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Early production Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 5 cm Flak 41. Illustration by Pavel Alexe.
German Reich (1942-1945)
Wheeled Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun – Unknown Number Built
The Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) used by the German military during World War II. It was built by converting a standard Mercedes-Benz L4500A heavy-duty truck into an anti-aircraft vehicle by mounting either a 2 cm, 3.7 cm, or even a 5 cm anti-aircraft gun on the truck’s bed. This was a cheap conversion of a standard heavy-duty truck produced by Mercedes-Benz that could guarantee an adequate defense to German columns. It showed its limits due to the partial armor that protected only the most sensible parts of the truck, exposing the crew during the fighting. Together with other wheeled SPAAGs, it was intended as a stopgap solution until properly designed anti-aircraft vehicles were developed.
A column of Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 3.7 cm Flak 37 near Toulon during Operation Achse, 19th September 1943. Source: panzerserra.blogspot.com
History of the Project
The need for mobile anti-aircraft vehicles became evident with the development of aviation technology in the early 20th century. Initially, these vehicles were intended to engage enemy balloons, which were used for reconnaissance and artillery spotting.
As aircraft technology advanced and became more prominent in warfare, the role of mobile anti-aircraft vehicles evolved to include countering this new threat. The German Army, in particular, recognized the importance of anti-aircraft defenses and began producing a series of SPAAGs during the First World War.
These early SPAAGs were mounted on wheeled chassis and were often equipped with machine guns or small caliber artillery guns. They were relatively mobile and could quickly respond to enemy aircraft, making them a valuable asset on the battlefield. Their primary purpose was to protect vital industrial and military targets against enemy aircraft.
Despite being built on civilian truck chassis, SPAAGs offered greater mobility than towed anti-aircraft guns. As the war progressed, these vehicles were upgraded with additional equipment, such as range finders, searchlights, and acoustic detectors, which further improved their effectiveness against enemy aircraft. Interestingly, SPAAGs also proved to be effective against enemy tanks thanks to their mobility and firepower. This versatility made them a valuable asset on the battlefield, and they continue to be used in modern military conflicts.
Three anti-aircraft trucks armed with a 7.7 cm gun were produced by Erhardt and used during the First World War. Source: W. J. Spielberger Gepard The History of German Anti-Aircraft tanks
After the First World War ended, Germany was prohibited from having certain military vehicles, including SPAAGs, by the Treaty of Versailles. This was done to limit Germany’s military capabilities and prevent another world war. In 1930, the German Army gradually started to rearm and also began to develop and build more armored vehicles. After the Nazis took over Germany in 1933, the Treaty of Versailles was completely disregarded.
With this general rearmament, the concept of SPAAG was brought up again. This time the Germans turned to their half-tracks as the main chassis. This came in the form of the Sd.Kfz.10/4 half-track armed with a 2 cm Flak 30 anti-aircraft gun. Such vehicles were allocated to more mobile formations, such as the Panzer divisions.
No particular attention was given to wheel-based SPAAGs. One of the first such vehicles was the small Kfz.4 Truppenluftschutzwagen (English: Air Defense Vehicle) introduced in 1938. It was a 4-wheeled cross-country personal carrier armed with a Zwillingslafette 36 (English: Dual Mount 36) and machine guns. The idea behind the Kfz.4 was to have a small reliable vehicle that could effectively defend itself and the troops against low-flying aircraft with its dual machine guns. However, these vehicles would only be produced in small numbers.
The Kfz.4 was often armed with the Zwillingslafette 36, but other vehicles that were at hand were also used in this manner. Source: http://acemodel.com.ua/en/model/576It was also quite common to have the mounts placed in trailers that were towed by motor vehicles or, probably more often, drawn by horses. Source: www.portalmorski.pl
As the war progressed, the Luftwaffe had more difficulty providing sufficient protection for the ground forces. These, in turn, were forced to find alternative solutions. Half-track SPAAGs were mainly allocated for highly mobile formations, such as the Panzer divisions. Other military units had to use what was at hand. This led to the development and deployment of various anti-aircraft weapons on wheeled chassis, including trucks. One solution was to improvise by placing an anti-aircraft gun in the rear cargo bay of a truck. This was a simple and quick solution that could be implemented with whatever resources were available at the time. Such improvised vehicles were relatively common as they were cheap and easy to build. Their improvised nature and lack of armor limited their combat effectiveness. But, as often nothing better was available, these did the job to some extent.
As improvisations were not the proper solution, the Germans resolved to build more dedicated designs. These vehicles were more effective and reliable than improvised solutions. The armament consisted of either 2 cm or larger 3.7 cm anti-aircraft guns. In rarer cases, the much larger 5 cm anti-aircraft gun was used. They all shared a basic overall design, with a front armored cabin, central firing, and rear storage compartments. Sources do not go into detail about when these vehicles were constructed or their numbers. Given that the half-track SPAAGs received armored cabins after 1942, it would suggest that these too were built around the same time. Production numbers are unknown, but it is most likely that not many were built given the overall limitations of the wheeled chassis.
But it is important to note that even such vehicles were far from perfect. Despite the attempts to improve their performance, they were in essence still improvisations, albeit to a slightly lesser degree. Designing a dedicated wheel-based SPAAG would have taken too much time and resources.
Names
The SPAAG on Mercedes-Benz L4500A chassis received the official name of Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen (English: Heavy Off-Road Truck 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A as Anti-Aircraft Gun Truck). Für (English: for) and the designation of the main armament – für 3.7 cm Flak 37, für 5 cm Flak 41 and für 2 cm Flakvierling 38 – were added.
The generic Heer designation of this type of SPAAG was Mittlerer Flak Kraftwagen (English: Medium Anti-Aircraft Motor Vehicle) with Kraftfahrzeug or Kfz. (English: Motor Vehicle) code number 410. The Mittler designation refers to the anti-aircraft gun designation, not the load capacity of the vehicle’s chassis.
The Kfz.410 was also split in three other designations: Kfz.410/1, Kfz.410/2, and Kfz.410/3, even if it is not clear if the sub-designations referred to the chassis used or main armament installed on the truck chassis.
Another slightly shorter official designation that was used was Schwerer Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4,5t für Flak (Selbstfahrlafette) (English: Heavy Off-Road Truck 4,5t for Anti-Aircraft Gun [Self-Propelled Gun Carriage]).
Design
Chassis and Frame
The 4.5 tonnes Mercedes-Benz L4500 was a heavy-duty truck that was developed as a larger version of the L3000 medium truck. It entered production in 1939 at the Mercedes-Benz plant of Gaggenau, in south-west Germany. Between the months of September and October 1944, two Allied bombings raids on the city destroyed the Mercedes-Benz plant, forcing it to restart production at the Saurer plant in Vienna until the end of the war. Today, the Mercedes-Benz L4500 is a rare and highly sought-after collector’s item, with a number of examples preserved in museums and private collections around the world.
A Mercedes-Benz L4500A during off-road tests in 1938 before mass production began. Source: mb143.ru
Model
L4500S
L4500A
Empty weight
5.250 tonnes
5.717 tonnes
Payload capacity
5,150 tonnes
4.685 tonnes
This was an uncommon capacity for the period and permitted the Mercedes-Benz truck to transport, for example, a Panzer I in its cargo bay. The towing capacity is not specified, but it was able to tow an 8.8 cm Flak anti-aircraft gun or a tank transporter trailer.
All three variants of the truck shared the same frame and bodywork but differed in the suspensions used. The Mercedes-Benz L4500S and L4500A were equipped with leaf spring suspension on both front and rear axles, while the Mercedes-Benz L4500R had, on the rear axles, Panzer II light tank suspension and tracks.
A Mercedes-Benz L4500R with Panzer II suspension and tracks. Source: worldwarphotos.infoMercedes-Benz L4500R mit 3.7 cm Flak 37 on the Eastern Front. Source: materielsterrestres39-45.fr
During its service history, some modifications were made to the chassis to speed up production output and lower the overall cost of the vehicle.
In 1943, a new type of cab substituted the original civil cab. The new Einheitsfahrerhaus (English: Standard Cabins) was a box-shaped pressed-wood cab developed to fit on various German and Italian trucks and half-track chassis. Another modification, which appeared in late 1944, when production switched to Saurer, was a different and shorter bumper, simplified fenders, and lastly different headlights.
A late production Mercedes-Benz L4500 with Einheitsfahrerhaus cab, shorter bumper, simplified fenders, and different headlights. Source: twitter.com @MrPotat45319251
Mercedes-Benz L4500 heavy-duty truck production 1939 – 1945
Model
Number Produced
Mercedes-Benz L4500S
6,402
Mercedes-Benz L4500A
2,711
Mercedes-Benz L4500R
1,486
Total Produced
10,599
Of the 6,402 Mercedes-Benz L4500S produced, 2,021 were converted into firefighter trucks and 1,214 were equipped with gasifier engines. Of the 2,711 Mercedes-Benz L4500A, 308 were converted into off-road firefighting trucks. The total number of Mercedes-Benz L4500A trucks converted in SPAAGs is unknown.
Mercedes-Benz L4500 with gasifier. Source: worldwarphotos.info
The civilian variants were standard cargo trucks with wooden cargo bays. A bus version called O4500 was produced only in 1943-1944, and a firefighting truck, called LF25, was also built.
Engine and Suspension
The Mercedes-Benz L 4500 engine was the diesel 4-stroke, inline 6-cylinder Mercedes-Benz OM 67/4 water cooled, 7,274 cm3, delivering 112 hp at 2,250 rpm. This powerful engine was of the precombustion chamber injected type with Over Head Valves (OHV).
The diesel engine, mounted in front of the cab, was coupled with a single disc dry clutch and 5 gears and one reverse manual gearbox with reductors. The maximum speed was 66 km/h on-road.
The Mercedes-Benz OM 67/4 diesel engine was mounted on the Mercedes-Benz L4500. Source: panzerserra.blogspot.com
The fuel capacity was 140 liters in a single tank placed under the cab. The truck had a fuel consumption of 25 liters per hour on-road, which meant that the truck had an on-road range of about 500 km.
The vehicle was equipped with a ZF Typ 721 steering system that assisted the driver in turning the steering wheel and a peculiar brake system: a hydraulic system for the front drum brakes and a pneumatic system for the rear drum brakes (and the trailer brakes). Although all wheels were equipped with drum brakes, the parking brake blocked only the rear axle (and the trailer brakes). The vehicle was equipped with 10.5-20″ tires with twin wheels on the rear axle.
A Mercedes-Benz L4500A with railway conversion. Source: legendsoftrucking.de
The Mercedes-Benz L4500A had an off-road gear, which permitted the driver to switch on the front-wheel-drive. With this off-road gear, the performance of the truck was diminished, with a maximum speed decreased to 43 km/h, while the payload capacity was reduced to 4.085 tonnes.
Mercedes-Benz L4500A Specifications
Length
7. 86 m
Width
2.35 m
Height
3.34 m
Wheelbase
4.60 m
Ground Clearance
34 cm
Water Depth
80 cm
Turning Radius
19.3 m
Payload
4.685 tonnes
Payload With Off-road Gear
4.085 tonnes
Total Weight Permitted by Law
10.400 tonnes
Total Weight With Off-road Gear
9.800 tonnes
Armor
The Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A, due its crucial role and vulnerability on the frontline, was equipped with armored plates to protect part of the crew from light arms fire.
The great payload capacity of this massive German truck allowed the bolting of armored plates on the cab without overstressing the chassis. The Germans called the armored structure Behilf Panzerung (English: Auxiliary Armor).
The engine compartment was protected on the front by an armored plate-shaped V fixed on the bumper on the lower part, and by means of a long rod on the upper part.
Early production Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 3.7 cm Flak 36 showing off all the modifications. The iron rod of the engine compartment armored plate is visible over the bonnet. Source: http://panzerserra.blogspot.com/2023/04/mercedes-benz-l4500a-schwere.html
The armored cab was composed of armored plates revered on an internal structure and shared similar shapes to the armored cabs of other German vehicles, such as the 8.8 cm Flak 18 (Selbstfahrlafette) auf Schwere Zugkraftwagen 12t (Sd.Kfz.8) nicknamed “Bunkerflak”, the Sd.Kfz.7/2 anti-aircraft armored half-track, and the similar Büssing-NAG 4500A anti-aircraft armored truck.
A rare Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Büssing-NAG 4500A als Flakwagen für 3.7 cm Flak 37. The engine bonnet clearly identifies it as a Büssing-NAG. Source: flickriver.com
On the front armored plate of the cab, there were two slits protected by the armored glass, while on the side hatches, there were two sliding slots. A fifth slit was placed on the rear of the armored cab to connect the crew inside the cab with the other soldiers on the platform. For self-defense, ventilation and observation, there were two hatches on the armored roof from which the commander and driver could check the area around or defend the vehicle with personal weapons. The commander had a split hatch with parts fixed on the sides, while the driver’s hatch, albeit of the same dimension, had a single part openable to the front.
The armored cab’s plate thickness is not specified in official documentation, but it probably ranged between 10 mm to 14.5 mm, similar to other German armored cabs. This thickness was barely enough to protect the occupants of the cab from light arms fire and artillery splinters. This level of protection did not even protect the vehicle from enemy air strikes, the most likely opponent to defend against.
The crew in the rear platform, apart from the protection given by the armored cab and gun shield (8 mm to 10 mm thick), was severely exposed.
During production, some parts were simplified in the hope of speeding up the assembly and to decrease costs. The slots protected by armored glass were substituted with bigger ones without armored glass and with armored ports. The side slots were replaced with sliding slots of bigger dimensions. The bench on the rear was removed and the cab was shortly elongated. Also, the radiator’s plate was replaced with a longer one.
An early-production armored cab (top) and a late-production armored car (bottom). The different dimensions of the doors and radiator cover are clearly noticeable. The slots were different too. Due to the short bumpers, the Notek night driving devices were fixed on the armored plate on the later models. The top image detail also clearly shows the differences between the commander’s and driver’s hatches. Sources: panzerserra.blogspot.com and flikr.com @Panzer DB
Modifications
Behind the armored cab, a new firing platform made of iron sheets was fixed on the truck chassis. The platform was equipped with foldable sides made with robust wire mesh. When in firing position, the sides were folded horizontally to permit a 360° traverse of the anti-aircraft gun and increase the floorspace for the gun’s operators. Right behind the armored cab was the padded bench for the gunner and loaders. In the middle of the platform was the main armament.
At the rear, a stowage box was placed, the top of which could open. It was used to transport ammunition for the anti-aircraft gun, toolboxes, and other parts. Over the rear stowage box was a backrest to allow it to be used as a bench for other crew members.
Early production Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 3.7 cm Flak 37 with 7 crew members. This image shows the vehicle in battery position with lowered sides and jacks. The trailer towed by the truck was a Sonderanhänger 57. Source: panzerserra.blogspot.com
In later vehicles, the stowage box on the rear was removed and replaced with a bench, while the front bench was removed too. This gave more space for the crew but reduced the possibility of transporting other equipment.
A total of four jacks were added, two for each side of the firing platform, and used to increase the stability of the vehicle while firing. These jacks were not introduced on the half-tracked SPAAGs because of the sturdier chassis and bigger contact area of the tracks, which gave more stability than wheels. During serial production, the four jacks were first simplified to save on raw materials and then reduced to one for each side. The new jack model was composed of a telescopic rod with a foot placed on the front of the firing platform. Sapper tools were placed on the platform’s foldable sides while, under the platform, on each side, was a 20-liter fuel can support.
The vehicles were equipped with Notek night lights placed near the front armored plate that protected the radiator.
A late production Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 2 cm Flakvierling 38. The jack was rudimentary compared to the previous model. Other differences from earlier models are the bigger slots of the armored cab and new simplified firing platform without rear stowage box. The truck is towing a Sonderanhänger 56 ammunition trailer. Dreux, France, 7th June 1944. Source: panzerserra.blogspot.com
There was a compartment in the rear stowage box of the platform for an unknown but limited number of round clips or magazines.
Crews regularly transported spare ammunition on one-axle standard military trailers. The most common ones were the Sonderanhänger 56 or Sd.Ah.56 (English: Special Trailer 56) for 2 cm Flak ammunition, the Sonderanhänger 57 or Sd.Ah.57 (English: Special Trailer 57) for 3.7 cm Flak automatic cannon rounds or the multiuse Sonderanhänger 51 Sd.Ah.51 that could be loaded both with 3.7 cm Flak 36/37 or 2 cm Flakvierling 38 ammunitions. The trailer also transported the gun’s spare optics, spare parts, and other tools.
Main Armament
2 cm Flakvierling 38
The 2 cm Flakvierling 38 was a common anti-aircraft gun of the Second World War. It was designed by Mauser-Werke to replace the older 2 cm Flak 30 and was introduced in May 1940. Its effective firing range was between 2 to 2.2 km, while the maximum horizontal range was 5,782 m. The maximum rate of fire was 1,680 to 1,920 rpm, but 700-800 rpm was a more appropriate operational rate of fire. The elevation was –10° to +100°.
The gun was placed on a triangular-shaped platform with three supporting legs. For transportation, this platform was connected to a two-wheel bogie. To hold the gun in place, three stabilizer connectors for the 2 cm Flakvierling 38 legs were added on top of the vehicle’s rear positioned platform.
A Mercedes-Benz L4500 mit 2 cm Flakvierling 38 on the North African front. Source: materielsterrestres39-45.fr
3.7 cm Flak 36 and 37
The 3.7 cm Flak 36 was intended to replace the inadequate 3.7 cm Flak 18. It could engage enemy air targets up to 4.8 km. The firing rate was 160 rounds per minute but 80 rpm was a more practical fire rate. The elevation was –8° to +85°. It was generally an effective design that had improved firepower over the weaker 2 cm rounds. Unfortunately for the Germans, they never produced enough of them. The Flak 37 version received some improvements, such as a better gun sight but, in general, these two were almost identical.
The 3.7 cm Flak 36/37 used a similar triangular-shaped platform, with three supporting legs, albeit somewhat larger. Early 3.7 cm Flak 18 used much complicated two two-wheel bogie. Later models would use only a single two-wheel bogie. The installation process of these two guns on the Mercedes-Benz’s rear-positioned platform would be the same as on the 2 cm gun.
The 3.7 cm Flak 36 offered much-improved firepower over its 2 cm weaker “cousin”. Source Wikipedia
On some trucks armed with 3.7 cm automatic cannons, other ammunition racks were placed under the firing platform, behind the rear axle. Each rack could be loaded with three iron crates for 2 8-round clips each, for a total of 96 rounds.
An early production Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 3.7 cm Flak 37 on the march on the Eastern Front. It had at least 6 crew members and an ammunition rack under the firing platform. Source: miro-antik2012 e-shop
5 cm Flak 41
The 5 cm Flak 41 was Krupp’s response to the request made by the German Army for an anti-aircraft gun to fill the gap between the 3.7 cm and 8.8 cm anti-aircraft guns. In 1935, Rheinmetall was tasked with developing such an anti-aircraft gun. A few years later, in 1939, Krupp was also contacted for the same purpose, but its design would be rejected. Rheinmetall 5 cm anti-aircraft gun was deemed a better design and it would be accepted for service in November 1940.
The gun was placed on a triangular-shaped platform, equipped with two side folding outriggers to provide better stability during firing. For transportation, this platform was connected to two two-wheel bogies, which were then moved either by a heavy-duty truck or a half-track.
This gun was gas operated and equipped with a vertical sliding breech. With a muzzle velocity of 840 m/s, it had a maximum firing range of up to 9 km, while the more practical range was 5.6 km. The horizontal firing range was 12.4 km. It had a full traverse of 360° with an elevation of –10° to +90°. The total weight of the gun was 3.1 tonnes.
It could fire a few different rounds. The standard high-explosive round had two different settings. It could be timed to explode after 5 to 8 seconds or longer, at 14 to 18 seconds, depending on the combat need. In addition, this round was also provided with a tracer that burned for up to 10 seconds. It could also fire an armor-piercing round (basically a modified 5 cm PaK 38 round) and a training round. The practical firing rate was 130 rounds.
While issued early in the war, these guns proved disappointing. They were unstable during firing, slow in tracing enemy aircraft, and due to their large size, difficult to conceal and move. After some 200 (precise numbers differ greatly between sources, from 80 to 200) guns were built, the production was canceled. Despite their limited production numbers, these guns saw combat in their original configuration but also in some self-propelled versions.
For transportation, the gun and its platform were connected to two two-wheel bogies, which was then moved either by a heavy-duty truck or a half-track. Source: WikiDespite the limited number built, some 20 5 cm Flak 41 saw service in France during the Allied advance in 1944. Source: J. Bernstein P-47 Vs. German Flak Defenses
From photographic evidence, it is possible to confirm that at least four 5 cm Flak 41 were installed on Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t chassis. At least one was mounted on a Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen, two were mounted on unarmored Mercedes-Benz L4500A chassis, and the fourth one was installed on an unarmored Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Büssing-NAG 4500A als Flakwagen.
The driver was placed in the left side of the armored cab, while the commander sat on the right side. Behind the cab was a padded bench on which the gunner and one or two loaders sat. It was not unusual for crews to number up to 7 soldiers, with 4 loaders and ammunition carriers for the gun.
A late production Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 2 cm Flakvierling 38, location and date unknown. Its crew consisted of 5 soldiers. Source: flikr.com @Panzer DB
Only the commander and driver were protected from enemy light arms fire by the armored cab, while the rest of the crew sat outside without any protection, even against bad weather.
Unprotected Versions
During the production of SPAAGs on Mercedes-Benz trucks, there were small series built using unarmored vehicles.
The first one appeared to be produced in late 1942 according to the presence of some vehicles in North Africa, under the Deutsche Afrika Korp control.
This was a really rudimentary conversion probably produced in limited numbers, possibly for testing. This version was equipped with the original metal cab and without jacks. The precision of the main gun was badly influenced by the bad stability of the wheeled platform, so the crews tried to solve the problem using jacks to raise the chassis from the ground and sandbags stacked around the wheels when in battery position.
An unarmored Mercedes-Benz L4500A armed with Flakvierling 38 anti-aircraft quad automatic gun in North Africa. In the foreground, the jack is used to raise the chassis while the sandbags are visible on the sides. Source: tapatalk.com
This peculiar version also sported different ammunition racks and crew benches on the firing platform. The folding sides were made of iron sheets instead of serial production wire meshes.
Another version that appeared later in the war was an unarmored Mercedes-Benz L4500A with an open-topped cab, foldable windshield, and early production firing platform with 4 jacks and wire mesh foldable sides.
The proof of the existence of at least two unarmored Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 5 cm Flak 41. Source: tapatalk.com via e-shop
Photographic evidence confirms the production of at least 2 unarmored vehicles with open-topped cabs armed with the rare 5 cm Flak 41. The unarmed version of the Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t on Mercedes-Benz L4500A was produced in limited numbers, which perhaps stopped after these 2 prototypes. These vehicles seem to have remained in Germany to train recruits and defend the homeland.
Another image of an unarmored Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 5 cm Flak 41 in what seems like firing training. The early type firing platform is extended and a total of 7 soldiers are operating on it. Source: tapatalk.com via e-shop
This last unarmored version illustrates how desperate the German situation was at the end of the war. The unarmored Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t could only be operated in a relatively safe environment, safe from any ground attacks, artillery. Apart from the thin and small gun shield, the crew was completely exposed to artillery splinters and light arms fire. This unarmored solution, therefore, suggests that it was designed for training Flak recruits as a cheaper and lighter version of the SPAAG.
Unarmored Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 5 cm Flak 41 during training. It was equipped with mid-production jacks. Source: panzerserra.blogspot.com
Operational Use
Unfortunately, information about the combat use of these vehicles is quite difficult to find. They are often just barely mentioned in the sources. They surely saw combat use given the existence of many surviving photographs. Given the Luftwaffe’s inability to provide air defense and the general lack of half-track SPAAGs, these would be used to fill the gap.
A SPAAG captured by the Allies in France in June 1944. The vehicle appears to be in quite rough shape given the odd position of its armament. Source: 11 Panzerwrecks Normandy 2Another 2 cm armed vehicle destroyed in Normandy in 1944. This particular one was based on the Büssing-NAG 4500A chassis, but externally, they differed only by the engine bonnet. Source: Panzewrecks Normandy 1The same vehicle but from a different angle. Source: Panzewrecks Normandy 1The crew of this vehicle added several tank kill markings, which is quite unusual. Source: http://panzerserra.blogspot.com/2023/04/mercedes-benz-l4500a-schwere.htmlThis vehicle was lost in Belgium. Note it appears that it was towing the 8.8 cm anti-aircraft gun behind it. Source: http://panzerserra.blogspot.com/2023/04/mercedes-benz-l4500a-schwere.html
Conclusion
These vehicles were part of a series of stopgap solutions that the German military developed during the war to counter Allied air superiority. This SPAAG based on a truck chassis was sort of a mix-bag. On one side, they provided increased mobility for the anti-aircraft guns. This helped to greatly increase the combat effectiveness of these units. The partial armor that protected only the most sensitive parts of the truck meant that the crew was exposed during combat. They also lacked proper mobility when driving off-road. It was ultimately a temporary solution to a growing problem that required more advanced and specialized anti-aircraft vehicles.
Early production Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 5 cm Flak 41. Illustration by Pavel Alexe.Early production Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 3.7 cm Flak 37 near Toulon during Operation Achse, 19th September 1943. Illustration by Pavel Alexe.Late production Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen für 2 cm Flakvierling 38, France, 1944. Illustration by Pavel Alexe.
Schwere Geländegängiger Lastkraftwagen 4.5t Mercedes-Benz L4500A als Flakwagen Specification
Crew
4-5 (driver, commander, gunner and 1 or 2 loaders)
Engine
Mercedes-Benz OM 67 diesel engine delivering 112 hp at 2,250 rpm, 140 liter fuel tank
Speed
66 km/h
Range
~ 500 km
Armament
3.7 cm Flak 37
or
5 cm Flak 41
or
2 cm Flakvierling 38
Improvised Armored Car based on the Morris CS8 in Germany Service. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
German Reich (1942-1945)
Improvised Armored Car – 1 Converted
During the Axis occupation of Yugoslavia during the Second World War, the ever-increasing resistance movements caused great destruction to the Axis infrastructure and manpower. The Germans were particularly hard-pressed as they could not provide proper forces and equipment. Instead, they often relied on captured weapons and units of mixed experience and quality. Regarding the armor used, these were also mostly captured vehicles that were for the most part obsolete. To further increase their number, some improvised vehicles were also used, including one based on a captured British Morris CS8 truck.
The German improvised armored car based on a Morris CS8 chassis. Source: B. B. Dimitrijević and D. Savić Oklopne jedinice na Jugoslovenskom ratištu 1941-1945
A Brief History of the Yugoslavian Occupation
After the unsuccessful invasion of Greece by Italian forces, Benito Mussolini was forced to ask for help from his German ally. Adolf Hitler agreed to provide assistance, fearing a possible Allied attack through the Balkans would reach Romania and its vital oil fields. On the path of the German advance towards Greece stood Yugoslavia, whose government initially agreed to join the Axis side. This agreement was short-lived, as the Yugoslavian government was overthrown by an anti-Axis pro-Allied military coup at the end of March 1941. Hitler immediately gave an order for the preparation for the invasion of Yugoslavia. The war that began on 6th April 1941 was a short one and ended with a Yugoslavian defeat and the division of its territory among the Axis powers.
Following the collapse of Yugoslavia, the occupying Axis forces did not expect any significant trouble to come from this part of Europe. Unfortunately for them, two resistance groups emerged very quickly, the Royalist Chetniks and the Communist Partisans. What followed was five years of heavy struggle, suffering, and destruction on all warring sides in Yugoslavia.
Early Field Modifications
To battle the ever-rising numbers of Partisans attacks, the Axis forces, particularly the Germans, had limited available resources in the early stages of the armed uprising. After the April War, the Germans captured at least 78-80 Yugoslav armored fighting vehicles. These were to be transported out of occupied Yugoslavia by the end of 1941. As a result of the uprising, most of these vehicles were instead distributed to German occupation units. However, even these were not enough, as most of them were the older and obsolete WW1-era Renault FT tanks. They lacked mobility and suffered from engine reliability issues due to their age.
In an attempt to increase mobility and add firepower to their units, the Germans could only add machine guns and other light armaments on any truck or car that they could get their hands on. These vehicles did not receive any kind of armored protection, and, in general, had limited combat potential.
Often, due to a lack of proper armored vehicles, ordinary trucks and cars would instead be armed with machine guns. Source: B. D. Dimitrijević and D. Savić, Oklopne Jedinice Na Jugoslovenskom Ratistu 1941-1945
The Italian Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army) found itself in an identical situation. Whilst the Italian occupation divisions were equipped with a number of Italian-built armored cars and tanks, almost all also had improvised armored personnel carriers used to patrol the most important roads to escort convoys. These improvisations were made mostly on Italian-built trucks, such as Bianchi Miles medium trucks, Isotta Fraschini D80 heavy-duty trucks, OM Taurus medium trucks, and even some French Renault ADRs captured during the French campaign.
A Renault ADR Blindato of the Regio Esercito deployed in the Balkans. Source: pinterest.com
Luckily for the Germans, during their Balkan campaign in April 1941, they managed to capture a variety of British equipment in Greece. This includes trucks, cars, and even some tanks. Some of these vehicles were put to use as anti-partisan vehicles in their original form. A few of them were reused for other projects, such as the modification of a Morris CS8’s 4×4 chassis with the addition of an armored compartment armed with one machine gun. Not much is known of this vehicle besides the fact that it was a German field modification, possibly made in 1942, and likely used by the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division ‘Prinz Eugen’.
Another captured British vehicle, the A.13 Cruiser, was operated by the Germans in late 1943 and early 1944 near Sisak. Besides that, nothing is known of its combat use. Source: B. D. Dimitrijević and D. Savić, Oklopne Jedinice Na Jugoslovenskom Ratistu 1941-1945A Marmon Herrington Mk. II in German service in Yugoslavia. Source: D. Predoević, Oklopna vozila i oklopne postrojbe u drugom svjetskom ratu u Hrvatskoj
Identification of the Frame
The exact frame on which the armored superstructure of this improvised armored car is not known. From the images, it is easy to identify it as a British-built Morris CS8 light truck.
Unfortunately, on the frame of this vehicle, 3 more vehicles were produced: the Morris C8 Quad prime mover, the 4×4 Morris C8 GS light truck, and the Morris CS9 armored car. It is logical to exclude the CS9 armored car as the possible frame since it would have made no sense to build an armored structure for a vehicle that already had one.
The armored superstructure could be mounted on a Morris C8 Quad prime mover with a 4×4 traction. The Morris C8 GS (GS for General Service) can also be excluded, as it entered service only in 1943.
Morris CS8
The Morris CS8 was the standard light truck of the Commonwealth Armed Forces. It was developed after the request of the War Office in 1934 for a 750 kg payload capacity light lorry. The Morris Commercial Cars company started the development of this vehicle on the base of its civilian trucks of the C series, which had entered production in 1933. It was presented as the Morris CS8 (C for Commercial, S for Six-cylinder engine, and 8 for the wheelbase in feet). When the Second World War began, it was the standard platoon truck of the British Army and Commonwealth forces with total production, until 1941, of 21,319 CS8s.
Dozens of different variants were built, including a command post variant, radio center, water, and fuel tanker, and even an armored car. Some were also modified in the field to carry the French Hotchkiss 25 mm Mle. 1934, the Bofors 37 mm, or the 2-pounder gun in portée versions, and even the Italians, who captured many Morris trucks in North Africa, modified them as truck-mounted artillery, known as the Autocannone da 65/17 su Morris CS8.
The British Morris CS8 light truck. Source: Wiki
Design
Despite being a field modification, it appears to be a well-designed project. Due to a lack of information, how the vehicle was modified is unknown. Using the available photographs nonetheless, some educated guesses can be made.
Chassis and Engine
The chassis and the engine most likely remained unchanged. Given that it was a captured vehicle with limited spare parts, little could be done in regard to improving its overall performance. The Morris CS8 was powered by a 3,485 cm3 6-cylinder inline side valve petrol engine that delivered 60 hp at 2,800 rpm. The manual transmission had four forward and one reverse gear. Its empty weight was 1.94 tonnes, reaching 3 tonnes fully loaded.
Its maximum velocity on road was 64 km/h, and thanks to a 100-liter fuel tank, its maximum range was 400 km. On the German improvised armored car, the maximum speed and range most likely decreased due to added weight.
Armored Superstructure
On top of the original chassis, a new fully enclosed armored superstructure was placed. It appears to be something more than an improvised vehicle made crudely in a workshop and something more professionally put together.
The frontal armor plates are angled to provide additional protection. On the front engine plates, there was a large centrally positioned, and protected ventilation grille for the radiator. Next to it, on both sides, two round-shaped hatches for the vehicle’s lights were added. The driver had a rectangular-shaped vision port, which could be fully closed or opened depending on the need. Opposite, a small rectangular firing port for the main armament was placed. On either side of the vehicle’s armored superstructure, two large doors opening backward were added. This could give some problems to the crew if they needed to exit or enter the vehicle under enemy fire. The doors were equipped with vision slits.
As there is no photograph of this vehicle from the rear, it is unclear how its design was made. It is possible that a door was placed there too, or at the very least, a firing port for self-defense. A large rectangular-shaped hatch was placed on top of the vehicle. It provided the commander with the possibility to fully observe the surroundings, and, at the same time, permitted the crew to defend themselves from air attacks. The main armament, or, optionally, a second machine gun, could be placed on the roof and used to shoot down enemy planes or support the infantry in anti-partisan operations.
Some sapper tools were placed on the sides, a pickaxe on the right, and a jack mounted on the left door. The rest were probably stored in the rear.
A close-up view of the vehicle’s front. The armor plates that covered the engine were angled to provide additional protection. Note the two headlight hatches and the protected ventilation grille. Source: Digital Collection of Armin Freitag
Armor
The thickness of these armor plates is unknown, but in order to keep the vehicle driving performance at an acceptable level, it must have been quite light, possibly only a few millimeters thick. As the partisans generally lacked any kind of a dedicated anti-tank weapon during the early stages of the uprising, this would not have been a major issue, as its armor only needed to protect against small caliber bullets.
Another interesting detail is that it seems that the armored plates were all welded and not bolted together as many other Axis-improvised armored vehicles of the era. This provides further evidence that it was a well-designed and manufactured project.
The vehicle probably suffered from problems caused by the weight of the armored superstructure. Between 1936 and 1938, Morris produced the CS9, an armored car on the frame of the CS8. It had a meager 7 mm armored superstructure bolted to an internal superstructure for a fully loaded weight of 4.5 tonnes. It was deployed in France by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and in North Africa, where the crew complained about its underpowered engine. The German improvised armored car on a Morris chassis would have certainly been affected in a similar way.
Armament
The main armament of this vehicle appears to have consisted of only one machine gun. This machine gun was positioned on the right side of the vehicle and placed inside a small firing port. The precise machine gun used is difficult to know, but it was not of German origin. Like most weapons employed in Yugoslavia, it was presumably taken from a captured weapons stock. In this case, it appears to be the Czechoslovak 7.92 mm ZB vz. 26 or a Vz. 30 light machine gun, a highly popular and effective weapon. Before the April War, the Yugoslavian Army had in its inventory some 5,000 ZB vz. 26s and over 15,000 (possibly up to 17,000) Vz. 30Js (export version for Yugoslavia).
Both of these were excellent machine gun designs. These were gas-operated, had an easily removable barrel, and 20-round vertical magazines. The maximum firing rate was between 500 to 600 rounds per minute. The muzzle velocity of these two was 750 to 762 meters per second and weighed around 9.5 kg. Both of these guns achieved great export success being sold to countries like Afghanistan, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Romania, Spain, Turkey, etc.
Additionally, the crew would carry their personal weapons, such as rifles, pistols and even hand grenades. An additional machine gun of the same or different model could have been mounted on the roof.
An image of the Morris CS8 improvised armored car. The main armament is clearly visible. The commander, standing over the roof hatch, was armed with a submachine gun that could be used for self-defense. Source: pinterest
Crew
The exact crew number and configuration is also unknown. Given the existing photographs, it would at least have been two crew members: a driver and a gun operator. It is also highly likely that a third crew member, a commander, would also have been included. It is difficult to know precisely, but it is also possible that the improvised Morris may have acted as a small armored personnel carrier, so additional soldiers may have been squeezed inside it. In fact, the original Morris CS8 was a light lorry with a payload capacity of 750 kg or enough space for 8 fully equipped soldiers. In this armored car version, it may have space for a pair, or more soldiers in the cramped rear.
Combat
Not much is known of this vehicle’s combat history. While it could have been built in the first year of Axis occupation, this seems unlikely, as at that time, the use of armor by units in Yugoslavia was rare. The armor available was mostly the Yugoslavian captured tanks or simple modifications that included adding armament on trucks or cars. From 1942 onwards, more complex such modified vehicles began to be seen more commonly (but still rare speaking in the wider context of the war in Yugoslavia) by nearly all sides.
The Morris improvised armored car itself likely belonged to the 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division. This unit was officially formed in early 1942. It mainly consisted of ethnic Germans that lived in most of the northern part of Yugoslavia. This particular Division became quite notorious in fighting the Yugoslav resistance movements by conducting many crimes against the local civilians. Its equipment was supplied by the Germans and consisted of foreign captured weapons. The evidence to suggest this vehicle may have belonged to this unit, is the photographic evidence where it is seen supporting elements of the Prinz Eugen Division fighting the Partisans, possibly in the area of Zapadna Slavonija.
The Morris improvised armored car during fighting with Partisans forces, possibly in Zapadna Slavonija. Source: B. D. Dimitrijević and D. Savić, Oklopne Jedinice Na Jugoslovenskom Ratistu 1941-1945The same anti-partisan operation, but from another angle, being supported by German infantry Source: NARA archives
This vehicle remained in use up to the end of the war. The victorious Partisans managed to capture it and other German armored vehicles that were left abandoned in Slovenia in May 1945. Its fate after this point is unknown, but it was likely scrapped as it had little combat value to the Partisans.
Conclusion
While appearing to be a well-made vehicle, sadly, very little is known about the German Morris improvised armored car. It was one of the many improvised vehicles of the Second World War that would have been forgotten were it not for some old photographs. Its overall performance and use is shrouded in mystery, but it did survive until the end of the war. This either indicated that its overall design was good enough to survive for that long, or that it was rarely used and mostly stored in reserve somewhere. In either case, due to a lack of information, no proper conclusion can be made.
