Panda 4x4 IIa Serie used by the Corpo Forestale dello Stato. Illustration done by Oussama Mohamed 'Godzilla', funded by our Patreon campaign.
Italian Republic (1980-Present)
City Car – Over 4 Million Built
The FIAT Panda is one of the most iconic cars produced by FIAT of Turin, and to this day, it remains a symbol in Italian culture. The car was produced starting from 1980 and was widely distributed among the police and armed forces. It also had some variants and prototypes specifically for military use.
The Iª Serie (English: First Series) was produced until 1986 and then it was replaced by the IIª Serie (English: Second Series), produced until 2003.
FIAT Panda IIª Serie used by Carabinieri assigned to the Marina Militare (English: Italian Navy) as a military police vehicle.
Source: Fiammeblu .
The FIAT Panda – an Italian Legend on Four Wheels
The FIAT Panda Ia and IIa Serie have become some of FIAT’s most iconic cars, second only to the FIAT Nuova 500 (known in Italy simply as the ‘500’) and the FIAT 600. Today, it remains an iconic car among the Italian population, often accompanied by the phrase Se non ci fosse bisognerebbe inventarla (English: If it didn’t exist, it would have to be invented), derived from a 1992 advertising campaign.
Built in hundreds of versions, it accompanied Italians for over 20 years, from 1986 to 2003, and is still widely seen on the roads today.
The initial designs for the FIAT Panda were created by designer Giorgio Giugiaro in July 1976, and the first model mock-up in plaster, known as Progetto Zero (English: Zero Project), was produced in 1977. Shortly after, the first of 30 prototypes were built, and were used for road testing.
The Progetto Zero in plaster in 1977.
Source: Quattroruote
One of FIAT’s main goals was to build an affordable car that would enable a significant portion of the Italian population to buy it. At that time, the majority of the population consisted of workers with relatively low salaries (350,000 Lire per month in 1980, approximately €850 per month in today’s value).
The FIAT Panda Ia Serie was designed in 1978 by the Technical Management of Autobianchi and went into production in 1980 at the Desio and Termini Imerese plants.
FIAT’s goal was to replace cars commonly used by the Italian population, such as the old FIAT Nuova 500, FIAT 600, and Autobianchi Bianchina —models that were at least ten years old— together with the more modern FIAT 126 and 127 that remained in production even after the Panda appeared.
The Panda, unlike the city cars previously produced by FIAT, was very spacious for its time and immediately gained great success, thanks in part to its robustness.
Models and Evolution
Ia Serie
The Panda Ia Serie was produced from 1980 to 1986 in many variants.
Panda 30
Together with the Panda 45, it was the first model to enter the market in 1980. The car weighed about 650 kg and was powered by an air-cooled, 652 cm3, two-cylinder gasoline engine with 30 hp derived from that of the FIAT 126. The engine was positioned longitudinally at the front of the vehicle.
Engine compartment of a Panda 30, with the spare wheel on the right.
Source: Quattroruote
The car reached a top speed of 115 km/h, while fuel consumption was around 13.5 km/l. It had a four-speed gearbox, independent front suspensions with disc brakes, and a solid axle rear suspension suspended by double-leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers and drum brakes.
Structure of the Panda 30. It was identical to the Panda 45 except for the longitudinally mounted engine
Source: Quattroruote
Externally, the car had a rather basic and angular body, and at the front, the radiator grille was on the right. The dimensions were quite modest, with a length of 3.4 m and a width of 1.46 m. In 1980, the car was available in eight body colors (ivory, white, blue, light blue, black, brown, beige, and red).
The interior was spacious, allowing for the transport of a total of five people. Both the front and rear seats could be lowered to accommodate a large amount of cargo. However, the car was not very comfortable, especially for the driver, who had limited space. The instrumentation was straightforward, and for the time, it had many indicators.
A Panda 30’s interior demonstrated by a model. Both front and back seats could be fully lowered.
Source: Quattroruote
In 1980, a Panda 30 cost 3,970,000 Lire (€9,696.44 at present)
Panda 45
The Panda 45 was practically identical to the Panda 30, except for a more powerful four-cylinder engine with 903 cm3 and 45 hp, derived from that of the FIAT 127 and positioned transversely at the front of the vehicle. The car had a top speed of 140 km/h, and fuel consumption was around 11.9 km/l.
A Panda 45’s engine placed transversely
Source: Quattroruote
Externally, the only difference was the radiator grille, which was positioned on the left. Its price stood at 4,702,000 Lire (€11,484.30 at present) in 1980.
A Panda 45 with the radiator grille placed on the left.
Source: Quattroruote
Panda 30 and 45 Super
The Panda 45 Super was introduced at the Mondial de l’Automobile of Paris in 1982 and differed from the previous model due to the new five-speed gearbox and the grille that was modified, formed by five horizontal plastic bars which became common in later Panda models.
The following year, it was followed by the Panda 30 Super, which featured the same modifications.
Panda 45 Super
Source: Archivio Storico FIAT
Panda SIP/ENEL
In 1982, a Panda model was developed for use by the Italian electrical (ENEL) and telephone (SIP) companies. This model had only the two front seats, while in the rear, with the introduction of a plastic extension, a cargo space of 810 dm3 was created.
The compartment could be opened using a plastic shutter located at the rear of the vehicle.
Scale model of a Panda SIP
Source: thesmallbigwheels.blogspot.com
Panda Primavera
In mid-1982, exclusively for the German market, the Panda Primavera was produced, equipped with a double sunroof and featuring the Primavera logo on the rear fender.
The Panda Primavera’s advertisement.
Source: carlodigiusto.wordpress.com
Panda 4×4
In 1983, the Austrian company Steyr-Puch developed a four-wheel-drive system that was immediately adopted for the Panda. In June of the same year, the Panda 4×4 was released on the market.
The car featured a different engine from the previous models, derived from the Autobianchi A112, producing 48 hp with a displacement of 965 cm3. The four-wheel drive could be manually engaged by selecting a ‘low-range’ mode.
A Panda 4×4 while crossing a stream
Source: corriere.it
Panda 34
A variant of the Panda 30, called Panda 34, was sold in the Austrian, Dutch, and German markets. It differed from the Italian model by having a more powerful engine, producing 34 hp and having a displacement of 843 cm3.
A Panda 34 used in Netherlands
Source: Wikipedia
Panda 30 CL College
In 1985, a new version of the Panda was introduced, aimed at a young or female audience, namely the Panda 30 CL College. It distinguished itself from previous models with a two-tone body, modified interiors, and larger tires.
The price, in 1985, was 7,706,580 Lire (equivalent to €9,870.29 at present).
A Panda 30 CL College in an advertisement.
Source: Facebook via Le indistruttibili auto anni 80
Panda 45 V.I.P.
The Panda 45 V.I.P., intended for the British market, was essentially a version of the Panda 30 CL College but with the 45 hp engine and right-hand drive.
An advertisement for the Panda 45 V.I.P..
Source: carlodigiusto.wordpress.com
Nuova Panda 4×4
In 1985, a limited edition variant of the Panda 4×4 was released, called the Nuova Panda 4×4, produced in 5,000 units.
The differences from the previous model included the presence of a black bull bar, a roof rack, and new white rims. The interiors were black, with a red line similar to that on the body, while the seats were red.
The Nuova Panda 4×4 in a FIAT brochure
Source: Facebook
IIa Serie or Nuova Panda
In 1985, FIAT announced the release of a new model of the Panda aimed at modernizing the vehicle, which continued to enjoy great success, especially in the Italian market.
The original design remained, but there were changes to the chassis, abandoning the rigid leaf spring axle in favor of a more modern rigid U-shaped axle, also known as the ‘Omega’ bridge, with a central elastic anchor and two longitudinal struts.
Other changes included the introduction of the Fully Integrated Robotized Engine (FIRE), which became the base engine for many FIAT cars and is still in production for some vehicles today.
Panda 750 L, CL and Super
One of the models of the Panda IIa Serie released in 1986 was equipped with the FIRE, a water-cooled four-cylinder engine, with a displacement of 699 cm3 and a power output of 34 hp. The car could reach a top speed of 124 km/h, with a fuel consumption of 18.5 km per liter.
The FIRE engine of a Panda 750 Super.
Source: Facebook via Massimo Simoni
The Panda 750 was available in three versions:
L
CL
Super
The L was the most economical and still featured interiors very similar to the previous models.
Panda 750 L
Source: Flickr
The CL version had new padded seats, similar to the Autobianchi Y10, and semi-opening rear windows, while the canvas sunroof was available as an optional add-on.
Panda 750 CL
Source: Flickr
The Super version, which was the most expensive, came with many standard features, including the cigarette lighter, the radio compartment, the four-spoke steering wheel, and various other small modifications. It was also possible to choose the five-speed transmission instead of the four-speed.
The Panda 750 Super’s promotional brochure.
Source: Pinterest
Panda 1000 Super
The Panda 1000, produced only in the Super model, was powered by a 999 cm3 FIRE engine with 45 hp and a five-speed transmission. It had a top speed of 140 km/h, while fuel consumption was around 15 km per liter. Externally and internally, it was identical to a Panda 750 Super.
The Panda 1000 Super’s promotional brochure.
Source: Pinterest
Panda 1000 4×4
The Panda 1000 4×4 had a 1,000 cm3 engine upgraded to 50 hp and retained the solid axle rear suspension suspended by double-leaf springs with hydraulic shock absorbers. The car was 20 mm taller than the previous 4×4 models and was equipped with five gears. The interiors were very similar to those of the 1000 Super, and the sunroof was an optional add-on.
Panda 1000 4×4.
Source: Flickr
Panda 1000 4×4 ‘Val d’Isere’
A special version of the Panda 1000 4×4, the Panda 1000 4×4 ‘Val d’Isere’ was produced only for the French market. It differed by the presence of a black bull bar and the sunroof, as well as a distinctive body color formed by the inscriptions ‘Panda 4×4’ and ‘4×4’ on the hood and doors, along with a stripe featuring the French tricolor along the entire vehicle ending, with the outline of a mountain and the inscription ‘Val d’Isere’.
Panda 1000 4×4 ‘Val d’Isere’.
Source: topmarques.it
Panda 4×4 Sisley
A limited edition was produced in 1987 and promoted in collaboration with the luxury cosmetics French company Sisley. The Panda 4×4 Sisley was known for its luxurious features, including faux leather seats with genuine leather trim and a body adorned with a ‘4×4 Sisley’ stripe on the doors and a stylized canoe on the bumper. The car also featured mud flaps and an inclinometer inside.
Panda 4×4 Sisley.
Source: Centro Storico FIAT
Panda D
In 1986, a diesel version of the Panda was also produced, which featured a 1,301 cm3 engine with a power output of 37 hp and a five-speed gearbox.
Diesel engine of the Panda D
Source: Facebook via Enzo de Gennaro
The car had a top speed of 130 km/h and a fuel consumption rate of 18 km per liter. The model was identical to the 750 L, being economical. It went out of production completely in 1989.
Panda D.
Source: Centro Storico FIAT
Panda Young
In 1987, the Panda Young was introduced, equipped with a new 769 cm3 engine, derived from the old 903 cm3, with a power output of 34 hp.
The model was economical and aimed at new drivers and young people, quickly becoming successful to the point that it replaced the Panda 750 L as the base model in 1989. The car was similar to other models but differed from them by the presence of a stripe on the sides ending with the inscription ‘Young.’
Panda Young.
Source: Flickr
Panda Dance
The Panda Dance, introduced in 1990, was powered by a 900 cm3 engine with a power output of 45 hp. The trim was similar to the 750 CL, but on the body, on both sides, there was a colored line ending with the inscription ‘Dance’ in italics. It was then followed by the Panda New Dance, which was identical except for uppercase lettering.
Panda Dance.
Source: Flickr
Panda Van
In 1986, a version for artisans and workers called Panda Van was developed by the Carrozzeria Ilca-Maggiora (English: Body Shop) in Moncalieri (Turin).
This version, available in both gasoline and diesel, had a plastic rear extension. Instead of rear windows, there were two opening doors that could be opened and closed with a lock. The vehicle could transport 330 kg.
Panda Van used by an Italian newspaper carrier.
Source: en.wheelsage.org
Panda Elettra
In 1990, FIAT produced an electric variant of the Panda, becoming the world’s first company to mass-produce an electric car. The car could be conveniently recharged through a standard outlet in eight hours.
The Panda Elettra, built on the basis of the Panda 750 CL, was powered by a 9.2 kW electric motor with a range of 100 km and a top speed of 70 km/h. The Panda Elettra had only the two front seats, with the rear seats replaced by twelve 6 V lead-acid batteries.
In 1992, the Panda Elettra 2 was introduced, featuring an upgraded 17.7 kW motor and nickel-cadmium batteries.
Panda Elettra.
Source: fcaheritage.com
Panda Selecta
In 1990, a model of the Panda with automatic transmission was introduced, developed by FIAT in collaboration with the Japanese company Fuji.
The Panda Selecta had a configuration similar to the 750 CL and was sold in Italy with a 1108 cm3 FIRE engine with electronic fuel injection.
Panda Selecta.
Source: Quattroruote
Panda Italia ‘90
In 1990, Italy hosted the 14th edition of the FIFA World Cup, for which two models were produced: one based on the Panda Young and a convertible based on the Panda 1000 Super, with 40 units produced.
The first model had a body and bumpers in chalk white, enlivened by adhesive stripes in white-red-green, the colors of the Italian flag, running along the sides. The grille was also color-matched, adorned with the tricolored shield. At the back of the vehicle was the World Cup mascot, Ciao (English: Hello). The most distinctive feature was the hubcaps shaped like soccer balls, while the interior predominantly featured the blue of the Italian National Team jersey. Ciao also appeared on the backrests of the reclining seats with headrests. The carpets were blue.
The convertible version featured Ciao on both doors and the ITALIA ’90 inscription on them and on the rear of the vehicle. The interiors were similar to the other model, while the rear could be closed with a soft top.
A Panda Italia ‘90 based on the Panda Young
Source: ruoteclassiche.quattroruote.it A Panda Italia ‘90 cabrio version
Source: ruoteclassiche.quattroruote.it
IIa Serie Restyling
In 1991, the Panda still accounted for half of the car market in Italy, prompting FIAT to give it a facelift. The most significant change was the introduction of a new front grille, while the engines were updated to comply with emission standards.
Previous models, such as the Young, Dance, and Super remained, undergoing only minor modifications, such as the introduction of catalytic converters in the engines.
Panda CLX
The Panda CLX was the top-of-the-line model in the restyling, available with either a 750 cm3 engine producing 35 hp or a 1,000 cm3 engine producing 45 hp.
The car featured the ‘CLX’ emblem on the body and was equipped with a right-side rearview mirror. Inside, there were components made with new materials, along with a clock and a radio compartment.
Panda CLX.
Source: Centro Storico FIAT
Panda 1000 Shopping
This version was similar to the CLX, but only equipped with a 1,000 cm3 engine. The car featured the word ‘Shopping’ on the rear.
Panda Shopping.
Source: Flickr
Panda Jolly
In 1997, the Jolly replaced the CLX as the most expensive model, featuring a 899 cm3 electronically injected engine with 39 hp. The model was very similar to the CLX’s.
Panda Jolly.
Source: Flickr
Panda Young (1991)
The base version of the Panda built since 1999, with a sticker on the rear that said ‘young’. The interiors were blue with light blue bars.
Panda Young (1991).
Source: Flickr
Panda Hobby
This version of the Panda was produced from 1999 and similar to the Jolly. The word ‘Hobby’ was present on the rear part of the vehicle.
Panda Hobby.
Source: Flickr
Panda 4×4 Country Club, Trekking, and Climbing
In 1991, the Panda 4×4 Trekking was introduced, featuring a 999 cm3 engine with 45 hp. This was the base 4×4 Panda, followed in 1992 by the Panda 4×4 Country Club.
Panda 4×4 Trekking.
Source: Flickr
The Country Club had the same setup as the CLX, except for the ‘Country Club’ decal on the doors and a stripe running along the vehicle.
On the rear hatch, there were ‘Panda’ and ‘4×4’ inscriptions. It had a 1,108 cm3 engine with 51 hp. In 1993, both models started using only the 1,108 cm3 engine, which saw its power increased to 54 hp the following year.
After 1998, the Panda 4×4 Country Club was no longer produced and was supplanted by the older Trekking model, which had the same setups as the discontinued version.
Panda 4×4 Country Club
Source: Flickr
The last version to go into production, in 2002, was the Panda 4×4 Climbing.
License Production – SEAT Panda
In 1980, SEAT began producing under license the Panda 30 and Panda 45, which were named SEAT Panda 34 – as it had a 34 hp engine – and SEAT Panda 45. The car was practically identical to the Italian model except for the logo. Production continued until 1986, when the two automakers terminated the agreement, and SEAT resumed production of a vehicle very similar to the Panda, called the SEAT Marbella.
A total of 463,418 were built, and in addition to the 34 and 40 hp models, a version for use on dirt roads, the SEAT Panda Montaña, and a van version, the SEAT Panda Terra, were built.
Advertising logo of the SEAT Panda produced from 1980 to 1986 for the Spanish market.
Source: autotoday.it SEAT Panda Terra
Source: wikipedia SEAT Panda Montaña
Source: seatfansclub.com
SEAT Marbella
With the termination of the agreement between SEAT and FIAT in 1986, the Spanish automaker introduced a model that was virtually identical to the SEAT Panda with some aesthetic modifications to avoid copyright issues.
The main changes occurred in the front end, rear lights, and interiors, while the engine remained that of the SEAT Panda until 1992, when the 34 hp engine was removed to meet new pollution control requirements.
In 1997, the 40 hp engine was replaced by a 899 cc engine with 41 hp and electronic ignition. The transmission was completely revised, with a 5-speed gearbox replacing the previous 4-speed one.
A total of 596,170 units were produced until 1998.
SEAT Marbella
Source: it.motor1.com
Service in the Police and Armed Forces
Italy
Carabinieri
The Carabinieri are the Italian Military Police, but are also used as a civilian police force. In fact, they are the most widespread police force in Italy due to their stations being located even in small towns and villages.
Starting in 1980, the Carabinieri acquired many Panda 45s, which remained in service for many years. After 1983, they also acquired various models of the Panda 4×4 for stations located in rugged areas with poorly maintained roads.The livery, like all Carabinieri cars, was black with red or white lettering.
A Panda 45 used by Carabinieri. Peculiar is the plaque with the words E.I., which stood for Esercito Italiano (English: Italian Army), since the Carabinieri were part of the Army until 2000.
Source: Veicoli dei Carabinieri 200 anni di storia A Panda 4×4 used by the Carabinieri.
Source: Veicoli dei Carabinieri 200 anni di storia
The Pandas used by the Carabinieri for MIlitary Police duties as part of the Esercito Italiano, Marina Militare (English: Italian Navy), and Aeronautica Militare (English: Italian Air Force) had a dark green color with ‘Carabinieri’ written in white.
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie Restyling used by Carabinieri in service as a military police vehicle in Marina Militare.
Source: fiammeblu.it
Corpo Forestale dello Stato
The Corpo Forestale dello Stato (English: State Forestry Corps) was a police force dedicated to safeguarding the Italian natural heritage and also carried out public order tasks in mountainous areas. Since the mountainous regions of Italy still have limited infrastructure to this day, often restricted to a few poorly maintained roads, the Corpo Forestale dello Stato was equipped with many Panda 4×4 vehicles, which proved to be extremely useful.
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by the Corpo Forestale dello Stato.
Source: sicurezzaesoccorso.com
In 2016, the Corpo Forestale dello Stato was merged with the Carabinieri, and officers became Carabinieri Verdi (English: Green Carabinieri) while keeping the green color of their vehicles.
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by Carabinieri but previously used by the Corpo Forestale dello Stato.
Source: Facebook via Christian Gallo
Esercito Italiano
Some Panda models were used by the Esercito Italiano as liaison vehicles with dark green coloring and with two stylized Italian flags, one on the hood and the other on the back.
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by the Esercito Italiano.
Source: sicurezzaesoccorso.com
Guardia Costiera
The Guardia Costiera (English: Coast Guard) is the police assigned to control navigation along the Italian coast, combat poaching, and make rescues at sea. It is also equipped with land vehicles, and among them were some Panda IIa Serie Restyling. The cars were completely white except for the words ‘GUARDIA COSTIERA’, the phone number ‘1530’ on both sides, and the Guardia Costiera’s flag on the back.
