L6 / 40

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L6 / 40

The L6 / 40 was an Italian tank during World War II and was developed by Ansaldo .

The design of the L6 / 40 is based on a design by the British Carden-Loyd tankette from the 1930s. The first prototypes were completed in 1936. The Italian army ordered 283 of the tanks that were delivered from 1941 to 1942 and were already out of date when they were commissioned. Due to production bottlenecks at Ansaldo in Genoa, all L6 / 40s were built at Fiat in Turin.

When it was introduced, the L6 / 40 was roughly comparable to the German Panzerkampfwagen II , but was not suitable for service at the front. It was used by reconnaissance and cavalry units in Italy, North Africa and the Soviet Union . The different variants included a flamethrower and a command tank, which was equipped with additional telecommunications equipment and an open-topped tower. The chassis of the L6 / 40 served as the basis for the Semovente 47/32 self-propelled gun, of which several hundred were built.

Captured L6 / 40s were used by the German Wehrmacht in 1944.

Technical specifications

  • Weight: 6800 kg
  • Length: 3780 mm
  • Width: 1920 mm
  • Height: 2030 mm
  • Feed depth: 800 mm
  • Climbing ability: 0.7 m
  • Gradeability: 60%
  • Trench crossing ability: 1.7 m
  • Drive: four-cylinder in-line engine SPA 180 with 70 HP (51 kW)
  • Top speed: 42 km / h (road)
  • Range: 200 km
  • Armament:
    • 20 mm Breda 35 cannon with 296 rounds
    • 8-mm-MG Breda 38 with 1560 rounds (coaxial in the turret)
  • Armor: 6 to 30 mm
  • Crew: two men

See also

Web links

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