Italian "Ariete"

[Deed]

http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0002.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0008.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0006.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0014.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0018.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0020.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0025.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0029.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/a02.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0022.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/ariete06.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/ariete11.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0044.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/ariete03.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/ariete10.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0047.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0049.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0052.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0054.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/19.jpg
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/ariete02.jpg
Italian Army has about 200 "Ariete" made by italian industry IVECO-FIAT/OTO Melara.[/img]

[FallenAngel]

Looks like a Challenger 2 from a distance....

Does it also use the German 120mm gun like the Leo2A5 and the M1A1?

[deutschersoldat]

doesnt have italy the leo2?

[caleb]

doesnt have italy the leo2?

Hmm i guess not. Why build a new battle-tank when you already have the best tank in the world? :P

[mack pl]

doesnt have italy the leo2?

Hmm i guess not. Why build a new battle-tank when you already have the best tank in the world? :PYou mean C1 Ariete :cantbeli:

[deutschersoldat]

doesnt have italy the leo2?

Hmm i guess not. Why build a new battle-tank when you already have the best tank in the world? :P

that doesnt make sense

[caleb]

doesnt have italy the leo2?

Hmm i guess not. Why build a new battle-tank when you already have the best tank in the world? :PYou mean C1 Ariete :cantbeli:

No, I mean Leopard 2A5/6 :bash:

@deutschersoldat: I wanted to say that if they had Leo2's it wouldn't make sense to build another main battle-tank. Wasted money

[deutschersoldat]

now i understand

[Marmot1]

Ariete - what does it means??? During WW2 there was Italian division with this name...in north africa

[obd]

wow cool tank.. Is that in the MBT class or is it a lighter tank. I seem to remmember reading somewhere that the Areite was very light comaparied to other designs???

[Obergefreiter]

In the third picture down, the two tanks on the left look to have a manlet similar to the old Centurian. Are these older models or just a different tank.

Marmot1, there was an Itaian division with that name fighting with the DAK under Rommel.

They were one of the three decent Italian divisions. If they had better tanks they would havemade more of a difference I think.

[AROUETLJ]

Ariete literally means ram. Or "battering ram" in the military sense.

[Javehn]

Great pictures , thanks

http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0029.jpg

Hehe , i suspect this tank didn't see much action at all . Or perhaps it's new from the factory on the picture .

[foxtrot023]

In the third picture down, the two tanks on the left look to have a manlet similar to the old Centurian. Are these older models or just a different tank.



Those are Leo 1s, a german designed tank

[kutter]

Looks like a Challenger 2 from a distance....

Does it also use the German 120mm gun like the Leo2A5 and the M1A1?

It uses the domestic Oto Melera 120mm 44-calibre smoothbore gun. However the gun chamber has the same measurements as the Rheinmetall so it can interchange ammo with the Leo and M1A1 tanks.

[oldsoak]

any other info on fire control systems etc ?

[Obergefreiter]

In the third picture down, the two tanks on the left look to have a manlet similar to the old Centurian. Are these older models or just a different tank.



Those are Leo 1s, a german designed tank

Thanks, ( I kind-of knew the Leo was a German tank though ;) )

[pipaz]

I wonder is thats a gas turbine ?

ns pics :)

[foxtrot023]

any other info on fire control systems etc ?

FIRE CONTROL AND OBSERVATION

The tank's fire control system is the TURMS FCS produced by Galileo Avionica (formerly Officine Galileo) of Firenze, Italy. It includes a day/night stabilised commander's panoramic periscope sight, gunner's stabilised sight with thermal imager and laser rangefinder and digital fire control computer. The digital fire control computer downloads data from the tank's meteorological and wind sensors, together with the tank attitude, barrel wear characteristics, ammunition and target data. The computer calculates the fire control algorithms and is used to control the gun, the sighting systems and the laser rangefinder.

The commander's station on the right of the turret is equipped with the panoramic stabilised sight and a television monitor displaying the thermal image from the gunner's sight. The commander's sight, mounted on the roof of the turret, has a 360° traverse and an elevation range from -10° to +60°.

The driver's station on the right front of the hull is equipped with three periscopes, one of which has passive night vision capability.

ARMAMENT

The Ariete can engage stationary and moving targets by day and by night, while the tank itself is stationary or on-the-move. The main gun is a 44 calibre 120mm auto-frettaged smoothbore gun manufactured by Oto Melara. The gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve, a fume extraction system and a muzzle reference system. The gun is stabilised in two axes by hydraulic servoes and can fire all available types of ammunition including APFSDS (armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot) and HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) rounds. The tank carries 42 rounds of 120mm ammunition, the turret bustle accommodating 15 rounds of ammunition and 27 rounds being stored in the hull.