Improvised Armored Car based on the Morris CS8 in German Service. Illustrations by Godzilla.
German Morris CS8 Armored Car Technical Specifications
Crew
3 (driver, gunner and commander)
Weight
∼4 tonnes
Dimensions
Length ∼4.3 m, Width ∼2.0 m, Height ∼2.2 m
Engine
3,485 cm3 6-cylinder inline sidevalve petrol engine that delivered 60 hp at 2,800 rpm
Speed
//
Range
//
Armament
7.92 mm ZB vz. 26 or 30 light machine gun
Armor
light
Sources
B. B. Dimitrijević and D. Savić (2011) Oklopne jedinice na Jugoslovenskom ratištu 1941-1945, Institut za savremenu istoriju, Beograd.
D. Predoević (2008) Oklopna vozila i oklopne postrojbe u drugom svjetskom ratu u Hrvatskoj, Digital Point Tiskara
N. Đokić and B. Nadoveza (2018) Nabavka Naoružanja Iz Inostranstva Za Potrebe Vojske I Mornarice Kraljevine SHS-Jugoslavije, Metafizika
F. Cappellano and P. P. Battistelli (2018) Italian Armored and Reconnaissance Cars 1911-1945, New Vanguard https://www.ravnoplov.rs/somborski-i-okolni-nemci-u-ss-diviziji-princ-eugen/
Kingdom of Italy/Italian Social Republic (1940-1945)
When speaking of Italian armor during the Second World War, it is important to analyze the training that Italian tank crew members received before being assigned to frontline units.
Although the Italian war industry was unable to keep up with the production capabilities of the Allied nations, it could have matched Nazi Germany in the experience gained by its crews due to the large number and variation of operations it was involved in. Unfortunately, training was completely ignored by the Italian Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army) High Command during the war, leading to catastrophic results.
Italian Training Before Second World War
Before joining the bloodiest war of the 20th Century, the Kingdom of Italy relied on a large and heterogeneous fleet of light and obsolete tanks for training.
In order to train crew members in driving light tanks, many Carri Veloci 33 and CV35 vehicles were employed together with older FIAT 3000s. In order to train medium tank crew members, the only Schneider CA at the Departmental Headquarters for the Tank School in Bologna was available. The vehicle remained in service as a training vehicle until 1936, two decades after it was first introduced.
The French Schneider CA WWI era tank at the Bologna Training School in 1937. Source: Nicola Pignato
Surprisingly, the High Command of the Italian Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army) did not consider the lack of training a notable issue, instead blaming the defeats suffered during the Spanish Civil War on the obsolescence of the vehicles used. A prime example of this is the absence of any change in the training of the Regio Esercito infantry or tank drivers during and after the Spanish Civil War.
The Regio Esercito focused on developing new fighting vehicles to deal with more modern threats, such as the Soviet armored fighting vehicles encountered in Spain.
Despite the development of new vehicles, such as the Autoblinda AB40 and the M11/39 tank, the Regio Esercito remained anchored on the concept of mountain trench warfare that had seen it victorious in the Great War, but in which armored fighting vehicles were not considered a priority.
One of the most serious problems that would be faced by the Italian Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army) during the Second World War was not the enemy, but the effectiveness of its armored vehicles. On many occasions in North Africa, entire Italian armored units failed to adequately confront similarly sized Commonwealth units because of the Italian crews’ poor training.
The Italian 3 tonnes Carri Armati L3 light tanks had been delivered to cavalry schools to replace horses with tracks. Medium tanks, on the other hand, were delivered to tank schools where prospective crews had already completed infantry courses and then received tank crew members training. In fact, in Italy, the tank units were called fanteria carrista (English: tank crew infantry), meaning that they were infantry and tank crew members at the same time.
Miscellaneous Training during World War II
Training on armored cars and light tanks is barely reported in the relevant sources. The armored car training courses were held, for the duration of the war, at the Scuola Militare di Cavalleria (English: Military School of Cavalry) in Pinerolo, Piemonte.
The old Scuola Militare di Cavalleria, now the Museo Storico dell’Arma di Cavalleria, Italian Cavalry Museum. Source: tripadvisor.com
Armored car crew members were recruited from soldiers that had already been trained as cavalrymen or from the Italian assault light infantry, also known as Bersaglieri.
The only difference between the two types of recruits was their nomenclatures: Bersaglieri units were composed of coppia (English: couples) consisting of 2 armored cars, plotone (English: platoons) composed of 2 couples, compagnie (English: companies) composed of one command platoon (one command car) and four platoons, for a total of 17 armored cars. Battaglioni (English: battalions) consistedof one command company and two to four companies, for a total of 35 or 69 armored cars. The cavalry units used squadrone (English: squadrons) instead of compagnie and gruppi (English: groups) instead of battaglione in the nomenclature.
The cavalry crew of an Autoblinda AB41 with desert tires in the Pinerolo countryside. Source: facebook.com @Curzio Cobetti
Interestingly enough, some armored car training units were deployed on Italian coastal patrols after completing basic driving training in Piemonte.
The war diary of the VIII Battaglione Bersaglieri Blindato Autonomo (English: 8th Armored Bersaglieri Autonomous Battalion) shows that the crew training lasted from mid-August 1941 (the unit was established on 10th August) and ended in October 1941. Some of the companies of the battalion were shortly after sent to North Africa, with less than 3 months of training.
Bersaglieri crew members of an Autoblinda AB41. Despite the desert environment, Italian crew members usually wore heavy leather coats to protect themselves from shock and flammable liquids inside the vehicle. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
On 14th December 1941, the Ispettorato delle Truppe Motorizzate e Corazzate (English: Inspectorate of Motorized and Armored Troops) issued the rules for the training of the first three squadrons of Carri Armati L6/40.
Carro Armato L6/40 number 13 crossing a river during training. Due to the lack of spare 20 mm automatic cannons and small amounts of ammunition, crew members usually trained without main guns. Pinerolo countryside. Source: italie1935-45.com
Training lasted a few days and consisted of firing exercises up to 700 m. Also included were driving over varied terrain and practical and theoretical instruction for the unit personnel assigned to drive heavy trucks. Each Carro Armato L6/40 had at its disposal, during training: 42 rounds for the 20 mm main armament, 250 rounds for the coaxial 8 mm machine gun, 8 tonnes of gasoline. For the logistic truck drivers, there was 1 tonne of diesel fuel for training.
A concentration of Carri Armati L6/40 in a depot near Bologna during crew training in 1941. Source: italie1935-45.com
The Italian training on armored vehicles was very poor. Because of the lack of availability of equipment, Italian tank crews had few opportunities to train to shoot in addition to substandard mechanical training.
Medium Tank Training during World War II
Italian medium tank crew members were recruited from soldiers who had first completed their training as infantry. They were then selected by commanders from those with a minimum knowledge of engines or those who had a driver’s license. An elementary school diploma was compulsory for all participants in the tank crew course.
Carri Armati M13/40 commanders. The man on the right with his arms folded is a second lieutenant. All of them are wearing different overalls of different military origin, but are all armed with Beretta Modello 1934 pistols in leather holsters. Behind them is a Carro Armato L3/35 Lanciafiamme. All the crew members are wearing the standard cork-bodied leather-covered Modello 1932 tanker helmet with protective glasses. Source: Italian Soldiers in North Africa
In many cases, the officers and NCOs were replacements and had barely finished the officer academy, being sent to war before they had a chance to even finish their courses.
Production of the Carro Armato M13/40 (English: M13/40 Tank) started in January 1940 and the first training courses were started for 12 officers, 12 non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and 30 soldiers at the Corso Carrista (English: Tank Crew Course) in the Centro Addestramento Carristi (English: Tank Crew Training Center) of Bracciano near Rome, under the guidance of Colonel Scalabrino.
A Carro Armato M14/41 scale model produced by Ansaldo, used to train new crew members. Photo taken in March 1942. Source: fondazioneansaldo.it
The crew members first trained on a Carro Armato M11/39, 5 Carri Armati L3/35 light tanks and, surprisingly, also on the Carro Armato M13/40 prototype.
Each soldier was trained to perform multiple tasks, not just one. For example, almost all crew members were taught how to use radios, which were nonetheless almost absent in the first produced Carri Armati M13/40.
Unfortunately, there were few practical lessons. Each tank commander fired only 5 rounds with the 47 mm gun and a magazine of machine gun ammunition, while drivers and machine gunners/radio operators fired 3 47 mm rounds and a magazine with the Breda. The loaders probably followed a mechanical course to be able to maintain and repair the tank.
Unfortunately, due to the demands of war, the Carri Armati M13/40 training course was interrupted on 4th February 1940, by which time the 54 crew members had not yet fully completed their training on the new medium tanks.
Some courses also started at Ansaldo-Fossati of Genoa on 15th July 1940. The first of these lasted only 19 days, weekends included. The crew members trained on a single Carro Armato M13/40 and on the new vehicles that were tested after production on the Ansaldo testing ground. The first 15 Carri Armati M13/40 produced by Ansaldo were delivered to the Bracciano Tank Training School in mid-July 1940 to train the new crews.
However, only on 29th August did the courses restart at the Bracciano training school. The number of students greatly increased to about a battalion, but with very limited numbers of vehicles available for training: one Carro Armato M11/39, 5 Carri Armati L3/35, and 8 Carri Armati M13/40. Nothing is known about the other 7 Carri Armati M13/40 delivered a few weeks earlier.
A total of 14 crew members were trained as general mechanics and engine mechanics during a 10-day course at the Centri Addestramento Carristi (English: Tank Crew Training Centers). Of these 14 soldiers, 7 carried out the course at Ansaldo-Fossati of Genoa, while the other 7 carried out the course at Società Piemontese Automobili plant in Corso Ferrucci, in Turin.
Carri Armati M13/40 and a Carro Armato L3 light tank crews lined up near their vehicles. These belong to the 31° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of the 131ª Divisione Corazzata ‘Centauro’. This photo was taken when the unit arrived in Greece, in late 1940.
The crew members are wearing green gray uniforms under black leather jackets and Modello 1932 helmets. The two officers on the left, near the light tank’s tracks, are a Captain and a Lieutenant. Source: Archivio Storico dello Stato
On 27th October 1940, General Mario Roatta complained in the Foglio N.9,722 (English: Paper Number 9,722) about the scarcity of trained personnel at the tank crew infantry regiments. Out of 3,905 soldiers, only 1,166 were specialists.
The Italian Army High Command was convinced that, in 3 months, the tank school could adequately train a driver or a tank commander, while, in the other Axis and Allied countries, the tank training courses were longer.
Another serious problem was the lack of instructors. The few officers and NCOs that were trained to operate the medium tanks were all deployed to North Africa and, to a lesser extent, also to the Balkans. In some cases, the drivers trained with the tanks, but they did not fully know the machinery at their disposal.
The theoretical courses were full of superfluous details and failed to teach the crews important tactical considerations, such as which terrain was best for an ambush or how to overcome obstacles.
These serious learning gaps were signaled by Ansaldo and FIAT, first to Gen. Caracciolo of the Ispettorato Superiore Servizi Tecnici ed alla Direzione Generale della Motorizzazione (English: Superior Inspectorate of Technical Services) and then to General Augusto de Pignier of the Ispettorato delle Truppe Motorizzate e Corazzate (English: Motorized and Armored Troops Inspectorate). The two inspectors slightly modified the training.
With the start of 1941 and the need to form new tank units, the courses intensified. In January and February, the fourth and fifth courses took place, while on 5th February, the first course for NCOs arriving from infantry and cavalry units began. They trained on the Carro Armato M13/40, but also on Carri Armati L6/40 light reconnaissance tanks and Autoblinde AB41 medium armored cars.
On 6th April, a course for Carri Armati M13/40 officers began and, on 1st March 1941, the fourth Carri Armati M13/40 course for an entire tank battalion began. On 13th April, a course on Carri Armati M13/40 for self-propelled gun crews began, as the Carro Armato M13/40 and Semovente M40 da 75/18 shared the same chassis and similar internal layout. The Ispettorato delle Truppe Motorizzate e Corazzate also had a first advanced course for Carri Armati M13/40 tanks for tank officers lasting 25 days, which began on 1st December 1941.
The crews were trained to shoot only while the tank was stationary, so it was common during the North African Campaign for the crews to stop for a few seconds, permitting the gunner to aim and shoot while advancing against British positions or fighting against British tanks.
On 29th December 1941, the Italian High Command created the rules for the training of the battaglioni esploranti corazzati (English: armored reconnaissance battalions), which were equipped with Autoblinde AB41 armored cars and Semoventi M40 da 75/18.
On 12th March 1942, Centri di Istruzione (English: Instruction Centers) for tank crews were established in North Africa. These centers were created with the goal of facilitating the acclimatization of crews to the hot and arid North African environment.
The same 31° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista crew members in Greece in the same period and same uniforms. Source: facebook.comThe
Mixed training sessions were also organized. In 1941, one was held south of Bologna from 10th to 12th June by the IX Battaglione Carri M13/40 with 5 light tanks, 41 Carri Armati M13/40, and a Renault R35 light tank. During that training, all the Carri Armati M13/40 suffered mechanical failures, while the use of radios by the crews was judged to be good.
General Roatta, who had become Chief of Staff of the Regio Esercito on 24th March 1941, sent the results of the training to the Ispettorato Superiore Servizi Tecnici ed alla Direzione Generale della Motorizzazione on 15th June 1941, highlighting the problems of the Carri Armati M13/40.
He suggested increasing the training courses to 12 days, permitting the crews to train for 2 days in the Brughiera di Sequals near Udine, which had a similar terrain to the Marmarica region in Libya, and to carry out experiments on similar terrain with a Carro Armato M13/40 with a powerful engine and to compare the results with results of the Somua S35 and Skoda T22 tanks. In the same letter, he required a 15 day training course for units equipped with Renault and Somua tanks directly in Libya.
Tank crew members during training in Sardinia. All are wearing black leather jackets over Modello 1926 suits and Modello 1932 helmets. All the soldiers (apart from the officer on the right) are equipped with bandoliers and holsters for Beretta Modello 1934 pistols. Source: ferreamole.it
In general, the units equipped with semoventi were better trained. Light tanks were crewed by cavalrymen and medium tanks by infantrymen, while the semoventi were employed by artillery units.
These vehicles, based on the same Carro Armato M13/40 (and then Carro Armato M14/41) chassis, broke down significantly less often. This was not because of a change in weight, as semoventi weighed roughly as much as medium tanks and were equipped with the same engines. The reason seems to have been that the drivers and crew members had been previously trained to repair military heavy trucks or prime movers to tow their artillery pieces.
As can be seen, the training on Italian armored vehicles was scarce and suboptimal. Due to the limited availability of vehicles, the Italian tank crew members had few opportunities to conduct live fire training, which led to lower rates of fire and poorer precision in combat. Mechanical training was likewise scarce, increasing the time needed for repairs of the tanks and lowering availability.
Some crew members take cover from sunlight behind a Carro Armato M13/40 during a break. Source: Bundesarchiv
In order to train the soldiers to operate and repair the tanks, from the start of the war, on 10th June 1940, up to 1st July 1942, FIAT deployed a total of 120 workers and technicians. The project, completely financed by FIAT, provided FIAT workers to training schools on the Italian mainland and on the battlefront. Of these 120 workers, one died during fighting against Allied troops, another died due to other causes, and 19 were taken prisoner.
In the book Carro M, Volume I, a document from Engineer Lieutenant Picciafuoco is mentioned, which states that in the training school of Bologna, some tank commanders and officers were instructed in the use of radios.
One tank was called a stazione (English: station), multiple tanks were called a maglia (English: network), and many maglie with a command stazione were called nodo (English: knot, node).
The communications were never meant to be stated in the clear, in usual language. The voice mode on the radio was only used between the tank commander and radio operator. The radio operator repeated orders received in Morse code to the commander or repeated unclear messages.
Crews were urged to use voice mode only with short messages and, if possible, in dialect. There are 20 regions in Italy, each with different dialects that, in some cases, vary significantly even within the same region. This was a great method of disguising communications because, even if enemy troops could listen to Italian communications, it was improbable that any one enemy soldier could understand all the different Italian dialects. On the other hand, this difficulty also applied to the Italians themselves.
Each company of a battalion was usually nicknamed using an Italian city in radio messages, such as: Bologna, Ferrara, Genoa, or Turin. Each platoon was given a number along with the company’s city name: Primo (English: First), Secondo (English: Second), Terzo (English: Third), or Quarto (English: Forth). So the first platoon of the company would have been Bologna Primo. Each platoon commander was distinguished with numbers from 1 to 9, while each tank distinguished itself with two-digit numbers, the first one being the number of its platoon and the second was the number of the tank in the platoon (from 2 to 5). It could be, for example: Torino Secondo 5 or Torino 2-5 meaning that it was the 5th tank of the second platoon of the 2nd Company. In some other cases, the names of platoon commanders were used instead of the numbers primo, secondo, etc.
Italian tank commander posing for a propaganda image on top of his Carro Armato M in North Africa. Source: pinterest.com
Crew members sometimes used the voice mode to send messages on the frontline. Commonwealth tanks were called Elefanti (English: Elephants), armored cars Gazelle, and armored trucks, reconnaissance vehicles, and jeeps were called Volpi (English: Foxes). Colonels were referred to as il papà (English: the father) and generals il padrone (English: the boss).
Crews were instructed to destroy their radio equipment to avoid the enemy capturing them and using them to intercept Italian radio communications.
Post-Armistice Training
Due to the desperate situation after the Italian Armistice of 8th September 1943, the problem of trained crew members became even more serious.
After the Armistice, many military leaders, ignoring the disbanding of the Regio Esercito, remained loyal to Fascism and to Dictator Benito Mussolini.
Soldiers regrouped, in some cases in their dozens, in some other cases, even entire battalions, under their command and operated quite independently from the Italian High Command. There was also a confusing difference between training units, and different examples of well documented training courses that Italian soldiers received after the Armistice are illustrative.
In this desperate situation, Italian Defense Minister Marshal Rodolfo Graziani met Adolf Hitler on 13th October 1943 in Germany to speak about reorganization of the Italian army with divisions trained in Germany by German instructors and partially equipped with German equipment.
A Carro Armato M15/42 of the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leoncello’ during crew training. Source: pinterest.com
In other meetings between Italian and German commands, 8 infantry divisions and a single armored division were programmed to form up in Germany with Italian personnel.
At the same time, in October 1943, the German Panzer-Ausbildungs-Abteilung Süd (English: Tank Training Unit South) was created to train German soldiers to operate on Italian captured vehicles. The training unit was located in Montorio Veronese, near Verona.
In November 1943 a total of 120 Italian officers, NCOs and crew members were gathered in Montorio Veronese and went to create the 1a Compagnia Addestramento Italiana (English: 1st Italian Training Company) with German trainers.
The 120 Italian soldiers were former Italian veterans or fresh young volunteers. It was commanded by Lieutenant Alberto Santurro and was divided into 10 to 15 men squads under a German instructor’s command.
In the book Come il Diamante! I Carristi Italiani 1943-35 written by Sergio Corbatti and Marco Nava, an Italian veteran’s recounting of training is given. Each Italian volunteer was trained in practical courses of tank driving, operating radio apparatus, maintaining and lubricating guns and repairing engines and electrical systems on the tanks.
The Germans meant to train each crew member in as many tasks as possible to prepare them for any threats and be capable of substituting a wounded comrade. The theoretical courses were harder due to the language differences. In these cases some German soldiers from Sudtirol were helpful. This is the northernmost region of Italy which is still, to this day, majoritarily German in ethnicity.
Beautiful image of two Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ crew members discussing with the rest of the crew inside this Autoblinda AB41. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
Everyday life started at 6 am, with an hour a day dedicated to the vehicle’s refueling and engine starting. The Italian veteran explained that starting the Italian tracked vehicle engines by means of the electrical starter was forbidden by the German instructors due to frequent failures which necessitated consequent electrical system repairs. The crew had to start their tanks manually with cranks.
Driving and shooting lessons were made north-east of the Panzer-Ausbildungs-Abteilung Süd base, at the Montorio castle area. The fields around the castle were used to train the crews to cooperate during the fights and shoot at concrete targets located at various distances.
The Montorio Veronese castle and surrounding area nowadays. Source: verona-in.it
After months of trainings, in June 1944, the 1a Compagnia Addestramento Italiana was disbanded. The 120 Italian soldiers that had trained for over 6 months were reassigned back to the original units from which they came over or to other Italian units. With the skills they earned in the training, the majority of the soldiers were assigned to frontline and rear line units. Sadly, some were assigned to units that did not have any armored vehicles, making their training useless.
The Italian veteran reported that he (together with 3 comrades of the company) were assigned to the 29. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (italienische Nr. 1) (English: 29th SS Mechanized Division (Italian No. 1)) that was not equipped with armored vehicles. They later asked to be assigned to the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ (English: Armored Group).
The soldiers of the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ had trained in Montichiari near Brescia. A few officers and soldiers of the disbanded 1a Divisione Corazzata Legionaria ‘M’ (English: 1st Legionnaire Armored Division) had refused to obey the Armistice, recovered as many vehicles as they could in Rome (were they were previously located) and reached Montichiari on 29th September 1943.
The unit only had a few armored vehicles so, until December 1943, the soldiers did not train but departed throughout northern Italy to find armored vehicles. During this time, freshly enlisted volunteers joined the unit and awaited training. Among the crew members who joined the unit in that period were 5 officers that were part of the 132ª Divisione Corazzata ‘Ariete’ (English: 132nd Armored Division) before the Armistice. Two of them had already been decorated with medals for bravery.
A crew member of the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ poses near his Carro Armato M13/40. Source: …Come il Diamante
Between early December 1943 and February 1944, the unit trained in the hilly area near Montichiari, even if its training regimen is not detailed in the sources. In March 1944, the unit reached Turin.
In December 1944, the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’, which in the meantime had become the biggest armored unit of the Fascist Italian forces after the Armistice, established a supply and workshop unit in Milan.
The unit, known as the Distaccamento di Milano (English: Milan Detachment) was moved from Turin and received the tasks of resupplying Italian troops in the Piacenza area and sending spare parts to Turin to repair some damaged tanks. Another important task of the unit was to train the young militiamen in the training company. The training unit was located in the former barracks of a cavalry regiment, with some nearby fields for exercises.
The commander of the Distaccamento di Milano received the task of creating an armored battalion for the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ under dependencies of Milan command. The training company in Milan then received the order of training the new companies.
The training company created a workshop and a driving class in two enormous depots of the barracks. The training courses were divided into engine maintenance, driving courses, shooting courses and radio operator courses. Each recruit received driving lessons on armored cars and tanks and, at the end of the training, they received their tank driving license.
The armored car driving lessons were undertaken in the deserted streets of Milan, after curfew. This allowed the drivers to improve their skills in urban terrain.
The tank driving lessons were given in the fields near the barracks. From veteran testimonies, during the war, these fields were erroneously bombarded by the Allies. Italian training officers then created an off-road route along the bomb craters in order to train the drivers.
A Carro Armato M13/40 of the Raggruppamento Anti Partigiani (RAP) being transported on a trailer back to Turin after an anti-partisan operation in the Turin countryside. The man in the photo is a ‘Leonessa’ officer that was reassigned to the RAP to train the crew members. Source: I Mezzi Corazzati Italiani della Guerra Civile 1943-1945
The instructors were former combat-experienced Regio Esercito crew members. They had at their disposal a pair of L3 light tanks, 2 medium tanks, and a Semovente L40 da 47/32 self-propelled gun. Unfortunately, the exact number of Italian crew members that finished the tank courses in Milan is unknown.
After their training, the soldiers were not deployed to form new armored companies as planned. They were instead assigned to various Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ garrisons around northern Italy.
Conclusion
During the Second World War, the Italian armored vehicle crews received poor training that usually led, together with the vulnerability of the Italian vehicles, to the total defeat of numerous Italian units in all theaters of war.
From 10th June 1940, the day when Italy joined the war, to 2nd May 1945, the training of Italian crews lacked resources, time, vehicles, men, and instructors.
With the continuation of the war, ammunition, fuel, spare parts, and even armament were rarely delivered to training schools, which were forced to buy equipment from private individuals and use obsolete tanks instead of modern vehicles.
As repeatedly seen in the century-long history of the tank, one need not necessarily have the best vehicle on the battlefield, well-trained crews are sufficient in some cases. The Regio Esercito, unfortunately, had neither effective tanks nor trained crews.
Sources
La Meccanizzazione dell’Esercito Italiano fino al 1943 Volume I Parte I – Lucio Ceva and Andrea Curami – Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito, Ufficio Storico, 1994
La Meccanizzazione dell’Esercito Italiano fino al 1943 Volume I Parte II – Lucio Ceva and Andrea Curami – Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito, Ufficio Storico, 1994
Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano Volume II Tomo I – Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano – Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito, Ufficio Storico, 2002
Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano Volume III Tomo I – Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano – Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito, Ufficio Storico, 2002
Italian Soldiers in North Africa 1941-1943 – Piero Crociani and Pier Paolo Battistelli – Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013
Carro M – Carri Medi M11/39, M13/40, M14/41, M15/42, Semoventi ed Altri Derivati Volume Primo and Secondo – Antonio Tallillo, Andrea Tallillo and Daniele Guglielmi – Gruppo Modellistico Trentino di Studio e Ricerca Storica, 2012
Andrea Viotti Uniformi e Distintivi dell’Esercito Italiano nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale 1940-1945 Roma 1988
Andrea Viotti Uniformi e Distintivi dell’Esercito Italiano fra le Due Guerre 1918-1935 Roma 2009
Andrea Viotti e Stefano Ales Le Uniformi e i Distintivi del Corpo Truppe Volontarie in Spagna 1936-1939 Roma 2004
Ruggero Belogi Regio Esercito Italiano. Uniformi 1919-1933 Pubblicazione dell’autore 1989
Sergio Coccia e Nicola Pignato Le Uniformi Metropolitane del Regio Esercito dalla Riforma Baistrocchi all’Inizio della Seconda Guerra Mondiale 1933-1940 Roma 2005
Uniformi e Armi magazine, number 163, Parma 2009 – Roberto Manno, Rudy A. D’Angelo e Marco Ghedini article title: Segni di distinzione. Medaglie e distintivi della seconda guerra mondiale – Page 132
Nicola Pignato e Filippo Cappellano Le Armi della Fanteria Italiana (1919-1945) Parma 2008
Ministero Forze Armate Istruzione provvisoria sull’uniforme dell’Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano(1944 – XXII)
Paolo Crippa Storia dei Reparti Corazzati della Repubblica Sociale Italiana 1943-1945 Marvia 2022
Autocarro FIAT 666NM for the Regia Aeronautica. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Kingdom of Italy/Italian Social Republic/Italian Republic (1939-1948)
Heavy Duty Truck – 8,000 Built
The Autocarro FIAT 666N (English: FIAT 666N Truck) heavy duty truck was the first Italian heavy cab-over-engine truck produced by Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino or FIAT (English: Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin), from 1939 until 1948.
It was produced both in a civilian versions for the Italian and European markets and in a military versions for the Italian Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army), Italian Regia Aeronautica (English: Royal Air Force) and Italian Regia Marina (English: Royal Navy).
After the Italian Armistice of 8th September 1943, it was also deployed by the Germans and by the Repubblica Sociale Italiana (English: Italian Social Republic).
After the war ended, it remained in production for another 3 years in a civilian version that also saw a small export to other European countries.
Autocarro FIAT 666N with a trailer. Source: italie1935-45.com
History of the Project
After the Great War, in the 1920s, the Italian industry grew with the development of robust and capable petrol trucks that were substituted in the mid-1930s with diesel engines, in a similar way Germany had done in 1932.
The major truck producers in the Kingdom of Italy were FIAT Veicoli Industriali (English: FIAT Industrial Vehicles), the FIAT branch that produced trucks; Lancia Veicoli Industriali of Turin; ALFA Romeo of Milan; and Isotta Fraschini of Milan.
There were also other producers, such as Fabbrica Automobili e Velocipedi Edoardo Bianchi (English: Edoardo Bianchi Automobile and Bicycle Factory) and Officine Meccaniche or OM (Mechanical Workshops) that produced light and medium and heavy trucks.
Except for the FIAT, all the other ones had bought diesel engines from German producers such as Junkers, MAN and Mercedes-Benz. Some other Italian vehicles were simply copies of German trucks such as the ALFA Romeo 500 that was developed from a Büssing-NAG medium truck with a new Deutz diesel engine or the OM 3 BOD produced under Saurer license.
All the vehicles produced by these companies were powered by petrol or diesel engines, had different payloads and weights, and in some cases, even between trucks produced by the same company, their characteristics were not similar.
FIAT 666N wallpaper. Source: FIAT archives
In July 1937, the Italian government created a law on truck production. The law was passed for 3 main reasons:
Firstly, Italy was a rapidly growing nation with numerous companies producing dozens of different models of trucks. Standardization would lead companies to produce vehicles very similar to each other and with common parts, increasing production capacity.
Secondly, there was also the problem of embargoes placed on the Kingdom of Italy and the policy of autarky (the aspiration of Italian Fascist leaders to be economically independent from foreign countries). Unified truck standards, as part of this policy, were one part of the process, and they would help to avoid wasting resources.An example of this standardization process can be seen in the size of wheel rims. After 1935, due the embargoes placed after the invasion of Ethiopia, Italy had little rubber with which to produce tires. If all the trucks had the same rim diameters and sizes, companies that produced tires could produce one-size tires adaptable to all heavy trucks.
Thirdly, and probably the most important reason, was the unification of civilian and military truck standards, which meant that, in case of war, civilian trucks could be requisitioned for military purposes.
Autocarri Unificati Laws
Truck Types
Medium
Heavy
Maximum Weight (tonnes)
6.5
12
of which payload
3
6
Engine Type
Diesel ¹
Diesel
Maximum Speed (km/h)
60
45
Maximum Turning Radius (m)
7
7
Length (m)
2.35
2.35
Ground Clearance (cm)
20
20
Driving System
4×2
4×2
Note
¹ In some cases were accepted also patrol engines for medium trucks
With Regio Decreto (English: Royal Decree) N° 1809 of 14th July 1937, the so-called Autocarri Unificati (English: Unified Trucks) were born. For heavy trucks, the maximum weight should not exceed 12,000 kg, of which at least 6,000 kg had to be of payload, with a diesel engine with a minimum road speed of 45 km/h. The ALFA Romeo 800 and FIAT 666N were the first heavy trucks designed under the Regio Decreto N° 1809 rules.
The peculiar ALFA Romeo 800 RE, another heavy truck developed under Autocarri Unificati laws. Source: italie1935-45.com
Many Italian truckers were reluctant in purchasing the Autocarri Unificati, this was because in case of war these trucks would be requisitioned first. Despite their better features, Italian truckers preferred to continue buying older or less efficient vehicles that theoretically would not be requisitioned in case of war.
History of the Prototype
FIAT Veicoli Industriali started the development of a new heavy truck and of a new medium truck after the adoption of the decree on autocarri unificati.
FIAT’s plan was to substitute their earlier FIAT 632N, FIAT 633N, FIAT 634N, and FIAT 635N diesel heavy trucks.
FIAT 634N2 showing off its elegant style. Source: FIAT archives
The new heavy truck would become the FIAT 666N (‘N’ for Nafta – Diesel), while the medium one would become the FIAT 626N. Both the projects were cab-over-engine layout (the first for the FIAT) and followed the Regio Decreto N° 1809’s rules.
The FIAT 666N project was ready in late 1938 and the first prototype was produced between 1938 and early 1939.
This new truck was presented to the Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini and accompanying press on 15th May 1939. This was also the occasion of the opening of a new FIAT factory in Turin, the modern FIAT Mirafiori.
It was in this new plant where these new trucks would be produced. This factory building covered 300,000 m2 on an area of over one million m2, with a total of 22,000 workers on 2 shifts. All 50,000 FIAT workers of Turin were present for Mirafiori’s inauguration.
Despite a serious propaganda incident (Mussolini did not receive the reception he expected at Mirafiori), the Italian dictator visited the factory in which some military officers presented him the FIAT 626N, the FIAT 666N, and the Autoblinda AB40 prototypes.
Autocarro FIAT 666N prototype at the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione. Source: italie1935-45.com
The military version, the FIAT 666NM (‘NM’ for Nafta Militare – Diesel; Military), was presented to the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione (English: Vehicle Study and Experience Center), the Italian department which examined new vehicles in Rome, for evaluation on 19th September 1940.
It differed from the civilian version through the addition of acetylene headlights, a bulb horn, support for rifles on the cab’s roof, manually operated turn signals on the sides of the windscreen, and only the rear side of the cargo bay was openable.
It was accepted into service and the first Regio Esercito order for the new unified heavy truck was made on 10th January 1941.
An Autocarro FIAT 666N. The differences of the cabs can be seen. Source: italie1935-45.com
Production
FIAT 666N Ordered or Produced
Year
Regio Esercito
Regia Aeronautica
Wehrmacht
1941
2,500 ordered 1
796 ordered 2
//
1942
1,000 ordered 1
//
//
1943
700 ordered 1
//
//
1944 – 1945
//
//
78 brand new trucks produced for the Germans
Total Production until 1948
~ 8,000 3
Notes
1 No data about the delivery, so it is impossible to know how many were produced, the presence of new orders in 1942 and then in 1943 suggests that the previous orders had been completed. 2 Probably all delivered 3 Including civilian versions
In total, between late 1939 to 1948 a total of about 8,000 Autocarri FIAT 666N in all variants were produced by FIAT Mirafiori plant in Turin.
An unknown number of vehicles were sold around Europe after the war. Some FIAT brochures in French suggest the FIAT 666N were sold in the French market, while posters suggested the sale of FIAT 666N’s bus version in the United Kingdom. Many Autocarri FIAT 666N were also sold in Spain, probably in all civilian variants. The relatively small number produced would suggest that only a few hundreds were exported.
Design
Chassis
The chassis was composed of 2 stringers connected by side cross members. In the front, the bumper connected to the stringers, the engine and radiator were in the center, between the driver and passenger’s seats. The compressed air tank for the brakes and the battery box were fixed on the left side of the chassis, while the fuel tank and the muffler were placed on the right side.
Autocarro FIAT 666N chassis. On the left, the air tank and the batteries box are visible. On the right is the fuel tank. Source: Archivio FIAT
Engine and Suspension
Propulsion was provided by a FIAT Tipo 366 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine. It had overhead valves, with a displacement of 9,365 cm³ and FIAT-produced injectors. The maximum output power was 110 hp at 2,000 rpm on the civilian FIAT 666N, the FIAT 666NM for the Regia Aeronautica, and on the FIAT 665NM. The maximum output power on the Regio Esercito’s FIAT 666NM was limited to delivering 95 hp (70.84 Kw) at 1,700 rpm. The Ricardo type direct-injection chamber created lots of problems in the cold Russian steppes, which forced the crews to mix the diesel fuel with gasoline in order to allow the engine to start. In some cases, crews had to light fires near the vehicle’s cabs to heat the engine before igniting it.
FIAT Tipo 366 with cartridge filters (top right). Source: Archivio FIAT
The maximum speed on-road was 48.3 km/h (30 mph) for the power-limited FIAT 666NM, 56.8 km/h for the FIAT 666N and FIAT 666NM and 57 km/h for the FIAT 665 NM.
The fuel was kept in a 135 liter tank (255 liters for the FIAT 665NM) located on the right side of the chassis, which offered a 750 km on-road range (465 km for the FIAT 666N). A FIAT 6-75-2510 diaphragm pump then pumped the fuel into a 5.5-liter tank located behind the cab’s dashboard. This ensured trouble-free feeding thanks to a gravity injection pump. In case of breaking of the main fuel pump or of the main tank itself. This system ensured, in case of pump failure or puncture of the main tank, a limited range until reaching a workshop that could repair the damage.
FIAT Tipo 366 with oil bath filters (top right). Source: Archivio FIAT
The water-cooling tank had a capacity of 50 liters. Air was drawn through 2 filters mounted at the back of the engine. Up until engine number 000530, they used cartridge filters, after which they were replaced with oil bath filters. As on the FIAT 626 medium truck, the engine could be extracted through the cab’s front after the removal of the grille thanks to rollers mounted on the 2 supports of the engine, rolling on guides fixed to the frame.
The lubricant oil for the engine was 20 liters (about 16 kg), 1.5 liters (1.2 kg) for the oil bath filters, and about 30 liters of oil (21 kg) in the gearbox and transmission. The brake fluid was 3 liters (2.9 kg).
Brakes and Electric Systems
The single dry plate clutch was connected to the gearbox via a drive shaft. This could be removed independently of the gearbox and engine simply by removing the rear casing. This meant that maintenance and disassembly were easier.
The transmission, thanks to the reducer, had eight forward gears and two reverse gears.
The drum brakes were hydraulic and had a pedal-operated air-brake booster.
The compressed air tank, with a capacity of 55 liters, was located on the left of the frame. It had a pressure of 5.5 bar (550 kPa). On the NM version, the rear axle was equipped with a differential.
The battery box of the FIAT 666NM. Also visible are the air tank on the left and the fuel tank on the other side. Source: Archivio FIAT
There was a 12 Volt electrical circuit used to power the headlights and dashboard, and a FIAT 10 hp/24 Volt circuit for starting the engine. The batteries were 2 Magneti Marelli 6MF21 12V housed in a box on the left side of the chassis, behind the air tank.
Structure and Bodywork
The cargo bay measured 4.75 m long by 2.20 m wide. The height of the cargo bay was 600 mm on the civilian version and 650 mm on the military version for a total cargo volume of 6.27 m3 and 6.79 m3 respectively. It was homologated to carry up to 6 tonnes of cargo, but could carry, without much difficulty, a 6.84 tonnes Carro Armato L6/40 light reconnaissance tank.
The cab had the steering wheel and the driver on the right, while the vehicle’s commander was placed on the left. The cab’s doors opened backwards. FIAT was one of the only Italian truck companies that produced bodywork for its vehicles instead of having them coach-built. This allowed FIAT to increase the speed of its production as well as reducing the overall cost of the truck.
Despite this, some FIAT 666N were provided with custom coach-built bodies by various private companies upon special request from the customer.
