The Centauro is an anti-tank armores vehicle designed for
light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance.It was
developed by a consortium of manufacturers,the Societa Consortile Iveco Fiat-
Oto Melara (CIO).Iveco Fiat was tasked with developing the hull and propulsion
system while Oto Melara was responsible for developing the turrets and weapon
system.It entered service with the Italian army in 1991 and deliveries were
complete by 2006.
The Centauro is powered by Inveco V-6 MTCA turbo-charged
after-cooleddiesel engine,delivering 545 hp,capable of propelling the vehicle
to 115 km per hour (70 mi/h).This drive a ZF-designed automatis transmission which
is manufactured under licence by Iveco Fiat.The transmission system has five
forward and two reverse gears.this drives 8 wheels which are each equipped with
an independent suspension system and is furthermore equipped with run-flat
insert and a Central Tyre Inflation System (CTIS).Braking is provided by 8 disc
brake.Steering is provided on the first and second axles and at slow speed with
also the fourth axel.Together,this allows Centouro to achieve road speeds in
axcess of 100 km/h,negotiate gradients up to 60%,ford water up to depth of 1.5m
without preparation,and have turning radius of 9m.
The first generation ot this Italian anti-tank armores
vihicle is armed with an Oto Melara 105mm / 52 caliber,which is gyro-stabilized
and fitted with a thermal sleeve and an integrated fume extractor,with 14 ready
rounds in the turret and another 26 rounds in the hull.The gun can fire
standard NATO ammunition,including APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilized
Discarding Sabot) rounds. Secondary weapons are a 7.62 mm coaxical machine gun
and another 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun with 4.000 rounds of ammunition.Aiming
is provided by Galileo Avionica TURMS fire control system (the same fitted to
the Italian ariete tank and is equipped with a muzzle referencing system and a
fully digital ballistic computer.The second generation of the Centauro is
fitted with a low recoil 120mm/45 cannon,in newly designed turret and with new
composite up-armour that can resist to 40mm armor-piercing rounds on the
front,makin the centauro the first wheleed armored anti-tank vehicle with the
same fire power as the last generation main battle tank.This variant,which is
compatiblewith all standard NATO 120mm ammunition,has already entered service
with the Italian army.
The armor protection of Centauro hull in an all-welded
steelarmored hull which is designed to withstand in the baseline configuration
14.5 mm bullets and shell fragments with protection against 25 mm amunition on
the frontal section.Nevertheless protection can be increased by adding bolt on
applique armor or up three tons off add-on passive or explosive reactive armor,which
increases protection againts 50 mm rounds.The Centauro is also equipped wiyh an
NBC (Nuclear,Chemical and Biological) warefare protection system which is
integrated with the vehicle’s air conditioning system.The vehicle also equipped
with a four-barreled smoke grenade launcher mounted on each side of vthe turret
and laser warning receiver.
The B1 Centauro has shown to be a succesful versatile tank
destroyer due the maeuverability and cross country ability,being able to drive
up 55° gradients.Designed to conduct tactical reconnaissance,fire support and
territorial defense tasks,this Italian tank destroyerwas deployed in the former
Yugoslavis and Somalia where it was usually used to escort motor vonvoys,for
wide area contorl and for road patrols.Centauros were also deployed during
operation Antica Babilonia,the Italian involvement in the Iraq War.During thi
operation,a centauro troop took part in the battle for the bridges of
Nassiriya,destroying a building where snipers were hiding.
Variants
·
Centauro
Reconnaissance Anti-Tank Variant :
·
Centauro
120 mm
A Centauro with a low recoil 120/45mm
cannon.in newly designed turret and with new composite armour that can resist
up to 40mm APFSDS rounds on the front.
VBM Freccia (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle
VBM
Freccia (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle
This Centauro up-armoured and revised is
fitted with the Hitfist Plus turret (an evolution of that used the Dardo
IFV),which is armed with the Oerlikon KBA 25mm automatic cannon and carries 200
rounds of v25mm ammunition.Two 7.62mm NATO machine guns are also fitted.The
vehicle can be further armed with a pair of SPIKE ML/LR anti-tank missiles.and
eight 80mm smoke grenade launchers.The fire cintorl is the same as for the
reconnaissence / anti-tank versions.This variant is crewed by a crew of three
which consist of a gunner,driver and commander,and can further carry an
additional eight combat-ready troops.