L3/33 (CV 33) and L3/35 (CV 35):
Was designed for reconnaissance, security, and support larger tanks.
L stood for light, and 3 for 3 tons.4 33 and 35 stood for 1933 and 1935 respectively.4
All the battalions in the Littorio and Centauro armored divisions started the war with L3s.4
L3 Prototype
L3/33,
Carro Veloce 33 Tankette6:
During the 1920s the Italians saw a Carmen-Loyd 2 man tank and purchased6 some. Italy also got the rights to manufacture them.6 Twenty-five were built and called the CV (Carro Veloce) 29 (CV-284).6 Ansaldo produced them with some components made by FIAT.
Originally called CV.33 and CV.35 until 1938 when were redesignated.
Was armed with a 6.5 mm water cooled MG, and later armed with and air cooled MG.
Had a bolted superstructure and improved vision equipment. Had a Breda 13.2 mm MG.
First saw action against Ethiopian5 tribesman at Ual-Ual in December 1934.4
Also saw action in Ethiopia5, Spain5, France, Greece, Yugoslavia, Albania5, Crete, North Africa, Russia, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Italy.
Were also sold to Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Nationalist Spain5, and Salvador.2
L3/35:
1,300 were initially ordered (1,200 with MGs, and 200 with 37 mm gun).
Only 300 were built and were designated Series I and were armed with a 6.5 mm MG. They were built by Ansaldo and FIAT.
Riveted and welded construction. The commander/gunner was on the left and the driver on the right.4
Engine was mounted in the rear, transversely.4 A circular radiator was mounted behind it.4 The transmission went to the front to the final drive.4
The suspension had two 3 wheel bogies on leaf spring and a single unsprung wheel on each side.4 There was a acacia wood rail that the top run of the tracks went on.4
In 1935 the Series II was produced with twin FIAT Model 18/35 MGs.
Late models had 20mm AT rifle installed.3
Ethiopia
First used in Dec. 1934 against Ethiopians at Ual-Ual in Italian Somaliland.
Spain
Two battalions were sent to Spain to fight with Franco.4 When returned from Spain they became the basis for the Littorio Armored Division created in May 1940.4
Russia
Was used with Italian troops that fought in Russia.4
CV Fiat-Ansoldo L38:
Strong suspension and new tracks.2 From 1940 on some had a Swiss Solothum s18-2000 20 mm antitank gun in place of MG.
L3 Lf (Carro Lancia Fiamme),
Carro Veloce L35/Lf Flamethrower Tankette6:
Had a hooded long barrel flamethrower in place of the MG with a towed 110 gallon/500 liter fuel trailer.6
Another tanks was sometimes mounted on the rear of the hull and carried 13 gallons (60 liters) of flame fuel. Range of 328'/100m.6 One platoon in each tank company was equipped with the L3 Lf. Was used in North Africa.
Carro Radio:
Carried a radio on the rear hull. RF-1-CA model.3
Carro Veloce Recupero:
Was developed as an armored recovery vehicle but never entered production.
Passerella:
Had a 23' (7m) bridge on a towed trailer that was broken down into 4 pieces. The bridge could be assembled in 10 minutes.
Not used in combat.2
Semovente L3 da 47/32:
Had it's superstructure removed and a 47 mm antitank gun mounted. Apparently only 1 was manufactured.
