Self-propelled Installation “Semovente Da 75/18 Su Scafo M40″

Self-propelled installation “Semovente da 75/18 su scafo M40″

Fighting Italian troops in 1940-41 for the North African theater of war clearly showed the weakness of armored fascist Italy. Attempts to significantly improve the basic characteristics of the Italian medium tank M13/40 (although the mass, he found himself in the category of light) through the upgrading does not yield the desired results. Then, based on the German experience of the assault weapons StuG III Ausf B in France, Italy decided to build their own analogue. It was built several prototypes based on a standard tank M13/40, of which the most successful car company was “Ansaldo” co. In January 1941, has followed the first order for production of these self-propelled guns. Serial machines received official designation “Semovente da 75/18 su scafo M40″.

From a technical point of view of self-propelled gun was a tank chassis M13/40 c installed in the middle of the armored corps, which establishes a 75-mm howitzer M34 firm “Ansaldo” with a barrel of 18 calibers. Mount howitzer was carried out in two sliding over each other masked hemispherical shape; traverse was 40 degrees, which was much more similar characteristics of any other car of similar purpose.

Hull without rational slope armor plates was a steel frame mounted with bolt armor plate, it was divided into three sections – gear, military and power, measured from the forward end of the machine. Forceful office was partitioned off from the battle of the transverse bulkhead. Torque from the engine transmitted to the transmission components through a propeller shaft passing through the fighting compartment. Two jobs for members of the crew (driver front) were left of the propeller shaft and one – on the right. Two gunners had to serve as a gunner, loader, commander and a radio operator, only a driver was not overloaded with functional responsibilities. The German StuG III counterpart, each of these functions to perform certain member of the crew.

Blocked four roller suspension as a tank M13/40 and machines based on it (including Semovente da 75/18) was quite common at that time. Double road wheels of small diameter pairs blocked in a small truck, couple of small trucks attach to the ends of two large trucks on the balances of the transverse axes. Above rocker big truck was located elastic element – semi-elliptical leaf spring. On each side of the vehicle chassis includes two large trucks, leading the front wheel, rear-sloth location and three support rollers for the upper branch of the caterpillars.

Total construction Semovente da 75/18 su scafo M40 was estimated by the Italian military as a successful, simplicity and easy of service.

After the transition of Italian industry to release the upgraded model of the tank M14/41 production Semoventi (plural of Semovente) continued on their base. Accordingly, changed the official designation of the machine on Semovente da 75/18 su scafo M41. An important improvement of this modification was the 8-mm anti-aircraft machine gun Breda, which could be used for self-defense self-propelled guns in close combat. Since changes in the chassis base machine was very small, then for the release Semoventi used the same technological equipment, as for the tanks. This was a great advantage, allowing you to produce in 1942 is quite capable machine on the base chassis already hopelessly outdated tank.

After adopting a model M15/42 tank fired another 200 Semoventi da 75/18 su scafo M42 at their base. In production they experienced M15/42, which was found unable to resist the armored allies. The released production capacity without any serious costs immediately switched to a release Semoventi. Production update DA 75/18 was discontinued in the second half of 1943 in light of the release of new models Semoventi, equipped with more powerful guns.

Semovente da 75/18 su scafo M40

In January 1942 the first self-propelled guns arrived on arms combat units of the Italian Army and in the next month took part in the success for the Ital-German forces attack. Self-propelled gun Semovente M40 da 75/18 with all the modesty of its external characteristics of highly rated on the basis of their combat use. The positive qualities of this machine is small size in general (primarily height) and very good angle of the horizontal fire at the location of guns in a stationary armored cockpit. This facilitated the concealment self-propelled gun on the ground and ambushes on the route of the enemy.

Organizational Semoventi used in the duble batarea units to 8 cars each. Since 1943, organizational and staffing structure has changed in the three batteries of 6 self-propelled guns. To control the fire command vehicle used on the basis M13/M14/M15 equipped with range finders and high-power radio stations. Armament of the command vehicle was purely machine-gun.

All sources mention the use of Semovente M40 da 75/18 as a tank destroyer in the North African theater of operations. However, the reader is familiar with the history of confrontation projectile and armor during World War II on the Eastern front, some may question the suitability of the considered self-propelled guns to fight with tanks, if the German equivalent of arming StuG III Ausf B quickly disappeared from the scene. It is appropriate to make a brief digression into the theory and practice of anti-tank artillery.

Short-barreled 75-mm gun M34 Ansaldo having a barrel in 18 caliber anti-tank capabilities possessed opredennyh: theoretical calculation shows that its armor-piercing shell weighing 6.3 kg with an initial speed of 400 m / s can penetrate to a distance of 1000 m with a probability of 50% armor average hardness of 45-50 mm thickness along the normal. If the angle of impact, measured from the normal, was 30 degrees, then under the same conditions projectiles penetrated the armor of a thickness of 40 mm. For the conditions of the last case there are the practical results of penetration in armor thickness 37 mm. The comparison between theoretical calculations and practice can be called very good.

With respect to use Semovente M40 da 75/18 anti-tank, this means that hit in the forehead, “Matilda” and “Sherman” In considering the conditions, almost impossible, but there is a sufficient likelihood of penetration of the frontal armor “Crusader.” However, the tactics of using anti-tank artillery involves organizing bases so that when a frontal attack on one enemy tanks were converted sides or rear of another outpost. In British and American tanks, fought in Africa, the reservation has been differentiated, IE, the chance to defeat the enemy at Semovente M40 DA 75/18 by firing into the side significantly increased. More or less protected from the fire of the Italian self-propelled guns in the British tanks aboard “MatilDA” and “Valentine” and “Crusader” and the earlier cruising many-machines are in such a vulnerable situation.