Autocarro FIAT 666N with a coach-built custom body by Officine Viberti of Turin with metal sheet cargo bay. Source: Archivio Pasquale CaccavaleAutocarro FIAT 666N of the Dezzani wine company of Ivrea, Italy. The cab had its characteristic square cab-sign with white triangle painted inside. Source: facebook.com @Dazzani Vini
Due to the slow production rates, some early FIAT 666NMs were equipped with civilian FIAT 666N cabs. These differed from the military ones for the presence of a road sign on the cab’s roof. The black square with a yellow or white triangle painted inside meant the truck could tow a trailer and warned drivers in its vicinity to be careful. If the rectangle was upright, the truck was towing a trailer. If it was horizontal, the trailer was not present. The triangle was only required by law on civilian vehicles. Another detail not present in the military cabs were the electric arrow keys that were manual on the military version.
Autocarro FIAT 666NM with civilian cab and military cargo bay. Source: italie1935-45.comAutocarro FIAT 666NM for the Regia Aeronautica. Source: italie1935-45.com
In spite of its respectable dimensions and its large load capacity, the FIAT 666 heavy-duty truck chassis weighed only 1 tonne.
The bodywork and cargo bay increased the weight by 5 tonnes for a total weight of 6 tonnes in the FIAT 666NM variant.
The FIAT 666N, FIAT 666NM Regia Aeronautica, and FIAT 665NM could travel at a maximum empty speed of 56 km/h, while the FIAT 666NM Regio Esercito had a maximum speed of 48 km/h. Fully loaded, it could climb a 20º or 28° slope while empty or fully-laden, respectively.
Thanks to its short wheelbase and cab layout, it was comfortable traveling on mountain roads. The FIAT 666NM had a wheel rim size of 20 x 8” (50.8 x 20.32 cm). Like the other vehicles, it could use a wide variety of tires developed and produced by the Pirelli company in Milan.
It was considered a short range heavy duty truck. In fact, the companies that coach-built bodywork on the chassis never used long cabs with berths inside (apart from some of Officine Viberti’s private work). The only FIAT vehicle with berths was the FIAT 634N, the first truck in Europe with the possibility to be equipped with 2 or 3 berths. As an example, the second company to provide a berth in the cabin was Renault with its 3-axle Renault AFKD, with a load capacity of 10 tonnes, which entered service only in 1936. The third was Lancia with the Lancia 3Ro in 1938 that could have 1 or 2 berths.
Special Variants
The Autocarro FIAT 666NM was produced in a wide range of special bodyworks for the Regio Esercito.
Autocarro FIAT 665NM
One of the most notable versions of the FIAT 666N was the 4-wheel drive Autocarro FIAT 665NM that had the majority of parts in common with the FIAT 666NM truck.They were deployed as heavy duty cargo trucks with larger tires and 4-wheel drive that could reach any unit for resupply even in muddy roads and on rough terrains even with an empty weight of 7.2 tonnes.
Autocarro FIAT 665NM four-wheel drive heavy duty truck. Source: Archivio FIAT
Thanks to its excellent off-road mobility, it was introduced in 1942 as a cargo truck and about 100 were eventually converted into APCs by applying armored plates to them. The FIAT 665NM Protetto was a standard 4×4 heavy truck on which armored plates with a thickness between 4.5 mm to 7.5 mm were added on the existing cargo truck bodywork. Another vehicle called FIAT 665NM Blindato con Riparo Ruote was designed but never produced. It had a new armored superstructure that would transform the vehicle into a well designed armored personnel carrier.
The FIAT 665NM Protetto (top) and FIAT 665NM Protetto con Riparo Ruote (bottom). Sources: tumblr.com and Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
Autocisterna and Autobotti
The Officine Viberti (English: Viberti’s Workshops), one of the coach-building companies specialized in custom-built bodywork for trucks, produced a FIAT 666N fuel carrier variant for the Italian Regia Aeronautica, the Autocisterna FIAT 666N Modello Regia Aeronautica 4 (English: Fuel Carrier [on] FIAT 666N Model [for the] Royal Air Force [type/version/model] 4). This vehicle was equipped with a 7,710 liter fuel tank and could tow a 10,995 liter tank on trailer for a total of 18,705 liters of fuel transported to refuel planes. There were 2 Società Anonima Industriale di Verona or SAIV (English: Industrial Anonymous Company of Verona) pumps delivering 100 liters of fuel per minute.
Autocisterna FIAT 666N with Viberti-SAIV fuel tank and trailer for the Regia Aeronautica. Source: Officine Viberti
From photographic evidence, it seems that standard Regio Esercito fuel carriers with a capacity of 5,000 liters were not produced on the FIAT 666NM chassis. After the war, some civilian FIAT 666N were equipped with fuel or water tanks (in Italian nomenclature, a water carrier is ‘Autobotte’). The majority were Viberti-SAIV tanks, but some were equipped with other companies’ special bodyworks.
Autofficine
For the Regio Esercito’s needs, some FIAT 666NM were equipped with special bodywork, such as Officine Volanti (English: Flying Workshops). These mobile workshops were composed of 4 Autocarri FIAT 666NM 2 in van configuration that transported machinery tools while other 2 standard cargo trucks transported the spare parts.
It seems that the only unit produced, under the control of FIAT mechanics, was sent to the Soviet Union as a FIAT private project to support Italian soldiers on the frontline. It was deployed in Stalino (today known as Donetsk, Ukraine) in the abandoned Putilov Plant and supported the Autofficine Pesanti Modello 1938 (English: Heavy Mobile Workshops Model 1938) of some Italian infantry divisions.
Some Autocarri FIAT 666N in mobile workshop versions were also deployed by the Regia Aeronautica and Regio Esercito in Officina Mobile Modello 1938 configuration. The mobile workshop was composed of 2 trucks, one for spare parts and another one for machinery tools. The exact number of workshop bodied FIAT 666N is unknown, even if it could be supposed that only a small number were converted due the absence of photographic evidence.
The Officina Volante that will be sent to the Soviet Union. In the picture it was probably fully opened at the FIAT Mirafiori for the journalist of the Sapere magazine who wrote an article on this mobile workshop. Source Sapere
Other Variants
In 1942, the Società Anonima Bergomi of Milan proposed a special tow truck version of the Autocarro FIAT 666N with a winch on the rear to tow even other heavy trucks. The Regio Esercito was not interested in the project because the unit usually towed broken down trucks with other trucks.
A special version which remained a prototype was the Autocarro FIAT 666NM Radio, equipped with an A310 radio apparatus, and developed by Officine Viberti. This powerful radio apparatus had a range, with special radio antennas, of 200 to 300 km. To avoid air recognition, the soft-skinned cargo bay could be covered by a second tarpaulin to make it seem like a standard cargo truck. Due to unspecified uninspired performances during trials, the project was abandoned.
Autocarro FIAT 666NM Stazione Radio. Source Officine Viberti
Due to problems encountered with the injection of the engine at low temperatures, FIAT proposed a patrol version of the FIAT 666NM, the Autocarro FIAT 666BM (BM for Benzina Militare – Patrol Military). It was approved only in June 1943, when the Soviet front was lost and the petrol version of the truck was no longer a necessity. It was never adopted due the Armistice of 8th September later that year that canceled production.
The vehicle was also produced in some bus variants even after the war.
After the war, a new variant of the vehicle was produced, the Autocarro FIAT 666N7, with a major modification, direct injection engine. The vehicle was produced until 1948, when it was substituted on the production lines by the Autocarro FIAT 680N.
Autocarri FIAT 666N7 of the Polizia di Stato in 1950. Source: italie1935-45.com
Trailers
The Autocarri FIAT 666N and 666NM had a towing capacity permitted by law of 12 tonnes (cargo + trailer) for a total weight of the fully loaded truck and fully loaded trailer of 24 tonnes. During the war, the FIAT 666NM was found capable of loading on the cargo bay a battle ready Carro Armato L6/40 light truck without problems.
It was a similar story in terms of towing. With special towing tank trailers, it could tow Carri Armati M13/40, M14/41, and M15/42 and the semoventi on their chassis that ranged between 13 to 16 tonnes without over-stressing the engine.
FIAT 666N with a medium trailer with the Giovanni Ambrozich transport group. Source: pinterest.com
Brief Operational Service
The first Autocarri FIAT 666N were ready in early 1940, but the majority of them were requisitioned by the Regio Esercito for military needs and immediately redeployed to frontline units. Some civilian trucks were seen during the Italian invasion of France. In fact, in June 1940, the FIAT 666NM was not yet in production, so civilian trucks were needed.
An Autocarro FIAT 666N destroyed by French artillery during the Italian invasion of France in June 1940. It is clearly visible that it was a civilian truck requisition by the Regio Esercito as identified by the absence of the acetylene headlight, the rectangle sign over the cab, and the electric arrow keys (small rectangle behind the cab door). Source: italie1935-45.com
Each Italian division had some heavy-duty trucks to tow the artillery pieces or the tanks of the division. The exact number of heavy-duty trucks changed for each division type. An armored division had a theoretical number of 246 heavy-duty trucks, which was increased to 258 in June 1942. In 1942, an Italian motorized division had in service a theoretical number of 861 trucks (light, medium, and heavy), prime movers, and staff cars. The 101ª Divisione Motorizzata ‘Trieste’ (English: 101st Motorized Division) had 61 heavy duty trucks of all variants during the same year. An infantry division in North Africa had a theoretical organic strength of 127 heavy trucks, 28 SPA Dovunque medium trucks, and 72 FIAT-SPA TL37 light prime movers.
An Autocarro FIAT 666N requisitioned by the Regio Esercito in Oligopol, Romania, in Summer 1941. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
Many Autocarri FIAT 666NM were assigned to Italian infantry and mechanized divisions of the Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia (English: Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia) that was then renamed ARMata Italiana in Russia or ARMIR (English: Italian Army in Russia).
An Autocarro FIAT 666NM being loaded with a Carro Armato L6/40 at the Pinerolo training school. Source: Cavalleria Italiana
During the Great Soviet Offensive on the Don, many Italian trucks were captured by the Soviets that redeployed only some sturdy Axis vehicles that did not have problems in ignition at low temperatures. From Italian veterans reports, it is known that the Soviet preferred to destroy the Autocarri FIAT 666N when they ambushed the Axis troops on retreat because the low-temperature ignition problems meant that it was considered problematic by the Soviets.
An Autocarro FIAT 666NM advancing on the Via Balbia in North Africa followed by German Krupp Protzes and trucks. An Italian flag was attached on the left side of the cab and a giant Italian flag was painted on the roof for aerial recognition. Source: Collezione Yves Casagrande
In North Africa, the FIAT 666N was deployed in all logistic roles, from artillery tractor to tank transporter. The British managed to capture some vehicles, but it seems that their judgment was not positive and only a few were reused. Their objections were probably down to the cartridge filters that failed with the desert dust. The problem was solved shortly after by adopting bath oil filters for the engine.
A FIAT 666 and a FIAT 500A ‘Topolino’ captured and reused by the Australian pilots of the British Royal Air Force. Source: facebook.com @Dario Caraglio
In 1942, the Italian Regia Marina (English: Royal Navy) developed its own Autoprotetto FIAT 666NM per la Regia Marina (English: Armored FIAT 666NM for the Royal Navy). Its main task was to patrol Italian military harbors and docks and to patrol coastal areas to prevent Allied paratrooper landings. A single prototype was built, but the project was abandoned due to the minimal protection to the soldiers transported on board.
Autoprotetto FIAT 666NM per la Regia Marina’s armor layout. The only drawing of the vehicle which survives until this day. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito ItalianoA FIAT 666NM followed by a FIAT 634N fuel carrier in North Africa. Source: pinterest.com
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943, the German forces captured dozens of Autocarri FIAT 666NM and redeployed them on any front of the war, together with 79 brand new vehicles produced under German control.
Some were also deployed by the new Italian puppet state, the Repubblica Sociale Italiana or RSI. The RSI forces were equipped with a few dozen FIAT 666NM. Among them was the 630ª Compagnia Ordine Pubblico (English: 630th Public Order Company) of Piacenza, that, due the absence of armored vehicles, modified a civilian Autocarro FIAT 666N with armored plates and an heavy machine gun, creating the FIAT 666N Blindato.
The Germans, on other hand, deployed some FIAT 666NM as self-propelled anti-aircraft guns loading 2 cm Flakvierling 38 quadmount anti-aircraft automatic cannons on the cargo bays of a few FIAT 666NM.
A 2 cm Flakvierling 38 quadmount anti-aircraft automatic cannon on a FIAT 666NM deployed by German forces. Source: e-shopA German soldier poses with a FIAT 666N of the Wehrmacht after the Armistice of 8th September. The vehicle has a German number plate. Source: e-shop
In Italy, after the war, the Azienda Recupero Alienazione Residuati or ARAR (English: Company of Recovery and Alienation Survey) society was entrusted by the Italian Government of National Unity with the task of reconditioning and selling military vehicles confiscated from the enemy or abandoned by the Allied armies on Italian territory after the Second World War. Private owners, companies, the Italian Army, and the Italian police had the possibility of buying hundreds of those vehicles after 1945. Many other vehicles were also acquired, such as US GMC 353 and Dodge T-110 trucks, German Opel Blitz, British CMPs, and the ubiquitous FIAT and Lancia trucks.
After the war, FIAT also proposed a new versions, the FIAT 666N7 direct ignition cargo truck and with Viberti-SAIV presented new fuel carriers for the civilian market.
A FIAT 666N7 with Officine Viberti’s cab with Viberti-SAIV fuel tank and 14 tonne payload trailer after the war. It was deployed to refuel the Casale Monferrato area, in Piedmont by Bertola Vincenzo Autotrasporti company. Source: e-shop
Conclusion
The Autocarro FIAT 666N and its military version, the FIAT 666NM, were both reliable vehicles and innovative in Italy for their cab-over-engine configuration.
Even if their service in cold winter temperatures was judged to be poor due to ignition issues, the overall service could be considered positive, with some trucks sold in France, the United Kingdom, and Spain after the war. It was one of the three most widely produced and deployed Italian heavy trucks during Second World War, along with the Lancia 3Ro and FIAT 634N.
Autocarro FIAT 666NM for the Regia Aeronautica. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Autocisterna FIAT 666N with Viberti-SAIV fuel tank. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Autocarro FIAT 666NM loaded with a Carro Armato L6/40. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Autocarro FIAT 666NM Specification
Size (L-W-H)
7.095 x 2.250 x 2.850 m
Empty weight
6,000 kg
Payload capacity
6,000 kg
Crew
2 (driver and commander)
Engine
FIAT Tipo 366, 9,365 cm3 6-cylinder diesel, 95 hp at 1,700 rpm
Speed on road
48,3 km/h
Range
465 km on-road, 350 km off-road
Production
about 8,000 trucks in all the variants
Sources
Gli Autoveicoli Tattici e Logistici del Regio Esercito Italiano fino al 1943, Tomo 1 – Nicola Pignato e Filippo Cappellano – Ufficio Storico Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito – 2005
Italie1935-45.com
Gli Autoveicoli Tattici e Logistici del Regio Esercito Italiano fino al 1943, Tomo 2 – Nicola Pignato e Filippo Cappellano – Ufficio Storico Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito – 2005
Ruote in Divisa, I veicoli Militari Italiani 1900-1987 – Brizio Pignacca – Giorgio Nada Editore, 1989
Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II – Ralph A. Riccio – Mattioli 1885 – 2010
Semicingolati, Motoveicoli e Veicoli Speciali del Regio Esercito Italiano 1919-1943 – Giulio Benussi – Intergest Publishing – 1976
Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 number 9 with license plate Regio Esercito 36749. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Kingdom of Italy/Italian Social Republic (1943-1945)
Reconnaissance Car – 11 Converted From Pre-Existing Vehicles
The Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 (English: Desert Reconnaissance Car Model 1943) was an Italian Regio Esercito desert reconnaissance car that was created in early 1943 by modifying existing FIAT-SPA Autocarri Sahariani Modello 1937 or A.S.37 (English: FIAT-SPA Saharan Trucks Model 1937) light lorries.
Despite their name and original chassis, these camionette (singular camionetta) were never deployed in North Africa. The vehicles were assigned to the Battaglione d’Assalto Motorizzato (English: Assault Motorized Battalion) that used the camionette in public order duties on the Italian mainland for a short period of time. It was only during the desperate defense of Rome, between 9th and 10th September 1943, that the Camionette Desertiche Modello 1943 got actively deployed by the Italian troops.
A Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 at the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione in Rome. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
Previous Camionette
The Regio Esercito started the North African Campaign on 9th September 1940, fighting against the British and Commonwealth troops based in Egypt. After a few months, in January 1941, the Italian Xª Armata (English: 10th Army) was forced to retreat to Libya and take defensive positions, awaiting German help.
In that period, the Regio Esercito‘s High Command started to request the development of various new kinds of vehicles based on the experience gained in the first months of desert warfare. One of the most famous vehicles designed in that period was the FIAT-SPA S.37 Autoprotetto (English: Armored [Wheeled Vehicle] FIAT-SPA S.37) armored personnel carrier, based on the FIAT-SPA Trattore Leggero Modello 1937 ‘Libia’ (English: FIAT-SPA Light Tractor Model 1937), or more simply, the FIAT-SPA T.L.37 ‘Libia’ light prime mover.
A FIAT-SPA S.37 Autoprotetto ready to be delivered. Source: italie1935-45.com
At the same time, due to the absence of many types of special purpose vehicles, the Italian soldiers on the frontline tried to fill the gaps in their organic strength with improvised vehicles of two kinds: support and reconnaissance vehicles, based on both Italian built and captured trucks.
The support trucks were called autocannoni (English: truck-mounted artillery). Basically, these were just standard trucks without cab roofs and windshields with support, anti-aircraft, or anti-tank guns mounted permanently on their cargo bays.
The reconnaissance trucks were built on light lorries and were called camionette desertiche (English: desert reconnaissance cars). In Italian, the term camionetta (camionette plural) is used to designate any kind of unarmored light reconnaissance vehicle of the army or unarmored police vehicles.
An Autocannone da 65/17 su Morris CS8 and a camionetta on CMP chassis armed with a 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT heavy machine gun. Source: Diario Storico Artiglierie Volanti
One of the support truck models was the Autocannone da 75/27 su FIAT-SPA T.L.37. It was armed with a Cannone da 75/27 Modello 1911 field gun mounted on the modified rear side of a prime mover.
An Autocannone da 75/27 su FIAT-SPA T.L.37 abandoned by Italian soldiers. Source: reddit.com u/vitoskito
The first camionette were based, in the first stages of the war, on the FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 (English: FIAT-SPA Saharan Truck Model 1937), or more simply FIAT-SPA A.S.37, a light desert truck developed on the T.L.37 chassis.
These vehicles had the advantages of being powered by a strong petrol engine and, thanks to their large tires, had great off-road mobility. The armament usually consisted of a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 anti-aircraft gun, which was also effective against light armored vehicles, or machine guns mounted on pedestal supports.
A column of FIAT-SPA A.S.37 deployed by the Raggruppamento Sahariano ‘Maletti’. Source: wikipedia.com
In the first years of war in North Africa, the Italian troops in the southern Libyan Sahara, who were not involved directly in the campaign, were deployed to defend isolated garrisons from the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) patrols. The first mechanized columns, later renamed compagnie sahariane (English: saharan companies) were equipped with standard cargo trucks (mainly FIAT 634N heavy trucks, FIAT-SPA A.S.37 desert lorries, and even some captured British LRDG trucks) loaded with Italian and colonial soldiers and with some 20 mm automatic guns and medium or heavy machine guns on the cargo bays.
These cheap, easy to modify all-terrain vehicles proved themselves to be really effective against the British saboteurs and reconnaissance units. They were also effective against convoys or small armored units. In particular, the camionette on FIAT-SPA A.S.37 chassis were judged better for their off-road capabilities and speed compared to the bigger FIAT 634N, which had greater loading capacity but was slower and had difficulties crossing loose sand areas.
The success of these vehicles persuaded the Comando Militare del Sahara Libico (English: Libyan Sahara Military Command), the branch of the Regio Esercito’s High Command in North Africa, to ask for upgraded vehicles with similar characteristics modified in workshops to better adapt to the Italian necessities.
An unmodified FIAT-SPA A.S.37 or Autocannone da 20/65 su FIAT-SPA A.S.37 abandoned with other vehicles somewhere in the western desert. As visible, the 20 mm automatic gun was simply placed in the cargo bay to increase the support fire of Italian troops, but the vehicle had not received modifications. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
In mid-1942, the Comando Militare del Sahara Libico ordered the modification of the FIAT-SPA A.S.37 light desert lorries into camionette. The modifications were made by a specialized military workshop in the Hon Oasis, the headquarter of that branch of the Regio Esercito.
One of the biggest problems encountered with the FIAT-SPA A.S.37 was its height, which, in flat landscapes like the desert, made it easily spottable by enemy forces. The FIAT-SPA A.S.37 was 2.65 m high due to the cab and waterproof tarpaulin.
Another FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 deployed by Italian colonial troops of a compagnia sahariana. Source: zen.yandex.ru
The Hon workshop then cut the cab, removing the roof, rear wall, and windshield, and lowered the chassis by a few centimeters. The equipment of the vehicle was increased, adding 20 liter can supports and ammunition boxes to increase the range and firepower of the camionetta.
A Camionetta A.S.37 returning to a Italian base after a mission together with a Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’ (behind). All the modifications to the FIAT-SPA A.S.37 chassis and the main gun are visible. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
A universal support was mounted in the modified cargo bay’s center, which could be equipped with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 or a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935. The armament was completed with a 8 mm Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 (English: Breda Medium Machine Gun Model 1937) manned by the vehicle’s commander.
Probably no more than 2 FIAT-SPA A.S.37s were modified into camionette, tested and then delivered to the compagnie sahariane.
Camionetta A.S.37 armed with a 47 mm gun with the Raggruppamento Sahariano ‘Mannarini’. In the background, a Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’. The A.S.37 is equipped with Pirelli Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’ low pressure desert tires. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
These vehicles gave great results in the last stages of the Italian defense of the Libyan desert and in the early stages of the Tunisinian campaign. As a result, the Comando Militare del Sahara Libico sent a favorable report to the Regio Esercito’s High Command in Rome. During that period, the Stato Maggiore del Regio Esercito (English: General Staff of the Royal Army) had ordered the production of long-range desert camionette inspired by the British LRDG patrol cars. The Regio Esercito’s plan was to create an Italian special force with similar characteristics and tasks as the British one. The Long Range Desert Group would be countered and emulated by the X Reggimento Arditi (English: 10th Arditi Regiment), while Arditi Distruttori della Regia Aeronautica (English: Arditi Destroyers of the Royal Air Force) did likewise with the Special Air Service (SAS).
In the foreground, a Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’ armed with a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 and a machine gun. In the background, another camionetta armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935. Source: comandosupremo.com
The Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’, based on the Autoblinda AB41 chassis, was developed for the X Reggimento Arditi. A few were delivered before the end of the North African campaign and gave excellent results. Another patrol car was the Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS43 which was not produced in time to participate in the North African campaign.
A Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43. Source: Collezione Museo Storico della Guerra via Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The Italian designers modified the project shortly after the presentation of the desert version prototype, removing some 20 liter can supports and adding lockers for ammunition. The new vehicle, renamed Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43, was deployed only in Europe in small numbers by the Regio Esercito until September 1943 and then by the German and Italian fascist troops until the end of the war. The SPA-Viberti AS43 was a cheaper option compared to the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Metropolitana’, the non-desert version of the Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’.
The FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937
The Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 was developed from the FIAT-SPA Trattore Leggero Modello 1937 or FIAT-SPA T.L.37 (English: FIAT-SPA Light Tractor Model 1937) light prime mover. The two vehicles were developed by Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino or FIAT (English: Italian Automobile factory of Turin) and produced by its subsidiary, the Società Piemontese Automobili or SPA (English: Piedimontese Automobile Society), at its plant in Corso Peschiera 249 in Turin. For this reason, they were known as FIAT-SPA even if only the Società Piemontese Automobili logo sat over the radiator grille. Due to the presence of the logo, in many foreign sources, these trucks are known simply as “SPA A.S.37”.
The FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 without waterproof tarpaulin. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 was especially developed by FIAT for desert service with large tires, long-range capabilities, and a powerful petrol engine. It was developed after a special request by the Governatore della Libia (English: Libya’s Governor), Italo Balbo, who wanted a long-range desert truck for its compagnie sahariane before the war. In 1938, a total of 200 FIAT-SPA A.S.37 were delivered to Libya. In March 1942, 584 FIAT-SPA A.S.37 were in service, and by April 1943, a total of 802 were in service in North Africa.
A total of 190 liters of petrol were transported in the fuel tanks, giving a range of 450 km for the first variants. The fuel tanks were increased to 210 liters and then to 380 liters in the last upgraded versions, for a maximum range of 500 km and then 900 km. Another 4 50-liter tanks for drinkable and engine water were transported, together with 6 ghirbe, used by the Italians before the 20-liter cans were adopted in 1941. The ghirbe were transported on the outer side of the cargo bay and were used only for drinking water. This great amount of water permitted the crew to survive in the desert for many days if the vehicle had a mechanical failure in the middle of the desert.
Rear side of a FIAT-SPA A.S.37. The 4 50-liter tanks are visible behind the cab, to the left of the spare wheel. They are in two rows of three and one tanks. Source: Viberti Archives
The engine compartment and hood were inherited from the FIAT-SPA T.L.37, with two headlights on the sides, radiator cap on the front, and fuel cap near the windshield. On the front was a bumper and two bars to protect the radiator grille. The engine’s ignition crank was fixed on the bars.
The cab was fully made of iron sheets and the doors opened backwards. The side windows were lowerable and the windshield could be opened to better cool the driving compartment. The cab had three seats: one on the right for the driver and a bigger seat for the vehicle’s commander and another soldier. The seats were leather-lined until 1942, when production was changed to faux leather to save on raw materials and on the total cost of the vehicle.
Drawing of the FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937, in which the 6 externally mounted ghirbe can be seen. Source: FIAT Archives
Behind the cab was the spare wheel support, mounted on the right, and the 4 50-liter cube-shaped drinking water tanks were stored on the left. On the first series of A.S.37, there were two ladders with two steps on each side of the vehicle, behind the cab. Beginning on the first A.S.37 upgrade 7, the left one was removed to add the 50-liter tank support. The ladders could have been used for repairs, tarpaulin mounting, and for observation in the desert. To remove the spare wheel from its support, the right ladder had to be removed.
On the rear, there was a cargo bay with a payload capacity of 800 kg or enough space for 8 fully equipped soldiers, usually crewmembers when the vehicle was used as an artillery tractor. On the frontal side of the cargo bay, two racks were transported for a total of eight Moschetto Carcano Modello 1891 per Truppe Speciali (English: Carcano Model 1891 for Special Troops Rifle) for the artillery crews.
The FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937. This image shows the cargo bay and the foldable seats. Source: Ruote in Divisa
The cargo bay was made of wooden planks bolted on an iron structure. It had fixed sides with only a section of the rear side openable, with a foldable step to ease the loading and unloading operations. The benches on which the soldiers sat were divided in 2 parts: the lower part could be folded upwards to save space for equipment, while the backrest could be folded backwards to lower the cargo bay’s height or to ease the loading and unloading operations.
Three supports for a tarpaulin could be mounted on the cargo bay’s side to mount a waterproof tarpaulin on the cargo bay and the space between it and the cab. The tarpaulin was, in some variants of the vehicle, extended to the roof of the cab to store more equipment and then, in the 900 km range version, to protect the rooftop mounted fuel tank.
A FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 overcoming an obstacle at Officine Viberti’s proving ground. It had full tarpaulin supports and was equipped with fuel tanks on the roof for a total range of 900 km. Source: Archivio Storico FIAT
The truck was also used for specific and special variants, such as a radio station with two radio antennas openable on two different sides and an observation post with an elevating ladder on the cargo bay.
The FIAT-SPA A.S.37 radio station version with radio antennas fully extended. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
Design
Due to the delays in the delivery of the Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 in early 1943, the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione modified some FIAT-SPA A.S.37 into camionette, which were delivered to the Battaglione d’Assalto Motorizzato (English: Assault Motorized Battalion).
The question of its name is up for debate. The majority of sources call it Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943, except for the book Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano written by Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano, which calls it Camionetta AS43 Modificata (English: Modified AS43 Reconnaissance Car). This article will use the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 designation, as it is the most commonly used name.
Chassis and Bodywork
The chassis was composed of two members with ovoid holes in order to lighten the total weight, connected by cross members made of stamped sheet metal.
The original FIAT-SPA T.L.37 frame. Source: FIAT Archives
The cab was modified. The windshield, roof, and doors were completely removed. The seats were substituted with two new ones. The rear spare wheel support and rear wall of the cab were not modified. This resulted in a separation between the front crew (driver and vehicle commander) and the rear crew (gunner and 2 loaders).
A total of three supports for Moschetti Automatici Beretta Modello 1938 or MAB38 (English: Beretta Automatic Rifles Model 1938) were added, two on the sides of the cab, and one over the driver’s seat. A support for the machine gun tripod was added on the right frontal fender. If needed, the crew could dismount the machine gun and deploy it on the ground.
On the front mudguards, two width-limit indicator rods with a red sphere on top were used by the driver to help drive through narrow mountain streets or to park.
The Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 number 9 outside the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione. Despite their service as a police vehicle in Rome, it was equipped with sandy soil tires. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The cargo bay lost the benches. On the more spacious floor, a support for a 20 mm anti-aircraft automatic gun was installed. The ammunition was probably held in wooden boxes with racks on the cargo bay’s front, where the loaders sat and on the rear part. Three 20-liter can supports were present per side and sapper tools were put on the cargo bay sides.
The Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 number 9 with license plate Regio Esercito 36749. The image was taken in the testing ground of the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione. To its right, a captured Morris Commercial C8 FAT artillery tractor and, in the background, a Lancia 3Ro heavy duty truck. Source: pinterest.com
On the rear side of the cargo bay, on the sides of the foldable part, another 2 20-liter can supports were positioned. A further two can supports were on the frontal mudguards, for a total of 10 cans for petrol, lubricant oil, and drinkable water.
Engine and Suspension
The Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 light desert truck was powered by a FIAT-SPA Tipo 18TL in-line, four-cylinder, water cooled gasoline engine that produced 52 hp at 2,000 rpm. Its maximum revolutions per minute were limited to 2,000 rpm to increase its lifetime, reducing the need for maintenance and overall costs. The Zenith Modello 1936 TTHVI carburetor was designed for off-road and steep slope operations.
The FIAT-SPA T.L.37 prime mover had the same engine and, on the vehicles delivered to Libya, the Zenith air filter was replaced by a standard OCI oil bath model. It is logical to assume that, on the FIAT-SPA A.S.37s, these were specifically developed for desert service the OCI oil bath filters were standard.
The engine-clutch assembly was suspended from the chassis by four silent blocks.
The FIAT-SPA Tipo 18TL engine used on the Camionette Desertica Modello 1943. Source: italie1935-45.com
Main Armament
The main armament on the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 was a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 anti-aircraft automatic gun that could also be used against light armored targets, such as light reconnaissance tanks or armored cars.
A Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 anti-aircraft automatic gun deployed by an Italian anti-aircraft squad in the Balkans, 1941. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
The anti-aircraft gun was developed by Società Italiana Ernesto Breda per Costruzioni Meccaniche (English: Mechanical Constructions Ernesto Breda Italian Limited Company) in 1935. In its field version, it had a crew of five, while on the camionetta, the number of crew was decreased to 3: a gunner and two loaders. The gunner was seated behind the gun and the loaders were seated in the cargo bay, on the gun’s sides. The driver would probably occasionally help load the gun to speed up reloading.
The maximum anti-aircraft range was 1,500-2,000 m. Against ground targets, the maximum range was 5,000 m, while the effective range decreased to about 2,500 m.
This gun was one of the best light automatic guns of its era, with a total weight of 330 kg and a theoretical rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute. The practical rate of fire dropped to about 300 rounds per minute in case of the presence of a single loader in the cargo bay. The maximum depression was -10°, while maximum elevation was +80°.
Secondary Armament
Secondary armament consisted of a Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 (English: Breda Medium Machine Gun Model 1937) mounted on a gooseneck support on the left side of the cab and used by the commander for anti-personnel fire or to fire against low flying enemy planes.
A Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 mounted on a tripod. On the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943, the machine gun was mounted on an anti-aircraft support, whereas the closed tripod was mounted on the right mudguard. Source: italie1935-45.com
This gun was developed according to the specifications issued by the Ispettorato d’Artiglieria (English: Artillery Inspectorate) in May 1933. Different Italian gun companies started working on the new machine gun. The requirements were a maximum weight of 20 kg, a theoretical rate of fire of 450 rounds per minute, and a barrel life of 1,000 rounds.
The Comitato Superiore Tecnico Armi e Munizioni (English: Superior Technical Committee for Weapons and Ammunition) in Turin issued its verdict in November 1935. The Breda project won. A first order for 2,500 units of the Breda medium machine gun was placed in 1936. After operational evaluation with the units, the weapon was adopted in 1937 as the Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937.
The weapon was famous for its robustness and accuracy, despite its annoying tendency to jam if lubrication was insufficient. Its weight was considered too large compared to foreign machine guns of the time. It weighed 19.4 kg and its tripod had a weight of 18.8 kg, making this weapon the heaviest medium machine gun of the Second World War. The practical rate of fire, which was about 200-250 rounds per minute, was considered a bit low. The machine gun was fed by 20-round rigid strips. After firing, instead of ejecting the spent casings like all firearms, the Breda Modello 1937 reinserted them into the rigid strip to facilitate the recovery of reusable spent casings.
The machine gun shot 8 x 59 mm RB cartridges developed by Breda exclusively for machine guns. The 8 mm Breda had a muzzle velocity between 790 m/s and 800 m/s, depending on the round type. The armor piercing rounds could penetrate 11 mm of non-ballistic steel angled at 90° at 100 m. Even if there is no photographic evidence, as on other Italian vehicles, the Breda Modello 1937 could be substituted with the Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 (English: Breda Medium Machine Guns Model 1938) with the same action and cartridges of the Modello 1937, but specially developed for armored vehicles. It had a shorter barrel, pistol grip, and top curved 24-round magazines.
On the right front mudguard, a support for the machine gun tripod was fixed by means of butterfly screws. In fact, the Breda could be quickly dismounted and deployed in a fixed position by the crew on the ground.
Even if rarely seen on Mitragliatrici Medie Breda Modello 1937 mounted on vehicles, the one mounted on the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 number ‘9’ was equipped with anti-aircraft sight and iron stock to help the machine gunner hold the recoil of the machine gun during anti-aircraft shooting. Even it could seem a special upgrade, the anti-aircraft sights were delivered to all the infantry units with which the Mitragliatrici Medie Breda Modello 1937 were deployed, along with spare tripod parts to use it as anti-aircraft support.
A Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 with anti-aircraft sight, collimator, and stock mounted on a standard ground tripod. ima-usa.com
Using the standard tripod, some additional legs were added to stretch the height, permitting a standing soldier to fire the machine gun. An anti-aircraft sight was mounted on the barrel while a collimator was placed halfway between the barrel and the grip. An iron tube shaped as a rifle-stock for the machine gunner’s shoulder was placed on the left side of the machine gun.
Image showing the additional parts used to modify the standard ground tripod of the Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 for use in an anti-aircraft configuration. Source: italie1935-45.com
Operational Use
The Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 was deployed by the Battaglione d’Assalto Motorizzato, made up of two compagnie fucilieri d’assalto (English: assault riflemen companies) and a compagnia esploratori (English: reconnaissance company). The latter one was theoretically composed of a command platoon and 3 camionette platoons.
Due to the absence of camionette in late 1942, the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione started the development of the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943, which were only ready in August 1943, a few months after the end of the North African Campaign.
During the same period, the Battaglione d’Assalto Motorizzato was equipped with 21 or 24 Camionette SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Metropolitane’. It officially had 11 Camionette Desertica Modello 1943 and 3 Camionette SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Metropolitane’ in the command platoon and 3 platoons with 6 Camionette SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Metropolitane’ each. Probably 3 more ‘Metropolitane’ were maintained in reserve.
Shortly before the Armistice with the Allied forces, in early September 1943, the Compagnia Esploratori of the Battaglione d’Assalto Motorizzato was stationed in downtown Rome for public security duties.
Another image of the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 number 9. On the left, the prototype of the Semovente da 47/32 su Scafo AB41. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
When the Armistice was made public on the evening of 8th September 1943, the Company was still in Rome, and on 9th September, it was deployed against the Germans that tried to enter the city. They very likely saw action on 10th September 1943 in the Porta San Paolo area. In the small square with the Ancient Roman walls and gate was the Via Ostiense, the quickest way to reach downtown Rome.
The details of the clashes are not clear and there are no mentions in official sources about the Compagnia Esploratori. Based on the testimony of a Battaglione d’Assalto Motorizzato officer, the Company lost an entire platoon during the fighting against the German 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division “Ramke” (English: 2nd Paratrooper Division) during the clash near Porta San Paolo. Nothing is known about which platoon was destroyed and there is no information about the use of the Camionette Desertica Modello 1943.
After the failed defense of Rome, another unit used the Camionette Desertica Modello 1943. Many Italian soldiers still loyal to Mussolini, who had refused to fight against the Germans, decided to join to crate an Italian unit allied to the Germans.
They had already explained to the German commanders that they were loyal to Mussolini and to the Axis forces. They tried to find new military equipment to arm the new unit. They found 2 Carri Armati M13/40s and some lorries abandoned after 10th September in the Forte Tiburtino fortress, the headquarters of the former 4º Reggimento Fanteria Carrista (English: 4th Tank Crew Infantry Regiment). The 2 tanks were from the 3° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista (English: 3rd Tank Crew Infantry Regiment) that arrived in Rome shortly before the Armistice to equip the IX Battaglione Carri M, which was being created. The “light lorries” found in the fortress were probably light trucks, but at least one was in all likelihood a Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 that was later deployed by the Fascist soldiers. Before the Armistice, the 4º Reggimento Fanteria Carrista had 31 tanks, 11 semoventi, and 20 camionette, of which only 7 were with certainty Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43, while the others were unknown models.
