47mm Anti-tank
The Italian 47mm cannon was the primary infantry support gun and AT gun of the Italian army in WWII and Flames of War. For all intents and purposes, the 47 was solid, if somewhat underspecialized, and saw service everywhere the Italian Army was deployed to in WWII.
IRL[edit]
Much like the political leadership of Germany wasn't even German, some of the weapons in Italy were not even Italian at first. The 47mm cannon was a licensed weapon that the Italians picked up from the Bohler firm in Austria. This first model was called the Cannone da 47/35 mod. 35. After Hitler took over his home from another country, the Italians produced a new version in 1939, which simply changed the designation to mod. 39.
The 47mm was a solid early war design, and it excelled in that rather than needing a plethora of different weapons for different tasks, the 47s were originally designed as a swiss army cannon. The 47s were used as mountain, parachute, at, and infantry support guns throughout the war, using anything and everything from HEAT, AP, and HE rounds. The lighter weight gave them a substantial advnatage in mobility.
This all goes to shit when you realize that the axel was too weak to be tugged by an artillery tug and had to be towed by the already limited number of trucks. Also, the allies started pulling up with T-34s, Shermans, Churchills, and many other manners of MEHTUL BAWKSES that made the 47mm largely irrelevant. It also had no gun shield. Great for visibility, but pretty trash if said tank you just shot at didn't die and starts shitting bullets at you. That didn't stop the Germans from nicking them and using them until the end of the war.
Other users included Finland, Estonia, Latvia, the Netherlands, Austria pre Anschluss, China, Romania, and the Swiss. Because of course the Swiss were using the "swiss army cannon". The Soviets used them, but mostly stuff they captured in battle so they don't count. The Romanians reportedly used them as support and mountain guns, using Schneider 47mms as their dedicated AT cannon.
They were pretty rapidly phased out after the war, due to the obselecence.
| Italian Forces in Flames of War | |
|---|---|
| Tanks: | Renault R-35 - P-26/40 - L6/40 - M14/41 |
| Transports: | |
| Infantry: | Italian Parachutist Platoon - Italian Assault Engineer Platoon - Bersaglieri Platoon - Parachutist MG Platoon - Bersaglieri MG Platoon |
| Artillery: | Parachutist Mortar Platoon - Bersaglieri Mortar Platoon - 47mm Anti-tank - 100mm Howitzer - 88mm Anti-tank |
| Tank Destroyers and Assault guns: | Semovente 90mm Assault Gun - Semovente 75mm Assault Gun - Semovente Assault Gun |
| Armored Cars: | AB41 Platoon |
| Aircraft: | CR.42 |
| Anti-Aircraft: | Lancia 90mm |