Despite the fact that the 105-mm gun, “Centaur” stable, in the main Italian army is firing from it with a short stop.
“Centaur” is set V-obrany six cylinder, four-stroke multi-fuel diesel engine liquid-cooled IVECO VTCA turbo. developing capacity of 520 HP at 2300 rpm./min.
The engine is coupled with a German automatic transmission (automatic transmission) ZF 5 HP 1500, providing five gears forward and two reverse. Transmission, in turn, transmits torque to the transfer case and ZF. Transfer case and automatic transmission are manufactured in Italy in the city of Bolzano under license. The entire power unit on the Centauro can be replaced within 20 minutes.
From the transmission torque transmitted to the differential, which is divided into two streams. To each side of the machine to the wheel motors it is transmitted through cardan shafts, cardan gear and bevel gears.
The fighter wheeled tanks “centaur” 105/52
The fighter wheeled tanks “centaur” 105/52 on the teachings of the Italian army
View of the starboard fighter wheeled tanks “centaur” 120/45; you can clearly see the hatch for the replenishment of ammunition and ejection of spent cartridges in the right side of the turret
Hydropneumatic suspension chassis “Centaur” provides sufficient smoothness, even on a comb
Command post vehicle “centaur”
Suspension — hydropneumatic. Are two pairs of rotary front and the last pair of rear wheels, which provides a relatively small turning radius. The rear pair of wheels are driven only at speeds up to 20 km/h.
Central nervous system regulation of the pressure in the bulletproof tires is standard on the machine. The adjustment is carried out from the driver’s seat while driving the car and provides increased maneuverability on rough terrain.
In a niche of the tower is installed overpressure system Sekur, similar applied on the tank Ariete. It prevents the ingestion of infected machines air by creating an excess pressure. Built-in air conditioning system allows the crew to operate normally at ambient temperatures in the range from 30° to +44° C.
The standard equipment of “Centaur” are located in the front winch and fire-prevention systems in law enforcement and military offices.
At the request of the customer on the turret roof can be installed system sensors warning receiver laser range finders or guidance systems of antitank missiles.
In the standard version, the combat weight of the Centaur is 25 tons, with additional modules of armor it increases to 28 m
On the chassis wheel tank destroyer “centaur” developed a whole family of combat and special armored vehicles.
Combat vehicles for the peacekeeping forces and escort
In the composition of Italian contingent in peacekeeping (Bosnia there is a lot of “centaurs”. These machines are distinguished by the presence of the package hinged armor protection, and set PA the turret roof is a 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun MG 42/59 from small arms fire to the right and left covered with armored shields.
The last batch of “centaurs” in the amount of 150 cars of the 400 delivered to the Italian army, equipped for use as vehicles in protection. The main difference is the location of the four Marines engaged in ingress and egress through the aft door. To do this, had to remove two boeukladki 105-mm rounds, reducing them to sixteen, fourteen of which are in the tower and two in the hull. The seats are both boxes with spare parts.
In the troop compartment the body of the machine inside covered with a material such as Kevlar, to reduce the likelihood of their destruction breakaway pieces of armor. The modified air conditioning system and protection against weapons of mass destruction, to ensure the supply of purified or cooled air increased the crew.
“Centaur” with a 60-mm gun
New tower Otobreda T60/70A with the 60-mm cannon in the complex of the armament was mounted for testing on the latest version of the chassis “Centaur”. It is somewhat longer and wider than standard and has a wheelbase of 1,605×1,6×1,6 m. Machine with a combat weight of 24 tons, accommodates six troops. While its crew is three persons.
This same chassis is used for infantry fighting vehicles “centaur” VBC with a 25-mm automatic cannon.
Infantry fighting vehicle “centaur” /VS (8×8)
A prototype of wheeled infantry fighting vehicles “centaur” VBC was released in early 1996 and in June it was shown at the international exhibition of arms Eurosatory in Paris. This machine was developed in the framework of the initiative of the project, but in accordance with the requirements of the Italian army on the creation of infantry fighting vehicles, capable of functioning in conjunction with wheeled tank destroyers “Gangaur”.
Description
In the beginning of 1999, the Italian army entered into with the company IVECO-Otobreda the contract for the design, development and construction of three prototypes of this BMP it installed the same Otobreda twin tower TS-25 with 25-mm automatic cannon Oerlikon Cotraves KVA and coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun, and Dardo HITFIST tracked infantry fighting vehicles. The tower is located in the center of the troop compartment is at the rear of the machine body. It can accommodate up to eight infantrymen, their embarkation and disembarkation are made through the wide flip-down ramp with hydraulic drive to the rear of the machine. Rail equipped door in case there is no way to discard. Small arms assault has five loopholes with periscope observation devices, two on each side and one in the left of the ramp.
Standard equipment of the machine includes a mounted package additional armor for improved protection against small arms fire, a power driven rotatable wheels with bulletproof tires (two pairs of front and rear pair), the Central control system of tire pressure, the system of protection against weapons of mass destruction, air-conditioning, laser-warning and fire-fighting equipment.
In the armoured personnel carrier with a turret with a 12.7-mm and coaxial with it 7.62-mm machine guns. In this case, its crew consists of two people (commander, gunner and driver), and the troop compartment can accommodate up to ten infantrymen.
According to representatives of the consortium IVECO-Otobreda, the machine can be equipped with more powerful diesel engines and power pack add-on armor. Then its combat weight is 28 t
In 2003 at the exhibition IDEX-03 in Abu Dhabi has shown a wheeled tank destroyer. As a primary weapon it uses a 120-mm Otobreda smoothbore 120/45 gun with a barrel length of 45 calibers and a short back. In contrast to the predecessor with 105-mm gun, on the turret roof of the new machine is equipped with two anti-aircraft machine gun, and one 12.7 mm — with remote control, FCS remains the same. When using the machine care it can accommodate four of infantry, and ammunition will be reduced to eleven shots.
In addition, in Italy on the chassis of the “Centaur” (8×8) has been created and developed: mortar carrier; command post vehicle; armoured repair and recovery vehicle; armoured ambulance; a floating armored personnel carrier, anti-aircraft artillery complex; 155-mm self-propelled howitzer and the bridge layer.
Overall chassis wheeled tank destroyer “centaur” (8×8) was successful, which allowed to create on its basis a whole range of different purpose armored vehicles. This increases the standardization of equipment in parts and joints, facilitates the supply, training and repair.
S. SUVOROV, candidate of military Sciences
In the 1980s, the Italian army had developed tactical and technical requirements for prospective family of tracked and wheeled armored combat vehicles that were planned to start production after decades. It provided for the establishment of four types of such machines: main battle tank Ariete, Dardo tracked infantry fighting vehicles, multi-purpose armored car “Puma” (Puma) with the wheel formula 4×4 and 6×6 wheeled tank destroyer centaur (Centauro) with the wheel formula 8×8.