R3 T106 FA

R3 T106 FA

C13 T90

VCC-80/60

R3 T106 FA

C13 T90

VCC-80/60

Italy

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.3	8.0	8.0

Class:

Light tank

Research:120 000

Purchase:340 000

Show in game

Description

The OTO Melara R3 Capraia (introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".) was a recon vehicle made mainly for the export market. The Italian army did test it as they were interested in seeing if the Folgore regiment could have a use for it. The R3 Capraia was made in at least 7 prototypes, each with their own special configurations and armaments. Ultimately even though there was an interest it wasn't enough for any country to put it in service, the main reasoning being that the market was too saturated with light recon vehicles. The main armament options which the OTO R3 Capraia had access to included a 7.62mm machine gun, a 12.7mm machine gun, a TOW ATGM launcher and also a 20 mm Oerlikon KAD auto cannon. The one represented in game is equipped with 2 American made 106mm recoiless rifles attached to a turret. The main munitions the OTO R3 can use include both HESH and HEAT rounds, paired up with its great mobility allows the R3 to become a very nimble tank destroyer which is able to inflict serious damage to the enemy team when used by someone with great situational awareness and map knowledge. When you are by yourself you can still support your team, unlike the previous R3 featured in the tech tree, this one actually comes with the scouting mechanic. Scouting not only will bring more points but will make victory more likely than before. Sadly it does not have access to smoke grenades and has very poor armour, however what the R3 Capraia is really good at is mobility. It is a wheeled vehicle which can easily reach high speeds meaning at the start of a match you can easily get into a good position to pounce on enemies or even rush certain capture zones. The mobility at times can also be a con, for example when travelling at high speeds you are not really able to turn as you risk your vehicle tumbling over. Maps with snow or mud also don't really compliment the R3's mobility. The R3 however is still very good at higher battle ratings than its own so keep that in mind when playing the vehicle. It does not get access to thermals or night vision devices so its also another thing to take into account if a player chooses to bring it to a higher battle rating.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Hull33 / 15 / 15

Turret0 / 0 / 0

Crew4 people

Visibility70 %

Armour type:

• Aluminum alloy 7039 (hull)
• Armored Glass (windows)
• Wheel (tires)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	33 mm (62°) Upper Glacis 33 (56°) Lower Glacis	15 mm (27-31°) Top 15 mm (16-20°) Bottom 15 mm Wheelwells	15 mm (70°) Engine access panel 15 mm Lower Plate 5 mm Engine vent 15 mm (54°) Lower Glacis	33 mm (28°) Front Glacis 15 mm Crew compartment 15 mm (20°) Engine access panel
Gun mount	15 mm
Cupola	15 mm

Notes:

• All windows are 30 mm thick.
• The tires are 10 mm thick and the torsion bars are 1 mm thick.
• The belly is 15 mm thick.

The R3 T106 FA has the same chassis as the R3 T20 FA-HS. This means that it will have the same level of protection. Compared to the FIAT Chassis (FIAT 6614 / AUBL/74), the armour is a lot better. This is because the front plate is 33 mm thick, which allows it to take a few hits from .50 cals, especially if angled. However, this tank is still vulnerable to heavy machine gun fire especially from strafing aircraft. Bombs and rockets also deal heavy damage if the R3 T106 FA is standing in their destruction radius.

However, some good points in regards to the survivability is the ability to poke just the gun out of cover. This not only makes the tank very difficult to spot, but in case of a hit, only the barrel will be damaged (and often only 1 of them which allows you to fire with the other one).

Mobility

Amphibious

The design allows you to swim and control movement in the water

Speedforward / back

AB128 / 33 km/h

RB and SB115 / 29 km/h

Number of gears5 forward

1 back

Weight3.4 t

Engine power

AB181 hp

RB and SB95 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB53.2 hp/t

RB and SB27.9 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	128	33	3.4	147	181	43.24	53.24
Realistic	115	29		84	95	24.71	27.94

The mobility of the R3 T106 FA is exactly the same as the R3 T20 FA-HS. Due to War Thunder's map sizes, the maximum speed that can be achieved before a turn has to be made is about 98 km/h. On regular terrain, speed will average about 60 km/h and 50 km/h when going up hills. This makes the R3 T106 FA one of the fastest armoured vehicles in the BR range. On desert maps, this tank fares much better compared to the FIAT chassis and the succeeding counterpart Centauro. It is capable of going about 30-35 km/h on desert terrain and a tad slower on snow terrain. It is faster than the FIAT chassis on all terrains and faster than famous fast light tanks like the Ru 251 on hard and medium terrain.

