M11-39 'Medium' tank

Hello all...
Im new here but I thought id lob a first post away on the M11/39,
obviously this was a dog of a tank and was well and truely obsolete by 1940 when ironically it was new to service.

What do you guys think of it ?
And does any one have any anecdotes of it or any other Italian tanks of the era ?

Thanks

kym Robinson
Australia

 

Unfortunately in any period of rapid technological advances producing equipment that is obsolete by the time enters service is kind an occupational hazard. See pretty every warship in the late 19th century for another exmple of this. M11/39 probably looked okay when it was being designed.

 

Compared to the CV 33-35 series it would have seemed incredible to the armour crews. And in regards to the Fiat 3000 and even the 2000, it would have been a giant step up. Only problem is, the rest of the world was nearly a decade ahead.

 

I know a few were used by the Aussies in 1941, but you probably knew that already.

Pros : Good range and good quality mechanicals.

Cons : Hull-mounted main gun incapable of knocking out anything but the lightest tanks of it's British adversaries, thin armour of exeptionally low quality and no radio!

Even it's replacement, the M13/40 medium tank, compared infavourably with the American M3 Stuart light tank.

 

A whole lot of them were captured by the British, about 6(? I think) or so were hand over to Australian forces comprising a mix of M11/39 and M13/40s to prevent friendly fire they had large white kangaroos painted on them. Most, and perhaps all, broke down before they could be used against their former owners.

At least one badly shot up M13/40 was shipped back to Australia to be examined.

 

I did know that, but thanks any how.

I dont know why, but for some reason, I am going through an
obscure AFv phase. Chasing up the minor powers combat tanks data
and I just like the M11-39 for some reason. Its a sickness

 

I'm the president of the Lovers of Obscure and Crappy Tanks Association.

You're not alone!

 

well this is MY personal favorite for an obscure and crappy tank ( But it look's quite cute i must confess, like a little boy's toy)

 

Matilda I Comet Fan?

 

Ah the mighty Matilda 1 otherwise known as the most expense possible way to bring one machine gun onto a battlefield.

 

Bingo - It's Matilda 1, the ugly Duckling which never became a Swan !

I am looking forward to see it in real life at Bovington, I mean : it look's incredibly crude and halfway finished.