Hello all, I'd just like to introduce myself as a primarily Console player, but I play all platforms of the game. A discussion was started recently on the WoT Console Reddit about nations we'd like to see in the game, and I brought up Italy. Italy as a nation in World of Tanks has been mentioned many times, including on the old venerable "For The Record" blog which is now defunct. I, for one, find it very strange that Polish tanks are hinted at before Italians, and this is my attempt to fix that.

We're starting things off at Tier 1, of course, with the FIAT 3000, otherwise known as the L5/21 (or L5/30 for the later variant), which was Italy's development of the French Renault FT tank.

History

In early 1918, the Italians received four Renault FT tanks. Immediately, FIAT sent to work on developing and improving the design. Initial orders were for 1400 tanks, set to begin delivery in May 1919. However, the end of World War 1 meant the order was canceled. Later, it was bumped back up to just 100 examples. Deliveries of these began in 1921, hence the name FIAT 3000 Modello 1921, and when World War II started it was renamed the Carro d'Assalto L5/21.

The tank was armed with two 6.5mm Breda machine-guns in a tall, roomy hexagonal turret of riveted construction. The serie II saw the machine-guns updated and placed in a new, higher mount on the turret. The engine was significantly more powerful than the FT's, giving it a top speed of 18km/h compared to the FT's 6km/h. Production lasted until 1926.

Soon after the Model 21 debuted, the designers became concerned with the lack of a powerful gun for the FIAT 3000. A Model 21 was fitted with a long-barrel, high-velocity 37mm Modello 37/40, and the design entered production in 1929 as the FIAT 3000B or FIAT 3000 Modello 1930, changed in 1940 to FIAT Carro d'Assalto L5/30. In addition to the gun, the Model 1930 featured a more powerful engine. 52 of this version were built with production ending in 1933. Both versions of the vehicle went on to see limited service at the beginning of World War Two.

Modules/Upgrades

Stock

Gun: Obviously, we can't have 6.5mm MG's at Tier 1, so what I'm going to do here is make the tank's stock gun the Breda Modello 38 13.2mm machine-gun.

Turret: FIAT L5/21 serie I

Engine: FIAT SPA, 50hp

Suspension: FIAT L5/21

Upgraded

Gun: 37mm Modello 37/40

Turret: FIAT L5/21 serie II

Engine: FIAT 65hp

Suspension: FIAT L5/30

Armor

I can't find anything that lists specific values, but the armor ranges from 16mm at its thickest to 6mm at its weakest. If anyone could get me a source with specific armor values that would be great.

Performance In WoT

As far as its gun goes, the FIAT 3000 with its 37mm top gun would likely be similar to the Renault Otsu's 37mm Sogekihou and the MS-1's 45mm cannons. These are high-velocity, high-penetration guns for their tier. As far as armor goes, the FIAT 3000 is pretty middle-of-the-road. Certainly far thicker than the Medium I and T1 Cunningham, but much thinner than the MS-1 and Renault Otsu. You'll get the occasional bounce, but don't expect it. As for maneuverability, the FIAT 3000 will be a bit on the sluggish side. Obviously, its top speed will have to be buffed a bit from reality to keep up with its peers.

Next week: The Tier 2 Carro Veloce L3 "tank destroyer". Yes, it was a tankette in real life, but some of the modifications it received can turn it into an interesting low-tier TD. But that's for next week!