Semovente da 47/32

The Semovente L. 40 da 47/32 was an Italian self-propelled gun built during World War II. It was created by mounting a Cannone da 47/32 anti-tank gun in an open-topped, box-like superstructure on a L 6/40 light tank chassis. Some were built as command tanks with a radio installed instead of the main gun. An 8 mm machine gun disguised as the 47 mm main gun was used on these versions to make them look like a regular Semovente 47/32s. About 300 Semoventi da 47/32 were built from 1941 and onward. The Semovente da 47/32 was the most heavily armed Italian AFV used on the Eastern Front.

While the 47 mm gun was adequate for 1941, by the time the Semovente reached the field it was already outdated and ineffective against enemy medium tanks, and therefore the vehicle wasn't particularly successful.

After the Italian armistice in September 1943, the German Army took all Semovente 47/32s they could get hold of for their own use. German designation was StuG L6 47/32 630(i). Some of these were provided to Germany's Croatian puppet state and the Slovene Home Guard.

Variants

 * Semovente L. 40 da 47/32: standard variant, carrying 70 rounds of ammunition in the hull and lacking a radio.
 * Carro comando plotone per semovente da 47/32: platoon commander vehicle, equipped with a Marelli RF 1 CA radio set, at the expense of a reduced ammunition capacity (47 rounds). Recognizable from outside by its single radio aerial.
 * Carro comando compagnia per semovente da 47/32: company commander vehicle, equipped with two radio sets—a Marelli RF 1 CA and a RF 2 CA. The main gun was removed to make room for the radio equipment; in its place there was a 8 mm Breda mod. 38 machine gun, disguised as a 47 mm gun. It can be recognized by the twin radio aerials ad the mock gun barrel.