Italian Medium Tanks: 1939–45

Several factors delayed and greatly hampered the development of an Italian medium tank during World War II.

Light tanks were preferred as these were deemed much more suitable for the narrow roads and bridges of the Alps, along the borders of neighbours France and Yugoslavia. Development was also hampered by limited industries, with fragmented production. Thus, the first prototype of an Italian medium tank – the M 11 – did not enter production until 1939.

This book examines the Italian M tanks which, although technically inferior to their German and Allied counterparts in 1941–43, proved to be effective when used by experienced crews with adequate combat tactics. Alongside illustrations throughout, Filippo Cappellano and Pier Paolo Battistelli discuss the types, as well as the experiments that produced interesting prototypes such as the anti-aircraft semovente.