The M11/39 tank was the transitional tank between the L3 fast tank and the M 13/40. The M11/39 can be considered the first Italian medium tank, with a weight of 11 tonnes and armament that consisted of a 37 mm cannon in the casemate and two Breda Mod. 38 8 mm machine guns in the turret. One of the weak points was the low-powered engine, the cannon placed in the casemate and the lack of radio equipment. Unsuitable for desert warfare. Despite its weaknesses, the M11/39 represented an important step forward in the history of Italian armoured vehicles, as it paved the way for the medium tank family, which was used throughout the war.

The Carro Armato M13/40 was an Italian World War II tank designed to replace the M11/39 in the Italian Army at the start of World War II. It was the primary tank used by the Italians throughout the war. The design was influenced by the British Vickers 6-Ton and was based on the modified chassis of the earlier M11/39. Production of the M11/39 was cut short in order to get the M13/40 into production. The name refers to "M" for Medio (medium) according to the Italian tank weight standards at the time, 13 tonnes was the scheduled weight and 1940 the initial year of production.

Several factors delayed and greatly hampered the development of an Italian medium tank during World War II. The first was the strategic stance of the country, focussed on a war against neighbouring countries such as France and Yugoslavia, and ill-prepared for a war in the Western Desert. Since these European countries bordered with Italy in mountainous areas, light tanks were preferred as these were deemed much more suitable for the narrow roads and bridges of the Alps. Furthermore, development was hampered by the limited number of Italian industries, whose production was also heavily fragmented. All these factors delayed the development of the first prototype of an Italian medium tank – the M 11 – which would only appear in 1937 and did not enter production until 1939. Although technically inferior to their German and Allied counterparts in 1941–43, the Italian M tanks proved to be quite effective when used by experienced crews with adequate combat tactics. In fact, their major shortcoming actually proved to be their limited production figures. While production was limited, innovation was not and, between 1941 and 1943, several experiments were carried out on the Italian tanks that produced interesting prototypes such as the anti-aircraft semovente.

The Royal Italian Army's 'M' series tanks began with the Fiat-Ansaldo M 11-39 in 1939 and continued with the M13-40, M 14-41 and the M 15-42. Medium tanks served on all Italian fronts during WWII. Although outperformed by most Allied armored vehicles, these tanks and self-propelled guns were Italy's armored defense throughout WWII.

Several factors delayed and greatly hampered the development of an Italian medium tank during World War II. The first was the strategic stance of the country, focussed on a war against neighbouring countries such as France and Yugoslavia, and ill-prepared for a war in the Western Desert. Since these European countries bordered with Italy in mountainous areas, light tanks were preferred as these were deemed much more suitable for the narrow roads and bridges of the Alps. Furthermore, development was hampered by the limited number of Italian industries, whose production was also heavily fragmented. All these factors delayed the development of the first prototype of an Italian medium tank – the M 11 – which would only appear in 1937 and did not enter production until 1939. Although technically inferior to their German and Allied counterparts in 1941–43, the Italian M tanks proved to be quite effective when used by experienced crews with adequate combat tactics. In fact, their major shortcoming actually proved to be their limited production figures. While production was limited, innovation was not and, between 1941 and 1943, several experiments were carried out on the Italian tanks that produced interesting prototypes such as the anti-aircraft semovente.

Merriam Press Armored Warfare 8. Second Edition (2014). Pictorial history of Italian tanks, tankettes, armored cars, self-propelled guns, reconnaissance vehicles and trucks, from World War I through the end of World War II. Chapters with history, data and photographs and drawings on the following: Tanks of Italy Fiat 2000 Heavy Tank Fiat 3000 Light Tank Lancia IZM Armored Car Carro Veloce CV33 and L3/33 Tankettes Carro Veloce L3/35 Tankette Fiat L6/40 Light Tank Fiat M11/39 Medium Tank Fiat M13/40 Medium Tank Fiat M14/41 Medium Tank Fiat M16/43 Medium Tank M15/42 Medium Tank Carro Armato P26/40 Heavy Tank Semovente 47/32 Self-Propelled Gun Semovente 75/18 Self-Propelled Gun Semovente 75/34 Self-Propelled Gun Semovente 90/53 Self-Propelled Gun Semovente 105/25 Self-Propelled Gun Semovente da 149/40 Self-Propelled Gun Autoblinda AB40 / AB41 / AB42 / AB43 Armored Cars Autoblinda Lince Armored Car SPA-Viberti AS42 Reconnaissance Vehicle SPA AS37 Light Truck Lancia 3 Ro Heavy Truck TL37 Light Truck Autocarro Blindato Fiat 626 NM Medium Truck 511 photos (21 color and 486 B&W) and 4 drawings This second edition has more pages and improved format. This edition also breaks down each vehicle type into separate chapters with added history and data which was not in the first edition.

At the end of the First World War, Hungary, as a member of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, found itself on the losing side. Its army disintegrated and its armaments were acquired or destroyed by the victorious Allied nations. However, in the late 1920s, Hungarian diplomacy did all it could to reduce its isolation, forging relations with Italy and other neighboring countries to try to create a better position for Hungary among European nations. A kind of secret rearmament favoured by the new political movements in Europe at that time soon began. In this contest, Italy was among the main protagonists that made the Magyar military renaissance possible. Various cooperation projects were set up, and within the framework of these, Italy supplied or granted licences for various weapon systems, both land and aviation. Many vehicles were involved in this cooperation: among the vehicles, the L3 tankettes together with the Fiat B 3000 light tank. Artillery tractors such as the Pavesi and Breda, numerous artillery equipment and guns. Motor vehicles and motorbikes. In the avionic field: the Fiat CR 32, CR 42, Reggiane 2000 and CA 135 bombers.