M11/39 tank
Carro Armato M11/39 | |
---|---|
M14/41, M15/42 | |
Specifications | |
Mass | 11,175 kg (24,640 lb) |
Length | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
Width | 2.2 m (7 ft 2.5 in) |
Height | 2.3 m (7 ft 6.5 in) |
Crew | 3 (commander/radio operator, loader/gunner, driver) |
Armour | Front armour 30 mm (1.2 in) Side armour 14.5 mm (0.57 in) Top and floor armour 6 mm (0.24 in) Rear armour 8 mm (0.31 in) Turret armour 30 mm (1.2 in) Turret top armour 6 mm (0.24 in) |
Main armament | 37 mm Vickers-Terni L/40 84 rounds |
Secondary armament | 2 × 8 mm Breda 38 machine guns 2,808 rounds |
Engine | SPA 8T V-8 diesel 105 hp (78 kW) |
Power/weight | 9.5 hp (7.1 kW)/tonne |
Suspension | Two 4 wheel bogies, semi-elliptic leaf spring |
Operational range | 200 km (120 mi) |
Maximum speed | 32.2 km/h (20.0 mph) road |
The Carro Armato M11/39 was an Italian
Development
The M11/39 was developed as a "breakthrough tank" (Carro di Rottura). The design of the M11/39 was influenced by the British
The original intent was to place the 37 mm /L40 armament in the turret but there was insufficient space.
Units
Only two battalions received the M11/39 tank before production was switched to the better M13/40
- I Tank Battalion "M", 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment
- II Tank Battalion "M", 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment
Both battalions were sent to North Africa for the Italian invasion of Egypt and assigned for the campaign to the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment. The regiment and both battalions were destroyed during Operation Compass, with the last remnants extinguished during the Battle of Beda Fomm.
Combat
In Libya 72 × M11/39s were used in the
North Africa
On 13 September 1940, M11s participated in the Italian invasion of Egypt.
East Africa
In 1940,
See also
- Western Desert Campaign
References
Further reading
- Pafi, Benedetto (1976). Storia dei mezzi corazzati. Vol. I. Milano: Fratelli fabbri Editore. OCLC 799718569.
- Pignato, Nicola (2001). Italian Medium Tanks in Action. Armor No. 39. Carrollton, TX.: Squadron/Signal Publications. ISBN 0-89747-426-0.
External links