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Italy's Semovente M42L da 105/25; Semovente da 149/40 self propelled gun

Photos

Semovente da 149/40 self propelled gun:
Italy's Semovente da 149/40 self propelled gun		 Semovente da 149/40 self propelled gun:
Italy's Semovente da 149/40 self propelled gun		    

Design

Prototype

Production

  • Semovente M42L da 105/25: 90
    • Production: 1943 - ?, April 1943 - ?1
    • Manufacturer: Fiat Ansaldo1
  • Semovente da 149/40: 1
    • Production: 1942 - ?
    • Manufacturer: Ansaldo4
  • Carro Commando M42:
    • Manufacturer: FIAT-Ansaldo2

Variants

  • Semovente M42L da 105/25: Built by Fiat-Ansaldo. Used widened M15/42 chassis.1 First 30 were delivered to Italian army.
  • Semovente da 149/40: Self propelled artillery weapon built by Ansaldo on an M15/42 chassis. It had no shield around the gun. It fired a 101 lb projectile 25,919 yards. The first prototype was ready in late 1942.
    Before it entered production the Italians surrendered to the Allies.

Usage

German Use

  • Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 105/25 853(i):Took over by Germans and they had 60 built after Armistice.
  • Panzerbefehlswagen M41 771(i), Panzerbefehlswagen M42 772(i): 16 confiscated from Italian Army in September 1943.2

Specifications

  Semovente M42L da 105/25 Semovente da 149/40 Carro Commando M42
Crew 32 23 42
Physical Characteristics      
Weight 35,392 lb
15.7 tons2 		52,911 lb3
24,000 kg3 		13.3 tons2
Length w/gun 16' 9"
5.52 m2 		21.7"4, 21' 7.8"3
6.6 m3 		5.04 m2
Length w/o gun      
Height 5' 9"
1.74 m2 		5.5'4, 6' 6.7"3
2 m3 		1.82 m2
Width 7.9'1, 8'
2.4 m1, 2.42 m2 		9' 10"3, 10'4
3 m3 		2.23 m2
Width over tracks      
Ground clearance   16"4  
Ground contact length   147"4  
Ground pressure      
Turret ring diameter      
Armament      
Main 105 mm L/251,2 Canone da 149/40 modello 353
149 mm Model 35, L/404 		13.2 mm MG2
Secondary      
MG 8 mm MG2   8 mm MG2
Side arms      
Quantity      
Main 482   4202
Secondary      
MG 8642   1,5602
Side arms      
Armor Thickness (mm) 15-501 Front: 0.5"4
Side: 0.5"4 		 
Hull Front, Upper 75@0°2, 701
Mantlet: 50 round2
Late Production: 25@20°2+75@0°2 		  30@11°2
Hull Front, Lower 50@55°2   30 round2
Hull Sides, Upper 45@15°2
Late Production: 15@0°2+45@15°2 		  25@9°2
Hull Sides, Lower 25@0°2   25@0°2
Hull Rear 25@0°2 & 25@13.5°2   25@0°2 & 25@9°2
Hull Top 15@86°2 & 15@90°2   15@90°2
Hull Bottom 15@90°2   15@90°2
Turret Front      
Turret Sides      
Turret Rear      
Turret Top      
Engine (Make / Model) 15 TB2 SPA3 15 TB2
Bore / stroke      
Cooling      
Cylinders V-82   V-82
Capacity      
Net HP 1852 @ 2,400 rpm2 2503 1852 @ 2,400 rpm2
Power to weight ratio      
Compression ratio      
Transmission (Type) 5 forward, 1 reverse.2   5 forward, 1 reverse.2
Steering      
Steering ratio      
Starter      
Electrical system      
Ignition      
Fuel (Type)   Gasoline3  
Octane      
Quantity      
Road consumption      
Cross country consumption      
Performance      
Traverse      
Speed - Road 38 kph2 21.75 mph3
35 kph3 		40 kph2
Speed - Cross Country      
Range - Road 180 km2   200 km2
Range - Cross Country      
Turning radius      
Elevation limits      
Fording depth      
Trench crossing      
Vertical obstacle      
Climbing ability      
Suspension (Type)      
Wheels each side      
Return rollers each side      
Tracks (Type)   Dry pin4  
Length      
Width   15.75"4  
Diameter      
Number of links      
Pitch   6"4  
Tire tread      
Track centers/tread   8.6'4  

Sources:

  1. Italian Medium Tanks in Action, Nicola Pignato, 2001
  2. Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
  3. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  4. Tank Data, Aberdeen Proving Grounds Series, 1968?