Difference between revisions of "75/34 M42"

From War Thunder Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(External links: Added link to Wikipedia & Tank Encyclopedia articles)
(12 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Specs-Card|code=it_semovente_m42_75_34}}
 
 
{{About
 
{{About
 
| about = Italian tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 
| about = Italian tank destroyer '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
Line 5: Line 4:
 
| link = M42 (Disambiguation)
 
| link = M42 (Disambiguation)
 
}}
 
}}
 +
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=it_semovente_m42_75_34
 +
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_75_34_M42.jpg}}
 +
}}
 +
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
[[File:GarageImage_75_34_M42.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{Break}}
 
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]].
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]].
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== 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?''
+
{{Specs-Tank-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.'' -->
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
  
''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
+
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, casemate)
 +
* Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
 +
|-
 +
| Hull || 25 mm (80°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 30 mm (cylindrical) ''Lower plate'' || 25 mm || 25 mm ''Upper part'' <br> 25 mm (15°) ''Lower part'' || 25 mm (10°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 10 mm (15°) ''Rear - Engine hood'' <br> 5-10 mm (8°) ''Rear - Radiator vents''
 +
|-
 +
| Casemate || 50 mm (5°) ''Casemate front plate'' <br> 50 + 50 mm (spherical) ''Gun mantlet'' <br> 25 mm (60°) ''Plate connecting with hull'' || 25 mm (6-7°) || 25 mm || 15 mm (5°) ''Centre'' <br> 15 mm (21-22°) ''Sides''
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick and bogies 10 mm thick.
 +
* The belly is 15 mm thick.
 +
* Mudguards are 4 mm thick.
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} shares the same vulnerabilities as the [[75/18 M41]] and the [[75/32 M41]]: a rather weak vertical armour front plate, weak sides and an even weaker roof armour and a crew of only 3 sitting in a cramped space.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
  
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 263|rbMinHp= 164}}
 
{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 263|rbMinHp= 164}}
 +
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
 +
{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
 
{{main|75/34 mod.39 (75 mm)}}
 
{{main|75/34 mod.39 (75 mm)}}
Line 36: Line 66:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+22° || rowspan="2" | ±18° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.3 || 17.1 || __._ || __._ || 24.4 || rowspan="2" | 8.45 || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | _.__ || rowspan="2" | 6.50
+
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+22° || rowspan="2" | ±18° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 12.3 || 17.1 ||20.7||22.9|| 24.4 || rowspan="2" | 8.45 || rowspan="2" |7.48|| rowspan="2" |6.89|| rowspan="2" | 6.50
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
| 8.3 || 9.8 || __._ || __._ || 14.0
+
| 8.3 || 9.8 ||11.9||13.2|| 14.0
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 53: Line 83:
 
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
 
|-
 
|-
| Granata Perforante 75/32 || APCBC || 79 || 78 || 71 || 64 || 58 || 52  
+
| Granata Perforante 75/32 || APCBC || 79 || 78 || 71 || 64 || 58 || 52
 
|-
 
|-
| EPS M42 || HEAT || 100 || 100 || 100 || 100 || 100 || 100  
+
| EPS M42 || HEAT || 100 || 100 || 100 || 100 || 100 || 100
 
|-
 
|-
| Granata 75/32 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9  
+
| Granata 75/32 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 84: Line 114:
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
[[File:Ammoracks 75-34 M42.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
 
[[File:Ammoracks 75-34 M42.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
'''Last updated: 1.101.1.16'''
+
<!-- '''Last updated: 1.101.1.16''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
Line 97: Line 127:
 
Notes:
 
Notes:
  
* * As they are modeled by sets of 2, 3 or 4, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire all shells in the set.
+
* As they are modeled by sets of 2, 3 or 4, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire all shells in the set.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
 +
 
