Centauro
An Italian Army Centauro during a patrol in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of IFOR during 1996
TypeWheeled tank destroyer
Place of originItaly
Service history
In service1991–present
Used bySee Operators below
WarsUnited Nations Operation in Somalia II
Iraq War
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon)
Production history
Designed1986
ManufacturerIveco Fiat (hull, propulsion)
Oto Melara (weapons, turrets)
Unit cost€1.6 million
Produced1991–2006 (Centauro) 2021-Present (Centauro II)
No. built490+[1] (plus 249 Freccia)[2]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass24,000 kg (26 short tons)
Length7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)
Width2.94 m (9 ft 8 in)
Height2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)
Crew4 (commander, gunner, loader and driver)
ArmorWelded steel armoured hull
Main
armament
Oto Melara 105 mm/52 rifled gun (Centauro)
Oto Melara 120mm /45 smoothbore gun (Centauro II)
Secondary
armament
2×7.62 mm MGs
EngineIVECO, V6 turbo-Diesel
520 hp (382 kW)
Power/weight19.35 hp/tonne
Payload capacity350 kg
TransmissionHydropneumatic automatic transmission with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears
8x8 wheels
Suspensionindependent MacPherson struts
Operational
range
800 km (500 mi)
Maximum speed 108 km/h (67 mph)

The Centauro is a family of Italian military vehicles originating from a wheeled tank destroyer for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance. It was developed by a consortium of manufacturers, the Società Consortile Iveco Fiat - OTO Melara (CIO). Iveco Fiat was tasked with developing the hull and propulsion systems while Oto Melara was responsible for developing the turrets and weapon systems.[3]

Over the years, the Centauro platform has been developed into multiple variants to fulfill other combat roles, such as infantry fighting vehicle or self-propelled howitzer.

Description

The vehicle was developed in response to an Italian Army requirement for a tank destroyer with the firepower of the old Leopard 1 main battle tank then in service with the Italian Army, but with greater strategic mobility. The main mission of the Centauro is to protect other, lighter, elements of the cavalry, using its good power-to-weight ratio, excellent range and cross country ability (despite the wheeled design) and computerized fire control system to accomplish this mission. Centauro entered production in 1991 and deliveries were complete by 2006.[4]

Armament

An early variant of the vehicle

The main armament consists of the Oto Melara 105 mm/52 caliber gyro-stabilized high-pressure, low-recoil gun equipped with a thermal sleeve and an integrated fume extractor, with 40 rounds: 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 coaxial machine gun, and another 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun with 4,000 rounds of ammunition.

Aiming is provided by a Galileo Avionica TURMS fire control system (the same as fitted to the Italian Ariete tank), a muzzle referencing system, and a fully digital ballistic computer. The gunner's sight is fully stabilized and includes a thermal imager and laser rangefinder. The commander's station has a panoramic stabilized sight, an image-intensifying night sight, and a monitor displaying the image from the gunner's thermal sight. This allows Centauro, day or night, to engage stationary or moving targets while stationary or on the move.[5]

Armour

The Centauro hull is an all-welded steel armoured hull, which in the baseline configuration is designed to withstand 14.5 mm bullets and shell fragments, with protection against 25 mm munition on the frontal section. The addition of bolt-on appliqué armour increases protection against 30 mm rounds.

The Centauro is also equipped with an CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) warfare protection system, which is integrated with the vehicle's air conditioning system. The vehicle is also equipped with a four-barreled smoke grenade launcher mounted on each side of the turret and a laser warning receiver.[5]

Propulsion

Centauro is powered by an Iveco V6 turbo-charged after-cooled diesel engine delivering 520 hp (382.4 kW). This drives a ZF-designed automatic transmission, which is manufactured under license by Iveco Fiat. The transmission system has five forward and two reverse gears. This drives eight wheels, each equipped with an independent suspension system, run-flat inserts, and a Central Tyre Inflation System (CTIS). Braking is provided by eight disc brakes. Steering is provided on the first and second axles and at slow speed also with the fourth axle. The Centauro achieves road speeds above 100 km/h; it can negotiate gradients up to 60%, ford water up to a depth of 1.5 m without preparation, and turn with a 9 m radius.[5]

