Cannone da 47/32
| Cannone da 47/32 M35 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Infantry gun / anti-tank gun |
| Place of origin |  Italy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Böhler |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Travel: 315 kg (694 lb) Combat: 277 kg (611 lb) |
| Length | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
| Caliber | 47 mm (1.85 in) |
| Elevation | -15°- +56° |
| Traverse | 62° |
| Muzzle velocity | 630 m/s (2,067 ft/s) AP 250 m/s (820 ft/s) HEAT |
| Maximum firing range | 7,000 m (7,700 yd) |
The Cannone da 47/32 M35 was an Austrian artillery piece produced under license in Italy during World War II. It was used both as an infantry gun and an anti-tank gun.
In contrast to other "dual purpose" artillery pieces of similar weight used during the war, such as the PaK 36 and Bofors 37 mm, it proved to be successful even in an anti-tank role especially when equipped with HEAT (Italian: "Effetto Pronto") rounds.
History
The Austrian firm of Böhler originally designed and manufactured the gun. In the 1930s Italy bought some of these guns from Böhler, and then began to produce the weapon under license, continuing its development. The same weapon was also used in the Austrian and Dutch armies. The Cannone da 47/32 M35 was the main armament in the M13/40 medium tank, the M14/41 medium tank, the AB 41 armored car (see photograph), and the 47/32 self propelled gun. The M15/42 featured a slightly improved version of this gun (the 47/40).
The 47/32 was built in two versions, the first with semipneumatic disk wheels, and the second (in 1939, from which the name 47/32 mod. 39) with improved barrel and suspension (in some series also electron wheels with celerflex semipneumatics).To tow this piece, the tractor OCI-780 CM and the light tank L3 were used, but these projects were soon abandoned as the gun was subjected to breaking at the axels spindles and shanks.
Characteristics
- Caliber: 47 mm (1.85 in)
- Length: 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
- Length of Bore: 1.525 m (5 ft)
- Length of Rifling: 1.33 m (4 ft 4.3 in)
- Travelling Weight: 315 kg (694.5 lb)
- Weight in Action: 277 kg (610.6 lb)
- Elevation: -15 degrees to +56 degrees
- Traverse: 62 degrees
- Muzzle Velocity: 630 m/s (2,067 ft/s) for AP; 250 m/s (820 ft/s) HEAT
- Range: 7,000 m (7,655 feet) - HEAT
- Shell Weight: 1.44 kg (3.175 lb) AP; 2.37 kg (5.225 lb) HEAT
- Armor Penetration AP: 58 mm (2.3in) at 100 m (110 yards); 43 mm (1.7in) at 500 m (550 yards)
- Armor Penetration HEAT: unknown
See also
