Italian Carro Armato M 14/41 Medium Tank. Photographed at The Tank Museum in Bovington, England 2017. It had a 47 mm gun, an anti-tank version of the Cannone DA 47/32 model 39.
The Carro Armato M 14/41 was an Italian medium tank used during World War II. It was an improved version of the earlier M 13/40, featuring better armor and more powerful armament. The M 14/41 was equipped with a 47mm cannone da 47/32 L/32 gun, effective against infantry and light vehicles but less capable against heavily armored tanks of the era. The tank also had a 8mm Breda M1938 machine gun for close defense. Its armor was 30-42mm thick, providing reasonable protection against small arms fire and light anti-tank weapons, though it was vulnerable to more powerful guns.
Powered by a Fiat SPA 18T 8-cylinder engine producing 125 horsepower, the M 14/41 had a maximum speed of 42 km/h (26 mph) on roads, which was relatively fast for its class. Its range was about 200 km (124 miles), allowing for decent operational flexibility.
Weighing approximately 14.5 tons, the M 14/41 had a crew of four and was designed for both offensive and defensive roles. While it was outclassed by more advanced Allied tanks, its mobility, firepower, and relatively low production cost made it useful in Italy’s North African campaigns and later in Italy’s defensive operations. A total of around 1,200 units were produced from 1941 to 1943.
