Propagandistic camouflage for the M11/39.

ImportantSimone5 · December 18, 2024, 6:31pm

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Propagandistic camouflage for the M11/39.

History.

In the mid-1930s the need arose for the Royal Italian Army to make a medium tank to complement the now aging L3 tanks. In 1937 the 10T Breaking Tank was born, which quickly (almost two years) became the M11/39 tank, i.e., the first Italian medium tank made. These tanks were produced until mid-1939, when production was turned to the new M13/40 tank, but in spite of this, almost all of the examples produced were shipped to fight at the front and most fought in North Africa, and there they were also customized by the crews.
Given the lack of a coloring standard (apart from for the basic coloring provided by the High Command), tankers had to spontaneously adapt the coloring of their vehicles for the needs of the combat site, and therefore some M11/39 tanks apparently were painted with an unusual coloring (red) over the classic green-gray coloring placed by Ansaldo at the time of vehicle construction. Unfortunately, no photographic trace of this coloring remains since the photos of the said tanks are almost all in black and white, however, a slight documentary trace of it remains, and furthermore, this coloring was used in an Italian propaganda poster of the period.

The camouflage.

The tank featured in the poster is painted in the classic green-gray coloring overlaid with reddish-brown and/or greenish spots. There are unfortunately no definite photographs testifying to the use of this coloring, however, the poster remains as evidence of at least its theoretical use, and the coloring is also evidenced by various documentation.
As one might note, the coloring is reminiscent of the Model 1929 Camouflage Tarpaulin, and an actual resemblance is there even if the coloring is not totally the same. There is a possibility possibly that the tarpaulin itself was used as camouflage itself for vehicles in semi-arid environments.

Pictures and drawnings.

Spoiler