A Panda Hobby used by the Guardia Costiera in Pescara.
Source: autocentroindivisa.it
Guardia di Finanza
The Guardia di Finanza (English: Financial Police) is the Italian financial police that is also specialized in combating the drug market and customs checks. Like the Corpo Forestale dello Stato, it often operates in rugged areas and was equipped with the Panda 4×4. Some Panda 4×4 and Panda 4×4 Trekking were modified with an Elevox setup for transporting dogs. The cars were dark gray with ‘GUARDIA DI FINANZA’ lettering on the sides
A Panda 4×4 modified with Elevox setup. On the right are the cages for the dogs.
Source: Facebook via Ambulanze nella storia
Local Police Unites
In Italy, there are various local police forces with minor duties across the territory. Common examples include the Polizia Locale (English: Local Police) and Polizia Municipale (English: City Police), which operate within Italian municipalities with tasks related to public order and road surveillance.
The Panda, being a very economical car, saw widespread use in these police forces, and in smaller towns, it is still used today.
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by the Polizia Municipale of Assisi.
Source: Facebook via Emanuele Menichelli
Polizia di Stato
The Polizia di Stato (English: State Police), the Italian civilian police, used various models of the Fiat Panda as patrol cars for their officers since the 1980s. Between 1980 and 1982, they acquired 137 Panda 30s and 70 Panda 45s and Panda 45 Super. In 1982, they also acquired 21 units specifically designed for transporting canine units, known as the FIAT-Elevox Panda 45 or Panda 45 Autocanile.
A FIAT-Elevox Panda 45 for transporting canine units.
Source: Fabrizio Romano
Between 1985 and 1993, 558 Panda 4×4 Ia Serie, Panda 4×4 IIa Serie, and Panda 4×4 Trekking were purchased. This model was used extensively by the Polizia Ferroviaria (English: Railway Police), Polizia di Frontiera (English: Border Police), and Polizia di Frontiera Aerea (English: Air Border Police).
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by the Polizia di Frontiera Aerea with an Alitalia Douglas DC-9 in the background.
Source: Paolo Masotti
In the period of 1987-1988, 120 Panda 1000 Super were purchased, and in 1989, 75 Panda 750 CL and Panda 750 CLX were acquired.
Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco
The Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco (English: National Fire Department) is the Italian organization responsible for public rescue operations, fire prevention, and firefighting across Italy, with the exception of Trentino Alto-Adige and Valle d’Aosta, which have regional corps dedicated to these tasks.
The Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco was initially considered a military organization until 1961, when it transitioned into a civilian corps. In 1991, it became part of the Servizio Nazionale della Protezione Civile (English: National Service of Civil Protection), which has responsibilities for safeguarding life, property, settlements, and nature.
As it often operates in rugged areas, the Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco was equipped with the Panda 4×4, with entirely red livery with the inscription ‘VIGILI DEL FUOCO’ and the phone number ‘115’ on the sides. However, there are other types of liveries with various white lines on the sides or with the emblem of the Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco on the doors.
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by Servizio Telecomunicazioni (English: Telecommunications Service) of the Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco of the Comando Provinciale di Chieti (English: Chieti Provincial Command).
Source: autocentroindivisa.it
Republic of San Marino
Corpo della Gendarmeria della Repubblica di San Marino
The Corpo della Gendarmeria della Repubblica di San Marino (English: Gendarmerie Corps of the Republic of San Marino) is a militarized police force responsible for maintaining public order in the Republic of San Marino. Being an enclave within Italian territory, the use of the Panda also reached here, and units of the police force acquired them.
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by Corpo della Gendarmeria della Repubblica di San Marino.
Source: Facebook via Roberto Pola
Polizia Civile
The Polizia Civile (English: Civil Police) has the duties of civilian police, fire surveillance, and financial police within the territory of the Republic of San Marino. They still use some Panda 4×4s to this day.
A Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by the San Marino Polizia Civile.
Source: Wikipedia
Spain
Guàrdia Urbana
The Guàrdia Urbana (English: Urban Guard) is the municipal police of the city of Barcelona. In the 1980s it used various models of SEAT Panda, which are distinguished by being completely white except for the blue doors with the Guàrdia Urbana’s symbol and GUÀRDIA URBANA lettering in the center.
SEAT Panda of the Guàrdia Urbana
Source: museoseat.com
Prototypes
Panda Torpedo
In 1990, the Esercito Italiano commissioned the production of a Panda 4×4 for the armed forces. Only two of this model were equipped with a 1,242 cm3 engine producing 71 hp. The car was larger compared to other Panda models and had been reinforced with a metal bumper, while the soft top was made of canvas.
Panda Torpedo.
Source: dannatavintage.com
Panda Repetti & Montiglio
In 1985, the Repetti & Montiglio bodywork company from Casale Monferrato presented an armored version of the Panda 4×4 at the Salone dell’Automobile di Torino (English: Turin Motor Show).
The car featured a 2 mm thick manganese armor, and the glass surface was 27 mm thick, less than that of the Panda 4×4. Gun ports were incorporated under the narrow windshield and in the doors, while the hatch on the roof served for observation or as an emergency exit.
The water radiator was protected by a horizontal grating designed to stop bullets while allowing the passage of air. Internally, the vehicle maintained the same interior as the standard Panda, except for the tailgate.
The weight was 970 kg and the cost in 1985 was over 20,000,000 Lire (€25,615.23).
It seems like one of these Panda was used by a company specialized in recovering tokens and coins from payphones at truck stops service areas on the Autostrada A14 (English: A14 Highway) towards the end of the 1980s.
The Panda 4×4 armored by Repetti & Montiglio bodywork.
Source: Facebook via Cristoforo Alfano
Development after 2003
The Panda IIa Serie Restyling went out of production in 2003 and was immediately replaced by a new series, the FIAT Panda IIIa Serie, which had little in common with the previous one, except for the robust FIRE engine that remained unchanged.
The new Panda IIIa Serie was more spacious compared to the earlier series and introduced new safety systems such as ABS and airbags, despite having limited range. This series also enjoyed considerable success, with 2,000,000 cars produced, and it was manufactured until 2012.
A FIAT Panda IIIa Serie used by Polizia Municipale of Tolmezzo Udine
Source: Flickr
In 2012, the Panda IIIa Serie was replaced by the Panda IVa Serie that retained the lines of the previous version but featured a new engine, the Multijet, while the interior was redesigned to be much more spacious. Naturally, there were new modifications to enhance the safety and performance of the car. The Panda IVa Serie is still in production, and as of 2017, one million units have been produced.
Several FIAT Panda IVa Serie ready to be delivered to the Carabinieri.
Source: sicurezzaesoccorso.com
Conclusion
The FIAT Panda Ia and IIa Serie, thanks to their excellent qualities as a car and its affordability, became a reference point for all Italian police forces, remaining in service for over 20 years. Even today, it is often seen in use by smaller police forces.
Over the years, it has been replaced by other Panda series that have little in common with the original, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of most Italians as the “true” Panda.
Fiat Panda. Illustration done by Oussama Mohamed ‘Godzilla’, funded by our Patreon campaign.Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by the Polizia. Illustration done by Oussama Mohamed ‘Godzilla’, funded by our Patreon campaign.Panda 4×4 IIa Serie used by the Corpo Forestale dello Stato. Illustration done by Oussama Mohamed ‘Godzilla’, funded by our Patreon campaign.Panda Torpedo. Illustration done by Oussama Mohamed ‘Godzilla’, funded by our Patreon campaign.
Panda 30 (45) Specification
Size (L-W-H)
3.38 x 1.46 x 1.445 m
Weight
650 (680) kg
Crew
5
Engine
2-cylinder gasoline, 652 cm3, 30 hp at 5,500 rpm (4-cylinder, 903 cm3, 45 hp at 5.600 rpm)
Speed
115 (140) km/h
Armament
no
Armor
no
A special thanks to Luca Marconetti for his great help
Illustration of the Canon de 25mm Semi-Automatique Modèle 1934 (25mm SA 34).
Kingdom of Italy (1940-1943)
Anti-Tank Gun – 293 Operated
The Cannone da 25/72 (English: 25 mm L/72 Cannon) was the most common captured anti-tank gun employed by the Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army) during the Second World War. The Cannoni da 25/72 were actually captured by French Canon de 25 mm Semi-Automatique Lèger Modèle 1934 and Modèle 1937 (English: Canon de 25 SA-L Mle.1934 and Canon de 25 APX SA-L Mle.1937). These cannons were either captured by the Italians themselves during the Italian invasion of France in June 1940 or handed over by the Germans.
A Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1934 towed by two Italian soldiers.
Source: andare contro i carri armati
Origin and Development
The Birth of the Canon de 25 mm
The company Hotchkiss started developing a new tank gun during the First World War. By the time the project was completed in 1920, the war had ended and it was subsequently abandoned. Later in the 1920s, the French Army needed to replace the Canon d’Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 Tir Rapide Puteaux (English: 37 mm model 1916 Puteaux Quick Firing Infantry Cannon ), which was now completely obsolete in countering new armored vehicles. Hotchkiss designed a 25 mm cannon, which was adopted by the French Army in 1934 under the name Canon de 25 mm Semi-Automatique Modèle 1934. The French Army immediately placed an order for 200 pieces.
A Canon d’Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 Tir Rapide Puteaux used by the French during the First World War.
Source: wikimaginot.eu
Fortress and Vehicle Version
The Canon de 25 became the primary anti-tank weapon of the Armée de Terre (English: French Army) in 1934. A fortress version, the Canon de 25 AC Mle.1934, was developed to arm the Ligne Maginot (English Maginot Line) fortifications in a “mixed” mount with two Reibel MAC 31 machine guns.
Model 75R05 turrets, which were created by recycling Model 1905 turrets originally fitted with 75 mm cannons, were used to install the new weapons. The Société d’Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire (English: Society of Loire Laboratories and Shipyards) converted the turrets in 1934, and they were installed in the Maginot Line works after 1936. The barrel of the Canon de 25 AC Mle.1934 was shortened to 1.5 m and installed above the pair of machine guns. The three weapons could fire independently of each other and each had its own aiming system and an L700 model sight.
In 1935, the Atelier de Poteaux (APX) created the Canon de 25 APX SAL 35 to arm the Panhard 178 armored cars.
Canon de 25 AC Mle.1934 turret model 75R05 for mixed weapons at Ouvrage du Rohrbach (English: Rohrbach structure).
Source: maginot line gun turrets The breech of the Canon de 25 APX SAL 35 inside the turret of a Panhard 178.
Source: pangea-systems.com Photograph depicting the turret of the Panhard 178 and the barrel of the Canon de 25 APX SAL 35. The Reibel MAC 1931 machine gun is clearly visible to the side.
Source: pangea-systems.com
The Canon de 25 Mle.1937
In 1937, APX developed a modification of the Mle. 1934 called the Canon de 25 mm Semi-Automatique Modèle 1937. The new cannon was lighter than its predecessor and had a longer barrel. The two cannons were intended for different roles: the Mle. 1934 was meant to equip armored and anti-tank units, while the Mle. 1937 was intended to equip the anti-tank support companies of the infantry battalions.
A Canon de 25 APX SA-L Mle.1937 abandoned during the German invasion of France in May-June 1940.
Source: warspot.net
Brief Use in the French Army and in the British Expeditionary Force
The Canons de 25 mm were originally designed to be horse-drawn, which caused problems when attempts were made to transport them in a mechanized manner. For example, when supplied to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France in 1940, the Canons de 25 mm were found to be too fragile, as they could not withstand larger bumps. Even the Canon de 25 Mle. 1937 had problems when towed by horses. In order to solve the problem, the British mounted the cannons onto their vehicles, creating the first portèe versions.
By 1940, a total of 4,225 Canon de 25 Mle. 1934 and 1,285 Canon de 25 Mle. 1937 had been produced. During the German invasion of France in May-June 1940, the two cannons proved to be excellent weapons if used by skilled crew. However, in most cases, they were misused or outright abandoned.
A Canon de 25 S.A.-L Mle.1934 used by French soldiers.
Source: super-hobby.it A Canon de 25 S.A-L. Mle.1934 being mounted on a Bedford truck to create a portée by some British soldiers from the British Expeditionary Force (BEF).
Source: warspot.net
Design
The muzzle, equipped with a flash hider, was mounted on a two-tailed carriage with tyre wheels and a shield with a hemmed upper edge to make it difficult to detect the weapon when in ambush position. The Cannone de 25/72 Modello 1934 (English: 25 mm L/72 Cannon Model 1934) had a horizontal firing arc of 60°,a depression of -5° and an elevation of +21°.
Although it was a small-caliber cannon, it was very heavy, about 492 kg in battery position, compared, for example, with the 277 kg of the Italian Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935. One of the advantages was its low profile of 1.1 m.
The Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1937 differed from the previous model by a lower weight, 310 kg, a wider horizontal firing arc, 67°, and also by the presence of a flash hider behind the muzzle brake and wheel rims with holes for lighter weight. The main difference between the two pieces was the way they fired. The Modello 1934 fired while on its wheels, while the Modello 1937 was equipped with a flat prop that rested on the ground, while the rear rested on the two tails of the carriage.
Carriage of the Cannone da 25/72 depicted in an Italian manual.
Source: Istruzione provvisoria sul cannone da 25 Drawings depicting the Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1934 from different angles. The image is taken from an Italian manual.
Source: Istruzione provvisoria sul cannone da 25 A Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1934 depicted in an Italian manual. The writing at the top, Cannone in postazione (English: cannon in position), indicates that the piece was ready to fire.
Source: Istruzione provvisoria sul cannone da 25
Ammunition
The Cannone da 25/72 used 20x194R ammunition that was fired at a muzzle velocity of 920 m/s. It had an average range of 800 m against heavy armored vehicles, 1,000 m against medium armored vehicles, and 1,500 m against light vehicles. The Cannone da 25/72 could fire various types of ammunition, such as the Perforante (English: perforating), the Traceuse-Perforante (English: perforating with tracer), the Ordinaire (English: Ordinary) with steel perforator and, finally, the Portèe Reduite practice shell.
According to a German study from 1941, the Perforante shell could penetrate 47 mm at 100 m at an impact angle of 0°, 40 mm at 500 meters, and 30 mm at 1,000 meters. If the impact angle was 30°, penetration was reduced to 35, 30 and 20 mm, and if it was 45°, it was reduced again to 18, 16 and 12 mm.
In the Italian manual Istruzione provvisoria sul cannone da 25 mm S.A. Lr mod.37 (English: Provisional instruction on the 25 mm S.A. Lr mod.37 cannon) of 1941, all four types of ammunition are listed, whereas in Istruzione provvisoria sul cannone da 25 mm Mod.1934 (English: Provisional instruction on the 25 mm cannon Mod.1934), it is established that the useful range against armored vehicles is 1,500 m.
Penetration of the Perforante shell (armor-piercing)
Distance in m
Penetration in mm at 0° impact
Penetration in mm at 30° impact
Penetration in mm at 45° impact
100
47
35
18
500
40
30
16
1,000
30
20
12
Drawing of a Perforante shell.
Source: michaelhiske.de Drawing of a Traceuse-Perforante shell.
Source: michaelhiske.deDrawing of a Ordinaire shell.
Source: michaelhiske.de Drawing of a Portèe Reduite shell.
Source: michaelhiske.de Drawings of the two inert shells in an Italian manual.
Source: Istruzione provvisoria sul cannone da 25
Lack of Anti-Tank Weapons in the Regio Esercito
The main Italian anti-tank weapon when the country entered the war on 10 June 1940, was the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935, also known as the Elefantino (English: Little Elephant) by the soldiers. This cannon was the Italian licensed version of the Austrian 4.7 cm Bohler. The Elefantino was still an excellent anti-tank gun in 1940, but was not distributed in large numbers. Each Italian infantry division had only eight Cannoni da 47/32. For comparison, a German infantry division in 1939 had 72 PaK 36 37 mm anti-tank guns, while a British one had 48 Ordnance QF 2-pounder guns.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 used by Italian soldiers during training.
Source: comandosupremo.com
In 1940, the Regio Esercito also bought some anti-tank rifles, the Swiss 20 mm Solothurn S-18-1000, called Fucili “S” (English: ‘S’ Rifles) or Carabina anticarro “Solothurn” da 20 mm (English: ‘Solothurn’ 20 mm anti-tank carbine). This weapon, although heavy and bulky, was chosen because it had excellent performance and could use the same ammunition as the Cannoni-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65, i.e. 20×138 mm. The first units arrived in the autumn of 1940 and were sent to Libya to equip the units of the 10a Armata (English: 10th Army). The Solothurn S-18-1000 was very successful among Italian soldiers thanks to its excellent qualities, and could be used to fight light armored or unarmored vehicles. They were used by many Italian units deployed in North Africa. Some were even mounted on L3 light tanks to increase their feeble firepower. In 1942, each infantry division of the AS-42 model (English: North Africa model 1942) was expected to be equipped with 12 Solothurn S-18-1000 per infantry battalion.
Bersaglieri use a Carabina anticarro “Solothurn” da 20 mm on the North African front.
Source: Pinterest
However, there was a clear lack of anti-tank weapons in the Regio Esercito, which was thus forced to ask its German ally for help. The Wehrmacht sent the Italians captured or obsolete anti-tank guns, the most numerous of which were the PaK 36 (named by the Italians Cannone da 37/45) and the Canon de 25 Mle.1934 and Mle.1937 (Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1934 and Modello 1937). The Cannone da 37/45 had already been used by the Italians during the Spanish Civil War, and a few were captured from the Ethiopians during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War.
The Germans also sent the Italians 270 Dutch 4.7 cm Bohler and 200 French Canon de 47 mm Semi-Automatique Mle 1937 (called Cannone da 47/50 Modello 1937).
A Cannone da 37/45 used during training in Italy.
Source: Armi della fanteria A Cannone da 47/50 towed by a truck of the Regio Esercito.
Source: Armi della fanteria A Dutch 4.7 cm Bohler used by the Italians during the Tunisian campaign in 1943. It differs from the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 by the presence of a flash hider and the wheels having tyres.
Source: Andare contro i carri armati
Use of the Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1934 and Modello 1937 in the Regio Esercito
With the entry of the Kingdom of Italy into the war alongside the Axis on 10th June 10 1940 the first Italian campaign was the attack on French forces deployed in the Alps, which began on 21st June. The campaign did not go particularly well for the Italian forces, who barely occupied the city of Menton and some minor locations beyond the border, suffering heavy losses in both personnel and equipment.
The Kingdom of Italy, after the campaign, obtained the first 43 Cannoni da 25/72. A further 250 were delivered from Germany. With these, the Regio Esercito reinforced the motorized and infantry divisions deployed in North Africa. Each motorized infantry division of the AS-42 type (English: North Africa model 1942), i.e. the 102a Divisione di Fanteria Autotrasportabile “Trento” (English: 102nd Auto-Transportable Infantry Division type AS), 27a Divisione di Fanteria “Brescia” (English: 27th Infantry Division), 17a Divisione di Fanteria “Pavia” (English: 17th Infantry Division), 25a Divisione di Fanteria “Bologna” (English: 25th Infantry Division), 60a Divisione di Fanteria “Sabratha” (English: 60th Infantry Division), as well as the 101a Divisione Motorizzata “Trieste” (English: 101st Motorised Division), were equipped with an anti-tank platoon of Cannoni da 25/72.
In 1943, the 1a Armata (English: 1st Army) fighting in Tunisia still had 36 Cannoni da 25/72. On mainland Italy, in spring 1943, in Civitavecchia, the Comando delle Scuole Centrali Militari (English: Command of the Military Central Schools) was still conducting courses on the use of Cannoni da 25/72.
Unfortunately, no publicly available records currently exist detailing any specific actions during which they were used, nor the opinion of the Italians about the French guns.
After the Italian occupation of Provence and the Côte d’Azur in November 1942, two Panhard 178 armored cars used by the forces of Vichy France were captured. Because of the armistice clauses between the French Republic and Germany in June 1940, the vehicles remaining in Vichy France were deprived of anti-tank armament. The Canons de 25 APX SAL 35 had been removed from the Panhard 178s, which were armed with two Reibel MAC 1931 machine guns. The two armored cars were assigned in January 1943 to the 224a Divisione Costiera (English: 224th Coastal Division), which protected the Côte d’Azur from possible Allied landings.
A Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1937 (right) captured by Italian troops near Mont Cenis during the Italian invasion of France. A Hotchkiss à tir rapide de 47 naval gun (left) is visible to the side.
Source: La battaglia delle alpi A soldier of the 11ª Divisione di Fanteria ‘Brennero’ (English: 11th Infantry Division) observes a Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1937 captured near Mont Cenis.
Source: Andare contro i carri armati Bersaglieri use a Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1934 in Libya in 1941.
Source: Andare contro i carri armati A Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1934 used by Italian soldiers on the North African front. Note the Moschetto 91 Modello 38 or 91/38 (English: Musketoon Model 1938 or 1891 / 1938) of the soldier in the foreground.
Source: Discord via ARTsigismondo
Use in the Repubblica Sociale Italiana
Some Cannoni da 25/72 were also used by the armed forces of the Repubblica Sociale Italiana (English: Italian Social Republic), an allied state of Hitler’s Germany born after the Armistice of 8th September 1943 between the Allies and the Kingdom of Italy. A total of 6 Cannoni da 25/72 were used by the I° Battaglione Bersaglieri Volontari ‘Benito Mussolini’ (English: 1st Bersaglieri Volunteer Battalion), which operated in northeastern Italy and on the border with Yugoslavia.
Bersaglieri of I° Battaglione Bersaglieri Volontari ‘Benito Mussolini’ during an action against partisans on the Italian-Yugoslav border. One soldier is using a Breda Modello 37 machine gun.
Source: lagranderupe.altervista.org
Conclusion
The Cannone da 25/72 had significant use within Italian units, especially those deployed in North Africa, and was employed in a manner similar to the Cannone da 47/32. While a welcome addition to the underequipped Italian divisions, the gun was rapidly becoming obsolete and added yet another logistics link to an already overburdened logistics chain.
It was a reasonably effective anti-tank gun but could not deal with the heavier tanks used by the Americans or British, such as the Matilda. However, it was a good weapon against light tanks and armored cars, which were used in large numbers in North Africa.
Illustration of the Canon de 25mm Semi-Automatique Modèle 1934 (25mm SA 34).
Specifications of Cannone da 25/72 Modello 1934 (Modello 1937)
On 7th April 1939, the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy invaded the small Albanian Kingdom. Among the attacking forces, there were armored units that took part in the few clashes that occurred during the three-day invasion.
All units were equipped with Carri Armati L3/35 (English: 3 ton Light Tanks Model 1935), which formed the core of the Italian armored forces until 1940. They were able to hold to reign supreme solely due to the Albanian forces’ lack of anti-tank weapons.
Carri Armati L3/35 of the Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto ‘D’Antoni’ (English: Tank Assault Group) after having just landed in Durrës.
Source: Wikipedia
Relations between Albania and Italy before 1939
The relationship between the Kingdom of Italy and Albania was close during most of the early Twentieth century. During World War I, Italian forces were deployed in Albania to combat the Central Powers, and the Treaty of London signed between Italy and the Allies in 1915 included a provision for Italian sovereignty over the territory of Vlora. However, in 1920, an Albanian uprising expelled the Italians from Vlora. In 1928, the President of the Albanian Republic, Ahmet Zogu, proclaimed himself King of Albania under the name Zog I, establishing the Albanian Kingdom.
King Zog I.
Source: Wikipedia
From 1933 onwards, King Zog began distancing himself from collaboration with Italy and started leaning towards Greece and Yugoslavia.
This displeased Mussolini, the Head of the Italian Government and Duce, as he had expansionist aspirations in the region.
Starting in 1937 with the various trips of Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano, a study of the Albanian territory began in anticipation of annexation. The following year, an “economic colonization” of the country began and, in 1939, a plan for invasion was devised.
The Invasion
On 25th March 1939, Italy sent a proposal of annexation to King Zog, who refused it. On 2nd April, an ultimatum was issued, which was once again rejected by the Albanian king. However, King Zog chose to flee to Greece, leaving the Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare (English: Royal Albanian Army) in disarray and unprepared to counter the Italian invasion.
The Albanian Armed Forces
The Albanian armed forces were poorly equipped and lacked motivation. The Italians estimated a force of 45,000 men, but in reality, there were only 15,000, of which 8,000 were considered effective.
The Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare was trained and equipped by the Italians while the Xhandarmërisë was trained by the British.
Albanian soldiers during a parade. Note the Italian armament.
Source: Pinterest
The Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare was under the command of the Chief of the General Staff, General Xhemal Aranitasi, and was organized into four territorial sectors.
Albanian forces in April 1939
Sector
Command Headquarters
Commander
Forces
First
Milot
Lieutenant Colonel Bega
Three infantry battalions
Two batteries
One engineering company
Second
Milot
Lieutenant Colonel Vulagaj
Two infantry battalions
One Xhandarmërisë battalion
Two mountain artillery batteries
Third
Vlora
Lieutenant Colonel Kuku
Two infantry battalions
One Xhandarmërisë battalion
Two artillery sections
One engineering platoon
Fourth
Saranda
Lieutenant Colonel Topalli
Two Border Guard battalions
One Xhandarmërisë battalion
Durrës garrison
Durres
Major Abaz Kupi
One Border Guard battalion
One Xhandarmërisë battalion
One engineering company
One platoon of sailors
Six cannons
The Albanian defense plan aimed to hold out for at least ten days, awaiting Yugoslav intervention, and its objective was to defend the capital city of Tirana for as long as possible. The defense of Tirana was organized into four defensive lines, with the final line positioned in strong positions along the Dajti mountain range.
Albanian defensive lines meant to protect the capital Tirana.
Source: Le truppe italiane in Albania
The Ushtria Mbretërore Shqiptare, however, quickly disintegrated, while the main resistance came from the Xhandarmërisë, which had approximately 4,000 men, especially around Durrës, where the Albanian Navy Sergeant Mujo Ulqinaku died heroically. Alongside other sailors and armed with only a machine gun, he fought until he was killed by a grenade, inflicting casualties on the Italians.
A group of xhandar (English: gendarmes) photographed in the 1930s.
Source: bunkart.al
Italian Forces
For the occupation of Albania, the Italians had a force of 22,000 men, 64 cannons, 125 Carri Armati L3/35, 860 other vehicles, 1,200 motorcycles, 5,500 bicycles, and 2,500 pack animals included in the Corpo di Spedizione Oltre-Mare Tirana (English: Overseas Expeditionary Corps Tirana) under the command of General Alfredo Guzzoni.
General Alfredo Guzzoni
Source: generals.dk
To transport the troops, the Italian Regia Marina (English: Royal Navy) provided 22 steamers, the seaplane carrier Miraglia (which carried the tanks), and five tanker ships, supported by two battleships, seven cruisers, 16 destroyers, 14 torpedo boats, and other smaller vessels.
The Italian Regia Aeronautica (English: Royal Air Force) had an observation squadron, two bomber wings, and three air transport wings. However, no aerial bombardment was carried out.
Bersaglieri enter an Albanian town.
Source: eastjournal.net
For the invasion, the Italian forces were divided into three waves, but only the first wave actually took part in the invasion, while the others landed after the country was occupied.
The I Scaglione (English: First Wave) was under the command of Colonel Arturo Scattini and was supposed to land simultaneously at Durrës, Vlora, Shëngjin, and Saranda. The wave was divided into four columns, listed below:
I Scaglione
Name
Commander
Objectives
Forces
Colonna Durazzo
General Giovanni Messe
Tirana
Reggimento di formazione ‘Mannerini’
Five Bersaglieri battalions Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto ‘D’Antoni’ 65 mm battery of the 3° Reggimento Granatieri di Sardegna’ 20 mm anti-aircraft battery of the 14° Reggimento Artiglieria ‘Murge’
Colonna Valona
Colonel Tullio Bernardi
Shkodra and Lezhe
Two Bersaglieri battalions
Two Camicie Nere battalions
Colonna San Giovanni di Medua
Colonel Arturo Scattini
Devoll and Valona
Three Bersaglieri battalions
Two companies of marine infantry battalion San Marco
Colonna Santi Quaranta
Colonel Mario Carasi
Delvinë and Gjirokastër
Two Bersaglieri battalions III Gruppo Squadroni Carri Veloci ‘San Giorgio’
Two companies of marine infantry battalion San Marco
The II Scaglione (English: Second Wave) had an infantry battalion of the 47° Reggimento di Fanteria ‘Ferrara’ (English: 47th Infantry Regiment), a machine gun battalion, three artillery groups, a garrison infantry company, two engineer companies, and two light tanks squadrons. The III Scaglione (English: Third Wave) had two infantry battalions and the 14° Reggimento di Artiglieria ‘Murge’ (English: 14th Artillery Regiment) of the 23a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Murge’ (English: 23rd Infantry Division) and the Gruppo Battaglioni Camicie Nere ‘Peano’ (English: Blackshirt Battalion Group).
Italian invasion plan.
Source: albanianstudies.weebly.com
The Italian attack began on 7th April 1939, and within three days, the entire country was occupied, though the Italian command made various mistakes and the organization of the invasion was poor.
The Albanian resistance was modest, except for the clashes in Durrës, and the Italian losses were 12 dead and 81 wounded. In Bernd Fischer’s book, Albania at War 1939-1945, the author estimates Italian losses of 200 dead in Durrës alone, for a total of 700 casualties overall.
The Carro Armato L3
The Carro Armato L3 was the only tank used by Italian forces during the invasion of Albania because it was the only armored vehicle produced in large enough numbers by the Italian arms industry. It also equipped all Italian armored units in 1939. The development of these light tanks began in 1928, and the following year, the Carro Veloce 29 (English: Fast Tank 1929), an Italian version of the British Carden Loyd, was adopted.
Carro Veloce 29 pulling a trailer during the Giornata dell’Arma Chimica (English: Chemical Corps Day) in 1935.
Source: Pinterest via ww2photo.se
In 1933, the Carro Veloce 33 (English: Fast Tank 1933) was adopted, which was quite different from the older model and served as the basis for subsequent developments.
A Carro Veloce 33, armed with two Breda Modello 1938 machine guns, captured by British soldiers during Operation Compass in 1941.
Source: Wikipedia
The Carro Veloce 35 (English: Fast Tank 1935), developed and introduced in 1935, was based on the Carro Veloce 1933. It differed from the previous model in terms of its armament, which consisted of two 8 mm Fiat Modello 1914/1935 machine guns (replaced in 1938 by two Breda Modello 1938), and the armor, which was bolted and not welded to the sides.
A Carro Veloce 35 driving onto a truck to be transported
Source: gli autoveicoli da combattimento dell’esercito italiano
The Carro Veloce, then Carro Leggero (English: Light Tank) since 1939, was developed for mountain combat, as Italian commanders believed that a new war would be fought in the Alps.
Consequently, it was a small, light, and fast vehicle armed only with machine guns, making it already obsolete by the mid-1930s, especially for the lack of a turret.
Its use in Ethiopia in 1935 and 1936 and in Spain from 1936 to 1939 highlighted its significant deficiencies when facing other tanks or armored vehicles and its vulnerability to anti-tank weapons or even heavy machine guns.
The Italian Tank Units during the Invasion
Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto ‘D’Antoni’
The Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto ‘D’Antoni’ (English: Tank Assault Group) of Colonel Giovanni D’Antoni was part of the first landing wave. It was included in the Colonna Durazzo (English: Durrës Column) under the command of General Giovanni Messe that was supposed to land in the corresponding location and to advance all the way to Tirana, the capital of the Albanian Kingdom.
The Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto was formed from the VIII and X Battaglione Carri (English: 8th and 10th Tank Battalions), belonging to the 4° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista (English: 4th Tank Crew Infantry Regiment), which had a total of 31 Carri Armati L3
The invasion began on 7th April and the two battalions were transported to Albania by the seaplane carrier Miraglia. However, they were unable to immediately disembark the tanks because the assigned docking pier had been occupied by the Italian steamship Aquitania, which took 12 hours to unload 30 trucks.
At 1:00 p.m., the tank landing began, by which time the resistance of the Albanians in Durrës had been suppressed.
Carro Armato L3/35 while disembarking from the seaplane carrier Miraglia in the port of Durrës.
Source: Istituto Luce
The following day, a mechanized group was formed, which started advancing rapidly towards Tirana at 8:45 a.m. The Albanian forces defending the capital were mainly composed of xhandar, who were caught off guard by the Italian attack, and almost all of them surrendered without a fight. By 9:30 a.m, the Italian column entered the city.
Immediately after the occupation of Tirana, Colonel Giovanni D’Antoni was ordered to advance towards Elbasan.
A new column was formed, consisting of the XVIII Battaglione (English: 19th Battalion) of the 2° Reggimento Bersaglieri (English: 2nd Bersaglieri Regiment), the XIV Battaglione (English: 14th Battalion) of the 5° Reggimento Bersaglieri (English: 5th Bersaglieri Regiment), and the X Battaglione Carri.
A column of Carri Armati L3/35 of the Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto passes by a truckload of Bersaglieri.
Source: British Pathé
The column departed from Tirana at 4:00 p.m., and after two and a half hours, it reached Qafa Krrabes, where the Albanian defenders, under the command of Prince Hjssein Dolshisti, surrendered without a fight. The Italians captured a significant amount of equipment and two artillery batteries.
The advance resumed, and by 8:30 p.m, they reached Elbasan, covering a distance of 54 km in four and a half hours. The VIII Battaglione Carri remained in Tirana, while one of its platoons was left in Durrës to defend the vital port.
Advance of the Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto ‘D’Antoni’.
It occupied Tirana and Elbasan.
Source: albanianews.al modified by author
Colonel Giovanni d’Antoni was awarded the Bronze Medal for Military Valor for his actions during the invasion.
Sailors of the seaplane carrier Miraglia disembark an Carro Armato L3/35 with a crane.
Source: British Pathé
III Gruppo Squadroni Carri Veloci ‘San Giorgio’
The III Gruppo Squadroni Carri Veloci ‘San Giorgio’ (English: 3rd Squadron Group of Fast Tanks) was created in 1934 by the Reggimento Scuola Carri Veloci (English: Fast Tank Training Regiment) and was organized into four squadrons, totaling 61 Carri Armati L3.
In January 1935, it was placed under the command of the IIIa Brigata Celere ‘Principe Amedeo Duca d’Aosta’ (English: 3rd Fast Brigade) and, later, the 3a Divisione Celere ‘Principe Amedeo Duca d’Aosta’ (English: 3rd Cavalry Division).
During the invasion of Albania, the III Gruppo Squadroni Carri Veloci was part of the Colonna Santi Quaranta (English: Saranda Column), under the command of Colonel Mario Carasi. Its objective was the occupation of Delvinë and Gjirokastër.
On the morning of 7th April, Italian troops landed in Saranda, quickly eliminating the limited resistance from the Xhandarmërisë. They then began to advance towards Delvinë, which was occupied later that evening, and reached Gjirokastër the following day.
Advance of the III Gruppo Squadroni Carri Veloci ‘San Giorgio’.
It occupied Delvinë and Gjirokastër.
Source: albanianews.al modified by author
The advance was swift and no enemy resistance was encountered, although the poor condition of the roads posed a significant challenge.
Carro Armato L3/35 of the III Gruppo Squadroni Carri Veloci ‘San Giorgio’ during the Second World War.
Source: unitalianoinrussia.it
Reggimento Provvisorio di Cavalleria
The Reggimento Provvisorio di Cavalleria (English: Provisional Cavalry Regiment), commanded by Colonel Raffaele Pelligra, consisted of the I Gruppo Squadroni (English: 1st Squadron Group) of the Reggimento ‘Lancieri di Aosta’ (English: Lancers Regiment), the II Gruppo Squadroni (English: 2nd Squadron Group) of the Reggimento ‘Genova Cavalleria’ (English: Cavalry Regiment), a machine gun platoon of the Reggimento ‘Genova Cavalleria’ and a command unit.
The Reggimento Provvisorio di Cavalleria landed in Durrës as part of the III Scaglione on 14th April and deployed near Devoll and Fier before being divided into two columns with the objective of reaching Peshkopi.
The I Gruppo Squadroni passed through Tirana, Lezhe, and Shkodra, and finally arrived in Peshkopi.
The II Gruppo Squadroni, initially descended towards southern Albania, reaching Berat and Permet, and then headed north, skirting the border with Greece and Yugoslavia, and finally arrived in Peshkopi.
Advance of the Reggimento Provvisorio di Cavalleria. In blue the I Gruppo Squadroni, in black the II Gruppo Squadroni.
Source: albanianews.al modified by author
Considerations on the Use of the Carro Armato L3 in Albania
The Carro Armato L3 had been specifically designed for combat in mountainous terrain, and during the invasion of Albania, it performed relatively well, despite facing some difficulties due to the poor condition of the roads.
Additionally, the lack of anti-tank weapons in the Albanian forces and their limited resistance meant that the Carri Armati L3 faced minimal challenges during their few encounters with the Xhandarmërisë and the small number of Albanian soldiers who fought back.
Due to the poor organization of the operation and the absence of significant challenges, the invasion of Albania did not lead to any improvements in the use of Italian tanks, nor did it make Italian commanders fully realize the obsolescence of the Carro Armato L3.
When the Kingdom of Italy entered the war on the side of Germany on 10th June 1940, the Carri Armati L3 was still the backbone of the Italian armored forces but by then it was virtually useless for modern warfare.
During the early fighting in the Alps or in the Libyan desert, the old Carri Armati L3 still demonstrated its imitated warfare capabilities and was slowly (but never completely) replaced by the new medium tanks.
Carri Armati L3/35 of the Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto ‘D’Antoni’ during the advance towards Tirana
Source: Gli autoveicoli da combattimento dell’Esercito Italiano
Aftermath
After the Italian invasion, the Kingdom of Albania was annexed by Italy as the Protettorato Italiano del Regno d’Albania (English: Italian Protectorate of Albania), and on 16th April, King Vittorio Emanuele III was crowned as the King of Albania.
Italian rule over the country lasted until 8th September 1943, when, due to the Armistice between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allied forces, Germany occupied Albania and installed some collaborationist leaders, with Balli Kombëtar at the forefront.
German control was short-lived, and by October 1944, the country transformed into the Qeveria Demokratike e Shqipërisë (English: Democratic Government of Albania), which in 1945 became the Republika Popullore Socialiste e Shqipërisë (English: People’s Socialist Republic of Albania).
Conclusion
The contribution of the Italian armored forces to the invasion of Albania was very limited.
With the exception of the Raggruppamento Carri d’Assalto ‘D’Antoni’, which had some clashes with the Xhandarmërisë, the rest of the units were able to reach their objectives without major combat and mostly unmolested.
Sources
Ufficio Storico dello SME Le truppe italiane in Albania (Anni 1914-20 e 1939) Roma 1978
Niccolò Lucarelli Italiani in Albania 1939-1945 Parma 2021
Bernd Jürgen Fischer Albania at war 1939-1945 West Lafayette 1999
Antonello Biagini and Fernando Frattolino Diario Storico del Comando Supremo Volume I Tomo II Roma 1986
Rodolfo Puletti, Dante Saccomandi and Dario Cerbo I Lancieri di Aosta dal 1774 al 1970 Out-of-print edition 1971
Rodolfo Puletti Genova Cavalleria 1683 1983 Padova 1985
Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935, in battery. Illustration by Rolan Reboso
Kingdom of Italy (1935-1945)
Support/Anti-Tank Cannon – 928 Built
The Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 (English: 47 mm L.32 Cannon Model 1935), commonly known as ‘Elefantino’ (English: Little Elephant) by Italian troops, was the main support/anti-tank cannon of the Italian Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army) before and during Second World War.
The Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 was produced under license and derived from the Infanterie-geschütze M.35 (English: Infantry cannon Model 1935) produced by the Austrian company Böhler. It replaced the old Cannone da 65/17 Modello 1913 (English: 65 mm L.17 Cannon Model 1913).
It was used by the Regio Esercito until 1943 when, due to the Armistice with the Allies, the Italian soldiers joined, on the one hand, the new Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano (English: National Republican Army) and the Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana (English: National Republican Guard) allied with the Germans, and, on the other hand, the Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano (English: Italian Co-Belligerent Army) allied with the Allied forces.
Dozens of guns were also used by the Germans, Commonwealth troops, Chinese, and Israeli armies during and after the war.
Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 used by a group of Bersaglieri in North Africa.
