M14/41 tank | |
|---|---|
| Paese | Italia |
| Ruolo | Carro medio |
| Prodotto | 1941–42 |
| Costruito | 800 |
Le M 14/41 era un carro armato medio a quattro equipaggi che prestò servizio dal 1941 nel Regio Esercito Italiano. La denominazione ufficiale italiana era Carro Armato M 14/41. Il carro armato fu impiegato per la prima volta nella campagna del Nord Africa, dove le sue carenze divennero rapidamente evidenti.
| Carro comando M41 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Inconsapevole |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 33 |
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General Characteristics
The Carro Comando M41 (Command Tank M41) was a specialized command and coordination vehicle used by the Royal Italian Army during World War II. It was built on the chassis of the M14/41 medium tank but had its turret removed and replaced with a fixed armored structure. Its primary role was to serve as a mobile command post for self-propelled gun units (like the Semovente da 75/18), allowing commanders to direct fire and communicate effectively with their batteries and higher command.
| Property | Typical Value (Carro Comando M41) |
|---|---|
| Ruolo | Artillery Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle |
| Chassis Basis | Carro Armato M13/40 or M14/41 Medium Tank |
| In servizio | 1941–1943 |
| No. Built | ~60+ (Converted from M14/41 hulls) |
| Equipaggio | 4 (Commander, Driver, Goniometer Operator, Machine Gunner) |
| Mass (Weight) | Approx. 12.5 tonnes (27,557 lb) |
| Lunghezza | 4.92 m (16 ft 2 in) |
| Altezza | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) (approx. with closed roof) |
Powerplant and Mobility
- Engine: Fiat SPA 15T M41 V8 diesel engine.
- Engine Power: 108 kW (145 hp).
- Maximum Speed (Road): 40 km/h (25 mph).
- Operational Range: Approx. 230 km (140 mi).
- Suspension: Semi-elliptic leaf spring bogies (same as M14/41 tank).
- Reason for Removal of Turret: The turret was removed to reduce weight, provide internal space for command equipment, and lower the profile slightly, though its distinctive shape still made it relatively easy to identify.
Armament and Equipment
- Main Armament: None (No main gun).
- Defensive Armament (Primary): 1 x 13.2 mm Breda Mod. 31 heavy machine gun mounted in a frontal, fixed spherical mount (*blindosfera*).
- Defensive Armament (Secondary): 1 x 8 mm Breda Mod. 38 machine gun (used in an anti-aircraft role with the roof open).
- Key Equipment: Fitted with two long-range radios (RF 1 CA and RF 2 CA), goniometer direction finders, and specialized instruments for artillery direction and mapping.
- Armor: All-around armor protection (30 mm frontal, 8 mm roof) derived from the M14/41 hull, designed to protect the command crew against small arms fire and shell fragments.
- Significance: The vehicle addressed the critical need for coordinated communication within the Italian artillery units, which often suffered from poor radio equipment in standard tanks.
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