Semovente da 90/53

The Semovente da 90/53 was a heavy Italian self-propelled gun and tank destroyer, used by the Italian and German Armies during World War II.

Semovente da 90/53
Type	Self-propelled gun
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1942–1943
Used by	Italy Nazi Germany
Wars	World War II
Production history
Manufacturer	Ansaldo
Produced	1942
No. built	30 [1]
Specifications
Mass	17 tonnes (37,500 lb)
Length	5.205 m (17 ft 1 in)
Width	2.20 m (7 ft 3 in)
Height	2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Crew	4 (commander, driver, two gun crew)
Armour	30 mm (1.57 in)
Main armament	90 mm (3.5 in) Cannone da 90/53 8 rounds
Engine	SPA 15-TM-41 eight-cylinder gasoline engine 145 hp (115 kW)
Power/weight	8.5 hp/t
Suspension	leaf spring bogies
Operational range	200 km (124 mi)
Maximum speed	25 km/h (15.5 mph)

Development

The Semovente da 90/53 was created by mounting a 90 mm Cannone da 90/53 anti-aircraft gun on top of an enlarged chassis of a M14/41 tank. Only 30 of these vehicles were produced, all in 1942.^[2] This low production was due to Italy's limited industrial capability at the time, as well as high demand for the 90 mm gun for regular anti-aircraft duties.

The Semovente da 90/53 was primarily developed in response to demands by Italian forces on the Eastern Front for a vehicle-mounted anti-tank weapon that could take on Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. Italian armoured forces on the Eastern Front were equipped only with the L6/40 tank and Semovente 47/32 self-propelled gun; neither of these had the firepower to cope with the Soviet medium and heavy tanks. However, no Semovente da 90/53 were ever sent to the Eastern Front.

The major drawback of the Semovente da 90/53, as with many self-propelled gun types of World War II, was the open top and rear of the gun compartment, which left the gun crew exposed to shrapnel and small arms fire. In addition, the Semovente da 90/53 had little or no armour in most areas. Because these vehicles were designed to operate far enough away from enemy vehicles to not be subject to incoming fire, this was initially not considered a problem. The small ammunition capacity of the vehicle—eight rounds—was also a problem, necessitating the creation of special ammunition carriers out of Fiat L6/40 tanks, one accompanying each Semovente da 90/53 in the field. The L6 ammunition carrier carried 26 rounds, plus an additional 40 rounds in a towed trailer.^[3] Beside the standard Armour Penetrating rounds, it could fire Effetto Pronto, or HEAT rounds, which shaped charge could pierce 200mm armour plating at any range.

Combat use

None were ever sent to the Eastern Front. In the North African Campaign, the Semovente da 90/53 proved to be an effective weapon and its long range was well suited to the flat and open desert terrain.^[3] 24 Semovente 90/53s saw service with the 10th Self-propelled Anti-tank Grouping against the Allies in Sicily during the Allied invasion in 1943. Following the Armistice of Cassibile in September 1943, the few surviving Semoventi da 90/53 were seized by the German Army, but were of little value in the mountainous terrain of Northern Italy. As a result, most finished their careers as long-range artillery.

Surviving vehicle

Only one Semovente da 90/53 survived the war. Originally displayed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds (APG), as shown in the sidebar photo above, it was transferred the Fort Sill Field Artillery Museum in Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 2012. It has since been restored by the Fort Sill Directorate of Logistics (DoL) paint shop and is awaiting display. This surviving example has, "A fairly good history. It was assigned to the 163rd Support Artillery Group, was captured in Sicily in 1943 and shipped back to Aberdeen for evaluation."^[4]

References

1. Cappellano, Filippo; Battistelli, Pier Paolo. Italian Medium Tanks (New Vanguard) (p. 67). Bloomsbury Publishing.
2. Pejcoch, Ivo. Obrněná technika 9 – Itálie, Španělsko 1919–1945. 1st ed. Prague, 2009. ISBN 978-80-86158-55-6
3. Bishop, Chris (general editor) (1998). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Metro Books p. 49, ISBN 1-58663-762-2 url:
4. Army FA museum adds WWII artillery pieces

Sources

• Trewhitt, Philip (1999). Armored Fighting Vehicles. New York: Amber Books. p. 143. ISBN 0-7607-1260-3.
• Pejcoch, Ivo (2009). Obrněná technika 9 – Itálie, Španělsko 1919–1945. Prague: Ares. pp. 146–149. ISBN 978-80-86158-55-6.

External links

• Semovente da 90/53 at wwiivehicles.com
• WWII U.S. Report on Semovente 90/53, June 1943