On 17th September 1943, Lieutenant General Renzo Montagna, the former commander of the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale or MVSN (English: Voluntary Militia for National Security) was put in charge. The former 1ª Divisione Corazzata Legionaria ‘M’ was part of the MVSN before the Armistice, so returned under its control.
Lt. Gen. Montagna mentioned in a letter that the units under his control had recovered a total of about 40 medium tanks and dozens of other vehicles in the streets of Rome. Even if the tank number seems high, the Fascist soldiers recovered dozens of knocked out or abandoned vehicles, of which only some were re-deployed.
The only image of a Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 deployed in active service. It was totally disarmed and the 20-liter cans, ammunition, sapper equipment and tools were all removed. It seems that the seats were also removed and had been substituted with a bench. It was placed on the small street that connected Piazza Colonna to Piazza di Monte Citorio, on the left side of the Palazzo Wedekind. In front of the camionetta is a Carro Armato M13/40. The two vehicles were probably deployed by soldiers from the former 1ª Divisione Corazzata Legionaria ‘M’. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The two tanks and the vehicles found in Forte Tiburtino were immediately put into service on the order from Lt. Gen. Montagna. The Carri Armati M13/40s and a Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 were deployed to guard the Piazza Colonna, where the Ente Italiano per le Audizioni Radiofoniche or EIAR (English: Italian Body for Radio Broadcasting) and the Partito Fascista Repubblicano or PFR (English: Republican Fascist Party) were headquartered, in the Palazzo Wedekind. A FIAT 626 and a civilian car were also deployed to transport militiamen.
Another photo of the same Carro Armato M13/40 on the left side of Palazzo Wedekind in Piazza Colonna. Unfortunately, from this angle, the camionetta is not visible, but the FIAT 626 and the civilian car deployed by the 1ª Divisione Corazzata Legionaria ‘M’ are. Source: …Come il Diamante
On 29th September 1943, the former officers and soldiers of the 1ª Divisione Corazzata Legionaria ‘M’ created the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ (English: Armored Group) and were transferred to Montichiari, near Brescia, with the few armored vehicles that they had recovered in Rome. It seems that the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 did not follow the unit. The Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ was disbanded on 1st May 1945 after its surrender to the US troops in Northern Italy. There is no mention in official documents nor photographic evidence of this camionette in service with the unit between September 1943 and May 1945.
After the War
After the defense of Rome, the soldiers of the Compagnia Esploratori disbanded, but some of its camionette were reused by the Polizia dell’Africa Italiana or PAI (English: Police of the Italian Africa) for public order duties in Rome. Nothing is known about their service with the PAI, but, when the Allied forces liberated Rome in June 1944, all the Polizia dell’Africa Italiana camionette and equipment were taken by the Allied forces that, at the end of the war, delivered them to the newly formed Italian Police.
The Italian Police deployed many Camionette AS42 of both models and at least a Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943.
One of the two images of the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 in service with the post-war Italian Police. It is armed with 2 Breda Modello 1937 machine guns. On the right, behind the police officer’s head, “Polizia” is painted white. Source: polizianellastoria.it
The vehicle was only photographed in 1947. during a parade of the Reparto Mobile Blindisti (English: Armored Car Fast Department) in Rome. It was probably deployed as a command vehicle for the armored car unit equipped both with T17E1 Staghound heavy armored cars of US production and with AB43 medium armored cars of Italian production. The two images show the absence of the 20 mm automatic cannon, instead of which 2 Mitragliatrici Breda Modello 1937 were installed on anti-aircraft pintle mounts with big metal crates fixed on the right, containing the 20-round clips to feed the machine guns. These anti-aircraft pintle mounts were from Italian Navy boats.
A Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 on a pintle mount on an Italian ship. On the wheeled vehicle, the anti-aircraft metal sight was not installed. Source: italie1935-45.com
Although it could seems a heavy piece of equipment for a public order corp, the camionette and armored cars were only deployed as deterrents during strikes or political rallies.
The Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 was painted in Amaranth Red (standard Italian Police color after the war) with “Polizia” painted white on the cargo bay.
Second image of the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 in Italian Police service. On the left, the mudguard of a T17E1 Staghound heavy armored car of the Reparto Mobile Blindisti is visible. Source: polizianellastoria.it
Conclusion
The Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 was a cheap transformation of a light truck into a reconnaissance car. It would have been adequate for the role even if its moderate speed could have been a problem during some attacks. It was a good solution to equip a small unit with camionette as a stopgap before the more powerful SPA-Viberti models were available. Had there been a large-scale production of the Camionette Desertiche Modello 1943, FIAT-SPA A.S.37 light desert lorries had to be modified, decreasing the total monthly delivery of light lorries to increase the camionette delivery. This was another example of the Regio Esercito’s continuous production problem throughout the whole war.
Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 number 9 with license plate Regio Esercito 36749. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 in Italian Police service. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943 Specification
Size (L-W-H)
4.65 x 2.00 x ~ 2.70 m
Weight, battle ready
~5 tonnes
Crew
5 (driver, commander, gunner and 2 loaders)
Engine
SPA 18TL, 4-cylinder petrol engine, 4053 cm3, 52 hp at 2,000 rpm
Speed
50 km/h
Range
900 km
Armament
1 Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 and a Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937
Production
11 converted
Sources
Le Camionette del Regio Esercito. FIAT-SPA AS/37, SPA-Viberti AS/42, FIAT-SPA AS/43, Desertica 43, i Reparti che le Impiegarono – Enrico Finazzer and Luigi Carpetta – Gruppo Modellistico Trentino – 2014
Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II – Ralph A. Riccio – Mattioli 1885 – 2010
Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano, Volume Secondo, Tomo II – Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano – Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito – 2002
Semicingolati, Motoveicoli e Veicoli Speciali del Regio Esercito Italiano 1919-1943 – Giulio Benussi – Intergest Publishing – 1976
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (1978-Present)
Main Battle Tank – Unknown Number Built
The Ch’ŏnma, better known under the unofficial designation of Ch’ŏnma-Ho, is the second North Korean-produced Main Battle Tank (MBT) in service with the Korean People’s Army. Originally, the Ch’ŏnma was a licensed production version of the T-62 Soviet MBT built in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). It was intended to equip its armored divisions with an indigenous tank capable of facing the US-made MBTs serving in the Republic of Korea Army in the late 1970s.
The program fulfilled the request, and for about a decade, the DPRK deployed MBTs capable of dealing with South Korean armored fighting vehicles north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Despite its initial superiority over South Korean tanks, with the appearance of the K1 Main Battle Tank in the late 1980s, the Ch’ŏnma became obsolete. Already in the early 1980s, North Korean technicians tried upgrading the tank with indigenous programs. These upgrades led to the development of the Ch’ŏnma-92, Ch’ŏnma-98, and other later variants.
The high production costs of the upgraded Ch’ŏnmas forced the Korean People’s Army (KPA) to still maintain early production Ch’ŏnmas with small upgrades in service to this day, swelling the ranks of the KPA in case of a massive attack through the DMZ.
North Korean early production Ch’ŏnmas on parade on Kim Il-sung Square, in P’yŏngyang, in the early 2000s. These do not seem to have had any kind of upgrade from their original production version, probably in the early 1980s, although they do have new rubber pads on the tracks. Source: KCTV
Korean Tank Production
From the creation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea until the late 1960s, its army was equipped with Soviet and Chinese armored vehicles. About 1,000 T-34-85 medium tanks and an unknown number of T-54-2s and T-54-3s were received by the Hermit Kingdom.
T-54-3 during firing training in North Korea. Source: twitter.com @KPA_bot
As the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea officially claims, its tank industry was born in 1967, with the creation of production lines for PT-76B light amphibious tanks, of which serial production started in the 1970s. In 1968, a T-55 assembly line was initiated and production started shortly after. In both cases, production was only possible with a great deal of support from the Soviet Union, which retooled the Sinhung (for light tanks and APCs) and Kusong (for heavier vehicles) production plants in North Korea.
A Type 59 produced in North Korea after 1968, showing off some upgrades also observed on Ch’ŏnmas: rubber-padded iron tracks, slat armor supports, and smoke launchers. Source: KCTV
Ever since, the two production plants have become the backbone of North Korean tank production, with many hundreds of vehicles produced each year. In 2023, the plants were modified and retooled, and it seems that Sinhung now has the task of producing North Korean MBTs.
In the late 1960s, the first production lines for the Soviet BTR-60 were assembled in Korea with Soviet help. Production of the North Korean indigenous copy of the Soviet armored personnel carrier, called ‘69’, started in 1969.
North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung in front of a Korean armored personnel carrier, probably produced in North Korea, during a visit to a plant for a propaganda video. Source: twitter.com @KPA_bot
This North Korean-improved version of the Chinese YW 531A amphibious APC featured an elongated hull, hydro jets, and a rotating turret armed with two 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine guns.
A 323 armored personnel carrier during a training exercise. source: pinterest.com
Ch’ŏnma Theories
It has been stated many times that the DPRK ordered 500 T-62s from the Soviet Union in two batches in 1970 and 1974, which were delivered between 1971 and 1978. This information seems to have appeared in various early 2000s unofficial and unconfirmed reports, but seems to be completely wrong.
The most accurate current theory states that, between the early and mid-1970s, the DPRK asked the Soviet Union for new T-62s, probably also placing an order in the early 1970s. The Soviet Union, which never delivered T-62s to Korea, organized the production of the MBT in Korea as it had done for the PT-76B, T-55, and BTR-60. Also, in this case, the Soviet Union probably donated a T-62 production line to the DPRK.
The drastic deterioration of the international relationship between the Soviet Union and the small Korean peninsula nation in the mid-1970s due to the Sino-Soviet Split forced the Korean technicians to start their production without additional Soviet aid. The DPRK took the Chinese side and the diplomatic relationship with the Soviet Union collapsed. The planned production of the T-62 seems to have been canceled since China did not produce, nor possess, T-62s, except for a single T-62 captured by the People’s Liberation Army during the 1969 Sino-Soviet border clash along the Ussuri River. That single vehicle was jealously guarded by Chinese engineers for testing and evaluation.
It is possible that, as other unconfirmed sources state, the DPRK could have received at least one T-62 from Syria in the early 1970s, after the Yom Kippur War, and started the reverse engineering process to produce it.
In the late 1970s, the Korean T-55 copy production in the Kusong production plant gradually decreased in order to reorganize the production lines. From North Korean sources, confirmed by the CIA, in 1976, the first T-62 left the production line with the Korean designation of Ch’ŏnma (Korean: 천마), referring to the Korean mythological flying horse. It was designated by the US Department of Defense (DoD) as Chonma-Ho I or Chonma-Ho Ga. The Korean People’s Army and official North Korean sources never called the main battle tank Ch’ŏnma-Ho.
A plethora of North Korean-made design elements present on these initial Ch’ŏnmas make North Korean-licensed production the most likely theory and indicate that these were not merely bought from the Soviet Union or assembled in North Korea with Soviet-produced components.
CIA reports also claim that the Ch’ŏnma production started in 1978 (when the Soviet Union ended its T-62 production), reaching large-scale production in 1980.
Design
Hull
The serial production Ch’ŏnma copied the hull of the Soviet T-62 Obrazets 1962 and the turret of the Soviet T-62 Obrazets 1972.
The hull of the Ch’ŏnma, with the same dimensions and characteristics as the original Soviet one, was not equipped with supports to mount anti-mine roller devices, such as the KTM-7, on the front glacis. This is still a major and puzzling shortcoming for North Korean MBTs that need specialized vehicles to clear minefields. This would slow down any attack through the 4 km deep Demilitarized Zone, which is completely covered by minefields.
The hull’s rear could be fitted with supports for external drum fuel tanks to increase the range of the Ch’ŏnma. Despite this, the fuel drums were rarely seen mounted on the North Korean Main Battle Tanks. The absence of external fuel tanks could be explained by the scarcity of fuel in North Korea due to embargoes, the small dimensions of the nation, and their vulnerability even to light arms fire.
A group of Ch’ŏnmas during training in a North Korean video in 1997. Source: imcdb.org
Suspension
The North Korean MBT had 5 big “starfish” style road wheels on each side, torsion bar suspension, and probably a copy of the Soviet V-55V diesel engine delivering 580 hp. This should have been sufficient for the Ch’ŏnma, which weighs about 37 tonnes.
The Ch’ŏnma had slightly longer and different rubber covers on the rear mudguards compared to the T-62.
Bad quality image showing off the vehicle’s engine deck during a parade in June 2013. Source: m.yna.co.kr
The tracks adopted by Koreans are all-iron single-pin links designed and produced by the North Koreans, although similar to the Soviet and Chinese track links. It was common for Ch’ŏnmas in foreign service to be equipped with Soviet RMSh or OMSh single-pin links.
Starting in the early 2000s, the Ch’ŏnmas appeared on parades equipped with modern rubber-padded track links. These were probably adopted in order not to damage P’yŏngyang’s streets during parades.
Early production Ch’ŏnmas on parade in P’yŏngyang in the early 2000s. These tanks are equipped with new rubber pads on their iron tracks. Source: massimotessitori.altervista.org
Turret
Other differences with the Soviet T-62 MBT regard the turret. The loader’s rounded hatch is different, together with the anti-aircraft mount that is equipped with a Korean-produced 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun instead of the Soviet 12.7 mm DShKM. The loader’s hatch can be rotated and used to protect the loader by opening it forward. Due to the larger dimensions of the anti-aircraft machine gun, the hatch was modified compared to that of the original T-62. The machine gun was installed on a mount that rotated with the loader’s hatch. In other words, the heavy machine gun had a traverse of 360°, increasing the anti-aircraft and support fire of the Ch’ŏnmas compared to regular T-62s.
Iranian Ch’ŏnma turret. The different loader’s hatch and new machine gun support are visible in this image, as is the single handle welded on the turret side. Source: bemil.chosun.com
Another modification that could be easily spotted is the presence of the handles welded on the turret’s sides. On the Soviet T-62, there were two handles on each turret side, while, on the Ch’ŏnma, there is one handle on each side.
Apart from these small details and different cast turret weldings, the Soviet and North Korean Main Battle Tanks are externally identical.
A Ch’ŏnma (top) and a T-62 drawing (bottom). Sources: massimotessitori.altervista.org and drawingdatabase.com
As on the T-62, the driver is positioned on the front left side of the fighting compartment, the commander and gunner are on the left of the cannon and the loader is positioned on the right. There are only 3 hatches for the crew members, one for the driver, one for the commander and the gunner, and one for the loader.
A Korean People’s Army’s tank crew member in front of his Ch’ŏnma in a Korean film. Source: twitter.com KPA_bot
There are some theories regarding the Ch’ŏnma’s armor being different to the T-62. There is no supporting evidence to the claim that the armor of early production Ch’ŏnmas was made of thinner armored plates than on the Soviet T-62. As it was a copy, the armor should have had the same thicknesses, even though the quality of the steel it was made from was probably lower than the Soviet equivalent. It seems that no foreign nation that operated the Ch’ŏnmas ever complained about thinner armor, or in general, the quality of the armor.
Early Ch’ŏnmas during a parade through the streets of P’yŏngyang in the early 2000s. The armor plates seem identical to Soviet ones. Source: KCTV
The armor of the Ch’ŏnmas was adequate to deal with South Korean MBTs at least until the introduction of the K1 Main Battle Tank designed by US Chrysler Defense and South Korean Hyundai Precision Industry in 1987.
Main Armament
The main armament of all the heterogeneous variants of the Ch’ŏnma was a copy of the Soviet 115 mm U-5TS semi-automatic smoothbore cannon with roughly comparable characteristics.
When the Ch’ŏnma entered production, the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) could not oppose it with MBTs of similar quality. Compared to the 90 mm rifled cannon that armed the M47 and M48 tanks that the ROKA had in its ranks, the U-5TS had greater penetration, due to a muzzle velocity of 1,600 m/s, and better angle performance. Unfortunately, the bad quality of the aiming devices did not allow gunners to take full advantage of the cannon’s capabilities.
The 115 mm U-5TS smoothbore cannon. Source: tankarchives.ca
The North Korean technicians repeatedly tried to improve the poor precision of the cannon with a laser rangefinder, fire-control systems, and barrel sleeve, but these expensive solutions were rarely adopted on early production Ch’ŏnmas. Even nowadays a great part of the KPA’s Ch’ŏnma fleet are not equipped with these upgrades.
Nothing is known about KPA ammunition, except that it was considered by South Korean analysts to be similar in anti-tank performance to its Soviet counterparts. Many sources state that the Ch’ŏnma could carry a total of 40 115 mm rounds, as on the T-62.
In the 2010s, with the introduction of new versions of the Ch’ŏnma, new 115 mm rounds were developed and produced, or at least this is claimed by analysts. It is not known if the older versions of Ch’ŏnma could fire this supposed new ammunition.
Secondary Armament
As secondary armament, the Ch’ŏnma had a coaxial 7.62 mm medium machine gun derived from the Soviet PKT. As an anti-aircraft gun, a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun was operated by the loader. The weight of the gun is about 50 kg, which forces the loader to elevate it using handwheels. The total ammunition carried for the 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun is unknown. In contrast, for the 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun, a maximum of 3 magazines, probably 50 rounds each, are transported outside the tank and fixed on the turret’s rear. But it is also unknown if any additional magazines are carried inside the hull.
A propaganda photo showing a modernized Ch’ŏnma with Kim Il-sung’s portrait and Ramhongsaek Konghwagukgi (North Korean Flag) in the background. In the foreground, the powerful 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun with the elevation handwheel but without the anti-aircraft sight. Source: KCTV
The KPVT machine gun was extremely versatile when the vehicle entered service, capable of hitting flying targets, supporting infantry with heavy fire, and even capable of dealing with lightly armored vehicles, such as the US M113 armored personnel carriers.
Nowadays, the 14.5 mm machine gun can be deployed in a more limited capacity against South Korean or US helicopters, for infantry support, and with lucky shots, against UGVs or loitering ammunitions.
Korean-produced Ch’ŏnma that fell into the hands of Ethiopian rebels in Addis Ababa after the fall of the Government’s forces. The child soldier is holding the KPVT heavy machine gun. Source: gettyimage.com via Francoise De Mulder
During a parade in 2010, some early Ch’ŏnmas were spotted with a pintle mount for a MANPADS (MAN-Portable Air-Defense System) missile on the rear of the turret, presumably to increase the anti-aircraft defense of the MBT. It seems to be manually operated and a crew member or an infantryman has to stand on the engine deck to operate the missile. Such devices disappear during exercises and seem to be meant only for parades.
Despite the difficulty in operating the system, this new upgrade (seen only on a small number of Ch’ŏnmas) could be a serious threat to enemy planes that want to attempt to attack a tank or column of vehicles on the move.
Early production Ch’ŏnma during a parade in 2010. On the turret, to the rear, is a pintle mount equipped with MANPADS. Source: KCTV
Upgrades
Several small modifications were made to the basic Ch’ŏnma main battle tank during the 1980s to increase the capabilities of the North Korean tank.
1st Upgrade
The first upgrade of the Ch’ŏnma was spotted during a parade in 1986. It had a new turret bustle to increase the turret’s interior space. It seems to be used to store the radio and other equipment to free up space inside the turret for a ready-to-use 115 mm rounds rack, perhaps increasing the original ammunition capacity of 115 mm rounds.
A 1986 parade in Kim Il-sung Square, P’yŏngyang, where the Ch’ŏnma with a turret bustle was first spotted. Source: twitter.com @KPA_bot
The turret bustle was an indigenous modification never seen on the Soviet T-62 and shows the first Korean attempt to add changes to the aging Soviet design. The Ch’ŏnma MBTs with turret bustle filmed in 1986 also had new night vision optics for the tank’s commander, mounted on his cupola.
This variant of Ch’ŏnma was also sporadically equipped with mounting points for slat armor on the turret side and metal bars with brackets to also equip the hull sides with slat armor. The slat protection consisted of welded weave-mesh panels positioned several inches from the hull and turret that were easy to fix using short brackets.
A Ch’ŏnma with turret bustle during training in February 2016. It is also equipped with IR covers but does not have slat armor supports. The commander’s night vision optics are not mounted. Source: KCTV
The new model of Ch’ŏnma never received an official designation, nor an unofficial one. Its rare appearances during Korean parades and military training suggests that very few were produced.
The slat armor supports were retrofitted on some early Ch’ŏnma already produced and even on earlier Soviet and Chinese origin tanks in service with the KPA, such as T-34-85s, Type 59s, and T-55s.
The slat armor, even if now quite obsolete against HEAT warheads from MBT rounds or Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), could be useful in a modern conflict against loitering munitions, which have shown themselves to be more and more effective in the Nagorno-Karabakh War (2021) and Ukrainian Conflict (2022-23).
Ch’ŏnmas during a recent training exercise. These are early production Ch’ŏnmas with iron tracks. On the turret, the short brackets for slat armor are visible along with the metal bar and its support on the mudguard. Source: Focus Wars
2nd Upgrade
A second upgrade for the North Korean Ch’ŏnma MBT was first spotted in 1985 and officially shown, during a parade, in 1992 for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the KPA. Laser rangefinders assembled by North Korea were positioned on the main guns and a new Fire-Control System was installed. This upgrade was intended mainly to overcome the firing limitations of the second generation Main Battle Tanks. Combined, they increased the speed of target acquisition and first hit compared to the previous older optical devices.
The laser rangefinder mounted on the Ch’ŏnma has a different appearance from the Soviet KTD-1 and KTD-2 laser rangefinders mounted on Soviet MBTs and it was probably developed by Korean technicians.
In addition, the turret was fitted with two small boxes on the rear. These boxes were used to store tools and other items. Night vision optics using infrared light were also installed.
The second Ch’ŏnma upgrade was seen in a parade in Kim Il-sung Square in P’yŏngyang. The North Korean laser rangefinder is placed over the gun barrel and the external fuel tanks and toolboxes on the hull’s rear are visible. Source: massimotessitori.altervista.org
This upgrade was named Chonma-Ho II or Chonma-Ho Na by the US DoD, but it did not have an official KPA designation. It was probably intended to upgrade all the existing Ch’ŏnmas with laser rangefinders and fire-control systems, but the high costs of conversion probably forced the Korean People’s Army’s High Command to abort the plan in favor of installing new hardware on the most modern Korean-built MBTs. The small boxes on the turret rear and night vision devices were also retrofitted on early produced Ch’ŏnmas.
A bad-quality image of a Ch’ŏnma with a laser rangefinder exhibited at a North Korean Tank Exhibition in 2012. It is not equipped with the rear turret toolboxes Source: massimotessitori.altervista.org
Production and Deliveries
The Korean People’s Army has never made public the number of Ch’ŏnma main battle tanks in service in its ranks. It is currently estimated that between 800 and 2,600 Ch’ŏnmas of all variants have been produced. Other analysts have placed the number at between 1,000 and 1,500 Ch’ŏnmas of all variants produced, and this seems to be a more plausible count.
The factories that produced the tank at least until the 1990s were located in Sinhung, South Hamgyong Province, under the 2nd Machinery Industry Bureau of the 2nd Korean Economic Committee. The biggest one seems to have been the Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory, which started the production of new main battle tanks in 1992. Components and subsystems were produced by factories across the country, with some components presumably imported from the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, Eastern Europe, or the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The first examples went on to equip the 105th “Seoul” Tank Division, the KPA’s elite unit and only armored division. In the following years, the Ch’ŏnmas also equipped part of the 10 tank brigades and other mechanized units in the KPA ranks.
After the early 1990s, with the fall of the Soviet Union, North Korea lost its greatest source of food causing a famine. Until the late 1990s, the great famine killed over 500,000 people and forced the country’s leadership to cut funding for defense.
As a result, fuel and ammunition resupply to units was lowered and, from the testimonies of North Korean deserters, it appears that the majority of the North Korean main battle tanks were parked in depots for the majority of the year. They were only taken out a handful times each year for overall maintenance and division-size training exercises.
Because of DPRK’s limited economical and industrial capability, and the priority given to the nuclear program, until 2010, the Korean factories had produced only small quantities of modern tanks, forcing the KPA to maintain hundreds of unupgraded Ch’ŏnmas in service.
Kim Jong-il standing over a Ch’ŏnma during his annual visit to the 105th “Seoul” Tank Division in the early 2000s. Source: KCTV via KPA Journal
Starting in the 1990s, Korean tank crew members used dedicated training vehicles and equipment to improve their skills on Ch’ŏnmas.
The Ch’ŏnma armored units are positioned north of the DMZ and in P’yŏngyang, and are ready to intervene in case of a new conflict breaking out with South Korea.
Post-training round-up of armored and infantry forces of the KPA. Between the hundreds of soldiers, 3 Ch’ŏnmas (front one with short brackets for slat armor) and a 323 command vehicle are visible. Source: flikr.com @Kadir Aksoy
In the early 2000s, South Korean and US intelligence reported that the Korean People’s Army had about 4,300 Main Battle Tanks and light amphibious tanks in its ranks, out of about 40,000 armored fighting vehicles, SPGs, APCs, SPAAGs, towed artillery, and MRLSs.
At present, the older Ch’ŏnmas variants are supposedly being withdrawn from service in favor of upgraded Ch’ŏnmas or the newer, more powerful Songun-215 main battle tanks that appeared during the 65th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea military parade in 2010.
If the mysterious new M-2020 main battle tank enters service with the Korean People’s Army, the older Ch’ŏnmas will likely be replaced in the armored brigades by the more modern Ch’ŏnma-216 and Songun main battle tanks.
These vehicles will likely be either scrapped or repurposed into specialized vehicles. However, the Ch’ŏnmas could potentially find a second life by being sold at a favorable price to nations unable to afford more expensive Chinese or Russian equipment. Countries like Eritrea, Yemen, and Zimbabwe require an expansion of their armored units with cheap tanks. For instance, Eritrea and Zimbabwe are currently equipped mostly with T-55 and T-62 tanks.
Export
Iran
The Iranian Revolution, which began in 1978, led to the deposition of the Shah (King) Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in early 1979 and the installation of religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini. In September 1980, the Iraqi Republic, led by Saddam Hussein, invaded Iran, sparking the bloody eight-year-long Iran-Iraq War.
During the early stages of the Iran-Iraq War, the Islamic Republic of Iran faced great military difficulties and subsequently started purchasing large quantities of weapons and equipment from various sources in order to bolster its forces.
The DPRK reportedly sold an unknown number of Ch’ŏnma tanks to Iran in the early 1980s, with some sources claiming the number to be 150, though this was never officially confirmed. The tanks were part of a larger supply of war materiel that also included 170 mm Chuch’e p’o self-propelled guns, multiple launch rocket systems, small arms, and ammunition.
Iranian Ch’ŏnmas in 1981 during the Iran-Iraq War. Source: twitter.com @BuschModelar
The service record of the Ch’ŏnma tanks during the Iran-Iraq War is unknown, as is the opinion that the Iranian Army had of them. In general, the Iranian view of Korean equipment during the war was negative, particularly when it came to light arms. However, there is a lack of information regarding heavier equipment. Despite the bad reputation of Korean light arms, it appears that heavier equipment, such as self-propelled artillery and main battle tanks, remained in service even after the war.
The surviving Ch’ŏnma tanks were later deployed by the Islamic Republic of Iran Army for many years and occasionally appeared in military parades in Tehran. At least one example was displayed at the Museum of the Islamic Revolution and the Holy Defense of Tehran. Their current service in the Iranian Army is unknown.
During the Iran-Iraq War, at least one Ch’ŏnma tank was captured by Iraqi forces and likely left abandoned in an Iraqi depot. In 2003, the tank was discovered by US forces abandoned on the roadside and subsequently moved to an Iraqi Captured Vehicles depot, where it was eventually scrapped.
A North Korean Ch’ŏnma that was captured by US forces in Iraq in 2003. It had been previously captured by Iraqi forces during the Iran-Iraq War. Source: bemil.chosun.com
Ethiopia
The relationship between the DPRK and the People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was established in 1974, when a military coup in Ethiopia overthrew Emperor Hailé Selassié I and installed a new Marxist regime under the control of the Derg, a military junta that ruled Ethiopia. During the Ogaden War between Ethiopia and Somalia from 1977 to 1978, North Korea delivered an unknown number of self-propelled guns, small arms, and ammunition to Ethiopia.
North Korea also delivered an unknown number of Ch’ŏnma tanks to Ethiopia in the early 1980s. However, due to the complete absence of reports and photographic evidence , it is unclear how many tanks were delivered, when they were delivered, and their service history. It appears that the Ch’ŏnma tanks did not participate in the Ogaden War between Ethiopia and Somalia from 1977 to 1978, as mass production of these tanks did not begin until 1978, after the end of the conflict.
A Ch’ŏnma in Ethiopian service during a parade in Addis Ababa. Source: twitter.com @KPA_bot
In the early 1980s, Ethiopia entered into a bloody civil war. Overall, the role of the Ethiopian Ch’ŏnmas is uncertain. A handful of pro-government Ch’ŏnmas took part in the desperate defense of Addis Ababa in May 1991 among a greater number of Soviet T-62s. At least three were positioned by the Government forces at Addis Ababa’s Royal Palace for a last stand. Alongside an unknown number of T-62s, they faced the rebel forces that attacked the Royal Palace on 28th May 1991. One was destroyed and burned out during the fight, while another was probably captured by the rebel forces.
A total of three Ethiopian Ch’ŏnmas and a Soviet T-62 were in the garden of the Addis Ababa Royal Palace on 27th May 1991. Of the three vehicles, two were armed with KPVT heavy machine guns. Source: gettyimages.com via Francoise De Mulder
The active service of the Ch’ŏnmas during the confusing and bloody civil war shows how the vehicle could be operated even by inexperienced crews and in the almost total absence of spare parts.
The standard of North Korean equipment, often considered of a low quality and unreliable, is elevated thanks to their service in Ethiopia, which used the Ch’ŏnmas for about a decade, helping to qualitatively reassess the North Korean tanks.
A Ch’ŏnma burned out during the defense of the Royal Palace in Addis Ababa. The image was taken after May 1991. Source: twitter.com @KPA_bot
It is unknown if Ethiopia deployed Ch’ŏnmas in the Eritrean–Ethiopian War between 1998 and 2000 in which dozens of main battle tanks were lost in combat. The lack of information or even images showing tanks in service does not allow the identification of any Korean MBTs in service.
For the same reason, it seems that nowadays the Ethiopian Ground Force does not have Ch’ŏnmas in its ranks. During the Tigray War between November 2020 and November 2022, both factions used many Soviet and Soviet-inspired main battle tanks in combat. Even if photographic evidences do not show North Korean vehicles, it is possible, that it will eventually emerge that some of the tanks deployed in the conflict were old North Korean Ch’ŏnmas. Even the Tigray militias that fought against the government forces were equipped with Cold War-era MBTs , among which may be a handful of Ch’ŏnmas.
Eritrea
Eritrea currently has some Ch’ŏnma MBTs in service in an unknown but limited number. It is not clear if Eritrea inherited them after independence from Ethiopian Army depots, if they were captured in battle, or whether the Ch’ŏnmas were handed over to Eritrea by North Korea after 1991. Despite North Korea’s alliance with Ethiopia during the Eritrean Independence War that broke out in 1982 during the Ethiopian Civil War; Korea and Eritrea created a strong relationship, while relations between Ethiopia and North Korea were cut again. As many Western sources have confirmed, North Korea has sold small arms and communications technology to Eritrea. The shipment of new North Korean tanks would be surely spotted and tracked by Western observers.
A parade in Sawa, Eritrea, showing off four T-62-inspired MBTs. The second one (from the front) is a North Korean Ch’ŏnma equipped with a coaxial KPVT heavy machine gun. Source: twitter.com @BuschModelar
During a parade in August 2019 celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Sawa Military Training Centre and the launching of the National Service Programme in Siwa, at least one Ch’ŏnma was spotted between some Eritrean T-62 Obr. 1962s and T-62 Obr. 1972s. The vehicle, which had received a new camouflage, had a peculiar Eritrean modification. The 14.5 mm PVK heavy machine gun was mounted coaxially to the main gun on the right side. This characteristic modification is also visible on the standard Soviet-origin T-62s during the same parade.
Unfortunately, due to the absence of other photographic sources, it is impossible to state how many North Korean Ch’ŏnmas are currently in service with the Eritrean Army. The Eritrean example easily shows how the Ch’ŏnmas are roughly comparable to the Soviet T-62 main battle tanks for their robustness and reliability. The Eritrean Ch’ŏnmas have been in service for nearly four decades.
Modernized Versions
Ch’ŏnma-92
The Ch’ŏnma-92 was presented at a parade for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the KPA, on 25th April 1992, and showed off new North Korean upgrades, such as a new welded turret equipped with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks on the sides, a thermal sleeve for the gun, eight smoke dischargers per side, and a new laser rangefinder mounted on the barrel. The chassis seems unmodified even if it was equipped with rubber side skirts.
This new Ch’ŏnma variant was presumably produced in small numbers as a stopgap to counter the South Korean K1. The Ch’ŏnma-92 was unofficially known by Western commentators as the M-1992 and designated by the US’ DoD as Chonma-Ho III or Chonma-Ho Da.
A Ch’ŏnma-92 on parade in the early 2000s. This new tank seems to mitigate some of the obsolescences issued of the early Ch’ŏnmas. Source: massimotessitori.altervista.org
Ch’ŏnma-98
The Ch’ŏnma-98 was first spotted during a parade in 2000 and featured a new welded turret shaped like more modern Chinese MBTs, such as the Type 85. Albeit with a new shape and dimensions, it seems that the optical devices and the crew member’s hatches remained in the same position as on the previous cast turret.
It shared many of the upgrades of the Ch’ŏnma-92, such as side skirts, smoke launchers, and a new model of laser rangefinder over the barrel.
Analysts have reported that North Korea could have imported fire-control systems and thermal imaging cameras, and even a new autoloader for this tank from the Islamic Republic of Iran, but these suggestions have never been confirmed by official sources.
The Ch’ŏnma-98 has rarely been spotted in parades and the like, with its last appearance being at the North Korean Tank Exhibition on 12th April 2012 for the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Kim Il-sung. It is officially known with the US’ DoD designation of Chonma-Ho IV or Chonma-Ho Ra.
The Ch’ŏnma-98 at the North Korean Tank Exhibition in 2012. Source: massimotessitori.altervista.org
Ch’ŏnma-214
The Ch’ŏnma-214 appeared for the first time in 2001. It seems to be the serial production version of the Ch’ŏnma-98. The vehicles shared many upgrades, such as the same turret and laser rangefinder, even if the Ch’ŏnma-214 received add-on armor on the frontal part of the turret to better protect the vehicle. The Ch’ŏnma-214 is also equipped with rubber flaps under the add-on armor and on the lower side of the hull.
Three Ch’ŏnma-214s during a parade in P’yŏngyang in 2010. The similarities with the Ch’ŏnma-98 are visible. In this image, three different flags are also visible on the tanks. From the foreground: the Ramhongsaek Konghwagukgi (North Korean Flag), the flag of the Workers’ Party of Korea and on the last tank, the Supreme Commander of the KPA’s flag. Source: massimotessitori.altervista.org
The Ch’ŏnma-214 is rarely spotted in military parades in P’yŏngyang or other North Korean cities. This would suggest that the Ch’ŏnma-214 was a simple stopgap, perhaps serving as a pre-series for the next-generation North Korean main battle tanks.
The US’ DoD designation for the Ch’ŏnma-214 is Chonma-Ho V or Chonma-Ho Ra.
Ch’ŏnma-215
On 16th February 2002, US intelligence reported that a new North Korean main battle tank was tested in the P’yŏngyang area. The development of the new Ch’ŏnma-215 had probably already started in 1992, when the DPRK received a T-72 “Ural” from unknown sources. Work was most likely carried out by the 2nd Economic Committee and the 2nd Academy of Defense Sciences.
New features included an anemometer, used to better calculate gunfire, increasing the precision of the U-5TS gun coupled with a new laser rangefinder. Laser rangefinders of the same model are also mounted on the modern Songun main battle tanks.
It appeared with add-on armor on the hull front and rubber flaps on the lower hull’s front. The turret add-on armor seems to be different from the previous one on the Ch’ŏnma-214.
North Korean Tank Exhibition in 2012. The MBT with identification number 138 is a Ch’ŏnma-214, the one with identification number 404 is a Ch’ŏnma-215, and the one with identification number 905 is a Ch’ŏnma-216. Source: massimotessitori.altervista.org
A 6th road wheel was added to the vehicle, increasing the total length of the vehicle, thus permitting the designers to increase the turret diameter.
The Ch’ŏnma-215, as many other North Korean vehicles, has received several unofficial designations, from M-2002 and Chonma-Ho VI (Chonma-Ho Ma) in the early 2000s, to P’okp’ung-Ho I adopted later in 2010 when it was first spotted.
Ch’ŏnma-216
The Ch’ŏnma-216 during a parade in P’yŏngyang. It is also known as P’okp’ung-Ho II. Source: KCTV
The most recent version of the Ch’ŏnma series is the Ch’ŏnma-216, which appeared for the first time at the North Korean Tank Exhibition on 12th April 2012. It was then spotted in several parades held in subsequent years. The Ch’ŏnma-216 received the US’ DoD designation of P’okp’ung-Ho II.
On this version, the smoke launchers are mounted in two rows, instead of a single row, as on previous models.
An upgraded variant was spotted for the first time in 2014. It had an increased armament with two ATGMs and MANPADS for air defense. This increases the offensive capabilities of the vehicle against more modern South Korean main battle tanks.
The Ch’ŏnma-216 was first spotted in 2014. Source: flickr.com @Eínon
In 2018, the Ch’ŏnma-216 was seen with a plethora of new upgrades, including two ATGMs mounted on the left side of the turret. On the rear of the turret, a lowerable support for two MANPADS was also mounted. It appears the ubiquitous 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun has been abandoned for heavier support guns and two 30 mm automatic grenade launchers, which are a copy of the Soviet AGS-17.
To increase the protection of the vehicle, new Laser Warning Receivers (LWRs) have been added on the turret sides to detect enemy rangefinder’s laser beams and automatically activate the smoke launchers to cover the vehicle with a smoke screen.