 +
;Combat tactics
 +
 
 +
Thanks to its performant gun, the {{PAGENAME}} is effective as a tank destroyer at long range with the good penetration of its APCBC round. With a maximum penetration of 64 mm at 1,000 m, the vehicle will have no problem penetrating the angled front armour of many similar rank vehicles from a distance. Light tanks, armoured cars and SPAA are the easiest targets. The vehicle's effectiveness improves once the HEAT shell is unlocked, with 100 mm of penetration at all ranges. This allows for reliable penetration of practically all the Semovente's potential adversaries. Your most dangerous opponents are fast and agile light tanks such as the M22 that can easily flank the Semovente undetected and disable you from close range. Their speed and small size make those light tanks difficult to target for the Semovente's howitzer.
 +
 
 +
With the HEAT shell, the Semovente can make for an effective tank destroyer, provided you stay at a distance guaranteeing your survivability. The one thing to remember about the HEAT shell is that it sacrifices the one-shot capability of APCBC, meaning that larger tanks will often take multiple hits to disable while the reload time is pretty slow for the battle rating. Like the 75/32 M41, the HEAT shell has a good muzzle velocity making it capable to hit reliably targets at long range.
 +
 
 +
;Notable enemies:
 +
 
 +
Many tanks are capable of easily disabling you. By order of lethality:
 +
 
 +
* Tank destroyers with long guns
 +
* Howitzers with powerful HE shells
 +
* Tanks with HEAT shells
 +
* Frontline tanks with APHE shells
 +
* Light tanks or armoured cars with autocannons
 +
 
 +
;How to defeat a {{PAGENAME}}
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} has several weak spots:
  
=== Modules ===
+
* In a frontal encounter, the vertical front plate is the easiest to target.
{| class="wikitable"
+
* Shoot the lower front plate to damage the transmission and immobilize the tank if you lack penetration power.
! Tier
+
* When flanking, aim for the weak sides of the casemate.
! colspan="2"|Mobility
 
! Protection
 
! colspan="2"|Firepower
 
|-
 
| I
 
| Tracks
 
|
 
| Parts
 
| Horizontal Drive
 
| EPS M42
 
|-
 
| II
 
| Suspension
 
| Brake System
 
| FPE
 
| Adjustment of Fire
 
|
 
|-
 
| III
 
| Filters
 
|
 
| Crew Replenishment
 
| Elevation Mechanism
 
| Smoke grenade
 
|-
 
| IV
 
| Transmission
 
| Engine
 
|
 
|
 
|
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
Line 157: Line 174:
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
<!--Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.-->
+
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
{{main|M15/42#History|l1=History of the M15/42}}
  
Intended to use the same gun as the P26 medium tank but on the M15/42 chassis, the 75/34 Semovente variant had not yet become operational when the Germans seized control of northern Italy. The Germans continued its manufacture, completing 116. Saw service along with the other Semovente variants in Italy and the Balkans.
+
;Development
 +
 
 +
Following the success of the Semovente da 75/18 in its anti-tank role, the Italian command ordered in October 1942 the development of an improved version of the Semovente based this time on the M15/42 chassis and a 75 mm L/34 Breda cannon, a gun with identical performance to the one equipped on the P26/40 tank. The new vehicle was accepted in April 1943 and production started in May 1943 with an order for 280 Semoventi. Due to wartime shortages of materials and manpower, only 93 tank destroyers were produced by the Italians before the Armistice and only 60 vehicles delivered to their combat units. The Germans then seized control of Northern Italy and continued its manufacture, completing 80 more units alongside 36 already confiscated ones.
 +
 
 +
;Combat usage
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} saw shortly combat action on the Italian side during the battle of Rome in September 1943 and more extensively on the German side along with the other Semovente variants in Northern Italy and the Balkans in 1944.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
<!--''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''-->
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
Skin and Camouflages for the [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=italy&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=tank_destroyer&vehicle=it_semovente_m42_75_34 75/34 M42] in Warthunder Live.
+
 
