Egyptian M13/40 circa 1948 (1/35th scale)

[Story]

Concurrent with Frank's M22 Locust, I wanted to dissect this analysis of a retooled Ansaldo tank. See
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar-eqypt-m13-40-egyptian-service/

I've extracted the relevant data points to work up a model.

1) Great. No further reference points available.
 The M13 was recovered from the fields and remained at Negba for about 3 days before it was hauled away on an army truck, presumably to be taken away for scrap. Although other vehicles of that era and conflict have survived, including an M22 on display at Negba, this very unusual M13/40 has not. No trace of it can be found and it does not appear as a monument or in the IDF collection at Latrun. It is presumed to have been scrapped.

2) Ok, that leaves more latitude with M13/40 #2.
Mr. Negbi reminisces that, during the battle of the 12th, two M13/40’s were used along with several other tanks,

3) To my eye, it looks like a 37mm M6 gun tube on an M22 mantlet. I also see a simple metal frame added between the mantlet and the turret.

The gun, unfortunately, cannot be identified. Photographic evidence confirms that it was not the original Italian 47 mm L/32 gun and the reminiscences of Mr. Negbi described the gun as a “37 mm 2 pounder”. This suggests that it was either a salvaged 37mm gun from something like an old M3 Stuart or M22 Locust light tank, or a 2-Pounder gun from something like the British A12 Matilda II.

I don't see this from the photos on the site above.
There is also the question of the gun mantlet which was definitely not from the M.13/40 or from the M22 Locust. It seems more like the mantlet from a German Panzer III or Panzer II, parts from which were also potentially available to the Egyptians during the refurbishment of this tank.



4) My guess is that the defenders stripped whatever was mounted here.
Post-removal would suggest that the original cover for the mounting had been retained rather than blanked over and welded, leaving a question mark over what, if any, secondary armament was used.

How about a Vicker's gun?  More effective and .303 was a standard Egyptian service round.

[Story]

Starting with an ITALERI M13/40 kit, https://www.scalemates.com/kits/italeri-6213-carro-armato-m13-40--106001
I framed out the casement.


Quarter for scale. I'd been noodling what the Egyptians would have used for a TC's machinegun - DP28?


Figured if I was an Egyptian armor commander responsible for this nutroll, a useful TC weapon would be a BREN with a 100 round AA drum.
This was a pretty popular move with the British.

Drums came in boxes of four.

[Story]

The M22 Mantlet and tube are courtesy of Frank's Factory.

What started with a conversation about this free 3D file ended up as these

[Story]

So here we are - a base coat of paint, Vickers jacket fitted (with the canvas cover) and the BREN still waiting for me to figure out how it's going to be mounted. At least I know where I'd keep the spare drums (box to right of BREN pedestal).

PS - period Egyptian Army markings available here
https://www.super-hobby.com/zdjecia/6/4/9/36506_rd.png

[Frank3k]

Glad to see the mantlet and gun fit!
 The vickers blanket looks good.

[apophenia]

Looking good ... and an impressive bit of detective work too! 

[Story]

Looking good ... and an impressive bit of detective work too! 

Thanks - I put myself in the "how would I do it if I had to" position with these historical conundrums.

The blanket dismissal that's been made of surplus Locusts being the M6 37mm donors depends on what "demilled" meant. In many cases, the breachblock was removed or chopped.

If that was the case, it would have been a simple case of going through the salvage yards of western desert vehicles and pulling the breach from an M3 Honey or two.  Presto-chango, working 37mm main gun.