M15/42 tank

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M15/42 on display at the Musée des Blindés in Saumur

M15/42
General characteristics
Crew 4
Length 4.92 m
Width 2.2 m
Height 2.4 m
Weight 15.5 tonnes
Armour and armament
Armour from 14 to 45 mm
Main armament 47 mm L/40 gun
111 rounds
Secondary armament 4 x 8 mm Breda 38 machine guns
Mobility
Power plant petrol
192 hp
Suspension vertical volute spring
Road speed 40 km/h
Power/weight
Range 200 km

The M15/42 was an Italian World War II 15 ton tank first built in January 1943. Some 90 vehicles were built before the Italian surrender in September 1943 and in connection to that event they were used in battle against the Germans by the Ariete armored division in Rome. After that point they were confiscated and used by the Germans who also built another 28 M15/42 tanks. Armament was one 47 mm main gun and four 8 mm Breda 38 machine guns.

It was developed from the M13/40 and the M14/41. It had a more powerful engine and air filters to cope with the harsh conditions of the desert. By the time it entered service, it was aready obsolete.

The turret had a 47 mm / 40 caliber gun with an elevation of +20 degrees and a depression of –10 degrees. The turret could traverse 360 degrees and was electrically operated. An 8 mm Modello 38 machine gun was mounted co-axial with the main armament with a similar machine gun mounted on the roof for anti-aircraft defense

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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
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