Cannone da 25/72 (Canon de 25 mm Semi-Automatique Lèger Modèle 1934 and Modèle 1937 in Italian Service)

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 …

Cannone da 47/32 Modello 1935

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 …

Cannone a Grande Gittata da 75/32 Modello 1937

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) …

Breda 20/65 Modello 1935

Kingdom of Italy (1935-1945) Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Gun – 1,088 Built in 1940, Total Number Unknown The Cannone-Mitragliera Breda da 20/65 Modello 1935 was the main Italian light anti-aircraft gun during the Second World War. The gun was developed as an anti-aircraft gun but was also used against light armored vehicles, especially if mounted on the numerous …

Sticky and Magnetic Anti-Tank Weapons

Infantry taking on tanks is a real challenge. Infantrymen are, after all, mainly equipped with weapons primarily intended for killing enemy infantry. Anti-tank guns are large, cumbersome, and heavy and so, right from the first days of the tank in WWI, the goal has been to produce a man-portable anti-tank weapon. One of the first, …

65mm L/17 Mountain Gun

Kingdom of Italy (1902-1945) Mountain Gun/Anti-Tank Gun – 1,146 Built Fighting in mountains poses some unique problems for an army. Most crucial amongst these problems is firepower. How do you bring firepower into areas which may only be accessible by rope line? This question is the basis of the mountain gun, a compact weapon able …

Solothurn S 18-1000

Switzerland (1939) Anti-Tank Rifle – Around 1,000 Produced The Solothurn S 18-1000 was a Swiss-built 20 mm Anti-Tank rifle which was an upgraded version of the earlier S 18-100. It saw service in both the Axis and Allied forces and was deployed in many theatres of operations through the war. Despite its weight and size, …

60mm Lanciabombe

Kingdom of Italy (1943-1945) Experimental Anti-Tank Weapon – 1 Built Sketch plan of prototype anti-tank weapon. Source: Report 311 Desperate Times When nations have their backs against the wall and are facing a fight for their existence, there tends to be an abundance of rather unusual weapons. Some of the weapons developed by the Home …