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Subject: Light tank: the Italian B1 Centaur
Homer    11/23/2005 1:07:28 PM
Which is your opinion about the Italian light tank B1 Centaur, largely used in several occasion (Somalia, Kossovo, even Iraq) Could it be the solution for the new model of tank? And if not, why?
 
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Yimmy    RE:Light tank: the Italian B1 Centaur   11/23/2005 1:38:46 PM
Do you have an informtion source on it? The closest I can find is the Centauro wheeled vehcile...
 
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psyclops    RE:Light tank: the Italian B1 Centaur   11/23/2005 2:51:00 PM
It could be a solution for the new model of light tank. It has good firepower with its 105mm gun and fire-on-the-move FCS. Its wheeled configuration gives it a limp-home capability under some circumstances if it's damaged by a mine or IED, which can be useful in Iraq-type urban conflicts. Beyond that, I don't think it's useful as a tank. In order to turn this tank destroyer into a tank, you'd have to armor it beyond the 20mm protection it has across the front (I think the Spanish put ERA on theirs). If you're thinking of adding a net-centric-type situational awareness system, you can probably improve survivability, but then I'd go with a smaller vehicle. The cross-country mobility question is the subject of many a wheels vs. tracks debate; personally, I think that if off-road driving is a main requirement, tracks are the better option. If you're staying on-road most of the time, wheels are probably better; but then I'd also recommend a lot heavier armor to deal with urban threats (e.g. RPGs, LAWs, IEDs), and if you're reworking the suspension and engine, too, you've basically got a new vehicle with the same (up-armored) turret. So then it's not much of a Centauro anymore. Unless by "new model of tank" you meant the version (not in service AFAIK) that substitutes four infantry for a bunch of ammunition. If that's what you meant, then you might be on to something. Although the Merkava is really the only major example of the MBT-IFV concept, there has been some talk (on SP, anyway) of adding a couple of infantry to future tank designs. I don't know how combining armor and mech infantry tactics on the platoon level would work out, but some people are thinking about it, anyway. IMHO, the B1 is a good tank destroyer, and would in all likelihood make a good WIFV, but is by design too light to be turned into a tank.
 
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bunkerdestroyer    RE:Light tank: the Italian B1 Centaur   11/23/2005 7:03:49 PM
If facing light threats-like somalia or some where else in africa, it would be a good dea. To deal with the treat, just add whatever applicable armour upgrade you need/desire in an environment in which anti armour weapons are abundant, then no. In Iraq, its firepower and speed are good, but I think its armour is a liability against the plethora of ATW. The lower the threat, the better it can do in giving firesupport, but in todays world, I think in the TD role, it would be in jepordy
 
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interestedamateur    RE:Light tank: the Italian B1 Centaur   11/28/2005 6:15:36 AM
It's performance has been mixed. The Italians withdrew their Centauros from Somalia and replaced them with some borrowed USMC M60 Tanks because of its vulnerability to RPG's. In all fairness it might do better today because of advances in ERA.
 
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Eagle601    RE:Light tank: the Italian B1 Centaur   12/21/2005 12:59:52 AM
I'm told the Centauro is a ergonomic nightmare. The turrent is cramped, ammunition is stored in disperes, unarmored containers, there is no thermal sights just 1st gen night vision and the armor is far too thin for such a large heavy vehicle.
 
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interestedamateur    RE:Light tank: the Italian B1 Centaur   12/21/2005 6:51:23 AM
Oto Melara have developed and tested a 120mm cannon for the Centauro. I'm not disagreeing with the posters who have pointed out its deficiencies tho'.
 
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bunkerdestroyer    RE:Light tank: the Italian B1 Centaur   12/21/2005 8:15:27 PM
I'm told the Centauro is a ergonomic nightmare. The turrent is cramped, ammunition is stored in disperes, unarmored containers, there is no thermal sights just 1st gen night vision and the armor is far too thin for such a large heavy vehicle............. -wow...imagine how cramped it will be if they deploy the 120mm
 
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Eagle601    RE:120mm Centaur   12/25/2005 10:22:31 PM
Proably wouldn't make it too much more cramped, but it would likely reduce ammunition capacity even further.
 
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