Source: modellismopiù.it
1930s: The Regio Esercito and the Search for an Anti-Tank Weapon
At the end of the 1920s, the Regio Esercito had to replace the outdated 3.7 cm Infanteriegeschütz M.15 (English: 37 mm Infantry Cannon Model 1915), which the Italians called Cannone 37F or Cannone da 37/10 (English: 37 mm L.10 Cannon). It was an Austro-Hungarian light cannon captured by the Italians after the First World War and used as an infantry support cannon. The Italians even made a copy.
Due to economic problems, the Stato Maggiore del Regio Esercito (English: General Staff of the Royal Army) decided to adopt the Cannone da 65/17 Modello 1913 as an infantry support cannon, which had been used as mountain artillery during the First World War. This was then replaced by the Cannone da 75/13 (English: 75 mm L.13 Mountain Cannon), which was the Austrian 7.5 cm Gebirgskanone M.15, thousands of pieces of which had been captured by the Italians after the end of the First World War and reemployed.
Cannone 37F photographed in the Arsenale Costruzione Artiglieria di Torino (English: Artillery Construction Arsenal in Turin) in 1922-23.
Source: le armi della fanteria
The adoption of the Cannone da 65/17 was considered only a temporary measure pending the acquisition of something better. In the early 1930s, a study began for the adoption of two guns, one for infantry support and one for the anti-tank role.
In 1933, the Direzione del Servizio Tecnico (English: Technical Service Management) presented a 50 mm cannon, 20 of which were produced in order to be tested for infantry support, while another weapon, a 47 mm semi-automatic gun, was being studied.
All plans were abandoned due to the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and the felt risk of a war with Great Britain, which prompted the Regio Esercito to choose a ready-made weapon and abandon the studies in progress in favor of the 47 mm gun produced by the Austrian company Böhler: the Infanterie-geschütze M.35.
This was a piece that was well suited for both infantry support and anti-tank fire and was light, maneuverable, and had good armor penetration capabilities.
A Cannone da 65/17 used by the Corpo Truppe Volontarie (English: Volunteer Troop Corps) in the Spanish Civil War during the Battle of Guadalajara in 1937.
Source: Wikipedia
Thus, the Regio Esercito adopted the Böhler gun as the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 in 1935.
Firing test of a prototype of the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935. The prototypes of the Breda Modello 1937 machine gun and Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 can be seen in the background.
Source: pinterest.it
Design
The Cannone da 47/32 was a semi-automatic cannon. Its semi-automatic breech-block had a peculiar feature: it would close automatically when the cartridge was inserted, but the opening had to be done manually.
The Cannone da 47/32 was equipped with a steel barrel, a transverse wedge-shaped bolt, and a double-trailed carriage. Each trail piece was independent, allowing for better adaptability to different types of terrain.
For transport, it was equipped with two solid wheels that could be removed in battery position. The wheels had lightning holes to lower the total weight of the gun. The gun could, however, also fire while on the wheels.
The Cannone da 47/32 was not equipped with a gun shield to protect the crew, although some options were studied during the development of the gun, but never accepted by the Regio Esercito.
The Cannone da 47/32 was originally equipped with the Alzo panoramico per cannone da 47/32 (English: Panoramic elevation for 47 mm L.32 cannon) produced by San Giorgio.
Alzo panoramico per cannone da 47/32
Source:Istruzione provvisoria sul materiale, sulle munizioni e sul servizio del cannone da 47/32
In 1942, a new sight was adopted, the Alzo ottico mod.42 (English: Optical lift mod.42), a more simple and cheap sight which was also more suited for the anti-tank role.
Two Cannoni da 47/32 Modello 1939 in the firing positions. The photograph is probably from a manual.
Source: pinterest.it
The Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 was a light weapon, weighing 277 kg in battery position. This was 150 kg lighter than the Cannone da 65/17 Modello 1913. It was also short, only 88 cm in height when being towed, which made it difficult for the enemy to detect.
The Cannone da 47/32 could be transported in different ways. There was mechanical transport (only for the Modello 1939), although the weapon had some problems with the suspension which limited it to short distances and small speeds, towing by animals, and, finally, on the backs pack animals after dividing the piece into four parts.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 towed by a FIAT OCI 708 CM tractor during the mechanical towing tests made before the war by the 43° Reggimento d’Artiglieria ‘Sirte’ (English: 43rd Artillery Regiment).
Source: pinterest.it
In 1935, it was one of the best infantry support guns of the time, thanks to its rapid dismountability and good accuracy in direct fire up to a distance of one kilometer. It was capable of penetrating 40 mm of armor, which was sufficient for taking out any armored vehicle of the period. It had a muzzle velocity of 630 m/s with an armor-piercing shell.
The Cannone da 47/32 had a crew of five soldiers (gunner, shooter, loader, carrier [in charge of carrying the cannon], carrier’s helper) but it was normally used by three although in exceptional cases it could be used by a single soldier.
Wheels
The Cannone da 47/32 used various types of wheels. The first Böhler cannon that arrived in Italy in 1935 for testing was equipped with spoked pneumatic wheels. The Dutch Böhler cannons delivered to the Regio Esercito by the Germans during the Second World War also had these wheels.
Spoked pneumatic wheels of the Austrian Böhler
Source: Storia Militare Briefing N.28
From 1935 to 1939, the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 and the early examples of the Modello 1939 used six-hole wheels with semi-pneumatic tires.
Six-hole wheels with semi-pneumatic tires
Source: Istruzione provvisoria del pezzo da 47 – Mod.935
In 1939, both models were equipped with elektron wheels with semi-pneumatic tires, but this type of wheel had limited success and was replaced in 1940 by seven-spoke iron wheels with semi-pneumatic tires.
German soldiers of the Deutsches Afrikakorps use a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 with elektron wheels with semi-pneumatic tires
Source: Reddit via jacksmachiningreveng Seven-spoke iron wheels with semi-pneumatic tires
Source: modellismosalento.it
During the war, two types of wheels were produced for use on soft terrain: eight-hole iron wheels with semi-pneumatic tires and sheet metal wheels with five holes and semi-pneumatic tires.
Eight-hole iron wheels with semi-pneumatic tires
Source: Storia Militare Briefing N.28 Sheet metal wheels with five holes and semi-pneumatic tires
Source:modellismopiù.it
During the war, disc wheels without holes, tracks for sandy terrain (never officially adopted), and skis for transportation on snow were also produced.
Disc wheels without holes
Source: Storia Militare Briefing N.28 Tracks for sandy terrain
Source: Le artiglierie del regio Esercito nella seconda guerra mondiale A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 being manually-loaded on the cargo bay of a truck by a group of Bersaglieri. Because of suspension problems, the cannon was troublesome to tow by vehicles and even horses.
Source: Le Armi Della Fanteria Italiana
Ammunition
The Cannone da 47/32 could fire a wide variety of ammunition.
Ammunition for the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935
Name
Type
Muzzle velocity (m/s)
Weight of complete ammunition (kg)
penetration in mm
500 m
750 m
Cartoccio Granata Modello 1935
High-Explosive
250
2.860
//
//
Granata Perforante Modello 1935
Armor Piercing
630
2.035
25
//
Granata Perforante Modello 1939
Armor Piercing
630
2.055
40
35
Granata Effetto Pronto
High Explosive Anti-Tank
//
//
//
//
Granata Effetto Pronto Speciale
High-explosive anti-tank
//
//
//
//
Granata a codolo da 47/32
Finned rodded-bomb
110
8.6
//
//
During the Second World War, the Cannone da 47/32 was supplied with E.P. and E.P.S. (English: Ready Effect and Special Ready Effect) ammunition, which were special hollow charge rounds used by the Italians for various calibers of weapons (47, 65, 75, 100, 105 and 149 mm).
The E.P. projectiles were so unsuccessful that, in April 1943, a circular issued by the Services Office of the General Staff of the Royal Italian Army called for this type of ammunition to be used not as anti-tank ammunition, but as ordinary HE.
In 1943 the Regio Esercito officially adopted the Granata a codolo da 47/32 (English: Finned rodded-bomb for 47 mm L.32 Cannon), which was developed by Germany upon Italy’s request and was essentially a Stielgranate 41 for the Cannone da 47/32. Around 200,000 of them were ordered, but due to the Armistice, no projectiles were delivered to the Kingdom of Italy, and it was likely not used by the Wehrmacht either.
Shortly before the Armistice, the Granata da 47/32 Tracciante (English: Tracer grenade for 47 mm L.32 Cannon) was being tested, but was never adopted.
Several 47 mm ammunition placed in metal transport containers.
Source: cmpr.it Various types of Cannone da 47/32 ammunition. From left to right: three Granata Perforante Modello 1939, three Granati Perforanti Modello 1935, and a Granate Perforanti Modello 1935 da Istruzione.
Source: comandosupremo.com From left to right: Granata Perforante Modello 1939, Granata Perforante Modello 1935, and Cartoccio-Granata Modello 1935
Source: lombardiabeniculturali.it Granata Effetto Pronto (E.P.) and Granata Effetto Pronto Speciale (E.P.S.) from a German manual
Source: Kennblätter fremden Geräts D 50/8 b
Variants
Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939
In 1939, a new version of the Cannone da 47/32 was introduced, designed for mechanical transport, in particular with the SPA CL 39 trucks. It included an improved suspension, which was made more robust and saw the addition of a swing arm with silent blocks for each of the two leaf springs. In addition, the wheels were modified to make them sturdier and spoked, and the gun was also modified to make replacement easier.
Although specifically designed for mechanical towing, the problems with the suspension were never resolved. Circular no. 10310 of 7th September 1942 entitled Divieto di Autotraino del Cannone da 47/32 Mod.39 (English: Prohibition of Mechanical Towing of the 47 mm L.32 Gun Model 1939) stated that the experience of the previous months had shown that the gun could not be towed due to the low strength of the axle spindles.
Cannone da 47/32 per carro M13
The Cannone da 47/32 also became the main cannon used on Italian armored vehicles. The infantry support cannon was modified by Ansaldo with a revised recoiling system and a new vertical sliding breech block now completely semi-automatic.
The new gun became the Cannone da 47/32 per carro M13 – Carro Armato M13/40 – (English: 47 mm Cannon L.32 for M13/40) which was intended to arm the new M13/40 medium tank.
The cannon, sharing a mantlet together with an 8 mm Breda Modello 1938 coaxial machine gun, weighed 108 kg and was 1,525 mm long. The Cannone da 47/32 had a firing elevation from -15° to +25°, while the horizontal traverse was 360° when the weapon was mounted in a turret. The weapon had the same muzzle velocity as the field gun and had a firing rate of 25 rounds per minute thanks to the, now, completely automatic breech-block.
The Cannone da 47/32 per carro M13 not only armed the Carro Armato M13/40, but also the Carro Armato M14/41, the Littorine Blindate (English: Armored ‘Littorine’) – armored draisines equipped with two M-type tank turrets – the Semovente L40 da 47/32 (English: 47 mm L.32 Self propelled gun L40), and a version of the Semovente da 47/32 su Scafo AB41 armored car.
Cannone da 47/32 per Carro M13 photographed at Ansaldo in Genoa.
Source: 2020.fondazioneansaldo.it
Cannone da 47/40
After 1940, an improved version of the Cannone da 47/32 was studied. This new weapon, called Cannone da 47/40 (English: 47 mm L.40 Cannon Model 1938), was eight calibers longer than the previous version, allowing a muzzle velocity of 755 m/s with an armor-piercing shell. The breech was larger to allow the firing of longer rounds to increase accuracy and penetration.
The Cannone da 47/40 was used in the turret of the Carro Armato M15/42, which entered service in 1942 with the Regio Esercito, and the Autoblindo AB43 ‘Cannone’. Ansaldo and Breda produced 300 Cannoni da 47/40.
Cannone da 47/40 photographed at Ansaldo in Genoa.
Source: 2020.fondazioneansaldo.it
Cannone da 47/32 Munito di Attrezzatura di Circostanza (English: 47/32 Cannon Fitted with Training Equipment)
With circular no. 4120 of 20th April 1943, the Ministero della Guerra (English: Ministry of War) reported that, in order to train gun crews in anti-tank fire, training equipment was to be used to fire 6.5 mm caliber cartridges.
The Moschetti Modello 91 per Truppe Speciali (English: Muskets Model 1891 for Special Troops) were modified for the purpose, leaving them with the barrel uncovered and eliminating the forestock and barrel cover. The latter were modified to fit inside the muzzle of the Cannone da 47/32.
Each gun was equipped with one hundred rounds of 6.5 mm caliber for training purposes. During the tests, the gun crews fired at a target made of wood and canvas, on which tank silhouettes were fixed and moved by ropes, at a distance of 30-35 m. FIAT-Revelli Modello 1914/1935 medium machine guns were also used instead of rifles.
Moschetto Modello 91 per Truppe Speciali inserted into the muzzle of the Cannone da 47/32 and used for training.
Source: it.scribd.com
Cannone da 47/32 per Semovente da 47/32 su scafo L3
The Semovente da 47/32 su scafo L3 (English: 47 mm L32 self-propelled gun on L3 hull) was a prototype of an anti-tank self-propelled gun developed in 1939 on the hull of the L3/35 light tank. It was intended to equip the Regio Esercito with a gun armored vehicle capable of withstanding machine-gun fire.
The Semovente was armed with a Cannone da 47/32 with an experimental installation, where the trunnion was mounted at the front of the vehicle. Unlike the field gun, it was equipped with a removable shield to protect the gun crew and had a traverse of 15° on both sides, while the elevation was from -18° to +30°.
Experimental installation of the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 on L3 hull
Source: Andare contro i Carri Armati
Cannone da 47/48
In 1941, Ansaldo began the study of a new version of the Cannone da 47/32, but with a 48 caliber barrel and with a shield like the Cannone da 37/45.
The Cannone da 47/48 had a muzzle velocity of 815-820 m/s but it was very heavy compared to the original model. It weighed 740 kg in battery position, which allowed only mechanized transport. The Ispettorato di Fanteria (English: Inspectorate of Infantry) suspected that this gun had a low penetration, which in the end was 70 mm. The Inspectorate considered the adoption as anti-tank gun of the Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937, but the project remained under consideration until 1943, when it was abandoned after the decision was made to adopt the Cannone da 75/43 Modello 1940, i.e. the https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/germany/at-guns/7-5-cm-pak-407.5 cm PaK 40.
Cannone da 47/48 photographed during testing
Source: Storia dell’artiglieria italiana, Vol. XV
Cannone 75/21 IF
Shortly before the Armistice of 8th September between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allies, the Cannone da 75/22 was developed. This was an anti-tank gun built by using the carriage of the Cannone da 47/32 while the barrel, 22 caliber long, could fire the same ammunition of the Obice da 75/18 model 1934 and Obice da 75/13 model 1915 (English: 75 mm Howitzer L18 model 1934 and 75 mm Howitzer L13 model 1915).
After the war, this design was revised and the Cannone da 75/21 IF was born. This gun weighed 287 kg in battery and had a muzzle velocity between 248 and 274 m/s.
In the 1950s, the new anti-tank gun was designed to arm the bunkers of the Vallo Alpino Orientale (English: Eastern Alpine Wall), the Italian defense line along the border with Yugoslavia, built in the 1930s as part of the larger Vallo Alpino del Littorio (English: Littorio Alpine Wall). It was used after the war to protect the eastern borders from a potential attack by Yugoslavia.
The gun used parts of the Cannone da 47/32 and 47/40 mounted on candlestick carriages. The Cannone da 75/21 IF fired hollow-charge ammunition and could be transported both mechanically and by pack animals, but the field version was not very successful and was abandoned as a project. It remained in service in bunkers until the 1960s.
A Cannone da 75/21 I.F. used by a group of Italian soldiers in the Vallo Alpino Orientale in the 1960s.
Source: Vecio.it The two mounting types for Cannone da 75/21 I.F. used in the Vallo Alpino Orientale. The gun was equipped with a straight metal shield (top) or curved shield (below).
Source: Bunker
Production
Production began in 1935 and the Cannone da 47/32 was the most produced artillery piece coming from Italian factories, with production ending only in 1945.
During these ten years, the piece was produced by different companies: Ansaldo of Pozzuoli and Genoa, Arsenale Regio Esercito di Napoli or AREN (English: Royal Italian Army Arsenal of Naples), Arsenale Regio Esercito di Piacenza or AREP (English: Royal Italian Army Arsenal of Piacenza), Arsenale Regio Esercito di Torino or ARET (English: Royal Italian Army Arsenal of Turin), Breda, Cogne, and Costruzioni Elettro-Meccaniche di Saronno or CEMSA (English: Saronno Electro-Mechanical Constructions).
By June 1940, 928 pieces had been built out of an order of 2,783 and another 643 “per carro M13” were on order. The Direzione Generale d’Artiglieria (English: Artillery Directorate General) stated on 1st June 1942 that 3,203 Cannoni 47/32 Modello 1935 and 1939, 1,321 “per carro M.13” and 221 for Semovente L40 were available in the Italian armed forces.
After the Armistice between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allies on 8th September 1943 and the consequent German invasion of the country, the Germans continued the production of this cannon; 101 Cannoni da 47/32 were produced from 1st October 1943 to 31st October 1944. A total 1,929 Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939 pieces had been produced until 31st December 1942 and another 636 were planned.
Production of the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939
Factory
Number of cannons produced
Number of barrels
Ansaldo
1.302
//
AREN
//
55
AREP
400
500
ARET
500
//
Breda
795 (in 1941)
//
CEMSA
//
//
Cogne
//
//
Newly built Cannoni da 47/32 Modello 1935 by Breda.
Source: lombardiabeniculturali.it
Operational Use in Italy
The Cannone da 47/32 was the most used gun of the Italian armed forces. It was used by the Italian Regio Esercito (English: Royal Army), Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (English: Voluntary Militia for National Security) or Camicie Nere (English: Black Shirts), Polizia dell’Africa Italiana (English: Police of Italian Africa), Regia Marina (English: Royal Italian Navy), and Regio Corpo Truppe Coloniali (English: Royal Colonial Troops Corps).
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943 between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allies, the Cannone da 47/32 was used by the armed forces of the Repubblica Sociale Italiana (English: Italian Social Republic), a puppet state of Nazi Germany, and those of the the “Regno del Sud” (English: Southern Kingdom), in practice the Kingdom of Italy collaborating with the Allied forces for the liberation of the Italian Peninsula.
Use during the Spanish Civil War
The first use of the Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 was during the Spanish Civil War, when Mussolini decided to support General Francisco Franco’s forces by sending an Italian contingent called the Corpo Truppe Volontarie.
The production number of the Cannoni da 47/32 Modello 1935 was not very high at that time, so only 30 were sent to Spain to form an anti-tank section of the Comando Reparti Specializzati or CRS (English: Specialized Units Command). This became the Raggruppamento Carristi (English: Tanks Grouping) on 25th September 1937, while two Cannoni da 47/32, together with four Cannoni da 37/45, i.e. 3.7 cm PaK 36, equipped the anti-tank company of the 4a Divisione d’Assalto ‘Littorio’ (English. 4th Assault Division).
The circular Relazione sulla battaglia di Catalogna (English: Report on the Battle of Catalonia) praised the Cannone da 47/32 as an accurate and effective weapon, as well as its lightness and small size. This made it less visible than the Cannone da 65/17, although the lack of a shield to protect the gun crew and the very fragile carriage were also mentioned as serious flaws of the gun.
Artilleryman of the Corpo Truppe Volontarie, armed with a Moschetto Modello 1891 (English: Model 1891 Musket), with a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 in 1938.
Source: Le uniformi e i distintivi del Corpo Truppe Volontarie
Use in the Vallo Alpino del Littorio
At the beginning of the 1930s, the Kingdom of Italy began to fortify the border in the Alps with the aim of creating a defensive wall, called Vallo Alpino del Littorio (English: Alpine Wall of Littorio). In order not to use men from the infantry or Alpine regiments, a new corps was created in 1934 with the aim of defending the Italian and colonial borders, the Guardia alla Frontiera (English: Border Guard), which was divided into three specialties: infantry, artillery, and engineers.
For the defense against the tanks, the Cannoni da 47/32 and Cannoni da 57/43 Regia Marina (English: 57 mm L.43 Cannon [for] Royal Navy, an old naval gun now used as an anti-tank weapon) were installed in casemates without wheels, resting on the ground or on a metal support. When installed in a metal casemate, the gun rested on a special dovetailed support designed by the Direzione Superiore del Servizio Tecnico di Artiglieria (English: Higher Directorate of Artillery Technical Service).