It is worth noting that the T-34 had equiresistant booking and attack from the flank did not let short-barreled gun StuG III Ausf B special benefit. So in 1941 the need to replace 75-mm short-barreled gun system to a more powerful in Russia was very compelling, and in North Africa not so severe – impact specific theater of operations.

Low visibility Semovente M40 da 75/18, a good disguise, follow the above tactics (self-propelled base gives more opportunity to quickly change firing positions) have given this quite successfully self-propelled guns to fight a much stronger opponent. It should be added the fact that the gun M34 Ansaldo there was a cumulative weight of shell 4.2 kg and muzzle velocity 280 m / s, which punched a 70-mm armor at a 30 degree angle from the normal. Such ammunition could successfully hit the “Matilda” or “Sherman.”

The disadvantages of self-propelled guns, in addition to the weak-mentioned reservation, had a low speed and the strongest gassed the crew compartment when shooting. Therefore, to fire a Semovente it was only possible with open hatches. Feedback from the crews, the temperature inside the crew compartment car while shooting in the hot African climate of 50-60 degrees Celsius, and raised sand powder gases through the open hatches got into the car. As a result, the conditions of shooting just turned hellish.

Summarizing all the above, we can say that the high combat effectiveness of the Italian self-propelled is by no means something impossible. Any numeric expression as it will leave to the reader. The author quite deliberately does not bring them, because any calculation of losses are (especially in the double transfer) is extremely controversial and subjective. More important to show the principal possibility of anti-Semovente M40 da 75/18. Detailed and how any objective study of this interesting problem goes far beyond a review article.

The sources of Italian-German descent, also referred to good performance Semovente M40 da 75/18 as assault weapons in direct support of tanks and infantry. On the other hand, weak armor leaves the Italian self-propelled chance to survive when hit in her not only shells of light anti-tank guns, but bullets and antitank guns.

On the Western Front after the Allied victory in Africa followed by their landing in Italy with a much more serious armor than available from the British in the years 1941-42. However Semoventi M42 da 75/18 continued to use in battle and to produce even after the official surrender of Italy. Northern part of the most developed industry long controlled by the Germans and completely beyond their formations such as the Italian Social Republic. 132 Semoventi M41/M42 da 75/18 were seized or confiscated from the former parts of the Italian Army as booty. Manufacturing Company self-propelled guns Ansaldo received from the Germans is the official order for the production of another 55 machines of this type for the needs of the Wehrmacht. At the service of German self-propelled guns were classified as Sturmgeschütz M42 mit 75/18 850 (i). Predominantly mountainous character of the landscape in Italy, favored the use of these machines as a tank destroyer despite increasing the tank’s armor allies.

Complete liberation of Italy from German occupation forces in April 1945 was the end of the combat use of Semoventi in the Apennines. However, the geography of the use of these machines is not limited to North Africa and Italy. Two self-propelled da 75/18 in September 1943 were in the Balkans, Slovenia, and were subsequently confiscated by the Germans.

Some sources, including a directory of German armored 1934-45 gg. Shmelev, referred to the participation of Italian Semoventi M40 da 75/18 in battles on the Eastern Front. Italian historians, this fact was not confirmed in the battles on the territory of the USSR Semoventi M40 da 75/18 have not tapped.

Model Semovente da 75/18 su scafo M40 available in a wide range of modelers Russian – Russia’s leading manufacturer of model output “Star” has it in the range of its products. The quality of the overall model can be assessed as good and it is not surprising: molds for castings are licensed from the same Italian company Italeri. However, to build self-propelled model requires some experience – a set contains a large number of small parts, not remarkable for strength. Convergence good except for the fenders, which must adjust the post file. The set offers the possibility of withdrawing bronerubki for access to the interior of self-propelled guns, which in the opinion of the author is not sufficiently advanced – no laying of ammunition and a number of other internal components of the machine. However, staffing resources for sustainable harvesting attachment to the body is not enough; modeler must perform their own fit for felling gapless pairing with the case and make a latch for its reliable fixation in the state wore. Other than comments on the tiny Italian self-propelled guns there, unlike the interior of its appearance in great detail detailed.

The author expresses great appreciation party forum armored Site Ts Ts Galoot for help in preparing the materials for this article, and A. Eliseenko for valuable critical comments on the original version of the text.
The performance characteristics
Characteristics Semovente da 75/18 su scafo M40 in service with the state in January 1941
Developer and manufacturer of Companies Ansaldo, FIAT
Production Series January 1941 – second half of 1943
Base Medium Tank M13/40 (M14/41, M15/42)
Combat weight, t 13.1
Length, mm
- Body, mm 4910
Width, mm 2200
Height, mm 1850
Average specific ground pressure, kgf/cm2 0.88
Engine
Make FIAT 15T
Type Diesel
Power, hp 125
Chassis
Fuel capacity, l 340
Specific power, pp. with. / t 9.5
Speed, km / h
- Maximum 31
- Mean the lane 14-18
Cruising range (highway) 200 km
Reservations
- Forehead logging 25 + 25
- Forehead Corps 30
- The side hull 25
- The roof of Building 10
- Bottom 15
Crew 3
Artillery weapons
Number x type 1 x Gun M34
Caliber, mm 75
Type loading unitary
Angles guidance, degrees
- Vertical from -12 to +22
- Horizontal 40
Barrel length, mm / KLB 1350 / 18
- Ammunition, 44 rounds
Additional armament
Gun
- The number of type x 1 x 8-mm Breda (only on the chassis M41/M42)
- Ammunition, bullets around 1000