Difference between revisions of "Ariete PSO"

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{{Specs-Card
 
{{Specs-Card
 
|code=it_c1_ariete_pso
 
|code=it_c1_ariete_pso
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
+
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}_AddArmour.jpg}}
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
== 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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The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Italian medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].
+
The C1 Ariete was developed by OTO Melara during the late Cold War to allow the Italian army to equip itself with a modern tank which could easily deal with Yugoslav and Warsaw pact tanks. The PSO (Peace Support Operation) modification entailed additional composite armour blocks on the sides of the tank, mainly to increase crew protection against RPG fire, though they were also found to work well against low level APFSDS and standard HEAT munitions.
 +
 
 +
Introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]], the C1 Ariete PSO is one of the slowest variants in the C1 Ariete family of vehicles, due to addition of the add-on armour kit surrounding the sides of the hull and turret. However, this add-on armour package is able to handle most low level autocannon fire from enemies from the BMP family and at times even some APFSDS rounds. The tank can be effective when in use by a player who can work around its lacklustre mobility and relatively weak frontal protection. It can also be a great back up for your top tier lineup if you choose to bring more than 1 variant of the C1 Ariete.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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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.'' -->
 
<!-- ''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 {{PAGENAME}}'s armour can withstand some 105mm APFSDS shells, though the turret can resist some high ranking HEAT-FS shells as well. Though the composite side skirts does not provide much protection against kinetic shells, it does affect HEAT-FS shells in that even if one penetrates, the penetrating projectile does not travel as far into the tank and so reduces the overall damage to the tank (outside of direct hits to the ammunition racks).
+
The {{PAGENAME}}'s armour can withstand some 105 mm APFSDS shells, though the turret can resist some high ranking HEAT-FS shells as well. Though the composite side skirts does not provide much protection against kinetic shells, it does affect HEAT-FS shells in that even if one penetrates, the penetrating projectile does not travel as far into the tank and so reduces the overall damage to the tank (outside of direct hits to the ammunition racks).
  
 
A common weak point on the {{PAGENAME}} from the front is the gun mantlet, as some shots may go through the armour and damage the gun breech and/or the crew. When dealing with a shell that can penetrate, the {{PAGENAME}}'s left side (right when facing directly at the Ariete) has three ammo racks lined up with each other, and so a frontal penetration at that side of the Ariete has a high chance of detonating these rack, or a shot at the Ariete's left side.
 
A common weak point on the {{PAGENAME}} from the front is the gun mantlet, as some shots may go through the armour and damage the gun breech and/or the crew. When dealing with a shell that can penetrate, the {{PAGENAME}}'s left side (right when facing directly at the Ariete) has three ammo racks lined up with each other, and so a frontal penetration at that side of the Ariete has a high chance of detonating these rack, or a shot at the Ariete's left side.
  
 
Under normal circumstance however, the {{PAGENAME}}'s four crew members make it a relatively survivable tank to drive, as the common knock-out of the gunner and commander with a penetration through the turret will leave just two (loader and driver), allowing the {{PAGENAME}} to withdraw and continue fighting at the expense of a longer reload time.
 
