L6/40

L6/40

M13/40 (I)

L6/40

M13/40 (I)

Italy

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.0	1.0	1.0

Class:

Light tank

Research:Free

Purchase:Free

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Description

The Carro Armato modello L6 (shortened to L6/40) is a rank I Italian light tank with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".

General info

Survivability and armour

Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?

If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.

Mobility

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	47	8	6.8	105	130	15.44	19.12
Realistic	43	7		60	68	8.82	10

Armaments

Main armament

20 mm Breda Mod.35						Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	280 (8)	240	-12°/+20°	±180°	N/A	22.85	31.62	38.40	42.47	45.18	7.80	6.90	6.36	6.00
Realistic						14.28	16.80	20.40	22.56	24.00

Ammunition

• Default: API-T · HEFI-T · API-T · HEFI-T - Half the belt is composed of HEFI-T, such shell will do negligible damage against armored targets. However against aircrafts and vehicles with exposed crew, such shell can prove deadly.
• Perforante mod.35: API-T · API-T · API-T · API-T - Intermediate usage until the better PzGr 40 can be used. Decent enough against light tanks and other vehicles from the rear.
• PzGr 40: HVAP-T · API-T · HVAP-T · API-T - Highest penetrating belt. However, the damage effects are very poor. In close combat, aiming for modules and crewmember is advised. It's effects against angled armor is limited due to the nature of the HVAP shells, however the base penetration compensates such drawback.

Penetration statistics
Belt	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
	10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Default	38	36	27	19	14	10
Perforante mod.35	38	36	27	19	14	10
PzGr 40	64	63	27	29	14	10

Belt details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile Mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
Perforante mod.35	API-T	832	0.14	1.2	9	1.7	47°	60°	65°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the L6/40

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	7th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
35	29 (+6)	24 (+11)	23 (+12)	22 (+13)	13 (+22)	8 (+27)	1 (+34)	no

Machine guns

8 mm Breda Mod. 38
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	1,524 (24)	600	N/A	N/A

Usage in battles

Utilise the L6/40 like a Panzer II, as it shares similar characteristics especially with the 20 mm Breda Mod.35 autocannon. Until this APCR (PzGr 40) belt is unlocked, use the L6/40 in a support role by capturing objectives in order to obtain enough research points to unlock the necessary firepower modifications.

Once the PzGr 40 is unlocked, the L6/40 shares the same offensive power as seen on the Panzer II, as the PzGr 40 rounds are nearly identical, if not exactly so, as the German counterparts. Use the PzGr 40 rounds to meet and knock out peer enemies more readily in order to control the battlefield.

Modules

Tier	Mobility		Protection	Firepower
I	Tracks		Parts	Horizontal Drive
II	Suspension	Brake System	FPE	Adjustment of Fire	Perforante mod.35
III	Filters		Crew Replenishment	Elevation Mechanism
IV	Transmission	Engine		Artillery Support	PzGr 40

Pros and cons

Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".

Pros:

• Reasonable penetration with HVAP belts

Cons:

• Poor suspension damping, it takes about 2 seconds to settle after stopping the vehicle

History

The L6/40 was designed to replace the L3 tankette in the cavalry and reconnaissance roles. It was based on a heavily modified L3 chassis, keeping the two-person crew, but with increased firepower, protection and mobility. By the time it was accepted for service in early 1940, it was already only barely adequate as a recon tank. By the time it entered general service in 1942 it was hopelessly obsolete. After 283 had been built it was cancelled in favour of the Semovente 47/32. A flamethrower version was developed but did not enter service.

L6/40 was to be used in the Raggruppamento Esplorante Corazzato (RECo); the divisional-level armoured reconnaissance task forces found in the order of battle of armoured and motorized divisions, and in several independent recon units, deployed in 4-car platoons. In total, 72 were sent to North Africa, and 55 went to Russia on March 1942, where they equipped the 67th Battaglione Motocorazzato Bersaglieri (lightly armoured battalion) in the 3rd Celere (Cavalry) Division. They were the heaviest Italian tanks used on that front. The battalion was destroyed in December 1942 during fighting on the Don River. L6/40 was also employed in Yugoslavia, by the San Guisto light armoured squadron-group of the 1st Celere Division.

Some L6/40 fought in Italy in September 1943 and were later employed by Italian Fascists and Germans. The Germans seized many on Italy's surrender; the majority were exported to Croatia but also used some themselves in the Balkans. Yugoslav partisans would press a small number of captured L6s into service.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the L6/40 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

L6/40 Review: Bad stock grind, Great HVAP! - Joseph 2000

See also

Tanks of comparable role, configuration and era

• Pz.II
• Sd.Kfz. 140/1
• T-60
• M2A2
• Pvlvv fm/42

External links

• [Wikipedia] L6/40 tank
• [Tanks Encyclopedia] FIAT-Ansaldo L6/40
• [Military Factory] Carro Armato L6/40

Italy light tanks
	Italy
L6/40	L6/40 · L6/40 (31 Rgt.)
M11/39	M11/39
Autoblindo	AB 41 · AB 43
Fiat 6614/6616	FIAT 6614 · AUBL/74 · AUBL/74 HVG
R3 Capraia	R3 T106 FA
Centauro	Centauro I 105 · Centauro I 105 R · Centauro I 120 · Centauro RGO · VRCC
Freccia	VBC (PT2) · Freccia
Dardo	Dardo · VCC-80/60 · VCC-80/30
Other	C13 T90
USA	▄M3A3 · ▄M24 · ▄M18
	Hungary
WWII	Csaba · Toldi IIA
Post	◔BTR-80A · KF41