Information on Ansaldo Fiat L6 Semovente

Hi Latch,
I've got your message. I'll start digging asap. Just a courtesy: in the future can you pleas email me from your email account to my webmaster@cavalleriaitaliana.it address? Otherwise I have to came back here every time and dig in the posts to find this and reoly to you...

Latch,
if you look at the pic, there is a steel plate at the back of the ammo rack. That is usually locked. To get the shell it was unlocked, rotated towards the outside of the tank and it freed the access to the ammo.
I hope I've been clear enough...

QUOTE: Originally posted by scoccia Hi Latch, I've got your message. I'll start digging asap. Just a courtesy: in the future can you pleas email me from your email account to my webmaster@cavalleriaitaliana.it address? Otherwise I have to came back here every time and dig in the posts to find this and reoly to you...

Will do in the future Fabio. Sorry for the inconvienience.

QUOTE: Originally posted by scoccia Latch, if you look at the pic, there is a steel plate at the back of the ammo rack. That is usually locked. To get the shell it was unlocked, rotated towards the outside of the tank and it freed the access to the ammo. I hope I've been clear enough...

Thanks for the help Fabio.

I see what you are referring too. I do not see any latch on the metal plate though it may be in the open position and on the oposite side. I take it the two inner racks would be two sheet metal pieces with holes "punched" in it to accomodate the shells, or would they be flat bar type racks with only "indentions" to hold the shells?

There also appears to be a latch or buckle on each of the two verticle bars (closest to the inside of the vehicle) on the ammo rack. Each of these verticle bars has what appears to be a hinge at the bottom. Do you know how they worked? What was their function?

Latch,
1) holes are puched in the steel plates.
2) I think they are the nuts/bolts who hold the ammo rack together...

Thanks again Fabio.

Now all I need is the 47/32 ammo!

I should have it soon.

You're welcome Latch!!! How do you plan to paint it? Grigioverde, Sand or sand/grigioverde? Once you're done, if you wish, you can provide me with the pics of the model and I can publish them on the scale modelling section of my site, www.cavalleriaitaliana.it.
Just let me know

Lach, I forgot to ask you if the 47mm ammo is available on the market or you're going to scratchbuild it...

Fabio,

Thanks for the offer Fabio, I will send you some pictures when it is finished.

My initial intent for paint was overall sand. But, I want to do one as it would have been on Sicily, so I may go with the sand with either a green "squiggle" or splotches. I seem to remember a picture of a regular L6 with a really fine line green squiggle scheme over the regular sand. I'm going to look for it and see if I can find that one.

The 47/32 ammo is not currently available as I know it. I have a friend who is going to cast me some. I should have the ammo within a week or two.

Latch,
as far as I know no Semoventi da 47/32 were used in Sicily. If you've got any evidence/documentation of their presence there would you mind to share it? They were for sure used in Russia (sand), Tunisia (sand), and for the Rome's defence (sand/green). Other units had it but did not fight (like the Artillery School (either sand or green).
If after the completion of your model one of the ammo will be left over would you mind to sell/trade it to me?

Fabio,

I assumed it was used in Sicily since I knew for certain that a few got to Tunisia and it was used in defence of Italy (the Germans even used them). Thanks for correcting me.

I didn't realize that it had gotten to Russia. I knew that more Italian armor got to Russia than is generally realized, but I wasn't sure that the little L6 got there too.

I'll stick with a full sand scheme then. I want to do the kit in a small diorama with an Italian tank crewman. Royal models makes a fanrastic figure. The poor guy looks dead tired.

Have you got any information on the units in use in Russia?
I am assuming they were part of the Southern Thrust going toward Stalingrad?





I'll see what ammo is left after completing the model.

You've got first call on it Fabio.

Thanks for the help!

Latch,
there were 19 of them in Russia all bellonging to the XXIII° Gruppo Squadroni Corazzato "Cavalleggeri d Alessandria".



This is a rare pic of these tiny AFVs in Russia. Sorry for the quality but I haven't got anything better. If you're interested in the plate number is Regio Esercito 4197. Since you're "super detailing" it if you wish I can provide you with the two plates (rear and front). If you're interested in just drop me a PM...