Travel:

Aberdeen Proving Ground
Tank Park and Museum

WWII Italian M13/40 Tank

article and photos by Russ Lockwood



The original version of the Carro Armato (Fiat) M11/39 tank was upgunned to a 47mm main gun and four MGs, uparmored, and upengined. This was the M13/40, ordered into production in 1940. Even so, it was a marginal tank with poor power-to-weight ratio, too-thin armor, and prone to catch fire when hit. Crew of four, speed 20mph, range 124 miles. 785 were built.

The next version was the M14/41, which was identical other than a slightly more powerful engine. 895 were built.

The next version was the M15/42, which sported heavier armor, a better gun, and more powerful engine. Only 82 were delivered before the Italian surrender in 1943, with another 30 available--the Germans confiscated 92 of them. Another 28 were produced in 1944. The biggest outward difference between the M13 and M15 was the access hatch wa son the lefft on the M13 and on the right on the M15. On December 30, 1944, there were still 68 of the M13, M14, and M15 tanks in service with the German army. Most of the M13s served with the RSI.

Oddly enough, one tank encyclopedia had an illustration (subsequently copied into another AFV reference) showed the gun in the chassis mount and the MGs guns in the turret. WWII photographs in a third AFV guide showed the guns positioned as on display at Aberdeen.

Aberdeen Museum and Tank Park

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