German opinion on Semovente 75/18

[Dili]

Russisch-deutsches Projekt zur Digitalisierung deutscher Dokumente in den Archiven der Russischen Föderation | Akte 43. Unterlagen der Ia-Abteilung der Panzerjägerabteilung 236: KTB Nr. 3 der Panzerjägerabteilung 236 während des Einsatzes in Italien,

wwii.germandocsinrussia.org

Panzerjäger Abt 236 on its experience with the Semovente 75/18. Document is in German

Pages 93-96 97 firing trials against Sherman, page 98 report on maintenance, page 114 dispersion dispersion @1000m 1.5m width and 0.5m height

Link to remaining partial translation by Junior FO in Tanknet forum

Stug And Semoventi Vs Tanks

 

[MichaelY]

Thanks that is a treasure document. Of note is no mentions at all of HEAT rounds EP, EPS, even in October 1944 of this report!

I did my own Google Translate....

***** POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GERMAN DEPLOYMENT of SMV M.42 75/18 *******
Fast and manoeuverable
Good cross country capability
Good for close range mobile artillery
High efficiency against AT gun positions
Good high explosive round
**************************************************************************************************

********** NEGATIVE GERMAN EVALUATIONS of SMV M.42 75/18 ********************
75/18 is not an AT gun or Tank Hunter vs current enemy tanks
Optic sight and vision poor so must use with hatch open leading to crew losses
Armor is thin, too upright and splinters dangerously when hit
Mechanical unreliability (50% worse than StuG)
Radio very poor (compared to German radios)
******************************************************************************

 

[Dili]

It is low velocity gun, it would never be good in AT, it needs to be too close to have chances of hitting.

 

[MichaelY]

Yes the German document also complained it is easy for enemy to work out where Semovente 75/18 is due to its gun short range. The document also only mentions HE and AP type ammunition. Germans certainly knew HEAT name to use if the 75/18 they used had any. Which leads to question which town was Italian EP/EPS made in?

 

[Dili]

There couple of arsenals plus explosive factories. I don't know which made EP/EPS

Torre Annunziatta - Spoletiffici (shell fuzes and explosives)
Firenze - Dinamite Nobel (Private)
Isola del Liri Ministero della Guerra- polverifici 2000 workers
Baiano di Spoleto Ministero della Guerra-laboratori caricamento proiettili 700 workers
Noceto (Parma) Ministero della Guerra-laboratori caricamento proiettili 2000 workers
Roma spoletiffici Ministero della Guerra - 3000 workers
Segni Colle Ferro explosive factory
Foggia ( fosgene e iprite) WMD factory Ministero della Guerra but managed by Indutria Chimica Dott.Seroni -small
Margherita di Savoia(Bromo and Acetone) Ministero della Guerra managed by Soc.It.del Bromo -small
Cesano di Roma (iprite, adamsite, soda e cloruro di calcio), Ministero della Guerra gestito dalle Industrie Chimiche Nazionali riunite di Roma -small
Bussi (iprite e difosgene) gestito dalla Soc. An. Dinamite Nobel - small
Apuania (liquido nebbiogeno, anidride arseniosa, difosgene, difenilcloroarsina) distrutte per il 50 % , gestito dalla Rumianca - biggest
Melegnano (difenilcloroarsina, cloropricnica, difosgene ecc.) gestito dall’industria Chim ica Serono - biggest
Rho (cloro) e quello di Cesano Maderno (difenilcloroarsina) (Montecatini)
Pieve Vergonte (difenilcloroarsina e difosgene) gestito dalla Rumianca
Officina sperimentale del Centro chimico militare di Roma che occupa circa 200 addetti.
Orbetello - Dynamite Nobel chemical explosive factory