L6/40 Light Tank

Le L6/40 débarqua (à raison de 4 exemplaires) en Afrique du nord en novembre 1941 au sein d'un peloton expérimental de la compagnia di formazione Nizza, attachée au RECAM (Raggruppamento Esplorante del Corpo d'Armata di Manovra). En 1942, le IIIème gruppo corazzato Lancieri di Novara était équipé de 52 L6/40s et rejoignit la Division Littorio en juin de la même année. Tous les L6/40s de ce groupe furent perdus, les 5 derniers à Mersa Matruh lors de la retraite d'El Alamein. Un escadron du 15ème REC (Raggruppamento Esplorante Corazzato) Cavalleggeri di Lodi comprenant 16 L6/40s fut envoyé à Benghazi en novembre 1942 et finalement redéployé en Tunisie.

L6/40 landed (at a rate of 4 specimens) in North Africa in November 1941 within an experimental platoon of the compagnia di formazione Nizza, attached to the RECAM (Raggruppamento Esplorante del Corpo d' Armata di Manovra). In 1942, IIIrd gruppo corazzato Lancieri di Novara was equipped with 52 L6/40s and joined Littorio Division in June of the same year. All L6/40s of this group were lost, the 5 last at Mersa Matruh at the time of the retreat of El Alamein. A squadron of the 15th REC (Raggruppamento Esplorante Corazzato) Cavalleggeri di Lodi including 16 L6/40s was sent to Benghazi November 1942 and finally redeployed in Tunisia.

55 exemplaires du L6/40 furent envoyés en Russie en août 1942, au sein du LXVIIème battaglione bersaglieri. Tous ces chars furent perdus lors de la déroute de l'ARMIR, sauf un capturé par les Russes. Dans les Balkans les L6/40s équipèrent un squadrone du 1er gruppo corazzato San Giusto et le IVème gruppo corazzato Cavalleggeri di Alessandria (13 L6/40s). Ces unités seront rejointes par le IVème gruppo corazzato Nizza Cavalleria (16 L6/40s) au début de l'année 1942. Les IIème gruppo corazzato Cavalleggeri Guide (13 L6/40s) et le IVème gruppo corazzato Monferrato (30 L6/40s) furent également déployés en Albanie. Tous ces chars seront utilisés contre les partisans yougoslaves jusqu'au 8 septembre 1943.

55 specimens of L6/40 were sent in Russia in August 1942, within LXVIIth battaglione bersaglieri. All these tanks were lost at the time of the rout of the ARMIR, except one captured by the Russians. In Balkans L6/40s equipped a squadrone with the 1st gruppo corazzato San Giusto and IVth gruppo corazzato Cavalleggeri di Alessandria (13 L6/40s). These units will be joined by IVth gruppo corazzato Nizza Cavalleria (16 L6/40s) at the beginning of the year 1942. The IInd gruppo corazzato Cavalleggeri Guides (13 L6/40s) and IVth gruppo corazzato Monferrato (30 L6/40s) were also deployed in Albania. All these tanks will be used against the Yugoslav partisans until September 8, 1943.

Le L6/40 équipa aussi les unités italiennes qui occupèrent le sud-est de la France (Côte d'Azur). En effet, le LXVIIIème battaglione bersaglieri du 18ème Reggimento Corazzato Bersaglieri (2 compagnies de L6/40) fut envoyé dans le Var en janvier 1943 et le IIIème gruppo corazzato Piemonte Reale (15 L6/40s) assigné à la 2ème divisione Celere fut envoyé dans la région de Nice.

L6/40 equipped also the Italian units which occupied the south-east of France (Coast of Azure). Indeed, LXVIIIth battaglione bersaglieri of 18th Reggimento Corazzato Bersaglieri (2 companies of L6/40) was sent in the Var in January 1943 and IIIrd gruppo corazzato Piemonte Reale (15 L6/40s) assigned to the 2nd divisione Celere was sent in the area of Nice.


Un autre L6/40 du LXVIIème battaglione bersaglieri en Russie.	L6/40 dans les rues de Nice en France.
Another L6/40 of LXVIIth battaglione bersaglieri in Russia.	L6/40 in the streets of Nice in France.
src: Italie 1935-1945	src: Italie 1935-1945

Après le 8 septembre 1943, la Wehrmacht récupéra quelques L6/40s dans les Balkans. Ces chars continuèrent la lutte contre les partisans yougoslaves (ces derniers eux aussi utilisèrent quelques L6/40). Les Allemands furent équipés également de 17 L6/40 neufs. La RSI sera également doté de quelques exemplaires.

After September 8, 1943, Wehrmacht recovered some L6/40s in Balkans. These tanks continued the fight against the Yugoslav partisans (the latter them also used some L6/40). The Germans were also equipped with 17 L6/40 new produced. The RSI will be also equipped with some specimens.

L6/40 abandonné, et inspecté par des soldats australiens en Afrique du Nord.

L6/40 lost, and inspected by Australian soldiers in North Africa.

src: WW2 Photo

Le L6/40 ne fut guère une réussite, son armement et son blindage insuffisant le rendaient impropre au combat char contre char. Il aurait put faire un bon char de reconnaissance si son autonomie maximum n'était pas trop faible pour ce genre de missions.

L6/40 was hardly a success, its armament and its insufficient shielding made it unsuitable to the combat tank against tank. It would have could make a good tank of reconnaissance if its maximum range was not too weak for this kind of missions.