B1 Centauro
Encyclopedia : B : B1 : B1C : B1 Centauro
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| Centauro | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 4 (commander, gunner, loader and driver) |
| Length | 7.85 m |
| Width | 2.94 m |
| Height | 2.73 m |
| Weight | 24 t |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 14.5-25 mm |
| Main armament | Oto Melara 105 mm 52 cal. gun |
| Secondary armament | 2 x 7.62 mm MG (coaxial, AA mount) |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | supercharged V12 diesel 512 hp (382.2 kW) |
| Suspension | Wheel 8 x 8 |
| Road speed | 110 km/h |
| Power/weight | 21.3 hp/tonne |
| Range | 800 km |
The Centauro is a wheeled tank-destroyer designed for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance. It was developed by a consortium of manufacturers, the Consorzio Iveco Fiat - Oto Melara.
Description
The main armament consists of the Oto Melara 105 mm / 52 caliber gyrostabilised gun, for which up to 40 rounds are carried. Secondary weapons are a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and another 7.62 mm anti-aircraft MG with 4,000 rounds of ammo.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) to accomplish this mission. It carries a crew of 4 with a weight of around 25,000 kg (55,000 lb or 27.5 tons). The armor withstands 14.5 mm bullets with 25 mm protection on the front, this can be increased to up to 30 mm through additional armor. It was deployed in the former Yugoslavia as well as Somalia and has lived up to its design admirably. It was usually used to escort motor convoys, for wide area control and for road patrols. Currently it is in use with the Italian and Spanish armed forces.
Variants
- Centauro Infantry Fighting Vehicle
- * Developed but the order of 240 vehicles for the Italian Army has been suspended for budgetary reasons.
Operators
External links
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