The following is a list of equipment used by the Royal Italian Army (Regio Esercito), Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica), and Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) during World War II.
Model | Type | From: | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
M91/38 folding bayonet | Bayonet | 1893 | ||
M91/38 standard bayonet | Bayonet | 1891 |
Image | Type | Maker | Rounds | Cartridge | From: | Weight | Number built | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 (+1) | 1935 | 23.28 oz (660 g) | 1,080,000 | Remained in service until 1991. | |||||
8 (+1) | 1937 | 23.5 oz (666 g) | 525,000 | Was a prized souvenir during the war. Remained in service until 1967. | |||||
Società Siderurgica Glisenti | 7 (+1) | 1910 | 29,00 oz (820 g) | 100,000 | Was originally chambered for a 7.65×22mm bottle-neck cartridge, but the Italian Army requested it to be chambered in 9mm. | ||||
Many manufacturers | 6 | 10.35mm Ordinanza Italiana | 1889 | 33.05 oz (950 g) | ? | Italian manufacturers include: Societa Siderurgica Glisenti, Castelli of Brescia, Metallurgica Bresciana, Vincenzo Bernardelli of Gardone Val Trompia. During World War I, Spanish manufacturers, Errasti and Arrostegui of Eibar produced the Bodeo for the Italian government. | |||
- | M1942 Sosso Pistol | FNA Brescia | 21 | 1942 | ? | ? | Experimental design, was never fully adopted. Only five were manufactured, with four of them going to high-ranking Italian officials such as Vittorio Emanuele III and Benito Mussolini.[1] |
Type | Base model | Maker | Rounds | Cartridge | From: | Produced | Weight | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | 1891 | 2,063,750 | 3.4 kg | standard service rifle | |||||
Carcano M1891 Moschetto da Cavalleria (Cavalry Carbine) | 6 | 1893 | ? | 3.4 kg | integral, folding bayonet | ||||
Carcano M1891TS Moschetto per Truppe Speciali (Special Troop Carbine) | 6 | 1897 | ? | 3.4 kg | without bayonet | ||||
Carcano M1891/24 | 6 | 1924 | ? | ? kg | |||||
Carcano M1891/28 | 6 | 1928 | ? | ? kg | |||||
Carcano M1938 carbine | Carcano M1938 carbine | 6 | 1938 | ? | 3.6741 kg | converted to higher caliber cartridge | |||
Carcano 91/38 (Modello 91/38) short rifle | Carcano M1938 carbine | 6 | 1940 | ? | ? kg | reverted to original cartridge | |||
Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 | 5 | ? | ? | 3.8 kg | imported from Austria-Hungary | ||||
M1870/87/15 Vetterli-Vitali | 6 | ? | ? | 4.2 kg | issued to colonial troops in Italian East Africa | ||||
Fucile Armaguerra Mod. 39 | 6 | 1944 | 500 | 3.7 kg |
Type | Maker | Rounds | Cartridge | From: | Rate of fire | Weight | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 | 1930s | 900 rpm | 7 lb 3 oz (3.3 kg) | Semi-automatic carbine developed for police use. Issued in limited numbers to Guardia alla Frontiera and Milizia Forestale units. | ||||
40 | 1938 | 600 rpm | 9 lb 4 oz (4.2 kg) | Different box magazines had a capacity 10, 20 and 40 cartridges. | ||||
FNAB | 40 | 1944 | 600-837 rpm [2] | 8 lb 12 oz (3.9 kg) | Magazines of 20 cartridges were also available. Was expensive to produce and so, only 7,000 were ever made. | |||
Officine Villar Perosa | 25 | 1918 | 900 rpm | 8 lb 0 oz (3,6 kg) | Was issued during the early 1920s; was mostly replaced by other models by the end of the war. | |||
Fabbrica Fratelli Giandoso | 40 | 1944 | 800 rpm | 7 lb 0 oz (3.2 kg) | Produced in small numbers (6,000 made between 1944 and 1945), design was later sold to the Burmese Army and produced as the BA-52. |
Type | Maker | From | Weight | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SRCM Mod.35 | Società Romana Costruzioni Meccaniche | 1935 | 240 g | impact fuse hand grenade | |
OTO Mod.35 | Odero Terni Orlando | 1935 | 150 g | impact fuse hand grenade | |
OTO Mod.42 | Odero Terni Orlando | 1942 | 1100 g | Incendiary grenade | |
Breda Mod.35 | Breda Meccaniche Bresciane | 1935 | 200 g | impact fuse hand grenade | |
Breda Mod.42 | Breda Meccaniche Bresciane | 1942 | 1050 g | Anti-tank grenade | |
L Type | Odero Terni Orlando | 1940 | 2040 g | Anti-tank grenade | |
P Bomb | Improvised Device | 1941 | 2000g or 1000g | Anti-tank grenade |
Model | Caliber | Max. range | From | Produced | Weight, kg | fire rate, RPM | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
45mm | 530 | 1935 | ? | 15.5 | 18 | extremely accurate, 18 mortars per battalion (in 2 platoons) | ||
81mm | 1500 | 1935 | ? | 59.56 | 18 | 6 mortars per regiment, extended range (4 km) shell available |
Italian artillery was usually designated using the calibre and length of the barrel in number of calibre lengths, so "90/53" would mean a weapon with a 90 mm diameter barrel where the length of the barrel was approximately 53 calibre lengths (i.e. 53x90 mm, that is 4.77 m).
