Italy's M13/40; Carro Armato Tipo M 13-40; Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank

Photos

Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank:	Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank:	Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank:	Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank:
Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank:	Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank:	Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank drawing: Aberdeen Tank Museum	Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank drawing: Aberdeen Tank Museum
Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank in North Africa: U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951, pg 55	Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank in North Africa: U.S. Army in World War II - Pictorial Record, 1951, pg 55

Design

In December 1937 the Regio Esercito (Royal Italian Army) authorized the design for the M 13/40.⁷ Ansaldo delivered the first prototype in October 1939.⁷ However, it wasn't accepted until March 1940.⁷ An order for 538 tanks was made and production started in June 1940.⁷ 22 were produced each month.⁷

General Caracciolo di Feroleto (head of Inspectorate of Technical Services) supervised the design. Fifteen prototypes were ready by July 1940. Similar chassis to M11/39 but was riveted. Was built from armored plates bolted to a steel frame.⁴ The armor had a tendency to crack when hit.⁷ After about 150 tanks being produced it had a radio installed and the long mudguards were cut back. In action proved to be unreliable and prone to catching fire.

This was the most widely used tank by the Italians.⁵

Had a radio installed.⁶ These were fitted to later production vehicles.⁷

In 1940 Italian crews were given 25 days of training with two hour of driving before going into combat.⁷

The front of the hull was rounded.⁷ There was a towing hook placed in the rear, and there were towing pintles in the front and rear.⁷

Crew

The driver was located at the front and to the left in the M13/40.⁴ The machine gunner was to his right and he also operated the radios.⁴

The turret contained the commander, on the right side, and the loader, on the left side, which was located in the center.⁴

Turret

The turret gun slots were open.⁷ There was a telescopic gun sight mounted in the turret.⁷ The 47 mm gun could be fired by manual or pedal firing.⁷ There was a hydraulic system for traversing the turret, with a manual backup.⁷ On the turret roof were two periscopes.⁷ On each side of the turret were oval pistol ports.⁷ The prototype had a pistol port in the rear of the turret, but this was eliminated in the production version.⁷ The hatch on the roof was in two pieces.⁴

Some crews removed the power traverse system as it was viewed as unnecessary and took up valuable space.⁷

Superstructure

On each side of the hull superstructure were two circular pistol ports, and in the rear of the superstructure were two more pistol ports.⁷

Suspension

The suspension was made of four sets of double wheels that were articulated bogies that were then mounted by two assemblies which had semi elliptic leaf springs.⁴ The drive sprocket was at the front, the idler at the rear, and three return rollers.⁴

Weapons

Two 8 mm MGs were in a gimbal mount on the right side of the superstructure.⁷

The 47 mm gun had a muzzle velocity of 2,060 ft/sec. It shot a 3.25 lb AP shell at a velocity of 2,067'/sec.⁸

Engine

The engine could be started by and inertia starter or electrically.⁷ The power went through the transmission to the drive sprockets in the front.^4,7 To control the M13/40 a steering and braking gear was used.⁷ A reduction gear was placed in the front to reduce the engine revolutions.⁷

Prototype

Production

The production rate of the M13/40 was around 60 - 70 per month.⁴

• M13/40: 710⁷, 779⁴, 1,960³
  • Manufacturer: Ansaldo-Fossati^4,8
• M14/41: 752⁷, 1,100⁴, 1,203
• Manufacturer: Ansaldo-Fossati, FIAT-Ansaldo.²

Variants

• M13/40:
• M13/40 Centro Radio (Radio Center): Had a RF 1 CA and RF 2 CA radio installed.⁷ Two of these were assigned to each battalion HQ.⁷ The antennas were mounted on the right of the turret.⁷
• M14/41: Had crew access door on left side of hull. Improved the air and fuel filters and installed a more powerful diesel engine.^4,6 Had transversal radiator outlet grills, mud clearing blades at the drive sprockets, and longer fenders.⁷ Supports for 5.3 gallon (20 liter) cans were added.⁷
  The 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th Tank Battalions were issued the M14/41s.⁷ They were also issued to the 18th Tank Battalion, which was located on Sardinia.⁷
• Sermovente Comando M40: Was a M13/40 with turret removed and extra communications equipment added.⁴
• Semovente M40 da 75, Semovente da 75/18: Based on the M13/40 chassis. Turret removed and 75 mm gun installed as an assault tank.
• Semoventa M41: Based on the M14/41 chassis.

