Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34

The Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 was a mobile Italian anti-aircraft gun used during World War II. The designation means it had a caliber of 75 mm, the barrel was 46 caliber-lengths long and it was accepted in service in 1934.

Cannone da 75/46
Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 40 at Mount Circeo, 1943.
TypeAnti-aircraft gun
Place of originItaly
Service history
Used byItaly
Nazi Germany
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Designed1934
No. builtModello 34: 226
Modello 40: 45
VariantsCannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 40
Specifications
MassTravelling: 4,405 kg (9,711 lb)
Combat: 3,300 kg (7,300 lb)
Barrel length3.45 m (11 ft 4 in) L/46
Width1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
Height3.45 m (11 ft 4 in)[1]
Shell75 x 580 mmR
Shell weight6.5 kg (14 lb 5 oz) (HE)
Caliber75 mm (3.0 in)
BreechHorizontal sliding-wedge
RecoilHydro-pneumatic
CarriageTwo-wheeled carriage with folding cruciform outriggers.
Elevation–2° to +90°
Traverse360°[1]
Muzzle velocity750 m/s (2,500 ft/s)
Maximum firing range13,000 metres (43,000 ft)
8,500 metres (27,900 ft) Max ceiling[1]

History

Showing the influence of contemporary Vickers designs, it was a sound and orthodox design; however, its production was first late in starting and slow in being carried out (by 1942, of the 240 ordered only 226 had been delivered). This meant that older and obsolete AA guns had to be kept in service even though their efficacy was minimal, and also that its production was parallel to the newer and better performing Cannone da 90/53. In addition to the mobile modello 34 a static mount the Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 40 was produced. Once again production was slow and only 45 of the 240 ordered were delivered.[1]

Assigned both to field units and to battieres protecting the Italian territory, it was also used on the Eastern front and in the Tunisian Campaign as an anti-tank gun (in which capacity it was also fitted to the Semovente da 75/46 self-propelled gun). Its performance was considered good in both roles, especially in the latter, with its AP shell that could pierce 90 millimetres (3.5 in) of armor at 500 metres (550 yd)),[2] but it was never available in numbers.

After the Italian Armistice, the Wehrmacht captured some of these guns, and employed them with the designation 7.5 cm Flak 264/3(i), while modello 40 guns were given the designation 7.5 cm Flak 264/4(i)

See also

References
  1. Chamberlain, Peter (1975). Anti-aircraft guns. Gander, Terry. New York: Arco Pub. Co. pp. 28–29. ISBN 0668038187. OCLC 2000222.
  2. Cappellano, F.; Battistelli, P.P (2012). Italian medium tanks : 1939-45. Oxford: Osprey Publ. p. 36. ISBN 9781849087759.
  • Artillery by Chris Chant, published by Amber Books, ISBN 1-84509-248-1
  • The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Barnes and Noble Ltd. (1998), ISBN 0-7607-1022-8


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