By 1st June 1940, however, only 30 Cannoni da 47/32 were available out of the 300 required. According to circular no. 13500 of 14th August 1941, the Cannone da 47/32 was intended only for anti-tank flanking fire, while the Cannone da 75/46 and the Cannone da 90/53 were designed to fire against the new type of tanks.
Drawing depicting a Cannone da 47/32 bunker mounting.
Source: la Guardia alla Frontiera A Cannone da 47/32 of Bunker No. 261 of the Vallo Alpino del Littorio located in Vievola, near Tenda. The cannon, like the rest of the bunker, was renovated by the Associazione per lo Studio del Vallo Alpino – ASVAL – (English: Association for the Study of the Alpine Wall)
Source: cuneo24.it
Use during the Second World War
In 1940, every infantry, motorized, Celere (English: Fast), armored, and Autotrasportata (English: mechanized) division had 8 Cannoni da 47/32 in the divisional anti-tank company, except for the Alpine divisions, which were not equipped with anti-tank guns. In the Divisioni Libiche (English: Libyan Infantry divisions), the number of anti-tank pieces was the same as in the standard infantry division, as well as in the four CC.NN. (English: Black Shirts) divisions sent to Libya in 1940 and destroyed during Operation Compass in December 1940 – January 1941.
The Cannone da 47/32 was supposed to replace the Cannone da 65/17 in the regimental support batteries (the infantry divisions had two support batteries with 4 Cannoni da 65/17 each, while the mechanized divisions also had two, but with 8 pieces each) but the production of Cannoni da 47/32 was slow. In a communication, dated 1st May 1940, from the Stato Maggiore del Regio Esercito (English: General Staff of the Italian Royal Army) to Benito Mussolini, Head of Government and Duce of Italy, it was stated that, in the infantry divisions, with the sole exception of the 52a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Torino’ (English: 52nd Infantry Division), there were still support batteries made up of old Cannoni da 65/17.
Divisional anti-tank company staffing in 1940
Officers
6
NCOs
10
Troops
225
Cannoni da 47/32
8
Bicycle
1
FIAT-SPA CL.39 Light Truck
10
Mules
76
Italian invasion of France (10 -25 June 1940)
The first wartime action of the Kingdom of Italy was the attack on France, known in Italy as the Battle of the Western Alps. From 10th to 21st June, there were only minor border skirmishes, but on the 21st, the Italian 1a Armata (English: 1st Army) and 4a Armata (English: 4th Army) attacked across the entire frontline.
The attack lasted until 25th June 1940 and it was a hard battle for the Italian forces, which brought few results (summarized as the capture of Menton and the occupation of some villages across the border).
The Cannone da 47/32 was present in the Italian divisions that attacked France, but also in bunkers or in battalions of the Guardia alla Frontiera – G.a.F.- (English: Frontier Guard). The cannon was used in few actions, partly due to the absence of enemy armored units.
On 22nd June, some Cannoni da 47/32 of the G.a.F., positioned in the Petit St. Bernard Pass, opened fire on the French. On the same day, the 53° Reggimento di Fanteria ‘Umbria’ (English: 53rd Infantry Regiment), supported by the 17° Reggimento Artiglieria ‘Sforzesca’ (English: 17th Artillery Regiment), crossed the border with a company of Cannoni da 47/32 and two 81 mm mortar companies and was immediately hit by heavy machine gun and artillery fire. The Regiment managed to penetrate the Bois de Sestrieres with heavy losses.
Cannone da 47/32 used by soldiers of the 67° Reggimento di Fanteria ‘Palermo’ (English: 67th Infantry Regiment) during the battle that took place in the Alps.
Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
North Africa Campaign (June 1940 – May 1943)
On 10th June 1940, the day Italy entered the war on the side of Germany, there were 127 Cannoni da 47/32 in Libya, reinforced in the following months by 74 Cannoni da 47/32, of which 18 were unusable due to the lack of carriage parts and, of the rest, only 25 had optics. Even the forces of the Guardia alla Frontiera (deployed in Libya on the border with Tunisia and Egypt) had a serious shortage of Cannoni da 47/32. A document dated 1st June 1940 points out that, out of the 390 required guns, 292 were missing.
Cannone da 47/32 transported on an Italian Lancia 3RO heavy duty truck of the 4a Divisione CC.NN ‘3 Gennaio’ (English: 4th Black Shirt Division) in September 1940.
Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
After the advance of the Italian troops to Sidi el Barrani in September 1940, General Rodolfo Graziani ordered the construction of a series of fortifications near the village. The British forces organized a counter-offensive to drive the Italians out of Egypt, an attack that was launched on 9th December 1940. One of the first targets of the advance was the Nibewa camp, where a Cannoni da 47/32 anti-tank company was stationed.
The attack was launched with Matilda tanks, an unexpected novelty for the Italian soldiers, which was very difficult to penetrate with the Cannoni da 47/32. During the battle, the Italian gun crews fought hard, being shot down by enemy machine guns due to the lack of shields on the Cannoni da 47/32, and only managed to damage five Matildas by hitting the tracks and penetrating the side armor of another one. General Pietro Maletti was also killed in this clash, as he was directing two Cannoni da 47/32 gunners nearest to the Matilda tanks.
In other actions of Operation Compass, such as the Battle of Bardia and Tobruk, the Cannone da 47/32 was once more outclassed by the Matilda tanks, although the Italian gun crews tried to position the guns in front of elevations in the terrain so that they could fire at the ventral part of the tank. The gun was however an excellent weapon against the lighter Cruiser tanks, although the low training and lack of a shield made it difficult to fire at armored vehicles at close range.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939 captured by Australian forces near Bardia during Operation Compass.
Source: italianprisonersofwar.com
After 1941, independent anti-tank battalions using pack animals or transported on lorries were created. These were equipped with 24 Cannoni da 47/32 and assigned to divisions or army corps. A new gorget patch was created for these units, consisting of a blue rectangle with three white lines.
Independent anti-tank battalion composition
Officers
22
NCOs
37
Troops
498
Cannoni da 47/32
24
Motorcycles
12
Light Trucks
23
Heavy Trucks
28
Staff Cars
1
Mostrine (English: Collar tabs) of the Battaglioni Controcarro (English: Anti-Tank battalions)
Source: Wikipedia
After 1942, platoons of Cannoni da 47/32 were included in the staff of the Bersaglieri, infantry, and Guastatori (English: Sappers) battalions. Each platoon consisted of two Cannoni da 47/32 squads, each with one cannon.
The Cannone da 47/32 was the only artillery piece given to the artillery regiments of the Divisioni Paracadutiste (English: Parachute Divisions), because it could be easily dismantled and transported, even by soldiers.
A Cannone da 47/32 at a post managed by the 185a Divisione Paracadutisti ‘Folgore’ (English: 185th Parachute Division).
Source: congedatifolgore.com
In southern Libya, the Comando Sahara Libico (English: Libyan Sahara Command) had to defend itself against attacks from the Long Range Desert Group and General Leclerc’s French units.
In March 1941, the motorized columns in Tagrifet, Zella, Murzuch, and Sebha each had four Cannoni da 47/32. The units then took the name Compagnie Sahariane (English: Saharan Companies), so the unit in Tagrifet became 1a Compagnia Sahariana, the one in Zella 2a Compagnia Sahariana, the one in Sebha 4a Compagnia Sahariana, and the one in Murzuch 5a Compagnia Sahariana, and the latter was reinforced by the 60a Compagnia Cannoni da 47/32 (English: 60th 47/32 Company).
In September 1941, the Comando Sahara Libico sent a letter to the Italian Libya Command requesting the dispatch of 86 Cannoni da 47/32 to reinforce and form a new Compagnie Sahariane, but due to low gun production and the consideration of southern Libya as a secondary front, no new reinforcements were sent. By January 1942, there were only 16 Cannoni da 47/32 in the Comando Sahara Libico.
At the end of March 1942, the units were modified. The Compagnie Libiche da Posizione (English: Libyan Position Companies) were equipped with 2 to 4 Cannoni da 47/32, while the Compagnie Sahariane were equipped with three Cannoni da 47/32 (one platoon).
In November 1942, the 3a Pattuglia di Vigilanza Terrestre Avanzata (English: 3rd Advanced Land Surveillance Patrol) was created and assigned to the 2a Compagnia Sahariana. The patrol consisted of eight Camionette Desertiche SPA-Viberti AS42 ‘Sahariane’, one of which was armed with a Cannone da 47/32.
At the end of 1942, the Comando Sahara Libico had 72 Cannoni da 47/32 at its disposal.
Cannone da 47/32 used by Libyan soldiers in Southern Libya.
Source: Scenari Sahariani Libici
The Cannone da 47/32 equipped a special unit of the Regia Marina, the 1° Reggimento di Marina ‘San Marco’ (English: 1st Marine Regiment). The unit fought for the defense of Tobruk during Operation Agreement in September 1942 and then fought in Tunisia in 1943 until the surrender of the Axis forces in May.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939 in Tunisia used by the 1° Reggimento di Marina ‘San Marco’.
Source: Facebook via Cannone da 47/32 “Elefantino”
After the Second Battle of El Alamein (October 1942), the long Axis retreat to Tunisia began, where their forces held out until May 1943.
Here too the Cannone da 47/32 was the main Italian anti-tank weapon, although now powerless against British and American medium tanks. On 6th April 1943, during the Battle of Uari Akarit, the British 50th Infantry Division, the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade, and the 152nd Highlanders Brigade attacked the 80a Divisione di Fanteria ‘La Spezia’ (English: 80th Infantry Division). Despite strong resistance and counterattacks, the unit was destroyed and reduced to one and a half companies.
Prominent among the Italian soldiers was Staff Sergeant Vinicio Rossi, assigned to the LXXX Battaglione Controcarro da 47/32 (English: 80th Anti-Tank Battalion), who was killed after capturing three enemy tanks with his piece and was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valor.
A Cannone da 47/32 used by soldiers of the Gruppo Battaglioni ‘Giovani Fascisti’ (English: ‘Young Fascist’ Battalions Group) and from which the 136a Divisione Corazzata ‘Giovani Fascisti’ (English: 136th Armored Division), which fought in Tunisia, was later composed.
Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato Bersaglieri with a Cannone da 47/32 during the Tunisian Campaign.
Source: pinterest.com
East Africa Campaign (June 1940 – November 1941)
On 10th May 1940, a month before the entry into the war, the Viceroy of Ethiopia, Amedeo d’Aosta, Duke of Aosta, requested the dispatch of six companies of Cannoni da 47/32, plus six spare guns, complete with vehicles, personnel, and a lot of ammunition, but nothing was sent from Italy.
Out of all these colonies, only one battery of Cannoni da 47/32 was deployed in Amhara. It was used for the first time in the Battle of Cheren (February-March 1941). After the battle, the rest of the battery was deployed, in May 1941, in the Ablati sector in the Galla-Sidamo region, where it was probably destroyed.
Curiously, in document no. 1222 dated 25th August 1940, written by General Claudio Trezzani, Capo di Stato Maggiore del Comando Superiore Forze Armate dell’Africa Orientale Italiana (English: Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces in Italian East Africa), he mentions the capture of some ‘47 Breda’ guns in British Somaliland (invaded by Italian troops in August). This is difficult to explain, as there was no large number of Cannoni da 47/32 in Italian East Africa. Perhaps these were Bohler guns or guns captured in North Africa and sent to Somaliland (although, at that time, there had been no major clashes between Italian and Commonwealth troops in North Africa).
Dodecanese Campaign (June 1940 – October 1943)
In the Dodecanese Islands, in the southeastern Aegean Sea, the Regio Esercito could count on the entire 50a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Regina’ (English: 50th Infantry Division), which had two companies of Cannoni da 47/32 and garrisons on the various islands of the archipelago.
On 28th February 1941, the 13a Compagnia di Fanteria (English: 13th Infantry Company) and a section of Cannoni da 47/32 landed and captured the island of Kastellorizo, previously occupied by British forces during Operation Abstention.
On 28th May 1941, an Italian expeditionary corps, composed of two infantry battalions, a company of sailors, a company of 81 mm mortars, a company of light tanks, a battery of Cannoni da 65/17, and a company of Cannoni da 47/32, landed in Sitia, on the island of Crete, to support the German troops during Operation Merkur. The Italian action was practically useless, however, as the fighting on the island had already come to an end.
The 1a Compagnia Cannoni da 47/32 (English: 1st 47/32 Gun Company) could count on 1,500 rounds per gun. After landing, the Italian troops advanced towards Jerapetra, which was reached on May 31st, after a 60 km march.
On 8th September 1943, the day of the Armistice between the Allies and the Kingdom of Italy, the 50a Divisione di Fanteria “Regina” had the 1a Compagnia Cannoni da 47/32 (English: 1st 47/32 Gun Company), with 27 guns and 300 men, and the 2a Compagnia Cannoni da 47/32 rafforzata (English: 2nd 47/32 gun reinforced company), with 500 men. Both companies were stationed on the island of Rhodes to defend the city of the same name, while a small number of Cannoni da 47/32 were stationed in Psithos.
During the clashes between Germans and Italians near the city of Rhodes, a company of Cannoni da 47/32 tried to destroy a German battery of 8.8 cm FlaK.
On the island of Kos, garrisoned by the 10th Infantry Regiment, there were four platoons of Cannoni da 47/32.
On the island of Leros, there was a battery of Cannoni da 47/32 along Gurna Bay and a section at Mericcia. The battery was completely captured by German paratroopers on 12th October.
A Cannone da 47/32 of the 1a Compagnia Cannoni da 47/32 during the Italian action on the island of Crete.
Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
Occupation and Anti-Guerrilla Warfare in Yugoslavia (April 1941 – September 1943)
In April 1941, Wehrmacht units invaded Yugoslavia in the so-called Operation 25. Italian forces also participated in the invasion, with the 2a Armata (English: 2nd Army) deployed on the Yugoslav-Italian border and the XIV° Corpo d’Armata (English: 14th Army Corps) deployed in Albania.
In April, one of the most difficult areas for the Italians was the city of Zadar, which had been specially reinforced out of fear of Yugoslav attacks. The units deployed in the city took the name of Truppe di Zara (English: Zadar Troops) and, at the beginning of April, numbered 7,121 men, 95 artillery pieces, and one L3 light tank company. The fortress could rely on only five Cannoni da 47/32, which, together with other Italian artillery, participated in the bombardment of the Yugoslav border forces on 11th April.
During the occupation of the country, there was a very tough partisan guerrilla war that kept the entire 2a Armata busy. During anti-partisan actions or assigned to village and town garrisons, the Cannone da 47/32 was obviously present, although not much data is available until the Armistice of 8th September 1943. A whole Bersaglieri regiment was deployed in Zadar with a platoon of Cannoni da 47/32, while in the Susak area, the 800 strong Battaglione Garibaldi (English: Garibaldi Battalion) was created by the Italians, which began to collaborate with the partisans and included a company of Cannoni da 47/32 under the command of Sub-Lieutenant Botticelli.
A Cannone da 47/32 used during the Italian invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941
Source: Facebook via Cannone da 47/32 “Elefantino”
Eastern Front (July 1941 – January 1943)
On 10th July 1941, the Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia – C.S.I.R.- (English: Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia) was created. It was composed of two infantry divisions, the 9a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Pasubio’ (English: 9th Infantry Division) and the 52a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Torino’ (English: 52nd Infantry Division), and by the 3a Divisione Celere ‘Principe Amedeo Duca d’Aosta’ (English: 3rd Fast Division) in addition to the various Army Corps departments.
The infantry divisions were reinforced with two anti-tank companies of Cannoni da 47/32, while the Army Corps had an entire anti-tank battalion on its staff, the II° Battaglione Cannoni da 47/32 (English: 2nd 47/32 Battalion). The CSIR also had the 63a Legione CC.NN ‘Tagliamento’ (English: 63rd Blackshirts Legion), which included a company of Cannoni da 47/32.
A Cannone da 47/32 used by soldiers of the Battaglione Alpino ‘Monte Cervino’ (English: Alpine Battalion).
Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
A year later, the CSIR, having fought well, was reinforced and became the 8a Armata (English: 8th Army), also called ARMIR – ARMata Italiana in Russia (English: Italian Army in Russia) – which could count on 297 Cannoni da 47/32. The II° Corpo d’Armata (English: 2nd Army Corps), the unit that was hit by the Soviet attack during Operation Little Saturn in December 1942, had 16 Cannoni da 47/32 in the 5a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Cosseria’ (English: 5th Infantry Division), 16 in the 3a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Ravenna’ (English: 3rd Infantry Division), 6 in the 38° Reggimento di Fanteria ‘Ravenna’ (English: 38th Infantry Regiment), 16 in the Raggruppamento Camicie Nere ‘23 Marzo’ (English: ‘March 23rd’ Black Shirt Group), and 24 in the 32° Battaglione Anticarro di Corpo d’Armata (English: 32nd Anti-Tank Battalion).
A Cannone da 47/32 with its gun crew in the spring of 1942 in Russia.
Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
The Cannone da 47/32 equipped the anti-tank company of the Legione Croata (English: Croatian Legion), a small regiment made up of Croatian volunteers that fought on the Eastern Front, firstly alongside the 3a Divisione Celere ‘Principe Amedeo Duca d’Aosta’ and then as a reserve of the 8a Armata.
Soldiers of the Legione Croata reviewed by General Giovanni Messe, the CSIR commander. A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 covered by a waterproof tarpaulin sits prominently in the center.
Source: Wikipedia
Coastal defense in Italy (June 1940 – September 1943)
After 1941, the Cannone da 47/32 played an important role in the coastal and territorial defense of Italy. For the defense of airfields, with Circular of 31st July 1941 entitled Difesa degli aeroporti contro attacchi in massa di paracadutisti (English: Defense of Airfields against Mass Attacks by Paratroopers), motorized groups were created at the level of a regiment, including an anti-tank company of Cannoni da 47/32.
In 1942, the first circular for the anti-tank defense of the coast was issued, entitled Sistemazione Difensiva delle Frontiere Marittime. Organizzazione della Difesa Contro Carro (English: Defensive System of Maritime Frontiers. Organization of Defense against Tanks), which explained the use of Cannoni da 47/32 placed in coastal defense bunkers, against the light armored vehicles and light landing craft used by the Allies. The Italian commanders knew the limited effectiveness of these guns against Shermans, the main backbone of the British and American armored forces, and so, in 1943, with the circular Difesa delle Frontiere Marittime (English: Defense of Maritime Frontiers), provided for the use of large minefields to compensate for the lack of anti-tank guns. In reality, even this move proved ineffective due to the severe shortage of anti-tank mines.
Cannone da 47/32 used by an infantry unit of the Guardia alla Frontiera for the coastal defense of the Principality of Monaco in 1943.
Source: Instagram via forza_italiana
Sicily and Calabria Campaign (July – September 1943)
In order to defend Sicily against Allied invasion, in July 1943, the Regio Esercito deployed the 6a Armata (English: 6th Army) composed of five coastal divisions (202nd, 206th, 207th, 208th, and 213th), two coastal brigades (18th and 19th) and four Italian infantry divisions: 4a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Livorno’ (English: 4th Infantry Division), 26a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Assietta’ (English: 26th Infantry Division), 28a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Aosta’ (English: 28th Infantry Division), and 54a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Napoli’ (English: 54th Infantry Division), as well as numerous independent and army corps troops.
The Cannone da 47/32 was the main anti-tank weapon in the Italian bunkers and was the main gun of the various battalions and anti-tank companies deployed on the island, although now completely obsolete against Allied medium tanks.
A Cannone da 47/32 in a fortified position in Sicily.
Source: Facebook via Cannone da 47/32 “Elefantino”
On 10th July 1943, the Gruppo Mobile ‘E’ (English: Mobile Group), an Italian military unit created to support the defense of the airfields and to counterattack any landed enemy troops, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Conti, received orders to counterattack toward the city of Gela, occupied by U.S. troops.
The Gruppo Mobile ‘E’, 700 men strong, was composed of a company of Renault R.35 tanks, a company of infantry, a company of Bersaglieri, a section of 20 mm anti-aircraft guns, a battery of Obici da 75/18 (English: 75 mm L.18 Howitzers), and a company of Cannoni da 47/32. The 2a Compagnia Contro Carro da 47/32 (English: 2nd Anti-Tank Company 47/32), belonging to the CII Battaglione (English: 102nd Battalion), under the command of Captain Luigi Ferrari and was composed of 8 Cannoni da 47/32 (with 759 armor-piercing and 194 ordinary rounds), 5 trucks, 4 officers, and 112 enlisted men and non-commissioned officers.