Under normal circumstance however, the {{PAGENAME}}'s four crew members make it a relatively survivable tank to drive, as the common knock-out of the gunner and commander with a penetration through the turret will leave just two (loader and driver), allowing the {{PAGENAME}} to withdraw and continue fighting at the expense of a longer reload time.
 +
 +
'''Armour type:'''
 +
 +
* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, internal plates)
 +
* High-hardness rolled armour (hull UFP, turret front)
 +
* Composite armour (turret front)
 +
* Spaced armour (hull UFP, gun mantlet, turret sides)
 +
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
!'''Armour'''
 +
!'''Front (Slope angle)'''
 +
!'''Sides'''
 +
!'''Rear'''
 +
!'''Roof'''
 +
|-
 +
|Hull
 +
|Spaced Armour ''Upper glacis''
 +
50 mm (50°) ''Lower glacis''
 +
 +
35 mm (60°) ''Sponson front''
 +
|10-20 mm ''Top''
 +
35 mm ''Bottom''
 +
|20 mm
 +
|35 mm ''Crew compartment''
 +
20 mm ''Engine compartment''
 +
 +
5 mm ''Exhaust radiators''
 +
|-
 +
|Turret
 +
|Composite armour ''Turret front''
 +
Spaced armour + 90 mm ''Gun mantlet''
 +
|Spaced armour
 +
|20 mm + 10 mm
 +
|40 mm ''Front portion''
 +
20 mm ''Rear portion''
 +
|}
 +
'''Internal armour:'''
 +
 +
* 20 mm -  Upper hull sides
 +
* 35 mm - Upper hull sides
 +
* 10 mm - Between driver and hull ammo rack
 +
* 8 mm - Between crew and engine compartments
 +
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
!'''Composite/spaced armour'''
 +
!'''Front'''
 +
!'''Sides'''
 +
|-
 +
|Hull
 +
|'''''Upper glacis'''''
 +
300 - 400+ mm ''Chemical''
 +
 +
235 - 300+ mm ''Kinetic''
 +
|'''''Front half'''''
 +
299 mm composite screen
 +
|-
 +
|Turret
 +
|'''''Turret front'''''
 +
520 - 600+ mm ''Chemical''
 +
 +
380 - 400+ mm ''Kinetic''
 +
 +
'''''Gun mantlet'''''
 +
 +
210 - 530+ mm ''Chemical''
 +
 +
175 - 400+ mm ''Kinetic''
 +
|'''''Turret side'''''
 +
45 - 400+ mm ''Chemical''
 +
 +
45 - 225+ mm ''Kinetic''
 +
 +
250 mm Composite screen
 +
|}
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'''Notes:'''
 +
 +
* Tracks and suspension - 20 mm
 +
* Sideskirts - 12 mm
 +
* Fenders - 5 mm
 +
* There is a 10 mm composite screen on the turret roof
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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{{main|OTO Breda 120/44 (120 mm)}}
 
{{main|OTO Breda 120/44 (120 mm)}}
  
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The armament of the {{PAGENAME}} is one of the greatest in the game, with a large amount of penetration in every armour-piercing shell. Their performance lines-up with other 120 mm guns in other tanks like the Leopard, and so it should be able to deal with the majority of the top-ranking vehicles with consideration of armour weak points and vulnerabilities.
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The armament of the {{PAGENAME}} is one of the greatest in the game, with a large amount of penetration in every armour-piercing shell. Their performance lines up with other 120 mm guns in other tanks like the Leopard, and so it should be able to deal with the majority of the top-ranking vehicles with consideration of armour weak points and vulnerabilities.
  
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While the Ariete starts off like most other high BR vehicles with HEAT-FS, that challenge is easily overcome once you get the 1st round which is DM33, a tier 1 modification which brings its firepower equivalent to the [[Leopard 2A5]] and [[Type 90]]. As for a tier 4 modification you get access to the CL3143 APFSDS, which is the second most powerful round in the game currently that will be able to dispatch your enemies with ease.
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While the Ariete starts off like most other high BR vehicles with HEATFS, that challenge is easily overcome once you get the 1<sup>st</sup> round which is DM33, a tier 1 modification which brings its firepower equivalent to the [[Leopard 2A5]] and [[Type 90]]. As for a tier 4 modification you get access to the CL3143 APFSDS, which is a powerful round in the game that will be able to dispatch your enemies with some ease.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
 
|-
 
! ''Arcade''
 
! ''Arcade''
−
| rowspan="2" | 42 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 38.1 || 52.7 || 64.0 || 70.8 || 75.3 || rowspan="2" | 7.80 || rowspan="2" | 6.90 || rowspan="2" | 6.36 || rowspan="2" | 6.00
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| rowspan="2" | 42 || rowspan="2" | -9°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 38.1 || 52.7 || 64.0 || 70.8 || 75.3 || rowspan="2" | 6.5 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.3 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
 
|-
 
|-
 
! ''Realistic''
 
! ''Realistic''
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==== Ammunition ====
 
==== Ammunition ====
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
+
{{:OTO Breda 120/44 (120 mm)/Ammunition|DM12A1, DM33, DM53}}
−
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! colspan="6" | '''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 || 625 || 622 || 613 || 601 || 588 || 575
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
−
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
 
−
! colspan="10" | Shell details
 
−
|-
 
−
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)
 
−
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)
 
−
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
 
−
|-
 
−
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
 
−
|-
 
−
| DM12A1 || HEATFS || 1,140 || 13.5 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 2,150 || 65° || 72° || 77°
 
−
|-
 
−
| DM33 || APFSDS || 1,640 || 4.3 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
 
−
|-
 
−
| CL3143 || APFSDS || 1,705 || 5.6 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
 
−
|-
 
−
|}
 
  
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
 
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
−
<!-- [[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]] -->
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[[File:Ammoracks_Ariete_(P).png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
−
<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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<!-- '''Last updated: 2.5.0.23''' -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
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! 1st<br>rack empty
 
