Deployed alongside M13/40 and M14/41 tank units, the Semovente provided critical firepower to Italian armored divisions during their defense of northern Africa and Sicily.
Throughout the Second World War, the biggest threats to the Allies were Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The third wheel of the Axis Powers, Fascist Italy, was looked upon with much the same derision that Venezuela or Iran are looked down upon by Western militaries today.
Still, Italy was not totally helpless. Indeed, as a naval power at the start of the war, the Italian navy was well-armed and competent.
Everyone knows about the “wonder weapons” the Nazis were designing to win the war. Some have even heard of the weapons that Japan was scrambling to build to keep itself in the fight. Did Italy have any similar projects?
After all, Italy was a modern power at the time. In many respects, Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was the senior partner to Nazi Germany’s Adolf Hitler; he had been in power for a decade longer, and had far more diplomatic clout in the other capitals of Europe. In fact, Mussolini played a key role in securing the Munich agreement between Hitler and Britain’s Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain—as well as facilitating the alliance between Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany.
Italy Built Great Artillery Guns
And it turns out that Italy was developing some advanced systems. Although, one might not think of them as “wonder weapons” of the kind that the Germans were coming up with—such as the world’s first jet-powered warplane, or even the radical Nazi “Sun Gun.” Italian advanced weapons were far more practical, reflecting the limits of Italy’s defense industrial base—as well as the fact that the Italians were far more pressured by the Allies at the start of the war than were the Germans.
Italy’s army, the Regio Esercito, struggled to produce advanced or new main battle tanks (MBTs). It did, however, produce a series of self-propelled guns (SPGs) that proved to be among its most effective armored vehicles.
The Semovente da 75/18 was created in 1940. At that time, Italy’s armored forces relied heavily on light tanks such as the L3/35 tankette and medium tanks like the M11/39, both of which were notoriously underpowered and poorly armored compared to their Allied and Nazi counterparts.
To improve conditions, the Italians watched the Germans and took notes. The German StuG III assault gun, which had proven highly effective during the 1940 invasion of France, inspired Italian artillery Colonel Sergio Berlese to propose a similar vehicle. Berlese, who at that time had already designed the Obice da 75/18 Modello 34 mountain gun, envisioned mounting that howitzer on an existing tank chassis to create a versatile SPG capable of supporting infantry and engaging enemy armor.
The Semovente: A Cannon Strapped to the Back of a Tank?
The first Semovente prototype, based on the M13/40 medium tank chassis, was completed rapidly and delivered on February 10, 1941, only 13 months after the M13/40 entered production. This quick development reflected Italy’s urgent need to bolster its armored capabilities. The initial model, designated Semovente da 75/18, was intended as an interim solution until the heavier P40 tank could be produced. The P40’s delays, however, ensured that the Semovente became a mainstay of most Italian armored units throughout the war.
Over time, the Semovente also improved, evolving to incorporate an improved chassis (the M14/41 and M15/42) and more powerful guns, notably the 75/34, 75/46, and 105/25, to address the increasing threat posed by Allied tanks.
But the Semovente da 75/18 model was the most widely produced of all the Semonvente series of SPGs. Built on the chassis of the M13/40, M14/41, or M15/42 tanks, with the hull modified to accommodate a fixed casemate housing the 75mm Obica da 75/18 modello 34 howitzer, this system proved to be quite effective in engagements against Allied forces.
The vehicle’s armor was constructed with riveted steel plates, offering up to 50mm of frontal protection—thicker than the 42mm maximum of the original tanks but less sloped, resulting in a vertical profile that was somewhat vulnerable.The casemate design placed the crew compartment and driver forward, with the engine housed in a separate, sloped rear compartment, a characteristic feature of Italian armored vehicles.
The 75mm howitzer, mounted on a spherical support, provided a traverse of approximately 34 degrees and elevation from -12 to +22 degrees. While primarily designed for infantry support missions, the gun’s low muzzle velocity made it surprisingly effective at firing HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) shells, known as “Effetto Pronto.” These 11.46 pound shells could penetrate 80mm of armor at 500 meters (less than a mile away). This enabled the Semovente to engage tanks like the American M3 Sherman and M4 Sherman.
A Semovente system carried a limited amount of ammunition, and its three-man crew—a driver, loader/radio operator, and commander/gunner—faced significant workload challenges, particularly during the intensity of combat. The absence of a coaxial machine gun was a notable drawback, though some variants mounted a Breda 13.2mm heavy machine gun for anti-aircraft defense.
The Semovente Shined in North Africa
Italy’s most important theater as part of the Axis powers was in North Africa and the Semovente da 75/18 saw extensive action there, notably from 1942 onward. They were again important for the defense of Sicily and mainland Italy.
Deployed alongside M13/40 and M14/41 tank units, it provided critical firepower to Italian armored divisions, including the Ariete and Littorio divisions. Each division typically included two artillery groups, each with two batteries of four Semovente da 75/18s, plus command vehicles equipped with radio and Breda machine guns.
In North Africa, the Semovente proved its worth against British and American forces. Its HEAT shells were devastating to US tanks, compensating for the relative obsolescence of Italy’s medium tanks. The vehicle’s low profile and dug-in “hull-down” tactics helped mitigate its armor vulnerabilities, allowing it to engage enemy positions effectively. However, its slow rate of fire and limited ammunition hindered sustained combat operations—especially as its three-man crew was made to multitask while in combat.
Once Hitler initiated his invasion fo the Soviet Union, the Italians designed the larger Semovente da 90/53 SPG to counter Soviet heavy tanks. 30 units of the new gun were produced. But they never reached the Eastern Front. The 90mm gun onboard was powerful, but the open gun compartment left crews vulnerable, and its limited production restricted its impact.
Similarly, the Semovente da 105/25, introduced in 1943, was highly regarded but saw limited use before Italy’s surrender. After the armistice, the Germans seized many Semovente vehicles, redesignating them according to German listings, and using them in Italy to continue the fight against Allied forces.
The Italians were never fully able to prove themselves in combat. Even when they created effective systems, like the Semovente SPG series, they were always behind. Thus, even their “wonder weapons” weren’t really that wonderful.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Alexey Pevnev.