| CV 33, L3/33 | CV 35, L3/35 | L35/Lf | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | Commander, driver | 21,2,6 | 23 | 26 |
| Physical Characteristics | ||||
| Weight | 7,168 lb, 7,571 lb 3.35 tons |
3.15 tons1,2, 3.2 tons6, 3.3 tons5 3,200 kg1,6 |
3.2 tons3,4 | 3.2 tons6 3,200 kg6 |
| Length w/gun | 10' 4.75", 9' 11" 3 m |
10.4'2, 10' 5"1,6 3.17 m1, 3.18 m6 |
10' 4"4 3.17 m3 |
10' 5"6 3.18 m6 |
| Length w/o gun | ||||
| Height | 4' 2.75", 4' 2" | 4.25'2, 4' 3"1,6 1.3 m1,6 |
4' 2"4 1.28 m3 |
4' 3"6 1.3 m6 |
| Width | 4' 7", 4' 6" 1.2 m, 1.4 m |
4.67'2, 4' 8"1,6 1.42 m1,6 |
4' 7"4 1.4 m3 |
4' 8"6 1.42 m6 |
| Width over tracks | ||||
| Ground clearance | ||||
| Ground contact length | ||||
| Ground pressure | 7.1 psi | |||
| Turret ring diameter | ||||
| Armament | ||||
| Main | 2: 8 mm Breda 88 MG (8 mm FIAT Model 18/35) |
6.5 mm MG1 OR 2: 8 mm MG1 1 or 2: MG2 1: 6.5 mm Breda MG OR 2: 8 mm Breda MG6 6.5 mm Type 14 MG (1933-1935)2 2: 8 mm MG (1935 on)2 6.5 mm Fiat-Revelli Model 14 MG5 2: 8 mm Breda Model 38 (1935 on)5 |
2: 8 mm Breda 353 2: 8 mm Breda 88 MGs4 |
Lanciaflamme Flamethrower6 |
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | ||||
| Side arms | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Main | 3,200: 8mm OR 3,800: 6.5 mm |
|||
| Secondary | ||||
| MG | ||||
| Side arms | ||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 146, 151 5 - 152 |
Front: 133 Side: 93 13.54 |
146 | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 14 | |||
| Hull Front, Lower | 14 | |||
| Hull Sides, Upper | 9 | |||
| Hull Sides, Lower | 9 | |||
| Hull Rear | 9 | |||
| Hull Top | 6 | |||
| Hull Bottom | 6-14 | |||
| Turret Front | ||||
| Turret Sides | ||||
| Turret Rear | ||||
| Turret Top | ||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | FIAT-SPA CV3 water cooled | Fiat1 Fiat-SPA CV36 |
Fiat4 | Fiat-SPA CV36 |
| Bore / stroke | ||||
| Cooling | ||||
| Cylinders | 41,6 | 44 | 46 | |
| Capacity | ||||
| Net HP | 43 @ 2,400 rpm | 421,6, 432 | 433,4 | 426 |
| Power to weight ratio | ||||
| Compression ratio | ||||
| Transmission (Type) | ||||
| Steering | ||||
| Steering ratio | ||||
| Starter | ||||
| Electrical system | ||||
| Ignition | ||||
| Fuel (Type) | Gasoline1,2,6 | Gasoline6 | ||
| Octane | ||||
| Quantity | ||||
| Road consumption | ||||
| Cross country consumption | ||||
| Performance | ||||
| Traverse | 12° both directions | 20° each directions3 | ||
| Max speed | 26 mph1,2,6 42 kph1,6 |
26 mph4 42 kph3 |
26 mph6 42 kph6 |
|
| Cross country speed | ||||
| Road radius | 75 miles | 78 miles1,6 125 km1,6 |
78 miles6 125 km6 |
|
| Cross country radius | ||||
| Turning radius | ||||
| Elevation limits | +15° to -12° | -20° to +20°3 | ||
| Fording depth | 2' 4" | |||
| Trench crossing | 4' 10", 4' 9" | |||
| Vertical obstacle | 2' 4", 2' 2" | |||
| Climbing ability | ||||
| Suspension (Type) | bogie units and a single unsprung road wheel each side | 2: 3 wheel bogies, 1 unsprung wheel4 | ||
| Wheels each side | 6 | |||
| Return rollers each side | ||||
| Tracks (Type) | ||||
| Length | ||||
| Width | ||||
| Diameter | ||||
| Number of links | ||||
| Pitch | ||||
| Tire tread | ||||
| Track centers/tread | ||||
| Production | 1933-: 2,250, 2,500 | 760 |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
- Italian Medium Tanks in Action, Nicola Pignato, 2001
- The Illustrated Guide to Tanks of the World, George Forty, 2006
| Want to learn about a new vehicle? Select the random picture to learn about the vehicle. |