! 1st<br>rack empty
 
! 2nd<br>rack empty
 
! 2nd<br>rack empty
−
! 3rd<br>rack empty
 
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
! Visual<br>discrepancy
 
|-
 
|-
−
| '''42''' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || __&nbsp;''(+__)'' || No
+
| '''42''' || 16&nbsp;''(+26)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+41)'' || No
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
Notes:
 +
 +
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
 +
* Rack 2 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 15 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
 +
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from rack 1 into rack 2. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Coaxial || 4,500 (200) || 1,200 || ±5° || N/A
+
| Coaxial || 4,600 (200) || 801 || N/A || N/A
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Commander's cupola || 2,000 (200) || 1,200 || -8°/+60° || ±120°
+
| Pintle (Commander) - R || 2,000 (200) || 801 || -8°/+60° || ±120°
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Loader's cupola || 2,000 (200) || 1,200 || -8°/+60° || ±120°
+
| Pintle (Loader) - L || 2,000 (200) || 801 || -8°/+60° || ±120°
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''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).'' -->
 
<!-- ''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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The Ariete won't win any races with its mobility but it has the firepower to back it up. The Ariete can sit back and use its powerful APFSDS to take care of enemies at range to make up for its rather lacklustre armour for a top BR vehicle. The Ariete you can also play it aggressive but be warned! The Ariete doesn't have any composite armour on the front of the hull, only spaced armour on the upper plate. When playing aggressive you need to rely on fast reflexes otherwise there is a good chance that the 1st hit from a enemy will cripple you or knock you out of battle.
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The C1 Ariete PSO has access to a decent round, the DM53 which is able to take care of most top tier MBT's it will face. This specific Ariete has the PSO armour installed, which depending on the angle of the shot, can also protect itself against some 125 mm APFSDS and the majority of low level IFV autocannon fire. Due to the kit which you cannot remove, the Ariete PSO won't win any races with its mobility especially when compared to other NATO MBT's. The best playstyle for the Ariete PSO especially when you are just starting out with it, would be more a supportive one which involves flanking manoeuvres or to stick with your better armoured teammates who can withstand hits from enemy tanks such as Leopard 2A6's. Since the Ariete PSO is one of the weakest top tier MBTs for its battle rating, it is advised to keep your distance and try pick enemies from far away, the PSO can easily sit back and use its powerful DM53 APFSDS round to take care of enemies at range with one hit if you aim right. One great plus about the PSO is that if you are deciding to snipe and an enemy vehicle takes you by suprise, the PSO armour can actually be very useful, it can protect you against a multitude of ATGM's and can negate most autocanon fire. If you are lucky you will have enough time to react and take care of the enemy, most top tier MBT weak spots are present at the lower front of the vehicle. If you manage to flank the enemy team, go for the sides or where the ammunition is stored as that also will usually get rid of an enemy quickly. When playing aggressive you need to rely on fast reflexes otherwise there is a good chance that the 1st hit from a enemy will cripple you or knock you out of battle. The Ariete PSO also has an additional PSO modification but it really doesn't change much so it is not needed. The Ariete PSO also has access to commanders thermals, something the previous vehicle (Ariete (P)) does not have. This will be one of the most useful items in your arsenal and will allow you to better spot enemies from behind cover, as well as quickly engage and disengage without exposing yourself long enough for the enemy to see you coming. If you can master this technique, you'll be able to still be useful despite technically being at a disadvantage when compared to other MBT's. Remember that in Arcade Battles, enemies can easily find out where you are with your name tag and where your weak spots are.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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* Powerful OTO Breda 120/44 cannon
 
* Powerful OTO Breda 120/44 cannon
−
* Currently shares the second best APFSDS round with the regular [[Ariete]]
 
 
* Turret armour gives crew good survivability, especially against nearly all HEAT-FS thanks to the PSO armour pack
 
* Turret armour gives crew good survivability, especially against nearly all HEAT-FS thanks to the PSO armour pack
−
* Unlike other NATO MBT’s, there is no ammorack in the turret, reducing the chances of an instant knockout if the turret is penetrated
+
* Unlike other NATO MBTs, there is no ammo rack in the turret, reducing the chances of an instant knockout if the turret is penetrated
 
* Fast turret traverse
 
* Fast turret traverse
−
* Second generation CITV and gunner’s sights
+
* Second generation CITV and gunner's sights
 
