List of Italian Army equipment in World War II

Last updated

The following is a list of equipment used by the Royal Italian Army (Regio Esercito), Italian Air Force ( Regia Aeronautica ), and Royal Italian Navy ( Regia Marina ) during World War II.

Contents

Bayonets

ModelTypeFrom:
M91/38 folding bayonetBayonet1893
M91/38 standard bayonetBayonet1891

Small arms

Handguns

ImageTypeMakerRoundsCartridgeFrom:WeightNumber builtComment
Beretta M1934-NMAH-AHB2015q028854.jpg Beretta Modello 1934 Beretta 7 (+1) .380 ACP 193523.28 oz (660 g)1,080,000Remained in service until 1991.
Beretta M1935.JPG Beretta Modello 1935 Beretta 8 (+1) .32 ACP 193723.5 oz (666 g)525,000Was a prized souvenir during the war. Remained in service until 1967.
Glisenti M1910.jpg Glisenti Model 1910 Società Siderurgica Glisenti7 (+1) 9mm Glisenti 191029,00 oz (820 g)100,000Was originally chambered for a 7.65×22mm bottle-neck cartridge, but the Italian Army requested it to be chambered in 9mm.
Bodeo M1889 Service Revolver-NMAH-AHB2015q024186.jpg Bodeo Model 1889 Revolver Many manufacturers610.35mm Ordinanza Italiana188933.05 oz (950 g) ?Italian manufacturers include: Societa Siderurgica Glisenti, Castelli of Brescia, Metallurgica Bresciana, Vincenzo Bernardelli of Gardone Val Trompia. During World War I, Spanish manufacturers, Errasti and Arrostegui of Eibar produced the Bodeo for the Italian government.
-M1942 Sosso PistolFNA Brescia21 9×19mm Parabellum 1942 ? ?Experimental design, was never fully adopted. Only five were manufactured, with four of them going to high-ranking Italian officials such as Vittorio Emanuele III and Benito Mussolini. [1]

Rifles

TypeBase modelMakerRoundsCartridgeFrom:ProducedWeightComment
Carcano M1891 Carcano M1891 Carcano 6 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano 18912,063,7503.4 kgstandard service rifle
Carcano M1891 Moschetto da Cavalleria (Cavalry Carbine) Carcano M1891 Carcano 6 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano 1893 ?3.4 kgintegral, folding bayonet
Carcano M1891TS Moschetto per Truppe Speciali (Special Troop Carbine) Carcano M1891 Carcano 6 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano 1897 ?3.4 kgwithout bayonet
Carcano M1891/24 Carcano M1891 Carcano 6 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano 1924 ? ? kg
Carcano M1891/28 Carcano M1891 Carcano 6 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano 1928 ? ? kg
Carcano M1938 carbineCarcano M1938 carbine Carcano 6 7.35×51mm 1938 ?3.6741 kgconverted to higher caliber cartridge
Carcano 91/38 (Modello 91/38) short rifleCarcano M1938 carbine Carcano 6 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano 1940 ? ? kgreverted to original cartridge
Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 Mannlicher 5 8×50mmR Mannlicher  ? ?3.8 kgimported from Austria-Hungary
M1870/87/15 Vetterli-Vitali M1870 Italian Vetterli 6 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano  ? ?4.2 kgissued to colonial troops in Italian East Africa
Fucile Armaguerra Mod. 39 Fucile Armaguerra Mod. 39 6 6.5×52mm Mannlicher–Carcano, 7.35×51mm Carcano 19445003.7 kg

Submachine guns

TypeMakerRoundsCartridgeFrom:Rate of fireWeightComment
Beretta M1918/30 Beretta 25 9 mm Glisenti 1930s900 rpm7 lb 3 oz (3.3 kg)Semi-automatic carbine developed for police use. Issued in limited numbers to Guardia alla Frontiera and Milizia Forestale units.
Beretta Model 38 Beretta 40 9×19mm Parabellum 1938600 rpm9 lb 4 oz (4.2 kg)Different box magazines had a capacity 10, 20 and 40 cartridges.
FNAB-43 FNAB40 9×19mm Parabellum 1944600-837 rpm [2] 8 lb 12 oz (3.9 kg)Magazines of 20 cartridges were also available. Was expensive to produce and so, only 7,000 were ever made.
OVP 1918 Officine Villar Perosa25 9 mm Glisenti 1918900 rpm8 lb 0 oz (3,6 kg)Was issued during the early 1920s; was mostly replaced by other models by the end of the war.
TZ-45 Fabbrica Fratelli Giandoso40 9×19mm Parabellum 1944800 rpm7 lb 0 oz (3.2 kg)Produced in small numbers (6,000 made between 1944 and 1945), design was later sold to the Burmese Army and produced as the BA-52.

