The first batch of 12 M11 / 39 was delivered to a company of the 32nd Reggimento in August 1939. The M11 / 39 will equip the two battalions of the 32nd Reggimento. The 1st battaglione thus had of 3 companies and the 2nd battagion of 2 companies (total of 72 tanks). The two battalions were sent to Libya in 1940 and transferred to the 4th Regiment with the exception of one of the two companies of the 2nd Battaglione detached to the Raggruppamento Maletti. This unit will be completely annihilated in Nibeiwa on 9 December 1940 after the capture of Sidi Barrani. The 1st battaglione (assigned to the 1st Raggruppamento Carristi) was destroyed during the capture of Tobruk in January 1941. The Australians of the 6th Cavalry Regiment will reuse for some months, some M11 / 39 and other Italian tanks after this battle. The Australian M11 / 39s were easily recognizable because of the large kangaroos painted on turrets and superstructures. They were scuttled in the spring of 1941 during the advance of the Axis. Of the 100 M11 / 39 manufactured, 4 were maintained in Italy for crew training.
The first batch of 12 M11 / 39 was delivered to a company of the 32nd Reggimento in August 1939. M11 / 39 will equip the two battalions of the 32nd Reggimento. The 1st battaglione had 2 companies and the 2nd battagione 2 companies (total of 72 tanks). The two battalions were sent in Lybia in 1940 and were sent in the 4th Regiment with exception of one of the two battalions of the second battaglione detached to Raggruppamento Maletti. This unit will be destroyed in Nibeiwa, on December 9, 1940 after the capture of Sidi Barrani. The 1st battaglione (affected to 1st Raggruppamento Carristi) was as it destroyed during the capture of Tobruk in January 1941. The Australians of the 6th Cavalry Regiment will re-use a few months, some M11 / 39 and other Italian tanks after this Battle. M11 / 39s Australian were easily recognizable because of the large kangaroos painted on the turrets and the superstructures. They will be scuttled in spring 1941 during the Axis advances. On the 100 M11 / 39 manufactured, 4 were maintained in Italy for the crewq training.
A contingent of 24 M11 / 39 was deployed in eastern Italian Africa at the rate of 2 companies of 12 tanks (321 and 322). One was based in Eritrea and the other in Addis Ababa. These M11 / 39 participated in the capture of Cassala (Sudan) on July 4, 1940, and then in the invasion of British Somalia between August 1940 and April 1941. The shortage of spare parts and the numerous mechanical failures encountered quickly The operational quotient of these tanks. Finally, no M11 / 39 survived the Somalia campaign.
A group of 24 M11 / 39 was deployed in Italian Eastern Africa, divided into 2 companies of 12 tanks (321 and 322). One was based in Eritrea and other at Addis Ababa. These M11 / 39 took part in the capture of Cassala (Sudan) on July 4, 1940 then to the invasion of British Somalia between August 1940 and April 1941. The shortage of spare parts and the mechanical mechanical breakdowns decreased very quickly the operational quotient Of these tanks. Finally no M11 / 39 survived to the campaign of Somalia.
The M11 / 39 was a transitional realization between the light tank L6 / 40 and the tracks and the M13 / 40. In fact it was a fairly mediocre design badly motorized, little shielded, without radio and with a main weapon mounted in casemate. The casemate assembly was a mistake for a battle tank because of the very limited side shooting range and only directed forward. It was an obvious handicap in front of tanks equipped with a gun mounted on pivoting turret in combat tanks against tanks. Only the French with the B1-bis and the Americans with the M3 Medium tank will realize such designs (however with a substantial armor and a much higher firepower). The survival capabilities of the M11 / 39 were therefore very low, especially in a hostile environment such as the desert, which caused a lot of mechanical trouble and tedious maintenance. In the end, the M11 / 39 offered a poor opposition to the first Cruisers Tanks and the Infantry Tank Matilda (whose thick armor was inaccessible for the M11 / 39).
M11/39 was a transitory realization between the light tank L6/40 as well as the tankettes and the M13/40. In fact it was a design rather poor, badly motorized, little armor-plated, without radio and with a principal weapon assembled in casemate. The assembly in casemate was an error for a battle tank because of the very limited fire traverse only directed forwards. It was an obvious handicap vis-a-vis battle tanks equipped with a gun assembled on a rotary turret at the time of combat tanks against tanks. Only the French with the B1-bis and the Americans with M3 Medium tank will realize such designs (however equipped with a consequent shielding and a firepower definitely higher). The capacities of survival of M11/39 was thus very low, especially in hostile environment like the desert which caused many engine trouble and a heavy maintenance. Ultimately M11/39 offered a poor opposition to first Cruisers Tanks and Infantry Tank Matilda (of which the thick shielding was inaccessible for M11/39).
Specifications :
Production period: 1937-1940
Crew: 3 people
Length: 4.73 meters
Width: 2.18 meters
Height: 2.25 meters
Mass: 10.97 t
Exceeding capability: 2 meters
Climbing ability: 80 cm
Watertightness: 1 meter
Drive: liquid-cooled V-8 engine Fiat SPA 8 T
Speed: 32.2 km / h
Driving range: 200 km
Armament:
37 mm cannon Vickers Terni L / 40 with 84 shots
Two 8 mm Breda MGs model 38 with 2800 shot
Armor:
Bowl: 30 mm
Front: 14 mm
Driver's front: 30 mm
Result Pages: 14-15 mm
Engine cover: 8 mm
Bottom: 10 mm
Tower: 30 mm (front) / 14 mm (sides and rear) / 7 mm (ceiling)
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