M13/40 tank

Carro Armato M13/40
M13/40 at the El Alamein War Museum
TypeMedium tank
Place of originKingdom of Italy
Service history
In service8 July 1940–1948
Used byKingdom of Italy
Nazi Germany [1]
Australia
United Kingdom
Kingdom of Egypt
WarsWorld War II
1948 Arab-Israeli War
Production history
Designed26 October 1939
ManufacturerAnsaldo
ProducedJuly 1940 to late 1941
No. built740[2]
VariantsM14/41, M15/42
Specifications
Mass14 t (31,000 lb)
Length4.915 m (16 ft 1.5 in)[3]
Width2.280 m (7 ft 5.8 in)[4]
Height2.370 m (7 ft 9.3 in)[4]
Crew4 (commander, radio operator, gunner, driver)

Armour
  • Front: 30 mm (1.2 in)[3]
  • Sides/rear: 25 mm (0.98 in)[3]
  • Floor/roof: 6–14 mm (0.24–0.55 in)[3]
  • Turret front: 42 mm (1.7 in)
Main
armament
1 × 47 mm cannone da 47/32 anti-tank gun
104 rounds[5]
Secondary
armament
4 × 8 mm Breda mod. 38 machine guns (1 × coaxial, 1 × AA, 2 × in hull)
2,808 rounds[5]
EngineSPA 8 T M40 11,140 cc V8 Diesel engine
125 hp (93 kW)[3]
SuspensionSemi-elliptic leaf springs
Ground clearance41 cm (16 in)[3]
Operational
range
200 km (120 mi)
Maximum speed 31.8 km/h (19.8 mph) on road[3]

The Carro Armato M13/40 was an Italian World War II tank designed to replace the M11/39 in the Royal Italian Army at the start of World War II.[6] It was the primary tank used by the Italians throughout the war. The design was influenced by the British Vickers 6-Ton and was based on the modified chassis of the earlier M11/39.[6] Production of the M11/39 was cut short in order to get the M13/40 into production.[6] The name refers to "M" for Medio (medium) according to the Italian tank weight standards at the time, 13 tonnes was the scheduled weight and 1940 the initial year of production.

  1. ^ "Italy's M13/40, M14/41 Medium Tanks". ewiivehicles.com. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
  2. ^ Cappellano & Battistelli 2012, p. 67.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Falessi & Pafi 1976, p. 67.
  4. ^ a b Cappellano & Battistelli 2012, p. 46.
  5. ^ a b Pignato 2004, p. 41.
  6. ^ a b c "Carro Armato M13/40". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2021-12-09.