Model | Caliber | Max. range | From | Number produced | Weight (kg) | fire rate RPM | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
47mm | 7000abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1935 | ? | 315 | 5 | dual-role anti-tank/infantry gun, adopted for many vehicles, licensed version of Böhler gun | ||
65mm | 6800 | 1907 | ? | 650 | 5 | mountain gun | ||
65mm | 6800 | 1913 | ? | 650 | 5 | mountain gun | ||
Škoda 7 cm K10 | 66mm | 5000 | 1912 | ? | 520 | 10 | naval gun redeployed as coastal artillery | |
Skoda 75 mm Model 15 (Obice da 75/13) | 75mm | 8250 | 1918 | ? | 613 | 7 | Austrian-built | |
75mm | 10000 | 1906 | ? | 1080 | 5 | licensed version of Krupp 1906M gun | ||
75mm | 10240 | 1912 | ? | 1076 | 5 | French-designed | ||
Cannone da 75/27 modello 12 | 75mm | 10000 | 1912 | ? | 900 | 5 | modification of Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 | |
75mm | 9564 | 1934 | ? | 1832 | 5 | mountain gun | ||
75mm | 9564 | 1935 | ? | 1832 | 5 | field gun version of the Obice da 75/18 modello 34 with different carriage | ||
75mm | 12500 | 1937 | 1 | 1250 | 5 | prototype of 75/32 field gun, unmodified went on as tank gun | ||
75mm | 12500 | 1937 | ? | 1250 | 5 | dual-role anti-tank/field gun | ||
76.5mm | 6100 | 1907 | ? | 1065 | 9 | built in Austria-Hungary, bronze barrel | ||
100mm | 8180 | 1914 | ? | 1417 | 6 | Austrian-built, in NATO service until 1984 | ||
Obice da 100/17 modello 16[3] | 100mm | 8180 | 1916 | ? | 1235 | 6 | weight reduction of Obice da 100/17 modello 14 for use as mountain gun | |
Škoda 10 cm K10 | 100mm | 15200 | 1910 | ? | 2020 | 10 | dual-purpose gun | |
Cannon 102/45 | 102mm | 9300 | 1917 | ? | 2327 | 7 | naval gun converted to anti-aircraft gun | |
105mm | 8000 (12000) | 1917 | 854 | 2650 | 5 | license-built, kept in reserve until 1939 | ||
105mm | 6000 (8100) | 1917 | 120 | 1400 | 5 | used in self-propelled gun | ||
120mm | 7700 | 1880 | 5 | 4050 | 5 | fortress Krupp gun, used by Italian border guards | ||
Obice da 149/12 | 149.1mm | 8800 | 1914 | 1500 | 2344 | 3 | Licensed copy of the 15 cm sFH 13 | |
Cannone da 149/23 | 149.1mm | 9300 | 1882 | ? | 6050 | 1 | fortress howitzer, most likely did not see combat in World War II | |
149.1mm | 6500 | 1915 | ? | 2700 | 1.5 | Austrian-built Skoda howitzer | ||
149.1mm | 8800 | 1915 | 490 | 2765 | 1.5 | Obice da 149/12 modello 14 modified for new ammunition | ||
149.1mm | 16500 | 1900 | 895 | 8220 | 1 | No recoil absorber, zero traverse | ||
Cannone da 149/40 modello 35 | 149.1 mm (5.87 in) | 23700abbr=onNaNabbr=on | 1940 | 63+? | 11340 | 1-2 | Replacement for Cannone da 149/35A but insufficient numbers built. Split trail | |
149.1mm | 14250 | 1939 | 230 | 5780 | 3 | Italian replacement for all older howitzers | ||
149.1mm | 15000 | 1912 | 12 | ? | 6 | removed from Austrian battleship Tegetthoff and used in coastal defense | ||
152.4mm | 19400 | 1910 | 53 | 16672 | 1 | Naval gun used in counter-battery fire and siege | ||
152.4mm | 16000 | 1916 | 44 | 11900 | 1 | built in Austria-Hungary | ||
190mm | 20000 | 1904 | 29 | 12700 | 3 | built in Austria-Hungary as naval gun, reused by Italians in coastal defense | ||
Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ | 194mm | 18300 | 1915 | 12 | 65000 | 2 | A French railroad gun in Italian service. | |
191mm | 22000 | 1908 | 24 | 13770 | 2.6 | naval gun reused in coastal defense | ||
203/45 Mod. 1897 | 203.2mm | 18000 | 1897 | 40 | 11900 | 2.4 | built for Giuseppe Garibaldi-class cruisers, used in World War II as siege gun and coastal defense | |