Grenades

TypeMakerFromWeightComment
SRCM Mod.35 Società Romana Costruzioni Meccaniche 1935240 gimpact fuse hand grenade
OTO Mod.35 Odero Terni Orlando 1935150 gimpact fuse hand grenade
OTO Mod.42 Odero Terni Orlando 19421100 gIncendiary grenade
Breda Mod.35 Breda Meccaniche Bresciane 1935200 gimpact fuse hand grenade
Breda Mod.42 Breda Meccaniche Bresciane 19421050 gAnti-tank grenade
L Type Odero Terni Orlando 19402040 gAnti-tank grenade
P Bomb Improvised Device19412000g or 1000gAnti-tank grenade

Flamethrowers

Machine guns

Artillery

Infantry mortars

ModelCaliberMax. rangeFromProducedWeight, kgfire rate, RPMComment
Brixia Model 35 45mm5301935 ?15.518extremely accurate, 18 mortars per battalion (in 2 platoons)
Mortaio da 81/14 Modello 35 81mm15001935 ?59.56186 mortars per regiment, extended range (4 km) shell available

Field artillery

Italian artillery was usually designated using the calibre and length of the barrel in number of calibre lengths, so "90/53" would mean a weapon with a 90 mm diameter barrel where the length of the barrel was approximately 53 calibre lengths (i.e. 53x90 mm, that is 4.77 m).

