B1 Centauro

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.[2]

For the armoured division, see 131st Armoured Division Centauro.
Centauro
B1 Centauro with IFOR Markings.
TypeWheeled tank destroyer
Place of originItaly
Service history
In service1991–present
Used bySee Operators below
WarsIraq 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
No. built490+ (plus 249 Freccia[1])
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass24,000 kg
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
TransmissionHydropneumatic automatic transmission with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears
8x8 wheels
Suspensionindependent McPherson
Operational
range
800 km (500 mi)
Maximum speed 108 km/h (67 mph)

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.[3]

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

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.[4]

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, which are each equipped with an independent suspension system, and, furthermore, equipped with 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. Together, this allows Centauro to achieve road speeds in excess of 100 km/h, negotiate gradients up to 60%, ford water up to a depth of 1.5m without preparation, and have a turning radius of 9m.[6]

Combat history

It is currently deployed as part of UNIFIL forces in Lebanon.[7]

Centauro 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.[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 Nassiriya, destroying a building where snipers were hiding.

In 2003, Spain deployed six Centauro 105/52mm to Iraq for the self-defense of their troops.[9]

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 up to 40mm APFSDS rounds on the front and 14.5mm on the rest of the body.[10]

Other roles
  • VBM "Freccia"
Main article: Freccia IFV
The Veicolo Blindato Medio "Freccia" (Italian: Medium Armoured Vehicle "Arrow") is a reconfigured[11] Centauro to act 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
Added to the Centauro range on late 2013 to fill the role of a self-propelled howitzer,[12] being able to fire up to 8 rounds/minute to a distance exceeding 60km for guided ammunition. It mounts an ultralight 155/39mm main gun, based on the latest material breakthroughs,[13] and a secondary 7.62 or 12.7mm MG. The 155/39 is manned by a crew of two and provides full NBC and ballistic protection.[14]
  • Centauro VBM Recovery
Serves both as an engineer vehicle and for recovery and repair of damaged armoured vehicles on the battlefield.[15]
  • Draco
The Centauro Draco is a SPAAG. 108 units to Draco weapon system on the Centauro 8x8 platform.[16] The Draco weapon system primary function is the air defense against rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft firing 76mm DART guided ammunition, but can support other roles such as Counter-Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (C-RAM).

A 125mm gun-armed version is being tested by the Russian army, alongside the standard 105mm-armed version.[17]

Operators
Map of B1 Centauro operators in blue

This section is about operators of the B1 Centauro tank destroyer and its engineering and recovery variants. For operators of the infantry fighting vehicle derivative, see Freccia IFV.

Current operators
  •  Italy: 259 B1 Centauro.[18] Total production was 400, with the remaining 141, all from the older versions, exported to Jordan.[19]
  •  Jordan: 141 B1 Centauro (all ex Italian Army); some donated as Italian military aid and modernized with upgrade kits.[20]
  •  Oman: 9 B1 Centauro; modified variant with 120mm gun.[20]
  •  Spain: 84 B1 Centauro, designated VRCC in Spanish service; 4 VCREC recovery vehicles.[20]

Evaluation-only operators
  •  United States: Leased 16 Centauro between 2000 and 2002 for evaluation, and to gain experience for the introduction of the Stryker Mobile Gun System.[21]
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References
  1. "VBM Freccia Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Italy". Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  2. "CENTAURO I". www.iveco-otomelara.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. "B1 Centauro". Tank Encyclopedia. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. "Centauro B1 Tank Destroyer | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. "Centauro B1 Tank Destroyer | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  6. "Centauro B1 Tank Destroyer | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  7. "CIO Centauro 8x8 Tank Destroyer". Military Factory. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  8. "B1 Centauro tank destroyer / VBC 8x8 APC".
  9. "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.
  10. "Centauro II MGS 120/105".
  11. "Centauro VBM". Deagel.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  12. "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.
  13. "Artillery on wheels". armada.ch. Armada International. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  14. "Centauro 155 39LW". otomelara.it. Oto Melara. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  15. "Centauro VBM Recovery". Deagel.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  16. "Centauro Draco". Deagel.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  17. "Russia Testing Italian Tank". en.rian.ru. RIA Novosti. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
  18. The International Institute< for Strategic Studies - The Military Balance 2017, pag.128
  19. "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.
  20. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  21. "Centauro B1". Military Today.com. Retrieved 21 January 2011.

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