The new Ch’ŏnma-216 was upgraded in 2018. The turret now features a laser rangefinder, laser warning receiver, two MANPADS, two ATGMs, two 30 mm automatic grenade launchers, and anemometer. Source:
Ch’ŏnma designations
Name
US’ DoD designation
Other names
Ch’ŏnma
Chonma-Ho I or Chonma-Ho Ga
Ch’ŏnma
Chonma-Ho II or Chonma-Ho Na
Ch’ŏnma-92
Chonma-Ho III or Chonma-Ho Da
M-1992
Ch’ŏnma-98
No DoD designation
Ch’ŏnma-214
Chonma-Ho IV or Chonma-Ho Ra
Ch’ŏnma-215
Chonma-Ho V or Chonma-Ho Ra
P’okp’ung-Ho I or M-2002
Ch’ŏnma-216
Chonma-Ho VI or Chonma-Ho Ma
P’okp’ung-Ho II
Variants
Ch’ŏnma ARV
The Ch’ŏnma Armored Recovery Vehicle is based on a turretless Ch’ŏnma chassis with three hatches to protect the crew. Unlike other armored recovery vehicles of its era, it is not equipped with a dozer blade or crane, and it is probably only deployed to tow damaged or broken-down vehicles. This has forced the Korean People’s Army to adopt other specialized vehicles for other engineering roles, such as bulldozers and cranes.
North Korean Ch’ŏnma ARV and a pair of 323 armored personnel carriers loaded on flatbed wagons. Source: namu.wiki
The Ch’ŏnma ARV was also spotted during a military training exercise with a KPVT heavy machine gun and over 10 soldiers riding it. This could probably mean that it can also be deployed to transport a sapper squad and support it with machine gun fire in specific situations.
A Ch’ŏnma ARV equipped with a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun during a training exercise. Source: KCTV via twitter.com @KPA_bot
Ch’ŏnma Bridgelayer
The Ch’ŏnma Bridgelayer has only been spotted a couple of times in official North Korean videos of military training exercises. It is a Ch’ŏnma with its turret replaced by a special bridge-launching equipment similar to the one mounted on the Slovakian MT-55A armored vehicle-launched bridge. The bridge can be deployed to overcome obstacles, such as anti-tank ditches and small rivers, and could be an effective support vehicle in the Korean peninsula.
The only public appearance of the Ch’ŏnma Bridgelayer was during a training exercise. Source: KCTV via twitter.com @KPA_bot
Conclusion
On occasions, people tend to underestimate the DPRK’s tank production capabilities. Even if the early series Ch’ŏnmas are totally outdated nowadays, it could effectively be used by a fierce army of fanatics ready to defend every inch of North Korea from an attack. Even during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the better-equipped Russian Army was forced to reactivate some T-62s for use, even if they are not more than infantry support vehicles. With upgrades such as laser rangefinders and Fire-Control Systems, some Ch’ŏnmas could prove to be troublesome enemies to deal with, even for the better-equipped US Army and ROKA forces.
It should also be noted that the DPRK was the only country under Soviet influence to produce a licensed copy of the T-62, giving luster to the country’s war industry, which was also able to export several hundred examples to other nations.
Despite the bad reputation that gravitates to everything produced and exported from the DPRK, the Ch’ŏnma appears to be one of the few vehicles with comparable capabilities to its Soviet counterpart, the T-62. Its service of more than four decades in the KPA and some African nations are a testament to North Korean capabilities.
Regardless, under present circumstances, a fleet of hundreds of Ch’ŏnmas cannot compete against the more modern South Korean and US MBTs deployed south of the Demilitarized Zone.
One early production Ch’ŏnma equipped with MANPADS during parade. An illustration by Vesp.Second Ch’ŏnma upgrade. An illustration by Vesp.Ch’ŏnma with turret bustle and unusual camouflage spotted in a military parade in 1986. An illustration by Vesp.Ch’ŏnma with turret bustle. An illustration by Vesp.Eritrean Ch’ŏnma spotted in August 2019. An illustration by Vesp.Iranian Ch’ŏnma during the Iran-Iraq War. An illustration by Vesp.
Ch’ŏnma Specification
Size (L-W-H)
9.350 x 9.335 x 2.395 m
Weight, battle ready
~ 38 tonnes
Crew
4 (commander, gunner, loader, and driver)
Engine
V-55V diesel engine copy delivering 580 hp
Speed
~ 50 km/h
Range
~ 400 km
Armament
Korean copy of the 115 mm U-5TS cannon, 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine gun, and from 2010, 1 MANPADS
Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 used by Regio Esercito. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Kingdom of Italy/Italian Social Republic (1942-1945)
Reconnaissance Car – 66-182 Built
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 (English: SPA-Viberti AS43 Reconnaissance Car) was an Italian reconnaissance car developed for the Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army) for long-range reconnaissance in the North African desert, ambushing Allied convoys, countering the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), and escorting Axis convoys on the desert roads.
Unfortunately, it entered service too late in the war to participate in the North African campaign. For this reason, the vehicle was deployed only in Italy and the Balkans.
A Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43, probably at the Officine Viberti’s production plant of Corso Peschiera 249 in Turin. Source: Collezione Museo Storico della Guerra via Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
North African Campaign and First Camionette
The Regio Esercito started the North African Campaign on 9th September 1940, fighting against the British and Commonwealth troops based in Egypt. After a few months, in January 1941, the Italian Xª Armata (English: 10th Army) was forced to retreat to Libya and take defensive positions, awaiting German help.
A FIAT-SPA Trattore Leggero Modello 1937 of the 9ª Divisione di Fanteria ‘Pasubio’ crossing the Dnieper River in Autumn 1941. Even if this particular vehicle was not of the ‘Libia’ type, it shared many external similarities. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
In that period, the Regio Esercito‘s High Command started to request the development of various new kinds of vehicles based on the experience gained in the first months of desert warfare. One of the most famous vehicles designed in that period was the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto (English: Armored [Wheeled Vehicle] FIAT-SPA S37) armored personnel carrier, based on the FIAT-SPA Trattore Leggero Modello 1937 ‘Libia’ (English: FIAT-SPA Light Tractor Model 1937), or more simply, the FIAT-SPA TL37 ‘Libia’ light prime mover.
At the same time, due to the absence of many types of special purpose vehicles, the Italian soldiers on the front tried to fill the gaps in their organic strength with improvised vehicles of two kinds: support and reconnaissance vehicles, both based on Italian built or captured trucks.
The support trucks were called autocannoni (English: truck-mounted artillery). Basically, these were just standard trucks without cab roofs and windshields with support, anti-aircraft, or anti-tank guns mounted permanently on their cargo bays.
The reconnaissance trucks were built on light lorries and were called camionette desertiche (English: desert reconnaissance cars). In Italian, the term camionetta (camionette plural) is used to designate any kind of unarmored light reconnaissance vehicle of the army or unarmored police vehicles.
One of the support truck models was the Autocannone da 75/27 su FIAT-SPA TL37. It was armed with a Cannone da 75/27 Modello 1911 field gun mounted on the modified rear side of a prime mover.
The first camionette were based, in the first stages of the war, on the FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 (English: FIAT-SPA Saharan Truck Model 1937), or more simply FIAT-SPA AS37, a light desert lorry developed on the TL37 chassis.
FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 with Pirelli Tipo ‘Raiflex’ tyres outside the production plant. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
These vehicles had the advantage of being powered by a strong petrol engine and, thanks to their large tires, having great off-road mobility. The armament was usually a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 anti-aircraft gun, which was also effective against light armored vehicles, or machine guns mounted on pedestal supports.
A FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 deployed by Italian colonial troops. Source: zen.yandex.ru
These cheap, easy to modify, all-terrain vehicles proved themselves as really effective against the British saboteur and reconnaissance units, but also against convoys or small armored units.
In mid-1942, the Comando Militare del Sahara Libico (English: Libyan Sahara Military Command), the branch of the Regio Esercito High Command in North Africa, ordered the modification of the FIAT-SPA AS37 light desert lorries into camionette. The modifications were made by a specialized military workshop in the Hon Oasis.
One of the biggest problems encountered with the FIAT-SPA AS37 was their height, which, in flat landscapes like the desert, made it easily spottable by enemy forces. The FIAT-SPA AS37 was 2.65 m tall due to the cab and waterproof tarpaulin.
A FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 with soft top and tarpaulin used to protect the crew from the desert sun during breaks. This photo was taken outside the production plant. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The Hon workshop then cut the cab, removing the roof, rear wall, and windshield, and lowered the chassis by a few centimeters.
In the modified cargo bay’s center, a universal support was mounted, which could be equipped with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 or a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935. The armament was completed with a 8 mm Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 (English: Breda Medium Machine Gun Model 1937) manned by the vehicle’s commander.
Probably no more than 2 FIAT-SPA AS37s were modified into camionette, tested and then delivered to the compagnie sahariane (English: saharan companies).
Camionetta AS37 armed with a 47 mm gun of the Raggruppamento Sahariano ‘Mannarini’. In the background, a Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’. The AS37 is equipped with Pirelli Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’ low pressure desert tires. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
These vehicles gave great results and the Comando Militare del Sahara Libico probably sent a favorable report to the Regio Esercito’s High Command in Rome.
The Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’ – the Expensive Reconnaissance Car
The Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’ (English: Desert Reconnaissance Car SPA-Viberti AS42) was presented as a prototype at the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione (English: Vehicle Study and Experience Center) in Rome on 9th July 1942.
It was a 5.62 m long, 2.26 m wide, and 1.8 m tall (with armament installed) reconnaissance car with two rows of 20 liter cans on each side, usually carrying fuel, and 4 20 liter cans on the front mudguards for drinkable water and lubricant oil.
These reconnaissance cars had a universal support in the center able to mount a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935, a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935, or a Solothurn S-18/1000 anti-tank rifle, known in Italian service as the Carabina ‘S’ (English: ‘S’ Carbine) or as the Fucile Anticarro ‘S’ (English: ‘S’ Anti-Tank Rifle). A smaller support was positioned on the right frontal side and two more were positioned on each side on the rear. These three supports were used for 8 mm Mitragliatrici Medie Breda Modello 1937 or Modello 1938 machine guns, used for anti-aircraft and anti-personnel fire.
A Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’ during a crew break. It is armed with a Solothurn S-18/1000 anti-tank rifle, a Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 at the front, and a Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 at the rear. Source: pinterest.com
Less than 100 were produced and delivered before the loss of the North African campaign in May 1943. More were produced, under the new designation Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Metropolitana’ or ‘Sahariana II’ (English: Reconnaissance Car SPA-Viberti AS42 “Metropolitan”). These differed only by the absence of the first row of 20 liter cans on each side and the installation of stowage compartments for ammunition.
These camionette proved themselves really useful to the Axis forces in the last actions of the North African campaign, with a claimed kill ratio of 1:5. Their flaw was the cost of each vehicle. They had a 4×4 steering system and a frame in common with the Autoblinde (English: Armored Cars) of the AB series. The camionette were not expensive financially, but, for each Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS42, an Autoblinda AB41 chassis was removed from the armored car production line, decreasing the number of precious armored cars produced. Also, for this reason, a new camionetta with a different frame had to be built.
A Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Metropolitana’, unarmed and with waterproof tarpaulin. The upper row of 20 liter cans was substituted with an ammunition box. Source: Officine Viberti
History of the Prototype
The Officine Viberti design office, thanks to the reports on the various types of improvised camionette, started development of a new reconnaissance car on the FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 chassis. The design was probably influenced during development by the reports on the Camionetta AS37 received in summer 1942 from the Comando Militare del Sahara Libico.
The Camionetta AS37 armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 and, behind it, a Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
In late summer 1942, the prototype of the new vehicle, initially called Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS43, was presented at the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione in Rome.
The Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS43, the prototype of the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43. It is in desert camouflage and equipped with Pirelli Tipo ‘Raiflex’ tires. Source: Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II
The prototype differed from the production vehicles by the presence, on the sides, of two 20 liter can supports, for a total of 10 cans transported. After the loss of North Africa, the production vehicles were modified, removing the can supports and transforming the free space into lockers where ammunition was stored.
Side view of the prototype. The 20 liter can rack is visible between the mudguards. Source: Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II
Production and Deliveries
On 1st February 1943, a document was published by the Direzione Generale della Motorizzazione (English: General Directorate of Motor Vehicles), part of the Ministero della Guerra (English: Ministry of the War). This mentioned that the total order for the Camionette AS43 was of 180 vehicles. This could confirm the total number of 300 camionette ordered: 120 AS42 and 180 AS43.
The Officine Viberti’s documents, however, confirm the production of 167 to 169 AS43 between June 1943 to January 1946. It is necessary to add the 13 SPA-Viberti AS43 produced for the Germans with modified bodyworks and armaments to this number. If this claim is correct, the SPA and the Officine Viberti produced a total of 180 or 182 AS43s. The monthly production ratio was planned to reach 30 Camionette AS43. Nevertheless, due to the Italian industry’s poor situation in early 1943, this goal was never reached, and only 23 AS43s were delivered to the Regio Esercito before the war.
A column of Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 outside the Officine Viberti production facility. The first one is equipped with Pirelli Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’ tires, while the others have Tipo ‘Artiglio’ tires for continental soils. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
Another source claims that there were 66 Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 built, of which 23 were produced and delivered before the Armistice of 8th September 1943. This source is supported by an acknowledgement of a debt of 12 million Italian lira for the production of 63 camionette from December 1943. The debt was paid off in May 1947.
Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 Produced and Delivered before the Armistice
Engine Serial Code
Chassis serial Code
License Plate
Date of Registration
Delivered to
100010
47269
Regio Esercito 1120B
7th July 1943
Deposito 1° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Vercelli on 28th July 1943
100011
47270
Regio Esercito 1121B
Deposito 1° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Vercelli on 29th July 1943
100012
47271
Regio Esercito 1122B
Deposito 1° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Vercelli on 28th July 1943
100014
47273
Regio Esercito 1123B
Deposito 1° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Vercelli on 29th July 1943
100017
47276
Regio Esercito 1124B
Deposito 1° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Vercelli on 28th July 1943
100018
47277
Regio Esercito 1125B
Deposito 1° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Vercelli on 29th July 1943
100016
47275
Regio Esercito 1126B
100022
47281
Regio Esercito 1127B
100023
47282
Regio Esercito 1128B
28th July 1943
4° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Rome on 4th August 1943
100026
47285
Regio Esercito 1129B
100028
47287
Regio Esercito 1130B
100020
47279
Regio Esercito 1131B
100025
47284
Regio Esercito 1132B
19th August 1943
Deposito 33° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Parma on 14th August 1943
100029
47288
Regio Esercito 1133B
28th July 1943
4° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Rome on 4th August 1943
100021
47280
Regio Esercito 1135B
100024
47283
Regio Esercito 1136B
100030
47289
Regio Esercito 1138B
19th August 1943
Deposito 33° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Parma on 14th August 1943
100034
47293
Regio Esercito 1139B
29th July 1943
Deposito 33° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Parma on 4th August 1943
100003
47268
Regio Esercito 1140B
19th August 1943
Deposito 33° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista of Parma on 14th August 1943
100032
47291
Regio Esercito 1142B
100057
47316
Regio Esercito 1143B
100071
47330
Regio Esercito 1144B
100070
47329
Regio Esercito 1145B
Organization
Before the delivery of the first SPA-Viberti AS43, the units that employed the previous SPA-Viberti AS42 were composed of compagnie camionettisti (English: reconnaissance car driver companies). Each compagnia camionettisti was equipped with 24 camionette, 2 FIAT 1100 staff cars, and 8 FIAT-SPA 38R light lorries, divided into 4 pattuglie (English: Patrol Unit) with 6 camionette each. Each pattuglia was composed of 2 officers and 18 Arditi. Each Ardito was armed with a Carcano Modello 1891 rifle or a Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modello 1938 (MAB 38) pistol and dagger and was trained to use various types of explosives. At least a pair of compagnie camionettisti was equipped with a total of 10 SPA-Viberti AS43 that were probably integrated within these organic strengths.
From a document of 30th May 1943, each compagnia camionette (English: reconnaissance car company) was composed of a plotone comando (English: command platoon) with 2 command camionette equipped only with 8 mm machine guns as defensive armament and an Apparato Ricetrasmittente Radio Fonica 3M (English: Audio Radio Receiver Apparatus 3M) produced by Magneti Marelli. The personnel of the plotone comando consisted of 2 officers, 2 camionette drivers, and 4 soldiers. The squadra servizi (English: service squad) was composed of 1 NCO, 5 drivers, 29 soldiers, 1 small mobile workshop, 2 FIAT-SPA 38R light lorries, 4 motorbikes, and 1 motor tricycle.
The command platoon commanded 4 plotoni camionette (English: reconnaissance car platoons) with 2 camionette each. The personnel and equipment of a platoon had a staff of an officer, an NCO, 6 soldiers and 2 camionette drivers. In total, a compagnia camionette had an organic strength of 5 officers, 5 NCOs, 57 soldiers, 15 drivers, 10 Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43, 1 small mobile workshop, 2 FIAT-SPA 38R light lorries, 4 motorbikes, and 1 motor tricycle.
Compagnia Camionette organization
Personnel
Vehicles
Officers
NCOs
Soldiers
Drivers
Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43
Small mobile workshop
FIAT-SPA 38R
Motor tricycle
Motorbikes
Plotone Comando
1
/
4
2
2
/
/
/
/
Squadra Servizi
/
1
29
5
/
1
2
1
4
1° Plotone Camionette
1
1
6
2
2
/
/
/
/
2° Plotone Camionette
1
1
6
2
2
/
/
/
/
3° Plotone Camionette
1
1
6
2
2
/
/
/
/
4° Plotone Camionette
1
1
6
2
2
/
/
/
/
Total Plotoni
4
4
24
8
8
/
/
/
/
Total Compagnia
5
5
57
15
10
1
2
1
4
On 12th August 1943, General Augusto de Pignier, Chief of the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione wrote a document about the new role of the Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 in the ranks of the Regio Esercito. In fact, the North African Campaign had been lost three months prior, and the AS43 needed a new role.
The reconnaissance cars were repurposed to perform anti-landing duties on the Italian coasts, while the heavier AS42s were deployed on anti-paratrooper duties in Southern Italy.
The document reported all the necessary data about the new role of the camionette. An important and curious note was that the general explained how to sink Allied landing craft by firing at them under the floating line.
De Pignier then suggested training the crew of the camionette to drive during the night without headlights, create hull-down positions on the shores and in the area behind to be ready to protect their homeland.
The number of plotoni camionette was reduced from 4 to 2 in this document, but the number of camionette in each platoon was increased from 2 to 4.
Design
Chassis and Bodywork
The chassis was produced by the Società Piemontese Automobili plant at Corso Ferrucci 122 in Turin, which had also produced the TL37s and the AS37s.
The original FIAT-SPA TL37 frame. Source: FIAT Archives
As on the Camionette Desertiche AS37, the modifications to the frame of the new camionetta were similar to the ones approved by the Comando Militare del Sahara Libico. The FIAT-SPA Autocarro Sahariano Modello 1937 chassis was lowered from a ground clearance of 390 mm to 345 mm. The cab was completely modified, apart from the engine hood and the radiator grille. The side doors, the windshield, the roof, and the third seat were removed.
On the front, there was a bumper and 2 iron bars to protect the radiator. On the lower bar, a support for the engine’s ignition crank was mounted. A new frontally foldable armored plate with bulletproof Securit glass was mounted for the driver on the right side. The bulletproof glass also had a slit that could be closed to protect the glass from splinters. The shield was foldable to allow the main gun to shoot at 0° elevation on the front arch when the vehicle was in a static position.
Another SPA-Viberti AS43 with Pirelli Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’ tyres at the Officine Viberti. This image shows the armored windshield with a slot. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The cargo bay consisted of a structure of electrically welded steel sections with a wooden floor and sides connected to the driving compartment. The rear wooden side of the cargo bay was protected on the inner side by a 1.2 mm thick metal sheet. On the floor of the cargo bay, there were 4 ammunition boxes. The mudguards were made of 1.5 mm thick metal sheets and the rear one had a metal bar that protected the wheel at 75 cm from the ground.
On the rear of the vehicle, there were the license plate with light, stop light, and support for the sapper tools: shovel, pickaxe, and crowbar.
The prototype’s rear side. The Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 did not differ from the original prototype. The registration plate was not installed. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
To protect the crew from the elements, the vehicle could be equipped with a green-gray waterproof tarpaulin. When not used, it was rolled up on the rear side of the cargo bay. When used, it was fixed on the rear side on 2 extendable supports by means of carabiners and, on the front, to the armored shield for the driver and to a tiltable support positioned on the left side of the cab. On the center, there was an arch-shaped tube that was lifted when the tarpaulin was mounted. The sides of the vehicles were also equipped with waterproof tarpaulins with small plexiglas on the sides for the commander and driver, and another one frontally, also for the commander.
The rear of a Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43, also partially showing the inside of the cargo bay. The spare wheel is not mounted and 2 partially extended supports are visible and, in the background, in the inner side of the front cargo bay side, the arch-shaped tube is not extended. On the cab is visible the front support for the tarpaulin, while the machine gun support is not mounted. The interior of the cargo bay was also camouflaged. Source: Le Camionette del Regio EsercitoImage of a Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 with waterproof tarpaulin mounted. Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The spare wheel support was moved from behind the cab to the cargo bay’s rear to free up space. The spare wheel was placed on a new tilting support that the crew could angle backwards to allow the main gun to shoot at 0° elevation even on the rear arch. The loading bay’s sides were fixed and could not be lowered, but were wide enough to permit the installation of a 360° traverse universal gun support.
Even if the main can racks were modified, the vehicle could transport a total of 6 20 liter cans on the mudguards: two for each rear mudguard, and one for each frontal mudguard. The cans were intended for drinkable water, lubricant oil, and fuel, but were rarely transported on the vehicles that were all deployed in Europe, where it was not necessary to extend the already long-range of the vehicle.
A Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43’s side. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The driver was on the right and, under his seat, he had a small storage compartment, while the vehicle commander was placed on the left. Between the seats was a rack for the machine gun’s ammunition. Other machine gun ammunition was stored on the sides, over the lockers.
Engine and Suspension
Like the FIAT-SPA AS37, the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 had all-wheel drive.
The front wheels had independent coil spring suspension coupled with hydraulic shock absorbers, which guaranteed great comfort on rough terrain. The rear wheels had inverse leaf springs coupled with hydraulic shock absorbers. The rear leaf spring was reinforced compared to the one of the FIAT-SPA TL37 light prime mover or the FIAT-SPA AS37 due to the new role of the vehicle.
The original FIAT-SPA TL37 frame. Source: italie1935-45.com
The engine was a more powerful version of the 52 hp SPA 18LT used on the FIAT-SPA AS37, the SPA 18VT 4a Variante, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, petrol engine delivering 73 hp (or 75 hp, as sources offer differing values) at 2,000 rpm.
The SPA 18VT 4a Variante petrol engine: Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The gearbox had 5 gears plus reverse and was mounted behind the clutch, on the vehicle’s center. Behind the gearbox was the tire compressor. The Camionetta AS43 had hydraulic brakes.
Developed as a super long-range desert reconnaissance car, the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 was equipped with two 120 liter fuel tanks between the fenders, under the lockers. The 240 liters of petrol guaranteed a range of 750 km. With the 6 20 liter cans mounted on the mudguards, the range extended to 1,120 km. On the prototype, with the unmodified can supports for 10 more 20 liter cans, the range was of 1,700 km.
The frame had a wheelbase of 2,500 mm, the same as on the FIAT-SPA TL37 ‘Libia’ and all the vehicles developed on its chassis. The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 frame weighed 2.62 tonnes (without fuel, cooling water, oil, etc.), the empty vehicle weighed 3,500 kg, while the fully equipped and battle ready weight was 5 tonnes.
The maximum speed of the battle loaded Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 was 68.5 km/h, while the maximum slope was 45°, more than the previous vehicles produced on the previous chassis.
Tires
The tires also used on the AB41 were produced by the Pirelli factory in Milan, as were almost all the tires on Italian vehicles. Pirelli produced several tires for the 24″ (60 cm) rim used on the FIAT-SPA TM40 prime mover, SPA Dovunque 41 heavy duty truck, and many other vehicles and armored cars.
The Tipo ‘Artiglio’ 9 x 24″ (22 x 60 cm) and Tipo ‘Artiglio a Sezione Maggiorata’ pneumatics were used for continental terrain and the Russian steppes. Tipo ‘Libia’ 11.25 x 24” (28.5 x 60.96 cm), Tipo ‘Libia Rinforzato’, and Pirelli Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’ 11.25 x 24″ were used for sandy soils and Tipo ‘Raiflex’ were for universal use. The Pirelli Tipo ‘Raiflex’ tires were produced with Rayon (Raion in Italian) synthetic fibers (RAI-flex for Raion) in order to improve strength with cross ply.
Four types of tires deployed on the camionette. From left to the right: Pirelli Tipo ‘Artiglio’ for continental soil, Tipo ‘Libia’ and ‘Sigillo Verde’ low pressure tires for sandy soils, and the Pirelli Tipo ‘Raiflex’. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
Main Armament
The main armament of the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 was a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 anti-aircraft automatic gun or a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 anti-tank/support gun.
Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935
The anti-aircraft gun was developed by Società Italiana Ernesto Breda per Costruzioni Meccaniche (English: Italian Ernesto Breda Company for Mechanical Constructions) in 1935 as an anti-aircraft gun, but showed itself powerful enough to deal with light armored vehicles, such as armored cars and light tanks. In its field version, it had a crew of five, while on the camionetta, the number of operators was decreased to two: gunner and loader. The gunner was seated behind the gun and the loader was seated in the cargo bay. The driver would probably occasionally help to load the gun to speed up reloading.
The maximum anti-aircraft range was 1,500-2,000 m, while against ground targets, the maximum range was 5,000 m and the effective range decreased to about 2,500 m.
A Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 in Greece in winter 1941. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
This gun was one of the best light automatic guns of its era, with a total weight of 330 kg and a theoretical rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute. The practical rate of fire dropped to about 300 rounds per minute due to the presence of a single loader in the cargo bay. The maximum elevation was +80°, while the depression was -10°.
Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935
The Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 was nicknamed ‘Elefantino’ (English: Little Elephant) by Italian soldiers. This gun was originally designed by the Austrian Böhler company and found use with various nations. The Regio Esercito, for example, used over 3,200 units which had been produced under license by various companies between 1937 and 1945. The main producers were Breda of Brescia, Arsenale Regio Esercito di Torino or ARET (English: Royal Army Arsenal of Turin), Arsenale Regio Esercito di Piacenza or AREP, and Ansaldo (only for tank use).
Designed as an infantry support cannon, it proved to be reliable and precise during the Spanish Civil War and capable of taking out the few opposing armored vehicles. It had a total dismounted weight of 108 kg, while the barrel weighed 64.5 kg.
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 prototype at the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione. It was equipped with a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935. The tiltable spare wheel support is visible. Source: Italian Truck-Mounted Artillery in Action
The Italian Army High Command, satisfied by its performance against enemy tanks in Spain, considered it a reliable anti-tank gun. Despite its performances in the Spanish Civil War, from 1940 onward, it became less adequate because the armor of the enemy tanks became thicker.
Its maximum range was 7,000 m, but it was effective up to 4,000 m for infantry support and about 800-1,000 m for anti-tank fire. Its compact mounting and short recoil of just 20 cm were perfect for mounting on a small vehicle, such as the camionetta. Thanks to the small dimensions of the rounds and the automatic breech, the gun could reach, with well trained crews, a rate of fire of 28 rounds per minute, even if for a short time.
Other Main Armaments
After the Armistice, the German soldiers of the Luftwaffe and of the Wehrmacht captured a certain number of Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 and produced a small lot of slightly modified vehicles. The vehicles captured by the Germans after the Armistice were often rearmed with German FlaK 38 anti-aircraft automatic cannons that had larger magazines compared to the Italian ones (30 round magazines vs 12 round clips) and guaranteed an increased rate of fire.
A German Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 armed with a FlaK 38 gun. On the rear, an ammunition crate was positioned instead of the fuel cans. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
At least an AS43 deployed by the Germans after the Armistice was armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Scotti-Isotta Fraschini da 20/70 Modello 1939 (English: Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20 mm L.70 Automatic Cannon Model 1939), but it is probable that more than one was armed in this manner.
This automatic gun shared similar characteristics to those made by Breda. The gun was gas-operated and had a theoretical rate of fire of about 500 rounds per minute. However, this dropped to 250 rounds per minute in practice. Its maximum firing range was 5,500 m against ground targets and 2,000 m against flying targets.
A Cannone-Mitragliera Scotti-Isotta Fraschini da 20/70 Modello 1941 in anti-aircraft position on Leros, a Greek island, winter 1942. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
Secondary Armament
The secondary armament was one Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 (English: Breda Medium Machine Gun Model 1937) mounted on a gooseneck support on the left side of the cab and used by the commander for anti-personnel fire or to fire against low flying enemy planes.
This gun was developed after the specifications issued by the Ispettorato d’Artiglieria (English: Artillery Inspectorate) in May 1933. Different Italian gun companies started working on the new machine gun. The requirements were a maximum weight of 20 kg, a theoretical rate of fire of 450 rounds per minute, and a barrel life of 1,000 rounds.
The Comitato Superiore Tecnico Armi e Munizioni (English: Superior Technical Committee for Weapons and Ammunition) in Turin issued its verdict in November 1935. The Breda project won. A first order for 2,500 units of the Breda medium machine gun was placed in 1936. After operational evaluation with the units, the weapon was adopted in 1937 as the Mitragliatrice Breda Modello 1937.
A Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 deployed in a defensive position held by Bersaglieri (Assault infantry) in the Soviet Union. Source: italie1935-45.com
The weapon was famous for its robustness and accuracy, despite its annoying tendency to jam if lubrication was insufficient. Its weight was considered too large compared to foreign machine guns of the time. It weighed 19.4 kg and its tripod had a weight of 18.8 kg, making this weapon the heaviest medium machine gun of the Second World War. The practical rate of fire, which was about 200-250 rounds per minute, was considered a bit low. The machine gun was fed by 20-round rigid strips. After firing, instead of ejecting the spent casings like all firearms, the Breda Modello 1937 reinserted it into the rigid strip to facilitate the recovery of reusable spent casings.
The machine gun shot 8 x 59 mm RB cartridges developed by Breda exclusively for machine guns. The 8 mm Breda had a muzzle velocity between 790 m/s and 800 m/s, depending on the round type. The armor piercing rounds could penetrate 11 mm of non-ballistic steel angled at 90° at 100 m. Even if there is no photographic evidence, as on other Italian vehicles, the Breda Modello 1937 could be substituted with the Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 (English: Breda Medium Machine Guns Model 1938) with the same action and cartridges of the Modello 1937, but especially developed for armored vehicles. It had a shorter barrel, pistol grip, and top curved 24-round magazines.
On the right front mudguard, a support for the machine gun tripod was fixed by means of butterfly screws. In fact, the Breda could be quickly dismounted and deployed in a fixed position by the crew on the ground.
On the Camionette SPA-Viberti deployed by the Germans, especially the Luftwaffe ones, the Italian machine guns were dismounted and substituted with Mauser MG15 aircraft machine guns recovered from damaged German planes deployed in the Italian peninsula or Balkan airfields. These 7.92 x 57 mm Mauser medium machine guns guaranteed an increased rate of fire thanks to their ammunition belts.
A Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 deployed by the Germans. It is armed with a Mauser MG15, 2 cm FlaK 38 and is equipped with Pirelli Tipo ‘Artiglio’ tires. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
Ammunition
The Breda automatic cannon could fire various kinds of caliber 20 x 138 mm B armor piercing and high-explosive rounds of Italian production, but also those used by the German FlaK 30 and FlaK 38 cannons and the Solothurn S18-1000 anti-tank gun, increasing the anti-tank capacity of the cannon. With the Granata Perforante da 20 mm Modello 1935 Italian armor-piercing bullets, it could penetrate a 38 mm armor plate angled at 90° at 100 m and a 30 mm armored plate at 500 m. With German Pz.Gr. 40 ammunition, it could penetrate a 50 mm armor plate angled at 90° at 100 m and a 40 mm armored plate at 500 m.
On board the Camionetta, 960 20 mm rounds were transported in 12 round clips, for a total of 80 clips. Of these clips, 8 sat in each ammunition box on the floor, for a total of 384 rounds. The other 48 clips were transported in the side lockers, 12 per side.
Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 ammunition
Name
Type
Muzzle Velocity (m/s)
Projectile Mass (g)
Penetration at 500 meters against an RHA plate angled at 90° (mm)
The 47 mm gun could fire different types of ammunition: Proietto Perforante da 47 Modello 1935 (English: 47 mm Armor Piercing Round Model 1935) and Modello 1939, Cartoccio Granata Dirompente da 47 modello 1935 (English: 47 mm High-Explosive Round Model 1935) and 2 different High-Explosive Anti-Tank rounds: the Effetto Pronto and the Effetto Pronto Speciale that, however, were rarely deployed.
Proietto Perforante da 47 Modello 1939 Armor Piercing Round
Distance (m)
Penetration of vertical armored plates
500
35 mm
1,000
30 mm
1,500
25 mm
2,000
22 mm
There is no precise data on the penetration of the HEAT ammunition of the 47 mm gun, but an Italian report from some tests in October 1942 shows that the Effetto Pronto round was not able to penetrate the 52 mm thick side armor of the turret of a T-34-76 Mod. 1942 captured by the Italians on the Eastern Front.
On the Camionetta, 160 47 mm rounds were transported, of which 60 in the 4 ammunition boxes on the floor and the others in the side lockers, 50 per side.
For the 8 mm machine gun, there were 100 20 round clips, for a total of 2,000 rounds placed between the driver and commander’s seats and over the lockers.
Operational Use
X Reggimento Arditi
In 1942, the Regio Esercito’s High Command decided to create a battalion-sized unit of Arditi (translatable as ‘The Daring [Ones]’) directly under command of the Regio Esercito’s High Command. This battalion originally had 4 companies, of which only 3 were formed.
On 26th April 1942, the battalion was created. Recruitment started on 15th May 1942 and the training was done in Santa Severa, near Rome. The location was chosen because in the area there were some flat and rough terrains, similar to the ones that the soldiers had to operate on in North Africa. Also in the area there were saboteur and paratrooper training schools.
A company was composed of paracadutisti (English: paratroopers) that trained at the Tarquinia Paratrooper training school, another company composed of nuotatori (Literally: swimmers, meaning marine saboteurs) trained in Pola, now Croatia, while the last company of camionettisti (English: reconnaissance car drivers) trained in Santa Severa.
On 20th July 1942, the Regio Esercito’s High Command ordered a second battalion to be formed by 1st August of the same year and the 2 battalions were grouped in the X Reggimento Speciale (English: 10th Special Regiment). The name of the regiment was then changed to X Reggimento Arditi (English: 10th Arditi Regiment).
The companies were renamed 101a Compagnia Paracadutisti (English: 101st Paratrooper Company), 102a Compagnia Nuotatori (English: 102nd Marine Saboteurs Company), and 103a Compagnia Camionettisti (English: 103rd Reconnaissance Car Drivers Company) for the renamed I Battaglione (English: 1st Battalion). The II Battaglione (English: 2nd Battalion) had the new 111a Compagnia Paracadutisti (English: 111th Paratrooper Company), 112a Compagnia Nuotatori (English: 112th Marine Saboteurs Company), and 113a Compagnia Camionettisti (English: 113th Reconnaissance Car Drivers Company).
Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 with license plate Ro Eto 1146B ready for delivery. It was equipped with Pirelli Tipo ‘Artiglio’ tires and, on the sides, there were the signatures of the workers that assembled it. Unfortunately, this vehicle did not make it in time to be delivered to the Regio Esercito and was probably requisitioned by the Germans or deployed by the Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana some months after. Source: facebook.com @Amici del Museo della Motorizzazione
In February 1943 the III Battaglione (English: 3rd Battalion) with 121a Compagnia Paracadutisti (English: 121st Paratrooper Company), 122a Compagnia Nuotatori (English: 122nd Marine Saboteurs Company), and 123a Compagnia Camionettisti (English: 123rd Reconnaissance Car Drivers Company) was also created, but this last battalion would never become operative.
In May 1943, in anticipation of an Allied attack on the Italian peninsula, the first 2 compagnie paracadutisti were grouped into the new IV Battaglione (English: 4th Battalion) and were substituted in the I Battaglione and II Battaglione by the 110a Compagnia Speciale and the 120a Compagnia Speciale (English: 110th and 120th Special Companies).
Shortly before the Armistice of 8th September 1943, the 122a Compagnia Nuotatori was transformed into a compagnia camionettisti and another company was created in Viterbo: the 133a Compagnia composed of soldiers of Benito Mussolini most loyal soldiers.
The I Battaglione was deployed in North Africa (103a Compagnia Camionettisti), while the other 2 companies were sent to Sardinia, all equipped with Camionette Desertiche SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariane’.
With the loss of North Africa, the 112a Compagnia Nuotatori and the 113a Compagnia Camionettisti of the II Battaglione were sent to Sicily, equipped with Camionette Desertiche SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariane’.
The first company to receive the new Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 was the 122a Compagnia Camionettisti, which had serious shortages in equipment and vehicles. It was sent in August 1943, with 8 AS43, to Rome to perform public order duties. In the book Dal TL37 all’ AS43 written by Pignato and Cappellano, it is mentioned that the 133a Compagnia was equipped with 2 SPA-Viberti AS43 for training purposes, but it is not clear if it was in Santa Severa, Rome or Viterbo when the Armistice was made public.
On 8th September 1943, the X Reggimento Arditi was scattered all over the place: the I Battaglione was in Sardinia, the II Battaglione and 2 companies of the IV Battaglione were in Santa Severa for reorganization after the Sicilian defense, while the 111a Compagnia Paracadutisti and the 122a Compagnia Camionettisti were in Rome for public order duties.
Not a single Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 was deployed against the German forces during the Defense of Rome that ended on 10th September 1943.
Repubblica Sociale Italiana Service
After the Armistice, the Regio Esercito was disbanded, with over a million taken prisoner. Mussolini then founded the Repubblica Sociale Italiana (English: Italian Social Republic) under German control. Some soldiers still loyal to Benito Mussolini immediately joined the new Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano (English: National Republican Army) and the Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana (English: National Republican Guard).
