Difference between revisions of "Centauro I 120"

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{{Specs-Card|code=it_centauro_mgs_120}}
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{{About
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| about = Italian light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = Centauro (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=it_centauro_mgs_120
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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<!-- [[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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The B1 Centauro da 120, also known as the Centauro MGS, originated as a test vehicle made by OTO Melara in the late 1990s which experimented with the new HITFACT MK1 turret, equipped with an OTO 120/45 cannon, modern FCS, improved optics and other improvements. The plan was to convert a small batch of Italian army B1 Centauros, which had access to a 105 mm cannon; however, the Italian army did not see a need for the upgrade as the existing Centauro vehicles met their requirements. As a result, the B1 Centauro da 120 continued to be used for testing purposes and was showcased at military conventions like IDEX, in the hope of attracting potential foreign buyers. Ultimately, the only nation to adopt this variant was Oman, which purchased 9 units for the Royal Omani Guard. The B1 Centauro da 120 continued to undergo testing and served as a stepping stone towards the development of the B2 Centauro.
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{{Break}} -->
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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].
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Introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]], the main features of the B1 Centauro da 120 are its incredible mobility and 5-second reload. It is highly versatile, allowing for a range of playstyles such as flanking or sniping, where your mobility at the start of a match means you can get to spots much quicker than your teammates or opponents. In terms of armour, the vehicle is vulnerable to tank APFSDS and HE rounds, but it comes with applique armour that provides protection against autocannon and heavy machine gun fire, offering some defence against IFVs. The armament consists of a 120 mm cannon, as well as 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns mounted on the turret.The vehicle is equipped with a laser rangefinder and stabilizer, enabling accurate firing on the move and allowing for quick shots against unsuspecting enemies. The second-generation thermals and night vision devices provide improved visibility compared to the earlier Centauro variants. Overall, the B1 Centauro da 120 is a solid platform and a valuable addition to any top-tier Italian lineup.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
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The armour of the Centauro I 120 is the same as the previous Centauros, mediocre against everything but calibres smaller than 14.5 mm HMG fire. It has  additional armour plates which give it decent armour protection to shrapnel fragmentation as well as autocannons. However, it is vulnerable to overpressure. The lack of armour is however compensated by adopting a playstyle based on the increased mobility to position your vehicle in unexpected spots. This is what the Centauros excel at. Fast speed, manoeuvrability and relatively small profile helps it disguise, move and stay under cover at almost all times.
 +
 
 +
'''Armour type:'''
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 +
* High Hardness Rolled Armour
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* Aluminium alloy 7020
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* Composite Screens
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 +
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 15 mm (80°) || 15 mm ''Top'' <br>15 mm ''Bottom'' || 15 mm || 10 - 15 mm
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|-
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| Turret || 20 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 20-40 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 20 mm || 20 mm || 20 mm
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|-
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| Cupola || 20 mm || 20 mm || 20 mm || 20 mm
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|-
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|}
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'''Notes:'''
 +
 
