ID Italian guns

[Manuferey]

I need help identifying the following Italian guns:

1) Mountain guns captured in the western desert of Egypt, possibly 70 mm?


2) A heavy machine-gun or a light-gun captured on Pantellaria island in June 1943:


3) A heavy gun barrel captured at Sidi Barrani in December 1940:


Emmanuel

[Sturm78]

Hi Emmanuel,

Image 1: I think 65mm Cannone da 65-17
Image 2: I think 13.2mm Breda M1931
Image 3: ??

Sturm78

[Manuferey]

Image 1: I think 65mm Cannone da 65-17

Thanks for your input Sturm78. But I don't think that image 1 shows a 65-17 as there is no recoil mechanism underneath the tube. I think it is the predecessor of the 65-17, an even older 70 mm mountain gun, but I don't know its model.

Emmanuel

[peeved]

Hi Emmanuel,

Maybe a Cannone da 70/15 like this: http://cannonsuperstore.com/1917_mountain_cannon.html

Markus

[Manuferey]

We have a winner ! Thanks, Markus.

Regarding the 13.2 mm Breda HMG identified by Sturm78, there is another picture of the machine gun posted by Jos in this post:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0&t=183545

Emmanuel

[nuyt]

Hi Emmanuel,

Maybe a Cannone da 70/15 like this: http://cannonsuperstore.com/1917_mountain_cannon.html

Markus

I Agree

[Dili]

Are you sure Western Desert? Couldn't be Eastern Africa? I don't have 70/15 in weapons list for Libia 1940.

[Clive Mortimore]

Are you sure Western Desert? Couldn't be Eastern Africa? I don't have 70/15 in weapons list for Libia 1940.

Hi Dili

I was thinking East Africa as well. The Commonwealth troops in the photo appear to be wearing a mix of Worsley pattern helments and Solar Pith hats, as the war progressed the wearing of these items of headgear became restricted which suggest an early campaign. Another unusal item of colthing is the use of leather belts and holster, which suggest Empire troops not British. There were no Australian units in the East African campaign.

[nuyt]

Maybe South Africans?

[Clive Mortimore]

Maybe South Africans?

Hi Nuyt

They could be, other photos from the campaign show the South Africans in Worsley pattern helments and Solar Pith hats.

Clive

[Manuferey]

Thanks, guys. Your comments make total sense.

Here is the caption of the picture at AWM:
"British troops examining and bringing in captured Italian guns during action in the Western desert."
http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/010768

And the link proposed by Markus still mentions both Libya and Ethiopia:
"In WW2 it was too obsolete to be used, but some examples were still used in Libya and Ethiopia."
http://cannonsuperstore.com/1917_mountain_cannon.html

Emmanuel

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

I found this small image on EBay. I am not sure but I think 37mm Breda M1934 naval gun.
Does somebody have any other wartime image of this gun?

Sturm78

[Dili]

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNIT_37mm-54_m1932.htm

mod 32

[Sturm78]

Thank you, Dili,

I need help with these italian guns: Cannone da 76/40 ??

Image from the net
Sturm78

[Dili]

It appears to be. http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/76/40_Mod._1916_R.M.