P.43 bis
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P.43 bis
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[Client Values; Actual values in
905,000  Cost |
| 790166 HP Hit Points |
| 31.6/3216.49/36 t Weight Limit |
- Commander (Radio Operator)
- Gunner
- Driver
- Loader
| 430520 hp Engine Power |
| 50/20 km/h Speed Limit |
| 3842 deg/s Traverse |
| 13.6131.53 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
| NoNo Pivot |
| // mm Hull Armor |
| 80/50/5080/50/50 mm Turret Armor |
AP/APCR/HE
AP/APCR/HE Shells |
88/2800/80
435/4400/305 Shell Cost |
| 110/110/175240/240/320 HP Damage |
| 118/146/38140/180/45 mm Penetration |
|
15 r/m ▲
8 r/m Standard Gun ▲ Rate of Fire Standard Gun |
|
1650 ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲
1920 Standard Gun ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲ Damage Per Minute Standard Gun |
|
0.4 m ▲
0.4 m With 50% Crew: 0.496 m ▲ Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.496 m |
| 2.3 s 2.4 s Aim time |
| 4040 deg/s Turret Traverse |
| 360° Gun Arc |
| -10°/+20°-7°/+20° Elevation Arc |
| 7548 rounds Ammo Capacity |
| 2015 % Chance of Fire |
| 350 m 360 m View Range |
| 415 m 525 m Signal Range |
VI
905000
The P.43 bis is an Italian tier 6 medium tank.
The P.43 bis is one of the versions of the Italian medium tank developed in the mid-1940s. A 90-mm gun was planned to be mounted on the new vehicle. The tank was intended to demonstrate effective performance against existing vehicles.
The P.43 bis leads to the P.43 ter, and the Carro d'assalto P.88.
Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables
Modules
Guns
| Tier | Gun | Penetration (mm) |
Damage (HP) |
Rate of fire (rounds/minute) |
Dispersion (m/100m) |
Aiming time (s) |
Weight (kg) |
Price (  )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Cannone da 75/50 Skoda | 118/146/38 | 110/110/175 | 15.79 | 0.38 | 2.2 | 800 | 36000 | |
| VI | Cannone da 90/42 | 140/180/45 | 240/240/320 | 8 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 1200 | 61000 |
Engines
| Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | SPA 242 | 430 | 20 | 1300 | 21800 | |
| VI | SPA 343 | 460 | 15 | 1700 | 25400 | |
| VI | V-2-34 modificato | 520 | 15 | 900 | 29500 |
Suspensions
| Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | P.43 bis | 32 | 38 | B/2 | 9000 | 9400 | |
| VI | P.43 bis v.s. | 36 | 42 | B/2 | 9000 | 15600 |
Radios
| Tier | Radio | Signal Range (m) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VI | R.F. 2 C.A. | 415 | 35 | 8200 | |
| VIII | R.F. 3 M. 2 | 525 | 136 | 23400 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Decent gun. High alpha damage and RoF on par with even tier VIII meds and highest alpha among Tier VI meds.
- Good agility, high traverse speed on both the turret and the hull
- Above average gun-depression, Identical to the T-34-85M.
- Second best concealment rating of all tier 6 mediums, only behind the A-43.
Cons:
- Terrible ground resistance, feels especially sluggish on 'soft' surfaces, Sub-par Power/weight ratio.
- Very slow for a medium tank
- Subpar gun handling, somewhat low accuracy and longer aim time than most peers
- Horribly low shell velocity even with APCR rounds, ineffective at long range & fast moving targets.
