Italian medium tank M15/42 RE5924
M15/42 tank turret 1943
M15/42 RE5031 1943
Carro armato M15/42 captured by Germans 1943
US 34th Infantry Division captures Italian tanks, staff cars and trucks, Ivrea
Carro armato M15/42 left side
Destroyed German M15/42 of the PzAbt 202 1944
M15/42 rear view
M15/42 and Viberti trailer with tracks
M15/42 tank fording the river 1943
Carro armato M15/42 tank fording the river
M15/42 1st prototype 1943
Semovente da 20/70 quadruplo
M15/42 factory fresh
M15/42 prototype 1943
M15/42 tank, right side view 1943
Destroyed German M15/42 of the PzAbt 202 1944 2
The M15/42 was an Italian World War II 15 tonne tank first built in January 1943. Some 90 vehicles were built before the Italian armistice 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. The official Italian designation was Carro Armato M 15/42. This designation includes the designation (“armored tank”), the tank classification (“M” for medium tank), the weight in tonnes (15), and the year of adoption (1942).
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 already obsolete.
The turret had an improved (compared to the M13) 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.