L3/35
The L3/35 or Carro Veloce CV-35 was an Italian tankette that saw combat before and during World War II. Although designated a light tank by the Italian Army, its turretless configuration, weight and firepower make it closer to contemporary tankettes. It was the most numerous Italian armoured fighting vehicle and saw service almost everywhere the Italians fought in World War II but proved inadequate for modern warfare, having too thin armour and weak armament of only machine guns. It was cheaply produced but because of its light armaments and armour it was reserved to mostly colonial, policing, reconnaissance, and supply duties. However, given its low production costs, proved to be efficient in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, Spanish Civil War and the Greco-Italian War where it provided reliable support to Italian infantry and disrupted enemy lines.
| Carro Armato L3/35 | |
|---|---|
L3/35 displayed at the South African National Museum of Military History (without machine guns). | |
| Type | Tankette |
| Place of origin | Kingdom of Italy |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1 October 1935 – Present Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan |
| Used by | Kingdom of Italy and others |
| Wars | Austrian Civil War, Second Sino-Japanese War, Second Italo-Abyssinian War, Spanish Civil War, Greco-Italian War, Slovak–Hungarian War, Invasion of Albania, Anglo-Iraqi War, World War II, Chinese Civil War, War in Afghanistan |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1935–1938 |
| No. built | 1,200 L3/33; 1,300 L3/35 |
| Variants | L3/33, L3/38, L3 cc, L3 Lf, |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.2 tonnes (3.1 long tons; 3.5 short tons) |
| Length | 3.17 m (10 ft 4+3⁄4 in) |
| Width | 1.4 m (4 ft 7+1⁄8 in) |
| Height | 1.3 m (4 ft 3+1⁄8 in) |
| Crew | 2 (commander and driver) |
| Armour | 6–14 mm (0.24–0.55 in) |
Main armament | 2 × 8 mm (0.31 in) machine guns |
| Engine | FIAT-SPA CV3 water cooled 43 hp (32 kW) |
| Suspension | bogie |
Operational range | 125 km (78 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 42 km/h (26 mph) on road |