Semovente 105/25

The Semovente 105/25 was an Italian tank destroyer in use during World War II. It was constructed by mounting a 105 mm gun that was 25 calibers long (hence the name) in a widened chassis from a M15/42 tank. Thirty were built by Fiat-Ansaldo and delivered in 1943 before the Italian surrender in September that year. After the surrender the German forces took them over and used them under the designation Sturmgeschütz M43 mit 105/25 853(i) and they also built 60 more Semovente 105/25s. This vehicle is considered the best armored fighting vehicle Italy produced during the war.