Italy OOB 34 corrections/suggestions (v.8.1)

[Pibwl]

Last years I've collected some corrections or suggestions for Italian OOB 34.

In some cases I refer to Wikipedia (Italian), but these peculiar articles look reliable, and apparently basing on books.

2 CV-33 - earliest series should be armed with #218 single 6.5mm MG (there was no twin 6.5mm at all, later series had twin 8 mm - eg. according to Squadron/Signal Nicola Pignato "Italian Armored Vehicles of World War Two"). Starting from 1935 they were retrofitted with 8 mm MGs - I have no exact data, but I guess that 6.5mm should be rare or extinct by the war's beginning.
The photo has twin MGs, but it's hardly visible anyway.

Same for unit 369, which should have either single 6.5mm or twin 8mm (more likely, considering its starting date 1935).

Peculiar is, that late CV-33 were armed with belt-fed twin 8mm Fiat M.14/35, while CV-35 were armed with magazine-fed 8mm Breda M.38 with a bit shorter barrel. A difference seems negligible, although Fiat had longer range (see further).

Max speed was 42 km/h for all CV-33 and 35 (same source) (now: 13 and 15)


BTW: maybe it's worth to arm tankettes with TMGs with range 24-30, instead of lousy BMGs, when it is their only weapon?
Should really a placement of a weapon in a hull instead of a turret decrease range from 30 to 10?... Even HMGs on a tripod, with lower line of fire, have range 24-30, while a mounting of MG in a tankette seems more stable, than on a tripod. Squadron/Signal book says, that effective range of 8mm Fiat was 1000m, and of 8mm Breda - 500 m, which are low figures, but I guess the same applies to these weapons mounted in a turret. Max range was around 5500 m in both cases.


7 Armato 9T M.32 - it was a prototype only (Carro di Rottura 12 ton) http://ww2photo.se/tanks/ita/prototyp/ca32.htm http://forum.worldoftanks.com/index....page__st__1600

8, 10 Ceirano 75L27 - used from 1/30 ("Italian Truck-Mounted Artillery in action") (it would demand change in formations in case of Assault gun class) - at least until 7/43 in Sicilia.
Max speed was 25-30 km/h only.

9 SMV M.40 75L18 - according to "Armor PhotoGallery 17: Semoventi M.41 & M.42", it had 50 mm armour in front (25+25) (maybe on superstructure front only?) - although Squadron/Signal gives 6-30mm, without details. Sides and rear are OK (25).

According to same source, SMV M.40 had 6.5mm Breda 30 AAMG (apparently weapon #236), while 8mm Breda 38 (not 37!) was adopted in SMV M.41, appearing in 1942.
To be precise, picture 16134 is M.41 (full length fenders), while M.40 is 16170 or 2524.
Same for units #38, 260, 347.

Currently there are no M.41 75/18 in the OOB, so I suggest to rename late entries of M.40 75L18: #539, 540, 541 to M.41, with pic. 16134 and 8mm AAMG (armour should be the same as above).


15 Tiratore Scelto - a common Internet knowledge seems, that Italy had no special snipers with scoped rifles... http://www.comandosupremo.com/forums...alian-snipers/


19 Obice Montagna - icon should have twin tails (say, 2106?)

Earlier - from 1930 there could be added Obice Montagna 75/13 Mod. 1915 (http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0koda_7,5_cm_Vz._1915 )


28 Cannon Montagna - 149mm L/17 were regular Krupp heavy howitzers (149/12), not infantry or mountain guns - http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/149/12_Mod._14 (it seems to be this howitzer, since basic sFH-13 had barrel length L/17 - maybe the Italians counted barrel length other way?).
BTW: Italian Wikipedia, which has pretty well covered guns. recognizes only 75 mm and 105 mm mountain guns http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Templat...uerra_mondiale (if it's folded, it must be clicked [mostra] on the right).
Picture rather isn't 149 mm, and icon isn't suitable as well, but 150mm howitzers rather don't appear as on-map arty

29 Obice da 75L32 - precisely it was Cannone 75/32, not howitzer. It entered service only in 1941 (now 1930) - http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/75/32_Mod._1937
Icon should be twin-tail (http://www.maquetland.com/article-ph...937-draguignan ) - say, 2105 or 2128

Maybe it would be better to give all the guns their original Italian designations, like 75/32 instead of 75L32? It would give more taste.

30 Obice da 75L25 - most probably it should be Cannone da 75/27 (not 25).
There were 3 models:
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/75/27_Mod._1906
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/75/27_Mod._1911
http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/75/27_Mod._1912
Mod.1911 was on-map gun (8350 m), rest had 10200 m (range 205 is too long BTW)


32 CV-33/20 - IMO a better name would be eg. CV-33/Solothurn - CV-33/20 is confusing in a view of other Italian names, where last number indicated weight (or barrel length).

