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Italy's P26/40 Heavy Tank:
Was intended to be a heavy tank that would support the mediums.6 It was planned that there would be one company of heavy tanks with three medium companies in each battalion.6
Design work started in 1940 and first prototype wasn't ready until 1942 because of delays in finding an engine that was suitable. The first production models left the factory in 1943.
Produced by Fiat in northern Italy. None were issued to Italian army.
German use: A few were completed and used by the Germans at Anzio in 1944.6 5 prototype vehicles were taken over when the Italians surrendered in September 1943.2 From 1943-1944 100 were built.2 Had an RF 1 CA radio.2
| P26/40 Heavy Tank | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 41,2,3,6 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 58,240 lb 25.59 tons, 26 tons1,2,3,6 26,000 kg, 25,420 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | 18' 9"6, 18' 10 1/3", 19.09'3, 19' 1"1 5.8 m2, 5.82 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 8.26'3, 8' 2.5", 8' 3"1,6 2.5 m2, 2.52 m1 |
| Width | 9'6, 9.18'3, 9' 1/3", 9' 2"1 2.8 m1,2 |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground contact length | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 75 mm1,3,6 75 mm L/342,4 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | MG1,3 MG, hull6 8 mm Model 382,4 8 mm Breda Model 38, coaxial, hull |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | 652 754 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | 5762 6004 |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 14 - 503 501, 606 |
| Hull Front, Upper | 50@45°2 |
| Hull Front, Lower | 50@55°2 |
| Hull Sides, Upper | 45@35°2 |
| Hull Sides, Lower | 40@0°2 |
| Hull Rear | 40@10°2 & 40@40°2 |
| Hull Top | 20@83°2 & 20@90°2 |
| Hull Bottom | 15@90°2 |
| Turret Front | 60@15°2 Mantlet: 60 round2 |
| Turret Sides | 45@25°2 |
| Turret Rear | 40@25°2 |
| Turret Top | 20@82°2 & 20@90°2 |
| Engine (Make / Model) | SPA2 25 liters2 |
| Cylinders | 121,2 V-123,4 |
| Net HP | 4204,6, 2751,3 3302 @ 2,100 rpm2 |
| Transmission | |
| Fuel type | Diesel1,2,3 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | 360°, electric.2 |
| Max Speed | 22 mph1,3, 25 mph4,6 35 kph1, 40 kph4, 42 kph2 |
| Cross Country | 16 mph |
| Road radius | 93.2 miles, 150 miles1, 170 miles6 240 km1, 275 km2 |
| Turning Radius | |
| Elevation Limits | -10° to +23°2 |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical Obstacle | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Return rollers each side | |
| Track length | |
| Tires | |
| Track width | |
| Track centers/tread | |
| Production | 1943: 211, For Germans: 801 FIAT-Ansaldo2 |
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
- Encyclopedia of German Tanks of World War Two, Peter Chamberlain and Hilary Doyle, 1999
- Tanks of the World, 1915-1945, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Ellis, 1972
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- Tanks of World War II, Duncan Crow, 1979
