Centauro

Centauro
B1 Centauro with IFOR Markings.
Type	Wheeled Tank Destroyer
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1991–present
Used by	See Operators below
Wars	Iraq War UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon)
Production history
Designed	1986
Manufacturer	Iveco Fiat (hull, propulsion) Oto Melara (weapons, turrets)
Unit cost	€1.6 million
Produced	1991–2006
No. built	490+ (plus 249 Freccia)
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Weight	24,000 kg
Length	7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)
Width	2.94 m (9 ft 8 in)
Height	2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)
Crew	4 (commander, gunner, loader and driver)
Armor	Welded steel armoured hull
Main armament	105 mm gun
Secondary armament	2×7.62 mm MGs
Engine	IVECO, V6 turbo-Diesel 520 hp (382 kW)
Power/weight	19.35 hp/tonne
Transmission	Hydropneumatic automatic transmission with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears 8x8 wheels
Suspension	independent McPherson
Operational range	800 km (500 mi)
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.

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.

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.

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 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) and is equipped with a muzzle referencing system and a fully digital ballistic computer. The gunner's sight is fully stabilized and comes equipped with a thermal imager and laser rangefinder. The commander's station is equipped with a panoramic stabilized sight, an image intensifying night sight and a monitor displaying the image from the gunner's thermal sight. This allows Centauro to engage stationary or moving targets while stationary or on the move, in day or night.