ModelCaliberMax.
range
FromNumber
produced
Weight
(kg)
fire rate
RPM
Comment
Cannone da 47/32 M35 47mm7,000 m
(7,700 yd)
1935 ?3155dual-role anti-tank/infantry gun, adopted for many vehicles, licensed version of Böhler gun
Cannone da 65/17 modello 7 65mm68001907 ?6505mountain gun
Cannone da 65/17 modello 13 65mm68001913 ?6505mountain gun
Škoda 7 cm K10 66mm50001912?52010naval gun redeployed as coastal artillery
Skoda 75 mm Model 15
(Obice da 75/13)
75mm82501918 ?6137Austrian-built
Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 75mm100001906 ?10805licensed version of Krupp 1906M gun
Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 75mm102401912 ?10765French-designed
Cannone da 75/27 modello 12 75mm100001912 ?9005modification of Cannone da 75/27 modello 06
Obice da 75/18 modello 34 75mm95641934 ?18325mountain gun
Obice da 75/18 modello 35 75mm95641935 ?18325field gun version of the Obice da 75/18 modello 34 with different carriage
Cannone da 75/34 modello 37  [ it ]75mm125001937112505prototype of 75/32 field gun, unmodified 75/34 Mod. S.F.  [ it ] went on as tank gun
Cannone da 75/32 modello 37 75mm125001937 ?12505dual-role anti-tank/field gun
Cannone da 77/28 modello 5/8 76.5mm61001907 ?10659built in Austria-Hungary, bronze barrel
Obice da 100/17 modello 14 100mm81801914 ?14176Austrian-built, in NATO service until 1984
Obice da 100/17 modello 16 [3] 100mm81801916 ?12356weight reduction of Obice da 100/17 modello 14 for use as mountain gun
Škoda 10 cm K10 100mm152001910?202010dual-purpose gun
Cannon 102/45 102mm93001917?23277naval gun converted to anti-aircraft gun
Cannone da 105/28 modello 12 105mm8000 (12000)191785426505license-built, kept in reserve until 1939
Obice da 105/14 modello 17 105mm6000 (8100)191712014005used in self-propelled gun
Cannone da 120/21 120mm77001880540505fortress Krupp gun, used by Italian border guards
Obice da 149/12 149.1mm88001914150023443Licensed copy of the 15 cm sFH 13
Cannone da 149/23 149.1mm93001882 ?60501fortress howitzer, most likely did not see combat in World War II
Obice da 149/12 modello 14 149.1mm65001915 ?27001.5Austrian-built Skoda howitzer
Obice da 149/13 modello 14 149.1mm8800191549027651.5 Obice da 149/12 modello 14 modified for new ammunition
Cannone da 149/35 A 149.1mm16500190089582201No recoil absorber, zero traverse
Cannone da 149/40 modello 35 149.1 mm (5.87 in)23,700 m
(25,900 yd)
194063+?113401-2Replacement for Cannone da 149/35A but insufficient numbers built. Split trail
Obice da 149/19 modello 37 149.1mm14250193923057803Italian replacement for all older howitzers
15 cm/50 K10 Skoda 149.1mm15000191212 ?6removed from Austrian battleship Tegetthoff and used in coastal defense
Cannone da 152/45 152.4mm19400191053166721Naval gun used in counter-battery fire and siege
Cannone da. 152/37 152.4mm16000191644119001built in Austria-Hungary
190/39 Skoda 190mm20000190429127003built in Austria-Hungary as naval gun, reused by Italians in coastal defense
Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ 194mm18300191512650002A French railroad gun in Italian service.
7.5"/45 model 1908 191mm22000190824137702.6naval gun reused in coastal defense
203/45 Mod. 1897 203.2mm18000189740119002.4built for Giuseppe Garibaldi-class cruisers, used in World War II as siege gun and coastal defense
203/50 modello 24 203.2mm30620192426119002.4built for Trento-class cruisers, 1 turret used in coastal defence
Obice da 210/22 modello 35 210mm15400193520240001Production continued by Germans after surrender of Italy
Mortaio da 210/8 D.S. 210mm84501900 ?109300.4In Italian fortresses only
Mortario da 210/8 PIAT 210mm84501900 ?109300.4Towed version of Mortaio da 210/8 D.S.
Mortario da 210/8 FROM 210mm84501900 ?109300.4Improved mobility version of Mortario da 210/8 PIAT
Mortaio da 260/9 Modello 16 260mm91001916?125601 round
every 12 minutes
Italian version of a Schneider design.
Obice da 280 280mm116001890 ?34070 ?Coastal defense and siege howitzer
Skoda 305 mm Model 1911 305mm9600191179208390.18Austro-Hungarian siege howitzer, received by Italy
305 mm /46 Model 1909 305mm240001909625002naval gun used as coastal artillery
305/50 Mod. 1912  [ it ]305mm19000190961999001naval gun used as coastal artillery
Škoda 30.5 cm /45 K10 305mm200001911656200003triple-mount Austrian naval gun used as coastal artillery
Cannone navale da 381/40
(coastal)
381mm27300191210950001.75naval gun used as coastal artillery
Cannone navale da 381/40
(railroad)
381mm30000191272120001.75naval gun used as railroad gun

See also:

Anti-tank guns

Before and during World War II, Italy designed most of their anti-aircraft guns and some its infantry guns to also serve in the anti-tank role. No dedicated anti-tank gun was produced. Listed below is just the guns used in anti-tank role most commonly.

ModelCaliberPenetration
100m (110yd)
Penetration
500m
Muzzle
velocity
Max. rangeFromProducedWeight
kg
fire rate
RPM
Comment
Cannone da 37/54 37mm??700 m/s
(2,300 ft/s)
6,000 m
(20,000 ft)
1934 ?277120dual-role anti-tank/anti-aircraft gun
Cannone controcarro da 37/45 37mm64 mm
(2.5 in)
31 mm
(1.2 in)
735 m/s
(2,410 ft/s)
5,484 m
(17,992 ft)
??32713Italian variant of the Rheinmetall Pak 36
Cannone da 47/32 M35 47mm58 mm
(2.3 in)
43 mm
(1.7 in)
630 m/s
(2,100 ft/s)
7,000 m
(23,000 ft)
1935 ?3155dual-role anti-tank/infantry gun, licensed version of Böhler gun
Cannone da 90/53 mod. 193990mm190 mm
(7.5 in)
850 m/s
(2,800 ft/s)
17,400 m
(57,100 ft)
1939539895019dual-role anti-tank/anti-aircraft gun

