- Yes
- Maybe
- No
History.
The CV 38 is the last known derivation of the famous CV33 tank, an Italian light tank developed between the two world wars based on the British Carden-Loyd Mk VI tankette. Between 1937 and 1938, a final version of the CV35 called CV38, then L38, was produced, which featured some changes to the suspension system, tracks and armament compared to the tanks of the previous series. The tank had torsion bar suspension (the first time in an armored vehicle in Italy until then) and was armed with a single Breda Model 1931 machine gun, as well as some L35s which were rearmed at the start of the Second World War. Over a hundred examples of the L38 tanks were produced, which saw limited use between 1943 and the end of the world war by the pre- and post-armistice Italian armed forces and by Wehrmacht units. Some were also tested by the Brazilian army and used by them, while a few examples survived the conflict in their homeland and were used by the police forces (although rearmed with the classic Breda 38 coupling) and then given as gifts to Italian museums or scrapped after their replacement by Western means.
Armament and propulsion.
The tank was armed with a Breda Modello 1931 machine gun, a machine gun made under license by Breda with a 30-round magazine and a rate of fire of around 400 rounds per minute. This weapon was also adopted on the M41 and M42 Command Tanks.
The tank was also powered by a Tipo CV 3-005 4-cylinder 2746 cc petrol engine with 43 HP of power, which allowed it to reach a maximum speed of 42 km/h.
Specifications.
Spoiler
Length: 3.17
Width: 1.5
Height: 1.3
Weight: 3200 kg
Crew: 2
Engine: Tipo CV 3-005, 43 hp
Armament: 1x Breda Model 1931
Maximum speed: 42 km/h
Pictures and drawnings.
Sources.
Spoiler
LA MECCANIZZAZIONE DELL'ESERCITO FINO AL 1943 tomo II -parte 2 by Biblioteca Militare - Issuu
Carro Veloce L3/38
CV35 - Wikipedia
L3/38
Regio Esercito - Lista materiale bellico - Carro veloce L3-35
L3/35 - Wikipedia
Fiat Ansaldo L3/38 - Master Miniatures Walkaround
Axis Tanks and Combat Vehicles of World War II: Carro Veloce CV-38 [L3/38]
CV-38 Tankette (L3/35)
L3/35 - Wikipedia
CV-38 Tankette (L3/35)
LA MECCANIZZAZIONE DELL'ESERCITO FINO AL 1943 tomo II -parte 1 by Biblioteca Militare - Issuu
LA MECCANIZZAZIONE DELL'ESERCITO FINO AL 1943 tomo I -parte 2 by Biblioteca Militare - Issuu
GLI AUTOVEICOLI DA COMBATTIMENTO DELL'ESERCITO ITALIANO VOL I by Biblioteca Militare - Issuu