Some vehicles were recovered from former Regio Esercito depots or barracks and deployed by the Italians and by the Germans. The Battaglione ‘Fulmine’ (English: Battalion) of the Xª Divisione MAS (English: 10th MAS Division) had an armored Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 called SPA-Viberti AS43 Blindata in late 1944 and early 1945. They probably recovered it from Vercelli, where 8 Camionette AS43 were delivered before the Armistice. It is also possible that the vehicle was delivered directly by the Officine Viberti plant.
It was probably modified by workers in one of the dozens of factories of Turin, such as FIAT, SPA, or Officine Viberti. The armored plates used on the vehicle were most likely donated to the battalion by the Arsenale Regio Esercito di Torino, renamed by the new fascist government as Arsenale di Torino. At that time, it was responsible for the production of improvised armored vehicles for some Fascist units in the Turin area, among other things.
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Blindata in Turin’s main square in 1944. Source: I corazzati di circostanza italiani
It was armed with a total of 3 Mitragliatrici Medie Breda Modello 1937 and light armor, sufficient to barely withstand the bullets of small arms.
Very little is known about this vehicle that was deployed in Locana, Piemonte, on 29th November 1944, in anti-partisan operations in that area. In early 1945, the Xª Divisione MAS was sent to Veneto, north-east Italy, to fight against the Yugoslavian Partisans. The armored reconnaissance car surely followed the division in Veneto, but traces of it are lost after this.
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Blindata during the 29th October 1944 parade in Via Roma, Turin. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ (English: Lioness Armored Group) deployed 2 to 4 (sources vary on the exact number) armored personnel carriers based on the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 called SPA-Viberti AS43 Autoprotette.
The bodywork was left unchanged, but an armored superstructure was added to protect the crew and the 6 soldiers transported. Its armament was composed of 2 Mitragliatrici Medie Breda Modello 1937, one mounted frontally, another on the rear.
A SPA-Viberti AS43 Autoprotetta was lost in Santo Stefano Roero in Piemonte on 8th March 1945. It was set aflame by a partisan ambush. Its commander, Lieutenant Berneschi, tried to slow down the partisans while his men were getting out of the vehicle to take cover, but was killed shortly after.
The vehicle was totally destroyed by the fire or by the partisans the next night, when the fascist forces retreated. Another SPA-Viberti AS43 Autoprotetta was surrendered to US soldiers when the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ surrendered to the Allied forces on 5th May 1945.
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Autoprotetta full of Fascist militiamen. Source: wikipedia.com
In the book Storia dei Reparti Corazzati della Repubblica Sociale Italiana 1943-1945, written by Paolo Crippa, the Italian author mentions a XXXVIa Brigata Nera ‘Natale Piacentini’ (English: 36th Black Brigade) veteran’s testimony. Militiaman Piero Sebastiani recounts that in Autumn 1944, the Prefecture of Verona donated to the unit a camionetta that was “…equipped with a Breda 38 machine gun and an armored shield…”. It could have been a Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 that was previously owned by the Autoparco della GNR (English: GNR’s Vehicle Depot) of Verona.
There is no photographic evidence of this vehicle and, therefore, it is impossible to confirm the presence of a camionetta in this Black Brigade. Due to the absence of documents, it is also impossible to verify when this vehicle was delivered to the XXXVIa Brigata Nera ‘Natale Piacentini’. The Black Brigade was one of the better-equipped Black Brigades of the Repubblica Sociale Italiana, equipped with a Lancia 3Ro Blindato and armored trailers, a FIAT 1500 Berlina Blindata armed with a Mauser MG42, this camionetta, and a FIAT 626NM armed with a twin machine gun mount (the exact caliber is not clear).
German Service
The total number of vehicles deployed by the Germans is impossible to clarify. Many Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 were rearmed by German units with 2 cm FlaK 38 and Mauser MG15 guns. A total of 13 vehicles were produced with particular specifications ordered by the German Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen (English: General Inspector of the Armed Forces).
These vehicles differed from the original ones by the addition of foldable iron sides on the cargo bay. These sides could be used as backseat for the crew during marching and lowered to ease reloading and to increase the working space for the crew.
When lowered to 0°, they had 2 diagonal bracings per side that held them in position. From the original blueprint, it is noticeable that the tarpaulin position was also changed, but there are no images of a modified AS43 for the Germans with waterproof tarpaulin installed.
A bad quality photo of a Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 modified for the Germans. It was armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20/70 Modello 1939. The foldable sides are opened, while the camouflage is the original Continentale one. Source: beutepanzer.ru
The only existing images of these German AS43s show them equipped with a Cannone-Mitragliera Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20/70 Modello 1939, but it seems that they were intended to be equipped with German 2 cm FlaK 38. In fact, from the original drawing, supports for 30 round magazines, for a total of 10 transported, 4 on each side and 2 on the rear, can be seen on the outer sides of the foldable iron plates. These racks were not present on the German AS43 equipped with Scotti-Isotta Fraschini automatic cannon.
The camionette armed with 2 cm FlaK 38 were deployed by the Sicherungs-Abteilung (English: Safeguarding Department) of the Transportkorps Speer. It was organized in motor transportation battalions and regiments, supported by depot, repair, engineering, signal, safeguarding, and medical units. The Transportkorps Speer was assigned to the Organisation Todt (English: Todt Organization). The organization was responsible for a huge range of engineering projects, both in Germany and in occupied territories.
The Sicherungs-Abteilung was used to escort columns for the majority of its service but, in the last months of the war, its armored and armed vehicles were also deployed in anti-partisan operations.
A German column in a narrow mountain street of northern Italy. From the right, a FIAT-SPA CL39 light mountain lorry, 2 Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43, a Sd.Kfz.8 towing a 8.8 cm FlaK, a FIAT 665NM Scudato, and an unknown truck. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
Part or all the 13 AS43s produced for the Germans were delivered to the Fliegerabwehrkanonen Erdkampf Schule Sued (English: Southern Anti-Aircraft Ground Fighting School) in Spilimbergo, near Udine. It was a training school for anti-aircraft crews, in which they improved their anti-tank training with anti-aircraft guns. In fact, its commander was Joseph Prentl, one of the first officers that deployed the 8.8 cm FlaK 37 against enemy tanks.
A Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 produced for the Germans at the Fliegerabwehrkanonen Erdkampf Schule Sued, with its 3-tone camouflage, closed sides, and Cannone-Mitragliera Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20/70 Modello 1939. Source: beutepanzer.ru
The German training school was also equipped with various other kinds of captured Italian vehicles, including some tanks and self-propelled guns that were deployed, together with its students, against the partisans in Friuli Venezia Giulia in the last months of war.
Italian Republic
An unknown number of Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 were deployed by the Italian Polizia di Stato (English: State Police) after the war. They were AS43s captured or delivered intact to the Allied forces or new vehicles that were produced by Officine Viberti to end the production contract of 180 AS43 stipulated with the Regio Esercito before the war. The last vehicle was delivered on 26th January 1946.
The only source that mentions their service is Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano, but nothing more is known apart that they were assigned to the Reparti Celeri (English: Fast Departments) of the Polizia di Stato. These units had the task of intervening quickly where there was a need for public order, for help after natural disasters, or in case of a clash with a foreign army or organized guerrilla. There are no pictures of Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 in service after the war.
Camouflage
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 prototype was painted in Kaki Sahariano Chiaro (English: Light Saharan Khaki) for desert environments. Even if the few images of the prototype at the Centro Studi ed Esperienze della Motorizzazione are without waterproof tarpaulin, it is logical to suppose that it was also in desert camouflage.
A production AS43 equipped with fully camouflaged tarpaulin, except for the frontal side, that remained in green-gray camouflage. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The production vehicles were painted at the Officine Viberti in Continentale (English: Continental) camouflage. This 3-tone camouflage had as its base the Kaki Sahariano Chiaro, partially covered with dark green and reddish brown spots. Interestingly enough, even the internal sides of the cargo bay were camouflaged. In this version, the tarpaulin was in green-gray camouflage but, on some vehicles, the tarpaulin was also painted with Continentale camouflage scheme.
Side view of a Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 with only a part of the tarpaulin mounted.The 20 liter cans were also camouflaged. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The Germans painted some of the captured vehicles in dark green with darker green or black stripes.
The Polizia di Stato vehicles were probably repainted in Amaranth Red, a reddish rose shade used at the time on all the police vehicles.
From this rear view of a Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 in German service, its 2-tone camouflage is visible. Source: beutepanzer.ru
Versions
Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43
Two to six Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 armored cars were produced by the Officine Viberti plant. The first draft of this project of the design office of Officine Viberti dates from 18th January 1944. The last modification is dated 3rd April 1944, while the first photos of operational vehicles are from May of the same year.
It was equipped with an armored superstructure in which, at the top, an Autoblinda AB41 turret armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 and a coaxial Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 was installed.
The Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 at the Officine Viberti plant. It was delivered without armament. Source: Officine Viberti Archives
A Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 was employed during a fight with the partisans in Valtellina, Lombardia, on 27th April 1945. The column in which it was deployed was ambushed by the partisans. The armored car ended up in partisan hands after the clash, along with other vehicles of the fascist column. These were used in the following days, until 2nd May 1945, in the area of the Mortirolo Pass, at 1,852 m above sea level, where an attack by a Fascist unit was feared.
SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata was a project of an armored ambulance designed by Officine Viberti together with the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43.
It had an armored superstructure partially in common with the Carrozzeria Speciale, but also with the older FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto. In fact, the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 and the FIAT-SPA TL37 shared the same frames, even if heavily modified.
It remained a paper project, but, from the original information that can be found in the Officine Viberti archives, it could carry a total of 2 stretchers and a crew of 3 or 4 healthcare personnel.
The original Officine Viberti design office drawing of the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata. Source: Officine Viberti Archives via Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
Conclusion
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 was a successful vehicle of the Italian industry. Even if the first project was intended for long-range desert reconnaissance and sabotage, the production vehicles ended up operating in Europe, where they performed without noteworthy reliability issues.
Its off-road capabilities were extraordinary, as was its sturdiness. Another interesting feature was the frame that could be easily modified into various kinds of armored fighting vehicles.
It could be used in various roles, such as patrolling shores to counter possible landings or on small mountain paths to counter the Italian and Yugoslavian partisans. Thanks to its 20 mm automatic cannons, it had the possibility of engaging light armored vehicles and planes or, with the 47 mm gun, it could support infantry attacks and counter light armored vehicles.
Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS43 prototype. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 used by Regio Esercito. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 with waterproof tarpaulin. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Modified Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 deployed by Fliegerabwehrkanonen Erdkampf Schule Sued in Spilimbergo. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 deployed by Sicherungs-Abteilung of Todt Organization. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 Specification
Size (L-W-H)
4.83 x 2.06 x 2.20 m
Weight, battle ready
5 tonnes
Crew
4 soldiers (driver, commander, gunner, and loader)
Engine
SPA 18VT 4a Variante, 4-cylinder, petrol engine, 73 hp at 2,000 rpm and 240 liters tanks
Speed
68.5 km/h
Range
750 km
Armament
one Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 or a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935. One 8 mm Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 or Modello 1938
Production
66-182 built
Sources
Le Camionette del Regio Esercito. FIAT-SPA AS/37, SPA-Viberti AS/42, FIAT-SPA AS/43, Desertica 43, i Reparti che le Impiegarono – Enrico Finazzer and Luigi Carpetta – Gruppo Modellistico Trentino – 2014
Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II – Ralph A. Riccio – Mattioli 1885 – 2010
Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano, Volume Secondo, Tomo II – Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano – Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito – 2002
Semicingolati, Motoveicoli e Veicoli Speciali del Regio Esercito Italiano 1919-1943 – Giulio Benussi – Intergest Publishing – 1976
Andare Contro i Carri Armati, L’Evoluzione della Difesa Controcarro nell’Esercito Italiano dal 1918 al 1945. – Filippo Cappellano and Nicola Pignato – Gaspari Editore – 2008
Italian Truck-Mounted Artillery in Action – Ralph Riccio and Nicola Pignato – Squadron Signal Publications – 1971
Storia dei Reparti Corazzati della Repubblica Sociale Italiana 1943-1945 – Paolo Crippa – Marvia Edizioni – October 2022
SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Italian Social Republic (1944)
Armored Ambulance – Paper project
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata (English: ‘Armored’ [literally ‘Shielded’] Ambulance) was a post-Armistice paper project of the Officine Viberti (English: Viberti Workshops) company of Turin. It was meant to equip the Italian units with an armored emergency vehicle that could evacuate wounded soldiers.
At that time, only parts of the Italian peninsula were under the rule of the fascist Repubblica Sociale Italiana or RSI (English: Italian Social Republic). In order to speed up production and save raw materials, Officine Viberti developed a new vehicle instead of reusing old hulls. It was developed on the Camionetta (English: Reconnaissance Car) SPA-Viberti AS43 reconnaissance vehicle chassis and FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto (English: Armored [wheeled vehicle]) armored personnel carrier superstructure, with which it shared some parts. Unfortunately, this interesting design would never materialize and remained only a paper project.
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata. Source: Officine Viberti Archives via Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
Regio Esercito Projects Prior of the Armistice
After the first engagements between Italian and Commonwealth troops in North Africa in 1941, the Italian Regio Esercito’s (English: Royal Army) High Command immediately understood three important things:
It was necessary to field a light armored car for fast reconnaissance as soon as possible.
It was urgent to field an armored personnel carrier (APC) to quickly and safely transport soldiers across the desert battlefields.
An armored ambulance to rescue and evacuate wounded soldiers safely was necessary.
A FIAT-SPA Trattore Leggero Modello 1937 ‘Libia’ captured by Indian Troops in North Africa. From this angle, the large Pirelli Tipo ‘Libia’ desert tires and the externally mounted 150 liters auxiliary tank (mounted only on the ‘Libia’ version) are noticeable. Source: italie1935-45.com
The FIAT-SPA Trattore Leggero Modello 1937 ‘Libia’ (English: Light Tractor [Produced by] FIAT-SPA Model 1937), abbreviated FIAT-SPA TL37 ‘Libia’, was a light prime mover that had good mobility thanks to its powerful gasoline engine and large tires. The ‘Libia’ (English: Libya) was a version of that prime mover specifically developed to operate in North Africa. Using it as the basis, a new armored car was designed.
The new Autoblinda TL37 or Autoblinda AS37 (AS for Africa Settentrionale – North Africa) armored car had an open-topped turret armed with a powerful Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 (English: 20 mm L/65 Automatic Cannon Breda Model 1935) autocannon and a coaxial machine gun. Only one was built by the Ansaldo-Fossati plant in Sestri Ponente, near Genoa.
Rear view of the Autoblinda TL37 with an open-topped turret at the Ansaldo-Fossati plant in Sestri Ponente. Source: Nicola Pignato
The Autoblinda AS37 prototype was shipped to North Africa, where it formed part of an experimental armored car platoon of the Regio Esercito, the Raggruppamento Esplorante del Corpo d’Armata di Manovra or RECAM (English: Reconnaissance Grouping of the Mobile Army Corp). RECAM was also equipped with 3 AB41s of the Army, and 9 AB41s and an AB40 from the Polizia dell’Africa Italiana or PAI (English: Police of the Italian Africa), which had arrived at a similar time. Unfortunately, not much is known about its service. It was abandoned at Sidi Rezegh, south of the main road between Tobruk and Bardia, east of El Adem, probably due to a mechanical failure. The AS37 project was abandoned in favor of the ‘AB’ series of armored cars, the most produced during the war. The AB armored cars, even if not as light as the Autoblinda TL37, were effective in the same role.
The Autoblindo TL37 assigned at the Raggruppamento Esplorante del Corpo d’Armata di Manovra in Sidi Rezegh in November 1941. Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
At the same time, in January 1941, the Regio Esercito started the development of a light armored personnel carrier based on the same FIAT-SPA TL37 ‘Libia’. About 4 months later, the project was completed, and in May 1941, it was tested at the Centro Studi della Motorizzazione (English: Center for Motorisation Studies) in Rome. On 24th May 1941, a total of 200 S37 Autoprotetti were ordered, of which only 150 were produced. Ironically enough, not a single FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto, also known as Autoprotetto FIAT-SPA AS37 Coloniale (English: Colonial Armored [Wheeled Vehicle] FIAT-SPA AS37), was sent to North Africa. Instead, they were all deployed to the Balkans against the Yugoslavian Partisans.
With the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto, the Regio Esercito stopped further developments, completely ignoring their previous requirement for an armored ambulance. The need for an armored ambulance was probably considered no longer a priority, as the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetti, like many other types of armored personnel carriers, could also be used to rescue wounded soldiers.
The Autoprotetto FIAT-SPA AS37 Coloniale with 3 anti-aircraft support mounts and a fourth support on the front and Pirelli Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’ tires. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
At the same time, probably in order to stem the problem of the absence of armored ambulances, the organization of the Regio Esercito’s divisions was revised. AfterMarch 1941, each motorized division in North Africa had a theoretical force of 360 motorized vehicles, including 20 ambulances. The armored divisions were also subject to similar changes. Starting from August 1941, each Italian armored division had a theoretical force of 1,198 motorized vehicles (tanks excluded), of which 26 were ambulances.
In North Africa, there was a development of ‘special’ vehicles by Italian frontline troops, which desperately needed vehicles to support their offensives. This is how some camionette were born, based on the chassis of the FIAT-SPA AS37 (AS in this case means Autocarro Sahariano – Saharan Truck), a light desert lorry developed on the chassis of the FIAT-SPA TL37 ‘Libia’ especially for desert environments.
In Italian, the term ‘camionetta’ (plural camionette) designates unarmored cars, jeeps, or light trucks used in reconnaissance and infantry support roles.
A FIAT-SPA AS37 light desert lorry in the Libyan desert in 1942. It is armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935 and manned by Italian colonial troops. Source: zen.yandex.ru
These easy-to-modify vehicles were appreciated due to their off-road characteristics and sturdiness. In late 1942, the Regio Esercito started to mass-produce vehicles with similar characteristics and for the same purposes. The first one was the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943, of which 11 were produced and which was used mainly in the defense of Rome between 8th and 10th September 1943.
The Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943. The chassis derived from the FIAT-SPA AS37 is clearly visible in this image taken shortly before the Armistice. Source: Le Camionette del Regio Esercito
The production of the Camionette Desertiche Modello 1943 started in mid-to-late January 1943, when the Axis forces in North Africa were outnumbered by the Allied forces.
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 began development in late 1942. It was initially designed to equip the compagnie sahariane (English: saharan companies). These were fast and mobile units meant to counter the British Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) and Special Air Force (SAS) patrol cars that attacked isolated air bases or supply and fuel depots.
Although the vehicle was intended for desert environments, when production started, it was clear to the Italian High Command that the vehicles would not reach North Africa in time to participate in the last stages of the North African campaign. The project was modified with the new goal of deploying reconnaissance cars in Europe.
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 entered service in July 1943 and saw use in Italy with the troops of the Regio Esercito to prevent attacks by paratroopers and Allied landings on the Italian coast.
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 in three-tone continental camouflage and tarpaulin partially covered. Source: facebook.com @amici del museo della motorizzazione
Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana Projects after the Armistice
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943, which led to the occupation of central and northern Italy by the Germans, the few vehicles captured and those produced between 1944 and 1945 were used almost exclusively by the Wehrmacht.
A Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 with a three-tone camouflage scheme and Pirelli Tipo ‘Artiglio’ tires. The vehicle was unarmed because the photo was taken at the Officine Viberti plant after assembly. Source: Officine Viberti Archives
Of the dozens of Italian units loyal to Mussolini after the Armistice, only a couple used the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43:
The 2ª Compagnia (English: 2nd Company) of the Battaglione ‘Fulmine’ of the 2° Reggimento (English: 2nd Regiment) of the Xª Divisione MAS (English: 10th MAS Division) used a single modified vehicle, known as the SPA-Viberti AS43 Blindata.
The Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ (English: Armored Group) modified a certain number of vehicles at the Officine Viberti of Turin.
Between 2 and 6 Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 were converted into Carrozzerie Speciali su Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43, small armored cars, similar to the Autoblinda TL37 produced 3 years before. In fact, the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 was derived from the Camionetta Desertica Modello 1943, itself derived from the FIAT-SPA AS37 light desert lorry, in turn derived from the FIAT-SPA TL37, on which the Autoblinda TL37 superstructure was built. A full circle of sorts.
The Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 was equipped with an Autoblindo AB41 medium reconnaissance armored car turret armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 and a coaxial 8 mm Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 (English: Breda Model 1938 Medium Machine Gun).
Another curious vehicle was the SPA-Viberti AS43 Autoprotetta, of which between 2 and 4 vehicles were produced for the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’. These were standard Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 with armored plates added to create an open-topped crew compartment to protect from enemy light arms fire on the front, sides, and rear. The 2 crewmembers and the 6 soldiers transported on board were armed with a total of 2 machine guns mounted on spherical supports on the front and rear armored plates.
A SPA-Viberti AS43 Autoprotetta on a street in Turin on 20th May 1944. Source: wikipedia.com
Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43
The Camionetta FIAT-SPA AS43 or SPA-Viberti AS43 was an Italian light reconnaissance unarmored vehicle. It was the first Italian vehicle of this category especially developed for continental battlefields, together with the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Metropolitana’ (or ‘Sahariana II’), a continental version of the Camionetta Desertica SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’, the first camionetta developed and produced.
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 prototype in its original desert camouflage and with supports for a total of 16 20 liter cans. Source: Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II
The SPA-Viberti AS43 was developed by Società Piemontese Automobili or SPA (English: Piedimontese Automobiles Company), a Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino or FIAT (English: Italian Automobiles Company of Turin) subsidiary, and by Officine Viberti, a coachwork company, both based in Turin. The project was started using the chassis of the FIAT-SPA AS37 light desert lorry.
The SPA-Viberti AS43 was produced from early 1943 until the 8th September 1943 Armistice. After the German occupation of northern Italy, production was restarted for the German Army, which used the vehicles, with some modifications, until the end of the war.
Drawing of the FIAT-SPA TL37’s original chassis. Source: FIAT Archives
To produce the camionetta, the FIAT-SPA AS37 chassis was lowered from a ground clearance of 390 mm to 345 mm. The cab was completely modified, apart from the hood and the radiator grille. The side doors, the windshield, the roof, and the third seat were removed. The cargo bay was completely modified. The spare wheel was moved from behind the cab to the cargo bay’s rear, on tiltable support that the crew could lower to allow the main gun to fire at 0° elevation, even to the rear. The loading bay’s sides were fixed and could not be lowered.
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 prototype’s rear. It was identical to the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata’s one. The tire was a Pirelli Tipo ‘Raiflex’. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
The main gun of the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 could be a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 (English: 47 mm L/32 Cannon Model 1935) support gun or a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 anti-aircraft gun. The vehicle’s commander also fired a Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937 or Modello 1938 (English: Breda Model 1937 or 1938 Medium Machine Gun) on a support mounted on the left side of the cab. The ammunition was placed in a small rack between the driver’s and commander’s seats and on the sides.
The Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43’s Predecessors
In January 1944, Turin’s Officine Viberti resumed the project of the Autoblindo TL37, this time based on the chassis of the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43, in order to obtain a vehicle that was cheaper and easier to produce than the armored cars of the ‘AB’ series.
In April 1944, the vehicles were ready, and in May 1944, they were seen for the first time outside their production plant.
A total of 2 Carrozzerie Speciali su SPA-Viberti AS43 and an Autoblinda AB41 medium reconnaissance armored car on parade in Turin. Source: Istituto Luce
It is likely that the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata’s development started after the development of the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43. In fact, from the original drawings, many common details can be observed. This was probably done by Officine Viberti to speed up development, production, and total costs.
The project of the Autoblindo AS37 with an early type turret armed with a couple of machine guns. It was really similar to the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 armored car. Source: La Meccanizzazione dell’Esercito fino al 1943
Design
The armored ambulance vehicle was developed by Officine Viberti. This was a company specialized in doing bodyworks for Lancia Veicoli Industriali (English: Lancia Industrial Vehicles) and FIAT Veicoli Commerciali (English: FIAT Commercial Vehicles) trucks during the pre-war period. When the Second World War began, the majority of the Officine Viberti work was converted to the bodywork of military vehicles, such as fuel carriers, ammunition carriers and the production of fuel trailers, tank trailers, and other specialized vehicles, including, jointly with SPA, of armored cars and camionette during the war.
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata was developed after the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43. For this reason, it shared the same chassis, engine, and mudguards as the armored car.
Engine and Suspension
The Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 had all-wheel drive, as did the FIAT-SPA AS37. On this new vehicle, only the front wheels steered, reducing the mechanical complexity and the need for maintenance of the steering system.
The front wheels had independent coil spring suspension coupled with hydraulic shock absorbers, which guaranteed great comfort on rough terrain. The rear wheels had inverse leaf springs, but these were reinforced compared to those of the FIAT-SPA TL37 light prime mover. The Camionetta AS43 had hydraulic brakes.
The engine was a more powerful version of the one used on the FIAT-SPA AS37, the SPA 18VT 4a Variante, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, petrol engine delivering 73 hp (or 75 hp, depending on the sources) at 2,000 rpm. The maximum speed of the 5 tonne battle loaded Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 was 68.5 km/h. Due to the size and total weight, the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata would probably have had a maximum speed that did not exceed 50 to 55 km/h.
The SPA 18VT 4a Variante petrol engine. Source: topwar.ru
The gearbox was probably the same as on the FIAT-SPA AS37, with 5 forward gears and reverse. Nothing is known about speeds and ranges. The rear-mounted 120 liter fuel tank used on the Carrozzeria Speciale could not be used on this vehicle due to the presence of a rear door. The tank could have been placed under the patient’s compartment or on the right side of the same compartment.
The frame had a wheelbase of 2,500 mm, the same of the FIAT-SPA TL37 ‘Libia’ and all the vehicles developed on its chassis. In order to increase the internal space, inside the armored ambulance version, the rear overhang was increased to 1,400 mm for a total length of 4,945 mm, as for the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto. This was a few centimeters more than the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 and the Carrozzeria Speciale.
From top to bottom: the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto, the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata, and the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43. The Ambulanza Corazzata was visually similar to the other vehicles. Sources: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
Superstructure
The engine compartment was at the front and it had a single armored radiator grille. In contrast, the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 had the radiator grille divided into 4 pieces due to a redesigned and well-angled front. This change for the ambulance was presumably done to save money and speed up production. The Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 had a better sloped frontal arc armored plates to increase protection, while the armored ambulance, although armored, did not have the same protection level.
Contrary to what one might imagine, the engine compartment was not the same as that of the Carrozzeria Speciale, but was instead inherited from the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto. Why the Officine Viberti design team made this decision is unclear, not least because the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto was produced at the Ansaldo-Fossati production plant in Sestri Ponente near Genoa, while the Carrozzeria Speciale was assembled in Turin, at the Officine Viberti plant in Corso Peschiera 249. Maybe there were some spare Autoprotetti armored superstructures in some depots and an eventual prototype could be assembled starting from these spare parts. It is plausible that, if the vehicle had been produced, in order to speed up assembly, the engine compartment would have been the same as the Carrozzeria Speciale.
The original Officine Viberti design office technical drawings of the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata. The interior is partially visible. Some dimensions and the tire sizes are on the lower side.The mudguards were inherited from the camionetta, while most parts of the armored superstructure had a shape similar to the one of the Autoprotetto. Source: Officine Viberti Archives via Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
On the engine deck, there were two inspection hatches, which were the same size as the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto’s hatches, but shorter than the ones used on the Carrozzeria Speciale. In order to remove the engine, the bolts of the engine deck had to be unscrewed and the plate lifted with a winch.
The driver was on the right and the commander on the left. The 2 crewmembers had hatches closable by a lever to view the battlefield. When the ports were closed, they could use 2 rectangular vision slits.
The main difference between the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 and the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata was the rest of the superstructure. The most noticeable difference was the absence of the left door, substituted on the Ambulanza Scudata by a spare tire support. On the right, a door was divided into two parts due to the angled armored plates. The door opened backwards, and would not provide adequate frontal protection to the crewmembers if they exited the vehicle in an emergency situation.
Rear and front of the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata from the original Officine Viberti design office drawings. Source: Officine Viberti Archives via Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
From the original (and only) drawings of the vehicle, it seems that the door was identical to those of the Carrozzeria Speciale, but placed a few dozen centimeters ahead. Another interesting thing that can be noticed is that, in order to speed up the design process and future production, the designers took the left side door from the Carrozzeria Speciale and placed it on an inverted frame on the Ambulanza Scudata. For this reason, inconveniently, it would have only been able to open backwards.
The patient’s compartment was more rectangular-shaped and higher than the Carrozzeria Speciale‘s fighting compartment. On the rear, there was a central door divided into two parts, two stoplights on the lower side, and the license plate. To speed up production, both the side and rear doors were not equipped with slits. This could be a serious drawback, as the slits could have been useful for the crewmembers to check the surrounding area before opening the door in order to prevent enemy ambushes.
Interior
Internally, the vehicle had the driving compartment connected to the patient’s compartment, decreasing the comfort for the wounded soldiers during transport, but offering more space and allowing, in case of emergency, for the commander to help the medic, even when the vehicle was being driven.
The interior of the Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43. The Ambulanza Scudata would most likely have had a similar driving compartment. Source: Officine Viberti Archives
The interior of the vehicle was arranged in the standard way of other armored ambulances of the era, such as the German Sd.Kfz.251/8 Mittlere KrankenPanzerwagen (English: Medium Armored Ambulance).
On the left side, there were two stretchers, probably foldable in order to offer more space while not transporting severely wounded personnel. On the right side, there was a seat for the medic and most likely another seat for a lightly wounded soldier or a nurse. Medicines and medical equipment were doubtless stored behind the commander and driver’s seats and on the right armored wall.
Interior of the German Sd.Kfz.251/8 Mittlere KrankenPanzerwagen. The layout of the Ambulanza Scudata would have probably been similar, even if its interior space was smaller. Source: armedconflicts.com
From the vehicle’s original drawings, it seems that the roof of the patient’s compartment could be opened to some degree to presumably offer light and fresh air to the wounded personnel on board.
The water tank cap was placed on the engine compartment, on the front, while the unprotected headlights were mounted in front of the mudguards. The vehicle had four armored mudguards to prevent small arms rounds from piercing the tires. On the front fenders sat the width-limit indicators, used by the driver to help drive on narrow mountain roads or to park.
The tires had the usual dimensions for Italian armored cars, with 60 cm rims, giving this armored ambulance great off-road capabilities. These armored cars had the tires developed by the Pirelli Company of Milan specifically for continental terrain: the Pirelli Tipo ‘Artiglio’ 9 x 24″ (22.8 x 60 cm), the Pirelli Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’ 11.25 x 24″ (28.5 x 60 cm), and the Pirelli Tipo ‘Libia’ 9.75 x 24″ (24.76 x 60 cm) desert tires. The ‘Libia’ tire’s dimensions are specified in the original drawing. Given the chaotic state of the RSI and its armed forces, these tires were common even after the loss of the North African campaign.
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata (top) and the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto (bottom). The similarities between the two vehicles are clearly visible. Sources: Officine Viberti Archives via Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano and italie1935-45.com
The rims were not modified and the vehicle could have mounted all the tires produced by Pirelli for the 24″ rims, also mounted on the Autoblindo AB series armored cars, the Camionette SPA-Viberti AS42, and the FIAT-SPA TM40 prime mover.
The total weight of this paper project is not known, but it is probable that it ranged between 4 tonnes to 4.5 tonnes. This is because the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43 chassis weighed 2.62 tonnes (without fuel, cooling water, oil etc) and the armored superstructure probably weighed about a tonne. The equipment, fuel, cooling water, lubricant oil and passengers would have increased the total weight.
Armor and Protection
The armored ambulance was probably equipped with the same Carrozzeria Speciale su SPA-Viberti AS43 armor plate type, which was 8 mm thick on all the sides of the superstructure.
The shapes of the engine compartment and various sections of the patient’s compartment are similar to those of the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto, which could suggest that part of the armor plates for the ambulance were the same as the pre-Armistice designed armored personnel carrier. This means that the armor plates could also have ranged between 8.5 mm thick armored plates on the front and 6 mm thick armored plates on the sides and rear, as on the FIAT-SPA S37 Autoprotetto. This is not a far-fetched theory, as the role of the vehicle was to rescue wounded soldiers from the battlefield and it did not need heavy armor to perform this task. As per the Geneva Convention, in theory, ambulances should not be fired upon and the armor was more to protect the crew from shrapnel and stray hits. The vehicles would have lacked floor protection, which means that, in case of a mine detonation, the soldiers on board would be extremely vulnerable.
As on most Italian armored vehicles of the war, the armor was made of steel plates riveted to an internal structure. On the Carrozzeria Speciale su AS43, the armored superstructure had a mass of 911.23 kg, excluding connecting elements such as bolts and rivets. It is probable that in the Ambulanza Scudata, the armored superstructure exceeded a tonne of weight due to its dimensions, even if assembled with thinner armor plates. On the other hand, the absence of any armament or a rotating turret lightened the total weight of the Ambulanza Scudata.
There is no information about possible defensive armament or other protective features, such as smoke launchers. It is probable that the crew had to defend themselves with their personal weapons, such as pistols or rifles.
Crew
The crew most likely consisted of three personnel: driver; a medic or commander, who was probably licensed to treat the wounded; and a medic or a nurse, seated in the patient’s compartment.
The vehicle was equipped with 2 stretchers for seriously injured soldiers, but presumably had enough space for a third wounded soldier seated on the right side. As in the Sd.Kfz.251/8, it is imaginable that the number of wounded soldiers seated could be increased by removing or folding the stretchers.
Conclusion
The SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata could have been an effective vehicle on the Second World War’s battlefields. The speed would not have been very high, but it would have had great mobility, even off-road.
Unfortunately for the Italians, Officine Viberti developed it too late in the war, when the German and Italian forces were without raw materials and out of time. Such a vehicle would have cost significant time that could be spent producing an armored fighting vehicle. For these reasons, and the chaotic state Italy was in on either side of the Armistice, this vehicle was never actually produced, not even as a prototype.
SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Section view of a SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Specification of the SPA-Viberti AS43 Ambulanza Scudata
Size (L-W-H)
4.945 x ~1.900 x ~2.200 m
Weight, battle ready
4 to 4.5 tonnes
Crew
3 (driver, commander, medic/nurse) + 2 wounded soldiers on stretchers
Engine
SPA 18VT 4a Variante, 4-cylinder, petrol engine, 73 hp at 2,000 rpm
Speed
~ 50 km/h
Range
//
Armor
6 mm to 8.5 mm
Production
Paper project
Sources
Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano, Volume Secondo, Tomo II – Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano – Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito – 2002
Semicingolati, Motoveicoli e Veicoli Speciali del Regio Esercito Italiano 1919-1943 – Giulio Benussi – Intergest Publishing – 1976
Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II – Ralph A. Riccio – Mattioli 1885 – 2010
Le Camionette del Regio Esercito. FIAT-SPA AS/37, SPA-Viberti AS/42, FIAT-SPA AS/43, Desertica 43, i Reparti che le Impiegarono – Enrico Finazzer and Luigi Carpetta – Gruppo Modellistico Trentino – 2014
Semovente M43 da 75/46. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Italian Social Republic/German Reich (1943-1945)
Tank Destroyer – 11 to 18 Built
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 (English: 75 mm L/46 M43 Self-Propelled Gun) was the last self-propelled gun (SPG) produced by Italy during the Second World War. It was based on the previous Semovente M43 (plural semoventi) chassis, but featured new spaced armor that offered better protection to the crew. It was developed by Italian companies after a German request of late 1943.
A total of 11 to 18 vehicles were produced, but most of the vehicles were delivered to the Germans, who deployed them on the Italian peninsula against the Allied forces in the last stages of the Second World War.
Semovente M43 da 75/46 of the production series without the anti-aircraft support and the 20 liter can supports. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
Previous Models
The effective Semovente M40 da 75/18 self-propelled howitzer based on the chassis of the Carro Armato M13/40 IIIa Serie immediately proved to be more potent than Italian-produced medium tanks in terms of firepower. When deployed in North Africa by the Italians, it demonstrated to be an effective support vehicle, and could deal with almost all the Allied tanks in that theater of operations. It was deployed mainly as an assault tank or to support infantry attacks, but it was also deployed to attack Commonwealth armored formations with success.
It was armed with a Obice da 75/18 Modello 1934 (English: 75 mm L/18 Howitzer Model 1934) with 44 rounds and a Fucile Mitragliatore Breda Modello 1930 (English: Breda Light Machine Gun Model 1930) with 600 rounds. Its engine was the FIAT-SPA 8T Modello 1940 diesel giving out 125 hp at 1,800 rpm.
Side view of the Semovente M40 da 75/18 at Ansaldo-Fossati plant. Source: Semovente da 75/18
After the production of a small series of 60 vehicles, the Semovente da 75/18 was changed to the chassis of the more advanced and modern Carro Armato M14/41, becoming the Semovente M41 da 75/18. This vehicle was powered by the new FIAT-SPA 15T Modello 1941 diesel engine with a maximum power of 145 hp at 1,800 rpm. This semovente was also captured by the Germans and renamed as the Beute Sturmgeschütz M41 mit 7,5 cm KwK L/18 850 (Italienisch) (English: Captured Assault Gun M41 with 75 mm L/18 Cannon [Coded] 850 [italian])
Semovente M41 da 75/18 outside the Ansaldo-Fossati plant of Sestri Ponente. Source: fondazioneansaldo.com
In 1942, the chassis was again changed to the Carro Armato M15/42’s, becoming the Semovente M42 da 75/18. It was longer than its predecessors by 14 cm due to the new engine compartment mounting a powerful 190 hp petrol engine, the FIAT-SPA 15TB Modello 1942. The M42 da 75/18 was known in German service as the Beute Sturmgeschütz M42 mit 7,5 cm KwK L/18 850 (Italienisch).
The Obice da 75/18 Modello 1934 had a great High-Explosive Anti-Tank round, but had a short firing range and was imprecise at long ranges. A new armored vehicle with a different gun had to be produced, and, in October 1942, Ansaldo-Fossati started the new development. In February 1943, the prototype of the new semovente was ready.
The new tank destroyer had a casemate that was made 11 cm longer in order to host the Cannone da 75/34 Modello SF [Sfera] (English: 75 mm L/34 Cannon Model [on Spherical Support]), which had more recoil than the previous howitzer.
In German service, the vehicle was known as Beute Sturmgeschütz M42 mit 7,5 cm KwK L/34 851(Italienisch).
