Kustosz2137
New Member
I've done extensive research on Gruppi Semoventi da 75/18 topic, so I tought that I would post the results for someone who might need these informations in the future.
In May 1941 first 60 Semoventi M40 da 75/18 and 30 Carri Comando M40 were ordered. This material was supposed to equip first 6 Gruppi, 2 for each armored division, each pair was named V and VI Gruppo of their respective regiments. Each Gruppo consisted of 8 Semoventi and 4 Carri Comando in line and 2 S and 1 CC in reserve.
Order to form these Gruppi was issued on 25 November 1940, when first prototype of new Semovente wasn't even built, first pair named V/133 and VI/133 was formed by 133. Artillery Regiment of the division "Littorio" in April 1941, when vechicles still didn't enter production yet.
In December the same year they were sent to North Africa and in January 1942 entered ranks of the 132. Artillery Regiment of the "Ariete", changing their names to V/132 and VI/132.
Another pair was formed in July 1941 by 131. Art.Reg. of the "Centauro" named V/131 and VI/131. V/131 was sent to ASI in January 1942, but never arrived to it's destination as ship transporting this Gruppo and part of the XII Btg. Carri M was sunk. Then unit was reformed back in Italy.
VI/131 remained in mainland for longer period, in April 1942 two of it's Semoventi (reserve section) were detached and sent to Slovenia, missing vechicles were replaced soon.
On 17th May 1942 order for Semoventi da 75/18 was increased to 200 pieces, at the same time reorganization of the Gruppi was made. Total number of planned units was doubled (to 12) and their names and destinations were changed.
Already formed and battling in ASI V/132 and VI/132 were renamed to DLI and DLII respectively, while V/131 and VI/131 became DLIII and DLIV.
The 12 planned Gruppi were:
- DLI and DLII for "Ariete" Arm.Div., at this point already fighting as part of the division.
- DLIII for "Superga" Inf.Div.
- DLIV for "Livorno" Inf.Div.
- DLV for 10º RaCo
- DLVI and DLVII for "Littorio" Arm.Div.
- DLVIII for RECo "Cavalleggeri di Lodi"
- DLIX and DLX for "Centauro" Arm.Div.
- DLXI and DLXII not assigned
In reality tho fate of most Gruppi was different.
- DLI and DLII remained in "Ariete" and were destroyed in II Battle of El Alamein. (M40 guns, 8 Semoventi and 4 Carri Comando in each)
- Fate of DLIII after reformation is unknown, there are multiple versions of it's story, but I was unable to confirm any of them. In my opinion the most propable one is that it was sent to "Centauro" or "Superga" division in 1943 and was destroyed in Tunisia. (M40 guns, 8 S and 4 CC at first, after reformation M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC)
- DLIV was effectively assigned to 28 Art.Reg. of the division "Livorno" in May 1942, but in July it went to ASI and joined 3. Articelere Rgt. of the "Littorio" in August. It was destroyed during II Battle of El Alamein. (M40 guns, 8 S and 4 CC)
- DLV was effectively assigned to 10º RaCo, but crews for Semoventi propably never arrived. After abandonment of C3 plan it's vehicles were used as supplies for other Gruppi. (M40 guns, 8 S and 4 CC)
- DLVI was sent to ASI at the end of September 1942, but it's second battery (4 S and 1 CC) was lost at sea. It joined 3. Articelere of the "Littorio" and was destroyed during II Battle of El Alamein. (M40 guns, 8 S and 4 CC, effectively only 4 S and 3 CC)
- DLVII was sent to Tunisia with L Brigata Speciale "Imperiali" and was destroyed there in 1943. (M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC)
- DLVIII was assigned to "Brennero" Inf.Div. in Greece, it remained here till September 1943 and surrendered to Germans after the armistice. (M41 guns, 12 or 18 S and 4 or 5 CC)
- DLIX also known as "Raggruppamento Piscicelli" was sunk during transport to Tunisia. After being reformed joined "Centauro" and was destroyed at the end of Tunisian Campaign. (M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC at first, 12 S and 2 CC after reformation)
- DLX in theory assigned to "Piave" division, not sure if it ever arrived tho. In Spring 1943 crews left their 75/18 guns in Sicily where they stationed and were assigned to form new DCI Gruppo Semoventi da 105/25. (M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC in theory, never actually completed)
- DLXI was assigned to Raggruppamento Motocorazzato on Sardegna. On 23rd September 1943 first battery (6 S and 1 CC) was sent to Corsica to support Italo-Frech resistance against Germans. On 22 October battery came back and whole unit was disbanded. (M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC)
- DLXII never finished formation. Crews intended for this unit were re-assigned to Gruppo DLXI.
