While too lightly protected for breakthrough operations expected of main battle tanks, such heavy armored cars can serve as highly mobile ‘assault guns’, providing tank-level direct fire support to infantry by knocking out fortified positions and armored vehicles at a standoff distance and remaining protected from small arms and shrapnel.

Why the Leopard 2 Is Such a Badass Tank.

Like Japan’s Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle, it combines the firepower of a tank with lighter armor and wheels instead of tracks, making it easier to rapidly airlift further afield. The B1 Centauro continues the legacy of both.

Italy’s armored cars and self-propelled guns were considered better than its tanks during World War II. If Centauros end up seeing combat in Ukraine, it will be under very different circumstances than their first frantic engagement 30 years earlier known as-we are not making this up-the Battle of Checkpoint Pasta. However, they could provide effective, accurate, and highly mobile fire support for operations along roads and relatively open ground-of which there is plenty in Ukraine. Like the French AMX-10RC armored cars entering service with Ukraine, they would be at risk to many tank-killing weapons at the frontline.

Nonetheless, as the Italian Army is retiring the type, it’s still possible that the Centauros may end up in Ukrainian service sooner or later. Overall, though, the present rumors are too thinly sourced to be afforded much confidence. It’s alleged that the Centauros on the train were refurbished in the same facility used to prepare M109Ls that were given to Ukraine. The B1 Centauro has long been seen as a plausible donation for Ukraine, as the Italian Army is replacing the 259 B1s in its nine cavalry regiments with harder-hitting Centauro IIs.

These include the powerful SAMP/T system built by France, an estimated 60 or so M109L self-propelled howitzers, valuable PzH-2000 and M270A1 long-range artillery systems, heavy mortars and FH70 towed howitzers, and various trucks, infantry weapons, and other gear. Why the Centurion Is Such a Badass Tankĭespite the policy, Italian arms transfers to Ukraine are known to include different kinds of air defense batteries and radars.

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