Usage

Greece

The 4th Battalion, which had two companies of M13/40s, was deployed to Albania in November 1940.⁷

In January 1941, the 1st Company was almost destroyed in the fighting for the Klisura Castle in the Tepeleni basin in northwest Greece.⁷ Mines in the road, Greek gunfire, and the destruction of the bridge over the Desnizes River destroyed four of the M13/40s.⁷

Two tanks of the 2nd Company were lost in the attack on Hill 731 in northern Green in March 1941.⁷

Yugoslavia

The regime of Prince Paul of Yugoslavia was overthrown on March 27, 1941.⁷ On April 6, 1941, Germany invaded Yugoslavia.⁷

The 4th Tank Battalion was sent to the northern Albanian border to support the light tank battalions of the Centauro Armored Division.⁷ After the truce talks between the Italians and Yugoslavians broke down, 22 tanks were ordered to cross the Pron River on April 11, 1941.⁷ Eleven light tanks and two medium tanks were destroyed.⁷ A second wave was sent and eventually the Centauro Armored Division entered Montenegro.⁷

On April 12, 1941, the Italians reached Podgorica.⁷

Five M13/40s of the Littoria Armored Division entered Yugoslavia from the northwest at Sussa on April 12, 1941.⁷ They went down the Dalmatian coast and reached Ragusa on April 17, 1941.⁷

North Africa

Three battalions were sent to Libya⁶ in October 1940⁶.⁷ There were all lost during the British offensive in western Egypt.⁷

First saw action on December 9, 1940 at Sollum-Halfaya.⁶ In service in North Africa, Greece (with battalion of the Centauro), Yugoslavia, and Montenegro.

Over 100⁶ were captured at Beda Fomm⁶ and some were used to equip the 6th Royal Tanks^4,6 and Australian 6th Cavalry⁴.⁵ The Australians named the three squadrons that they outfitted Dingo, Rabbit, and Wombat.⁴ White kangaroos were painted on the sides to help differentiate them from enemy tanks.⁴

The 7th Battalion of the Ariete Armored Division was the first M13/40 Battalion to attack after the Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK) arrived on February 12, 1941.⁷ It had a HQ company and three tank companies.⁷ Each company had a HQ platoon and three platoons with five tanks each.⁷ The Ariete also had the 8th, 9th, and 10th battalions with M13/40s.⁷ The division received 132 M13/40s by spring 1941.⁷

Also sent to North Africa was the 31st Tank Battalion, Littorio Armored Division, and the 14th Tank Battalion, Centauro Armored Division.⁷ The 12th Battalion had its tanks sunk on the was to North Africa.⁷ The 11th Tank Battalion, Trieste Motorized Division, was the last to receive the M13/40s.⁷ During 1942 most of these tanks were replaced by the M14/41s.⁷

German Usage

Issued to 2 SS SturmGeschütz detachments and to Panzerabteilung Adria.²

• PzKpfw M13/40 735(i): 22 confiscated from Italian Army.²
• PzKpfw M14/41 736(i): 1 confiscated from Italian Army.²

