- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
The CV33 (later to become the L3/33) tank is one of, if not the most famous Italian tanks of World War II. The vehicle was born in the early 1930s based on a British vehicle, and over time the vehicle was updated into three main versions that were used extensively with the Italian armed forces.
In 1943, however, civil war broke out in Italy. Italy was split in two between the Fascists in the North and the Royalists in the South, and in the melee of the early days several vehicles were lost and captured by the various sides: in the North, one L3/33 was captured by forces loyal to Mussolini and was shortly after the armistice framed with the Light Tank Squadron of the “San Giusto” Armored Group. The tanks were repainted in a more camouflage color scheme than the classic Saharan Khaki color scheme and were also customized by the crews where possible. After this, the wagons were deployed first to defend Rijeka against Yugoslav troops and finally were stationed near Como. Toward the end of the war, in April 1945, the Squadron of the “San Giusto” Group was disbanded due to wartime events (and heavy casualties) and this led to the capture of some of the equipment in use at that specific unit by Anglo-American forces. A few months later, in October of the same year, collector and former soldier Diego de Enriquez managed to obtain from the Allied authorities the management of some military vehicles now destined for disuse in order to expand his collection at a location near Trieste. The vehicle still has its original motorization, although many of the interior details are missing and there are doubts about the authenticity of the vehicle’s “RE 1502” license plate.
The camouflage.
As was customary during the creation of the “San Giusto” Armored Group, the tank originally painted in Saharan Kaki desert coloring was camouflaged even more with the addition of a dense brown-red and green amoeba pattern (slightly unusual for the time and the vehicle). In addition, the vehicle has on the left side the inscription “POZZUOLO DEL FRIULI, 30/10/1917” divided over two lines, an inscription reminiscent of a battle fought in World War I near the locality of the same name (perhaps added by former veterans attached to the armored group or chosen for propaganda reasons).
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.