While the Fiat 3000 was being developed, France sent 100 of these tanks to Italy in 1918 so that Italian troops could get aquatinted with tracked combat vehicles. Their fate is unknown. Details available in the French section of TANKS!.

20 of these tanks were sent by France to Italy in 1918. They received little use or interest by the Italians. Their fate is unknown. For details, see the French section of TANKS!.

The Fiat 3000, whose design was based on that of the French Renault FT 17, was the first tank to be produced in series in Italy. It was to be the standard tank of the emerging Italian armored units in World War 1. Although 1400 units were ordered, with deliveries to begin in May 1919, the end of the war caused the original order to be cancelled, only 100 were delivered. The first Fiat 3000s entered service in 1921 and were officially designated as the carro d'assalto Fiat 3000, Mod. 21. (Fiat 3000 assault tank, Model 21). Tests of the Mod. 21 revealed that the armament, consisting of two 6.5 mm machine guns, was inadequate, and adoption of a 37 mm gun as main armament was urged. The up-gunned version of the 3000, armed with a 37/40 gun, was tested in 1929 and was officially adopted in 1930 with the designation of carro d'assalto Fiat 3000, Mod. 30. The Mod. 30, in addition to its improved armament, also differed from the Mod. 21 in that it had an improved engine developing more power, its suspension was improved, the engine compartment had a different silhouette, and external stores were stowed differently. Some Model 30s were also produced with two 6.5 mm machine guns as main armament, as on the Model 21, in lieu of the 37mm gun. A limited number of Model 21 vehicles were exported to Albania, Lithuania and Abyssinia (Ethiopia) prior to 1930.

The designations of these tanks were changed prior to the outbreak of World War 2, in accordance with the identification system that was adopted throughout the war by the Italians. The Model 21 was redesignated the L.5/21, and the Model 30 was redesignated the L.5/30.

The first fast Italian tank designed to accompany infantry and to be used for reconnaissance. The design was based on the Vickers Carden Loyd Mark VI machine gun carrier. Four had been purchased from England for that purpose. A total of 21 were made between 1929 and 1930.

Designed by Ansaldo but based upon earlier Carro Veloce 29. Although commonly referred to as a tank, this vehicle falls more properly within the classification of a tankette. The Italian authorities showed an interest in a small, light vehicle which would be suitable for use in mountainous terrain, leading to the acquisition of 25 British Carden Loyd Mark VI tankettes in 1929. A Fiat-Ansaldo modification of the Mark VI, armed with a Fiat Model 14 water-cooled 6.5 mm machine gun was designated as the carro i,elo(-e (CV) 29. The armament was subsequently changed to a single Fiat Model 14 air-cooled anti-aircraft machine gun, still 6.5 mm. Subsequent modifications resulted in the CV 3/33, still armed with a single 6.5 mm air-cooled weapon. Apart from its distinctive armament, this first series of CV 3/33 had a characteristic track tension idler mounted in a bracket which was attached to the rear idler wheel. In 1934, the second series of CV 3/33 appeared, with the track tension idler separated from the rear idler, and with two 8 mm machine guns as standard armament. The earlier series of CV 3/33 were eventually retrofitted with the heavier armament also. Development continued, and in 1935 the CV 3/35 appeared, incorporating minor design and production changes, and retaining the 8 mm armament. A final version, of which only a limited number was produced, was introduced in 1938. It differed significantly in its suspension system, and was armed with a single Breda 13.2 mm machine gun. External stowage of entrenching tools, etc, varied from series to series. The designation of both the CV 3/33 and 3/35 was changed to L.3 in the late 1930s.

Variations of the L.3 were built for special applications. The most frequently encountered variant was the flamethrower, which was built in a version with a self-contained tank for flame liquid, and also in a version in which a wheeled tank trailer carrying the liquid was towed behind the CV. There were a number of radio-equipped variants of the L.3 used by company and battalion commanders. A limited number of L.3s were modified to mount the 20 mm Solothurn anti-tank gun in lieu of the machine guns. T ' wo experimental variants of the L.3 were also produced, the first being the carro gettaponte, or bridge-laying tank, very similar in concept to present-day AVLBS, and the second being a recovery vehicle with an A-frame on the rear which could be controlled from inside the tank, making it similar in concept to present-day VTRS. It is interesting to note that this appears to have been the only Italian attempt at building a tracked VTR.