Combat history

Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th) Centauro firing during an exercise

The Centauro is currently deployed as part of UNIFIL forces in Lebanon.[6]

It was deployed in the former Yugoslavia and Somalia, where the design proved successful. Centauro was usually employed to escort motor convoys, for wide area control, and for road patrols.[7] While on convoy duty at Somalia, a platoon of eight Centauros engaged hostile positions during the battle of checkpoint Pasta, on 2 July 1993.[8]

Centauros were also deployed during operation Antica Babilonia, the Italian involvement in the Iraq War. During this operation, a Centauro troop took part in the battle for the bridges of Nasiriyah on 6 April 2004, destroying a building where snipers were hiding.[9]

In 2003, Spain deployed six 105/52 mm Centauros to Iraq for their troops' self defence.[10]

Variants

Anti-tank

A Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st) Centauro column on exercise in Cincu, Romania 2019
  • Centauro 105mm
The baseline and original version, also called Centauro Reconnaissance Anti-Tank.
Centauro 155/39LW.
Centauro Draco.
  • Centauro 120mm
Upgraded Centauro with a low recoil 120 mm L/45 cannon (unrelated to the Rheinmetall L/44 120mm) in a newly designed turret and with new composite armour that can resist rounds up to 40 mm APFSDS on the front and 14.5 mm on the rest of the body.[11] This vehicle was also used as a testbed for various technologies that would be used in the B1 Centauro's successor vehicle, the Centauro II.[12]
  • Centauro II
In July 2018, the Italian Army signed a €159 million (USD $186 million) contract to acquire 10 Centauro II tank destroyers, the first tranche of a planned 150-vehicle order. The 30-ton Centauro II is based on the Freccia chassis with a two-man turret and a 120 mm gun. Additional improvements include a digital communication system, a 720 hp engine delivering 24 hp/ton, and wheels extending farther out from the hull for greater stability and better protection against mine blasts.[13]
Owing to the combination of its eight-wheeled configuration and revised chassis, the Centauro II can handle the high recoil of a high-velocity 120 mm cannon, while equivalent vehicles with fewer wheels or weaker chassis are often limited to cannons of lower velocity and/or lower calibre. The gun is fitted with an efficient muzzle brake.[14]

Other roles

  • VBM "Freccia"
The Veicolo Blindato Medio "Freccia" (Italian: Medium Armoured Vehicle "Arrow") is a Centauro reconfigured[15] as a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle with multiple variants, such as command & control or mortar carrier, offering increased armour and NBC protection. It can transport up to eight infantrymen plus three crew.
  • Centauro 155/39LW
This addition to the Centauro range in late 2013 fills the role of self-propelled howitzer,[16] and is able to fire up to 8 rounds/minute to a distance exceeding 60 km for guided ammunition. It mounts an ultralight 155 mm/39 main gun, based on the latest material breakthroughs,[17] and a secondary 7.62 or 12.7 mm MG. The 155/39 is manned by a crew of two and provides full NBC and ballistic protection.[18]
  • Centauro VBM Recovery
Serves both as an engineer vehicle and for recovery and repair of damaged armoured vehicles on the battlefield.[19]
  • Draco
The Draco was never completed, and remained as an unfinished prototype. The only functional part of the Draco was the hull itself which was that of a B1 Centauro; the actual weapon system reached the mock-up stage and was not completed. The Draco was to be armed with a revolver-type ammunition-loading system. It was to use all standard 76 mm ammunition, guided DART ammunition, C-RAM and top-attack ammunition, and was to be fully compatible with all in-service 76 mm rounds. The rate of fire was to be 80–100 rounds per minute (depending on the elevation angle), the ammunition revolver containing 12 indexed rounds and being able to shift from one type of ammunition to another.