Infantry anti-tank weapons

Anti-aircraft weapons

ModelCaliberEffective
altitude
FromNumber
produced
Weight, kgfire rate
RPM
Comment
Breda mod. 31 13.2 mm10001929 ?47.5400used on command vehicles, licensed copy of the 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun
Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/77 (Scotti) 20 mm20001940500227.5250designed as aircraft cannon, build by Swiss Oerlikon
Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/65 modello 35 (Breda) 20 mm20001935 ?330240twin mount, main Italian light AA/AT gun
Breda 37/54 mod. 3237 mm35001934 ?5000120naval gun with stabilizer
Breda 37/54 mod. 3837 mm35001938 ?4300120twin-barreled land version, without stabilizer
Breda 37/54 mod. 3937 mm35001939 ?1500120land version with recoil absorber
Breda 37/54 mod. 4037 mm35001940 ?312.5120re-navalized version with recoil absorber
QF 2-pounder naval gun (40/39 Vickers-Terni mod. 1915)40 mm3960191750+71167import and licensed production of "pom-pom" gun
Ansaldo [4] Cannone da 65/64 modello 3965 mm50001939115 ?20
Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 75 mm85001935318440515used on Semovente 75/46 as anti-tank gun
Cannone da 75/50 75 mm92001939 ?415015Captured from Czech army in 1939
76/40 Mod 1916 RM 76.2 mm55001916492167614used in fixed AA positions from 1933
76/45 Mod 1911 RM 76.2 mm60001911312220425licensed version of "76 mm Mle 1911 Schneider"
Cannone da 90/53 mod. 193990 mm113001939539895019used on Semovente 90/53 as anti-tank gun
Cannone da 90/50 [5] mod. 193990 mm108001939561875012navalized Cannone da 90/53 version
102/35 mod. 1914 101.6 mm5700191411012207used by the navy and on armored trains, and on 102/35 on SPA 9000  [ it ] SPG
120/27 OTO 1924 [6] 120 mm550019245 ?9removed from submarines, re-used in Messina AA battery

All calibers of AA guns were also mounted in portee trucks in dual roles (ground attack and AA).

Vehicles

The Italian designation system for tanks consisted of a letter (L, M or P; designating light, medium and heavy tanks respectively) followed by two numbers: one giving the approximate weight in tons, the other giving the year it was accepted for service. Thus "M11/39" means the 11 ton medium tank of 1939. The Italian definitions of light, medium and heavy tank differ from other nations at the time. For instance the Italian "medium" tanks are often described as "light" in other sources.

Tankettes

ModelFromArmor max., mmPrimary armamentSecondary armamentWeight, tPower, kWRange, kmProducedCrewComments
Carden Loyd Mark VI tankette 192992 × 8 mm machine gunsnone1.51716042imported from the UK
L2/29 (CV-29)192992 × 8 mm machine gunsnone1.517160212minimal modifications of Carden Loyd Mark VI tankette
L3/33 (CV-33)193314 Fiat Mod. 14 6.5 mm MG none2.7321103002all previous tankettes were upgraded in 1934 to CV-33 II Mod. 1934
L3/33 (CV-33 II Mod. 1934)1934142 × Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935 8 mm MGnone2.732110 ?2mass production version
L3 Lf 193314Flamethrower Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935 8 mm MG3.332110 ?2flame tank with towed fuel tank
L3/35 (CV-35)1935142 × Breda 38 8 mm MGnone3.23212525002armor bolted instead of riveted
L3/35 II 1935142 × Breda 38 8 mm MGnone3.232125 ?2doors and louvers modified for desert operation
L3/38 193514 Madsen machine gun (13.2 mm)none3.232125242export variant, torsion bar suspension

The L3 tankette was also a basis for several engineering vehicles.