This excellent mobility allows you to flank very fast or go to a position even enemy fast tanks (such as the Super Hellcat) don't expect you to get to.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 337 → 4 595

RB3 900 → 5 370

SB4 956 → 6 824

Total cost of modifications98 100

164 000

Talisman cost2 200

Crew training98 000

Experts340 000

Aces1 300

Research Aces780 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 170 / 200 %

202 / 202 / 202 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tires Research: 6 800 Cost: 11 000 240 Suspension Research: 4 600 Cost: 7 400 165 Brake System Research: 4 600 Cost: 7 400 165 Filters Research: 8 500 Cost: 14 000 300 Transmission Research: 8 300 Cost: 13 000 290 Engine Research: 8 300 Cost: 13 000 290	Improved Parts Research: 4 400 Cost: 11 000 240 Improved FPE Research: 3 000 Cost: 7 400 165 Crew Replenishment Research: 8 500 Cost: 14 000 300	Horizontal Drive Research: 6 800 Cost: 11 000 240 Adjustment of Fire Research: 4 600 Cost: 7 400 165 Airstrike Research: 4 600 Cost: 7 400 165 Elevation Mechanism Research: 8 500 Cost: 14 000 300 Artillery Support Research: 8 300 Cost: 13 000 290 Improved optics Research: 8 300 Cost: 13 000 290

Armaments

Main armament

106 mm Recoilless Rifle Cannone da 106 s.r.M40A1

Ammunition5 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

13.0 → 10.0 s

Vertical guidance-7° / 10°

106 mm Cannone da 106 s.r.M40A1					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	5	-7°/+10°	±180°	N/A	28.6	39.5	48.0	53.1	56.5	13.00	11.50	10.60	10.00
Realistic					17.9	21.0	25.5	28.2	30.0

The R3 T106 FA uses the same 106 mm recoilless rifles as the FIAT 6614. The gun has quite a low velocity (500 m/s), making aiming above 600 m quite difficult as your range estimation has to be very accurate. However, the presence of another gun allows you to adjust your second shot, making it quite easy to hit moving targets up to 1,000 m with your first shot. Above all that, even having a second gun has no guarantee of a hit, unless they are sitting still and not moving. The gun reloads with about 10 seconds, allowing for about 12 shots a minute (2 guns). Unfortunately, the R3 T106 FA has only 5 rounds per gun, so it is essential that the player does not waste the ammo on engagements over 1,000 m to save ammo. Instead, use the excellent mobility to flank and get closer. The gun bounces more than most tankers are used to when coming to a stop, which leads to a very long time before it is ready to be fired. This can be counteracted by its second gun as the player may miss once but still have a second shot, reducing the "fear factor" of missing when timing gun bounce. The gun rotation speed is 20°/sec which is very good in reacting to new threats which appear.

Ammunition

The R3 T106 FA gets access to both a HEAT round (400 mm penetration) and an all-out devastating HESH round (152 mm normal penetration). The HESH round often destroys enemies in one hit if used properly.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
M344A1	HEAT	433	433	433	433	433	433
M361A1	HESH	152	152	152	152	152	152

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
M344A1	HEAT	503	7.96	0	0.01	1.65	65°	72°	77°
M361A1	HESH	498	7.95	0.1	4	5.04	73°	77°	80°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the R3 T106 FA

Full ammo	Rack empty	Visual discrepancy
10	2 (+8)	No

Notes:

• The ammo rack has a capacity of 10 rounds because it is for both guns.
• You can only choose to load an even number of rounds (0/2/4/6/8/10).
• The way ammo depletes is mirrored for the primary and the secondary gun.
• Rounds are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
• Full ammo load should be brought for the cannon (10 HESH or 8 HESH, 2 HEAT) because running out of shells is very common in this vehicle even with full ammunition load.
• The picture shows in which order rounds are fired.