203.2mm | 30620 | 1924 | 26 | 11900 | 2.4 | built for Trento-class cruisers, 1 turret used in coastal defence | ||
210mm | 15400 | 1935 | 20 | 24000 | 1 | Production continued by Germans after surrender of Italy | ||
210mm | 8450 | 1900 | ? | 10930 | 0.4 | In Italian fortresses only | ||
210mm | 8450 | 1900 | ? | 10930 | 0.4 | Towed version of Mortaio da 210/8 D.S. | ||
210mm | 8450 | 1900 | ? | 10930 | 0.4 | Improved mobility version of Mortario da 210/8 PIAT | ||
260mm | 9100 | 1916 | ? | 12560 | 1 round every 12 minutes | Italian version of a Schneider design. | ||
Obice da 280 | 280mm | 11600 | 1890 | ? | 34070 | ? | Coastal defense and siege howitzer | |
305mm | 9600 | 1911 | 79 | 20839 | 0.18 | Austro-Hungarian siege howitzer, received by Italy | ||
305 mm /46 Model 1909 | 305mm | 24000 | 1909 | 62500 | 2 | naval gun used as coastal artillery | ||
305mm | 19000 | 1909 | 6 | 199900 | 1 | naval gun used as coastal artillery | ||
305mm | 20000 | 1911 | 65 | 620000 | 3 | triple-mount Austrian naval gun used as coastal artillery | ||
Cannone navale da 381/40 (coastal) | 381mm | 27300 | 1912 | 10 | 95000 | 1.75 | naval gun used as coastal artillery | |
Cannone navale da 381/40 (railroad) | 381mm | 30000 | 1912 | 7 | 212000 | 1.75 | naval gun used as railroad gun |
See also:
Before and during World War II, Italy designed most of their anti-aircraft guns and some its infantry guns to also serve in the anti-tank role. No dedicated anti-tank gun was produced. Listed below is just the guns used in anti-tank role most commonly.
Model | Caliber | Penetration 100m (110yd) | Penetration 500m | Muzzle velocity | Max. range | From | Produced | Weight kg | fire rate RPM | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
37mm | ? | ? | 700m/s | 6000m (20,000feet) | 1934 | ? | 277 | 120 | dual-role anti-tank/anti-aircraft gun | ||
Cannone controcarro da 37/45 | 37mm | 64mm | 31mm | 735m/s | 5484m (17,992feet) | ? | ? | 327 | 13 | Italian variant of the Rheinmetall Pak 36 | |
47mm | 58mm | 43mm | 630m/s | 7000m (23,000feet) | 1935 | ? | 315 | 5 | dual-role anti-tank/infantry gun, licensed version of Böhler gun | ||
Cannone da 90/53 mod. 1939 | 90mm | 190mm | 850m/s | 17400m (57,100feet) | 1939 | 539 | 8950 | 19 | dual-role anti-tank/anti-aircraft gun |
Model | Caliber | Effective altitude | From | Number produced | Weight, kg | fire rate RPM | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13.2 mm | 1000 | 1929 | ? | 47.5 | 400 | used on command vehicles, licensed copy of the 13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun | ||
20 mm | 2000 | 1940 | 500 | 227.5 | 250 | designed as aircraft cannon, build by Swiss Oerlikon | ||
20 mm | 2000 | 1935 | ? | 330 | 240 | twin mount, main Italian light AA/AT gun | ||
Breda 37/54 mod. 32 | 37 mm | 3500 | 1934 | ? | 5000 | 120 | naval gun with stabilizer | |
Breda 37/54 mod. 38 | 37 mm | 3500 | 1938 | ? | 4300 | 120 | twin-barreled land version, without stabilizer | |
Breda 37/54 mod. 39 | 37 mm | 3500 | 1939 | ? | 1500 | 120 | land version with recoil absorber | |
Breda 37/54 mod. 40 | 37 mm | 3500 | 1940 | ? | 312.5 | 120 | re-navalized version with recoil absorber | |
QF 2-pounder naval gun (40/39 Vickers-Terni mod. 1915) | 40 mm | 3960 | 1917 | 50+ | 711 | 67 | import and licensed production of "pom-pom" gun | |
Ansaldo [4] Cannone da 65/64 modello 39 | 65 mm | 5000 | 1939 | 115 | ? | 20 | ||
75 mm | 8500 | 1935 | 318 | 4405 | 15 | used on Semovente 75/46 as anti-tank gun | ||
75 mm | 9200 | 1939 | ? | 4150 | 15 | Captured from Czech army in 1939 | ||