Gruppo Mobile ‘E’
1a Compagnia of the CII Battaglioni Carri R.35 (English: 102nd Renault R.35 tank battalion)
2a Compagnia of the CII Battaglione controcarro da 47/32
4a Compagnia of the 501° Battaglione Costiero (English: 501st Coastal Battalion)
9a Batteria da 75/18 (English: 9th Battery 75 mm L.18 Cannon) of the III Gruppo/54° Reggimento Artiglieria ‘Napoli’ (English: 3rd Group of the 54th Artillery Regiment)
Section of the 326a batteria da 20 mm ‘Assietta’ (English: 326th 20 mm battery)
At 6 a.m., the Mobile Group began advancing toward Gela, and the anti-tank company took up position on Strada Statale 117 (English: State Highway 117) awaiting orders. Shortly after, they received orders to support the attack of the 155a Compagnia Bersaglieri (English: 155th Bersaglieri Company). Captain Ferrari ordered the 3rd and 4th Platoons to deploy about a kilometer from the outskirts of Gela, while the rest of the company waited on positions located on State Highway 117.
At 6:30 a.m., the two platoons moved toward the Bersaglieri unit, but mortar and machine gun fire hit the gun crews carrying the guns by hand, causing casualties among the ranks of the two platoons, each of which managed to move in to support the Bersaglieri attack.
At this time, the Renault tank company also attacked the town, penetrating and holding until 10 a.m. under fire from U.S. forces.
At 11 a.m., the two platoons of Cannoni da 47/32 had to withdraw to State Highway 117, where the rest of the company was still located, and then again to Poggio del Mulino, where they were assigned to the defense of the Ponte Olivo airfield, where they repulsed an attack by enemy patrols during the night of 10th-11th July.
Consideration of the Use of the Cannone da 47/32 In the Italian Armed Forces from 10th June 1940 to 8th September 1943
The Cannone da 47/32 was an excellent anti-tank weapon in the Italian armed forces, although it had to compete with well armored enemy vehicles, such as the British Matilda. The rest of the Allied armored vehicles could be stopped by this gun, but with the appearance of the first Allied medium tanks, the Sherman and Grant in Africa and the T-34 in the Soviet Union, it quickly became obsolete. Even with E. P. or E.P.S. ammunition, the gun could only penetrate the armor of these vehicles at close range, leaving the gun crews vulnerable to machine gun fire from the tanks.
Use in the Repubblica Sociale Italiana
The Repubblica Sociale Italiana was a puppet state of Nazi Germany created on 23rd September 1943, after the Armistice between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allies. The new state had its own armed forces and some of these used the Cannone da 47/32, such as the Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana (English: Republican National Guard), the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano (English: National Republican Army), the Brigate Nere (English: Black Brigades), and the Xa MAS (English: 10th Flotilla MAS), a Marina Nazionale Repubblicana (English: National Republican Navy) unit whose soldiers were widely used in infantry operations.
Most of the units of the RSI were used for anti-partisan operations. In most cases, the Cannone da 47/32 was used as an infantry support cannon rather than as an anti-tank gun.
Cannoni da 47/32 in some RSI units
Name of the unit
Number of the Cannoni da 47/32
Gruppo Squadroni Corazzato ‘San Giorgio’
2
Raggruppamento Anti Partigiani
2
l° Battaglione Bersaglieri Volontari ‘Mussolini’
1
Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’
5
The Cannone da 47/32 was also used by other Bersaglieri units, the I° Battaglione Bersaglieri Volontari Difesa Costiera (English: 1st Battalion Bersaglieri Volunteers Coastal Defence), which defended Genoa and had some Cannoni da 47/32 in fixed fortifications, each company of the II° Battaglione Bersaglieri Volontari Difesa Costiera (English: 2nd Battalion Bersaglieri Volunteers Coastal Defence) had one piece, while the V° Battaglione Bersaglieri Volontari Difesa Costiera (English: 5th Battalion Bersaglieri Volunteers Coastal Defence) had some to replace the weak Cannoni da 25/72 – (captured Canon de 25 mm semi-automatique modèle 1934 or 1937).
Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939 of the 3a Divisione di Fanteria di Marina ‘San Marco’ (English: 3rd Marine Infantry Division) used for coastal defense on the Ligurian Riviera in 1944.
Source: Facebook via Cannone da 47/32 “Elefantino”
The Cannone da 47/32 was also used by the Reggimento Alpini ‘Tagliamento’ (English: Alpine Regiment), the Raggruppamento ‘Cacciatori degli Appennini’, and the 1a Brigata Nera ‘Ather Capelli’ (English: 1st Black Brigade).
A Cannone da 47/32 used by the 3° Battaglione Bersaglieri ‘Natisone’ (English: 3rd Bersaglieri Battalion) of the Reggimento Alpini ‘Tagliamento’ at the Canale d’Isonzo in 1944.
Source: Facebook via Cannone da 47/32 “Elefantino”
Use in the Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano (English: Italian Co-Belligerent Army)
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943, part of the Regio Esercito decided to remain loyal to King Victor Emmanuel III and started to collaborate with the Allied forces for the liberation of Italy, fighting against the German and RSI forces. Thus, the Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano (Italian Co-belligerent Army) was born.
The first unit to be created after the Armistice was the 1° Raggruppamento Motorizzato (English: 1st Motorized Grouping), which contained the V° Battaglione Controcarro (English: 5th Anti-Tank Battalion), with two companies armed with Cannoni da 47/32.
A Cannone da 47/32 of the V° Battaglione Controcarro.
Source: Dal Volturno a Cassino
In 1944, the Raggruppamento was transformed into the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione (English: Italian Liberation Corps), which was equipped by the Allies with Cannoni da 57/50 – (Ordnance QF 6 lb) – but the Cannone da 47/32 remained operational, equipping the Battaglione Bersaglieri ‘Grado’ (English: ‘Grado’ Bersaglieri Battalion) and the Battaglione di Marina ‘Bafile’ (English: ‘Bafile’ Marine Infantry Battalion).
In July 1944, the Gruppi di Combattimento (English: Combat Groups) were created. These were units of around 10,000 men consisting of two infantry regiments and one artillery regiment, fully equipped by the British Army with Cannoni da 57/50, Cannoni da 76/55 (Ordnance QF 17-pdr), and Obici da 88/27 (Ordnance QF 25 pdr Mk2). This saw the disappearance of the Cannone da 47/32 from the ranks of the Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano.
Soldiers of the 7° Reggimento Artiglieria (English: 7th Artillery Regiment) of the Gruppo da Combattimento ‘Cremona’ (English: ‘Cremona’ Combat Group) using a Cannone da 76/55.
Source: fondazionecvl.it
Use by Italian Partisans
The Italian partisans, who operated in the areas of the Italian Social Republic from September 1943 to May 1945, often used weapons captured from the fascist forces and the Germans.
On 24th August 1944, 200 soldiers of the Scuola Sottufficiali di Novi Ligure (English: Novi Ligure Non-Commissioned Officers’ School) of the Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana attacked the partisan forces of the Brigata Volante Balilla (English: Balilla Flying Brigade) near the village of Pertuso, in Piemonte.
The fascist soldiers were supported by fire from some Cannoni da 47/32, but were repelled by partisan forces, who also captured one of the cannons and re-used it in later clashes against Axis forces.
Another Cannone da 47/32 was reused by the partisans of Barcis, in Friuli Venezia Giulia. On 8th (other sources say 10th) August 1944, after attacking a German tank – probably an Italian M tank – they removed its cannon, together with 78 47 mm rounds, and mounted it on a makeshift carriage on a Fiat 508 ‘Balilla’ car. The fate of the vehicle is unknown. During an anti-partisan action in April and May 1944 in Val di Lanzo, Piedmont, the 1a Compagnia of the Gruppo Corazzato ‘Leonessa’ (English: Tank Group), along with the 3rd Company of SS-Polizei-Regiment 14. (English: 14th SS Polizei Regiment), captured considerable booty from the defeated partisan forces, including a Cannone da 47/32.
A Cannone da 47/32 taken from a fortification of the Vallo Alpino del Littorio on the French border was repaired by a partisan from Val Varaita, Piedmont, in January 1944. It was reused against the Germans although, due to the few rounds available, it was not very successful.
Five Cannoni da 47/32 were captured and reused by the partisans of Pontegrosso, near Parma. The partisans destroyed a German truck with one of the cannons and then supported the attack of other partisans against a German machine gun post.
Partisans in the Dermonte and Gaiola areas, in the province of Cuneo, created an armed train consisting of a locomotive and a wagon that was armed with a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939 and a 57 mm Gun M1.
There were probably other examples of the use of Cannoni da 47/32 by the Italian partisans, but the sources are not very numerous and the information has probably been lost.
A Carro Armato M14/41, armed with a Cannone da 47/32, captured and used by partisans in Turin during the liberation of the city
Source: Partisans tanks
Other Users
China
China purchased 100 Cannoni da 47/32 Modello 1935 after the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, but probably only a dozen were delivered.
Unfortunately, there is little information about their use or effectiveness in China.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 used by Chinese forces.
Source: forum.axishistory.com
Finland
During the Winter War of 1939, Finland acquired 12 Cannoni da 47/32 Modello 1939, called 47 PstK/39 by the Finns.
The Cannoni da 47/32 reached their destination after the end of the war, but in 1941, they were tested by the Panssaripataljoona (English: Tank Battalion), that did not like the gun very much. They considered it too complicated for Finnish use and disliked its low penetration. The test ended with the idea of using it as a bunker gun in a simplified form.
During the Continuation War, they were quickly removed from the frontline and used as coastal artillery along Lake Ladoga, before being handed over to the Finnish Navy in 1942, where they remained in storage until the end of World War II, before being sold off in the 1960s.
A 47 PstK/39 used for coastal defense on the Taipale Peninsula in February 1942.
Source: jaegerplatoon.net
Romania
Romania acquired 275 Cannoni da 47/32 in 1941. The Romanians used these guns as infantry support guns, together with 545 other Bohler guns.
As an anti-tank weapon, they used the 47 mm Schneider Mle 1936 (English: 47 mm Schneider Model 1936) built under license in Romania.
A Cannone da 47/32 used by Romanians on the Sea of Azov front on 26th April 1942.
Source: forum.axishistory.com
Yugoslavia
In April 1941, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia possessed 48 M40 47 mm cannons, which were the local designation for the Cannoni da 47/32. During the war of liberation, the Allies sent Tito’s partisans 180 Cannoni da 47/32 with 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 used by the Yugoslav Royal Army preserved at the Belgrade Military Museum.
Source: Wikipedia
British Empire and Commonwealth
Commonwealth forces captured a large number of Cannoni da 47/32 during Operation Compass, the Allied counter-offensive in Egypt and Libya against the Italians that led to the occupation of Cyrenaica by February 1941.
The Cannone da 47/32 was then widely used by Commonwealth forces, both mounted on vehicles and as an anti-tank gun.
A document dated 17th February 1942 from the British XIIIth Corps listed the Italian and German guns in use by the unit. These included 47 Cannoni da 47/32, of which 12 were with the French forces, 8 with the New Zealand Brigade, 6 with the 38th Brigade, 6 with an armored division, and 17 with the 4th Indian Division.
A captured Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 reused by Australian soldiers in North Africa.
Source: awm.gov.au
Some Cannoni da 47/32 were sent to Malaya with the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment of the 22nd Australian Brigade and also to the 27th Australian Brigade that fought against Japanese forces.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 used by Australian forces in Malaya in 1942.
Source: 1942malaya.blogspot
Free France
Some Cannoni da 47/32 were captured from Italian troops and used by France Libre (English: Free French) units in North Africa.
Germany
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943, German forces captured many Cannoni da 47/32, renamed 4,7 cm PaK 177 (i), and continued their production. Between October 1943 and October 1944, this amounted to 101 units.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 with Alzo Ottico Modello 1942 used by a Feldwebel (English: Staff Sergeant) on the Italian front.
Source: forum.axishistory.com
The Cannone da 47/32 was used by the 29. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (English: 29th SS Division) formed from Italian soldiers, which had 29 pieces on 9th April 1945.
The Division came into existence in January 1945 and was preceded first by a brigade, the Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS (italienische Nr. 1) (English: 1st Italian SS Brigade) also armed with some Cannoni da 47/32. Italian SS units were only used for anti-partisan fighting and saw little fighting against the Allies at Anzio in 1944.
A Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939 of the Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS (italienische Nr. 1) during an anti-partisan operation.
Source: Sentire, Pensare, Volere. Storia della Legione SS Italiana
The Cannone da 47/32 was also used by the Polizeiregiment ‘Bozen’ (English: Police Regiment) formed by South Tyrolean soldiers. It operated in Italy and Yugoslavia with anti-partisan duties.
A Cannone da 47/32 used by Polizeiregiment ‘Bozen’ during an anti-partisan operation
in Italy.
Source: Facebook via Cannone da 47/32 “Elefantino”
Croatia
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943, some Cannoni da 47/32 captured by the Germans were handed over to the armed forces of the Nezavisna Država Hrvatska (English: Independent State of Croatia), a puppet state of Germany.
Egypt
After the Second World War, some Cannoni da 47/32 were recovered from old British stores and some were even donated directly by the British Army. Some of them took part in the 1948 Palestine War. One Cannone da 47/32 was used in the Beit Shemesh area of Israel to fire at the Israeli police of Artuv, hitting Israeli supply vehicles trying to supply the small settlement.
Israel
An Israeli Army diary entry from 12th November 1948 mentions a captured 47 mm gun, probably a Cannone da 47/32 captured from the Egyptians.
The same diary, in an entry dated 20th December, reports the arrival of 12 47 mm cannons from Europe. The model is not specified, but they were probably Canons de 47 mm semi-automatique mle 1937 (English: 47 mm semi-automatic cannon model 1937) purchased from France on 26th June 26 1948.
However, there are photographs showing Israeli units using a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 and Modello 1939 captured from the Egyptians.
Israeli soldiers pose behind a Cannone da 47/32 captured from the Egyptians.
Source: Facebook via Cannone da 47/32 “Elefantino”
Use on Vehicles
Tanks
M tank series
The Cannone da 47/32 per Carro M13 was the main armament of the Carro Armato M13/40 and Carro Armato M14/41. Each tank had a capacity of 87 47 mm shells, which from mid-1942 were supplemented with E.P. ammunition, which gave unsatisfactory results. Until 1942, the Cannone da 47/32 was still effective, but with the appearance of the new Allied tanks armed with 57 and 75 mm cannons, they were rendered obsolete by the greater range and penetrating power of the new enemy guns.
In order to have any chance of penetrating the Allied tanks, the Italian tanks had to get too close to the enemy vehicles, and this caused the Italian armored units to suffer very high losses.
A new tank was also introduced in 1942, the Carro Armato M15/42, which was armed with the Cannone da 47/40. Although it was a more powerful weapon than the gun on earlier tanks, it was still obsolete for the time, when other belligerent states were already using much more powerful guns.
The inside of the turret of a Carro Armato M13/40. The breech of the Cannone da 47/32 is visible. In addition, the hand wheel for elevating the cannon, the optics for aiming, and the Breda Modello 1938 coaxial machine gun can be seen.
Source: modellismopiù.it Close-up of a Cannone da 47/32 of a Carro Armato M13/40. Above the turret, besides a tankman, the Breda Modello 1938 machine gun used for anti-aircraft defense.
Source: Istituto Luce
An example of the performance of the Cannone da 47/32 is represented by a photo taken after the Second Battle of El Alamein, which shows a destroyed Churchill tank surrounded by 4 or 5 destroyed Carri Armati M13/40 or M14/41. It is clear from the photo that the Italian tank drivers, in order to try to penetrate the new enemy tanks, had to narrow the distance, coming within a few tens of meters of the enemy vehicles and becoming easy prey to enemy fire. The report of the Kingforce, the company of six Churchill tanks, shows that Major King’s tank was hit eight times without being penetrated. Lieutenant Appleby’s tank, which is the destroyed tank featured in the photo, was hit as many as 50 times and only 3 shots penetrated the armor and killed the four crew members.
Of the other four Churchills, one was hit 30 times, suffering only a broken track, and two others suffered turret damage. The Carri Armati M13/40, together with the Italian artillery, unloaded as many as 100 rounds against the six enemy tanks, managing to damage 2/3 of them at the cost of 5 destroyed M13/40s.
Photo showing Lieutenant Appleby’s Churchill tank, destroyed by Cannoni da 47/32 fire. Around the hull of the Churchill are 4 of the 5 Carri Armati M13/40 destroyed in the fighting. It is particularly impressive how much the Italian tanks had to close ranks to stand a chance against the British ones.
Source: ilcovo.mastertopforum.net
Carro M Celere Sahariano (English: Saharan M Fast tank)
In early 1941, the capture of several British Cruiser tanks led the commands of the Regio Esercito to call for the development of a tank for use in the desert, with a lower profile and faster than the Carro Armato M14/41.
In June 1941, Ansaldo proposed a 1:10 scale mock-up armed with Cannone da 47/40 and named Ansaldo Fossati Carro Medio Celere 1942 (English: Ansaldo-Fossati Medium Fast Tank Model 1942). At the same time, the Centro Studi della Motorizzazione was developing a Carro Armato Veloce (English: Fast Tank) and the two projects were merged together. On 13th August 1941, the construction of a prototype was authorized.
The prototype was completed in spring 1942 and photographs indicate that it was armed with the Cannone da 47/40, but the project was abandoned in July 1942 in favor of the construction of the Carro Armato M15/42.
Carro M Celere Sahariano at Ansaldo of Genoa.
Source: Wikipedia
Semoventi
Semovente L40 da 47/32
The Cannone da 47/32 was the main armament of the Semovente L40, the most produced self-propelled artillery piece made by the Kingdom of Italy during the war.
The vehicle entered service in 1942, when it was already obsolete, and was intended to equip the anti-tank units of the Bersaglieri regiments, the reconnaissance units of the infantry divisions, army corps, and armored divisions, and to support armored car units.
After the Armistice of 8th September 1943, the Semovente L40 da 47/32 was used by some units of the RSI, German forces and the Croatian collaborationist forces.
Semovente L40 da 47/32 in 1943
Source: world war photos
Semovente da 47/32 su Scafo AB41
In 1942, due to the insufficient armament of the AB40, 41, and 42 armored cars, the Ispettorato Truppe Motorizzate e Corazzate (English: Motorized and Armored Troops Inspectorate) commissioned Ansaldo to study an armored car armed with a cannon. Ansaldo designed an armored vehicle based on the AB42 hull.
The vehicle was armed with a Cannone da 47/32 mounted on a pedestal carriage, protected by a large shield and with an ammunition reserve of 100 47 mm rounds. No secondary armament was present.
The prototype was presented in December 1942, but it was not adopted due to the excessive height of the silhouette.
Semovente da 47/32 su Scafo AB41, a prototype meant to improve the armament of Italian AB series armored cars.
Source: Gli autoveicoli da combattimento
Armored cars
Autoblindo AB43 ‘Cannone’
This version of the armored car was presented to the Centro Studi della Motorizzazione (English: Center for Motor Vehicle Studies) in May 1943. It was armed with a Cannone da 47/40 in turret with a coaxial Breda Modello 38 machine gun.
It was officially adopted in the Regio Esercito in August 1943, one month before the Armistice between the Kingdom of Italy and the Allied forces.
Only one prototype was produced.
Autoblindo AB43 ‘Cannone’ during a training test in the summer of 1943.
Source: Pignato – D’Inzeo
Marmon-Herrington
In 1938, the South African government initiated the development of two armored car models, but as the country’s industry was rather poor, the parts needed to assemble the vehicles came from the United States and Great Britain.
The first models, Mk I, entered service in May 1940 and were armed with .303 Vickers machine guns.
The Mk I and II models were distributed to South African and British units in the Middle East, the latter being armed with a Bren machine gun and a Boys anti-tank gun.
The production of this agile vehicle continued until 1944, culminating in the Mk VIII model. During operations in North Africa, it was common for this type of vehicle to be armed with cannons captured from Axis troops, such as the 2 cm Flak 38, 3.7 cm Pak 36, and Cannoni-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935. Among the artillery pieces mounted on the Marmon-Herrington armored cars were some Cannoni da 47/32
Marmon-Herrington armored car armed with a Cannone da 47/32 used on the North African front.
