Semovente da 20/70 quadruplo
| Company type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft platform |
|---|---|
| Industry | Military vehicles |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2025) |
Template:More footnotes Template:Merge Template:Infobox weapon
The Semovente da 20/70 quadruplo represented an experimental self-propelled anti-aircraft platform developed for use by the Royal Italian Army during the course of World War II.
Development
In 1942, the Royal Italian Army commissioned the creation of a self-propelled anti-aircraft system intended to safeguard mechanized formations in the North African Campaign, which frequently lacked sufficient air defense against attacks from the Royal Air Force (RAF).
To expedite production and conserve resources, the design utilized the chassis of the M15/42 tank as its foundation. The original turret was removed and replaced with a polygonal welded open-top turret housing four Isotta Fraschini 20/70 Scotti autocannons. These guns featured an elevation range from -5° to +90°. The autocannons were specially adapted to fire disintegrating link belt ammunition, enhancing their firing rate to approximately 600 rounds per minute each.[1] Aside from this modification, the two hull-mounted Breda 38 machine guns were removed, and their apertures were sealed with 42 millimetres (1.7 in) thick armor plating. The crew complement was reduced to three members: a driver in the hull and two operators within the turret. The prototype was finalized by early 1943 and underwent testing at the Centro Studi Motorizzazione dell'esercito. It weighed approximately 14.7 tonnes (16.2 tons), stood 2.55 metres (8 ft 4 in) tall, and was capable of traversing slopes up to 60%.
Combat Record
The vehicle was commissioned in March 1943 as the M15 / 42 Carro contraereo and assigned to the VIII Reggimento Autieri based at Cecchignola, Rome. It was subsequently captured by German troops and actively deployed by them. By April 1945, it served within the V SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgskorps, engaging in the final confrontations against the Red Army near Teupitz, Germany.
According to an alternative account, two prototype units were produced; one was sent to Tunisia where it underwent operational testing in combat scenarios. This unit remained in the region following the capitulation of the 1st Italian Army and the 5th Panzer Army in May 1943.
Note
- ↑ Meleca, Vincenzo. "Semovente M 15/42 "Contraereo"" (PDF) (in italiano). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-07.
External links
