The idea to use armored vehicles on the battlefield came to the Italian military command even before the start of the First World War. According to historians, it was the Italians who were the first in the world to use an armored car in the Italo-Turkish conflict in 1912. The events unfolding in North Africa marked the beginning of the creation of tracked armored vehicles. Despite the fact that the conditions of the terrain did not contribute to the widespread use of tanks by the Italian army, several successful models were produced by the military industry of this state. Information about the device and performance characteristics of some Italian tanks is contained in the article.
How did it all start?
Italian tank building was born in 1910. At that time, the Italian Royal Army already had several armored vehicles of its own production. After the First World War, heavy defeats in battles and significant losses on the part of the Kingdom, Italian industrialists and the military drew attention to the tank as one of the most effective options for providing the army with superiority on the battlefield. Since beforeAt the end of the First World War, only three combat transport units were received from France, the production of Italian tanks fell on the post-war period. Weapons engineers borrowed the most successful foreign designs. Italian industrialists used the French-made Renault FT light tank and the British Cardin-Lloyd Mk. IV wedge.
About manufacturers
Italian tanks were produced by OTO Melara. At that time it was the main manufacturer of armored military equipment. The Fiat company worked on separate orders. While waiting for an official request from the military command, the company's designers designed their own tank based on the French Renault FT-17. However, without receiving an order, the employees began work on their own. The combat unit was ready in 1918. The technical documentation is listed as FIAT-200.
According to experts, until the 1940s it was the only heavy tank in Italy. More work on the creation of such machines of the 1940s by Italian gunsmiths was not carried out. In 1929, the designers worked on a heavy knee tank, but the matter was limited only to design.
About light combat vehicles
According to experts, the design of Italian light tanks was carried out on the basis of the English tankette Mk. IV "Carden-Lloyd". In service with the Kingdom of Italy, she was listed as Carlo Veloce (CV29). Later, new modifications CV 33, 35 and 38 were created. In 1929, a high-wheeled tank was created."Ansaldo" with a combat weight of 8, 25 t.
The crew consisted of 3 people. The combat vehicle was armed with a 37- or 45-mm cannon and one Fiat-14 machine gun of 6.5 mm caliber. The tank was equipped with a 4-cylinder liquid-cooled carburetor engine, whose power was 81 kW. On the highway, the tank moved at a speed of 43.5 km / h. The Fiat-Ansaldo association was engaged in the creation of a series of prototypes of lighter 5-ton tanks. These combat vehicles were intended for sale abroad. In 1936, the first version of the 5T was ready. However, Fiat-Ansaldo did not receive orders for these models, and work on this project was terminated.
In 1937, the designers were working on an experimental light tank CV3. As armament, a 20-mm automatic cannon was used, which was equipped with a conical turret, and coaxial 8-mm machine guns, the place for which was the right frontal part in the hull. The tank and tankette had similar suspensions. However, in the 5-ton combat vehicle, the turret box was increased. Additionally, it was equipped with crew hatches. No orders were received for this version of the tank either, and further design was discontinued.
However, as combat experience has shown, it was a mistake to give the tankette the main role in the tank troops from Italy. The army needed light, medium and heavy tanks. As a result, in November 1938, the army command had to change the entire system of tank troops.
L60/40
In 1939, the Fiat-Ansaldo based on the 5T was designedimproved tank. The production of armored vehicles was established in 1940. The model in the technical documentation is listed as L60 / 40. Unlike 5T, the upper part was changed in the new version. Now the armored vehicles had an enlarged octagonal turret. The thickness of the frontal reservation was 4 cm, the hull - 3 cm. The sides and stern of the tank received armor 1.5 cm thick. Shooting was carried out from a 20-mm automatic cannon and an 8-mm machine gun. Despite the fact that the combat weight of the tank increased to 6.8 tons, thanks to a modified suspension and power unit, the power of which reached 68 liters. s., on a flat surface, the car was moving at a speed of 42 km / h. This model was intended for export. However, the Italian army became interested in the tank as a reconnaissance armored vehicle. Of the planned 697 units, only 402 were produced by the Italian industry.
