Semovente da 47/32

The Semovente L. 40 da 47/32 was an Italian self-propelled gun built during World War II. It was created by mounting a Cannone da 47/32 anti-tank gun in an open-topped, box-like superstructure on a L6/40 light tank chassis. Some were built as command tanks with a radio installed instead of the main gun. An 8 mm machine gun disguised as the 47 mm main gun was used on these versions to make them look like a regular Semovente 47/32s. About 400 Semoventi da 47/32 were built from 1941 onward. The Semovente da 47/32 was the most heavily armed Italian armoured fighting vehicle used on the Eastern Front.

Semovente L. 40 da 47/32
Semovente da 47/32
TypeSelf-propelled gun
Place of originKingdom of Italy
Service history
In service1942–45
Used by
WarsWorld War II
Production history
No. built402 (282 before armistice and 120 afterwards) [1]
VariantsCarro comando plotone
Carro comando compagnia
Specifications
Mass6.5 t (14,000 lb)[2]
Length3.820 m (150.4 in)[2]
Width1.860 m (73.2 in)[2]
Height1.690 m (66.5 in)[2]
Crew3 (commander, driver, loader)
Armour
  • Front: 30 mm (1.2 in)
  • Sides: 14.5 mm (0.57 in)
  • Floor: 6 mm (0.24 in)
Main
armament
1 × 47 mm Cannone da 47/32 AT gun
70 rounds[3]
EngineSPA 18 VT I4 4,053 cc petrol
68 hp (51 kW) at 2,500 rpm[2]
Ground clearance40 cm (16 in)[2]
Operational
range
200 km (120 mi)[2]
Maximum speed 42 km/h (26 mph) on road[2]
25 km/h (16 mph) off road[2]

While the 47 mm gun was adequate for 1941, by the time the Semovente reached the field it was already outdated and ineffective against enemy medium tanks, and therefore the vehicle was not particularly successful.[4]

After the Italian armistice in September 1943, the German Army took all Semovente 47/32s they could get hold of for their own use. The German designation was StuG L6 47/32 630(i). Some of these were provided to Germany's Croatian puppet state[5] and the Slovene Home Guard.

Variants
  • Semovente L. 40 da 47/32: standard variant, carrying 70 rounds of ammunition in the hull and lacking a radio.
  • Carro comando plotone per semovente da 47/32: platoon commander vehicle, equipped with a Marelli RF 1 CA radio set, at the expense of a reduced ammunition capacity (47 rounds).[6] The main visual difference from the standard variant was a single radio aerial.
  • Carro comando compagnia per semovente da 47/32: company commander vehicle, equipped with two radio sets—a Marelli RF 1 CA and a RF 2 CA.[6] The main gun was removed to make room for the radio equipment; in its place there was an 8 mm Breda mod. 38 machine gun, disguised as a 47 mm gun.[6] This variant had twin radio aerials as well as the mock gun barrel.

References
Notes
  1. Cappellano, Filippo; Battistelli, Pier Paolo. Italian Medium Tanks (New Vanguard) (p. 67). Bloomsbury Publishing.
  2. Cappellano & Battistelli 2012, p. 46.
  3. Pignato 2004, p. 26.
  4. Cappellano & Battistelli 2012, p. 24.
  5. Mahé, Yann (April 2011). "Le Blindorama : La Croatie, 1941 - 1945". Batailles & Blindés (in French). No. 42. Caraktère. pp. 4–7. ISSN 1765-0828.
  6. Cappellano & Battistelli 2012, p. 26.
Bibliography
  • Cappellano, F.; Battistelli, P. P. (2012). Italian light tanks, 1919–45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781849087773.
  • Pignato, Nicola (2004). Italian Armored Vehicles of World War Two. Squadron/Signal publications. ISBN 0-89747-475-9.
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