Italy's Semovente 47/32 su L6/40; 47 mm Gun on L 6/40 chassis, Semovente 47/32:

Photos

Design

It was found during the battles in North Africa that the main tanks used by the Italian Army were very inadequate.² The main gun in the L6/40 was just a 37 mm.² The Semovente L.40 da 47/32 was built upon the L6/40 chassis intending to get a stronger gun into combat.²

Some were converted to command versions with 8 mm machine gun made to look like larger caliber gun.

Main Armament

It had a 47 mm L/32 anti-tank gun as its main armament set inside a box like superstructure.² It was based on the Austrian Böhler gun.²

It fired a 3.25 lb AP shell at a muzzle velocity of 2,100'/sec.³

Prototype

Production

• Semovente L.40 da 47/32: ~280², 300
  • Production: 1941 - ?
  • Manufacturer: Ansaldo², Fiat-SPA², Fiat-Ansaldo³

Variants

• Semovente L.3 da 47/32: Had 47 mm anti-tank gun mounted on a L.3 chassis.² Only the gun shield provided protection.²
• Semovente L.40 da 47/32: Had 47 mm anti-tank gun mounted on a L6/40 chassis.²
• Command: Had machine gun in place of main gun.

Usage

The Semovente L.40 da 47/32 was first used in 1942.² Also used in Russia and Italy.

After the Armistice

German forces took over many of the Semovente L.40 da 47/32s after the Italian Armistice.² A few had the gun removed and used as command vehicles and typically had a 8 mm Breda modello 38 machine gun installed in place of the main gun.²

Some were sent to be used by Croat forces.

Specifications

	Semovente 47/32
Crew	Commander, driver, loader 31, 22
Physical Characteristics
Weight	14,330 lb2 6.4 tons1, 7.5 tons3 6,500 kg1,2
Length w/gun	13' 1.5"2, 12' 5"1, 12.6'3 3.78 m1, 4 m2
Length w/o gun	12' 4.9"2 3.782 m2
Height	5.1'3, 5' 4.2"2, 5' 5"1 1.63 m1,2
Width	6.1'3, 6' 3.6"2, 6' 4"1 1.92 m1,2
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	15.7"3
Ground contact length	106"3
Ground pressure	6.9 psi3
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	47 mm1,2 47 mm L/322 47 mm L/343
Secondary
MG	1: MG1
Side arms
Quantity
Main	702
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	301 Front: 1.5"3 Side: 0.63"3
Hull Front, Upper
Hull Front, Lower
Hull Sides, Upper
Hull Sides, Lower
Hull Rear
Hull Top
Hull Bottom
Turret Front	Mantlet: 2"3
Turret Sides
Turret Rear
Turret Top
Engine (Make / Model)	SPA 18D2 Fiat 18D1 Model 18 VT3
Bore / stroke
Cooling	Water3
Cylinders	41,2,3
Net HP	682 68@2,500 rpm3, 70@2,500 rpm1
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio
Transmission (Type)	4 forward, 1 reverse3 Reduction gear gives 4 lower speeds3
Steering	Clutch brake3
Steering ratio
Starter	Electric3
Electrical system
Ignition	Magneto3
Fuel (Type)	Gasoline1,2,3
Octane
Quantity	44 gallons in 2 tanks3
Road consumption	2.8 mpg3
Cross country consumption	1.1 mpg3
Performance
Traverse
Speed - Road	25 mph, 26 mph1,3, 26.3 mph2 42 kph1, 42.3 kph2
Speed - Cross Country
Range - Road	124 miles2,3, 125 miles1 200 km1,2
Range - Cross Country	50 miles3
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-12° to +20°2
Fording depth	2' 7.5"2,3 0.8 m2
Trench crossing	5.6'3, 5' 7"2 1.7 m2
Vertical obstacle	31"3, 2' 7.5"2 0.8 m2
Climbing ability	40° (84%) slope3
Suspension (Type)	Wheels mounted in pairs, each sprung by a curved cantilever and torsion bar.3 Rear wheel acts as load carrier and track return.3
Wheels each side	4x23
Return rollers each side	33
Tracks (Type)	Dry pin3
Length
Width	10.25"3
Diameter
Number of links	893
Pitch	3.75"3
Tire tread	Rubber3
Track centers/tread	5.1'3