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

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, gun mantlet)
• Cast homogeneous armour (hull rear: centre housing)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	30 mm (11°) Upper plate 15-20 mm (75°) Upper glacis 30 mm (6°) Lower plate 15 mm (70°) Lower glacis	15 mm	15 mm	15-20 mm (15°) Upper glacis 10 mm Centre section 10 mm (20°) Rear section
Turret	25 mm (cylindrical) Turret front 30 mm Gun mantlet 40 mm (12°) Turret frame	15 mm (20°)	25 mm (16°) Hatch 15 mm (16°)	10 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick while bogies are 10 mm thick.
• Mudguards are 5 mm thick.

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* - Half the belt is composed of HEFI-T, such shell will do negligible damage against armoured targets. However against aircraft and vehicles with exposed crew, such shell can prove deadly.
• Perforante mod.35: 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 - Highest penetrating belt. However, the damage effects are very poor. In close combat, aiming for modules and crew member is advised. Its effects against angled armour 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
Belt	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

Combat tactics

As a frontline tank, you must fight in close-quarters to make the best use of your autocannon (0-300 m). Stay mobile and flank enemies. Make use of your good mobility to surprise the enemy where he does not expect you. And always be the first to shoot. Use short bursts (2-3 rounds ideally) to stay in control of your ammo and maximize the damage you inflict. If you can't get close or flank, stay hull down showing only your turret. Unlike the Pz.II, your turret rotation speed is very good, meaning that you can quickly face an enemy surprising you on your six.

You also can play as a support tank by taking disabling shots at enemies to prevent them from firing and operating normally (gun barrel, gun breech, transmission. etc.) and let your better armoured teammates destroy enemy tanks. This can be a precious help, especially when around a heavily contested capture point.

Notable enemies

• Heavily armoured tanks that will shrug your rounds like the FCM.36, S.35, B1 bis and Valentine Mk I.
• Tanks with sloped armour that will make most of your bullets ricochet: Crusader II, M5A1, T-60, T-70, T-80.

How to defeat a L6/40

Stay at distance of 500 m and above to negative its firepower. In a frontal encounter, shoot right in the middle of the front plate if the L6/40 did not angle its hull. This will knock out the gunner and the driver. If angled, aim at the turret. When flanking, aim for the spot right under the center of the turret. Use a shell with a good post-penetration effect: APHE or HEAT. The limited crew of 2 limits severely the survivability of the L6/40.

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

Until the HVAP (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.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Reasonable penetration with HVAP belts
• Great turret rotation
• Good acceleration
• Adequate mobility

Cons:

• Poor suspension damping, it takes about 2 seconds to settle after stopping the vehicle
• Limited crew of 2
• Low rate of fire
• Limited magazines of 8 rounds

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

Carro Armato L6/40, Italian, Tier-1, Light Tank - Angry Nerd Gaming

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

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same gun

• AB 41
• AS 42

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• Panzer 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