Tanks

ModelFromArmor max., mmPrimary armamentSecondary armamentWeight, tPower, kWRange, kmProducedCrewComments
Panzer III Ausf N194370 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/243 × 7.92 mm MG 34 2322015512512 imported from Germany, can fire HEAT rounds
Panzer IV Ausf G194388 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/482 × 7.92 mm MG 34 2522020012512 imported from Germany
T-34/76 19416076.2mm F-34 tank gun 2 × 7.62 mm DT machine gun 26.537040034captured from USSR, used on Eastern front only
L5/21 1921162x6.5 mm machine guns 3000A6.5 mm machine gun638.21001002based on Renault FT, 1st Italian tank
L5/30 19301637/40 gun6.5 mm machine gun638.2100522weapon upgrade of L5/21
Carro Armato L6/40 19404020 mm Breda 35 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun6.8522002832designed for alpine combat, base for Semovente 47/32 SPG, flame tank version Fiat L6-40 LF
Renault R35 194043 37 mm L/21 SA18 7.5 mm MAC31 Reibel machine gun 10.6621301242French tank received via Germany
Somua S35 19414747 mm SA 35 gun7.5 mm Mitrailleuse mle 1931 19.5140230323French tank received via Germany, used in Italy for training only
Carro Armato M11/39 19393037 mm Vickers-Terni L/402 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun11.2792001003main cannon mounted in front hull below turret
Carro Armato M13/40 19404247 mm Cannone da 47/32 M35 4 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun13.593200c.20004main cannon placed in turret, 1 AA machine gun
Carro Armato M14/41 19414247 mm Cannone da 47/32 M35 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun141102008004engine improvement of M13/40, machine guns ball turret removed
Carro Armato M15/42 19435047 mm Cannone da 47/40 L404 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun15.51452001184general improvement of M14/41, base for Semovente 75/34 gun
Fiat M16/43 ("Sahariano")19435047 mm Cannone da 47/40 L402 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun1620830014 Christie suspension used for first time in Italy
Carro Armato P26/40 19435075 mm Cannone da 75/34 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun263102801034base for Semovente 149/40 SPG, used by German army only

Self-propelled guns

Tank-based

NameChassisGunDevelopedNumber
manufactured
Role
Semovente 47/32 Fiat L6/40 Cannone da 47/32 M35 1941300self-propelled AT gun
Semovente M41 75/18 M14/41 Obice da 75/18 modello 34 1941262self-propelled gun
Semovente 75/34 M15/42 75/34 Mod. S.F.  [ it ]1942190self-propelled AT gun
Semovente M43 75/46 M15/42 Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 194215self-propelled gun
Semovente M41M 90/53 M14/41 Cannone da 90/53 194230self-propelled AT gun
Semovente M43 105/25 M15/42 tank 105mm howitzer 194390self-propelled gun
Semovente 149/40 M14/41 Cannone da 149/40 modello 35 19421self-propelled gun, prototype only
StuG III Ausf G Panzer III 7.5 cm KwK 40 19400self-propelled AT gun, 12 received from Germany

Others

During World War II, Italy regularly mounted cannons on portee trucks. Also, permanent installation of guns on trucks and armored cars were done on ad-hoc basis, therefore many self-propelled guns had no official name besides descriptive type of truck plus type of cannon. Below is the grossly incomplete list of these self-propelled weapons.

  • Autocannone Sahariana Corta da 75/27  [ it ] - cannon installed on truck TL 37
  • 102/35 on SPA 9000  [ it ]
  • 102/35 su Fiat 634N
  • Carro Comando Per Reparto Semovente da 75/18  [ it ]
  • Autocannoni da 75
  • Breda Dovunque 90/53  []
  • Breda Autocannone Blindato Tipo 102 (Breda 501  [ it ])
  • Autocannone da 90  [ it ] - Lancia 3 RO Chassis
  • Fiat 611  [ it ]AT - SP ATG armed with 37mm cannon
  • L.3/Solothurn or L.3/cc (antitank) - changes made on several specimens directly from the operational departments in Italian North Africa in 1941. In place of the twin machine guns an S-18/1000 Solothurn 20 mm anti-tank rifle was mounted, which could penetrate the armor of British armored cars and light tanks.
  • Trubia - experimental version of the Spanish armed with a gun Breda 20/65 Mod 1935 20mm.
  • Chariot anti-tank gun or self-propelled L3 47/32 - prototype self-propelled gun armed with a 47/32 mm; trying "desperately" to adapt to the new demands of war the L3 Chariot had a very similar design to the Panzerjäger I (which was also derived from the most common light tank in the army of adoption, the Panzer I). The hull, superstructure private, had a front antitank gun 47/32 cowl, which was to protect the crew and the rest of the half was equal to the chassis of L .3, although the photo of the prototype seems that the suspensions were a mainspring. Probably would not be successful, since the recoil while content of 47/32 could, in the long run detrimental to the operation of the medium.