* High reverse speed
 
* High reverse speed
−
* Another additional roof mounted Beretta MG42 to ward of enemy helicopters
+
* Another additional roof-mounted Beretta MG42 to ward off enemy helicopters
 +
* Decent FOV and zoom levels
 +
* Access to DM53
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
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* Large lower glacis
 
* Large lower glacis
 
* Least armoured MBT in the game
 
* Least armoured MBT in the game
−
* PSO Tipo 2 doesn’t really offer any substantial differences or advantages over the regular PSO armour pack
+
* PSO Tipo 2 doesn't really offer any substantial differences or advantages over the regular PSO armour pack
−
* Russian tanks with Kontakt-5 armour are capable of stopping CL3143 in certain places and will need careful aiming
+
* Russian tanks with Explosive Reactive Armour are capable of stopping DM53 in certain places and will need careful aiming
−
* Huge ammorack next to the driver
+
* Huge ammo rack next to the driver
−
* Narrow FOV and low levels of zoom for the gunner's sight
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''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).'' -->
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The history of the C1 Ariete begins during the late stages of the Cold War, with a program born out of the need of the Italian army to modernize the fleet of tanks they had during the Cold War, which were the Leopards and M60s. Those tanks would be considered obsolete, considering the fact that many countries around the world who adopted such designs had either put them out of service or replaced them for something more modern. To make the new Italian MBT, Italy put Iveco and OTO Melara in charge. Iveco dealt with the hull, transmission, and engine, while OTO Melara took care of the turret, cannon, and the installation of sights. After many changes, and a couple of wooden mock-ups, the C1 Ariete (P), would first be shown to the public, at a presentation inside of La Spezia in 1987. Development kept on continuing towards the year of 1990, which allowed both Iveco and OTO Melara to refine the C1 Ariete's design. Deliveries were scheduled to first take place in 1993, however due to some setbacks (likely funding) it wouldn't be until 1995 that the first C1 Ariete production deliveries actually took place. At first an order of 300 tanks would be made, but due to the Cold War coming to an end, it was reduced to only 200 units, which would all finally be delivered on 7th August 2002.
 +
 
 +
The C1 Ariete had many new advancements that the previous tanks that Italy used could only dream of having. The first C1 Ariete production models had access to the TURMS 3rd generation LTFCS made by Officine Galileo, which gave the capability to the Ariete to fire on the move, both during the day and at night. However later down the line, the last 50 Arietes would receive an upgrade of their sights, which resulted in many improvements, such as giving the C1 Ariete commanders thermal imaging. In terms of armaments, the C1 Ariete (P) and C1 Ariete Production have access to a 120 mm smoothbore gun, made by OTO Melara, with similarities to the German made L44. The Ariete can fire all NATO standard munitions, however as of now the best round that is known the vehicle has in service, would be the CL3143 APFSDS, which is a license-produced version of the M322 Israeli-made round. In 2010 there were plans to buy M338 APFSDS for the C1 Ariete, which was basically DM43 with an improved cap, but nothing came out of it, however as previously mentioned before, if need be the C1 Ariete can fire the majority of NATO standard munitions. The C1 Ariete's armour is currently classified, as it is currently still in service, however CIO (Consorzio Iveco-Oto Melara) claim that it is a mix of steel and composite on both the hull and turret. Most experts claim that the C1 Ariete, at least the first production models, had similar if not better protection than a Leopard 2A4, this does hold some truth as both tanks were designed around the same time.
 +
 
 +
In terms of the PSO (Peace Support Operation) upgrade, its history would start on 21st December 2000, when between the General Directorate of Land Armaments (now Directorate of Ground Armaments) and the Iveco-OTO Melara Consortium, a contract of sorts was signed, which allowed the C1 Ariete to receive a new armour upgrade, in which 30 sets would be ordered and later on to be installed unto the C1 Ariete. Although it is unknown if all if all the orders would actually end up being complete. The Ariete with PSO would first be seen deployed in Iraq, for Operation Ancient Babylon in 2003. The PSO was made up of additional composite blocks on the side of the tank, these blocks would mainly be installed to increase crew protection against RPG fire, however it also worked well against low level APFSDS and standard HEAT munitions. This would be a great upgrade for the tank, however, the tank would suffer mobility wise, and be, rightfully slower than the regular version of the vehicle. After the C1 Arietes got sent back, the armour package would be removed and later on regular C1 Arietes would be spotted back to their original variant. Recently there has been a breakthrough and it was found that there was a variant of the C1 Ariete that mounted the PSO and WAR package at the same time, there is not too much information regarding this variant but it is possible it was done to answer the problems of the Ariete PSO, in which the sides would be covered but the front of the vehicle remained the same, with the addition of the WAR kit the front side of the Ariete would be a little more protected.
 +
 
