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P26/40 tank

From Alfawiki
P 26/40
Company typeArmored fighting vehicle
IndustryMilitary equipment
Founded1940
Headquarters
Italy
ProductsTank

Overview

The P 26/40 was an Italian tank utilized during World War II, classified as a heavy tank by Italian standards, though it is sometimes regarded as a medium tank when compared to tanks from other countries. Its armament included a 75 mm cannon and an 8 mm Breda machine gun, with an additional machine gun optionally mounted for anti-aircraft defense. Development commenced in 1940, but production numbers remained very limited by the time Italy entered into the armistice with the Allies in September 1943. The small quantity produced after this date was primarily operated by German forces.

The tank's official Italian name was carro armato P 26/40, where "P" stands for pesante ("heavy"), "26" refers to its weight in tonnes, and "40" indicates the year it was adopted (1940). Although classified as a heavy tank within Italy, its capabilities and specifications align more closely with medium tanks used internationally.

History

The project was initiated in 1940, following direct instructions from Benito Mussolini.[1] The original specifications called for a 20 tonne tank—the maximum weight permissible on pontoon bridges—armed with a 47 mm gun, three machine guns, and operated by a five-member crew. This concept was soon replaced by a heavier 25 tonne design, which would later be designated as P26. Progress on the development advanced rapidly except for the engine selection; the Italian military command, known as the Stato Maggiore, preferred a diesel engine, whereas the manufacturers advocated for a petrol engine.

At that time in Italy, no engines—neither diesel nor petrol—were available that could deliver the required 300 hp (220 kW) output. Unlike their American and British counterparts who adapted aircraft engines for armored vehicles, the Italian tank industry, dominated by the duopoly of Fiat and Ansaldo, did not pursue this route. The process of designing a new engine advanced slowly; eventually, a 420 hp (310 kW) petrol engine (Fiat 262) was tested but ultimately not adopted.[2]

Initially labeled P75 (reflecting the gun caliber), the first prototype completed around mid-1941 resembled an enlarged version of the M13/40. It featured a 75/18 howitzer—the same weapon mounted on the Semovente da 75/18—and increased armor. Later modifications replaced this main armament with a 75/32 gun paired with a co-axial machine gun. After acquiring knowledge of Soviet T-34 tanks in 1941 through a captured vehicle supplied by Germany, designers substantially revised the entire plan: frontal armor thickness increased from 40 to 50 mm, side armor from 30 to 40 mm, and the plates were redesigned with more pronounced sloping. The new main armament became the 75/34 gun, while the dual barbette hull mount was eliminated.[3] The "75/34" designation indicated a 75 mm caliber gun with a barrel length equal to 34 calibers. However, the added weight—now reaching approximately 26 tonnes—and ongoing engine issues delayed mass production. Ultimately, it was decided that early prototypes and initial production units would be powered by a 330 HP SPA 8V diesel engine, which was intended to be replaced later by a more powerful 420 HP petrol engine.[4]

Only a handful of pre-production units—estimates vary between one and five—were completed before the Italian Armistice in September 1943. Following this event, these vehicles were seized by the German Wehrmacht.[5] Some saw action under the German designation Panzerkampfwagen P40 737(i), notably during the Anzio campaign; others, lacking engines, served as stationary defensive positions.[5]

Combat history

In September 1943, production yielded only 21 P 40 tanks, which were utilized in the defense of Rome during the armistice period. Following the armistice, German forces mandated the continuation of production and seized completed tanks to equip units such as the Southern Tank Training Battalion, the 10th and 15th Police Panzer Companies, and the 24th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Karstjäger. The Southern Tank Training Battalion was responsible for instructing units on operating captured Italian armor and maintained five P 40s within its fleet. The 10th Police Panzer Company initially operated on the Eastern Front before being reassigned in late 1944 to northern Italy for anti-partisan missions, alongside the 15th Police Panzer Company. Established in the summer of 1944, the 24th Waffen Mountain Division was deployed along the Adriatic coast, covering areas such as Trieste and Udine. During their retreat toward Austria in March 1945, several P 40s were lost to British Shermans from the 6th Armoured Division. Approximately one hundred P 40 tanks served within German forces; of these, around forty were immobilized due to engine removal and utilized as fixed defenses along strategic lines like the Gustav and Gothic Line fortifications.

Italian crews also operated the tank in limited quantities within the Armored Group Leoncello of the Italian Social Republic. Notably, one of Leoncello’s P40s was captured by Italian partisan forces following uprisings in Milan.

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Design

The turret required operation by two crew members, which proved to be a notable limitation as it placed an excessive burden on the tank commander. During this period, most newly developed tanks featured turrets designed for three crew members. Additionally, the design did not include a commander's cupola.

The primary armament consisted of the 75/34 gun, an evolution of the Model 37 divisional gun with a barrel length of 34 calibres, maintaining identical dimensions. This weapon achieved a muzzle velocity close to 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s) and was typically supplied with approximately 75 rounds. Its armour-piercing ammunition was capable of penetrating around 70 mm of armour at a distance of 500 meters. Secondary armaments included a coaxial machine gun and another designated for anti-aircraft use, foregoing the traditional dual hull-mounted machine guns; the standard ammunition capacity was also reduced to about 600 rounds, significantly less than the 3,000 rounds carried by the "M" series tanks.