 +
* The wheels and suspension bars are 10 mm thick.
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* The rear of the turret is covered with 5 mm of structural steel.
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 +
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Composite Appliqué Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 30 mm (80°) upper glacis <br> 50 mm (44°) lower glacis || 30 mm ''Top'' <br> 50 mm ''Bottom'' || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
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| Turret || 50 mm ''Turret front'' <br> 5 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 5-30 mm || 5 mm || 5 mm
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|}
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=806|rbMinHp=460}}
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Like the previous Centauros, it has one of the best mobility for wheeled vehicles. It has the same performance as the [[Centauro|Blindo Armata B1 Centauro]] despite the additional armour and a heavier gun. It still lacks performance on snow and somewhat on sand. However, it has the best weight/power ratio for wheeled vehicles of similar size. It should be noted that the MGS, as previous Centauros, is not amphibious.
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 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
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'''<big>Unlock order recommendations</big>'''
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The order of modifications should be well thought out. Below is a guide of which modifications to unlock first, but it is just a recommendation and can be modified or adapted depending on the tank commander's preferences.
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 +
'''Tier 1'''
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One tier 1 modification needs researched before you can move on to tier 2 but there are three modifications in tier 1 that are very heavily recommended to unlock before moving on. These are Improved parts - one of the most important overall because the tank can not be repaired fully without it, DM33 because as an APFSDS round it has a much higher effectiveness against well armoured tanks at the BR that have NERA and light ERA, and NVD because it allows access to both gunner and commander thermal sights for easier spotting of enemy tanks. Again, it is highly recommended to research these three modifications before moving on to tier 2 even though you technically only need one of them. A recommended order is DM33 then parts then NVD. After this moving on to tier 2 is recommended.
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'''Tier 2'''
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 +
Three modifications from tier 2 are needed to move on to tier 3 and these should be Airstrike so upon death you can spawn a helicopter or jet to support your team against enemy ground targets, helicopters, and jets. A second choice would be LR/LWS because the laser rangefinder allows for taking accurate shots at long range with a better first shot hit probability. The third could be either adjustment of fire for increased accuracy. After three are researched moving on to tier 3 would be a good choice. FPE can be an afterthought due to recent changes in the game allowing you to bring a single FPE canister, but this can be up to the Centauro commander if they decided they want a second charge.
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'''Tier 3'''
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Only two modifications are needed from tier 3 to move on to tier 4. Improved optics should definitely be put off for later but of the other three none of them is a bad pick. Elevation mechanism probably isn't necessary in most cases so crew replenishment to allow the replacing of a knocked out crew member and filters for increased mobility are probably the most logical picks. After two tier 3 mods are unlocked the player should move on to more useful ones in tier 4.
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'''Tier 4'''
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Tier 4 has a few useful modifications, particularly the CL3143 APFSDS round which is one of the very best APFSDS rounds in the game. The engine modification should also be prioritized as well as the smoke grenade modification. After these three are researched, which are recommended to be unlocked in that order, then it is time to go back and get any modifications that haven't been unlocked yet.
  
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{{tankMobility}}
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'''Finishing up'''
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Some of the more useful modifications that likely haven't been unlocked yet include transmission, tires, artillery support, and horizontal drive. There are also less useful modifications that should be saved for last including suspension, brake system, and improved optics. Now you have a fully upgraded vehicle, good job!
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Advise about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
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{{main|OTO Melara 120/45 (120 mm)}}
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The Centauro I 120 has access to the powerful 120 mm OTO Melara 120/45 smoothbore cannon, the same cannon mounted on the Ariete MBT. It has the same handling as it utilizes the same ammunition and has the same ballistic performance.
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[OTO Melara 120/45 (120 mm)|120 mm OTO Melara 120/45]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 33 || rowspan="2" | -6°/+16° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 27.3 || 37.8 || 45.8 || 50.7 || 53.9 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
 +
|-
 +
! ''Realistic''
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| 17.0 || 20.1 || 24.4 || 26.9 || 28.7
 +
|-
 +
|}
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 +
==== Ammunition ====
 +
The Centauro I 120 has access to a wide variety of ammunition which are the deadliest at the game, specially the CL3143.
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 +
* DM12A1: this is the starter HEATFS round when it comes stock. It can be considered mediocre as the MBTs faced at the battle rating are more than capable of withstanding it. However, it is specially useful when dealing at long distances and when lightly armoured vehicles are seen (SPAA for example) as they will be destroyed because of overpressure damage once hit.
 +
* DM33: this is a round seen in most NATO MBTs in the game (or similar to them), it has decent performance and is able to kill pretty much everything it faces with exception of Russian MBTs with CONTACT-5 ERA (unless the K5 is destroyed first).
 +
* CL3143: this is the best performing round. It is able to penetrate and destroy all MBTs in the game, even Russian vehicles with CONTACT-5 ERA.
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 +
{{:OTO Melara 120/45 (120 mm)/Ammunition|DM12A1, DM33, CL3143}}
  
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=== Additional armament ===
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and give advice on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Give advice on about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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|-
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| '''33''' || 21&nbsp;''(+12)'' || 9&nbsp;''(+24)'' || 0&nbsp;''(+33)'' || No
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|-
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|}
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Note:
 +
 