In May 1941 first 60 Semoventi M40 da 75/18 and 30 Carri Comando M40 were ordered. This material was supposed to equip first 6 Gruppi, 2 for each armored division, each pair was named V and VI Gruppo of their respective regiments. Each Gruppo consisted of 8 Semoventi and 4 Carri Comando in line and 2 S and 1 CC in reserve.
Order to form these Gruppi was issued on 25 November 1940, when first prototype of new Semovente wasn't even built, first pair named V/133 and VI/133 was formed by 133. Artillery Regiment of the division "Littorio" in April 1941, when vechicles still didn't enter production yet.
In December the same year they were sent to North Africa and in January 1942 entered ranks of the 132. Artillery Regiment of the "Ariete", changing their names to V/132 and VI/132.
Another pair was formed in July 1941 by 131. Art.Reg. of the "Centauro" named V/131 and VI/131. V/131 was sent to ASI in January 1942, but never arrived to it's destination as ship transporting this Gruppo and part of the XII Btg. Carri M was sunk. Then unit was reformed back in Italy.
VI/131 remained in mainland for longer period, in April 1942 two of it's Semoventi (reserve section) were detached and sent to Slovenia, missing vechicles were replaced soon.
On 17th May 1942 order for Semoventi da 75/18 was increased to 200 pieces, at the same time reorganization of the Gruppi was made. Total number of planned units was doubled (to 12) and their names and destinations were changed.
Already formed and battling in ASI V/132 and VI/132 were renamed to DLI and DLII respectively, while V/131 and VI/131 became DLIII and DLIV.
The 12 planned Gruppi were:
- DLI and DLII for "Ariete" Arm.Div., at this point already fighting as part of the division.
- DLIII for "Superga" Inf.Div.
- DLIV for "Livorno" Inf.Div.
- DLV for 10º RaCo
- DLVI and DLVII for "Littorio" Arm.Div.
- DLVIII for RECo "Cavalleggeri di Lodi"
- DLIX and DLX for "Centauro" Arm.Div.
- DLXI and DLXII not assigned
In reality tho fate of most Gruppi was different.
- DLI and DLII remained in "Ariete" and were destroyed in II Battle of El Alamein. (M40 guns, 8 Semoventi and 4 Carri Comando in each)
- Fate of DLIII after reformation is unknown, there are multiple versions of it's story, but I was unable to confirm any of them. In my opinion the most propable one is that it was sent to "Centauro" or "Superga" division in 1943 and was destroyed in Tunisia. (M40 guns, 8 S and 4 CC at first, after reformation M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC)
- DLIV was effectively assigned to 28 Art.Reg. of the division "Livorno" in May 1942, but in July it went to ASI and joined 3. Articelere Rgt. of the "Littorio" in August. It was destroyed during II Battle of El Alamein. (M40 guns, 8 S and 4 CC)
- DLV was effectively assigned to 10º RaCo, but crews for Semoventi propably never arrived. After abandonment of C3 plan it's vehicles were used as supplies for other Gruppi. (M40 guns, 8 S and 4 CC)
- DLVI was sent to ASI at the end of September 1942, but it's second battery (4 S and 1 CC) was lost at sea. It joined 3. Articelere of the "Littorio" and was destroyed during II Battle of El Alamein. (M40 guns, 8 S and 4 CC, effectively only 4 S and 3 CC)
- DLVII was sent to Tunisia with L Brigata Speciale "Imperiali" and was destroyed there in 1943. (M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC)
- DLVIII was assigned to "Brennero" Inf.Div. in Greece, it remained here till September 1943 and surrendered to Germans after the armistice. (M41 guns, 12 or 18 S and 4 or 5 CC)
- DLIX also known as "Raggruppamento Piscicelli" was sunk during transport to Tunisia. After being reformed joined "Centauro" and was destroyed at the end of Tunisian Campaign. (M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC at first, 12 S and 2 CC after reformation)
- DLX in theory assigned to "Piave" division, not sure if it ever arrived tho. In Spring 1943 crews left their 75/18 guns in Sicily where they stationed and were assigned to form new DCI Gruppo Semoventi da 105/25. (M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC in theory, never actually completed)
- DLXI was assigned to Raggruppamento Motocorazzato on Sardegna. On 23rd September 1943 first battery (6 S and 1 CC) was sent to Corsica to support Italo-Frech resistance against Germans. On 22 October battery came back and whole unit was disbanded. (M41 guns, 18 S and 5 CC)
- DLXII never finished formation. Crews intended for this unit were re-assigned to Gruppo DLXI.
Last edited:
