[Alpino]

Hello!
I really interesting: Was any one combat in North Africa in 1940-1941 years, when M11/39 and m13/40 used together? I never seen photos of these tanks together.
Thank you, and sorry for my English.

[SM79Sparviero]

I have never seen an M13 and M11 in the same picture.
Brigata Corazzata Speciale della Libia ( General Babini) In November 1940 was composed by I Battaglione Carri, on M11/39, and III Battaglione, on M13/40, and two L3 tankette Battaillons .

II battaglione carri on M11 supported colonna Maletti and was destroyed in operation Compass.
I think that about 10 M11 of I battaglione and 20-25 M13 of III battaglione fought in the same battlefield in the defence of Tobruk up to the fall in January, 25 , while 20 tanks were immobilized by mechanic failures or lack of diesel fuel.

Very probably M11 and M13 fought together on the opposite side too: after the fall of Tobruk 6th Australian Divisional Cavalry used 5 captured M11 and 1 M13 in A-squadron, two M13 in B-squadron, two M13 in C-squadron.

[daveh]

Quote

Tobruk : about 25 L3-type light tanks, 11 M11/39 medium tanks (all under repair and therefore not available for combat), and about 60 M13/40 tanks (scraped together here and there)

Quote

At the beginning of December 1940, the British had gained the supremacy in terms of armoured warfare as the 7th Armoured Division deployed 495 vehicles :

195 light tanks (Vickers Mk VI)
114 medium tanks (Vickers medium and Cruiser Mk I)
64 heavy cruiser tanks (A 10, A 13, A15 Crusader)
48 heavy infantry tanks (Matilda II)
74 armoured cars (Marmon Herrington, Daimler, Humber, and Morris)
The Italian Armour Brigade in the Sidi-el-Barrani area consisted of 275 vehicles:

220 light tanks (L3)
55 medium tanks (M11/39)
Elsewhere in Libya there were, still under fitting-out, the first new M13/40 medium tanks.

from

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quart ... itawna.htm

[maximus]

I confirm cio' that "Sparviero" has said English had many average battleships but the greater part of they had one armor much weak person, vulnerable to all the guns to italiani(mitragliere from 20 enclosed ones). Also the powerful ones "matilda" were not indestructible, before the crash to "Sidi el Barrani" had been nearly all puttinges KO To "Bardia" only a score of "matilda" were available the Italian defeats depend alone in part from the superiorita' of enemy means
Maximus

[pg]

Excellent link Dave. Shows that in N. Africa tanks were everything. In E. Africa where the Duke of Aosta chose his battleground things were a little less clear.
Maximus......I have a bit of trouble understanding what you mean (big apologies as my Italian is zero unfortunately)

[Alpino]

Thank by all for discussion!