The Italian Carro Armato 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.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Infantry Support
Support allied ground forces through weapons, inherent capabilities, and / or onboard systems.
✓Medium Tank
Design providing enhanced armor protection and firepower over that of lightweight offerings - but lacking the general capabilities of heavier solutions.
✓Tank-vs-Tank
Engage armored vehicles of similar form and function.
Length
16.5 ft 5.04 m
Width
7.3 ft 2.23 m
Height
7.8 ft 2.39 m
Weight
34,172 lb 15,500 kg
Tonnage
17.1 tons LIGHT
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Carro Armato M15/42 production variant. Length typically includes main gun in forward position if applicable to the design)
Powerplant:
1 x Fiat SPA 15 TB M42 8-cylinder gasoline engine devleoping 192hp.
Speed
24.9 mph (40.0 kph)
Range
136.7 mi (220.0 km)
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Carro Armato M15/42 production variant. Compare this entry against any other in our database)
1 x 47mm L/40 main gun
4 x 8mm Modello 38 machine guns
Supported Types
(Not all weapon types may be represented in the showcase above)
Not Available.
M.15/41 - Based on the M.13/40 with improvements including more powerful engine.
M.15/42 - Based on the M.15/41 design; lengthened hull; improved engine performance; improved speed.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns / operations.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.
Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org, the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft, and SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane.
Kingdom of Italy; Nazi Germany