 +
;Skins
 +
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=italy&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=tank_destroyer&vehicle=it_semovente_m42_75_34 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|hwZZvlooCQ0|'''Semovente da {{PAGENAME}}, Italian, Tier-2, Tank Destroyer''' - ''Angry Nerd Gaming''|t5VZ6gv_2dA|'''First 10 - {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''Orangefan''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 +
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+
;Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
 
 +
* [[M15/42]]
 +
 
 +
;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
 +
 
 +
* [[StuG III A]]
 +
* [[75/34 M43]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==

Revision as of 14:35, 28 December 2020

VTOL | Rank 5 USA
AV-8A Harrier Pack
This page is about the Italian tank destroyer 75/34 M42. For other usages, see M42 (Disambiguation).
it_semovente_m42_75_34.png
GarageImage 75 34 M42.jpg
75/34 M42
AB RB SB
2.3 2.3 2.3
Research:5 600 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:22 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Semovente 75/34 M42 is a rank II Italian tank destroyer with a battle rating of 2.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull30 / 25 / 25
Turret50 / 25 / 25
Crew3 people
Visibility64 %

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, casemate)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 25 mm (80°) Front glacis
30 mm (cylindrical) Lower plate
25 mm 25 mm Upper part
25 mm (15°) Lower part
25 mm (10°) Front glacis
10 mm (15°) Rear - Engine hood
5-10 mm (8°) Rear - Radiator vents
Casemate 50 mm (5°) Casemate front plate
50 + 50 mm (spherical) Gun mantlet
25 mm (60°) Plate connecting with hull
25 mm (6-7°) 25 mm 15 mm (5°) Centre
15 mm (21-22°) Sides

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick and bogies 10 mm thick.
  • The belly is 15 mm thick.
  • Mudguards are 4 mm thick.

The 75/34 M42 shares the same vulnerabilities as the 75/18 M41 and the 75/32 M41: a rather weak vertical armour front plate, weak sides and an even weaker roof armour and a crew of only 3 sitting in a cramped space.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB42 / 4 km/h
RB and SB39 / 4 km/h
Number of gears5 forward
1 back
Weight13.3 t
Engine power
AB353 hp
RB and SB185 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB26.5 hp/t
RB and SB13.9 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 42 4 13.3 263 353 19.77 26.54
Realistic 39 4 164 185 12.33 13.91

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB712 → 924 Sl icon.png
RB795 → 1 031 Sl icon.png
SB971 → 1 260 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications10 400 Rp icon.png
13 680 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost750 Ge icon.png
Crew training6 300 Sl icon.png
Experts22 000 Sl icon.png
Aces210 Ge icon.png
Research Aces220 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
50 / 80 / 100 % Sl icon.png
124 / 124 / 124 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
650 Rp icon.png
Cost:
860 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 200 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
1 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
2 200 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement it.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
650 Rp icon.png
Cost:
860 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
75mm_M42_EPS_HEAT_ammo_pack
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
690 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
580 Rp icon.png
Cost:
770 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
650 Rp icon.png
Cost:
860 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
650 Rp icon.png
Cost:
860 Sl icon.png
90 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

Ammunition45 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
8.5 → 6.5 s
Vertical guidance-10° / 22°
Horizontal guidance-18° / 18°
Main article: 75/34 mod.39 (75 mm)
75 mm 75/34 mod.39 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 45 -10°/+22° ±18° N/A 12.3 17.1 20.7 22.9 24.4 8.45 7.48 6.89 6.50
Realistic 8.3 9.8 11.9 13.2 14.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
Granata Perforante 75/32 APCBC 79 78 71 64 58 52
EPS M42 HEAT 100 100 100 100 100 100
Granata 75/32 HE 9 9 9 9 9 9
Shell 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%
Granata Perforante 75/32 APCBC 637 6.35 1.2 14 270 48° 63° 71°
EPS M42 HEAT 552 5.3 0.0 0.1 656.64 62° 69° 73°
Granata 75/32 HE 552 6.35 0.4 0.1 600 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the 75/34 M42
Full
ammo
1st
rack empty
2nd
rack empty
Visual
discrepancy
45 24 (+21) (+44) No

Notes:

  • As they are modeled by sets of 2, 3 or 4, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire all shells in the set.