 +
* Contrary to previous Centauros, the MGS does not have a side ready rack.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|4}}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
 +
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|Beretta MG42/59 (7.62 mm)}}
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 +
The MGS is armed with the already seen MG42/59 and a newly mounted M2HB. As seen in previous Centauros, the 7.62 mm are only effective against low flying aircraft and obstacle removal, they are inefficient for anything else. However, the M2HB is a nice addition to the anti-aircraft capabilities and even anti-tank capabilities. It is able to damage gun barrels and tracks upon continuous firing and able to take down SPAA like the Tunguska, Roland SAM and ADATS due to their low armour.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
 +
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
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|-
 +
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Pintle || 1,200 (200) || 577 || -8°/+20° || -45°/+120°
 +
|-
 +
|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[Beretta MG42/59 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Beretta MG42/59]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 +
|-
 +
| Coaxial || 4,600 (200) || 801 || N/A || N/A
 +
|-
 +
| Pintle || 2,000 (200) || 801 || -8°/+20° || ±120°
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|-
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|}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
The Centauro I 120 should be played as the rest as the Centauros but not quite. Speed, firepower and low profile should be used to perform flanking manoeuvres, get quickly into sniping positions and surprise the enemy.
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'''As a flanker:'''
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The role is pretty straight forward: use your speed and agility to get behind the enemy, cause confusion and engage them as fast as you can. The MGS, like the other Centauros, does not have the issue of needing to stop in order to make a successful flanking. Thanks to the two-plane stabilizer, it is able to fire while moving in order to make the enemies' life difficult when engaging you.
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 +
'''As a sniper:'''
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Like previous Centauros, this is nothing new as the use of thermals, really good zoom sights, fast muzzle velocity rounds and laser rangefinder make this one of the easiest "point-and-click" vehicle in the game. It is recommended to utilize APFSDS when doing long range engagements all the times. Not only for the fact it has much better penetration than the HEATFS but also because of the muzzle velocity. The speed makes it easier to aim than the HEATFS.
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'''Cap rusher:'''
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 +
This is nothing new for any of the Italian wheeled vehicles. Spawn, rush as fast as possible a cap point, capture, leave as fast as possible. This can be done really easily with this Centauro despite what looks like a "sluggish" Centauro. The MGS should not be underestimated in terms of speed.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
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 +
* 120 mm APFSDS offers improved penetration and damage over the 105 mm gun
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* Extremely fast and mobile on road
 +
* Has night vision devices and generation 1 gunner thermals
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* Good turret traverse speed
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* Smoke grenades cover player when there is danger
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* 12.7 mm MG is effective against similar light vehicles/helicopters
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* An aced crew can fire the second best APFSDS round in the game every five seconds
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* Access to the scouting ability
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
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*
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 +
* Little to no protection against most projectiles
 +
* Vulnerable to overpressure damage
 +
* Tall and long
 +
* Very sluggish on soft terrain (mud, snow or sand)
 +
* Rearward turret placement, sometimes frontal hull is exposed while turret is still behind cover
 +
* Only -6 degrees of gun depression
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* Stock grind is difficult with vehicle having low manoeuvrability, thin armour and stock HEATFS before modifications are unlocked
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* High recoil when firing from the sides or rear of the vehicle, knocking the sights off target
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
The story of the B1 Centauro MGS starts during the late stages of the Cold War, there was a need of up gunning the B1 Centauro, already in service in the Italian army, so the Iveco-Oto Melara Consortium (CIO) would take lead. An evaluation of sorts would begin in which the B1 Centauro would have an entirely new turret applied to it. The new turret would be called "HITFACT 105-120 mm (LOW RECOIL FORCE TURRET)", the turret had almost the same weight as the 105 mm turret of the B1 Centauro series (1/2/3), but with an increase in ballistic protection. The new cannon replaced the standard 105 mm cannon with an Italian-made 120 mm one (this brought the firepower on par with the majority of MBTs).
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 +
The turret was made in such a way that it could easily be installed on pretty much anything that could support it, and since it was lightweight this really allowed it to outclass a lot of what it would face. Another reason it being lightweight helped it, was how it had little to no effect to its mobility, which meant the best of both speed and firepower could be achieved. Among other changes, the Hitfact turret would incorporate many advancement that would not be prevalent on many vehicles of its class before.
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 +
The gun would controlled by a new FCS, which included a gunner's self-stabilized day and night IR thermal camera periscope, with an integral eye-safe laser rangefinder. On the turret of the MGS, there is also numerous periscopes positioned at 360°, which can be used by both the gunner and the commander. The MGS is also capable of firing all NATO standard 120 mm munitions, and has shown it can fire rounds such as DM11, a high explosive round with a programmable fuse. One last noteworthy addition were the appliqué screens around the vehicle, which it's said can protect against low calibre autocannon fire.
 +
 
 +
The MGS would first be shown to the public in its official debut, at IDEX 2003. During the course of its development, the MGS's would enter limited production, and be used by the Italian army, mainly for testing, such as how a 120 mm version of the Centauro would be(this later on lead to the development of the B2 Centauro). Due to this, the B1 Centauro MGS would change and be offered for export, and as it was being showed in multiple expos, it ended up getting picked up by the Royal Omani Guard. It is not known how many they currently have in service, but what is known is that they decided to repaint them in a tan/brownish pattern to better suit its operational environment. Other than that, Leonardo has kept on marketing the turret system on multiple different hulls, such as one being on the Patria AMV and another being presented on top of a German Marder.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_centauro_mgs_120 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
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 +
;Videos
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{{Youtube-gallery|lNshHG9EWNo|'''Should You Grind The Centauro MGS?''' - ''Sako Sniper''}}
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 +
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 +
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
−
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
+
 
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* [[Centauro (Family)]]
 +
* [[Centauro I 105]]
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* [[Centauro I 105 R]]
 +
* [[VRCC]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
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* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 
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* ''other literature.''
 
  
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{{Italy tank destroyers}}
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* https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/542326-centauro-variants-overview-b1-to-b2/
 +
* https://www.iveco-otomelara.com/tracked/CentauroI.php
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 +
{{TankManufacturer OTO Melara}}
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{{Italy light tanks}}
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[[Category:Wheeled ground vehicles]]

Latest revision as of 20:54, 21 August 2023

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
This page is about the Italian light tank Centauro I 120. For other versions, see Centauro (Family).
Centauro I 120
it_centauro_mgs_120.png
GarageImage Centauro I 120.jpg
Centauro I 120
Italy flag.png Italy
VII Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
11.7 11.7 11.7
Class:
Research:350 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:950 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The B1 Centauro da 120, also known as the Centauro MGS, originated as a test vehicle made by OTO Melara in the late 1990s which experimented with the new HITFACT MK1 turret, equipped with an OTO 120/45 cannon, modern FCS, improved optics and other improvements. The plan was to convert a small batch of Italian army B1 Centauros, which had access to a 105 mm cannon; however, the Italian army did not see a need for the upgrade as the existing Centauro vehicles met their requirements. As a result, the B1 Centauro da 120 continued to be used for testing purposes and was showcased at military conventions like IDEX, in the hope of attracting potential foreign buyers. Ultimately, the only nation to adopt this variant was Oman, which purchased 9 units for the Royal Omani Guard. The B1 Centauro da 120 continued to undergo testing and served as a stepping stone towards the development of the B2 Centauro.

Introduced in Update 1.97 "Viking Fury", the main features of the B1 Centauro da 120 are its incredible mobility and 5-second reload. It is highly versatile, allowing for a range of playstyles such as flanking or sniping, where your mobility at the start of a match means you can get to spots much quicker than your teammates or opponents. In terms of armour, the vehicle is vulnerable to tank APFSDS and HE rounds, but it comes with applique armour that provides protection against autocannon and heavy machine gun fire, offering some defence against IFVs. The armament consists of a 120 mm cannon, as well as 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns mounted on the turret.The vehicle is equipped with a laser rangefinder and stabilizer, enabling accurate firing on the move and allowing for quick shots against unsuspecting enemies. The second-generation thermals and night vision devices provide improved visibility compared to the earlier Centauro variants. Overall, the B1 Centauro da 120 is a solid platform and a valuable addition to any top-tier Italian lineup.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
LWS
Notifies about the vehicle's exposure to laser emissions
Armourfront / side / back
Hull20 / 15 / 15
Turret20 / 20 / 20
Crew4 people
Visibility136 %

The armour of the Centauro I 120 is the same as the previous Centauros, mediocre against everything but calibres smaller than 14.5 mm HMG fire. It has additional armour plates which give it decent armour protection to shrapnel fragmentation as well as autocannons. However, it is vulnerable to overpressure. The lack of armour is however compensated by adopting a playstyle based on the increased mobility to position your vehicle in unexpected spots. This is what the Centauros excel at. Fast speed, manoeuvrability and relatively small profile helps it disguise, move and stay under cover at almost all times.

Armour type:

  • High Hardness Rolled Armour
  • Aluminium alloy 7020
  • Composite Screens
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 15 mm (80°) 15 mm Top
15 mm Bottom 		15 mm 10 - 15 mm
Turret 20 mm Turret front
20-40 mm Gun mantlet 		20 mm 20 mm 20 mm
Cupola 20 mm 20 mm 20 mm 20 mm

Notes:

  • The wheels and suspension bars are 10 mm thick.
  • The rear of the turret is covered with 5 mm of structural steel.
Composite Appliqué Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull 30 mm (80°) upper glacis
50 mm (44°) lower glacis 		30 mm Top
50 mm Bottom 		N/A N/A
Turret 50 mm Turret front
5 mm Gun mantlet 		5-30 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB123 / 25 km/h
RB and SB110 / 23 km/h
Number of gears10 forward
4 back
Weight25.1 t
Engine power
AB992 hp
RB and SB520 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB39.5 hp/t
RB and SB20.7 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 123 25 25.1 806 992 32.11 39.52
Realistic 110 23 460 520 18.33 20.72

Like the previous Centauros, it has one of the best mobility for wheeled vehicles. It has the same performance as the Blindo Armata B1 Centauro despite the additional armour and a heavier gun. It still lacks performance on snow and somewhat on sand. However, it has the best weight/power ratio for wheeled vehicles of similar size. It should be noted that the MGS, as previous Centauros, is not amphibious.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 467 → 5 866 Sl icon.png
RB3 509 → 5 937 Sl icon.png
SB3 697 → 6 255 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications279 900 Rp icon.png
457 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost3 000 Ge icon.png
Crew training270 000 Sl icon.png
Experts950 000 Sl icon.png
Aces2 200 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 210 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
140 / 160 / 200 % Sl icon.png
244 / 244 / 244 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new wheels.png
Tires
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods new car suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
3 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement it.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods counterMeasures.png
LWS/LR
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods airstrike.png
Airstrike
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
290 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods scouting.png
Improved optics
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods scout streak.png
Scout UAV
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
400 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_DM_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png

Unlock order recommendations

The order of modifications should be well thought out. Below is a guide of which modifications to unlock first, but it is just a recommendation and can be modified or adapted depending on the tank commander's preferences.

Tier 1

One tier 1 modification needs researched before you can move on to tier 2 but there are three modifications in tier 1 that are very heavily recommended to unlock before moving on. These are Improved parts - one of the most important overall because the tank can not be repaired fully without it, DM33 because as an APFSDS round it has a much higher effectiveness against well armoured tanks at the BR that have NERA and light ERA, and NVD because it allows access to both gunner and commander thermal sights for easier spotting of enemy tanks. Again, it is highly recommended to research these three modifications before moving on to tier 2 even though you technically only need one of them. A recommended order is DM33 then parts then NVD. After this moving on to tier 2 is recommended.

Tier 2

Three modifications from tier 2 are needed to move on to tier 3 and these should be Airstrike so upon death you can spawn a helicopter or jet to support your team against enemy ground targets, helicopters, and jets. A second choice would be LR/LWS because the laser rangefinder allows for taking accurate shots at long range with a better first shot hit probability. The third could be either adjustment of fire for increased accuracy. After three are researched moving on to tier 3 would be a good choice. FPE can be an afterthought due to recent changes in the game allowing you to bring a single FPE canister, but this can be up to the Centauro commander if they decided they want a second charge.

Tier 3

Only two modifications are needed from tier 3 to move on to tier 4. Improved optics should definitely be put off for later but of the other three none of them is a bad pick. Elevation mechanism probably isn't necessary in most cases so crew replenishment to allow the replacing of a knocked out crew member and filters for increased mobility are probably the most logical picks. After two tier 3 mods are unlocked the player should move on to more useful ones in tier 4.

Tier 4

Tier 4 has a few useful modifications, particularly the CL3143 APFSDS round which is one of the very best APFSDS rounds in the game. The engine modification should also be prioritized as well as the smoke grenade modification. After these three are researched, which are recommended to be unlocked in that order, then it is time to go back and get any modifications that haven't been unlocked yet.

Finishing up

Some of the more useful modifications that likely haven't been unlocked yet include transmission, tires, artillery support, and horizontal drive. There are also less useful modifications that should be saved for last including suspension, brake system, and improved optics. Now you have a fully upgraded vehicle, good job!

Armaments

Laser rangefinder
Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder
Night vision device
Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.
Thermal imager
Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

120 mm OTO Melara 120/45 cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition33 rounds
First-order9 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
6.5 → 5.0 s
Vertical guidance-6° / 16°
Main article: OTO Melara 120/45 (120 mm)

The Centauro I 120 has access to the powerful 120 mm OTO Melara 120/45 smoothbore cannon, the same cannon mounted on the Ariete MBT. It has the same handling as it utilizes the same ammunition and has the same ballistic performance.

120 mm OTO Melara 120/45 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 33 -6°/+16° ±180° Two-plane 27.3 37.8 45.8 50.7 53.9 6.50 5.75 5.30 5.00
Realistic 17.0 20.1 24.4 26.9 28.7

Ammunition

The Centauro I 120 has access to a wide variety of ammunition which are the deadliest at the game, specially the CL3143.

  • DM12A1: this is the starter HEATFS round when it comes stock. It can be considered mediocre as the MBTs faced at the battle rating are more than capable of withstanding it. However, it is specially useful when dealing at long distances and when lightly armoured vehicles are seen (SPAA for example) as they will be destroyed because of overpressure damage once hit.
  • DM33: this is a round seen in most NATO MBTs in the game (or similar to them), it has decent performance and is able to kill pretty much everything it faces with exception of Russian MBTs with CONTACT-5 ERA (unless the K5 is destroyed first).
  • CL3143: this is the best performing round. It is able to penetrate and destroy all MBTs in the game, even Russian vehicles with CONTACT-5 ERA.

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
DM12A1 HEATFS 480 480 480 480 480 480
DM33 APFSDS 481 478 470 461 450 440
CL3143 APFSDS 589 586 577 565 553 541
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%
DM12A1 HEATFS 1,140 13.5 0.05 0.1 2.15 65° 72° 77°
DM33 APFSDS 1,640 4.3 - - - 78° 80° 81°
CL3143 APFSDS 1,705 5.6 - - - 78° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Centauro I 120
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
33 21 (+12) 9 (+24) 0 (+33) No

Note:

  • Contrary to previous Centauros, the MGS does not have a side ready rack.

Machine guns

12.7 mm M2HB machine gun
Ammunition1 200 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate575 shots/min
Vertical guidance-8° / 20°
Horizontal guidance-45° / 120°
7.62 mm Beretta MG42/59 machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition4 600 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate801 shots/min
7.62 mm Beretta MG42/59 machine gun
Ammunition2 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate801 shots/min
Main articles: M2HB (12.7 mm), Beretta MG42/59 (7.62 mm)

The MGS is armed with the already seen MG42/59 and a newly mounted M2HB. As seen in previous Centauros, the 7.62 mm are only effective against low flying aircraft and obstacle removal, they are inefficient for anything else. However, the M2HB is a nice addition to the anti-aircraft capabilities and even anti-tank capabilities. It is able to damage gun barrels and tracks upon continuous firing and able to take down SPAA like the Tunguska, Roland SAM and ADATS due to their low armour.

12.7 mm M2HB
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Pintle 1,200 (200) 577 -8°/+20° -45°/+120°
7.62 mm Beretta MG42/59
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 4,600 (200) 801 N/A N/A
Pintle 2,000 (200) 801 -8°/+20° ±120°

Usage in battles

The Centauro I 120 should be played as the rest as the Centauros but not quite. Speed, firepower and low profile should be used to perform flanking manoeuvres, get quickly into sniping positions and surprise the enemy.

As a flanker:

The role is pretty straight forward: use your speed and agility to get behind the enemy, cause confusion and engage them as fast as you can. The MGS, like the other Centauros, does not have the issue of needing to stop in order to make a successful flanking. Thanks to the two-plane stabilizer, it is able to fire while moving in order to make the enemies' life difficult when engaging you.

As a sniper:

Like previous Centauros, this is nothing new as the use of thermals, really good zoom sights, fast muzzle velocity rounds and laser rangefinder make this one of the easiest "point-and-click" vehicle in the game. It is recommended to utilize APFSDS when doing long range engagements all the times. Not only for the fact it has much better penetration than the HEATFS but also because of the muzzle velocity. The speed makes it easier to aim than the HEATFS.

