M-13/40

In June 1940, the M-13/40 medium tank entered into service. This tank was to replace some of the Italian light and medium tanks in service, which had shown serious operational limitations. The new tank was armed with a “Cannone Ansaldo da 47/32mm Modelo 35” anti-tank gun installed in a turret and with four 8mm Breda 38 machine guns. Its armor consisted of riveted steel plates, with 42mm maximum thickness at the front of the turret. This type of armor was weaker than the cast or welded armour, but in turn facilitated its construction. About 800 M-13/40 were built, distribuited in three batches. The first ones were immediately sent to Libya, where they formed three armored battalions. Soon they showed enormous mechanical deficiencies, with constant breakdowns that forced their crews to leave them abandoned in the middle of the desert due to lack of recovery vehicles. The M-13/40 were deployed in North Africa, during the invasion of Greece and in Yugoslavia in the wake of the uprising against the pro-German government. Paradoxically, some even faced the Germans in Rome, after the signing of the Armistice by Italy.

M-13/40 gallery and more info