Inspired by the StuG III

With the StuG, the Germans had devised a way to assist infantry with motorized artillery fire at divisional level, mostly due to General Guderian's ideas before the war. Following the French campaign, an artillery colonel of the Regio Esercito, was impressed by the StuG and lobbied for the production of a similar vehicle, based on an existing chassis. This man was Sergio Berlese, who had designed the successful Obice da 75/18 mod.34. Under his supervision, a prototype was quickly built at FIAT, and delivered for trials in February 1941. It was based on the latest M13/40 chassis. After successful trials, the Army ordered a first batch of 60, to be delivered before mid-1941. However, it was not before January 1942 that these machines saw action in North Africa.

Design

Basically, the Semovente 75/18 (caliber in mm/barrel length in calibers), was based on the medium tank M13/40. The turretless hull received a large casemate, tall enough to allow the gun servants to operate around the main gun. Construction was similar to the regular medium tank, with a bolted hull, the crew/fighting compartment inside the casemate, and separated engine at the rear. However, this compartment was small and redesigned. The suspension (semi-elliptical leaf spring bogies) and tracks were also similar. The crew was reduced, and the commander needed to aim and fire the gun as well.

The gun itself protruded through a half-ball armored mantlet, which allowed considerable traverse (40°) and elevation (-12°/+22°). The 75/18 was a modern artillery piece, fitted with a muzzle brake dotted with small blast exhaust holes. 44 rounds were carried. The gun was meant for infantry support, and had a low velocity (around 450 m/s) and, although the original gun had a 9500 m (5.9 mi) range at maximum elevation (45°), the more reduced elevation of the Semovente reduced this range at 7000-7500 m (4.3-4.7 mi). For close-quarter combat and self defense, the crew carried their personal weapons and a Breda 6.5 mm (0.25 in) machine-gun, which could be mounted near the roof hatch, on a fixed point. However, this machine-gun was rarely carried in practice. A model RF1 CA with interphone radio was usually fitted, served by the loader.

Production and deliveries

Production took place at the same factories which produced, in parallel, the M13/40 and later M14/41. The model evolved accordingly, both in weight, power, speed, range, and protection. The Semovente da 75/18 M40 had the original FIAT 125 hp engine and maximum 40 mm (1.57 in) of armor, while the heavier M41 had a 145 hp (108 kW) engine and double armored plates, with a combined width of 50 mm (1.97 in). This solution proved even stronger than a usual single plate of similar thickness, although the plates were near-vertical. The original 6.5 mm (0.25 in) Breda was replaced by a heavier 8 mm (0.31 in), and around 1108 rounds were carried. By mid-1943, the M42 was the new basis, with few changes except protection and some accommodations.

Production was scheduled to stop in late 1943 as better models were needed, namely the Semovente 75/34, 75/46 and 105/25. The Semovente 75/18 was seen as an interim vehicle before the heavier P26/40 could enter service. The numbers built are pretty elusive, with most sources mentioning 60 M40s and 162 M41s, with no information as to the M42. "Jane's World War Two Tanks and Fighting Vehicles" states that there 30 M40s, 196 M41s and 66 M42s were built, for a total of 292.

The Semovente 75/18 in action

Tactically, these vehicles were mostly used as mobile artillery at divisional level. The organic structure consisted of two artillery groups for each armored division, 2 batteries of four 75/18 each and a command vehicle. The first batch was just enough to equip three armored divisions. The first units equipped with these vehicles started operating in Libya in January 1942. At El Alamein, they performed remarkably well, continuing to do so during the entire campaign, until November 1943. They proved versatile and even deadly against many Allied tanks in direct fire, although the American M3 Lee/Grant and M4 Sherman required the use of HEAT rounds. They also served as assault guns, providing indirect fire. These vehicles were well-served by their low profile, good protection, and could fire either HE, AP and HEAT shells, and performed even often better than the mediums equipped with high-velocity 47 mm (1.85 in) guns.

However, there were several issues with this machine. Firstly, its lack of ammunition, with only 44 round carried, required supply vehicles to be permanently on hand. Secondly, they lacked range compared to the open-topped Allied SPGs, the Priest and Sexton, or the German Wespe, limiting the effectiveness of indirect support. Thirdly, they did not have a coaxial machine-gun and proved vulnerable to infantry assaults. The old-fashioned bolted hull was weaker than welded ones, and the 1930-style suspensions did not allow great speeds. The Semoventes were also seen in action in Sicily, and later in southern Italy, in Italian hands.

However, in the aftermath of the Italian surrender in November 1943, the Germans seized 123 vehicles and ordered the production to continue for their needs, delivering 55 more. They replaced the much-needed StuGs in the same role, the most heavily equipped unit being the Austrian 22nd SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Maria Theresa and one Gebirgsdivision soldiering in Northern Italy and the Balkans. The last Semoventes were seen in action until the capitulation of all German forces in Italy. Nowadays, a few vehicles can still be seen in some museums and collections.

Links about the Semovente da 75/18

On Wikipedia
The Semovente 75/18 on WWIIVehicles.com
On Commando Supremo

Semovente da 75/18 M41 specifications
Dimensions (L-W-H)	4.92 x 2.20 x 1.85 m (16ft 2in x 7ft 3in x 6ft 1in)
Total weight, battle ready	14.4 tons
Crew	3 (commander/gunner, driver, loader/radioman)
Propulsion	Fiat SPA 8T V8 diesel, 125 hp, 8.92 hp/ton
Suspension	Leaf spring bogies
Maximum speed (road)	32 km/h (20 mph)
Operational range	230 km (143 mi)
Armament (see notes)	75 mm (2.95 in) Obice da 75/18 modello 34, 44 rounds
Armor	From 25 to 50 mm (0.98-1.97 in)
Total production	262

Semovente da 75/18 M40, first production series in training, Italy, fall 1941. Notice side access hatch, later dropped.


Semovente da 75/18 M40, Vth gun group (unit commander insignia), "Ariete" Armored Division, Bir Hakeim, May 1942. It was the first unit to see combat.


Semovente 75/18 M41, 2nd battery, 1st group, from the Ariete Division, El Alamein, June 1942.


Semovente 75/18 M41, Littorio division, Sicily, August 1943.


Semovente M41 from an unknown artillery unit, Rome, September 1943. Click to see a Beute StuG 75/18 M41 from the 2nd Fallschirmjäger Division, Rome, October 1943.


Semovente 75/18 M42, unknown unit, Tunisia, February 1943.


Beute StuG 75/18 M42, SS Volunteer Maria Teresa division, Gothic line, fall 1944.


Carro Comando from the 557th Grupo Asalto, Sicily, January 1943. The vehicle was later sent to Tunisia, participating in the last stand of the Italo-German forces in Africa.

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