Additional armament

106 mm Recoilless Rifle Cannone da 106 s.r.M40A1

Ammunition5 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

13.0 → 10.0 s

106 mm Cannone da 106 s.r.M40A1					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	5	-7°/+10°	±180°	N/A	28.6	39.5	48.0	53.1	56.5	13.00	11.50	10.60	10.0
Realistic					17.9	21.0	25.5	28.2	30.0

The left gun is fired through the "secondary armament" setting: Controls > Ground Vehicles > Weaponry > Fire from secondary guns. When you aim, remember that the gun is offset half a meter on the left. If you want to aim precisely, you can use the secondary sight: Controls > Ground Vehicles > Weaponry > Select secondary weapon. You'll also need to configure the "Reset weapon selection" setting for it to work properly.

For the ammunition and the ammo racks, see the section above.

Machine guns

2 x 12.7 mm M8C machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition240 rounds

Belt capacity10 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

3.2 → 2.5 s

Fire rate300 shots/min

12.7 mm M80
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial main gun (right)	120 (5)	300	N/A	N/A
Coaxial secondary gun (right)	120 (5)	300	N/A	N/A

The very short clip limits the use of both machine guns to a spotting role. Both MGs are controlled via the same setting. The presence of tracers in the belt makes you easily detectable when used.

Usage in battles

Similar to most other light tanks, the best way to play this vehicle is either as an ambush vehicle or as a flanking vehicle. This helps to avoid direct confrontations which in turn masks the vehicle's greatest weaknesses which are poor fire stability (gun bounce) and poor armour. This also capitalises on its main advantage which is its insane speed. Ambushing even in highly popular pathways can be very successful with this tank due to its presence of 2 guns, reducing the chance you will be overwhelmed. Brawling can be done in this vehicle due to its fast acceleration, allowing it to duck in and out of cover to fire very quickly.

As mentioned in the armament section, using the right round can lead to great success against opponents. Knowing how to use the HESH round is imperative to success with this vehicle. Due to the nature of HESH, some tanks will require a more precise targeting for effective use, so here are some recommendations for success with HESH:

• Conqueror - Lower front plate, rear half of turret (front half is a non-penn), cupola
• T34/T29 - Turret roof, turret ring, turret side, anywhere on hull
• M103 - Anywhere on the hull, turret side. Do not target the gun mantlet and other relatively unangled areas
• Caernarvon - Anywhere on turret except the gun mantlet (and even the sloped parts since 100% ricochet is at 80°)
• T32 - Anywhere on the hull, turret side
• T95 - Roof, upper front plate, sides, cupola
• IS-6 - Turret sides, anywhere on the hull
• IS-3- Anywhere on hull, upper half of side turret (lower half has 156mm armour, which is more than 152mm penn), Turret ring
• T-54 - Turret side, upper front plate
• IS-4M - the toughest for the R3 T106 FA. The upper front plate is easily penetrated, but the angled plate and the hull sides as well as turret sides are all too tough. Even the rear is too tough except for the top half of the rear turret armour. Basically shoot the upper front plate, but anywhere else will be bounce or protected by tracks.

From the list, the recommended shot on most tanks with HESH is the turret side armour, as there is no tracks or side skirts to block your shell and armour there even on heavy tanks is usually less than 152 mm raw thickness.

Be careful when shooting an angled upper front plate of tanks, as since it is angled the HESH will send a blast downwards, which might only knock out the machine gunner and driver. However, if you aim towards the top half of the upper front plate, the shrapnel is powerful enough that it should incapacitate all of the turret crew anyways. Also, don't shoot the engines unless you have to, as a potent shot is rare and you won't one shot with a solid hit. The two guns the R3 T106 FA can allow for one shot to go for the cannon barrel or tracks first, then the second gun can lineup for a good shot on a weak spot.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Powerful 106mm recoilless rifles
• Insane top speed; can give the M18 Hellcat a run for its money
• Resilient to machine gun fire from the front
• Can swim

Cons:

• Will be prioritized as a target by the enemy team due to its notoriety
• Flips over very often
• Thin armour
• Can be destroyed simply by ramming it at top speed
• Even LMG fire can destroy the engine from the rear
• Takes time to aim gun due to the wobbly suspension, especially when stock