Specifications

	M13/40, M14/41	M13/40	M14/41
Crew	Commander, driver, machine gunner, loader 42	Commander/gunner, loader, hull machine gunner, driver7 41,4,5,6,7,8
Physical Characteristics
Weight	30,864, 31,526 lb 14,000 kg 14 tons, 14.3 tons2	13.78 tons1, 13.8 tons5, 14 tons3,6, 15.4 tons8 14,000 kg1,4,5,7 30,864.2 lb7, 30,865 lb4	31,967 lb 14.5 tons4
Length w/gun	16' 0.75", 16' 1", 16' 1.5"7, 16' 2" 4.9 m, 4.915 m7, 4.92 m2	16' 1"5, 16.18'3, 16' 1.5"7, 16' 2"1,4,6, 16.2'8 4.9 m5, 4.915 m7, 4.92 m1,4
Length w/o gun
Height	7' 9.25", 7' 10" 2.39 m2	7.8'3,8, 7' 9"6, 7' 9.3"7, 7' 10"1,4,5 2.37 m7, 2.38 m1,4, 2.39 m5
Width	7' 2.75", 7' 3.75", 7' 3" 2.2 m, 2.23 m2	7.33'3, 7' 3"1,4,5,6, 7.25'8, 7' 5.8"7 2.2 m1,4, 2.21 m5, 2.28 m7
Width over tracks
Ground clearance	1' 3"	16.2'8
Ground contact length		116"8
Ground pressure	13.2 psi	13.2 psi8
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	47 mm Model 37 L/32 Ansaldo 47 mm L/322	47 mm1,3 47 mm L/324,8 47 mm L/32 Ansaldo6 47 mm Ansaldo 47 L/327 47 mm Model 37 L/32 Ansaldo5
Secondary
MG	3: 8 mm2	2: MG3
MG - coaxial	8 mm Breda Model 38	1: 8 mm Breda 38 MG5,6,7,8 1: 8 mm Modello 38 MG1,4
MG - hull	twin mount Breda Model 38	2: 8 mm Breda 38 MGs5,6,7,8 2: 8 mm Modello 38 MG1,4
MG - anti-aircraft	Some versions had AA mounted as well	1: 8 mm Breda 38 MG7,8 1: 8 mm Modello 38 MG1,4
Side arms
Quantity
Main	104, 872	1048 (70 in hull, 34 in turret)7	877
Secondary
MG	3,048, 2,5922	2,832 (120: turret, 120: AA, 2,592: hull)7, 3,0488	2,6647
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)		6 - 421,4, 9 - 303, 9 - 407, 406, 425 Front: 1.2"8 Side: 1"8
Hull Front, Upper	42 30@11°2
Hull Front, Lower	25 30 round2
Hull Sides, Upper	25@9°2
Hull Sides, Lower	25@0°2
Hull Rear	25@0°2 & 25@20°2
Hull Top	14@90°2
Hull Bottom	6@90°2
Turret Front	40 37@16°2 Mantlet: 37 round2	1.6"8
Turret Sides	25@22°2	1"8
Turret Rear	25@22°2
Turret Top	14@85°2
Engine (Make / Model)	8 T2	SPA 8 TM401,5 SPA TM404 Spa 8T6 Fiat SPA 8T7 Type 8T M 138	Spa 15T6 Fiat SPA 15T7
Bore / stroke
Cooling		Water7,8
Cylinders	82	81,4,8, V-85,6,7	V-87
Net HP	1252 @ 1,800 rpm2	1053,8, 1251,4,5,6,7	1456,7
Power to weight ratio
Compression ratio		17.6:18
Transmission (Type)	4 forward, 1 reverse.2	Monodisc type8 4 forward, 1 reverse8
Steering		Clutch brake8
Steering ratio
Starter		Hand inertia and electric8
Electrical system		Starting: 24-volt8
Ignition
Fuel (Type)	Diesel2	Diesel1,3,4,5,7,8	Diesel7
Octane
Quantity		50 gallons8 Main fuel tank: 38.3 gallons7, 39.5 gallons8, 145 liters7 Reserve fuel tank: 9.2 gallons7, 10.5 gallons8, 35 liters7
Road consumption		2.5 mpg8
Cross country consumption
Performance
Traverse	360°, hand.2	360°4,7 Hand8 8 mm MGs in hull: 30° left, 15° right7
Speed - Road	19.9 mph 32 kph2	18.6 mph7, 19 mph, 19.7 mph8, 19.75 mph1, 20 mph4,5, 21 mph3 30 kph7, 30.6 kph, 31.8 kph1, 32 kph4,5	19.9 mph7, 20 mph4, 22 mph 32 kph7, 33 kph4
Speed - Cross Country	9 mph	7.2 mph8
Range - Road	125 miles 200 km2	124 miles1,5,8, 125 miles4, 130.5 miles7 200 km1,4,5, 210 km7	124.3 miles7 200 km7
Range - Cross Country
Turning radius
Elevation limits	-10° to +20° -15° to +25°2	-10° to +20°4,7
Fording depth	3' 3"	3' 3"4, 39.4"8 1 m4
Trench crossing	6' 11"	6.9'8, 6' 11"4 2.1 m4
Vertical obstacle	2' 8"	31.5"8, 2' 8"4 0.8 m4
Climbing ability		40° (85%) slope8
Suspension (Type)	4 double-wheel bogies mounted on 2 assemblies	4 double-wheel bogies mounted on 2 assemblies4 2 double articulated bogies with 4 road wheels each, independently sprung8
Wheels each side	8x2	8x28
Return rollers each side	3	34
Tracks (type)		Dry pin8
Length		84 links7	84 links7
Width	10.25"	10.2"7,8 260 mm7
Diameter
Number of links		848
Pitch		4.9"8
Tire tread
Track centers/tread		6.3'8