Carro Armato M11/39 Medium Tank

Last updated on February 17th, 2019 at 09:50 pm

The Carro Armato M11/39 was the first of the Italian medium tanks. Its design was a progression from the design of lighter tanks.

A 1.46 inch (37mm) half-mounted gun was the M11/39’s main armament.

There were two 0.315 inch (8mm) Breda machine guns in a manually operated turret that was offset to the left.

The M11/39 had a sprung bogie suspension that performed well, as well as a good diesel engine.

However, it had very thin riveted armor, and so was no match for the British tanks it encountered in Libya in 1940.
Carro Armato M11/39 medium tank in front of the Colosseum in Rome in 1944. Source: German Federal Archive
While many M11/39s were knocked out, some were taken. These were used by Australians in 1941 in the North African desert.

The Carro Armato M11/39 did not remain in service for very long.

Kingdom of Italy

Carro Armato M11/39 Medium

Active: 1939
Crew: 3
Weight: 10.8 tons (11,000kg)
Length: 15ft 6.5in (4.74m)
Height: 7ft 6.5in (2.3m)
Width: 7ft 3in (2.21m)
Weapons: Main – 1.46in (37mm) Vickers-Terni L/40 gun, Secondary – 2 x 0.315in (8mm) Breda Model 38 machineguns
Armor Maximum – 1.18in (30mm)
Engine: Fiat SPA 8T V8 diesel, 105hp
Speed: 20mph (32kph)
Range: 124 miles (200 km)