76.2 mm | 5500 | 1916 | 492 | 1676 | 14 | used in fixed AA positions from 1933 | ||
76.2 mm | 6000 | 1911 | 312 | 2204 | 25 | licensed version of "76 mm Mle 1911 Schneider" | ||
Cannone da 90/53 mod. 1939 | 90 mm | 11300 | 1939 | 539 | 8950 | 19 | used on Semovente 90/53 as anti-tank gun | |
Cannone da 90/50[5] mod. 1939 | 90 mm | 10800 | 1939 | 56 | 18750 | 12 | navalized Cannone da 90/53 version | |
102/35 mod. 1914 | 101.6 mm | 5700 | 1914 | 110 | 1220 | 7 | used by the navy and on armored trains, and on SPG | |
120/27 OTO 1924[6] | 120 mm | 5500 | 1924 | 5 | ? | 9 | removed from submarines, re-used in Messina AA battery |
All calibers of AA guns were also mounted in portee trucks in dual roles (ground attack and AA).
The Italian designation system for tanks consisted of a letter (L, M or P; designating light, medium and heavy tanks respectively) followed by two numbers: one giving the approximate weight in tons, the other giving the year it was accepted for service. Thus "M11/39" means the 11 ton medium tank of 1939. The Italian definitions of light, medium and heavy tank differ from other nations at the time. For instance the Italian "medium" tanks are often described as "light" in other sources.
Model | From | Armor max., mm | Primary armament | Secondary armament | Weight, t | Power, kW | Range, km | Produced | Crew | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1929 | 9 | 2 × 8 mm machine guns | none | 1.5 | 17 | 160 | 4 | 2 | imported from the UK | ||
L2/29 (CV-29) | 1929 | 9 | 2 × 8 mm machine guns | none | 1.5 | 17 | 160 | 21 | 2 | minimal modifications of Carden Loyd Mark VI tankette | |
L3/33 (CV-33) | 1933 | 14 | none | 2.7 | 32 | 110 | 300 | 2 | all previous tankettes were upgraded in 1934 to CV-33 II Mod. 1934 | ||
L3/33 (CV-33 II Mod. 1934) | 1934 | 14 | 2 × Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935 8 mm MG | none | 2.7 | 32 | 110 | ? | 2 | mass production version | |
1933 | 14 | Flamethrower | Fiat–Revelli Modello 1935 8 mm MG | 3.3 | 32 | 110 | ? | 2 | flame tank with towed fuel tank | ||
L3/35 (CV-35) | 1935 | 14 | 2 × Breda 38 8 mm MG | none | 3.2 | 32 | 125 | 2500 | 2 | armor bolted instead of riveted | |
1935 | 14 | 2 × Breda 38 8 mm MG | none | 3.2 | 32 | 125 | ? | 2 | doors and louvers modified for desert operation | ||
1935 | 14 | Madsen machine gun (13.2 mm) | none | 3.2 | 32 | 125 | 24 | 2 | export variant, torsion bar suspension |
Model | From | Armor max., mm | Primary armament | Secondary armament | Weight, t | Power, kW | Range, km | Produced | Crew | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panzer III Ausf N | 1943 | 70 | 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 | 23 | 220 | 155 | 12 | 5 | 12 imported from Germany, can fire HEAT rounds | ||
Panzer IV Ausf G | 1943 | 88 | 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/48 | 25 | 220 | 200 | 12 | 5 | 12 imported from Germany | ||
1941 | 60 | 26.5 | 370 | 400 | 3 | 4 | captured from USSR, used on Eastern front only | ||||
1921 | 16 | 2x6.5 mm machine guns 3000A | 6.5 mm machine gun | 6 | 38.2 | 100 | 100 | 2 | based on Renault FT, 1st Italian tank | ||
1930 | 16 | 37/40 gun | 6.5 mm machine gun | 6 | 38.2 | 100 | 52 | 2 | weapon upgrade of L5/21 | ||
1940 | 40 | 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun | 6.8 | 52 | 200 | 283 | 2 | designed for alpine combat, base for Semovente 47/32 SPG, flame tank version Fiat L6-40 LF | |||
1940 | 43 | 10.6 | 62 | 130 | 124 | 2 | French tank received via Germany | ||||
