| Full Name | Semovente da 75/18 |
| Class | Heavy Vehicle |
| Movement | 5 |
| Armor Value | 3 |
| Vs Infantry (RNG / FPR) | 5/5 |
| Vs Vehicle (RNG / FPR) | 6/6 |
| Traits | |
| Period | 1942-1945 |
| Theaters of Service |
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Intended to be an interim vehicle until the heavier P40 tank was available, this Italian 13.1-ton self-propelled (“semovente”) gun performed quite well. It featured the short-barreled, low-velocity 75 mm obice da 75/18 mod. 34 (L/20.75) gun in a low casemate mounting atop the M13/40, M14/41, or M15/42 tank chassis. The type also carried one 8 mm Breda mod. 38 or 6.5 mm Breda mod. 30 roof-mounted machine gun. A crew of three operated the vehicle, and it had a maximum speed of 21 mph. Manufacturer FIAT-Ansaldo modelled the type after the German StuG III assault gun, but it served as divisional artillery instead of in a pure assault role, as it fired both anti-tank and anti-personnel rounds. Nevertheless, it proved quite effective in anti-tank combat against all front-line Allied tanks from the time it first became operational in 1942 through 1943. Italy produced only 207 units, and used them in North Africa and in the defense of Italy. After Italy's surrender in 1943, the Germans seized some 131 units and authorized the production of another 55; the Wehrmacht used the type in Italy and the Balkans into 1945, designated StuG M42 mit 7,5 KwK L 18(850)(i). This unit represents all armed Semovente da 75/18 variants: M. 40 da 75/18 (on the M13/40 chassis); M. 41 da 75/18 (on the M14/41 chassis); and M. 42 da 75/18 (on the M15/42 chassis).