Source: Wikipedia
The FIAT-SPA Autoprotetto S.37 was officially adopted on 4th February 1942 and consisted of a FIAT-SPA Trattore Leggero 37 Libia (English: FIAT-SPA Light Tractor 37 Libya) with armor added. It was meant to allow the transport of eight armed and equipped men without the risk of enemy small arms fire.
The vehicle was also designed as an armored car, armed with a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935. A FIAT-SPA Autoprotetto S.37 captured by the Germans after the Armistice was armed with a Cannone da 47/32, but no further information is available on this variant.
The Autoprotetto S.37 armed with Cannone da 47/32 used by German forces.
Source: wargaming3d.com
Camionette
Camionetta Desertica AS37
In early 1943, a new vehicle was developed, the Autocarro Sahariano AS37 (English: Saharan truck AS37).
The armament consisted of the Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935 (English: 20 mm Breda L.65 Model 1935 cannon) on the cargo bay and a Breda Modello 1937 machine gun in the driver’s position.
As an alternative to the Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935, a Cannone da 47/32 could be mounted.
A 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
Camionetta Desertica AS42 ‘Sahariana’
On 1st December 1942, the Camionetta Desertica AS42 ‘Sahariana’ (English: SPA-Viberti AS42 Patrol Car) was officially adopted, also known as the Camionetta SPA-Viberti Modello 1942. The main armament consisted of a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935 with 1,200 rounds, a Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939 with 350 rounds, or a Solothurn anti-tank rifle.
Both versions had one to three Breda Modello 1937 machine guns as secondary armament. A second vehicle model was introduced in 1943 and was called Camionetta SPA-Viberti ‘Sahariana II’ or ‘Metropolitana’ (English: Metropolitan), which was more suitable for use in non-desert areas.
Some vehicles armed with Cannoni da 47/32 operated in North Africa with the Reparto Formazione Camionette (English: Truck Training Unit) and in Tunisia and Sicily with the X° Reggimento Arditi (English: 10th Arditi Regiment), in a special unit called Arditi Camionettisti (English: Arditi Truckers). In Italy, on 14th August 1943, two Camionette Metropolitane armed with Cannoni da 47/32 were assigned to Comando Gruppo Formazione ‘A’ (English: Formation Group ‘A’ Command), a special unit formed to operate behind enemy lines in North Africa and the Middle East. Due to the Axis defeat in Africa, it was assigned to Monterotondo, near Rome. This unit fought against the Germans on 9th September 1943 after the Armistice.
Two Camionette Desertiche SPA-Viberti ‘Sahariane’ in North Africa. The one on the left is armed with a Cannone da 47/32 while the other has a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935.
Source: Enrico Finazzer
Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43
In summer 1942, a new model of camionetta was tested, derived from the Autocarro Sahariano AS.37, which did not enter service until January 1943, by which time the Italian colony in Libya had been conquered by the Allies.
The vehicle had a universal support for the Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935 or Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1939 mounted on the cargo bay. The Camionette SPA-Viberti AS43 were distributed to 4° and 33° Reggimento Fanteria Carrista (English: 4th and 33rd Tank Regiment) in August 1943. Some were captured by the Germans after the Armistice, who mounted the 2 cm Flak 30 guns while, in the post-war period, they were used by the Italian police.
A Cannone da 47/32 mounted on the cargo bay of the Camionetta SPA-Viberti AS43.
Source: Italian Truck-Mounted Artillery
Autocannoni
Autocannone da 47/32 su SPA 38R
The lack of armored cars led the command of the Regio Esercito in Libya to ask the Direzione Artiglierie di Bengasi (English: Benghazi Artillery Directorate) to develop a turntable on which to mount a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935. This was destined for the Lancia 3RO truck. Another platform was created for Cannone da 47/32, which was mounted on 12 SPA 38R trucks. By 26th October 1940, 150 platforms for Cannone da 47/32 had been produced.
Autocannone da 47/32 su Lancia 3RO
Similarly to the Autocannone da 47/32 su SPA 38R, some Lancia 3RO were equipped with Cannone da 47/32 on the cargo bay.
This type of autocannon was widely used by Italian units deployed in North Africa. In particular, it was used by the IV° Battaglione Controcarro Autocarrato ‘Granatieri di Sardegna’ (English: 4th Anti-Tank Truck Battalion) assigned to the 132a Divisione Corazzata ‘Ariete’ (English: 132nd Armored Division). After the Second Battle of El Alamein, the remains of the Battalion were first assigned to the 66° Reggimento di Fanteria ‘Trieste’ (English: 66th Infantry Regiment) which fought in Tunisia alongside the 136a Divisione Corazzata ‘Giovani Fascisti’ (English: 136th Armored Division) and the remains of the Folgore Division.
A Lancia 3RO armed with Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935 used by 4a Divisione CC.NN ‘3 Gennaio’ in North Africa in September 1940.
Source: Archivio Centrale dello Stato
Trains
Littorine Blindate (English: Armored Railcar)
The Littorine were railcars used on Italian and colonial railways from the 1930s. In 1942, the Ispettorato dell’Arma di Fanteria (English: Infantry Inspectorate) decided to create an armored and armed version to patrol rail lines in areas with a high presence of partisan forces.
The Littorina was armed with two turrets of M series tanks, each armed with a Cannone da 47/32 and a Breda Modello 1938 machine gun, as well as four other Breda Modello 1938, two 45 mm Brixia mortars, and two flamethrowers.
The Littorine were used in Yugoslavia, especially in Slovenia, against partisans, and after the Armistice, eight were used by the Germans.
A Littorina Blindata with its crew during operations in Yugoslavia.
Source: historicalab.it
Treni Blindati (English: Armored Trains)
The first reference to an armed train with Cannoni da 47/32 was in a document of the Stato Maggiore del Regio Esercito (English: Royal Italian Army General Staff) of the 6a Armata (English: 6th Army) in Sicily, dated 24th September 1941, which dealt with the creation of armed trains for coastal defense, to be armed with two machine guns and a Cannone da 47/32. The circular announced the formation of four trains, but this did not happen because the situation was changed with the circular of 16th February 1942, in which the constitution of the Treni Blindati Leggeri per Difesa Costiera (English: Light Armored Trains for Coastal Defense) was approved, equipped with a Gr.905 locotender capable of reaching 70 km/h.
The vehicle, abbreviated T.B., was designed to fire on enemy landing craft and newly landed troops. Ten were produced and operated in Sicily and the Balkans.
A Cannone da 47/32 on a Treni Blindati Leggeri per Difesa Costiera (abbreviated T.B.). This type of armed train was used for the coastal defense of Italy.
Source: Gli autoveicoli da combattimento
Conclusion
The Cannone da 47/32 was a good anti-tank gun when it was introduced in 1935 and remained so until about 1941, when the arrival of the new Allied medium tanks on the battlefield made it obsolete, although it still had some potential for penetration at close range.
The Regio Esercito tried to update the gun with the 47/40 and 47/48 versions, although, by 1937, there was an excellent anti-tank gun, the Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937 (English: 75 mm L.32 Long Range Cannon Model 1937), which, however, was built in too small number. The Cannone da 75/43 Modello 1940 was adopted in 1943 but, by then, it was too late because the Kingdom of Italy, devastated by war, signed the capitulation with the Allied forces on 8th September 1943.
The Cannone da 47/32 also continued its service with units of the Italian Social Republic, with those of the Italian Cobelligerent Army, with the Wehrmacht (along with some puppets of Nazi Germany), and ended its operational service during the 1948 Palestine War, used by both sides. In Italy, however, it remained the symbol of the anti-tank forces and is still very much present in barracks and monuments throughout the Italian peninsula.
The Elefantino was distributed in small numbers at the beginning of the war, but during the war, the number of Cannoni da 47/32 increased. In the 1942 model infantry division, 36 guns were meant to be present. An additional problem was the lack of ammunition, especially armor-piercing ammunition, which was a major obstacle for the Italian artillerymen during Operation Compass.
Video
Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935, in battery. Illustration by Rolan RebosoCannone da 47/32 Modello 1935, with iron wheels. Illustration by Rolan RebosoCannone da 47/32 Modello 1935, with elektron wheels. Illustration by Rolan Reboso
Enrico Finazzer Guida alle artiglierie italiane nella 2a Guerra Mondiale – Regio Esercito Italiano, Repubblica Sociale Italiana e Esercito Cobelligerante Genova 2020
Mario Montanari Le operazioni in Africa Settentrionale Volume I Sidi el Barrani Roma 1990
Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937. Illustration by Shreyas Das.
Kingdom of Italy (1941-1945)
Field Gun/Anti-Tank Gun – 172 Built
The Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937 (English: 75 mm L/32 Long-Range Cannon Model 1937), better known as Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937, was an Italian field gun developed before the Second World War to equip the Italian Regio Esercito’s (English: Royal Army) infantry divisions with a high velocity and long-range field gun.
It was conceived in 1937 by reusing the carriage of the Obice da 75/18 Modello 1935 (English: 75 mm L/18 Howitzer Model 1935) and installing a new longer barrel. Although it originated as a field gun, it turned out to also be an adequate anti-tank gun. The delay in its production, which did not begin until 1941, did not allow wide use of this gun.
Front view of the Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937. Source: comandosupremo.com
Before the Cannone da 75/32
In 1934, the Regio Esercito adopted the Obice da 75/18 Modello 1934 (English: 75 mm L/18 Howitzer Model 1934), which was supposed to replace the outdated Obici Škoda da 75/13 Modello 1915 (English: 75 mm L/13 Škoda Howitzer Model 1915) used by mountain artillery units, and the Cannoni da 75/27 Modello 1906 and Modello 1911 (English: 75 mm L/27 Cannon Model 1906 and Model 1911) used by artillery units of the Italian infantry divisions.
The Obice da 75/18 Modello 1934 during a test. Source: picclick.it
The Obice da 75/18 Modello 1934 had a range of 9,000 m and had a gun shield to protect its crew. In 1935, a new version was introduced, the Obice da 75/18 Modello 1935 (English: 75 mm L/18 Howitzer Model 1935). The Modello 1935 had a new gun shield and wheels with bigger diameter to ease towing by mechanized vehicles.
An early production Obice da 75/18 Modello 1935 with its characteristic two chambers disc muzzle brake that was abandoned after the first guns produced. Source: Archivio dell’Ufficio Storico dello Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito
Due to low production numbers, the Obice da 75/18 never really replaced its predecessors. It was not even adopted as a mountain artillery piece, the purpose for which it was created. In fact, it was mainly deployed as a field howitzer and occasionally even as an anti-tank gun with minor success against light armored vehicles.
One of the new howitzer’s problems was the purpose for which it was created. The Regio Esercito favored a light, easily transportable gun at the cost of a small caliber for divisional artillery and a limited range. The Regio Esercito used the Obice da 75/18 as a short-range support gun, deploying heavier and larger caliber howitzers for indirect and counter-battery fire.
A few years later, the Servizio Tecnico Armi e Munizioni (English: Weapons and Munitions Technical Service) requested a new gun for divisional artillery. The main specification was an increase over the Obice da 75/18’s firing range, which only reached a maximum of 9,000 m. This was significantly inferior to the ranges of its counterparts, such as the German 10.5 cm leFH 18 (10,600 m) or British Ordnance QF 25 lb (12,200 m).
The Regio Esercito also wanted to standardize divisional artillery production as much as possible, so the new gun was mounted on the same carriage as the Obice da 75/18 Modello 1935.
During a meeting of the Comitato Superiore Tecnico per le Armi e Munizioni (English: Superior Technical Committee for Weapons and Munitions), the importance of the use of the Cannoni da 75/32 for long-range anti-tank firing was emphasized, which was useful for hitting vehicles outside the range of the Cannoni da 47/32 Modello 1935 (English: 47 mm L/32 Cannon Model 1935), the main anti-tank gun of the Regio Esercito.
History and Development
In 1937, the Comitato Superiore Tecnico per le Armi e Munizioni (English: Superior Technical Committee for Weapons and Munitions) had approved the creation of the Cannone da 75/32 to enable use against tanks and to increase the range of the field cannon.
The first prototype was built by the Arsenale Regio Esercito di Napoli or AREN (English: Royal Army Arsenal of Naples), one of the biggest artillery producing plants in Italy. It was unveiled by Ansaldo in 1937.
The Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937 prototype during testing. Note the characteristic two chamber disc muzzle brake. Source: Wikipedia.org
After some tests of an experimental battery of 5 Cannoni da 75/32, the gun barrel was shortened to 32 calibers (2,400 mm) and equipped with a “pepper pot” muzzle brake which was also used by the Obici da 75/18 mounted on Semoventi.
The original 34 caliber-long barrel version was modified and then used to equip the Carro Armato P26/40 heavy tank and some Italian semoventi.
Drawing of a Cannone a Grande Gittata Modello 1937 production version. Source: Storia Militare N.188
In 1938, 192 Cannoni da 75/32 were ordered from Ansaldo, but production was not given high priority and it was not until 1941 that the first pieces were delivered.
Although little consideration was given to the Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937, some members of the Regio Esercito’s High Command understood the capable anti-tank characteristics of this piece. One of these was Ispettore Superiore dei Servizi Tecnici (English: Superior Inspector of Technical Services) General Mario Caracciolo di Feroleto, who in November 1940 made a proposal to the Stato Maggiore del Regio Esercito (English: General Staff of the Royal Army) to adopt the Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 piece on a large scale. The proposal was rejected by the Regio Esercito, which on 9th December 1940 denied the permission to increase production of the cannon in roundup No. 39853. This was justified by stating that crews needed too much time to put the gun in position, aim accurately, and fire against moving targets, such as armored vehicles.
Close-up of a Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937. The cannon is not of the standard model because it has a different shield.
Source: Storia Militare: l’Esercito Italiano nel 1943
In 1943, modifications were planned for the Cannoni da 75/32 ordered in the second batch from OTO and Ansaldo Pozzuoli. The new Cannoni da 75/32 would have improved performance against armored vehicles by adopting an automatic breech, providing a thicker shield, and adding an elevation and firing lever to the left of the breech but in the end, none of them were built with these modifications.
A Cannone da 75/32 with a “pepper pot” muzzle brake. A Pavesi P4/100 artillery tractor can be seen behind it.
Source: vojsko.net
Production
The Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 began to be produced in 1941 by Ansaldo in its plant in Pozzuoli with a price of 470.300 lire for each gun, and the first examples left the factories at the end of this year.
Production proceeded very slowly. By September 1942, there were only 49 pieces available, while by summer 1943, there were 172.
In 1943 a second order was placed by the Italian Army for a total of 483 guns: 303 to Ansaldo Pozzuoli (170 guns ordered by Regio Esercito + 133 guns previously ordered by Portugal and taken over by the Army) 180 to OTO.
A document from the Direzione Generale Artiglieria – Reparto Produzione (English: General Artillery Directorate – Production Department) dated June 1943 stated that Ansaldo Pozzuoli could produce 60 Cannoni da 75/32 per month
No guns of this order were completed due the armistice.
Production of the Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937
Number
Year
1941
30
1942
44
1943*
98
Total
172
Notes
* Until 8th September 1943
A Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 fresh out of the factory. It seems to have a barrel cover.
Source: Storia dell’Artiglieria
Design
One of the goals of the Regio Esercito was to standardize the production of field artillery, so the Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 gun was created by mounting a 32 caliber barrel on the Obice da 75/18 Modello 1935 carriage. The muzzle brake was intended to increase the accuracy and range and absorb some of the recoil which decreased as the elevation of the cannon increased.
The carriage was 2-tailed and could be spread apart and folded into 2 parts, which allowed for adaptability to various terrain elevations and allowed a 50° traverse and an elevation of -10° to +45°. The cannon was also equipped with a 4,2 mm shield.
The breech block is exclusively manual.
The spoked wheels were initially made of Elektron, a Magnesium and Aluminium alloy. During production, steel sheet was used instead.
The wheels of the Cannone da 75/32. On the left, the wheels are spoked and made of Elektron, a magnesium and aluminum alloy while on the right, the wheels are made of steel sheet.
Source: Storia Militare N.188
The suspension was elastic and formed by torsion bar axles, the same as those of the Obice da 75/18 Modello 1934 and 1935.
The mount has two wheel tracks available: wide (for fire and mechanical towing) and narrow (for mountain towing).
The cannon weighed 1,160 kg. It was designed to be towed by light prime movers like the FIAT-SPA TL37, although animal transport by horse was also possible. Officially, a towing speed of 45 to 60 km/h was estimated, but in regular use, the speeds were probably much lower.
A Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 towed by a FIAT-SPA TL37. Source: Wikipedia.orgA Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 firing. Note the gun crew holding ammunition.
Source: ww2incolor.com A Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 towed by a FIAT-SPA TL37.
Source: Storia dell’Artiglieria
Other versions
In 1943, two different versions of the gun were studied. The first was an aviation version of the Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937, while the second was to be installed inside the fortifications of the Vallo Alpino del Littorio (English: Littorio Alpine Wall), the complex of bunkers and other defensive positions that defended Italy’s Alpine borders with Austria, France, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia.
Unfortunately, nothing is known about the fate of these projects, but they were most likely abandoned because of the Armistice of 8th September 1943.
There are some photos of a Cannone da 75/32 at Ansaldo in Genoa Cornigliano in 1942 that appears to be undergoing testing for installation on an aircraft. The cannon was placed inside a structure that simulated the nose of an aircraft, possibly to test the resistance of the nose to the muzzle flash during firing.
Cannone da 75/32 inserted inside a probable mock-up of an aircraft nose; perhaps the piece was intended to be used as an anti-tank cannon mounted on an aircraft.
Source: 2020.fondazioneansaldo.it
Crew
The Cannone da 75/32 had a crew of four men, including the aimer who sits on the left and has control over horizontal aiming while the shooter sits on the right and has control over the firing lever and elevation adjustment. The other two crew members were responsible for supplying ammunition to the cannon.
Ammunition
The Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 used a variety of semi-fixed ammunition types.
Ammunition for the Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937
Name
Type
Muzzle velocity (m/s) with first charge
Muzzle velocity (m/s) with second charge
Weight (kg)
Penetration in mm of a RHA angled at 90° at
Penetration in mm of a RHA angled at 60° at
500 m
1,000 m
500 m
1,000 m
Granata Dirompente da 75/32
High-Explosive
//
570 (estimated)
6.35
//
//
//
//
Granata Dirompente da 75/32 a d.e.
High-Explosive
360
570
6.30
//
//
//
//
Granata Dirompente da 75/27 Modello 1932
High-Explosive
350
490
6.35
//
//
//
//
Granata Perforante da 75/32
Armor Piercing
//
630
6.10
70
60
55
47
Granata da 75 Effetto Pronto (early type)
High-Explosive Anti Tank
//
580
4.50
55**
55**
50**
50**
Granata da 75 Effetto Pronto (late type)
High-Explosive Anti Tank
//
557***
5.20
*
*
*
*
Granata da 75 Effetto Pronto Speciale (early type)
High-Explosive Anti Tank
//
*
5.20
*
*
*
*
Granata da 75 Effetto Pronto Speciale Modello 1942
High-Explosive Anti Tank
//
399****
5.30
*
*
70
70
Notes
* Data not present
** British estimation
*** Muzzle velocity of the projectile fired from the L/34 gun
**** Muzzle velocity of the projectile fired from the L/27 gun
Granata Dirompente da 75/32. Source: Kennblätter fremden Geräts D 50/8 bGranata Dirompente a.d.e. da 75/32. Source: Kennblätter fremden Geräts D 50/8 bGranata Perforante da 75/32. Source: Kennblätter fremden Geräts D 50/8 bCartridge case of the Cannone da 75/32. Source: Kennblätter fremden Geräts D 50/8 b
Service History
Eastern Front
The Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937 saw very limited use. The first unit to use this piece was the 201° Reggimento d’Artiglieria Motorizzato (English: 201st Motorized Artillery Regiment) assigned to the Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia or CSIR (English: Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia), which was later renamed ARMata Italiana in Russia or ARMIR (English: Italian Army in Russia, or 8th Army). Under the overall command of Colonel Enrico Altavilla, the regiment and its 36 guns were organized into 3 groups: Lieutenant Colonel La Guardia’s 1° Gruppo (English: 1st Group), Lieutenant Colonel Francesco Zingales’ 2° Gruppo (English: 2nd Group), and Major Vitale’s 3° Gruppo (English: 3rd Group).
