M14/41 tank
The M 14/41 was a four-crew medium tank that served from 1941 in the Royal Italian Army. The official Italian designation was Carro Armato M 14/41. It was an evolution of the previous M13/40 tank. The M 14/41 was employed in the North African Campaign, fighting at El Alamein and in Tunisia.
History
Development
The M 14/41 was a slightly improved version of the earlier M 13/40 with a more powerful diesel engine. The M 14/41 was manufactured in 1941 and 1942.Units
The first unit to receive the M14/41 was the X Tank Battalion "M" of the 133rd Tank Infantry Regiment. The other units assigned the tank were the following:- IV Tank Battalion "M", 31st Tank Infantry Regiment
- X Tank Battalion "M", 133rd Tank Infantry Regiment
- XII Tank Battalion "M", 31st Tank Infantry Regiment
- XIV Tank Battalion "M", 31st Tank Infantry Regiment
- XV Tank Battalion "M", 1st Infantry Division "Superga"
- XVI Mixed Tank Battalion, in Sardinia
- XVII Tank Battalion "M", 31st Tank Infantry Regiment
- XVIII Tank Battalion "M", reserve unit based in Italy, disbanded 8 September 1943
- LI Tank Battalion "M", 31st Tank Infantry Regiment
Variants
The M 14/41 chassis served as the basis for the far more successful Semovente da 90/53 tank destroyer.The prototype Carro Armato Celere Sahariano was developed on the M 14/41 chassis in 1943.