Autocannone da 20/65 su FIAT-SPA 38R, risen from the dead.

ImportantSimone5 · August 17, 2023, 8:38pm

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Autocannone da 20/65 su FIAT-SPA 38R

History.
With the Spanish Civil War in full swing, the Royal Italian Army began to realize that anti-aircraft means were needed to protect convoys from enemy aerial assaults. Thus began testing an anti-aircraft vehicle and the first vehicle that came out was a Fiat 618 armed with a heavy machine gun, but the vehicle lacked protection for the crew and the firepower was very inadequate. It was decided to test a vehicle armed with the Breda 20/65 Model 1935 Cannon-Machine Gun. The tests gave good results between 1937 and 1938, but at the outbreak of the World War the project was shelved. It was thought to add a shield to the 20 mm cannon but it would have reduced the already limited space on the vehicle too much.
With the start of World War II and with the big problem of air raids on convoys, the Royal Italian Army ordered the Royal Italian Army Arsenal of Naples to add a 20 mm cannon to the Fiat-SPA 38 R trucks and throughout the war they were converted over two hundred, but despite this, very little is still known about the official service of the vehicle. One SPA 38R of unknown origin was also used by the “I Motorized Group” of the Co-Belligerent Italian Army (last pic on the spoiler).

Specifications.

Spoiler

Dimensions (LWH): 5.783 x 3.5 x 2.6 m
Max weight: 3,6 tons
Crew: 5
Propulsion: FIAT Tipo 18R , petrol, 4-cylinder, 4,053 cm³, 55 hp at 2,000 rpm
Max speed: 51 km/h
Range: 310 km
Armament: 1x Cannone-Mitragliera Breda 20/65 Modello 1935 with 44 crates of ammunition
Armor: none
Weapon traverse: 0°/320°
Ammunition reserve: 384 rounds
Elevation: +80°/-20°

Photos and drawning.

Spoiler