1941 | 47 | 47 mm SA 35 gun | 19.5 | 140 | 230 | 32 | 3 | French tank received via Germany, used in Italy for training only | |||
1939 | 30 | 37 mm Vickers-Terni L/40 | 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun | 11.2 | 79 | 200 | 100 | 3 | main cannon mounted in front hull below turret | ||
1940 | 42 | 4 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun | 13.5 | 93 | 200 | c.2000 | 4 | main cannon placed in turret, 1 AA machine gun | |||
1941 | 42 | 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun | 14 | 110 | 200 | 800 | 4 | engine improvement of M13/40, machine guns ball turret removed | |||
1943 | 50 | 47 mm Cannone da 47/40 L40 | 4 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun | 15.5 | 145 | 200 | 118 | 4 | general improvement of M14/41, base for Semovente 75/34 gun | ||
Fiat M16/43 ("Sahariano") | 1943 | 50 | 47 mm Cannone da 47/40 L40 | 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun | 16 | 208 | 300 | 1 | 4 | Christie suspension used for first time in Italy | |
1943 | 50 | 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine gun | 26 | 310 | 280 | 103 | 4 | base for Semovente 149/40 SPG, used by German army only |
Name | Chassis | Gun | Developed | Number manufactured | Role | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1941 | 300 | self-propelled AT gun | ||||
1941 | 262 | self-propelled gun | ||||
1942 | 190 | self-propelled AT gun | ||||
Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 | 1942 | 15 | self-propelled gun | |||
Cannone da 90/53 | 1942 | 30 | self-propelled AT gun | |||
105mm howitzer | 1943 | 90 | self-propelled gun | |||
Cannone da 149/40 modello 35 | 1942 | 1 | self-propelled gun, prototype only | |||
StuG III Ausf G | 7.5 cm KwK 40 | 1940 | 0 | self-propelled AT gun, 12 received from Germany |
During World War II, Italy regularly mounted cannons on portee trucks. Also, permanent installation of guns on trucks and armored cars were done on ad-hoc basis, therefore many self-propelled guns had no official name besides descriptive type of truck plus type of cannon. Below is the grossly incomplete list of these self-propelled weapons.
Model | Maker | Developed | Produced | Armament | comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1933 | 46 | 3 × Breda Mod. 5C 6.5 mm machine gun | had mobility and maintenance problems | |||
1933 | ? | 2 × Breda Mod. 5C 6.5 mm machine gun and 1 x cannone Vickers-Terni da 37/40 Mod.30 | considered unsuccessful because was unable to fire forward with machine gun | |||
Lancia IZM (Lancia IZ) | 1915 | 120 | all machine guns are detachable | |||
1936 | - | some vehicles captured from British forces from 1940. equipped with radio, good mobility, | ||||
1942 | 263 | Breda 38 8 mm machine gun | copy of British Daimler Dingo | |||
Autoblindo 40 (AB 40) | 1940 | 24 | 2 × Breda 38 8 mm machine gun | developed from, most AB 40 upgraded to AB 41 | ||
Autoblindo 41 (AB 41) | 1941 | 600 | Breda Model 35 20mm gun | firepower improvement of Autoblindo 40 (AB 40) | ||
Autoblindo 43 (AB 43) | 1943 | 1 | more powerful engine and armor added | |||
SPA-Viberti AS.42 "Sahariano" | 1942 | ? | 47mm 47/32 Mod. 1935 gun | scout car based on AB 41 |
See main article: List of Regia Aeronautica aircraft used in World War II.
Italy was late on the radar development;At the date of the armistice in 1943, 84 of 85 radars in operation were German-built.Italian Army and Navy have deployed a network of radar detectors and jammers though.
See also: Armi avanzate della Seconda Guerra Mondiale/Appendix 4 (wikibook)