Usage in battles

Combat tactics

Thanks to its performant gun, the 75/34 M42 is effective as a tank destroyer at long range with the good penetration of its APCBC round. With a maximum penetration of 64 mm at 1,000 m, the vehicle will have no problem penetrating the angled front armour of many similar rank vehicles from a distance. Light tanks, armoured cars and SPAA are the easiest targets. The vehicle's effectiveness improves once the HEAT shell is unlocked, with 100 mm of penetration at all ranges. This allows for reliable penetration of practically all the Semovente's potential adversaries. Your most dangerous opponents are fast and agile light tanks such as the M22 that can easily flank the Semovente undetected and disable you from close range. Their speed and small size make those light tanks difficult to target for the Semovente's howitzer.

With the HEAT shell, the Semovente can make for an effective tank destroyer, provided you stay at a distance guaranteeing your survivability. The one thing to remember about the HEAT shell is that it sacrifices the one-shot capability of APCBC, meaning that larger tanks will often take multiple hits to disable while the reload time is pretty slow for the battle rating. Like the 75/32 M41, the HEAT shell has a good muzzle velocity making it capable to hit reliably targets at long range.

Notable enemies

Many tanks are capable of easily disabling you. By order of lethality:

  • Tank destroyers with long guns
  • Howitzers with powerful HE shells
  • Tanks with HEAT shells
  • Frontline tanks with APHE shells
  • Light tanks or armoured cars with autocannons
How to defeat a 75/34 M42

The 75/34 M42 has several weak spots:

  • In a frontal encounter, the vertical front plate is the easiest to target.
  • Shoot the lower front plate to damage the transmission and immobilize the tank if you lack penetration power.
  • When flanking, aim for the weak sides of the casemate.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Decent 75 mm gun with a respectable reload rate
  • Low profile = harder to spot
  • Has access to HEAT rounds
  • Decent top speed

Cons:

  • Overall armour is not very good
  • Is vulnerable to getting flanked due to being a casemate tank destroyer
  • Thin top armour; can be vulnerable to strafing aircraft
  • Acceleration leaves things to be desired

History

Main article: History of the M15/42
Development

Following the success of the Semovente da 75/18 in its anti-tank role, the Italian command ordered in October 1942 the development of an improved version of the Semovente based this time on the M15/42 chassis and a 75 mm L/34 Breda cannon, a gun with identical performance to the one equipped on the P26/40 tank. The new vehicle was accepted in April 1943 and production started in May 1943 with an order for 280 Semoventi. Due to wartime shortages of materials and manpower, only 93 tank destroyers were produced by the Italians before the Armistice and only 60 vehicles delivered to their combat units. The Germans then seized control of Northern Italy and continued its manufacture, completing 80 more units alongside 36 already confiscated ones.

Combat usage

The 75/34 M42 saw shortly combat action on the Italian side during the battle of Rome in September 1943 and more extensively on the German side along with the other Semovente variants in Northern Italy and the Balkans in 1944.

Media

Skins


Videos

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis
Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links


Italy tank destroyers
  Italy
M41  75/18 M41 · 75/32 M41 · 90/53 M41M
M42  75/34 M42
M43  105/25 M43 · M43 "G.C.Leoncello" · 75/34 M43 · 75/46 M43
Wheeled  Lancia 3Ro (100/17) · AS 42/47 · Breda 90/53 · Breda 501
Other  L3/33 CC · 47/32 L40
Germany  ▄StuG III G
USA  M36B1 · ▄M109G · M113A1 (TOW)
  Hungary
Zrínyi  Zrinyi I · Zrinyi II
USSR  ◔2S1