A Semovente M42 da 75/18 (top) and a Semovente M42M da 75/34 (bottom) outside the Ansaldo-Fossati plant of Sestri Ponente. These are early vehicles from the 1943 production run (the M42M was produced from 26th March 1943). In these 2 images, the different casemate fronts are clearly visible. Sources: La Meccanizzazione dell’Esercito fino al 1943
Other developments were the Semoventi M41M da 90/53 tank destroyer, based on a heavily modified Carro Armato M14/41 chassis with the engine compartment in the center and the main gun on the rear. It was accompanied by the more conventional-shaped Semovente M43 da 105/25, a new self-propelled gun on a completely modified M42 chassis.
The Semovente M43 da 105/25 at the Ansaldo-Fossati plant of Sestri Ponente. Source: pinterest.com
The M43 Chassis
The Semovente M43 chassis, also called in Ansaldo documents Semovente M42L (L for ‘Lungo’ – English: ‘Long’), was 4 cm longer than the M42, reaching a length of 5.10 m. It was also 17 cm wider (2.40 m compared to 2.23 m of the M42) and 10 cm lower (1.75 m compared to 1.85 m of the M42).
A Semovente M42 da 75/18 (left) and the Semovente M43 da 105/25 prototype (right). Note the differences in the chassis’ dimensions. Source: associazioneansaldo.com
Finally, the flameproof bulkhead separating the engine compartment from the fighting compartment was moved back 20 cm, increasing the fighting compartment’s space. All these modifications brought the total weight of the vehicle to 15.7 tonnes battle-ready, compared to the 15 tonnes of the M42.
The Semovente M43 da 105/25 prototype (left) and a Semovente M42 da 75/18 (right). Source: associazioneansaldo.com
The Semovente M43 chassis was first adopted for the Semovente M43 da 105/25 equipped with the Obice da 105/25 Modello SF [Sfera] (English: 105 mm L/25 Cannon Model [on Spherical Support]), which needed more space for the cumbersome gun breech and longer ammunition.
A Semovente M42 da 75/18 (left) and the Semovente M43 da 105/25 prototype (right). Note the differences in the chassis’ dimensions. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
It was also adopted by the Germans as the base for their new chassis, to which some original Italian production documents referred to as Semovente M42T (T for ‘Tedesco’ – English: German), meaning that it was derived from the previous Semovente M42L chassis.
The German ordered the installation of the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 (English: 75 mm L/46 Anti-Aircraft Cannon Model 1934) and Cannone da 75/34 Modello SF on this chassis to the Italian Ansaldo factory, which remained in the German controlled zone after the Armistice.
History of the Project
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943 and Operation Achse (English: Axis), the German forces captured thousands of Italian vehicles. Many of these were obsolete or needed to be repaired, but some were immediately redistributed to frontline German units in Italy and Balkans to replace some losses.
The Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen (English: Inspector General of the Armed Forces) of the Wehrmacht inspected the various Italian factories and their armored vehicle projects in order to reorganize the production of Italian vehicles. He canceled the production of non-suitable vehicles by German Army standards and ordered modification to some vehicles to meet some German tank requirements.
On 18th December 1943, the Abteilung Waffen und Gerät beim Wehrkreiskommando 6 (Italienisch) (English: Weapons and Equipment Department of the Military District Headquarters No. 6 [Italian]) reported the proposal of the modification of the Semovente M43 da 105/25, called by the Germans Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 10,5 cm KwK L/25 853 (italienisch) (English: Captured Assault Gun M43 with 105 mm L/25 Cannon [Coded] 853 [italian]).
After authorization from the LXXXVIII Armee Korps (English: 88th Armored Corps), German Hauptmann Dobiey, commander of the Panzerjäger-Abteilung 356 (English: 356th Anti-Tank Battalion) assigned to the 356. Infanterie-Division, proposed a series of modifications for the Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 10,5 cm KwK L/25 853(i) that his unit had received after the Armistice. The 356. Infanterie-Division was formed in Toulon, France in May 1943, and was moved to northern Italy, between Genoa and Ventimiglia, in November 1943, where it received the Italian Semoventi M43 da 105/25.
Hauptmann Dobiey proposed the addition of 25 mm Schotten-Panzerung (English: Shadow Armor) and Seitenschürzen (English: Side Aprons) to increase the protection on the casemate to 60 mm on the superstructure sides and 34 mm on the chassis.
The German Hauptmann assumed an increase in weight of 600 kg, bringing the vehicle weight to about 16 tonnes, a weight that the original suspensions could withstand.
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 or Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) prototype at the Ansaldo-Fossati plant in Sestri Ponente. The gun barrel had a counterweight on the muzzle and was not painted as the chassis. Apart from the counterweight and the absence of the gun shield and the radio antenna, the prototype is identical to the production vehicles. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano Fino al 1943
It is not clear who proposed to mount the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 on this upgraded chassis. It is improbable that Hauptmann Dobiey, a German officer, had such extensive knowledge of the Italian cannon that he knew it was also an adequate anti-tank weapon and could be installed inside an armored vehicle.
Another note on the armament is that it was planned to modify the Cannone da 75/46 Antiaereo Modello 1934 to fire German PaK 40 ammunition. This would have increased the anti-tank performances of the Italian cannon and standardized ammunition production.
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 prototype from another angle. The absence of the gun shield here is more visible. Source: svppbellum.blogspot.com
Major General Ernst von Horstig, head of Dienststelle Italien des Heereswaffenamt (English: Italian Branch of the [German] Army Weapons Office), took the initiative and ordered the development of the vehicle. Ansaldo had to produce the prototype by 15th January 1944, less than a month later. The German general wanted the prototype tested before deciding its fate.
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 was rarely mentioned in Second World War Italian documents. It was barely mentioned by German sources either, but when it was mentioned, it was named with its German designation: Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) (English: Captured Assault Gun M43 with 75 mm L/46 Cannon [Coded] 852 [italian]).
In this article, the vehicle was referred to with both designations. The factory designation Semovente M42T will be used while referring to an up-armored version of the Semovente M42L chassis.
Production and Delivery
It is not known when the Semovente M43 da 75/46 prototype was ready and tested, but the German response was positive. Its production was organized at the Ansaldo-Fossati plant.
Ansaldo archive sources claim a total production of 11 Semoventi M43 da 75/46, 8 (including the prototype) in 1944 and 3 in 1945. The same document reports that only 7 spherical supports for the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 were produced, all in 1944. Photographic evidence confirms the existence of 6 production vehicles and a prototype.
A total of 6 Semoventi M43 da 75/46 equipped with guns ready to be delivered at Ansaldo-Fossati plant. This image confirms a production of 6 vehicles and a prototype, as declared by Ansaldo in 1944. Source: wardrawings.be
In the late war, the German Army wanted to save on raw materials, producing only the most powerful and reliable vehicles. This was done in Germany and also in Italy. It was planned to cancel the production of all Italian armored fighting vehicles apart for the Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i), the Beute Panzerspähwagen AB43 203(i) (aka the Autoblinda AB43 medium reconnaissance armored car), and the Beute Panzerkampfwagen P40 737(i) (aka the Carro Armato P26/40 heavy tank).
On 20th February 1945, the Wehrmacht planned to equip 4 infantry divisions with Italian armored fighting vehicles. The Aufstellungsstab Sued was in favor of a production contract extension with the Italian factories. They essentially wanted to let all the Italian armored vehicle factories still capable of producing vehicles convert their production lines to Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) and Beute Panzerspähwagen AB43 203(i) (no mention was made of of the Beute Panzerkampfwagen P40 737(i) in this document), with a production estimated at 50 StuG and 50 Pz.Sp.Wg. per month.
The new production schedule for Ansaldo-Fossati plant of Sestri Ponente, where all the semoventi were produced, was of 116 Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 (not specifying the armament) in total until August 1945.
Ansaldo-Fossati production planned by the Germans in early 1945
Vehicle’s Name
March
April
May
June
July
August
Total number
Panzerkampfwagen P40 737(i)
2
4
12
12
15
6
51
Beute Sturmgeschütz M43
14
22
25
25
25
5
116
Panzerbefehlswagen M42 772(i)
3
3
8
8
0
0
22
The document did not specify which of the 3 semoventi on the M43 chassis it refers to, but, the Germans wanted to standardize the production of the Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i). It could be assumed that, in German plans, all or the majority of Sturmgeschütz M43 mentioned in the document would have been armed with the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934.
The German document also mentioned that the Ansaldo-Fossati plant produced 7 Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) in 1944. Another 12 vehicles with and without main guns were produced in 1945.
Some of these were produced at the Ansaldo-Fossati plant but then sent to Milan, at the Fonderia Milanese di Acciaio Vanzetti Società Anonima (English: Milanese Steel Foundry Vanzetti Limited Company), which was reconverted into an assembly plant.
In fact, the German report specifically mentions the presence of 12 completed (but without guns) Sturmgeschütz M43 at the Fonderia Milanese di Acciaio Vanzetti S.A. assembly plant. At that plant, the vehicles were equipped with cannons and delivered to their German units, so it is probable that some of the 12 unarmed chassis at Fonderia Milanese di Acciaio Vanzetti S.A. plant of Milan were later equipped with Cannoni da 75/34 in order to send them to the frontline as soon as possible.
At the end of the war, Aufstellungsstab Sued (English: Positioning Staff South) reported the production of a prototype and 7 Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) in 1944 plus 2 Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) between 5th December 1944 and 5th January 1945.
Another 2 were produced between 5th January to 15th February 1945 and another 6 Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) chassis were produced between 16th February and 20th March 1945, of which only 2 equipped with main guns.
Beute Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) Production as Reported in German Documents
Data
StuG M43 mit 75/46 852(i) Chassis Produced
StuG M43 mit 75/46 852(i) with Main Guns Installed
Status
1944
81
8
All delivered
5th January 1945
2
2
All delivered
15th February 1945
2
2
All delivered
20th March 1945
6
2
2 on the way to their unit2
Total
18
14
Note
1Including the prototype 2Nothing is known about the other 4 chassis
The total German number of 18 Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) differs from the Ansaldo-Fossati one, of just 11. This difference in sources can be easily explained as, from early 1945 on, assembly (and probably production) of Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) was moved from the Ansaldo-Fossati plant of Sestri Ponente to Fonderia Milanese di Acciaio Vanzetti S.A. of Milan. When assembly was moved, Ansaldo simply stopped counting the Semoventi M43 da 75/46. Another explanation could be that some chassis meant for other types were armed with the Cannone da 75/34 in order to put them in service as soon as possible.
The same report from 20th February 1945 claimed that Beauftragte für Waffen (English: Weapons Commissioner) Goering had reported that 25 StuG M43 mit 75/46 852(i) should be delivered in March 1945.
A last note about Italian armored vehicle production was sent on 9th April 1945 to the Reichsministerium fuer Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion (English: Reich Ministry for Armaments and War Production), directed to Reichsminister Albert Speer. The note was sent by the Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen and reported that the Beauftragter fuer Panzerkampfwagen bei Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion (English: Representative for Armored Fighting Vehicles at Armament and War Production) in Milan wanted to order more Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) and Beute Panzerspähwagen AB43 203(i), reaching a full rate production of 50 StuG and 50 Pz.Sp.Wg. per month.
The Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen wrote to Reichsminister Speer that he was in favor of continuing the Italian armored vehicle production if it did not interfere with German vehicle production because of the very few raw materials available.
The Generalinspekteur’s note reported that, if the Reichsministerium fuer Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion would approve, the Italian factories would increase, by every means, the production rate of armored vehicle currently on the lines, especially the Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i).
This unrealistic production plan was never realized. On 25th April 1945, 2 weeks later, the Italian Partisans started a great insurrection, attacking the last Axis forces in the main cities of northern Italy. Turin, Milan, Novara and Genoa, where the Italian armored fighting vehicles were produced, were freed between 25th to 28th April 1945, capturing the production plants with the help of the workers.
German Modifications
Apart from the new armored plates, mounted only on some Semoventi M43 chassis, other upgrades were done on the Italian semoventi produced for the Germans. These included 4 bigger teeth bolted on the outside of the sprocket wheel, intended to prevent the track slipping off the wheels while driving in muddy or snowy terrain. Another modification was the addition of 3 helmet supports on the roof, 2 on the left side and one on the right, for the crew members when operating with open hatches. The third modification requested by the Germans was to substitute the right roof hatch with one openable in 2 parts for better ventilation of the fighting compartment.
A British light mortar squad near an abandoned Semovente M42M da 75/34 produced for the Germans. Note that the right roof hatch was shorter than the left one. Source: beutepanzer.ru
Other unconfirmed modifications claimed by many sources were:
Substituting the Italian radio apparatus with more reliable German-produced ones
Replacing the gearbox with one of German origin
German-produced Mauser MG34s or MG42s instead of the original Italian anti-aircraft machine guns
The Germans did not usually change the radio apparatus of the Italian tanks and self-propelled guns they used. It is possible the sources refer to occasional changes made by individual crews, such as German intercoms or new batteries and accumulators. The Germans did not modify the powerpacks on the Italian vehicles.
There is no photographic evidence showing the adoption of German machine guns on Italian self-propelled guns. This suggests that these were not widely adopted on Italian vehicles. Most likely, many sources are confusing the machine guns due to the German caliber. In fact, during the German occupation, the factories were ordered to change the caliber of the Italian machine guns and even some rifles to standardize to the German 7.92 x 57 mm Mauser caliber. Many Breda Modello 1938 Italian medium machine guns were modified to fire the Mauser cartridges. This could be considered another German modification of the Semovente M43 da 75/46.
Design
Armor
The armor was both bolted to an internal frame and partially welded (a great innovation for Italian vehicles) and had great thickness compared to Italian standards. The hull armor had 2 angled armored plates with a thickness of 50 mm at 40° on top and 35 mm at 50° on the bottom for the transmission.
The transmission deck plate was 25 mm-thick angled at 78°. It also had 2 brake inspection hatches of the same thickness. The hull side armored plates were 40 mm thick.
The superstructure had a 75 mm thick armor plate angled at 5° frontally, while the gun spherical support was 60 mm thick.
On the casemate’s sides, the 45 mm thick armored plates were angled at 7°, while the rear was protected by a 45 mm thick plate angled at 0°. A plate of 25 mm angled at 15° protected the back of the engine compartment. The roof and floor of the vehicle were 15 mm thick. Unlike its predecessors, the Semovente M43 da 75/46 had three-part side skirts.
The peculiarity of the Semovente M42T was the addition of 25 mm thick spaced armored plates angled at 25° on the front. They had a hatch where the driver port of the M43 was placed. The gun barrel received a 25 mm thick gun shield angled at 25°. This was a great improvement. For all the duration of the war, one of the problems encountered in Italian semoventi was the absence of protection to the spherical support that was sometimes blocked by light arm fire or artillery splinters. On the side, protecting the casemate and the lower part of the fighting compartment, there was a 25 mm spaced armored plate.
A Semovente M43 da 75/34 with its spaced armor plates. In this image, the hatches for the driving port and the gun shield are visible. Source: warthunder.com
Nothing is known about the real efficacy of this spaced armor. At the end of the war, the Italian ballistic armor, like the German one, was produced with poor raw materials and the final result was of bad quality and often broke or split.
Nevertheless, the spaced armor probably guaranteed more chances to survive thanks to the distance between the spaced armor and the casemate’s plate. The total weight of the vehicle was about 15.6 tonnes, 100 kg less than the less-armored Semovente M43 da 105/25.
Hull
On the left front mudguard, there was a support for the jack. On the sides of the superstructure, there were two headlights for night operations. On the rear part, the engine deck had two large-size inspection hatches which could be opened by 45°. Between the two inspection hatches were the sapper tools, including a shovel, a pickaxe, a crowbar, and a track removal system.
Rear of a Carro Armato M15/42. Even if many tools were removed, it was essentially identical to the one of the Semovente M43 da 75/46. Source: masterminiatures.it
The rear of the vehicle had the horizontal radiator cooling grills in the center, the cooling water cap and, on the sides, two fuel caps. The rear had a towing ring in the center and two hooks on the sides, one spare wheel on the left side, and a license plate on the lower left side with a brake light. A smoke grenade box was placed on the rear armored plate, on the right.
On either side of engine deck, on the rear fenders, there were two storage boxes and the mufflers covered by a steel shield to protect them from impacts.
Better view of the Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 75/46 852(i) ready to be delivered at the Ansaldo-Fossati plant. This image allows seeing the turret roof details and bolted armor. Source: forum.warthunder.com
A total of 6 racks for 20-liter cans were placed on the sides of the vehicle, 3 on each spaced armored plate on the sides, just like on other Italian self-propelled guns and tanks. It should be noted, however, that on the Semoventi M43 da 75/46, the cans were not transported because they were never sent to North Africa, and it was not necessary to transport a great amount of fuel during operations in Italy, where it was deployed.
On the inside, starting from the front of the vehicle, was the transmission connected to the braking system, which had two armored inspection hatches. These could be opened from outside by means of two handles, or from the inside by means of a knob located on the right side of the vehicle, which could be used by the gunner. On the left was the driver’s seat, equipped with a fold-down back for easy access. In front, it had two steering tillers, a driving port that could be closed with a lever, and a hyposcope used when the port was closed. The hyposcope had 19 x 36 cm dimensions and a vertical field of view of 30°, from +52° to +82°. On the left was the dashboard and, on the right, the gun breech.
Interior of Semovente M43 da 105/25 prototype. Even if Semovente da 75/46 and Semovente da 105/25 had different main armament and main ammunition racks, they shared the same radio apparatus, dashboard (left) and machine gun maintenance kit and racks (right). Source: fondazioneansaldo.com
Behind the driver was the seat for the loader. The loader had, on the left, the radio apparatus and, above him, one of two armored hatches. In case of an attack from the air, the loader would also have to use the anti-aircraft machine gun. On the right side of the fighting compartment was the gunner’s seat without a backrest. In front of his seat, the gunner had the elevation and traverse handwheels.
On the gunner’s right was the support for the anti-aircraft machine gun when not in use, a maintenance kit, and a fire extinguisher. Behind the support was a wooden rack for ammunition for the secondary armament. In order to prevent the magazines from falling on rough terrain, the rack had a closable curtain. Behind the gunner/commander were the ammunition racks for the main gun. On the rear wall were the engine fan, an engine cooling water tank, and the Magneti Marelli batteries. On the rear side of the superstructure were two pistol ports which could be closed by revolving shutters from the inside. These were used for self-defense and to check the rear side of the vehicle in order to avoid the crew having to expose themselves outside of the vehicle. The transmission shaft ran through the entire fighting compartment, dividing it in half.
How the Semovente M43 da 75/46 would have looked without the spaced armor. It was based on a slightly modified Semovente M43 da 105/25 chassis. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano with author’s modifications
Radio Equipment
The Semovente M43 da 75/46’s radio apparatus was an Apparato Ricetrasmittente Radio Fonica 1 per Carro Armato or Apparato Ricevente RF1CA (English: Tank Audio Radio Receiver Apparatus 1) produced by Magneti Marelli. This was a radiotelephone and radiotelegraph station box of 415 x 208 x 196 mm and a weight of about 18.5 kg. It had 10 watts of power in both voice and telegraphy. It had a small cover that was raised up when the radio was in use.
The Apparato Ricevente RF1CA mounted on Italian semoventi and carri armati. Numbers refer to: 1) audio radio receiver apparatus, 2) power supply, 3) antenna support (early type), 4) accessories, 5) cable that connected the audio radio receiver apparatus with the antenna, 6) cable that connected the audio radio receiver apparatus with the power supply, 7) cable that connected power supply to the batteries, 8) headphones, 9) laryngophone, and 10) fuses. Source: Manuale Apparato Ricevente RF1CA TR7
Operating frequency range was between 27 and 33.4 MHz. It was powered by an AL-1 Dynamotor supplying 9-10 Watts, mounted on the hull’s right side, with a power supply of 12 Volts from NF-12-1-24 batteries produced by Magneti Marelli connected in series. It had a range of 8 km in voice mode and 12 km in telegraph mode. These capabilities were reduced when the self-propelled guns were on the move.
The radio had 2 ranges, Vicino (Eng: Near), with a maximum range of 5 km, and Lontano (Eng: Afar), with a maximum range of 12 km. Even with the Lontano range, in the voice mode it had a range of 8 km.
It was produced from 1940 by the Magneti Marelli company of Sesto San Giovanni, near Milan. and was mounted on all the Italian self-propelled guns and tanks of the M series (except for the Carro Armato M11/39) and the Carro Armato P26/40 heavy tank.
The radio was produced after the Armistice for the Germans, together with manual books in German language. The production of the Apparato Ricevente RF1CA until 1945 also contrasts the hypothesis of the use of German radios on semoventi. After the war, the turning unit of this transceiver was almost entirely copied on the US Army AN/GRR-5 receiver.
On the previous models of semoventi, the antenna radio was mounted on a support that was lowerable thanks to a crank inside the vehicle. The loader had to turn the crank until the 1.8 m antenna was fully raised or fully down. This was a slow operation and the crank occupied space inside the fighting compartment.
From 1942, a new antenna support was mounted on Italian vehicles. The first model equipped with this new antenna was the Semovente M41M da 90/53, while it was introduced in the Semovente M42 da 75/18 later. The new antenna had a 360° lowerable support, meaning that it could be folded in any direction. Usually, a hook on the left side of the front of the casemate permitted it to rest during long drives to avoid it hitting electrical cables or interfering with driving in narrow areas. It seems that, on the prototype and the production Semoventi M43 da 75/46, this support was never mounted and the crew did not have the possibility to lower the antenna.
The different types of antennas and supports mounted on the Italian medium tanks and semoventi. Early type (left) and new type (right), mounted from 1942 on. Source: Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
On all the semoventi produced before the Semovente M43 chassis, the antenna support was mounted on the rear left side of the casemate’s roof, while on the Semovente M43 da 105/25, it was moved on the front left side for a different internal arrangement. On the Semovente M43 da 75/46, the antenna radio support was again moved to the rear left side of the roof. To speed up production, Ansaldo-Fossati deployed a single M43 chassis production line. When the chassis was ready, Ansaldo’s workers made a hole on the rear side on the semoventi that would have received spaced armored plates, filling the front left hole with a round armored plate welded on it.
Engine and Transmission
The petrol engine of the Semovente M43 was inherited from previous semoventi M42 and M43 and the Carro Armato M15/42. The new model, the FIAT-SPA 15TB (‘B’ for ‘Benzina’ – Petrol) Modello 1943 petrol, 12-cylinder, V-shaped, water-cooled 11,980 cm³ engine developed 190 hp at 2,400 rpm (some other sources claim a maximum output of 192 hp or even 195 hp).
FIAT-SPA 15TB Modello 1942 petrol engine, radiator, and cooling vents. On the right top is the cooling water tank that was located, on the vehicle, in the fighting compartment. It was divided from the engine by a bulkhead. Source: bnamodel.com
It is not clear if the Germans modified the vehicle in other ways. It seems improbable that they ordered the mounting of German transmissions or other German-produced parts on the semoventi. The engine was designed by Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino or FIAT (English: Italian Automobile Factory of Turin) and produced by one of its subsidiary companies, the Società Piemontese Automobili, or SPA (English: Piedmontese Automobile Company).
Engine and radiator on a Carro Armato M15/42. Even if the Semovente M43 da 75/46 and the Carro Armato M15/42 were different, the engine compartment was only slightly modified. Source: facebook.com Associazione Raggruppamento SPA
The engine ignition system and lighting systems, engine cooling system, and fuel circulation systems were inherited from the previous Semovente M43 da 105/25. In order to start the engine, there was a Magneti Marelli electric starter but also an inertial starter produced by the Turin-based company Onagro. The lever for the inertial starter could be inserted outside the vehicle, on the rear, or from the inside of the fighting compartment. Two crew members needed to turn the crank, reaching about 60 rotations per minute. At that point, the driver could turn the engine button on the dashboard until the first strokes of the engine. The crew members rarely ignited the engine from the inside due to the cramped space, but this could become useful when under enemy artillery fire or in areas in which the enemy could easily ambush dismounted crews.
Ignition crank mounted on the rear of a Carro Armato M15/42. On the Semovente M43 da 75/46, the only difference was the presence of a smoke grenade box on the right. Source: associazioneansaldo.com
On road, the Semovente M43 da 75/46’s maximum speed was 38 km/h, while off-road, the maximum speed was about 15 km/h. It had an on-road range of 180 km and an off-road range similar to the one of Semovente M43 da 105/25, of about 100 km.
On the Carro Armato M15/42, thanks to the increased space in the engine compartment, the fuel tanks were increased to 367 liters in main tanks, plus 40 liters in the reserve tank. This gave a total of 407 liters. On the M43 chassis, the fighting compartment was 20 cm longer, reducing the space in the engine compartment. In other words, the fuel tanks were shortened, decreasing the volume from 407 liters to 316 liters.
This was also likely due to some changes to the engine. The Carro Armato M15/42 and Semovente M42 chassis mounted the FIAT-SPA 15 TB Modello 1942 petrol engine, while the M42T chassis mounted a FIAT-SPA 15TB Modello 1943. This could be simply a wrong official designation or a 1943 development by FIAT and SPA. The modifications are unknown, but it seems that they did not modify the overall performances of the engine. They probably concerned a decrease of the weight of engine or upgraded engine fire extinguisher system due to the extremely flammable petrol. Modifications to the engine weight are plausible due the extremely modest weight of Semovente M43 da 75/46, 15.6 tonnes battle ready, lighter than the Semovente M43 da 105/25 which did not have the spaced armor.
The engine was connected to a transmission produced by FIAT, with 5 forward and one reverse gears. The transmission was mounted frontally. In order to remove it, the transmission deck’s armored plate had to be removed first.
Image of the FIAT gearbox (produced by SPA) mounted on all Italian armored vehicles starting with the Carro Armato M15/42. It was connected to the transmission shaft. Source: Manuale Uso e Manutenzione Carro Armato M15/42 e Derivati
Due to the increased size of the casemate, the rear bulkhead that divided the engine compartment from the fighting compartment was moved 20 cm back. This increased the space occupied by the engine’s flywheel cover inside the fighting compartment, increasing the heat coming from the engine in the crew’s compartment.
The heat and proximity of fuel tanks near ammunition could be a serious danger in case of fire, but during winters, it warmed up the crew members that had to leave at least an upper hatch opened during fighting to ventilate the fighting compartment.
Suspension and Tracks
The Semovente M43 da 75/46’s suspension was a semi-elliptical leaf spring type, as on all vehicles developed from Italian medium tanks. On each side, there were 4 bogies connected to a leaf-spring with 8 doubled rubber road wheels paired on 2 suspension units in total. This suspension type was obsolete and did not allow the vehicle to reach a high top speed. In addition, it was very vulnerable to enemy fire or mines. Due to the lengthening of the hull on the Semoventi M43, one of the 2 suspension units was mounted a few centimeters back.
The tank had 26 cm wide tracks with 86 track links per side, 6 more than the other tanks of the ‘M’ series due to the hull lengthening.
One of the 2 suspension units of a Semovente M41M da 90/53. Each suspension unit was composed of 4 rubber road wheels divided in 2 suspension arms. Source: flikr.com @Chris Streckfus
The drive sprocket wheels were at the front and the idlers, with modified track tension adjusters, at the back, with 3 rubber return rollers on each side. The small surface area of the tracks (about 14,750 cm²) gave a ground pressure of about 1 kg/cm², increasing risk that the vehicle would bog down in soft soils, such as mud or snow.
In a photo taken in 1944 outside the Ansaldo-Fossati plant production line, there were a Semovente M43 da 75/46 and M43 da 105/25 for comparison. The Semovente da 75/46 was equipped with Ostketten (English: Eastern Chains) on the right track. These were probably delivered by the Germans for tests. They were meant to increase surface in contact with the ground and to decrease overall pressure on the ground. Apart from this photo, no other photographic evidence suggests the use of Ostketten on Italian captured armored vehicles.
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 prototype (left) next to a Semovente M43 da 105/25 without side skirts (right). Apart from the main armament and added armor plates, the vehicles were externally identical. The Semovente M43 da 75/46 had the right track equipped with German Ostketten. Source: militaryimages.net
Like the Semovente M43 da 105/35, the M43 da 75/46 was equipped with a side skirt. These were only 4 mm thick and partially protected the sides of the vehicle. Their role was not to protect the semovente from anti-tank rifle rounds or shaped charges ammunition, but to prevent shrapnel from damaging the suspension units and track links. The side skirts had a cut in the back to allow crew to be able to reach the track tension adjuster without dismounting the skirt. Another 3 small holes were made to add lubricant to the return rollers without losing time by removing the side skirt.
Main Armament
The Semovente M43 da 75/46’s main armament was the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934, an Italian anti-aircraft cannon developed by Ansaldo in 1932 that entered service in 1934. It appeared after an Italian Regio Esercito’s High Command request for a new anti-aircraft cannon in 1929.
Ansaldo and Odero-Terni-Orlando (OTO) not only developed some guns but also tested foreign ones, such as the 80 mm luftvärnskanon m/29 anti-aircraft gun produced by Swedish Bofors. The Bofors gun inspired the Ansaldo design office, which presented the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei in 1932.
Drawing of the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934. Source: fondazioneansaldo.com
During trials, the Direzione Superiore del Servizio Tecnico Armi e Munizioni or DSSTAM (English: Higher Directorate of Technical Service Weapons and Ammunition), the branch of the Regio Esercito’s High Command which created artillery design requests and accepted them into service, helped Ansaldo to modify the cannon. This was done to such an extent that some sources even called the cannon the DSTAM-Ansaldo. In 1933, the gun was ready (even if it was only accepted into service in 1934), and the Regio Esercito ordered 100. Ninety-two were delivered by October 1939, while another 240 were to be built in 1940.
A Cannone da 75/46 Cotraerei Modello 1934 in North Africa in November 1940. Source: Istituto Luce via italie1935-45.com
At the start, only the Ansaldo Pozzuoli plant (specialized in artillery production) and the Stabilimento Artiglierie di Cornigliano (English: Artillery Plant of Cornigliano), which was under Ansaldo’s control, produced the cannon. A total of 232 pieces were delivered between 1941 and 1942, while another 4 were delivered in the first 4 months of 1943, together with 108 spare barrels.
OTO and Arsenale Regio Esercito di Piacenza or AREP (English: Royal Army Arsenal of Piacenza) also produced spare parts. OTO delivered a total of 120 cannons by December 1942. The last order of the Regio Esercito’s High Command for 472 Cannoni da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 to be delivered by the end of 1943 was never started due to the Armistice of 8th September.
The Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei of the first batch at the Stabilimento Artiglierie di Cornigliano. Source: fondazioneansaldo.com
When the cannon appeared in the mid-1930s, it was a great artillery piece. It had high initial muzzle velocity due to the use of powerful propellant and barrel length, sustained rate of fire, and large firing arcs thanks to a cross-platform. The gun’s breech had a system to switch between being manually-opened or semiautomatic, with a maximum rate of fire of 15 rounds per minute with a trained crew. Its muzzle velocity was 800 m/s and maximum range was 8,500 m in the anti-aircraft role and 13,000 m against ground targets. The traverse was 360° while the elevation was from 0° to 90°.
Two Cannoni da 75/46 Cotraerei Modello 1934M towed by Pavesi P4 prime movers at the Nettuno shooting range. Source: Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito via italie1935-45.comA Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 with a rangefinder telemeter and Centrale di Tiro Modello 1937 ‘Gala’ deployed by artillerymen of the Nettuno Anti-Aircraft Artillery School. Source: Giuseppe Calò via italie1935-45.com
In July 1943, there were 31 batterie antiaeree da 75/46 (English: 75 mm L/46 anti-aircraft batteries) operational. The Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 was deployed on all fronts of the war, in the Modello 1934 version, Modello 1934M version (slightly modified), and Modello 1940 static defense version. The majority of the batteries were sent to North Africa. In the Soviet Union, the few groups sent gave great results in the anti-tank role against early variants of Soviet T-34 medium tanks.
A Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 of the Regio Esercito in the Soviet Union during the winter of 1942-43. Source: Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito via italie1935-45.com
Although it was a marked improvement over the 75 mm guns of the First World War and it had cutting edge characteristics for the 1930s, the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 showed some weaknesses during its use. Rapid wear and tear of cannon’s bore caused its muzzle velocity to drop from 800 m/s to 750 m/s. The Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 was quickly superseded as a positional piece for territorial anti-aircraft defense as the war continued. It was therefore time to switch to a more powerful weapon, the Cannone da 90/53 Modello 1939.
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943, the anti-aircraft gun was deployed by the Germans, who renamed it 7,5 cm Flugabwehrkanone 264/3 (italienisch) (English: 75 mm Aircraft-Defense Cannon coded 264/3 [italian]) and continued its production. Even the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano (English: National Republican Army), the Italian Army allied to the Germans, equipped a pair of anti-aircraft units with this cannon. Some guns were also deployed by Italian soldiers in the Allied armies in order to defend Southern Italy from Axis air attacks.
A Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 of an Italian AA unit during deployment maneuvers after the Armistice. Source: Giuseppe Calò via italie1935-45.com
The Cannone da 75/46 mounted on the semovente was called Kampfwagenkanone 75/46 (English: 75 mm L/46 Tank Cannon) by the Germans. On the semovente mount, the Cannone da 75/46 had an elevation of -10° to +18° and traverse was 17° to either side. The traverse decreased compared to the Semoventi M42M da 75/34 and M43 da 105/25 of 18° due to the presence of new spaced plates.
Semovente M43 da 75/46 sight. Per Alzo da 75/46 Semovente can be read on it. Source: heroesandgeneral.com
The barrel weighed 686 kg, while the gun mounted on the spherical support of the semoventi weighed 810 kg according to German reports. An interesting feature was that the vehicle had the possibility of also being equipped with the Cannone da 105/25 Modello SF just by removing the 75 mm cannon and spherical support with a winch and changing the main gun’s ammunition racks. The difference between the Cannone da 75/46 and Cannone da 105/25 was that the latter weighed just 40 kg more.
The Semoventi M42L armed with the Cannone da 105/25 weighed more than the Semoventi M42T with spaced armor and Cannone da 75/46. This was largely due to weight of 105 mm ammunition. In other words, if the Semovente M43 da 75/46 was equipped with the Cannone da 105/25, its weight would have increased by several hundred kilograms.
Rare images of a rare Semovente M42T da 105/25. It was a Cannone da 105/25 mounted on the chassis of a Semovente M43 da 75/46. Source: pinterest.com @lucky01
The Cannone da 105/25 Modello S.F. was developed by Ansaldo and produced by the Stabilimento Artiglierie di Cornigliano. It was developed on the basis of the Obice da 105/23 Modello 1942 a howitzer developed by Ansaldo as a prototype for divisional artillery, together with the Cannone da 105/40 Modello 1943. Due to delays and high costs, only the Cannone da 105/40 Modello 1943 was accepted in service, however it was only adopted from May 1943 and saw limited use. The the tank version of the Obice da 105/23 Modello 1942 was adopted on the Semovente M43 da 105/25 and, after the war, also used in Italian fortifications on the Italo-Yugoslavian border.
The Cannone da 105/25 Modello SF at the Stabilimento Artiglierie di Cornigliano. Source: fondazioneansaldo.com
Inside the semoventi, the Cannone da 105/25 Modello SF had a horizontal traverse of 18° to either side, as well as a depression of -10° and an elevation of +18°. Traverse probably decreased on the Semoventi M42T due to the spaced armor, like the horizontal traverse of other cannons mounted on the same chassis.
The Cannone da 105/25 Modello SF fired the same ammunition as the Cannone da 105/28 Modello 1916, with a maximum muzzle velocity of 500 m/s with armor-piercing rounds. It was capable of piercing a Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA) plate of 80 mm at 1,000 m according to German reports.
The Main Gun’s Problems
The Germans proposed to modify the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934, or as they called it, the 7,5 cm Fliegerabwehrkanone 264/3(i). It is unknown if they finally ordered a modification to the cannons, as planned in December 1943. The really slow production rate of the Cannoni da 75/46 for the Semoventi M43 da 75/46 could be explained by a long and difficult breech modification made in order to permit Panzerabwehrkanone 40 or PaK 40 ammunition to be fired.
The PaK 40 rounds had a length of 714 mm (75 x 714 mm R), while the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 round’s cartridge had a length of 580 mm (75 x 580 mm R). In order to fire PaK 40 rounds, Ansaldo had to modify the chamber, if necessary also modify the inner face of the bolt, the extractor, and probably also reinforce the breech and powder chamber if the pressures resulting from firing the PaK 40 ammunition exceed those tolerated by the Cannone da 75/46.
A partially assembled Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 at the Stabilimento Artiglierie di Cornigliano in 1938. Source: fondazioneansaldo.com
However, the slow rate of delivery of Italian cannons could also be explained by other hypotheses. The first one could be the slow production of spherical supports used to mount the cannons on the semoventi chassis. This does seem an unsatisfactory explanation. In fact, the Italian industry, albeit always failing in the delivery of self-propelled gun spherical supports in large quantities, could probably have fulfilled a request for so few 75 mm cannon mounts.
An image showing off some Semoventi M43 da 105/25 lined up in an Ansaldo-Fossati depot, ready to be delivered. Even if this photo dates before the Armistice, it shows that, even if the Italian industry sometimes failed in the delivery of self-propelled gun spherical mounts, it had an average monthly production that matched the production of the hulls produced in one month by Ansaldo-Fossati with guns from the Stabilimento Artiglierie di Cornigliano. Source: associazioneansaldo.com
The last hypothesis that could explain the low delivery rate of the Cannone da 75/46 is the really low production rate of Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934. It was produced in Piacenza, Pozzuoli, and Stabilimento Artiglierie di Cornigliano, under Ansaldo’s control. After the Armistice of 1943, Pozzuoli was freed by Allied forces in late September, while Arsenale Regio Esercito di Piacenza was converted mainly for vehicle reparation and production of armored improvised vehicles. The artillery production decreased. This meant that the majority of Cannoni da 75/46 production was the responsibility of the Stabilimento Artiglierie di Cornigliano, which remained one of the few Italian artillery producers until 1945.
Main Gun Considerations
The Germans and Ansaldo probably decided to mount the Cannone da 75/46 on the Semovente M42T due to its better anti-tank performance compared to other Italian guns at their disposal.
