Some people even talk of Italian tanks considering tankettes as main example, as if the Italians considered those as tanks themselves. The reality is that these meme-based talkers merge Compass and El Alamein together, forgetting that against Stuarts and Crusaders the M13 was on par and even had a better gun. They conveniently ignore the Semovente series, of course.
I didn't really feel I needed to put this in the video, but their use is misunderstood. Italy designed these tanks to be used in the narrow passes in the Alps, which is where they fought their last war. A tankette can maneuver far better in this environment where most tanks of conventional sizes would be cumbersome.
According to Ian Walker (Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts), some Semovente 75/18's at the Second battle of El Alamein were held in reserve and retreated (although only 1-4 made the journey if I am remembering correctly). They would then be merged into the recently arrived Centauro division. It should also be noted the Ariete was not just made up of armored forces; it had infantry (Bersaglieri, Carabinieri, engineers, etc.) and motorized artillery. So some elements of those did escape to Tobruk.
Some people even talk of Italian tanks considering tankettes as main example, as if the Italians considered those as tanks themselves. The reality is that these meme-based talkers merge Compass and El Alamein together, forgetting that against Stuarts and Crusaders the M13 was on par and even had a better gun. They conveniently ignore the Semovente series, of course.
I didn't really feel I needed to put this in the video, but their use is misunderstood. Italy designed these tanks to be used in the narrow passes in the Alps, which is where they fought their last war. A tankette can maneuver far better in this environment where most tanks of conventional sizes would be cumbersome.
According to Ian Walker (Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts), some Semovente 75/18's at the Second battle of El Alamein were held in reserve and retreated (although only 1-4 made the journey if I am remembering correctly). They would then be merged into the recently arrived Centauro division. It should also be noted the Ariete was not just made up of armored forces; it had infantry (Bersaglieri, Carabinieri, engineers, etc.) and motorized artillery. So some elements of those did escape to Tobruk.
Good video, no pronunciation lesson, 8/10
Everybody tank-ganksta (tanksta?) when their country is mostly flat terrain xD
I have been delightfully deceived
They were not that bad for the 30s.