What did the Italian army need?
In accordance with the adopted directive, the tanks of Italy of the Second World War were of three types, each of which had a corresponding designation:
- "L". Light tanks with machine-gun armament belonged to this category. The combat weight of armored vehicles did not exceed 5 tons.
- "M". Medium tanks with twin machine guns in the turrets. The weight of such vehicles ranged from 7 to 10 tons. Heavy medium tanks with a mass of 11-13 tons also belonged to this category. They were equipped with coaxial machine guns. In addition to the combat vehicle, a 37-mm cannon was attached. The hull of the tank became its location. Forthe guns were provided for limiting horizontal aiming angles.
- "R". Medium-heavy tanks were listed under this designation.
Soon, the directive was amended, according to which light tanks were armed with machine guns of 13.2 mm caliber, medium-light tanks with automatic cannons, the caliber of which did not exceed 20 mm, and medium-heavy tanks with 47-mm cannons. Next to the letter designation, the year of adoption was indicated. By the beginning of World War II, the Italian military industry had created 1,500 combat vehicles, exceptionally light "L6 / 40" and medium "M11 / 39".
Tank building during the war years
According to experts, during the Second World War, Italy had weak capacities for the production of tanks. Until 1943, only light tanks and medium tanks M13/40, M14/41 and M15/42 were produced. In 1942, using the English Crusader, Italian designers made a medium experimental high-speed tank "Carro Armato Celere Sahariano" with a combat weight of 13.1 tons.
The crew consisted of 4 people. The armored vehicles were armed with a 47 mm Cannone da 47 cannon and two 8 mm Breda 38 machine guns. The power plant is represented by a 12-cylinder in-line liquid-cooled carburetor engine. The power of the unit reached 250 horsepower. A tank with a spring suspension on a flat surface could reach a speed of 71 km / h. However, this armored vehicle did not go into the series.
From 1940 to 1943, only 2300 units were produced by the Italian industrytanks with low combat characteristics. Since the country did not have enough armored vehicles in 1943, the German 1st tank battalion of the SS division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" entered the Italian front. German-made Panther tanks were widely used in Italy, with a total number of 71 vehicles. In the 44th, another 76 units were received.
Post-war
It was forbidden to produce tanks after World War II. This also applied to any other heavy weapons. The country's tank forces were equipped with American armored vehicles. The situation changed after the 1970s. Since that time, new Italian tanks have been created on the basis of the German Leopard 1A4. This model served as the basis for the main Italian tank F-40. Military equipment was produced in small batches and exclusively for sales to other countries. In the 1990s, Italian tank forces were equipped with self-made combat vehicles S-1 Ariete. This model is considered a third-generation tank and, according to experts, the most expensive in the world.
F-40
The production of armored vehicles of this model lasted from 1981 to 1985. A combat vehicle with a classic layout and a combat weight of 45.5 tons. The crew consisted of 4 people. Technique with rolled steel anti-ballistic armor. The tank was equipped with a 105 mm OTO Melara rifled gun with 57 rounds of ammunition. In addition, two 7.62 mm MG-3 machine guns were used. The power plant is represented by a V-shaped 10-cylinderliquid-cooled four-stroke diesel engine. The unit had a capacity of 830 horsepower. With an individual torsion bar suspension, for which hydraulic shock absorbers were provided, the tank moved at a speed of 60 km/h on a flat surface.
About the performance characteristics of S-1 "Ariete"
- This model is classified as the main tank of Italy.
- A combat vehicle with a classic layout and a combat weight of 54t.
- There are 4 people in the crew.
- Tank with steel and combined projectile armor.
- Weapons include a 120mm Melara OTO smoothbore cannon, two 7.62mm MG-3 machine guns and two additional 66mm smoke grenade launchers.
- There are 42 shells in the main gun ammunition.
- With 1275 hp V-12 MTCA engine. with. and individual torsion bar suspension, armored vehicles on the highway reached speeds of up to 65 km/h.
Produced from 1995 to 2002. During this time, 200 units were produced.
