Italian Tank Forces Armistice Status

the information here is unique. PLease forward any questions concerning this to Arturo Filippo Lorioli

Starting from Spring 1943 it was planned to add a Semoventi bn to each Inf.Div. and a Semoventi company to each of its two Inf.Rgts.

The Sem.Bn was 16 strong (2 gun-less command veichles + 14 AFVs), while each regimental company had 7 AFVs (no commnd veichles).

Before the Armistice of September 8th 1943 the following Divs. had received their full complement Semoventi:

• SASSARI
• PASUBIO
• SABAUDA

The Sassari Div. had Sem.M41 da 75/18, the other two Sem.M42 da 75/34 (much more useful in AT role).

The following divs were scheduled to get their Semoventi within the end of 1943, all of them 75/34s, but of course the Armistice prevented any delivery. By that time the montly production of the 75/34s was a puny 40 pcs!

• AOSTA
• CALABRIA
• ASSIETTA
• BARI
• NAPOLI

The Aosta Div. did actualy recieved its first 4 Semoventi by late August.

At the date of the Armistice the following armoured units were available (in addition to the already mentioned ones):

TANK CORPS:

• 15th independent medium tank company (15xM14/41) : at Bologna, due to be shipped to the Aegean Islands.
• 2nd bn/31st Rgt (27 x L3/35) : at Siena
• 19th/31st (20 x M15/42) : at Piombino
• 8th/4th Rgt (45xL3/35) : at Roma
• 10th/4th Rgt (45xL3/35 flamethrowers) : at Roma
• 11th/4th Rgt (12xM14/41) : at Roma
• 2nd independent light tank company (12xL3/35) : at Roma
• 5th independent light tank company (12 x L3/35 flamethrowers) : Sardinia garrison
• 1st independent medium tank company (15xM14/41) : Sardinia garrison
• 2nd/33rd Rgt (40 x L3/35) : Sardinia garrison
• 200th/32nd Rgt (36xSOMUA S35) : Sardinia garrison
• 16th/32nd Rgt (20 x M15/42) : Sardinia garrison
• 18th/32nd Rgt (20 x M15/42 + 26 Sem.M41 da 75/18)) : Sardinia garrison
• 13th/4th Rgt (31 x L3/35) : Corsica garrison
• 1st/33rd Rgt (45 x L3/35) : Corsica garrison
• Mech company "Zara" (10 x L3/35) : Yugoslavia
• 1st/31st (37 x L3/35 flamethrowers) : Yugoslavia
• 2nd independent light tank company (12xL3/35 flamethrowers) : Yugoslavia
• 2nd/31st(37 x L3/35 flamethrowers) : Albania
• 1st independent company/3rd Rgt (13xL3/35) : Albania
• 3rd/31st Rgt (40xL3/35) : Albania
• 31st independent company/31st Rgt (12xL3/35) : Albania
• 9th independent tank platoon (4xL6/40) : Greece
• 312th Mixed bn/3rd Rgt (23xL3/35 + 2 L5/25 + 4M11/39) : Aegen Islands (Crete and Rhodes)
• Bn "Ribet"/1st Rgt (45xL3/35)
• Bn "Berardi"/1st Rgt (45xL3/35)

CAVALRY:

• Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele II Rgt (75 x M15/42)
• Lancieri di Montebello Rgt (13 x Sem.M41da 75/18)
• Cavalleggeri di Lucca Rgt (25 x Sem.M41da 75/18)
• Cavalleggeri di Alessandria Rgt (45 x L6/40)
• San Giusto group (?xL3/35)

BERSAGLIERI:

• 40th bn (34 x L6/40 + 45 x Sem.L6 da 47/32)

ARTILLERY

• 232nd AT bn (34 x Sem.L6 da 47/32)
• 233nd AT bn (34 x Sem.L6 da 47/32)
• 131st AT bn (34 x Sem.L6 da 47/32)
• 113rd AT bn (? x Sem.L6 da 47/32)
• 5th Rgt (39 x Sem.M41 da 75/18)
• 2nd Rgt (39 x Sem.M41 da 75/18)