The battle experience of the Italian L.3's in China

[Hans]

A few L3s were sent to the Nationalist forces in China in 1937......

In April 1948,when the Nationalists'(known as Kuomingtang,KMT for

short) 17th disvion retreated from the occupied Yan'an(once

the "capital" of the Communists).En route the division lost its

artillery battalions(75mm,150mm)due to the Communists'( PLA,People's

Liberation Army) attack.Before crossing a river,they were hold back

by the Communists.While the company even battalion scaled infantry

charges failed again and again,the L.3 company was called.They were

carried in US made trucks(two tankettes in one truck).Led by a Captain

(company commander),all three L.3s rushed towards the Communists'

position.The Captain's L.3 was unique for there were three crews with

the third firing a SMG through left side port.The battle lasted from

1400 to 1700,the Communist soldiers climbed onto the tankettes,throw

grenades,shot the firing ports.(What a poor co-op between the

Nationalist infantry and tanks!) The tankettes all survived due to

their nimbleness and maneuverability but all 7 crews aboard injured

by the grenade splinters.After broke through,the 20,000 reteating

troops managed to cross the Luo River on their own cos the pioneer

battalion commander had fled away.All the heavy equipments including

the 3 L.3s were abandoned and captured by the Communists.

[Hans]

This tale comes from the the Italian army newsgroup and is by: Jeff jeff_r@citiz.net

[Romulus]

Which mailing list?

Are you referring to "Comando Supremo"?

Peppe

[Hans]

My apologies this is the link I meant to add to the post

Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/italianisti/

Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/italianisti/

GREAT material on it and some real experts to ask questions of

[Romulus]

Thanks Hans

I am gonna check them

Peppe