 +
In terms of future upgrades, one is in the works, known as the C1 [[Ariete AMV]], standing for "Ammodernamento di Mezza Vita" (English: "mid life update"). This new update is said to bring the C1 Ariete up to standard; planned upgrades include a new modern sight and thermal system made by Leonardo, active protection systems, better armour, new engine, and much more. The first 3 AMV prototypes are said to be complete by the end of 2021. In terms of service, the C1 Ariete has partaken in many peace-keeping operations around the globe, such as in Yugoslavia, Iraq, and now currently being used in Latvia for NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence mission.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 +
;Skins
 +
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=it_c1_ariete_pso Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 +
;Videos
 
{{Youtube-gallery|u5714dpuDDo|'''The Shooting Range #176''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the Ariete PSO.}}
 
{{Youtube-gallery|u5714dpuDDo|'''The Shooting Range #176''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the Ariete PSO.}}
  
Line 176: Line 239:
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
−
* [[Ariete (Family)]]
+
;[[Ariete (Family)|Related development]]
 +
 
 
* [[Ariete (P)]]
 
* [[Ariete (P)]]
 
* [[Ariete]]
 
* [[Ariete]]
 +
* [[Ariete AMV]]
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
Line 184: Line 249:
  
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
 +
{{TankManufacturer OTO Melara}}
 
{{Italy medium tanks}}
 
{{Italy medium tanks}}

Latest revision as of 20:10, 20 October 2024

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This page is about the Italian medium tank Ariete PSO. For other versions, see Ariete (Family).
Ariete PSO
it_c1_ariete_pso.png
GarageImage Ariete PSO.jpg
GarageImage Ariete PSO AddArmour.jpg
Ariete PSO
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 C1 Ariete was developed by OTO Melara during the late Cold War to allow the Italian army to equip itself with a modern tank which could easily deal with Yugoslav and Warsaw pact tanks. The PSO (Peace Support Operation) modification entailed additional composite armour blocks on the sides of the tank, mainly to increase crew protection against RPG fire, though they were also found to work well against low level APFSDS and standard HEAT munitions.

Introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision", the C1 Ariete PSO is one of the slowest variants in the C1 Ariete family of vehicles, due to addition of the add-on armour kit surrounding the sides of the hull and turret. However, this add-on armour package is able to handle most low level autocannon fire from enemies from the BMP family and at times even some APFSDS rounds. The tank can be effective when in use by a player who can work around its lacklustre mobility and relatively weak frontal protection. It can also be a great back up for your top tier lineup if you choose to bring more than 1 variant of the C1 Ariete.

General info

Survivability and armour

Composite armour
Balanced protection against all types of ammunition
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
Hull110 / 65 / 20
Turret140 / 60 / 20
Crew4 people
Visibility88 %

The Ariete PSO's armour can withstand some 105 mm APFSDS shells, though the turret can resist some high ranking HEAT-FS shells as well. Though the composite side skirts does not provide much protection against kinetic shells, it does affect HEAT-FS shells in that even if one penetrates, the penetrating projectile does not travel as far into the tank and so reduces the overall damage to the tank (outside of direct hits to the ammunition racks).

A common weak point on the Ariete PSO from the front is the gun mantlet, as some shots may go through the armour and damage the gun breech and/or the crew. When dealing with a shell that can penetrate, the Ariete PSO's left side (right when facing directly at the Ariete) has three ammo racks lined up with each other, and so a frontal penetration at that side of the Ariete has a high chance of detonating these rack, or a shot at the Ariete's left side.

Under normal circumstance however, the Ariete PSO's four crew members make it a relatively survivable tank to drive, as the common knock-out of the gunner and commander with a penetration through the turret will leave just two (loader and driver), allowing the Ariete PSO to withdraw and continue fighting at the expense of a longer reload time.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret, internal plates)
  • High-hardness rolled armour (hull UFP, turret front)
  • Composite armour (turret front)
  • Spaced armour (hull UFP, gun mantlet, turret sides)
Armour Front (Slope angle) Sides Rear Roof
Hull Spaced Armour Upper glacis

50 mm (50°) Lower glacis

35 mm (60°) Sponson front

10-20 mm Top

35 mm Bottom

20 mm 35 mm Crew compartment

20 mm Engine compartment

5 mm Exhaust radiators

Turret Composite armour Turret front

Spaced armour + 90 mm Gun mantlet

Spaced armour 20 mm + 10 mm 40 mm Front portion

20 mm Rear portion

Internal armour:

