[Lone Sentry: Artillery in the Desert]
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Artillery in the Desert, Military Intelligence Service, Special Series No. 6, November 1942
[DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the wartime U.S. War Department publication. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

Appendix D: Italian Artillery--Tables of Characteristics

Name Caliber (inches) Muzzle velocity (foot-seconds) Max range (yards) Rate of fire (RPM) Remarks
Theo-
retical
Prac-
tical
37/54-mm AA gun Breda 1.46 2,620 7,700
13,500 ft
125 75 6-rd loading tray; twin-barreled model also in use; mobile platform; barrel, 54 cals; fires HE with time fuze and HE tracer with percussion fuze; a very effective gun.
45-mm mortar Brixia (Model 35) 1.77 272 587   30 Tripod mount; weight in action 34 lbs: 1-lb bomb; standard light mortar.
47/32-mm AT gun 1.85 2,050 7,600   12-14 Barrel, 32 cals; 60° traverse; penetrates 1¼-in armor at 90° at 800 yds; also used as infantry support gun.
65/17-mm infantry gun 2.58 1,130 7,100      
70-mm infantry gun 2.76 1,160 7,100     Weight, 850 lbs.
75-mm infantry gun (1934) 2.97 1,180        
75/13-mm mountain howitzer 2.97 1,240 9,000     On wheels or 7-load pack; weight, 1,350 lbs.
75/18-mm gun-howitzer (Models 34 and 35) 2.97 1,430 10,200     Model 34: 1,760 lbs; mountain artillery. Model 35: 2,420 lbs; towed or self-propelled.
75/27-mm gun-howitzer (Model 06) 2.97 1,730 11,200 8 4 Weight in action, 1 ton; elevation -10° to +16°; models 11 and 12 have smaller MV and range, greater elevation and traverse. See par. 7c.
75/34-mm field gun 2.97 1,650 13,500     Weight, 2,750 lbs; towed; expected to become standard in mobile division, replacing 75/27.
75/46-mm AA gun (Model 34) 2.97 2,350 14,100
27,200 ft
    Mobile gun.
75/50-mm AA gun 2.97 3,200 17,000
27,500 ft
    Tractor-drawn.
76/40-mm AA gun 2.99 2,620 9,000
15,750 ft
125 70 Water-cooled jacket; elevation -10° to +90°.
77/28-mm field gun 3.03 1,710 7,700     Weight, 2,200 lbs.
81-mm mortar (Model 35) 3.19 836 4,429 (light bomb); 1,640 (heavy bomb)     Weight, 129 lbs, bomb wt, 7½ lbs; a new improved model has been introduced. A 15-lb bomb is sometimes used.
90/50-mm multipurpose gun 3.55 2,755 19,000
39,400 ft
    Weight, 5¾ tons; tractor-drawn.
100/17-mm mountain howitzer (Models 16 and 34) 3.94 1,800 10,000 6 4 Carried in 3 loads.
102/35-mm AA gun 4.02 2,477 14,425
31,100 ft
  10-12  
105/28-mm field gun 4.14 1,850 14,800      
105/32-mm field gun 4.14   17,500      
105/40-mm field gun 4.14   18,500     Weight, 9,900 lbs.
149/12-mm howitzer 5.87 985 7,200      
149/13-mm howitzer (Model 14) 5.87 1,130 9,560      
149/35-mm gun 5.87 2,200 19,100     Weight, 15,400 lbs.
149/40-mm gun 5.87   24,000      
152/13-mm howitzer 5.98 1,240 10,400     Weight, 7,920 lbs.
152/45-mm gun 5.98 2,730 21,200     Weight, 36,820 lbs.
210/8-mm mortar 8.27 1,130 9,200     Weight, 17,600 lbs.
210/22-mm howitzer (Model 35) 8.27 1,730 17,500     Weight, 34,320 lbs.
280/16-mm coast defense howitzer 11.03   12,760      
305/17-mm howitzer (Model 17) 12.0 1,790 19,200      
305/50-mm coast defense gun 12.0   23,650      
381/40-mm railway gun 15.0 2,500 26,200      

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