M13s 24th January 1941 at Mechili

[ClintHardware]

I have come across the protracted fire-fight between M13s of the III and V Battaglioni of either 31o or 32o Reggimento Carrista against the 7th Hussars and later 2nd RTR on the above date. These were under Babini's Brigata Corazzata Speciale. Having read one account they were from 31o Reggimento Carrista but according to another they were from 32o Reggimento Carrista.

Jentz states that the III Battaglione from 32o Reggimento Carrista had L.3s in March 41 - so really not sure. Iron Hearts Iron Hulls says 31o Reggimento Carrista

This site seems to say 32o Reggimento Carrista http://spazioinwind.libero.it/cico85/carristi.html

Can anyone assist please?

[Urmel]

Here's what I have:

http://rommelsriposte.com/2013/08/11/it ... 0-to-1942/

Probably not much help

[Urmel]

Iron Hulls Iron Hearts appears to be wrong. I just checked two documents on the Assocarri site, both indicate the 31st Regiment was not even in North Africa in 1941.

According to this, it was the combined V/32 and III/32, with about 50 M13/40 in total.

http://www.assocarri.it/Unita_carriste/ ... stizio.htm

Il 23 gennaio 1941 la Brigata Corazzata Speciale fu dislo­cata in zona Scebib El Ghezze (a sud del quadrivio di El Mechili) e ricevette l’ordine di frenare provenienze avversarie tendenti a tagliare l’interno dell’altopiano cirenaico. In corrispondenza di tale quadrivio si ebbero i primi scontri fra carri. Il giorno 24, dapprima il V, poi il III battaglione carri, furono lanciati contro l'avversario avanzante su El Mechili con una cinquantina di carri e nonostante i difetti dei loro carri riportarono una vittoria mostrando reattività ed intraprendenza.

Sette carri italiani e dieci avversari rimasero sul terreno mentre il nemico ripiegava. Altri scontri si ebbero a Bir Semander ove l’11° Ussari inglese, unità esplorante della 7^ Divisione Corazzata Britannica, perse 8 autoblindo.

[ClintHardware]

Many Thanks Urmel

I am sure more questions will surface.

And here is my next one: When Shrivenham did a detailed analysis of an M.13 in 1943 the manufacturer's plate (Ansaldo) referred to it as "CARRO TIPO M.13" . So where do we get the following: M13/40, M.13/40 and Jentz's M.13-40 from??

Is the /40 and -40 something we have attributed post-war or are there contemporary Italian sources of all the above?

[Urmel]

It's contemporary.

[ClintHardware]

NICE. Interesting variation M/13-40. Where is the text from?

[Urmel]

WD Ariete for November 41.