M13/40 Italian Tank (late Production) 1:72 IBG 72125

Plastic model kit: M13/40 Italian Tank (Late Production) 1:72 IBG 72125

We present a plastic model kit of the Italian M13/40 tank in 1:72 scale, produced by IBG. This model is a great opportunity for enthusiasts of World War II history and modeling to recreate one of the key armored vehicles used by the Italian army during this period.

Model characteristics:

• Scale: 1:72
• Manufacturer: IBG
• Catalog number: 72125

Original M13/40 tank:

The M13/40 tank was the primary armored vehicle used by the Italian army during World War II. It was designed as a successor to the M11/39 model and was produced from 1940. Its design was inspired by the British Vickers 6-Ton tank, and the chassis was based on a modified version of the M11/39.

The M13/40 tank was used in the Greek campaign from 1940 to 1941 and in the North African campaign. In 1942, faced with the growing advantage of the Allies, the Italian army began to use self-propelled guns Semovente 75/18 alongside the M13/40 tanks to compensate for their weaker armament.

The first units of the M13/40 were delivered to North Africa, where they fought against the British. Unfortunately, many of them were not equipped with radios, which was a serious tactical disadvantage. In the Battle of Beda Fomm, the Italian tanks attempted to break through British lines, but all were destroyed.

The M13/40 tanks also participated in the Siege of Tobruk and the Battle of Bir el Gubi, where they achieved some success against British Crusader tanks. However, over time, as the Allies introduced more advanced tanks such as the M3 Lee/Grant and M4 Sherman, the M13/40 became obsolete.

The M13/40 was a tank of conventional design, with armament sufficient at the beginning of the war. Its main advantage was the 47 mm gun, which was effective against many British tanks from 1940-1941. The diesel engine provided greater range and reduced fire risk compared to gasoline engines.

However, the tank also had many drawbacks, such as low speed, outdated riveted construction, lack of radios in many units, and insufficient armament in the later years of the war. Italian historians point out that the poor performance of the tank was often due to a lack of crew training and weak tactical doctrine.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. For assembly, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.