On the Eastern Front, a gun battery supported the attack of the Battaglione Alpini ‘Vestone’ (English: Alpine Battalion), belonging to the 2a Divisione Alpina ‘Tridentina’ (English: 2nd Alpine Division), against a Soviet stronghold in the village of Scach on 31st August 1942. Another battery was sent as reinforcement, along with the 1a Compagnia Motociclisti (English: 1st Motorcycle Company), to the village of Bolschoj to reinforce the 2a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Sforzesca’ (English: 2nd Infantry Division) on 5th September.
The whole 201° Reggimento d’Artiglieria Motorizzato was destroyed during the Second Defensive Battle of the Don (during Operation Little Saturn and the Ostrogozhsk-Rossosh offensive) between December 1942 and January 1943. There is little information on the Regiment’s employment during this time. On 16th December 1942, the 1a Batteria (English: 1st Battery) of the 1° Gruppo, assigned to the 9a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Pasubio’ (English: 9th Infantry Division), was involved defending against the attack of the Soviet 38th Guards Division. The battery of Cannoni da 75/32 was completely destroyed by Russian forces who killed all the artillerymen. On 18th December, a section of the 3° Gruppo defended the village of Taly together with an amalgamation of Italian and German troops until the next day, when the defense passed into the hands of German units only.
Cannoni da 75/32 of the 1° Gruppo belonging to the 201° Reggimento d’Artiglieria Motorizzato on the Eastern Front.
Source: Le operazioni delle unità italiane sul fronte russo A Cannone da 75/32 employed on the Eastern Front.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Italian Front
By 1943, there were only 4 Cannoni da 75/32 Modello 1937 groups left. Two (24 pieces) of which were assigned to the 135a Divisione Corazzata ‘Ariete II’ (English: 135th Armored Division), which was deployed near Rome. They took part in the clashes against the Germans after the Armistice of 8th September 1943.
Albania
The other two groups were assigned to the 11a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Brennero’ (English: 11th Infantry Division) deployed in Greece and Albania. A photograph shows two guns of the 11a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Brennero’ used by the Battaglione Partigiano ‘Gramsci’ (English: Partisan Battalion) formed after the Armistice of 8th September 1943 by soldiers from the 41a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Firenze’ (English:41st Infantry Division), the 11a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Brennero’, and the 53a Divisione di Fanteria ‘Arezzo’ (English: 53rd Infantry Division). The Italian soldiers, under the command of Sergeant Terzilio Cardinali, joined the 1st Partisan Brigade of the Albanian Liberation Army in the days after the Armistice, preferring to fight against the Germans.
Two Cannoni da 75/32 of the Battaglione Partigiano ‘Gramsci’ towed by a FIAT 626 N.M. medium truck (left) and a FIAT-SPA TM40 prime mover (right) parade through the streets of Tirana. Source: Instagram via Forza Italiana
Other Users
Germany
After the Armistice, the Germans captured 48 guns intact, naming them 7.5 cm FeldKanone 248(i) (English: 7.5 cm Field Cannon 248 Italian), using them both on the Italian front and in Yugoslavia against Tito’s partisans.
The only photo of German use shows us a Cannone da 75/32 used by a Fallschirmjäger unit, probably in Italy.
German Fallschirmjäger use a Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 after the armistice.
Source: flickr.com
Peru
In the book Latin American Wars. 1900-1941 “Banana Wars, Border Wars and Revolutions” by Philip S. Jowett, it is mentioned that Peru acquired some Cannoni da 75/32 in 1941, but no further information is available.
Portugal
Portugal ordered 133 Cannoni da 75/32 during the war, but it was later canceled and taken over by Regio Esercito, and no cannons were built afterward.
Use on Vehicles
The Cannone da 75/32 was mounted on a few vehicles, but it was also the basis for the creation of the Cannone da 75/34, which was mounted on the Carro Armato P26/40 and on some self-propelled artillery vehicles.
Carro Armato P26/40
In July 1940, General Mario Caracciolo di Feroleto, the Ispettore Superiore dei Servizi Tecnici (English: Superior Inspector of Technical Services), had two mock-ups of the Carro Armato P26/40 tank built, one by Ansaldo and the other by the Direzione della Motorizzazione (English: Directorate of Motor Vehicles).
Both models were armed with a Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 and a 20 mm Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 in the turret. The Cannone da 75/32 on Ansaldo’s mock-up did not have a muzzle brake, as it was not yet necessary for recoil management.
The Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 was chosen because it had already been in development since 1937 and preferred over the Obice da 75/18 included in earlier mock-ups.
The first prototype of the Carro Armato P26/40 was equipped in December 1941 with a Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 wooden dummy. Eventually, in spring 1942, the Cannone da 75/34 was chosen as the main armament because it was specifically developed for use on vehicles. It featured a fully semi-automatic vertical sliding breechblock and a completely revised and more suitable recoil mechanism designed for enclosed vehicles.
Mock-up of the Carro Armato P26/40 armed with Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 and a Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935.
Source: P40. Il mito del più potente carro armato italiano Carro Armato P26/40 prototype with Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 wooden dummy.
Source: La meccanizzazione dell’esercito fino al 1943
Semovente M40 da 75/32
In summer 1941, the Army General Staff had to choose whether to mount the Obice da 75/18 or the Cannone da 75/34 Modello SF [Sfera] (English: 75 mm L/34 Cannon Model Spherical Support) on self-propelled guns. With circular No. 11914 of 21th June 1941, the choice fell on the latter, but since the Cannone da 75/34 was not yet available, a Cannone da 75/32 was mounted on the hull of the Semovente M40 self-propelled gun on an experimental basis. The model, however, was not approved.
Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 for use on semoventi
Source: 2020.fondazioneansaldo.it
The Semovente was armed with a Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 and an 8 mm machine gun.
Semovente M40 da 75/32, note the “pepper pot” muzzle brake.
Source: La meccanizzazione dell’esercito fino al 1943
Some sources mistake the main gun of the semovente with the Semovente M40 da 75/32 itself. In fact, they state that 24 or 25 of these semoventi were deployed by the 135a Divisione Corazzata ‘Ariete II’ during the defense of Rome on 9th and 10th September 1943. This is wrong. The 135a Divisione Corazzata ‘Ariete II’ had only 24 Cannoni a Grande Gittata da 75/32 in its ranks and these were deployed in the defense of the Italian capital city. Apart from the prototype, license plate R.E. 4443, on an early production Carro Armato M14/41, the Semovente M40 da 75/32 was not produced.
Semovente M40 da 75/32 with license plate R.E. 4443 inside a production line at Ansaldo
Source: worldwarphotos.info
Autocannone da 75/32 su Autocarro Semicingolato FIAT 727
In 1943, Ansaldo was studying the installation of the Cannone da 75/32 Modello 1937 on the hull of the 3-ton Maffei-FIAT 727 half-track. The development was never finished due the Armistice of 8th September 1943. The Germans also stopped the production of the 3-tonne FIAT 727 half-track, putting an end to any further German development.
One of the few pre-series Maffei-FIAT 727 half-tracks outside a FIAT plant.
Source: Wikipedia.org
Conclusion
The Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937 was a potent artillery piece, perhaps the best anti-tank gun developed by the Kingdom of Italy. Nevertheless, it suffered greatly due to the underdeveloped Italian industry and the lack of foresight of the Regio Esercito’s high command.
Mass production starting from 1937 would surely have allowed equipping Italian soldiers with a decent anti-tank weapon with which to counter enemy armor, primarily the Matilda tanks in North Africa, which spearheaded the British counteroffensive in Libya in winter 1940-1941.
Although it also performed well in Eastern Front against T-34s, the Cannone da 75/43 (Italian designation for the German PaK 40), which was adopted in 1943 by the Regio Esercito, was eventually preferred by the Italian troops for its precision and better anti-tank characteristics, even if many soldiers considered it too heavy.
A big thanks to Arturo Giusti and Enrico Micheli
Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937. Illustration by Shreyas Das.
Specifications of Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937
Ufficio Storico, Le operazioni delle unità italiane sul fronte russo (1941-1943), Roma, 1977
Carlo Montù Esegesi, Storia della Artiglieria Italiana. Parte V (dal 1920 al 1943). Volume XV (l’evoluzione dei concetti d’impiego, del tiro, della tecnica e dei materiali), Roma, 1953
Roberto Bartolini, Il carro armato M13/40 e derivati featured in Studi Storico-Militari from page 303 to 372, Roma, 1993
Filippo Stefani, Storia delle dottrine e degli ordinamenti. Volume II. Tomo 2 La 2a Guerra Mondiale (1940-1943), Roma, 1985
Nicola Pignato, L’ultimo ‘75’ dell’artiglieria italiana from Storia Militare N.188, Parma, 2009
Andrea Curami and B. Benvenuti, Le artiglierie italiane tra le due guerre from Storia Militare N.16 and 17, Parma, 1995
Nicola Pignato and Filippo Cappellano, La produzione di artiglierie in Italia durante la seconda guerra mondiale from Storia Militare N. 74 and 75, Parma, 1999
Ministero della Guerra, Addestramento dell’artiglieria Volume I Addestramento al pezzo Obice da 75/18 Mod. 35 – Cannone da 75/32 Mod.37 Istruzione sul materiale e sulle munizioni, Roma, 1942
Ministero della Guerra, Dati tecnici sulle artiglieria in servizio, Roma, 1938
Ministero della Guerra, Addestramento dell’artiglieria Volume I Addestramento del pezzo Obice da 75/18 Mod.34 Istruzione sul materiale e sulle munizioni, Roma, 1938
Ministero della Guerra, Nozioni di armi, tiro e materiali vari per i corsi allievi ufficiali di complemento dell’arma di artiglieria: Parte I. Armi, materiali e munizioni, Roma, 1942
Vespa T.A.P. in tan camo. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
France (1956-1960)
Anti-Tank Weapon Carrier – 600~800 Built
The Piaggio Vespa TAP [Troupes AéroPortées] (English: Airborne troops) 56 and 59 were French-developed military motorbikes, based on the iconic Vespa, Italy’s most famous two-wheeler. The Vespa TAP carried a US M20 75 mm recoilless rifle with the aim of countering enemy light armored vehicles with an agile and robust vehicle that could be parachuted in where it was needed.
Vespa T.A.P. equipped with a M20 recoilless rifle. This motorbike was requested by the French Ministry of Defence, in order to procure an agile and robust vehicle.
Source: ruotedasogno.com
The Vespa: how to motorise the Italian people after the Second World War
During the latter period of the war, Piaggio studied how to convert military factories to adapt them to the production of civilian vehicles, especially at the technical offices in Pontedera, which had moved to Biella during the period of the Repubblica Sociale Italiana (English: Italian Social Republic). There, Piaggio technicians studied this problem. After the end of the Second World War, the Regno d’Italia (English: Kingdom of Italy) – which became Repubblica Italiana (English: Italian Republic) after the referendum of 2nd June 1946 – was devastated. The railways and road infrastructure were in a pitiful state. There was a serious lack of public vehicles and it was essential for the country to provide the population with cheap, practical, and fuel-efficient vehicles so that communications and travel could be resumed.
Already in 1944, a motorbike with these characteristics had been produced, the MP5, called ‘Paperino’ (English: Donald Duck), but this motorbike did not satisfy Enrico Piaggio, the owner of Piaggio, together with his brother Armando. They asked engineer Corradino D’Ascanio to revise the design. Armando Piaggio did not like the Paperino at all and, together with his collaborator, Mario D’Este, created the MP6 in April 1946, which took the name Vespa (English: Wasp) because of its shape.
MP5 ‘Paperino’ preserved at the Piaggio museum.
Source: vespaforever MP6, the Vespa prototype.
Source: pinterest @First Versions
On 23rd April 1946, the new vehicle was patented under the name of Motocicletta a Complesso Razionale di Organi ed Elementi con Telaio Combinato con Parafanghi e Cofano Ricoprenti tutta la Parte Meccanica, a real long name meant to designate a fully metallic bodywork. Mass production was immediately started for 2,000 Vespa 98s with a 98 cm3 engine.
Vespa 98, the first mass-produced Vespa. It had a 98 cm3 engine.
Source: stream24.ilsole24ore.com
There is an urban legend that claims that the Vespa‘s wheels and engine were the tail wheel and starter engine of the Italian Piaggio P.108 four-engine bomber, respectively, but no aeronautical components were actually used on the Vespa.
The vehicle was very successful. 19,822 had been produced by 1948 and new versions with 125 and 150 cm3 engines were developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The vehicle was also successful abroad. In 1951, the French ACMA – Ateliers de Construction de Motocycles et Accessoires (English: Workshops for the Construction of Motorbikes and Accessories) workshops began license production of the Vespa. In later years, it was produced by Messerschmitt and Hoffmann in Germany, Douglas in Great Britain, MISA in Belgium and Moto Vespa S.A. in Spain. In a short time, the Vespa was produced in 13 countries and marketed in 114.
The first military Vespa
In the early 1950s, the French army needed a light and robust vehicle capable of carrying an anti-tank weapon, for units deployed in Indochina that had to deal against the badly armed Viet Minh communist militias. The scooter was preferred in favor of heavier vehicles because it was light, agile and robust and could be parachuted into inaccessible areas or behind enemy lines. Thus, the Piaggio Vespa Troupes Aéro Portées 56 was born, to be followed three years later by the 59 model used by the Légion Etrangère (English: French Foreign Legion) and paratroopers.
The chassis was reinforced by a metal tube that surrounded the vehicle and served to protect it from impacts and to support the side ammunition carriers. The front mudguard was much smaller than on other Vespe. Above it, there was a rack supported by four bolts fixed to the reinforcing tube at the front of the ‘shield’ – the term ‘shield’ on the Vespa refers to the sheet metal that protected the rider and on which the handlebar was mounted -.
Frontal image of the Vespa T.A.P., in which the ‘shield’ without the rifle is clearly visible.
Source: automotorinews This photograph shows the handlebar, odometer and spare wheel.
Source: vespa tecnica
Underneath the shield were two sturdy independent brackets that acted as a tripod and were put into position by rotating them outwards. On the inside of the shield were two slots that served to hook the parachute.
On the left side of the shield was an open hole through which the cannon was placed. The hole was reinforced with a leather padding held by rivets that prevented the cannon from rubbing against the plate.
The rifle was fixed under the saddle on a special metal trapeze; the saddle could be opened sideways to allow the cannon to be removed from the vehicle and be used as a field weapon.
The hole was reinforced with a leather rim held by rivets to prevent damaging friction between the rifle and the shield.
Source: quattromania.it Metal trapeze, located under the saddle, which was used to support the rifle.
Source: vespa tecnica
The rear of the vehicle was left open and a rubber mud flap was inserted in place of the sheet metal, which also acted as a plate holder.
The rubberized splash guard that also fulfilled the task of a number plate holder.
Source: vintagescooters
Under the chassis, there were reinforcements protecting the engine and muffler and also metal-coated rubber padding to prevent the vehicle from breaking during parachute jumps.
Metal-coated rubber reinforcements under the hull.
Source: vespa tecnica
The military Vespa was delivered in two colors, sand yellow or dark green. The Vespa could carry a small one-wheeled trolley to transport useful material. The only difference between the two models was that in the 56, the ACMA badge, located on the inside of the shield, was metal while on the 59, it was plastic.
Vespa T.A.P. with its single-wheel trolley.
Source: la stampa
Engine
The engine was the same as on the Vespa VL3 “Struzzo” (English: Ostrich), a 150 cm3 single-cylinder two-stroke engine with a three-speed gearbox. The transmission was modified by making the gear ratios shorter to adapt the Vespa to carry the greater weight. The carburettor was also changed from a Dell’Orto MA 19 to a Gurtner. The only engine difference between the models 56 and 59 was that, in the former, the cylinder cover was made of aluminum while, in the latter, it was made of sheet metal.
The Vespa could reach a top speed of 66 km/h and had a range of 200 km, which could be increased thanks to the two oil and fuel tanks carried on the luggage rack.
Engine of Vespa T.A.P. This was a modified Vespa VL3 ‘Struzzo’ engine.
Source: vespa tecnica
Armament
Although this vehicle is often called the Vespa Bazooka on the internet, it was actually armed with a US-made M20 recoilless rifle of 75 mm caliber. The weapon could not fire while mounted on the vehicle. It had to be dismounted from it and used as a field weapon; the M20 rifle was mounted on the tripod of the M1917A1 machine gun.
M20 recoilless rifle on the tripod of the M1917A1 machine-gun used by Ethiopian soldiers during the Korean War.
Source: weaponsystems.net
The breech is constructed so that, on ignition of the propellant charge, the resultant gasses are allowed to escape to the rear through orifices in the breechblock, thereby eliminating recoil. The gas escape orifices are so designed that the momentum of gas discharge effectively counteracts the momentum of recoil and the angular momentum induced by the motion of the fired shell, and the rifle remains motionless. The M20 had a depression angle of -27° and an elevation angle of +65°.
The M20 was developed in 1944, being used by US forces in the final parts of the Second World War. The rifle was later used during the Korean War in the early 1950s, but there it showed its limitations as an anti-tank weapon, as it could not penetrate the T-34/85 tanks used by North Korean forces. After this, the M20 was intended for use as an infantry support gun and to destroy bunkers. Being a light weapon, with a total weight of 75 kg together with the tripod, it was easily transportable. The rifle was used by French forces during the First Indochina War after 1946, while the Chinese versions, named Type 52 and Type 56, were used by the North Vietnamese army and Viet Cong guerrillas during the Vietnam War.
French paratroopers with one carrying the M20 recoilless rifle.
Source: vespa tecnica
Ammunition
The ammunition was carried in six ammunition boxes placed in groups of three on either side of the Vespa, that could hold one shell each. The special feature of the 75 mm rounds in the M20 rifle was the perforated casing, which was used to let propellant gasses escape into the barrel chamber. The rifle used various shells , such as the M309 High Explosive (HE) grenade, weighing 6.53 kg, with a TNT charge of 0.63 kg; the M310 High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) grenade, weighing 5.94 kg, which had a useful range of 400 meters and penetrating up to 100 mm of armor; and the M311 Smoke (WP) grenade, weighing 6.84 kg, which was intended to create smoke screens but could also be used to fire on enemy soldiers. There were also training and inert grenades.
HE and WP shells had a muzzle velocity of 301 m/s while the HEAT rounds had a muzzle velocity of 304 m/s.
Ammunition for the M20 recoilless rifle
Name
Type
Muzzle velocity in m/s
Weight (kg)
Penetration in mm
M309
High-Explosive
301
6.53
//
M310
High-Explosive Anti Tank
304
5.94
100
M311
Smoke
301
6.84
6.84
M310 HEAT grenade, note the perforated casing.
Source: wikipedia M309 HE grenade.
Source: wikipedia
Crew
The Vespa was usually driven by a single soldier, but there could be a passenger if necessary, although the added weight certainly affected the ride.
French paratrooper on a Vespa T.A.P. during training.
Source: esquire.com
Operational Use
Between 600 and 800 Piaggio Vespa T.A.P. 56 and 59 were built from 1956 to 1959. They did not participate in the war in Indochina, which had ended in 1954. It was used by paratroopers and the French Foreign Legion in the Algerian War, a conflict that lasted between 1954 and 1962, fought between French forces and Algerian independence fighters, who eventually won the war, which led to the independence of the country.
The M20 rifle carried by the Vespa was very useful for destroying the fortifications and light armored vehicles of the Armée de Libération nationale (English: National Liberation Army – NLA -) i.e. the Algerian Independence Army. However, there is no further information on the use of the Vespa in Algeria or on other fronts.
It is unclear when these were withdrawn from service.
Vespe T.A.P. ready to be loaded onto a plane to be deployed in Algeria.
Source: myktm.it French soldiers with some Vespe T.A.P. near Bizerte.
Source: myktm.it French paratrooper in Algeria poses in front of a Vespa T.A.P. The recoilless rifle is missing.
Source: myktm.it
Conclusion
Due to lack of information, it is difficult to provide an assessment of the vehicle as a military asset to the French forces. As it appears, the Vespa T.A.P. was not a great success in the military but, today, it is highly sought after by collectors. In 2020, a Vespa T.A.P. 56 was sold by Ruote da Sogno, a Italian classic car and motorcycle dealer, for €40,000.
Video
Vespa T.A.P. in tan camo. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.Vespa T.A.P. in green camo. Illustrations by the illustrious Godzilla funded by our Patreon Campaign.
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Italian Republic (1980-Present)
