14 chassis).

Design

[edit]
Semovente da 75/18 during theNorth African Campaign,1942.
A Semovente da 75/18 in Italy in 1943 clearly showing the 75 mm main armament.

This self-propelled gun was built withrivetedsteel plates, which were thicker but also less sloped than in the original tank (50 mm as against 42 mm max). Frontal armour was almost vertical, but it consisted of two plates that strengthened it when compared to a simple homogeneous steel plate.[6]

The vehicle had its crew compartment and drive section forward, in a large and lowcasemate;the engine was situated behind it, in a separate structure (typical of Italian designs), which was sloped and somewhat smaller, and had inspection panels on the roof. The chassis was identical to that of M13/40 tanks, with eight small wheels in four trolleys which were joined in pairs by two arms. Suspensions were of theleaf springtype, which was reliable but didn't allow for high speeds.[4]The transmission was located in the forward part of the vehicle, and the crew consisted of only three members: driver, loader/radio operator, and tank commander/gunner.

The main gun was a derivative of a 75 mm L/18 gun.[7]This was 18caliberslong, with 40° traverse and −12/+22° elevation. The gun had amuzzle brake,and there were several observation and aiming systems (binoculars, periscopes and others) for the crew. The low muzzle velocity (around 450 m/s) meant a relative short range, 9,500 m at best elevation of 45 degrees, but the installation allowed only 22° and so the range was limited to around 7–8 km.[6]The range in direct fire mode was also limited, especially against moving targets, for the same reason. Only one roof-mounted machine gun was fitted for close defence, though sometimes it was omitted. Initially this was a6.5 mm Breda,later upgraded toan 8 mm model.[6]Ammunition load was typically 44 75 mmshellsand 1,108 8 mmcartridges.In the North African theatre some crews stored up to 100 shells by removing their seats and filling the space with the extra rounds.[8]A model RF1 CA with interphone radio was usually fitted.

Service

[edit]

Although these machines were not widely known, the vehicle performed well in its role. Though it was technically similar to the StuG III, it had a totally different role, serving as divisional artillery instead of a pure assault gun. The organic structure consisted of two artillery groups for every armoured division, with two batteries each (four 75/18 each and a command vehicle). The total was of 18 75 mm L/18 (included two in reserve) and 9 command vehicles, which were characterized by additional radio equipment and aBreda 13.2 mmheavy machine gun[2]mounted instead of the main gun. The number originally ordered, 60 total, was enough for the three armoured divisions.

TheSemovente da75/18s were deployed in theNorth African campaignand during theAllied invasion of Sicily,alongside M tank units to provide additional firepower.[4]Despite the fact that they were not designed to fight other tanks, their 75 mm howitzer proved ideal (thanks to its low muzzle velocity) for firingHEATshells; its 5.2 kg HEAT shell ( "Effetto Pronto"in Italian) could pierce 80 mm of armour at 500 meters, and could thus defeat tanks such as the US builtM3 GrantandM4 Shermanused by theBritish Army.[9]As such, these machines were responsible for many of the successes by the Italian armoured troops during 1942–43, when the medium tanks (which were all armed with a47 mm M35 gun) were no longer effective. On another account, theSemovente da75/18 on M14 chassis allowed the132nd Armoured DivisionArieteand the133rd Armoured DivisionLittorioa somewhat wider tactical repertoire until British deployment of U.S. medium tanks negated that small advantage.[10]

The most successful action fought by Semovente da 75/18 took place on 10 June 1942, south of the Knightsbridge Box, during theBattle of Gazala.[4]Thirty M3 Grant and tenM3 Stuartof1stand6th Royal Tank Regimentsattacked a position held by theArietedivision but were repelled by Semovente da 75/18s as well as some M13/40s andgun trucks[citation needed],losing three Grants and two Stuarts from 6th Royal Tank Regiment[11]and twelve Grants and three Stuarts from 1st Royal Tank Regiment.[12]The Italians lost two M13/40s.[13]

Despite its limitations (namely its cramped interior and the insufficiently powerful engine in the M40 and M41 variants), the Semovente da 75/18 proved successful both in the direct support role and inanti-tank fighting;its main advantages, other than their sheer firepower, was in its thicker armour relative to the medium tanks and lower silhouette that made it more difficult to hit. Due to these features, the Semovente da 75/18 has been regarded as the only Italian armoured fighting vehicle to be seriously feared by Allied tank crews, and despite the fact that it was originally conceived for a totally different role, the 75/18 often ended up replacing the standard M13/40.[2]However, it was never employeden masse,and the low number of Semoventi on the field (no more than 30 at the time of theSecond Battle of El Alamein) was not enough to turn the tide in Italy's favour.

In 1942, more vehicles were built: 162, all with the M41 hull, recognizable by the all-length fenders; in 1943, production shifted to the M42 variant, with theM15/42 tankchassis and engine.[4]It was also decided to address the shortcomings of theM14/41 tankby bolstering each unit with some Semoventi, in addition to the three armoured divisions fielded, though very few Italian divisions actually received any.

The necessity for a longer and more powerful gun led to the development of the75/34,75/46and105/25self-propelled guns.

German use

[edit]
Indian troops inspect a captured Semovente in German markings inForlì,30 January 1945.
Semovente da 75/18 with German troops inAlbania,September 1943.