Operators

Map of B1 Centauro operators in blue

Current operators

  •  Italy: 259 B1 Centauro.[20] Total production was 400, with the remaining 141, all from the older versions, exported to Jordan.[21] 106 Centauro II ordered in January 2021.[22]
  •  Jordan: 141 B1 Centauro (all ex-Italian Army), some donated as Italian military aid and modernized with upgrade kits.[23]
  •  Oman: 9 B1 Centauro, modified variant with 120 mm gun.[23]
  •  Spain: 84 B1 Centauro, designated VRCC in Spanish service; 4 VCREC recovery vehicles.[23]

Future operators

  •  Brazil: 98 Centauro II ordered in November 2022,[24] with eventual local production in Sete Lagoas by Iveco's Brazilian branch, together with the related 6x6 VBTP-MR Guarani.[3][25] Brazil is also evaluating investment in a total of 221 8×8 armored vehicles up to €2 billion.[26]

Evaluation-only operators

  •  Russia: A 120 mm gun-armed version was tested in 2012, alongside the standard 105 mm-armed version. They were returned to Italy after tests were complete.
  •  United States: Leased 16 Centauro between 2000 and 2002 for evaluation, and to gain experience for the introduction of the M1128 Mobile Gun System. The vehicles were tested with the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis over a period of two years, and were subsequently returned to Italy in 2002. [27]

References

  1. ↑ Kowak (16 October 2015). "Centauro e Varianti". Militarypedia (in Italian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "VBM Freccia Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Italy". Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 "CENTAURO I". www.iveco-otomelara.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "B1 Centauro". Tank Encyclopedia. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Centauro B1 Tank Destroyer | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "CIO Centauro 8x8 Tank Destroyer". Military Factory. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "B1 Centauro tank destroyer / VBC 8x8 APC".
  8. ↑ Vilona, Leonardo (17 August 2020). "Checkpoint Pasta: La battaglia del pastificio (1993)". History Facts (in Italian). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "il col. Scollo e la battaglia dei ponti a Nassirya (2004) - MILES - Rivista Militare". 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  10. ↑ "España refuerza su despliegue en Iraq con seis blindados con cañones de gran calibre". Belt Iberica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Centauro II MGS 120/105".
  12. ↑ Centauro with 120 mm Gun, Military-Today, accessed 23/02/2021
  13. ↑ Italy buys new tank — and it's got much more going for it than its predecessor. Defense News. 26 July 2018.
  14. ↑ Centauro 2, Military-Today, accessed 24/02/2021
  15. ↑ "Centauro VBM". Deagel.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  16. ↑ "Self-Propelled Wheeled Howitzer Centauro 155/39LW" (PDF). otomelara.it. Oto Melara. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Artillery on wheels". armada.ch. Armada International. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  18. ↑ "Centauro 155 39LW". otomelara.it. Oto Melara. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  19. ↑ "Centauro VBM Recovery". Deagel.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  20. ↑ The International Institute< for Strategic Studies - The Military Balance 2017, pag.128
  21. ↑ "La grande svendita delle armi (usate) italiane (The great sale of the Italian army)". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  22. ↑ "Production begins for Italian Army's Centauro II MGS". Janes.com. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  23. 1 2 3 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  24. ↑ Jr, Paulo Roberto Bastos (25 November 2022). "VBC Cav – Centauro II, o novo blindado do Exército". Tecnodefesa (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  25. ↑ Defesa, Redação Forças de (7 December 2022). "Nota do Exército Brasileiro sobre a aquisição da viatura Centauro II". Forças Terrestres - Exércitos, Indústria de Defesa e Segurança, Geopolítica e Geoestratégia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  26. ↑ Saballa, Joe (28 November 2022). "Brazilian Army Selects Italy's Centauro as New 8x8 Armored Vehicle". The Defense Post. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  27. ↑ "Centauro B1". Military Today.com. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
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