This guide will highlight all the Italian tank designs that were used in World War II.
 

Introduction

Like many of the Great Powers, the Italians experimented in tanks and built their own fleet over time. They mainly based their designs from Vickers and Renault FT-17 designs which were already available for export.
 
 
Contrary to the main great powers, however, the Italians did not really focus on tank design and eventually lost touch with it. This resulted in many outdated and forgettable designs that could not compete with those of other nations. This led to the eventual adoption of American tanks and German tank designs into the Italian Army.
 
 
Keep in mind that the Tank Designer for HOI IV doesn’t allow for a lot more modification so many vehicles will be stuck using the same gun.
 
 
While the tank design may not include a basic radio, you can still add any radio you wish to any tank that has the basic radio modification. You can also upgrade the engine and armour to your liking.
 
 
 

Light Tanks

Fiat 3000

 
produced: 152
 
owned: 190(presumably interwar light chassis are supposed to be them)
 
The Fiat 3000 is Italy's first serial production tank. However it was essentially an Italian copy the Renault FT-17 tank. There were two variants of the Fiat 3000. 100 used only machineguns, while the 52 Fiat 3000B used a 37mm.
 
 
Interwar Light Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Gasoline Engine
• Heavy Machine Gun (small gunnon in the 3000B)
• One Man Turret
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

L3/33 and L3/35

 
produced: 1200 (L3/33 – 1300 (L3/33 –
 
owned: 180
 
The L3/33 and L3/35, both Italian tankettes, are what the Italians used to lighten their tanks throughout the 1930's through the 1940's. The only difference is the guns. The L3/35 is equipped with a dual 8mm Machine Gun, while the L3/33 has a single 6-mm machine gun. Although the L3/35 is slightly less armoured due to 2mm more armour, it doesn't matter. The L3 also featured a flamethrower variant, the L3 Lf. The L3 cc Tank destroyer variant was also produced. It was equipped a 20mm anti tank rifle, which could be used in conjunction with the tank designer as an automatic gun.
 
 
Basic Light Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Gasoline Engine
• Heavy Machine Gun
• Fixed Superstructure

 
 

L3/38

 
produced: 12
 
owned: 0
 
The L3/38 was essentially a L3/35, with a single machine gun of 13.2mm and torsion bars suspension. Only 12 L3/35 were converted from the L3/35 standard to the L3/38 standard.
 
 
Basic Light Chassis
 
 

• Torsion Bar Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Gasoline Engine
• Heavy Machine Gun
• Fixed Superstructure

 
 

L6/40

 
produced: 283
 
owned: 0
 
The L6/40, an Italian light tank, was the last to be produced. Although it was inferior in power to what the Americans and the British could use, it could still be comparable in power to a Soviet T-60. It is equipped with a 20mm automaticcannon and 40mm maximum armour, but it still struggled against the American and British tanks. The L6/40 Lf flame version was also available in small numbers.
 
 
Improved Light Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Gasoline Engine
• Automatic Cannon
• One Man Turret
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 
 

Medium Tanks

M11/39

 
produced: 100
 
owned: 0
 
The M11/39 is an excellent example of a tank which was obsolete as soon it entered production. It was based on Vickers 6 ton design. The M11/39 had a 37mm hull and an 8mm machine guns placed in the top turret. The tank had a maximum armour thickness of 30mm.
 
 
Basic Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Smaller Cannons with Improved Performance
• Fixed Superstructure
• Heavy Machine Gun

 
 

M13/40

 
produced: 740
 
owned: 0
 
The M13/40 proved to have a greater success as a tank than its predecessor the M11/39. Its main gun, a 47mm, was located in the turret and carried more machine guns. There were a maximum of 4-8mm. However, armour didn't improve over that of the M11/39.
 
 
Basic Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Basic High-Velocity Cannon
• Two Man Turret
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun
• Additional Machine Gun
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

M14/41

 
produced: 752
 
owned: 0
 
The M13/41 design improved slightly on the M13/40 design, but it was inferior to any other European Major nations except the French, which could not build tanks in 1941.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Basic High-Velocity Cannon
• Two Man Turret
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun
• Additional Machine Gun
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

M15/42

 
produced: 82-287
 
owned: 0
 
The M15/42, an Italian Medium, was the last to be produced in a series. While it did improve on the shortcomings of the previous designs, the M16/43 was still a prototype. However, it was still far inferior to the other tanks it could face by 1942. It had a maximum armor of 50mm, and a more powerful engine.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Petrol Engine
• Basic High-Velocity Cannon
• Two Man Turret
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun
• Additional Machine Gun
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

M16/43

 
produced: 1
 
owned: 0
 
The British Crusader design for the M16/43 was used to create the M16/43. Although it was mobile, it still had little armour and, like the other medium Italian tanks, it featured a weaker gun than any other major nation.
 
