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. 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. The CV-33 was the first locally truly mass-produced tank in service in the Royal Italian army. 1200 were ultimately built by FIAT in Turin and the Ansaldo Company of Genoa until 1935 (Serie I). The Carro Veloce Modello 33 was slightly lengthened, widened and had a better engine, the petrol six-cylinder watercooled FIAT-SPA CV3, capable of delivering 43 horsepower (32 kW). The suspension and tracks were almost untouched, but the armor was slightly increased to 14 mm (0.55 in) for the frontal part and sides, and the overall weight jumped to 3.2 tons, while speed slightly decreased. In theory, this gave these tanks the ability to withstand most rifle antitank bullets and heavy machine gun fire (12.7 mm/0.5 in). But the rear, roof and lower hull were still too thin for this. Plus, 1940’s modern AT rifles were capable of piercing this frontal armor with ease. As a consequence, in 1938, all CV-33s (then renamed L33/3) were retrofitted to the CV-35 standard. The Serie I was superseded by the Serie II in 1936, with a twin 8 mm (0.31 in) mount. This proved more effective, and all vehicles were thus retrofitted, save a few other Serie I conversions. Works Cited-http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/italy/Carro_Veloce_L3-33.php |