The Carro Veloce 33 (CV 33) L3/33 LF was an Italian flamethrower variant of the CV 33 tankette, used during World War Two. The designation LF is an abbreviation of Lanciaflame. Designed for close combat and bunker-clearing operations, it replaced one of the standard 8 mm Breda 38 machine guns with a flamethrower fed by a 500-liter (132-gallon) fuel trailer to extend its range. Powered by a 43 hp Fiat-SPA CV3 four-cylinder gasoline engine, it had a top speed of 42 km/h (26 mph) and a range of 125 km (78 mi). With only 14 mm (0.55 in) of armor, it was very vulnerable to enemy fire.
The L3/33 LF saw combat in North Africa, the Balkans, and Ethiopia, but its light protection and limited effectiveness against armored opponents made it obsolete by mid-war.
This Tankette Carro Veloce 33 – CV 33 or L3/33 LF Flamethrower was photographed at The Tank Museum in Bovington, England 2017.