The Ariete is also armed with a 7.62mm NATO standard machine gun mounted coaxially with the main gun and a 7.62mm air defence machine gun mounted on the turret roof and operated by the tank commander. The tank has the capacity to carry approximately 2,500 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.

The turret and weapon elevation is controlled by an electro-hydraulic system with manual backup.

SELF-PROTECTION

Electrically operated smoke grenade dischargers are mounted either side of the turret in the forward firing position. The tank is fitted with the RALM laser warning receiver produced by BAE Systems Italia. The RALM sensor head is mounted on the forward part of the turret and gives 360° coverage.

The hull and turret are of all welded steel construction with enhanced armour protection over the frontal arc. The crew are protected from nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) warfare by an NBC protection system developed by Sekur SpA in Rome

PROPULSION

The Ariete is powered by a Fiat V-12 MTCA turbo-charged, 12 cylinder, diesel engine developing 937kW. The automatic transmission system, licensed from the German company ZF, has four forward and two reverse gears, and incorporates the steering system and hydraulic retarder. The final drives are epicyclic.

The running gear consists of seven dual rubber-lined road wheels, plus four return rollers on each side with connector type tracks. The double pin track was designed by the German company Diehl. The suspension system consists of a torsion bar and hydraulic bumper on each suspension arm.

The Ariete is capable of a maximum speed in excess of 65km/h and the maximum gradient is 60%. The fording depth is 4m with preparation and 1.25m without preparation.

source: http://www.army-technology.com/projects/ariete/index.html

[Obergefreiter]

Would the tanks I asked about earlier be old Italian made OF-40's?

[foxtrot023]

Would the tanks I asked about earlier be old Italian made OF-40's?

No, it is the Leo1 which the Italians still field

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/leopard-c1_37.jpg

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/leopar-2.gif
and the original pic to compare

http://www.ferreamole.it/images/mbt_ariete/IMG0006.jpg

[Obergefreiter]

Thanks you again. Thought I was on to something.

[irra!]

In the third picture down, the two tanks on the left look to have a manlet similar to the old Centurian. Are these older models or just a different tank.

Marmot1, there was an Itaian division with that name fighting with the DAK under Rommel.

They were one of the three decent Italian divisions. If they had better tanks they would havemade more of a difference I think.

ariete brigade now is in iraq

[RBull]

First, thanks for excellent pics of this "less known" subject!
Is the add-on armor in use on Ariete tanks? I have been reading about the add-on packages being in development couple of years ago, but on those pictures I can see only the attachment points.

[Ian H]

Would the tanks I asked about earlier be old Italian made OF-40's?

Italy never adopted this design, it only went to a few countries, mostly in the Gulf IIRC.

[Frens]

Ariete means Ram, however Italy has also Leopard 1A5 :|
I dont like Ariete... too old project :(

[Deed]

Do you think that is better than Centauro?

[Frens]

they are different.... but my answer is no

Centauro

-Weight: 21 t
-Equipaggio: 4 men
-Main gun: 105/52 mm cannon "stripe" (I think this is old turret, now it has new one)
-Second gun: n. 2 MG cal. 7.62 mm
-Sight system: day/night
-Calculator: digital
-Telemetro: laser
-Protection: balistic & NBC
-Motor: diesel 512 HP (382.2 kW)
-Trasmission: idro-meccanic with retarder
-Sospension: indipendent Mc Pherson type
-Wheel: 8 x 8
-VelocTop speed: 100 Km/h
-Steering: three axis.


Ariete

-Weight: 48 t
-Equipaggio: 4 men
-Main gun: cannon 120 mm "smooth"
-Second guns: n. 2 MG cal. 7.62 mm
-Sight system: day/night
-Calculator: digital
-Telemetro: laser
-Protection: NBC
-Motor: diesel 1250 HP(937 kW)
-Trasmission: idro-meccanic with retarder
-Suspension: idraulic
-Top speed: 65 Km/h
-Top slope: 60%

[Ian H]

They're two totally different vehicles, for different roles, so a comparison is fruitless.

Think about it, if they were comparable why would the Italian Army have bought both? ;)

[kenshiroIT]

the Ariete r good, and with the new upgrades they r awesome.
I wish we had more of those tanks.