Armoured cars

ModelMakerDevelopedProducedArmamentcomments
Fiat 611 w/o gun  [ it ] Fiat 1933463 × Breda Mod. 5C 6.5 mm machine gunhad mobility and maintenance problems
Fiat 611 w gun Fiat 1933 ?2 × Breda Mod. 5C 6.5 mm machine gun and 1 x cannone Vickers-Terni da 37/40 Mod.30considered unsuccessful because was unable to fire forward with machine gun
Lancia IZM (Lancia IZ) Lancia 19151202 × 6.5 mm Maxim gun all machine guns are detachable
Morris CS9 Morris Commercial Cars 1936-14.3mm Boys anti-tank rifle and 7.7 mm Bren light machine gun some vehicles captured from British forces from 1940. equipped with radio, good mobility,
Lince Lancia & Ansaldo 1942263 Breda 38 8 mm machine guncopy of British Daimler Dingo
Autoblindo 40 (AB 40) Fiat&Ansaldo 1940242 × Breda 38 8 mm machine gundeveloped from Fiat-SPA TM40  [ it ], most AB 40 upgraded to AB 41
Autoblindo 41 (AB 41) Fiat & Ansaldo 1941600 Breda Model 35 20mm gunfirepower improvement of Autoblindo 40 (AB 40)
Autoblindo 43 (AB 43) Fiat & Ansaldo 1943147mm 47/32 Mod. 1935 more powerful engine and armor added
SPA-Viberti AS.42 "Sahariano"SPA-Viberti 1942 ?47mm 47/32 Mod. 1935 gunscout car based on AB 41

Engineering and command

Trucks

Light trucks

Medium trucks

Heavy trucks

Passenger cars

Motorcycles

Tractors and prime movers

Miscellaneous vehicles

Aircraft

Radars

Italy was late on the radar development; At the date of the armistice in 1943, 84 of 85 radars in operation were German-built. Italian Army and Navy have deployed a network of radar detectors and jammers though.

See also: Armi avanzate della Seconda Guerra Mondiale/Appendix 4 (wikibook)

Cartridges and shells

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TKS</span> Polish tankette

The TK (TK-3) and TKS were Polish tankettes developed during the 1930s and used in the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L6/40 tank</span> Light tank

The L6/40 was a light tank used by the Italian army from 1940 through World War II. It was designed by Ansaldo as an export product, and was adopted by the Italian Army when officials learned of the design and expressed interest. It was the main tank employed by the Italian forces fighting on the Eastern Front alongside the L6/40-based Semovente 47/32 self-propelled gun. L6/40s were also used in the North African campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannone da 47/32</span> Italian infantry gun / anti-tank gun during World War II

The Cannone da 47/32 mod. 1935 was an Italian artillery piece that saw service during World War II. It was originally designed by Austrian firm Böhler, and produced in Italy under license. The Cannone da 47/32 was used both as an infantry gun and an anti-tank gun at which it was effective against light to medium armored tanks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M15/42 tank</span> Medium Tank

The Carro Armato M15/42 was the last Italian medium tank produced during World War II. It was based on the earlier M13/40 and M14/41 medium tanks, and was built with the lessons from the North African Campaign in mind. The tank was meant to be a stopgap until the heavier P26/40 tank could be produced in numbers. It did not serve in North Africa, the theatre in which it was intended to operate, but served in Italy and in Yugoslavia with the German Wehrmacht.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L3/35</span> Italian tankette that saw combat before and during World War II

The L3/35, also known as the Carro Veloce CV-35, was an Italian tankette that saw combat before and during World War II. Although designated a light tank by the Italian Army, its turretless configuration, weight and firepower make it closer to contemporary tankettes. It was the most numerous Italian armoured fighting vehicle and saw service almost everywhere the Italians fought in the Second World War but proved inadequate for modern warfare, having too thin armour and weak armament of only machine guns. It was cheaply produced but because of its light armaments and armour it was reserved to mostly colonial, policing, reconnaissance, and supply duties. However, given its low production costs, proved to be efficient in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, Spanish Civil War and the Greco-Italian War where it provided reliable support to Italian infantry and disrupted enemy lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L3/33</span> Tankette used by the Italian Army before and during World War II

The Carro Veloce 33 (CV 33) or L3/33 was a tankette originally built in 1933 and used by the Italian Army before and during World War II. It was based on the imported British Carden Loyd tankette. Many CV 33s were retrofitted to meet the specifications of the CV 35 in 1935. In 1938, the CV 33 was renamed the "L3/33" while the CV 35 became the "L3/35s."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20×138mmB</span> Type of ammunition

