Italy's Semovente da 75/18 Su Scafo M 41; Obice da 75/18 Semovente; Semovente M.41M da 90/53 self propelled gun

Photos

Design

Colonel Borlese of the artillery suggested a self-propelled design using the M13/40 chassis with later vehicles using M14/41 chassis.⁶ First prototypes were tested in early 1941 and production started in late 1941. Equipped artillery assault groups of 2 batteries of 4 each and in 1943 3 batteries of 6 each. First saw service with Ariete in North Africa.

A need for an AFV with a more powerful gun lead to the Semovente, which were inspired by the German Sturmgeschütz.^3,5

Main Armament

Semovente da 75/18 M41

Type	Weight	Range	Muzzle Velocity
AP	13.9 lb4	10,454.9 yards5 9,560 m5	1,394.4'/sec5, 1,562'/sec4 425 m4
HE		8,200 yards4

The Semovente da 75/18 M41 was fitted with a 75 mm Ansaldo L/18.⁵ The HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) round could penetrate 2.8" (70 mm) of armor.⁵

There was a muzzle brake and a flash eliminator installed.⁵ The recoil system was inside the gun cradle and was in a gimbal mounting.⁵ The sighting gear was on the right side.⁵ There was a bracket that had a dial sight which projected through an aperture in the roof.⁵

Semovente M.41M da 90/53

Type	Weight	Range	Muzzle Velocity	Penetration
AP	22.2 lb4	15,000 yards4	2,756'/sec4	5.63"@0° at 500 yards4

The Semovente M.41M da 90/53 used a cannone da 90/53.³ It was a very potent gun that was similar in performance to the German 88 mm Flak.³

It was felt that the 90 mm gun could engage the enemy at long range and thus the crew wouldn't need armor protection.⁶ Producing the gun as an anti-aircraft gun received priority.³

Production

• Semovente da 75/18 Su Scafo M 41, Semovente da 75/18: 150
  • Production: 1941 - ?
    • M13/40 hull: 60⁵
    • M14/41 hull, 1942: 162⁵
  • Manufacturer: FIAT-Ansaldo^2,4,5
• Semovente da 75/34: 190⁵
  • Production: 1942-1943⁵
  • Manufacturer: Fiat Ansaldo⁵
• Carro Commando M41/M42:
  • Manufacturer: FIAT-Ansaldo²
• Semovente M 41M da 90/53: ~30, 48^3,6
  • Production: 1941 - ?³
  • Manufacturer: Ansaldo⁴, Fiat, SPA

Variants

• Semovente 75/34: Produced in late 1942.⁵
  The 75 mm L/34 gun had a muzzle velocity of 2,047.2' (624 m)/sec.⁵ Range was 13,670.2 yards (12,500 m).⁵
• Carro Comando per Semoventi (Command): Turretless M13/40 with a 3.2' (1 m) range finding equipment and a RF 1 CA and RF 2 CA radios.⁵ The antennas could be folded and put onto Y shaped rests at the rear of the hull.⁵ It had a goniometer (device for determining true north) installed.⁵
  The early models had two 8 mm Breda Model 38 machine guns in the front of the hull on the right.⁵ In 1942 a 13.2 mm Breda Model 31 machine gun was installed instead.⁵
  Each Semovente battalion received four of these vehicles.⁵ The 75 mm gun was removed, and four outward opening hatches were installed.⁵
  The crew consisted of a commander, a driver, and one or two machine gunners.⁵
  In 1941, 30 were produced on M13/40 hulls.⁵ On the M14/41 hull, 34 were built in 1942, and 45 in 1943.⁵
• Semovente M 41M da 90/53; 90/53 Semovente: Gun was positioned towards rear and left crew exposed. The gun was an anti-aircraft gun.³ The engine was moved to the front so that the gun could be placed at the rear of a M14/41 chassis.³ Had to be accompanied by a L.6 light tank that was converted to an ammunition carrier that carried 26 rounds and it towed a trailer that carried 40 rounds.³

Usage

North Africa

The Semovente da 75/18 da M41 had four 5.3 gallon (20 liter) fuel or water cans mounted behind the radiator cover.⁵ These were held by a metal tube that was bent and bolted horizontally to the cover plate.⁵ These containers weren't always carried.⁵

The Semovente M.41M da 90/53 was primarily used in North Africa.

Organization as of November 11, 1942

A Semovente Gruppo had a Battalion HQ, two batteries of four Semovente each, and four Centro Radio.⁵

German Use:

Once these were taken over they were used primarily as long range artillery as it was difficult to use them in the mountainous regions in northern Italy.⁶

• Sturmgeschütz M42 mit 75/18 850(i): 123 confiscated in September 1943.²
• Sturmgeschütz M42 mit 75/34 851(i): 36 confiscated, and 80 produced in 1943 and 1944.²

Specifications