 
Advanced Medium Chassis
 
 

• Torsion Bar Suspension
• Welded Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Basic High-Velocity Cannon
• Two Man Turret
• Radio
• Sloped Armour
• Additional Machine Gun
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 
 

Heavy Tanks

P26/40

 
produced: 103
 
owned: 0
 
Despite being an Italian tank, the P26/40 would have been considered a medium tank under 1943 standards. It was equipped with a 75mm gun, and had a maximum armour of 60mm.
 
 
Improved Heavy Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Improved Medium Cannon
• Two Man Turret
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun
• Sloped Armour
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

P40/43

 
produced: 0
 
owned: 0
 
The P43 was a Heavy Tank design that would have been constructed if Italy had not surrendered in 1943. It was much more powerful than the P26 with 100mm armour and a 90mm gun.
 
 
Advanced Heavy Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Improved Heavy Cannon
• Three Man Turret
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun
• Sloped Armour
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 
 

Tank Destroyers

Semovente da 47/32

 
produced: 282
 
owned: 0
 
The Semovente da 47/32 was an anti-tank destroyer light tank built on the L6/40 platform. It featured the same 47mm features as the M13/40.
 
 
Improved Light Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Gasoline Engine
• Basic High-Velocity Cannon
• Fixed Superstructure

 
 

Semovente da 75/18

 
produced: 262
 
owned: 0
 
The Semovente da 75/18 was an M13/40,M14/41, and M15/42 chassis-based medium Tank Destroyer. It is the weakest of all the medium tank destroyers in Italy.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Close Support Cannon
• Fixed Superstructure
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

Semovente da 75/34

 
produced: 141
 
owned: 0
 
The Semovente da 75/34 was an intermediate Tank Destroyer based on the M15/42 platform. It is significantly more powerful than the Semovente before it.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Petrol Engine
• Improved Medium Cannon
• Fixed Superstructure
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

Semovente da 75/46

 
produced: 11-13
 
owned: 0
 
Although the Semovente da 75/46 was one the most powerful tank destroyers that the Italians fielded, it was so late in war that only the Wehrmacht could use them.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Basic Heavy Cannon
• Fixed Superstructure
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

Semovente da 90/53

 
produced: 30
 
owned: 0
 
The Semovente da 90/53 tank destroyer was the most powerfully armed of the Italians. Armed with a 90mm, it could easily defeat any tank it encountered on the battlefield. It was not as armored as the previous tank destroyers.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Improved Heavy Cannon
• Fixed Superstructure
• Radio

 
 
 

Self Propelled Artillery

Semovente da 105/25

 
produced: 103-121
 
owned: 0
 
The Semovente da 105/25, armed with a 105mm barrel and with a maximum armour of 75mm, was the most powerful self-propelled gun used by the Italians in World War II.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Petrol Engine
• Medium Howitzer
• Fixed Superstructure
• Radio
• Additional Machine Gun

 
 

Semovente da 149/40

 
produced: 1
 
owned: 0
 
The prototype self-propelled artillery piece Semovente da 149/40 was designed by the Italians. It was equipped by a 149mm Howitzer. However, it never saw service as it didn't enter production before the surrender of the Italians.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Diesel Engine
• Heavy howling
• Fixed Superstructure
• Radio

 
 
 

Anti-Aircraft Vehicle Self-Propelled

Semovente da 20/70

 
produced: 1
 
owned: 0
 
The Semovente da 20/70 Quadruplo was an Italian Self Propelled Anti Air Vehicle. It was built on the M15/42 platform and was armed with quad 20mm anti plane guns.
 
 
Improved Medium Chassis
 
 

• Bogie Suspension
• Riveted Armour
• Petrol Engine
• Improved Anti-Air Gun
• Two Man Turret
• Radio

 
 
 

Additional Information

If you have any questions, please comment.
 
 
Other country guides:
 
Allies:
 
United Kingdom – [steamcommunity.com]
 
 
United States – [steamcommunity.com]
 
 
 
Axis:
 
Germany – http://steamcommunity.com
 
 
 
Comintern:
 
Soviet Union – [steamcommunity.com]
 

 
 

 
 
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