Semovente da 75/32

The Semovente da 75/32 was a self-propelled gun that was produced in small numbers before being abandoned in favour of the more powerful Semovente de 75/34. It was itself an improved version of the Semovente de 75/18, the first Italian assault gun to be based on the M 13/ M 14/ M 15 tank chassis.

The Semovente da 75/32 was very similar to the earlier weapon, but was armed with the 75/32 Model 37 field gun. This has a longer barrel than the 75/18 gun and thus a higher muzzle velocity, flatter trajectory and improved accuracy. The gun was carried in a modified superstructure, but the chassis and suspension were taken from the original tank.

The Italian army preferred the slightly long L/34 gun and so during 1942 production switched from the Semovente da 75/32 to the Semovente da 75/34. A number of Semovente da 75/32s had been produced and at the time of the Italian Armistice of September 1943 some were in use with the 135th Ariete II Armoured Division based near Rome.

Stats (based on M 14-41 chassis)
Weight: 30,864lb
Crew: 3
Armament: One 75mm Ansaldo L/32 gun
Armour: 6-30mm
Engine: One 125hp Fiat SPA 8V eight cylinder liquid cooled inline engine
Top Speed: 19mph
Length: 16ft 1in
Width: 7ft 6.6in
Height: 6ft 2.8in

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (30 April 2012), Semovente da 75/32 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_semovente_da_75_32.html

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