Derived from the Fiat Ansaldo 5 ton experimental tanks, the L.6 was developed from a tank designed by Fiat-Ansaldo for export and seen as a replacement for the L.3 model. An initial order for 283 was placed, but that was later reduced. Based on a modified L.3 chassis. A 1936 prototype mounted a 37/26 gun in a left hand hull sponson and two machine guns in the turret. Further prototypes were built mounting a 37mm gun and a coax mounted MG in the turret. Another variant had twin 8mm MGs in the turret. The production model was fitted with a 20mm gun and a coax MG in the turret. Production began in 1939 and was considered about the same as the German PzKpfw II in terms of firepower and general mobility. This tank was not employed in any numbers until late in the war for Italy and it was then assigned to cavalry divisions and reconnaissance units. A few were sent to Russia to work with Italian units assigned there. There was a production variant that mounted a flame thrower in place of the 20mm gun. The command version was referred to as the Centro Radia. This unit had 2 radios and sometimes that turret was removed and a dummy gun was placed in the hull.

Design based upon Carro Armato 8 ton with improved suspension, riveted armor and gun in the superstructure. M 11/39 was expected to replace CV 33, which proved to be inadequate during the Spanish Civil War. Due to its thin armor it was easily destroyed during the African campaign. 70 were in service when Italy entered WW2. The order for 100 vehicles was completed in 1940.

When it became apparent that the M 11/39 did not constitute a satisfactory medium tank, the development of a suitable successor was initiated. The basic hull of the m.11 was utilized, but the rest of the vehicle was much revised. The M 13/40 was the best known of the Italian tanks used during the war, and along with it's improved version, the M 14/41, was the standard medium tank used by the Italian armored forces. The tank suffered frequent mechanical breakdowns in the desert but it can be said that it faired no worse than the British tanks they faced. The tank did suffer from a very poor power-to-weight ratio which resulted in a very low speed for it's class. The armor was not on par with other industrial nations, being brittle and prone to crack and split when hit. Armament can be said to be on par with the British in Africa. It held it's own against the British cruisers and the US M3 Stuart, but was totally outclassed by the US M3 Lee/Grant. Variations of this tank included a prototype with a specially equipped turret with range finding equipment. This vehicle was intended for artillery support. Another variant consisted (which appears to be a field modification) of the removal of the turret and replaced with a slightly built but fixed structure. This vehicle was used as a moble repair shop. 799 of these units were produced and they saw service in North Africa, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Montenegro.

In mid-1941, a Spa diesel engine developing 145hp was installed in the M 13/40. The vehicle was then renamed the M 14/41. The engine, equipped with special desert air filters as standard equipment, improved the performance and reliability of the tank. 1,103 units (depending on the source) were produced.

This tank can be regarded as a product improvement of the M 14/41 though external resemblence is close. The tank is slightly longer and can be distinguished from earlier models by the lack of a crew hatch on the left side and the appearance of a crew hatch on the right! The gun was longer, the turret was electrically traversed, speed improved, improved armor, and in general, a better ride. 82 of these tanks were built in 1943 before the war ended for Italy, but, these units did see action against the Germans. The rebuilt Ariete Division, located in Italy, took part in the Italian attempt to deny Rome to the Germans between 8 and 10 September 1943. The M.15s captured by the Germans were put to good use by their new owners.

In 1940 the need for a "heavy" tank was perceived by the Italians and plans were drawn up into what became the P.40 (originally designated as the P.75). The prototype was tested in early 1942 and mounted a 75/18 gun/howitzer and was powered by a 330hp diesel engine. Armament on the first prototype was changed to the longer 75/32 gun. This was the gun selected for use on all production models. The diesel engine proved to be wanting and consideration was given to the V12 engine from captured Soviet T-34 tanks! Productions models of the tank were equipped with a 420hp gasoline engine. No P.40, completed prior to the Italo-Allied armistice, saw service with Italian armored units. All units produced were captured and added to German stock. Some hulls, without engines, were dug in and used as static forts. Some sources state that 21 while others state 24 units were produced under Italian administration. As many as 80 were produced by the Italians under German direction.

These tanks were part of the war booty the Italians received from the French after the Battle of France. Most of the vehicles were gifts by the Germans to the Italians who had captured large numbers. The Italians promptly equipped two battalions with the Renault tank. Both battalions were used against the Allied landings in Sicily in 1943. Some units were re-possessed by the Germans after the Italian Armistice in 1943. Modifications are unknown.

These tanks were part of the war booty the Italians received from the French after the Battle of France. Most of the vehicles were gifts by the Germans to the Italians who had captured large numbers. The Italians promptly equipped one battalion with the Somua tank. The Somua saw limited action against the Germans on Sardinia in 1943. Some units were re-possessed by the Germans after the Italian Armistice in 1943. Modifications are unknown.

These (36) tanks were to be part of the crack 1st Mussolini Armored Division formed in the early summer of 1941. The division saw only limited action before the armistice. The remaining vehicles went back into German hands.

No details.

It is known that Italians operated captured Soviet T34 tanks in 1943 on the Eastern Front. Exact numbers or modifications are unknown.