Pyramid: The Worst Tank Ever? -- The CV3/35: A Despicable Piece Of Armored Junk For The 30s

by Michele Armellini

There are many sources that explain a lot about the best tanks in history. But what about the worst one?

Well, maybe "worst one" is too harsh; there were a few other tanks that weren't much better. Tank design was still immature in 1930, and Italian engineers had much to learn and very little money to spend. The result was a small, low-powered, thin-armored tankette, the CV3/33, the CV3/35 being a marginal improvement.

This armored vehicle could fit in several types of campaign: GURPS Cliffhangers, GURPS Special Ops, or GURPS Time Travel. If the campaign is slanted towards military operations, a tank is never out of place; but if it isn't, a tank is a nice surprise. Or a nasty one! It could be a weird twist in a Supers, Horror, or even Martial Arts campaign set in the 1930s. And during that decade, the CV3/35 was possibly the most widely available armored vehicle all over the world. It was cheap. It was exported everywhere. It saw employment in several wars.

If a 1930 adventure features a would-be tyrant, a private army, an ambitious warlord or a whimsical crime lord, they could all own this tankette. Just one of them, as a pet "terror" weapon, or even a full battalion!

This vehicle also has another great advantage. In the 30s, tanks weren't common, and the only sight of a fire-belching steel monster could be a reason for a Fright Check for poorly trained troops. On the other hand, the CV3/35 is far from invincible. A brave . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.

Article publication date: May 4, 2001

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