Mechanically, the tank's systems were derived from the "M" series, notably employing a leaf spring suspension known for its reliability. However, this suspension type limited achievable speeds on uneven terrain compared to more advanced systems like the Christie or torsion bar suspensions. Despite this, the power-to-weight ratio marked a considerable enhancement in mobility relative to earlier models. Template:Right The armour was relatively robust according to Italian standards, featuring sloped plates with 60 mm thickness on the turret front and mantlet—compared to 42 mm on the M13/40. However, it was constructed using riveted plates at a time when welding had become the preferred method. Riveted armour is prone to joint failures under stress, which can compromise even thick plating. The frontal armour presented a compound slope with an effective thickness of 50 mm angled at 45 degrees.

This level of protection was sufficient against early anti-tank weapons such as the British 40 mm QF 2-pounder but proved vulnerable to later anti-tank guns like the 57 mm QF 6-pounder introduced in 1942 and was entirely inadequate against the more powerful 76 mm QF 17-pounder that entered service in 1943.

Although the P 40’s design incorporated several contemporary elements, it lacked certain modern features including welded armour, advanced suspension systems, and a commander's cupola. In Italy, it was classified as a heavy tank not due to its mass but because of its operational role supporting the widely deployed medium ("M") tanks on combat fronts. Its weight, armour protection, and firepower were comparable to medium tanks fielded by the Wehrmacht and other armies at that time; its weaponry and defensive capabilities were roughly equivalent to those of early production American M4 Sherman tanks. The P 40 represented the culmination of Italian tank development that began with Vickers-inspired tankettes such as the CV29 and L3/35 and progressed through heavier designs like the M11/39 medium tank, which retained many internal features from those earlier light vehicles.

Production

Initially, approximately 1,200 tanks were commissioned; however, this figure was subsequently lowered to 500 following the commencement of development on the heavier P 43 model. Production faced delays due to engine complications and other issues, including the bombing of the SPA factory in Turin in September 1942. Ultimately, manufacturing only began in the summer of 1943.

File:Ansaldo P40 01.jpg
Hitler personally examined the first P40 tank.

From that point until the conclusion of the war, around 120 P 40 units were produced by Ansaldo, although most remained incomplete owing to a shortage of engines.

Variants

At least two distinct variants of the P 40 were planned starting from early 1943, after the Italian Army recognized the tank’s inferiority compared to other models like the German Panther. The first variant, designated as the P.43, weighed roughly 30 tonnes and featured armor thickness between 50 and 80 mm, armed with either a 75/34 or a 105/23 main gun. In September 1943, Fiat and Ansaldo initiated work on a new design intended to rival the Panther. This resulted in the P 43 bis, which incorporated heavily sloped armor, a 450 HP engine, and a 90/42 gun. While these projects never advanced beyond wooden mock-ups, there is speculation that a prototype may have been constructed during early 1945.

Another development was the Semovente 149/40, which utilized the P 40 chassis. Only one unit was ever completed. This vehicle was designed as a highly mobile self-propelled gun and mounted the most powerful artillery piece in the Royal Italian Army: a 149 mm / 40 caliber gun with an effective range exceeding 23 km (14 mi), slightly surpassing that of the US 155 mm M1 Long Tom. Production of this gun was very limited, leaving Italian artillery largely equipped with outdated weaponry throughout the war. Due to its considerable weight, mobility was challenging, prompting the decision to develop a self-propelled version that became Italy’s most powerful military vehicle. The entire P 40 hull space was dedicated to supporting this gun; hence, ammunition and crew transport required additional vehicles. The Semovente could prepare to fire within three minutes after halting, compared to seventeen minutes needed by traditional towed artillery.

Development on the Semovente 149/40 began in 1942, with prototype testing conducted in 1943. However, it failed to impress the Italian Army. After Italy’s Armistice, German forces took possession but also showed little enthusiasm for it. Eventually, American troops captured the vehicle during their advance into Germany and transported it to Aberdeen Proving Ground for evaluation.

Surviving vehicles

File:Army parade of Italy 2011 46.jpg
A surviving P26/40 seen during an Italian Army parade in 2011.

Two P26/40 tanks remain today: one is preserved at Rome’s Museo della Motorizzazione, while another is exhibited near military barracks close to Lecce.

Tanks with similar roles, capabilities, and timeframes

References

  1. ↑ Cappellano & Battistelli, 2012, p17
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :1
  3. ↑ Cappellano & Battistelli, 2012, p17-18
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :0
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Sources

  • C. Falessi and B. Pafi, "Il carro armato P. 40," Storia Illustrata #150, May 1970.
  • Nicola Pignato, Storia dei mezzi corazzati, Fratelli Fabbri Editore, 1976, vol. 2
  • Nico Sgarlato, I corazzati italiani, an illustrated monograph on Italian tanks and self-propelled guns, April 2006.
  • F. Cappellano & P. P. Battistelli (2012). Italian Medium Tanks (New Vanguard No. 195), UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781849087759.

External links

Template:WWIIItalianAFVs

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