33-37, 496 Art Navale - maybe it's worth to name them DD/CL/CA/BB Art Navale, to know, what we deal with?

36 Art Navale - the Italians used 305mm guns only until around 1937/38 (beginning of refit of Andrea Doria class)

55 Armato P-26/40 - IMO a better name is just P-26/40 - this is only a part of Carro Armato expression (tank), not a standalone name.
It should have no BMG.
Same for unit 088


57 3RO 90L53 - I suggest a name 3Ro 90/53, or Lancia3Ro 90/53 (in "Italian Truck-Mounted Artillery in Action" there is "Ro" instead of "RO")

58 SPA 65L17 - Autocannone 65/17 were usually used on captured Morris CS8 chassis, not SPA (according to a book above - even described on Wikipedia as standard equipment http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/65/17_su_Morris_CS8 ).

62 AS-37 Protetto,
63 2TL-37 Protetto
- according to "Italian Armoured vehicles of WWII" Carro Protetto AS 37 was derived from the TL 37 tractor, so it seems to be the same vehicle. However, Italian Wikipedia calls it Autoprotetto S37 http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat-SPA_S37 , what looks quite reliable, because AS-37 was a light Saharian truck, also derived from TL37 http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat-SPA_AS37

According to the book (and Wiki), entered production in 1941 (and rather towards mid of the year, than January, I guess). Capacity was 7 + 2 crew (according to Wiki, 8+1). Armour was 8mm, roof was open. A MG was a standard weapon.

I didn't encounter any 2TL-37 Protetto with armoured roof. On both photos in the game there is the same vehicle (AS-37).


65 Lancia IZ, 66 Lancia IZM - in fact it was 1Z/1ZM (Squadron/Signal book and http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_1Z ), although I was always convinced it was "iZ"..
Lancia 1Z should be in fact armed with #231 6.5 (2) TMG and single 6.5 TMG in an upper turret. BTW, both MGs in a main big turret in both vehicles were independent, and could be treated separately. Different MG models were also used, but it is negligible.
I'd remove single BMG from 1ZM, because it only shot rearwards.
Crew was up to 6 in both.

I have no exact information, but I believe, that 1Z with an upper turret didn't survive long - maybe until a beginning of the 1930s?
On the other hand, 1ZM was used in occupation service well until 1943.

67 Lancia IZII - I couldn't find information about such vehicle. A photo looks like some Spanish Civil War "tiznao".
Maybe it could be substituted with such vehicle: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat-Terni_Tripoli

69 Fiat 626 - cab-over-engine Fiat 626 entered production in 1939 http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_626 (there are earlier trucks in Heavy Truck class available)
Maybe a better icon for Fiat as a heavy truck is 2151/52 - 606 has quite narrow cab (Bedford QL?)

70 Lancia 3RO - 3Ro according to the mentioned book.
It entered service in 1938 http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_3Ro, although earlier there was Lancia Ro - from 1933 http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancia_Ro, so I guess it can represent both from 1933, with 3Ro name.


78 SMV M.43 105L25 - first delivered in 5/43 according to Armor Photo Gallery ("few were delivered before the Armistice" according to Squadron/Signal)
Same for unit 431

79 SMV M.41 75L32 - all sources agree, that it was an experimental variant, and L34 gun was finally chosen instead. There's no info, how many were made (single one?) and when; according to Squadron/Signal book Italian Armoured Vehicles of World War II: "the 75/32-armed semovente was cancelled in 1942".
I'd remove it.
Picture is ordinary M.40 75/18, BTW.

80 SMV M.43 75L34 - basic model with 75/34 gun was M.42 (see below). According to Squadron/Signal only "some" M43s with new hull were armed with L34, and according to Armor PhotoGallery, M43 with this gun were used only by the Germans. As a result, it should be removed IMO.
Its photo is M.43 75/46, BTW.

86 SMV M.42 75L34, it should have narrower icon due to older chassis (1904/1905 of 75L32 would be good). Armour should be generally the same as in old 75/18 (according to Armor Photo Gallery there was 50mm solid plate in front).
Same for 135 and 261 (and they didn't carry skirts). I suggest name 75/34.

According to the same source, it was produced from 5/43; also according to Squadron/Signal it entered service in summer 1943 (now #135 ends before this date and there is no 75L34 in Tank Destroyer class in 1943-45 available).
According to En-Wikipedia, the only operational use by the Regio Esercito was in the defence of Rome from 8–10 September 1943.

Ammunition was only 45 (now 48). Squadron's book lists only HE and AP ammo.