The 20×138mmB or Long Solothurn cartridge is a type of ammunition used mainly for anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons during World War II. The designation means the caliber is 20 mm, the length of the cartridge case is 138 mm and B indicates it is a belted case. The loaded cartridge weighs 300 grams (10.7 oz).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/77 (Scotti)</span> Italian World War II anti-aircraft gun

The Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/77 (Scotti) was a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun produced by the Scotti company in Italy, used in World War II, firing a 20x138mmB cartridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breda 20/65 mod.35</span> Italian light anti-aircraft gun

The Breda 20/65 mod.35, also simply known as 20 mm Breda or Breda Model 35, among other variations, was an Italian 20 mm (0.787 in) anti-aircraft gun produced by the Società Italiana Ernesto Breda of Brescia company during the 1930s and early 1940s. It saw heavy usage during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, among other conflicts. It was designed in 1932 and adopted by the Italian armed forces in 1935, becoming one of two major 20 mm caliber anti-aircraft guns used by Italy during World War II, along with the Scotti-Isotta Fraschini 20/70, both of which fired the Swiss 20x138mmB "Solothurn Long" cartridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caproni Ca.355</span> Italian WWII dive bomber

The Caproni Ca.355 Tuffo was a low-wing single-engine dive bomber, designed and built by the Italian Caproni company in 1941, which never proceeded beyond a single prototype. Derived from Ca.335 Mistral, the Ca.355 was proposed to equip the Regia Aeronautica, but it was found to offer little advantage over the German Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" and the project was abandoned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiat–Revelli Modello 1914</span> Italian water-cooled medium machine gun

The Fiat–Revelli Modello 1914 was an Italian water-cooled medium machine gun produced from 1914 to 1918. It was the standard machine-gun of the Italian Army in World War I, and was used in limited numbers into World War II. The ammunition was fed from an awkward large box magazine, which could hold 50 rounds and fired the same 6.5mm round issued for the Carcano rifle. Like many machine guns of that period, it was water cooled and somewhat cumbersome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TL.37</span> Italian military artillery tractor

The TL.37 was an Italian military artillery tractor of World War II. It was manufactured by SPA, an Italian car maker that was a subsidiary of Fiat.

8×59mmRb Breda was an Italian heavy arms cartridge. It is unusual in that it is one of the small number of cartridges designed with a rebated rim, meaning the rim of the cartridge is smaller in diameter than the body of the cartridge. The "Rb" in the designation stands for "rebated rim".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auto-Saharan Companies</span> Italian military units which specialized in long range patrols of the Sahara Deser

The Auto-Saharan Companies were Italian military units specialised in long range patrols of the Sahara Desert. Companies were formed around expert soldiers, riding AB 41 armored cars and FIAT and Lancia light trucks customized to operate in the desert. The units operated from the late 1930s to the Italian surrender in 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanks in the Italian Army</span>

Tanks have been employed by the military forces in Italy since their first use in World War I. They have had continued use in wars after and are still used through the modern day. The C1 Ariete is the current main battle tank of the Italian Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SPA Dovunque 35</span> Truck

The SPA 35 is an Italian light off-road truck vehicle produced in Italy by S.P.A. and used by the Royal Italian Army and the Regia Aeronautica during World War II and by the Italian Army in the postwar period. Dovunque is Italian for "anywhere" signifying that the vehicle is capable of travelling cross-country, "35" refers to the year of production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breda 51</span> Motor vehicle

The Breda 51 was an Italian multi-purpose off-road vehicle developed in the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannone da 75/27 A.V.</span> Anti-aircraft gun

The Cannone da 75/27 A.V. was an anti-aircraft gun developed in Italy during the First World War that also saw service during the Second World War.

References

  1. "Sosso 1941 Italian Prototype Pistol". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
  2. "The Italian FNAB-43 submachine gun – LAI Publications" . Retrieved 2024-06-08.
  3. "Vecio.it - la storia degli Alpini nel web - Obice Skoda 100/17 mod.14 e 16". www.vecio.it. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. "Armi avanzate della Seconda Guerra Mondiale/Appendice 6 - Wikibooks, manuali e libri di testo liberi". it.wikibooks.org.
  5. Tony DiGiulian. "Italy 90 mm/50 (3.5") Ansaldo Model 1938, OTO Model 1939". NavWeaps. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  6. Tony DiGiulian. "Italy Miscellaneous 120 mm (4.7") Guns". NavWeaps. Retrieved 2022-08-20.

Further reading