History

The Story of the OTO R3 Capraia begin during the late cold war, OTO Melara was looking to make a reconnaissance vehicle for Italy in the 1980's that would be able to be easy to manufacture and hopefully be picked up by the Italian army and put into service. During that era a lot of nations around the world would experiment with creating light, easily transportable, multi role vehicles. OTO Melara was no different and in the years leading up to this they had already some experience in the field. After some time designing the new vehicle, OTO Melara woud finally first display the prototype of the R3 Capraia, (The Capraia received its production name after an island of the Tuscan archipelago.) which would be shown at an Italian Naval exhibition at Genoa in 1982.  As previously mentioned they wanted a multi-role vehicle, so for this many different variants would begin to emerge. According to OTO Melara, the R3 Capraia was able to use multiple types of weapon systems, such as a TOW launcher and a dual M40 106mm Recoiless rifle (both of these versions likely weren't actually made but could be made if someone showed interest). The variant in game has access to the American made 106 mm recoiless rifle, 2 mounted on the turret. The vehicle was able to fire on the move and if there was no access to bridges, the R3 Capraia is amphibious. At the time not many vehicles of the era had the same ability. It was extensively tested by the Italian army, and even though it showed some great qualities, at the time there was not a need for that type of vehicle. It had high performance for the era mainly due to the possibility of intergrating various weapon systems. Following the conclusion of its evaluation by the Italian army, the OTO R3 Capraia prototypes were put in storage inside of the OTO Melara factory.

A number of armament options were proposed by OTO Melara. These included:

• the R3 T12.7 FA, armed with an externally mounted 12.7 mm M2 HB machine gun in a turret with full 360° traverse and a maximum elevation of -10° to +50°;
• the R3 T7.65 FA, armed with an externally mounted 7.65 mm machine gun in a turret with full 360° traverse and a maximum elevation of -10° to +25°;
• the R3 T20 FA-HS, armed with an externally mounted Oerlikon KAD-B17 20 mm cannon in a turret with full 360° traverse and a maximum elevation of -10° to +60°;
• the R3 Folgore ×2 FA, armed with two externally mounted Breda Folgore anti-tank missiles and a secondary 7.65 mm machine gun;
• the R3 T106 FA, armed with two externally mounted 106 mm M40 type recoilless rifles; and
• the R3 TOW, armed with an externally mounted launcher for a Hughes TOW ATGM system. In the early 1980s, the OTO Melara company developed a new armoured car, called the OTO R 2.5 "Gorgona". Investing heavily into research and development efforts, OTO Melara continued developing the design into a "Special Task Vehicle" as part of a private venture. The resulting OTO R3, nicknamed in production as "Capraia" was first shown off at the Italian Naval Exhibition in Genoa in 1982. The new vehicle received increased armour protection around its body, protecting the crew from rifle-calibre fire and shrapnel. Furthermore, the vehicle could be armed with various weaponry, ranging from MGs, over cannons to ATGMs, depending on the version. Despite their very promising and versatile design, this family of combat vehicles were only built and used in very limited numbers. - From Devblog

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the R3 T106 FA from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Best armored cars discusses the R3 T106 FA at 2:14 - War Thunder Official Channel

When one of the fastest tanks has firepower advantage too - R3 T106 FA - HowToPlay1337

The Shooting Range #138 - Metal Beasts section at 00:35 discusses the R3 T106 FA.

Hit and Run - R3 T106 FA Italian Meme Machine - Virus

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

• R3 T20 FA-HS

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

• M50 Ontos
• T114
• Type 60 SPRG (C)
• FIAT 6614

External links

• [Devblog] OTO R3 T106: Double Barrel Mayhem
• [Topwar.ru] OTO Melara Gorgona R2.5 and R3 Capraia armored cars

Italy light tanks
	Italy
L6/40	L6/40 · L6/40 (31 Rgt.)
M11/39	M11/39
Autoblindo	AB 41 · AB 43
Fiat 6614/6616	FIAT 6614 · AUBL/74 · AUBL/74 HVG
R3 Capraia	R3 T106 FA
Centauro	Centauro I 105 · Centauro I 105 R · Centauro I 120 · Centauro RGO · VRCC
Freccia	VBC (PT2) · Freccia
Dardo	Dardo · VCC-80/60 · VCC-80/30
Other	C13 T90
USA	▄M3A3 · ▄M24 · ▄M18
	Hungary
WWII	Csaba · Toldi IIA
Post	◔BTR-80A · KF41