The choice of mounting a modified anti-aircraft gun proved to be a poor choice for the Germans and it cost them a very low production rate, especially compared to the production rate of Semoventi M42L da 105/25 and Semoventi M42T da 75/34, other last ones produced on the same chassis.
In order to increase the production of better armed Semoventi M42T, the mounting on the Semoventi M42T chassis of the German Panzerabwehrkanone 40 could have been an alternative option. The weight of the vehicle would not have increased by much, as the 7.5 cm KwK40 weighed 750 kg, compared to the 686 kg of the Cannone da 75/46.
Before the Armistice, Italy and Germany signed a contract for the license production of the field version of the PaK 40 in Italy (Italian nomenclature Cannone da 75/43 Modello 1940). The production was not started before September 1943, but some production lines were assembled. It is not known why the Germans did not restart the project earlier instead of adopting the Cannone da 75/46. It would probably have been easier to start delivering German-produced PaK 40 in Italy and then make Italian industry autonomous instead of modifying the Italian anti-aircraft cannon’s production line. After the armistice, OTO produced some spare parts for the PaK 40 for the Germans until the late war.
How the Semovente M43 armed with PaK 40 anti-tank cannon could have looked like. Source: drawingdatabase.com and the-blueprints.com with author modification
Secondary Armament
Secondary armament consisted of a Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 (English: Breda Medium Machine Gun Model 1938) produced by Società Italiana Ernesto Breda per Costruzioni Meccaniche (English: Italian Ernesto Breda’s Company for Mechanical Constructions). It was derived from the Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1937, the most modern Italian medium machine gun during the war.
A Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 on a Semovente M41 da 75/18 on an earlier anti-aircraft support. Source: pinterest.com
Breda Modello 1938 was its vehicle version, with a shorter and heavier barrel, pistol grip, and top-mounted curved magazine with a capacity of 24 rounds. These modifications were made to ease the use of the machine gun inside vehicles. Breda machine guns fired a particular cartridge developed by Breda especially for machine guns, the 8 x 59 mm RB with a muzzle velocity between 790 m/s and 800 m/s, depending on the round type.
Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 with top-curved magazine without anti-aircraft sight. When not in use, it was stored in the left sponson of the self-propelled gun. Source: dandbmilitaria.com
The machine gun was fixed on an anti-aircraft mount attached to a crowbar that offered an increased horizontal traverse for the machine gun in case of an aerial attack. The anti-aircraft supports mounted on the previous model of Italian self-propelled guns barely covered the frontal arc of the vehicles. A similar feature was made on Beute Sturmgeschütz L6 mit 47/32 770(i) (Semovente L40 da 47/32), on which the Germans added a crowbar support for a machine gun to increase the horizontal traverse of the machine gun.
Semovente M43 da 75/46 with a new anti-aircraft support for the Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938. The vehicle is also equipped with 20 liter can supports on the sides and steel helmet supports for the crew member’s helmets. This particular vehicle was probably the prototype brought to production series status. In fact, this vehicle had the cannon barrel’s counterweight, which was mounted only on the prototype. Source: wikipedia.org
During the German occupation of Northern Italy, the Mitragliatrici Medie Breda Modello 1938 were rechambered for German 7.92 x 57 mm Mauser cartridges, due to the similar dimensions of the bullets: 82.00 mm for the German compared to the 80.44 mm of the Italian cartridge and casing diameter of 11.95 mm compared to the 11.92 of the Italian casings. The 24-round magazine and wooden ammunition racks were left unchanged.
Beginning in 1942, Italian factories started to produce a licensed copy of the German Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung or NKAV (English: Smoke Grenade Dropping Device). It was a smoke grenade system that, through a wire connected to a camshaft, dropped a smoke grenade to the ground. Total capacity was 5 Schnellnebelkerze 39 (English: Quick Smoke Grenade 39) smoke grenades. The grenades had a length of 140 mm, a diameter of 90 mm, and a weight of 1.8 kg. They had a burning time of 4 to 7 minutes, depending on wind and in which area the SPG released the smoke grenades.
The commander had to pull the wire and the camshaft rotated, dropping a smoke grenade.
This system was mounted on the rear of the vehicle, so the smoke screen was created behind the vehicle and not around it, on the front arc.
An unarmored Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung dismounted from a vehicle. Source: Bundesarchiv
The Germans began to stop using this system in 1942 in favor of smoke grenade launchers on the turret, because the grenades fell at the back and the tank had to reverse to hide behind. The Italians, on the other hand, apparently gave no thought to this problem and adopted it in 1942.
A Semovente M43 da 105/25 equipped with Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung mit Schutzmantel (where the Balkenkreuz was painted). Even if they were differently armed and protected, the M43 da 105/25 was similar to the M43 da 75/46. Source: beutepanzer.ru
It seems that the Italians copied the protected variant, called Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung mit Schutzmantel (English: Smoke Grenades Dropping Device with Protective Sheath). It had a rectangular protection, even if the Italian and German protections seem different. It is not known if the Italians also produced the Schnellnebelkerze 39 smoke grenades under license or if the Italian vehicles used the grenades imported from Germany. This smoke system was quickly adopted on all the Italian armored tracked vehicles starting from the Carro Armato M15/42 and on all the semoventi on its chassis. A smaller version appeared even on the Autoblinde AB41 and AB43 medium reconnaissance armored cars.
A cylindrical support for spare smoke grenades was also transported on the vehicle. It was fixed on the rear side of the armored superstructure, behind the engine’s cooling grilles and could transport 5 more smoke grenades.
A Semovente M43 da 75/46 during training. This is the only image of the semovente showing off its rear side. The Nebelkerzenabwurfvorrichtung mit Schutzmantel (red) and the cylindrical support for spare smoke grenades (green) are visible. Source: instagram.com @forza_italiana with highlights by author
Ammunition
Ammunition for the Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 transported on the vehicle was stored in 2 racks, totalling 42 rounds. One was on the left side of the floor of the fighting compartment and the second one on the floor of the right side of the fighting compartment. The left one was used by the loader as a seat, while the right one was behind the gunner and was openable from the top.
The left rack had the rounds stored in 2 5-round rows and 2 6-round rows for a total of 22 rounds, while the second rack had 2 4-round rows and 2 5-round rows, for a total of 18 rounds.
Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 Rounds
Name
Type
Muzzle Velocity
Fuze
Filler
Weight
Penetration (RHA angled 30° from vertical)
Perforante da 75/46
APCBC
~ 800 m/s
Percussion Model 1909
//
6.2/6.9 kg
70 mm at 500 m
55 mm at 1,500 m
Dirompente da 75/46
HE
?
Percussion I.O. 36/40
335 – 345 g of TNT
~ 6.3/6.5 kg
//
Notes
The gun could fire other three different types of rounds, but these were anti-aircraft rounds not adopted on the Semovente
Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 anti-aircraft round. Image taken at Cornigliano Artillery Plant. Source: fondazioneansaldo.com
Compared to other semoventi racks, these were under the level of the vehicle’s sponsons and were difficult to hit by enemy rounds that pierced the vehicle’s armor. This problem caused many Semoventi M42M da 75/34 or Semoventi M43 da 105/25 to blow up after penetration.
If the Cannoni da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 were really modified to fire the same ammunition as the PaK 40, it would probably fire all German ammunition for this type of gun.
Ammunition fired by the 7.5 cm Panzerabwehrkanone 40
Name
Type
Muzzle Velocity
Weight
Penetration (RHA angled 30° from vertical)
Panzergranate 1939 (PzGr. 39)
APCBC-HE-T
790 m/s
6.80 kg
108 mm at 100 m; 80 mm at 1,000 m
Panzergranate 1940 (PzGr. 40)
APCR
990 m/s
4.50 kg
143 mm at 100 m; 97 mm at 1,000 m
Sprenggranate 1934 (SprGr. 34)
HE
550 m/s
5.64 kg
N/A
Hohlladung pattern C grenades. (Gr.38 HL/C)
HEAT
450 m/s
4.57 kg
75 mm
Crew
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 had a crew of 3. The driver was positioned on the left of the fighting compartment. On his left was the dashboard and on his right was the gun breech. The commander/gunner was positioned on the right of the vehicle, on the left side of the breech, while the loader/radio operator was sat on the left, behind the driver.
Some German sources state that the Germans preferred to add a fourth crew member behind the gunner, who would load the gun. The loader’s seat would be occupied by the commander/radio operator and the gunner would perform only one function. Obviously, adding a fourth crew member meant reducing the space inside the cramped fighting compartment, which was already cramped with only 3 crew members.
A Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 10,5 cm KwK L/25 853(i) crew posing in front of their vehicle in an Italian depot. Source: beutepanzer.ru
Very little is known about the Semovente M43 da 75/46’s service. Due to their short service, there are no reports about the operational service or German crews opinions.
Major German complaints on other Italian semoventi were about their lack of proper observation sights, insufficient frontal armor, a cramped crew compartment, and (apart from the Semovente M43 da 105/25) main armament not capable of dealing with the most modern enemy tanks. The driving capabilities were never seriously complained about while, whereas for maintenance, complaints depended on a number of factors. If the German unit that deployed Italian semoventi had veteran Italian mechanics or was located in Italy, where Italian military workshops were present, the complaints were much lesser compared to German units that deployed them outside Italy, where the experienced Italian mechanics were few, and there was a general lack of Italian spare parts.
With the Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i), in all likelihood, the insufficient armor and main armament’s anti-tank performance complaints were solved.
Operational Use
Not much is known about the Semoventi M43 da 75/46’s service in German hands. Neither Italian nor German sources mention to which German Panzerjäger-Abteilung (English: Tank Destroyer Battalion) the few vehicles produced were assigned to.
The prototype was assigned to a training school in northern Italy that trained German Panzerjäger and German-equipped Italian tank destroyer squads. Infantrymen were also trained to attack enemy tanks and self-propelled guns with anti-tank improvised devices, mines, anti-tank hand grenades, and rocket launchers. Unfortunately, the name of the German training unit is unknown.
A Semovente M43 da 75/46 deployed by the Germans to train a Panzerjäger unit in Italy. From the first image, it can be assumed that the vehicle was the prototype due the gun’s counterweight on the barrel’s muzzle. Source: instagram.com @forza_italiana
Some guesses can be made as to which German units used the Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i). The 26. Panzer-Division (English: 26th Armored Division), which operated Italian self-propelled guns, created the Jägdpanzer-Abteilung 51 on 17th November 1944. The personnel of the new battalion consisted of veterans from Panzer-Regiment .26 (English: 26th Tank Regiment) and some Sd.Kfz.164 Nashorns from the Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 525 (English: 525th Heavy Tank Destroyer Battalion) were used to equip the 1. Kompagnie (English: 1st Company).
The heavy anti-tank gun platoons of the Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9. and Panzergrenadier-Regiment 67. (English: 9th and 67th Mechanized Infantry Regiments) were used to form the 3. Kompagnie (English: 3rd Company). In November 1944, the unit was operational without the 2. Kompagnie (English: 2nd Company), which was deployed only in January 1945. Some vehicles of the 2. Kompagnie may have been Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i). The 26. Panzer-Division surrendered to the Allied forces in early May 1945 in the Vicenza area, about 200 km east of Parma.
The only unit that for certain deployed the Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) was the 148. Infanterie-Division (English: 148th Infantry Division) that was deployed in Italy after mid-September 1944. On 1st October 1944, it had in its ranks 6 mechanized infantry battalions supported by the 13. Kanonen-Kompanie (English: 13th Cannon Company) and 14. Schwere-Kanonen-Kompanie (English: 14th Heavy Cannon Company). These 6 battalions and 3 companies were divided in 3 regiments: Grenadier-Regiment 281., Grenadier-Regiment 285., and Grenadier-Regiment 286..
The Artillerie-Regiment 1048. (English: 1048th Artillery Regiment) deployed a total of 3 105 mm howitzers groups and 1 150 mm heavy howitzer group with 3 batteries each. It also had Füsilier-Battalion 148. (English: 148th Rifle Battalion), with 4 squadrons, together with many other logistic units, such as the Pioneer-Battalion 1048. (English: 1048th Engineer Battalion) and the Veterinär-Kompanie 148. (English: 148th Veterinary Company). In fact, only 30% of the division was mechanized, the rest of the logistics were towed by horses.
A Semovente M43 da 75/46 captured by the Brazilian troops of the 1st Infantry Regiment “Sampaio” of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force. It was captured in Caorso, near Piacenza in the last days of war. In this image, the right opened split-hatch is visible. It seems to be damaged on the side skirt sections and appliqué side armored plate, but these seem to be more like transport damage than fighting damage. Source: Italian Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II
On 3rd December 1944, the Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1048 (English: 1048th Anti-Tank Battalion) was created, composed of Panzerabwehrkanone-Batterie 1. or PaK-Batterie 1. (English: 1st Anti-Tank Battery) with anti-tank cannons, Schwere-Panzerabwehrkanone-Batterie 2. or Schwere-PaK-Batterie 2. (English: 2nd Heavy Anti-Tank Battery) equipped with 8,8 cm PaK 43 anti-tank cannons. On 19th December 1944, it received a platoon of the Festungs-Pantherturm 2. (English: 2nd Fixed Panther Tank Turrets) and then, on 28th December, it also received 6 half-track-mounted 88 mm cannons, quite surely the surviving 8.8 cm Flak 37 (Selbstfahrlafette) auf Schwere Zugkraftwagen 18t (Sd.Kfz.9) (English: 8.8 cm FlaK 18 [Self-Propelled Gun Carriage] on [Sd.Kfz.9] Heavy Traction Vehicle 18 tonnes) formerly belonging to the 26. Panzer-Division that operated in the same areas.
The last company assigned to the Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1048 was the FlaK Kompanie 3. (English: 3rd Anti-Aircraft Cannon Company). After March 1945, the Schwere PaK Batterie 2. was equipped with, as referred to by the original document, 11 7.5 cm Sturmgeschütze. These were in all likelihood of Italian origin, as also claimed by Italian historian Leonardo Sandri in La 148^ Infantrie Division sul Fronte Italiano 1944-1945: Una Documentazione. Eleven of these Beute StuGs is equal to the total production of the entire Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) until January 1945, so it is impossible that all the vehicles were Semoventi M43 da 75/46, some could have been Semoventi M43 da 75/34 or their pre-Armistice version, the Semoventi M42M da 75/34. It could also be a document error. In fact, in many cases, the official German documents referred to “in service” vehicles whilst, in reality, they had not yet been delivered to the unit. In March 1945, the 11 Sturmgeschütz had almost certainly already left the factory but they were still on their way to Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1048.
The Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) probably arrived at the German anti-tank unit between mid-March to early April 1945. They had a really short operative life with the German soldiers.
A Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7.5 cm KwK L/46 852(i) was captured by the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Regiment “Sampaio” of the Força Expedicionária Brasileira or FEB (English: Brazilian Expeditionary Force) in Caorso, 60 km from Parma.
The history behind the capture of this particular vehicle is not clear. It was probably abandoned by Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1048 due to a lack of fuel or mechanical breakdown during the retreat from Bologna, trying to reach the southern shore of the River Po to cross it in the Piacenza area and try to reach northern Italian border to return home before the surrender of the entire 148. Infanterie Division. Another plausible hypothesis was that it was surrendered peacefully by the German soldiers of the Panzerjäger-Abteilung 1048 after various failed attempts at opening a gap in the US and Brazilian encirclement in the Parma and Piacenza areas between 28th April and the morning of 29th April. The unit transferred over 600 wounded Axis soldiers between 13:00 and 14:30 on 21 ambulances to the Mantova Allied hospital and then surrendered to the Allied forces on the afternoon of 29th April 1945.
About 80 pieces of equipment, including 7,5 cm PaK 40, mortars, 105 mm and 150 mm artillery pieces, 8.8 cm half-track-mounted artillery pieces, and Sturmgeschütz, were captured. Together with these, the US and Brazilian forces captured 4,000 horses, 2,500 motor vehicles (trucks, staff cars, cargo half-tracks etc), 1,000 motorcycles, and between 13,579 and 14,779 Axis soldiers.
The only other operational service of the Semovente M43 da 75/46 was in Milan on 25th April 1945. One was captured by the Italian Partisans, probably at the Fonderia Milanese di Acciaio Vanzetti S.A. assembly plant, left abandoned by the German soldiers. This suggests that not all the semoventi in the Vanzetti plant were delivered to the German units.
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 captured in Milan by the Italian Partisans in late April 1945. Source: italiantanktree.files.wordpress.com
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 captured in Milan was ‘graffitied’ by the Partisans, with “W la Libertà” (English: Long Live Freedom) and the acronym “C.L.N.” or Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale (English: National Liberation Committee) written on to avoid friendly fire. It probably had no ammunition and no secondary armament. The Partisans added a 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT medium machine gun on the roof. It was probably delivered to the Allies after the war ended and scrapped.
Camouflage
The Semoventi M43 da 75/46 produced for the Germans were painted with a single camouflage scheme. It was similar to the Italian Continentale (English: Continental) adopted in mid-1943. The standard Kaki Sahariano (English: Saharan Khaki) monochrome sand camouflage was covered by reddish brown and dark green spots.
Continentale camouflage adopted by the Regio Esercito before the Armistice of 8th September 1943. Source: instagram.com @Forza_Italiana colourized by Johannes Dorn
The Regio Esercito’s Continentale camouflage scheme was upgraded, covering the Italian armored cars, medium tanks, and self-propelled guns with dark green and adding on them reddish brown spots and sand yellow stripes that bordered the reddish brown and dark green spots.
The Semovente M43 da 75/46’s prototype outside the Ansaldo-Fossati plant. In this image, colorized by Johannes Dorn, the 1944 Continentale camouflage is clearly visible. Source: wikipedia.org
As the Semoventi M43 da 75/34 received only this type of 3-tone camouflage, it never received Italian-style camouflage schemes. The prototype, probably assigned to a training school in northern Italy, received the Balkenkreuz, the German tanks’ coat of arms, for identification on the sides and rear, and the number “22” painted on the sides. The other vehicles seem to have been without coats of arms. This was also caused, in all likelihood, by the delivery of the semoventi in the last months of 1944 and early 1945, when German troops were in a shortage of trained crews, fuel, ammunition, and paint and did not waste time painting reconnaissance coat of arms or the unit’s own coats of arms.
Versions
Semovente M43 da 75/34
In 1944, a total of 29 Semoventi M43 da 75/34 were produced for the Germans on the same upgraded and uparmored Semovente M43 da 75/46 chassis. It was essentially a Semovente M43 da 75/46 armed with a shorter and less powerful Cannone da 75/34 Modello SF, already mounted on the Semovente M42M da 75/34. All the rest of the vehicle remained unchanged compared to the Semovente da 75/46.
A Semovente M43 da 75/34 in service with a German unit supporting Italian soldiers of the 1ª Divisione Bersaglieri ‘Italia’ in the Garfagnana area in winter 1944. Source: wikipedia.org
The Semoventi M43 da 75/34, known by the Germans as Beute Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 7,5 cm KwK L/34 851(i), were employed only by the Germans in Italy after late 1944. They supported an unknown German Panzerjäger-Abteilung in the Gothic Line, occasionally operating with Fascist soldiers loyal to Mussolini belonging to the 1ª Divisione Bersaglieri ‘Italia’ (English: 1st Bersaglieri Division).
Many sources place the total number of Semoventi M42M da 75/34 at 174 instead of 145. This is not correct, as the first number also counts the 29 Semoventi M43 da 75/34.
A Semovente M42T chassis was armed with a Cannone da 105/25 Modello SF and tested by the Germans but nothing is known about its fate after the German tests.
Conclusion
The Semovente M43 da 75/46 was the first Italian project that had offensive and defensive characteristics that made it capable of dealing with most of the Allied armored vehicles in the Second World War. This was mainly thanks to the German effort to upgrade some Italian vehicles.
The few vehicles produced and equipped with main guns had short operational lifes and not much is known about their service or their crew’s complaints.
The low delivery rate of the main armament provided by the Cornigliano artillery plant was the greatest problem causing the slow production rate. This forced the Germans to place the finished vehicles in depots awaiting for their main guns, which were delivered with a rate of 1 or 2 per month.
The low gun production rate was not the only criticism of the self-propelled gun. In the same period, the Germans also produced the Semovente M43 da 75/34 with a shorter and less powerful cannon as a stopgap while waiting for the ones armed with 75 mm L/46 guns.
Twenty-nine were built, and while more than those equipped with the 75/46 gun, this was insufficient to even put a dent in the thousands of armored vehicles of the Allied armies.
This low production rate, that was characteristic of the Italian industry during the Second World War, became more pronounced in the last stages of the war due to the scarcity of raw materials, Allied bombardments, and worker’s strikes.
Semovente M43 da 75/46. Illustrations by Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
1 Cannone da 75/46 Contraerei Modello 1934 with 42 rounds, 1 Mitragliatrice Media Breda Modello 1938 with 504 rounds.
Armor
75 mm + 25 mm front, 45 mm + 25 mm sides and 45 mm rear
Production
1 prototype and 12 vehicles produced
Sources
Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano, Volume Secondo, Tomo II – Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano – Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito – 2002
Italian Medium Tanks 1939-45; New Vanguard Book 195 – Filippo Cappellani and Pier Paolo Battistelli – Osprey Publishing, 20th December 2012
Carro M – Carri Medi M11/39, M13/40, M14/41, M15/42, Semoventi ed Altri Derivati Volume Primo and Secondo – Antonio Tallillo, Andrea Tallillo and Daniele Guglielmi – Gruppo Modellistico Trentino di Studio e Ricerca Storica, 2012
The Autoblinda AB41 of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade
United Kingdom/United States of America (1941-1943)
Medium Armored Car – Unknown Number in Allied Service
The Autoblinda AB41 was an Italian medium reconnaissance armored car used during the whole duration of the North African campaign, mainly deployed by the Italian Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army) and by the Polizia dell’Africa Italiana or PAI (English: Italian African Police). During this campaign, many German and Italian vehicles fell into Allied hands, including, among others, Australian, British, Free French, Polish, and South African units. After Operation Torch, when the Allied forces attacked the Axis in North West Africa in early November 1942, they captured a number of AB41s and redeployed them.
The Autoblinda AB41 prototype at the testing ground in Rome during tests to be accepted into service. Source: La Meccanizzazione dell’Esercito Italiano fino al 1943
Italian Vehicles in Allied Service
Unsurprisingly, the AB41 was not the only Italian armored vehicle to be put into service with Allied forces. For instance, six Carri Armati M11/39 and an unknown number of Carri Armati M13/40 were used by the Australian 2/6th Cavalry Regiment and the British 6th Royal Tank Regiment, until spring 1941, when they ran out of spare parts and they were destroyed.
An M13/40 of the 1st Series captured by the Australian soldiers of the 6th Australian Cavalry Regiment being painted with the distinctive Australian kangaroo to avoid friendly fire. Note the nickname ‘Wally’. Source: Australian War Memorial
One of the most used vehicles in North Africa by the Italians was the Autoblinda AB41 armored car that, in addition to performing reconnaissance tasks, was also used as a vehicle to support infantry assaults. In fact, thanks to its protection and armament, it could perform the support task with success if the enemy forces were only equipped with light weapons.
The unquestionable fame of the vehicle made it an interesting vehicle for Commonwealth and Allied troops to reuse it after capture.
Design
An Autoblinda AB40 of the Pinerolo Training School. Source: pinterest.com
The AutoBlinda Modello 1940 was the first of the AB medium reconnaissance armored car series. It had two driving positions, at the front and at the rear. This feature was designed to permit the armored car to disengage from skirmishes even on narrow mountain roads or in the dense North African villages.
The AB frame at the Ansaldo-Fossati plant of Sestri Ponente. The two driving positions are clear in this photograph. Source: Ansaldo
The armor on the entire hull, superstructure, and turret consisted of bolted plates. This arrangement did not offer the same efficiency as mechanically welded plates, but facilitated the replacement of an armor element in case it had to be repaired. The hull plates were bolted onto an internal frame.
Internal structure on which the plates were bolted on the original AB40 and AB41’s chassis. Source: pinterest.com @Lucky01
There were 4 crewmembers: the front and rear drivers, a commander/gunner, and the rear machine gunner. The engine was a petrol FIAT-SPA ABM 1, 6-cylinder in-line with an internal volume of 4,995 cm3. It had a 78 hp (some sources mention 80 hp) output at 2,700 rpm. The maximum speed was 76.4 km/h. In the rear driving position, the driver could use only 4 of the 6 gears with a maximum speed of 36.4 km/h.
Scheme of the AB series engine’s cooling system and the FIAT-SPA ABM 1. Source: Autoblindo AB41 & AB43
Influenced by the experiences gained in the Spanish Civil War, the Regio Esercito’s High Command ordered a more potently armed version of the AB40. For this, the Torretta Modello 1941 (English: Turret Model 1941) of the Carro Armato L6/40 (English: L6/40 Tank) was mounted. It was armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 (English: 20 mm L/65 Automatic Cannon Breda Model 1935) with a coaxial Breda Modello 1938. A second machine gun in a spherical support on the vehicle’s rear, on the left of the rear driver.
A Bersagliere of the VIII Battaglione Bersaglieri Blindato Autonomo cleaning up a Breda Modello 1938 on the turret of his AB41, Cyrenaica May 1942. Source: facebook.com @Museo Virtuale Bersaglieri
With 667 built, the AutoBlinda Modello 1941 (English: Armored Car Model 1941), or, more simply, AB41 Medium Armored Car, was the most produced Italian armored car of the Second World War.
The Torretta Modello 1941 turret being mounted on a AB chassis at the Ansaldo-Fossati plant in Sestri Ponente. Source: Ansaldo
The designers planned for the new Autoblinda AB41 to be equipped with a FIAT-SPA ABM 2 engine. At 88 hp at 2,700 rpm, it was more powerful than the previous ABM 1. This allowed for a maximum velocity of 78.38 km/h in the 6th gear and 37.3 km/h in the 4th gear. Due to delays in producing FIAT-SPA ABM 2 engines, a total of 435 ABs with Torretta Modello 1941, up to the vehicle with license plate Regio Esercito 551B, were equipped with the FIAT-SPA ABM 1 engine of the AB41. The vehicles with different engines are impossible to distinguish from the outside and are considered AB40 and AB41 hybrids.
The FIAT-SPA ABM 2 6-cylinder engine mounted on the Autoblinda AB41. Source: Pignato
The AB series armored cars were equipped with a powerful 60 km range radio with a 7 m fully-extended antenna on the left side.
A series of AB armored cars (the first one is an AB40 with Torretta Modello 1941) of the III Gruppo Autoblindo ‘Nizza’ with fully extended radio antennas. Source: Archivio Lancia
Allied Operational Use
Some AB41s were captured by Commonwealth troops during the North African campaign (10th June 1940 – 13th May 1943). The British Army supplied some of these armored cars to Australian and Polish forces.
Perhaps the most famous use was the Autoblinda AB40/AB41 hybrid of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade. It had most probably been captured from the III Gruppo Autoblindo ‘Nizza’ (English: 3rd Armored Car Group) at some point after March 1941. Contrastingly, the book Italian Armored Cars Autoblindo AB41 & AB43, Pz.Sp.Wg AB41 201(i) & AB43 203(i) written by Daniele Guglielmi, mentions that the armored car was captured from the Polizia dell’Africa Italiana. This seems to be incorrect, as the coat of arms of the IV Plotone Autoblindo (English: 4th Armored Car Platoon) of the III Gruppo Autoblindo ‘Nizza’ is seen painted on the right side of the armored car in a contemporary propaganda video.
A screenshot of the Autoblinda AB41 in Italian use showing a crewmember removing the sand cap from the main gun. The same symbol as seen on Polish-captured AB is partially visible here too. Source: Archivio Cavalleria Italiana via Le Autoblinde AB40 AB41e AB43
The armored car was used alongside Marmon-Herrington armored cars against its former owners and the Germans in Egypt between May and August 1942. After that, it was requisitioned by the British High Command.
A Polish crewmember poses near the Autoblinda AB40 with Torretta Modello 1941 captured from the IV Plotone Autoblindo of the III Gruppo Autoblindo ‘Nizza’ and deployed by the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade together with the Marmon-Herrington Mark 2 armored cars in the background. Source: pinterest.com
The Autoblinda AB41 of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade was probably not the only AB41 captured and reused by Allied troops, even if no concrete information has emerged. Many Italian sources mention that two Autoblinde AB41 armored cars were sent to Chobham, in Surrey, England, although British reports mention only one armored car tested.
Some of the AB series armored cars that were used by France post-war to regain control of its colonies were delivered by British or other Allied forces in North Africa after the end of the North African campaign. It is known that French forces deployed at least 10 and probably more AB41s after the war, so, this could be a partial number of AB41s in service with the Commonwealth forces in North Africa during the last stages of the campaign.
From British veterans’ memoirs, an unknown, but limited number of Italian captured vehicles were used by British forces in training camps located in Egyptian territories. They were used to familiarize British soldiers with enemy vehicles. It seems that even few AB41s were deployed to teach their armored car crews to train to drive and fight Italian armored cars. Sadly, no photographic evidence has been found.
An AB41 is exhibited at the South African National War Museum in Johannesburg alongside other Second World War-era Allied and Axis vehicles and Cold War-era NATO and Soviet vehicles. How and why the vehicle arrived in South Africa is not known, even if it is probable that this vehicle was captured by Commonwealth troops, used for training in Egypt, and that it arrived in South Africa only after the end of the war.
The US Army also used some captured Autoblinde AB41s when they entered the war in North Africa in November 1942. At least two were captured and deployed in Tunisia but further details of their operational history are unknown. Only one image of these vehicles is known. The US vehicles were repainted in the common olive drab painting and received white stars for aerial recognition on the front and sides.
The only known photo of the two Autoblinde AB41 deployed by the US Army in North Africa. Source: italie1935-45.com
The British School of Tank Technology Report
In May 1943, Major J. D. Barnes and Major D.M Pearce published a detailed report of a captured AB40 armored car with a Modello 1941 turret that had been transported to the United Kingdom and thoroughly inspected at the School of Tank Technology of Chobham. The vehicle was the one previously belonging to the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade.
At some point between March 1941 and the first months of 1942, the British High Command decided to take the armored car of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade and transport it to Britain for evaluation. The AB41 was perhaps withdrawn from the frontline in August 1942, then sent to the rear lines, probably a harbor in Egypt or Palestine, before being sent to the United Kingdom, where it was analyzed by the School of Tank Technology 9 months later.
The analysis revealed it was built in 1941 and had the chassis number ‘40788’ and had the ‘ABM40’ name on the chassis plaquet. The engine had production code ‘100041’ and was built on 21th November 1940.
The first note in the report was about the status of the vehicle when it arrived in Chobham:
“The car arrived in this country in good condition. This is accounted [sic] by the comparatively small mileage covered, and by the considerable troubles taken to protect components from corrosion or damage during transit. After a few minor adjustments the car was made a runner, and mechanically it appeared to be fairly sound with the exception of the steering which needs some attention.”
From photographic evidences it is possible to determine that it was equipped with 3 Pirelli Tipo ‘Libia’ tires (front axle and rear left ones) and 3 Pirelli Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’ tires (rear right axle and spare wheels) even if British report claimed 4 Tipo ‘Libia’ and 2 “heavy duty” tires or Tipo ‘Sigillo Verde’. These were two Italian low pressure tires developed for sandy soils. The first type was developed for armored vehicles, while the latter type was developed for the Camionette Desertiche (English: Desert Scout Car) SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariana’ but used on various vehicles with the same rim sizes, including the armored cars of the AB series.
The Autoblinda AB40 with Torretta Modello 1941 at the School of Tank Technology. The vehicle’s provisorial code was ‘A222’ painted in white on the left side. Source: Imperial War MuseumLeft side of the Autoblinda AB40 with the Modello 1941 at Chobham. The coat of arms is once more visible, as is the early type radio antenna mounted on the right side. Source: Imperial War Museum
The all-wheel steering and al-driving wheels were praised:
“Mechanically the car has many interesting and certain commendable features. The distributed drive to all four wheels and the four wheel steering, make it possible to use a single differential at the expense however of a very large number of bevel gears.”
The British appreciated the dual driving position, but listed a number of shortcomings. They reckoned that the directional control lever that permitted the front driver to take control of the vehicle was in an awkward position and that the rear driver’s seat did not allow tall soldiers to seat comfortably.
“While the general mechanical layout appears to have been well thought out and designed specially for the job, the mechanical details in certain cases contrast strikingly in their inadequacy or shoddyness. The whole construction and layout of the rear driver’s section savours of modification or afterthought. The main petrol tank under the floor is only protected by a light gauge tray and is extremely inaccessible. The forward tank feeds into the main tank by gravity and no stop cock is provided in the line. There are other similar examples of bad design.”
The British technicians were less enthusiastic about the armament and its positions on the armored car.
“With regards to the armament and armour, it is noticeable that again the lack of attention paid to detail design considerably reduces the potency of the car as a fighting vehicle. The one man turret does not conform to the latest British requirement for a three man turret. The exposed traverse gears, the akward position of the 2 cm. cocking handle and the limited observation in the turret are in our opinion decidedly undesirable feature: There is no electrical equipment in the turret and consequently no rotary base junction. The commander is therefore faced with the problem of what to do with his headphone and microphone leads when travelling the turret.”
Autoblinda AB41 angled armor scheme made by the School of Tank Technology. Source: Preliminary Report on Italian Armored Car Autoblinda 40
The rear machine gun position was considered to have various deficiencies.
“It is impossible to sight the rear hull gun when it is fully depressed and extremely difficult to do so at any angle under zero. The gunner’s seat is not in line with the gun and he must lean awkwardly in order to sight when the gun is traversed left. His back is fouled by the turret gunner’s seat when the turret is straight ahead or traversed left. These points and the improvised appearance of the gun mounting suggest the possibility that the rear hull gun was added as an afterthought.”
The engine was judged adequate by the front line soldiers, even if the British considered it difficult to maintain, due to the presence of brackets for the armored plates that were welded to the hull frame, which limited accessibility in the engine compartment. Interestingly enough, Italian crews never reported this as a problem.
During driving tests, the British noticed that the first 4 gears were noisy and it was difficult to change them. The last two gears were not as noisy and were easier to change. The engine performed perfectly at slow speeds and was considered quiet from the front driver’s position, even if the vehicle did not have a bulkhead. The engine was found to be noisier from the rear driver’s position, and due to the absence of a bulkhead, part of the engine’s fumes entered the crew compartment. During the driving, it was noticed that at 24 km/h, the vehicle tended to glide with a swaying motion. At 32 km/h, the armored car was almost uncontrollable.
The hydraulic brakes were found easy to operate but, for maintenance reasons, were not very effective. The independent suspension was judged excellent during off-road and on-road driving and it provided the crew with great comfort. The spare wheel’s position was also praised. This was a common feature on AB series armored cars and it permitted the spare wheels to help the vehicle to overcome obstacles during off-road driving, and at the same time, avoiding ‘bellying’ on rough terrains.
The armor was considered to be badly bolted to the superstructure with dangerous gaps between the armored plate and the structure on which these were bolted.
“The fitting of the plates is generally bad, and even in such exposed positions as the nose, considerable gaps occur between the plate edges. Very little attempt has been made to protect the crew against bullet splash. Turret ring protection is provided only at the rear by a length of 6 mm. angle section bolted to the top plate.”
During a test done by British technicians of the School of Tank Technology with a Poldi portable tester, Brinnel hardness was registered between 320 BHN and 340 BHN, harder than the Italian tank’s armor. These Brinell results showed this Italian armor used on the armored cars to be quite similar to US armor, which had a hardness of 280-320 BHN, and far softer than the 413-460 BHN of Soviet steel.
The abbreviation BHN – Brinell Hardness Number (unit of measurement kg/mm²) is a figure used to determine the hardness of a material from a hardness test. The harder a steel is, then generally, the better it will be at resisting shell impacts, but also more vulnerable to shattering.
The Autoblinda AB41’s armor scheme. This scheme made by the British at the School of Tank Technology seems incorrect. In fact, the AB armored car series were protected by 8.5 mm armored plates, not 9 mm thick ones. Source: Preliminary Report on Italian Armored Car Autoblinda 40
The Autoblinda AB41 tested at Chobham was scrapped probably shortly after the tests concluded, in fact, it was never again mentioned in British reports.
Recognition Pictorial Manual on Armored Vehicles – Italy
On 3rd November 1943, the US Army War Department published the Recognition Pictorial Manual on Armored Vehicles – Italy, which briefly described the Autoblinda AB41’s main features: double drive, all steering and all driving wheels, the presence of spare wheels free to rotate, and a maximum velocity of 49 mph (78 km/h) with front driving and 24 mph (38 km/h) with rear driving. The vehicle that they analyzed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground was probably captured during the Sicily campaign in May-June 1943. The US technicians did not analyze it as thoroughly as the British, and after a short time, scrapped it.
Conclusion
Despite the School of Tank Technology’s not very positive final judgment on the Autoblinda AB41, some Allied units reused several in North Africa. It was fast, with great off-road capabilities, adequate protection, and armament to combat against other Axis reconnaissance vehicles. At least one or two vehicles captured were sent to the School of Tank Technology in the United Kingdom and another to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in the United States.
The Autoblinda AB41 of the Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle BrigadeAB41 as deployed by the US Army in North Africa. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Front view of AB41 as deployed by the US Army in North Africa. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
Autoblinda AB41 Specification
Size (L-W-H)
5.20 x 1.92 x 2.48 m
Weight, battle ready
7.52 tonnes
Crew
4 (front driver, rear driver, radio operator/machine gunner and commander/gunner)
Engine
FIAT-SPA 6-cylinder petrol, 88 hp with 195 liters tank
Speed
80 km/h
Range
400 km
Armament
Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935 (456 rounds) and Two Breda Modello 1938 8 x 59 mm machine guns (1992 rounds)
Armor
9 mm Hull Turret: Front: 40 mm Sides: 30 mm Rear: 15 mm
Production
667 in total, unknown number in Allied service
Sources
Preliminary Report on Italian Armored Car Autoblinda 40 – Major J. D. Barnes and Major D.M Pearce – May 1943
Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano, Volume II, Tomo I – Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano – Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito – 2002
Le Autoblinde AB40 AB41e AB43 – Nicola Pignato and Fabio d’Inzéo – Modellismopiù.com
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German Reich (1942-1945)
