Fiat M13/40

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Fiat-Ansaldo M13/40
Fiat-Ansaldo M13/40
General characteristics
Crew	4
Length	4.9 m
Width	2.2 m
Height	2.39 m
Weight	14 tonnes
Armour and armament
Armour	42 mm
Main armament	47 mm Cannone da 47/32 M35 104 rounds
Secondary armament	3 or 4 x 6.5 mm Breda 30 machine guns
Mobility
Power plant	Fiat V8 diesel 125 hp
Suspension	Leaf spring bogies
Road speed	32 km/h
Power/weight
Range	200 km

The Fiat-Ansaldo M13/40 light tank ("M" for Medio (medium) according to the Italian tank weight standards at the time: 13 tons was the scheduled weight and 1940 the initial year of production) was designed to replace the Fiat L3, the Fiat L6/40 and the Fiat M11/39 in the Italian Army at the start of World War II. It was armed with a 47mm gun in a rotating turret and 3 or 4 Breda 30 machine guns. The design was influenced by the British Vickers Six Ton Tank and was based on the modified chassis of the earlier Fiat M11/39. Indeed, M11/39 production was cut short in order to get the M13/40 into production.

Although designated a medium tank, the M13/40 was close to contemporary light tanks in armor and firepower. The M13/40 was used in the Greek campaign of 1941 and in the North African Campaign. The M13/40 was not used on the Eastern Front; Italian forces there were equipped only with Fiat L6/40s and Semovente 47/32s. The Italian Army recognized the firepower weakness of the M13/40 series and employed Semovente 75/18 alongside the tanks in their tank battalions.

The Fiat M14/41 was a variant of the same tank with a more powerful 145 hp engine and better air filters for operations in North Africa. The Semovente Commando M40 was an M13/40 tank with the turret replaced by a large multi-piece hatch. The hull housed additional radios and other communication devices. The M13/40 series was Italy's most-produced tank type of the war, including later variants such as the M14/41, with over 3000 built. The last version was the M15/42 tank produced in 1943, with a better petrol engine and a longer 47/40 cannon. The Semovente 75/18 self-propelled gun was built by utilizing M13/40 or M14/41 chassis.

[edit] External links

M13/40, M14/41 Medium Tanks at wwiivehicles.com
CARRO M13/40 at comandosupremo.com
M13/40 at onwar.com

Italian armoured fighting vehicles of World War II
Light Tanks and Tankettes
L3/35 \| Fiat L6/40
Medium Tanks
Fiat M11/39 \| Fiat M13/40 \| Fiat M14/41 \| M15/42
Heavy Tanks
P 40
Armoured Cars
AB 40 \| AB 41 \| Lince scout car
Self propelled guns
Semovente 47/32 \| Semovente 75/18 \| Semovente 75/34 \| Semovente 90/53 \| Semovente 105/25 \| Semovente 149/40
Italian armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II