After the Italian surrender in 1943, some 131 Semovente da 75/18 were seized by the Germans and the production of another 55 was authorized.[9]They were, in combination with other Semovente models, issued to 12 divisions (9 infantry, one mountain, one Jäger and one Grenadier) and 3 assault-gun brigades as well as to the 12th SS Polizei Panzer Company.[14]All units were intended for service in Italy or the Balkans. They were designatedStuG M42 mit 7,5KwKL 18(850)(i).[2]

Surviving vehicles

[edit]

A number of 75/18 still survive today. Those include, listed by variants:

  • a M 40 (Plate Number 4445), now at theAberdeen Proving Ground.[15]
  • a damaged M 40 is exhibited at theEl AlameinMilitary Museum.
  • a M 40 or M 41, exhibited at theMusée des Blindés,Saumur.
  • a M 41 (Pl. No. 4462) which was recovered after the war and served in the post–war Italian Army with limited modifications. It is now stored at the Historical Museum of Military Motorization, Cecchignola (Rome).[16]
  • a M 41 (Pl. No. 5727). Like the Roman one, this 75/18 was employed by the post-war Italian Army. Restored in 2005 by theOto Melara,it is now housed in this company's museum atLa Spezia.[17]
  • a M 41 at theScuola truppe corazzate,Caserta.[15]
  • a M 42 at theReggimento Artiglieria a Cavallo,Milan.[15]
  • a M 42 (Pl. No. 6173) with a dummy gun is located at the Rocca diBergamo.[15]
  • a M 42 at theParco delle Rimembranze,Lonate Pozzolo(without gun).
  • a StuG M 42, numbered 114, was built under German control in early 1944. On 21 September, aftera battle near Riminiit was abandoned in a crater. It was rediscovered and unearthed in 2000, and restored by theMuseo dell'AviazioneatRimini,where it has been exhibited since 2004.[18]
  • an unspecified 75/18 is mentioned to be atNocera Inferiore(Naples).[15]
[edit]
  • The Semovente da 75/18 is featured in the gameCompany of Heroes 3as a combat vehicle under theAfrikakorps' Italian Combined Arms Battlegroup. It features both anti-tank direct fire and support short-ranged artillery fire roles, which are accurate to the self-propelled gun's historical use.[19][citation needed]

References

[edit]
Notes
  1. ^Cappellano, Filippo; Battistelli, Pier Paolo. Italian Medium Tanks (New Vanguard) (p. 67). Bloomsbury Publishing.
  2. ^abcdeLorenzetti 1978,p. 58–59.
  3. ^abcCappellano & Battistelli 2012,p. 46–47.
  4. ^abcdef"Semovente M40, M41 and M42 da 75/18".Tank Encyclopedia.2020-09-17.Retrieved2021-12-11.
  5. ^Cappellano, Filippo; Battistelli, Pier Paolo. Italian Medium Tanks (New Vanguard) (p. 67). Bloomsbury Publishing
  6. ^abcdef"Comando Supremo.com Semovente da 75/18".7 March 2010.
  7. ^"Semovente da 75/18: Apennine StuG".warspot.net.Retrieved2021-12-11.
  8. ^Beretta 1997.
  9. ^abCappellano & Battistelli 2012.
  10. ^Knox, MacGregor (November 2000).Hitler's Italian Allies, Royal Armed Forces, Fascist Regime, and the war of 1940-1943.Cambridge University Press. p.153.ISBN9780521790475.
  11. ^6th Royal Tank Regiment war diary
  12. ^War Diary of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment.
  13. ^Pignato 2004.
  14. ^Ormeño, Javier (21 June 2012)."Semovente in the Wehrmacht".Guerra abierta.Retrieved20 December2016.
  15. ^abcdePignato, Nicola (1974), inBellona Military Vehicle Prints, series 37.Model & Allied Publications LTD., p. 15
  16. ^Guglielmi 2013,p. 3.
  17. ^Guglielmi 2013,p. 13.
  18. ^Guglielmi 2013,p. 25.
  19. ^"Company of Heroes 3 factions and battlegroups guide".PC Gamer.23 February 2023.
Bibliography
  • Beretta, Davide (1997).Batterie semoventi, alzo zero: quelli di El Alamein.Milano: Ugo Mursia Editore.ISBN8842521795.
  • Cappellano, F.; Battistelli, P. P. (2012).Italian Medium Tanks: 1939–45.New Vanguard 195. Oxford:Osprey Publishing.ISBN9781849087759.
  • Guglielmi, Daniele (2013).Semoventi M 41 & M 42.Model Centrum PROGRES.ISBN978-83-60672-03-7.
  • Lorenzetti, Furio (1978).Corazzati.Milano: Fabbri Editori.
  • Pignato, Nicola.Storia dei mezzi corazzati.Vol. II.Fratelli Fabbri Editori.pp. 208–214.
  • Pignato, Nicola (2004).Italian Armored Vehicles of World War Two.Squadron/Signal publications.ISBN0-89747-475-9.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Ness, Leland (2002).Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles: The Complete Guide.London and New York: Harper Collins.ISBN0-00-711228-9.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toSemovente da 75/18.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Semovente_da_75/18&oldid=1226754757"