Cap rusher:

This is nothing new for any of the Italian wheeled vehicles. Spawn, rush as fast as possible a cap point, capture, leave as fast as possible. This can be done really easily with this Centauro despite what looks like a "sluggish" Centauro. The MGS should not be underestimated in terms of speed.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 120 mm APFSDS offers improved penetration and damage over the 105 mm gun
  • Extremely fast and mobile on road
  • Has night vision devices and generation 1 gunner thermals
  • Good turret traverse speed
  • Smoke grenades cover player when there is danger
  • 12.7 mm MG is effective against similar light vehicles/helicopters
  • An aced crew can fire the second best APFSDS round in the game every five seconds
  • Access to the scouting ability

Cons:

  • Little to no protection against most projectiles
  • Vulnerable to overpressure damage
  • Tall and long
  • Very sluggish on soft terrain (mud, snow or sand)
  • Rearward turret placement, sometimes frontal hull is exposed while turret is still behind cover
  • Only -6 degrees of gun depression
  • Stock grind is difficult with vehicle having low manoeuvrability, thin armour and stock HEATFS before modifications are unlocked
  • High recoil when firing from the sides or rear of the vehicle, knocking the sights off target

History

The story of the B1 Centauro MGS starts during the late stages of the Cold War, there was a need of up gunning the B1 Centauro, already in service in the Italian army, so the Iveco-Oto Melara Consortium (CIO) would take lead. An evaluation of sorts would begin in which the B1 Centauro would have an entirely new turret applied to it. The new turret would be called "HITFACT 105-120 mm (LOW RECOIL FORCE TURRET)", the turret had almost the same weight as the 105 mm turret of the B1 Centauro series (1/2/3), but with an increase in ballistic protection. The new cannon replaced the standard 105 mm cannon with an Italian-made 120 mm one (this brought the firepower on par with the majority of MBTs).

The turret was made in such a way that it could easily be installed on pretty much anything that could support it, and since it was lightweight this really allowed it to outclass a lot of what it would face. Another reason it being lightweight helped it, was how it had little to no effect to its mobility, which meant the best of both speed and firepower could be achieved. Among other changes, the Hitfact turret would incorporate many advancement that would not be prevalent on many vehicles of its class before.

The gun would controlled by a new FCS, which included a gunner's self-stabilized day and night IR thermal camera periscope, with an integral eye-safe laser rangefinder. On the turret of the MGS, there is also numerous periscopes positioned at 360°, which can be used by both the gunner and the commander. The MGS is also capable of firing all NATO standard 120 mm munitions, and has shown it can fire rounds such as DM11, a high explosive round with a programmable fuse. One last noteworthy addition were the appliqué screens around the vehicle, which it's said can protect against low calibre autocannon fire.

The MGS would first be shown to the public in its official debut, at IDEX 2003. During the course of its development, the MGS's would enter limited production, and be used by the Italian army, mainly for testing, such as how a 120 mm version of the Centauro would be(this later on lead to the development of the B2 Centauro). Due to this, the B1 Centauro MGS would change and be offered for export, and as it was being showed in multiple expos, it ended up getting picked up by the Royal Omani Guard. It is not known how many they currently have in service, but what is known is that they decided to repaint them in a tan/brownish pattern to better suit its operational environment. Other than that, Leonardo has kept on marketing the turret system on multiple different hulls, such as one being on the Patria AMV and another being presented on top of a German Marder.

Media

Skins
Videos
Should You Grind The Centauro MGS? - Sako Sniper

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:


OTO Melara
Light Tanks/IFVs 
Centauro  Centauro I 105 · Centauro I 105 R · Centauro I 120 · VRCC
Dardo  Dardo · VCC-80/30 · VCC-80/60
Other  C13 T90 · R3 T106 FA
MBTs 
OF-40  OF-40 · OF-40 Mk.2A · OF-40 (MTCA)
Ariete  Ariete (P) · Ariete · Ariete PSO · Ariete AMV
Other  M47 (105/55)
Tank Destroyers  M113A1 (TOW)
SPAA  R3 T20 FA-HS · SIDAM 25 · SIDAM 25 (Mistral) · OTOMATIC
Patrol Boats 
Sparviero-class  Sparviero*
See Also  OTO
  *Built by OTO Melara in La Spezia under the Alinavi S.p.A. consortium

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

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