Fiat M.15/42

The Italian Fiat M.15/42 medium tank was nothing more than a further development of the M.14/41 series with one of the more distinguishable features being the exclusion of the left side-hull crew hatch in the M.15/42. Though not produced to the numbers that the former was, the M.15/42 nonetheless played a high profile role in the defense of Rome against German occupation once Italy had dropped from the ranks of the Axis powers and joined alongside the Allies. In the end, the M.15/42 series was another in the long line of less-than stellar yet adequate Italian tank designs appearing throughout the war - regardless for which side.

The M.15/42 appeared by 1943, of which only 82 examples were produced compared to the 1,100 or so of the preceding M.14/41 tank. The M.15/42 was simply armed with a 47mm main gun - hardly a powerful armament even in 1943 - and up to four Modello type 8mm machine guns in various places throughout the design. The tanks appearance was characterized by an angular turret and hull while 6 road wheels were fitted to either track side. Power was derived from a single SPA 15 TB M42 8-cylinder gasoline engine - developing some 192hp - and mounted to the rear of the hull.

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Last Updated: 7/22/2008