- The armor, while of decent thickness, is not sloped enough to resist most guns it will meet
Performance
A very promising new addition to the garage, one might think upon purchasing the P.43 bis. It boasts a big 90mm gun, hitting as hard as most mediums sitting two-tiers higher yet reloads considerably faster than a few. But with careful examination or a short trial, one could also unveil its hidden undoing as a medium tank: The big gun's projectile travels at a unsatisfying speed, and the bad terrain resistance negates much of its valuable engine power. The latter trait would remind many of the infamous VK 30.01 (P), but sadly, even the VK would get a bit higher power to weight ratio once past the stock engine. This makes a very unique machine, yet hard to master in battles. The seemingly lackluster combination of poor sniping capability, insufficient protection and mediocre if not outright bad mobility suits neither the brawler, nor the sniper-supporter character perfectly (and its gun depression, while at 7°, is also not as effective as the Brits or Americans at hull-down). Plan in advance, so the lacking mobility won't hinder one behind; play smart, so the gun may be put to use without suffering too much retaliation. Always try to appear in the right place at the right time; the sheer amount of damage output will do the rest and bring victory closer.
Early Research
- Only the radio gets carried over, but it weighs 100kg more. Only mount if you don't plan on mounting those heavy equipments.
- Grind the tracks for weight capacity, or mount Improved Hardening instead.
- Grind the turret for better gun handling, then the 90mm gun.
- Finally the engines. Note that the 2nd engine weighs more but adds little power, one may skip buying it for saving credits.
Suggested Equipment
External Reviews and Opinions
Gallery
Historical Info
The subsequent design evolution of the P.43 after the initial model has been referred to as the P.43 bis, an adjective meaning "supplemental" or "additional", because while still part of the P.43 program, the changes to the design were dramatic enough that it could well be counted as a new tank altogether. The armor, while not greatly increased over the P.43, was now angled heavily as on the T-34, which increased its protection into the realm of the Tiger heavy tank. The tank would still use the same new 430 horsepower engine planned for the P.43, and the same--now very long in the tooth--Vickers Mk. E-inspired suspension system as all Italian tanks to date.
In addition, Italy planned to take the route of every other major nation and adapt an anti-aircraft gun for their new tank; in this case, the excellent Cannone de 90/53, which had already been pressed into artillery service like the famous German FlaK 88 and had proven devastating in this role, capable of punching through 140mm of armor--enough to defeat any tank Italy might face. However, this much heavier and bulkier gun required designing a new turret from scratch, and also cutting down the length of the gun to 42 calibers for the sake of weight and space. The increased size also allowed the crew to grow to five over the P.43's four, adding a bow gunner who might also have served as a radio operator.
The final result was striking; a sleek, low-looking tank with protection to rival the Panther and firepower to stand with the Tiger, but predicted to weigh in at only 34 tons--around ten tons lighter than the Panther and scarcely heavier than the Sherman! This weight also meant that it maintained a good power/weight of around 12 hp/t, and potentially produce good acceleration and top speeds as a result, even before hypothetical upgrades to the engine.
The problem was, this excellent design came much, much too late. The P.43 bis was only finishing initial drafting and modeling in mid-1943, and very shortly afterwards, Italy surrendered. By the time Italy was reborn, the tank world had moved ahead in tremendous strides, and the P.43 bis was already out of date.
Historical Gallery
Sources and External Links
| Light Tanks | IFiat 3000 • IIL6/40 |
| Medium Tanks | IIM14/41 • IIIM15/42 • IVP26/40 • VP.43 • VIP.43 bis • VIIP.43 ter • VIIIProgetto M35 mod. 46 • VIIIP.44 Pantera • IXPrototipo Standard B • XProgetto M40 mod. 65 • XCarro da Combattimento 45 t |
| Heavy Tanks | VIICarro d'assalto P.88 • VIIIProgetto CC55 mod. 54 • VIIIBisonte C45 • IXProgetto C50 mod. 66 • XRinoceronte |
| Tank Destroyers | VSemovente M41 • VISemovente M43 Bassotto • VIISMV CC-56 • VIIISMV CC-64 Vipera • VIIISMV CC-67 • IXControcarro 1 Mk. 2 • XControcarro 3 Minotauro |
| Self-Propelled Artillery |