  • 20 mm - Upper hull sides
  • 35 mm - Upper hull sides
  • 10 mm - Between driver and hull ammo rack
  • 8 mm - Between crew and engine compartments
Composite/spaced armour Front Sides
Hull Upper glacis

300 - 400+ mm Chemical

235 - 300+ mm Kinetic

Front half

299 mm composite screen

Turret Turret front

520 - 600+ mm Chemical

380 - 400+ mm Kinetic

Gun mantlet

210 - 530+ mm Chemical

175 - 400+ mm Kinetic

Turret side

45 - 400+ mm Chemical

45 - 225+ mm Kinetic

250 mm Composite screen

Notes:

  • Tracks and suspension - 20 mm
  • Sideskirts - 12 mm
  • Fenders - 5 mm
  • There is a 10 mm composite screen on the turret roof

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB73 / 52 km/h
RB and SB65 / 47 km/h
Number of gears8 forward
4 back
Weight57.0 t
Engine power
AB2 480 hp
RB and SB1 300 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB43.5 hp/t
RB and SB22.8 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock AoA Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 73 52 56.2 0.8 1,761 2,480 31.33 43.51
Realistic 65 47 1,150 1,300 20.46 22.81

The top speed is similar to other tanks, but the acceleration is bad so take this into consideration with tactical mobility. While the Ariete can't turn well at low speeds, it does have a good neutral turning speed on the spot.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB4 193 → 6 851 Sl icon.png
RB4 097 → 6 694 Sl icon.png
SB5 183 → 8 469 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications278 800 Rp icon.png
455 000 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
150 / 190 / 210 % Sl icon.png
244 / 244 / 244 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
4 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement it.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods tank additional armor.png
PSO Tipo 2
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
120mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack
Research:
15 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
23 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods counterMeasures.png
LWS/LR
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
260 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods thermal sight.png
NVD
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods art support.png
Artillery Support
Research:
19 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
29 000 Sl icon.png
450 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
450 Ge icon.png

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 Breda 120/44 cannon
Two-plane stabilizer
Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving
Ammunition42 rounds
First-order15 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
6.5 → 5.0 s
Vertical guidance-9° / 20°
Main article: OTO Breda 120/44 (120 mm)

The armament of the Ariete PSO is one of the greatest in the game, with a large amount of penetration in every armour-piercing shell. Their performance lines up with other 120 mm guns in other tanks like the Leopard, and so it should be able to deal with the majority of the top-ranking vehicles with consideration of armour weak points and vulnerabilities.

While the Ariete starts off like most other high BR vehicles with HEATFS, that challenge is easily overcome once you get the 1st round which is DM33, a tier 1 modification which brings its firepower equivalent to the Leopard 2A5 and Type 90. As for a tier 4 modification you get access to the CL3143 APFSDS, which is a powerful round in the game that will be able to dispatch your enemies with some ease.

120 mm OTO Breda 120/44 Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 42 -9°/+20° ±180° Two-plane 38.1 52.7 64.0 70.8 75.3 6.5 5.75 5.3 5.00
Realistic 23.8 28.0 34.0 37.6 40.0

Ammunition

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
DM53 APFSDS 623 620 610 598 586 573
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°
DM53 APFSDS 1,670 5 - - - 78° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Ariete PSO
Full
ammo 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
42 16 (+26) 1 (+41) No

Notes:

  • Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
  • Rack 2 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 15 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
  • Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from rack 1 into rack 2. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.

Machine guns

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
2 x 7.62 mm Beretta MG42/59 machine gun
Ammunition4 000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate801 shots/min
Main article: Beretta MG42/59 (7.62 mm)
7.62 mm Beretta MG42/59
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 4,600 (200) 801 N/A N/A
Pintle (Commander) - R 2,000 (200) 801 -8°/+60° ±120°
Pintle (Loader) - L 2,000 (200) 801 -8°/+60° ±120°

Usage in battles

The C1 Ariete PSO has access to a decent round, the DM53 which is able to take care of most top tier MBT's it will face. This specific Ariete has the PSO armour installed, which depending on the angle of the shot, can also protect itself against some 125 mm APFSDS and the majority of low level IFV autocannon fire. Due to the kit which you cannot remove, the Ariete PSO won't win any races with its mobility especially when compared to other NATO MBT's. The best playstyle for the Ariete PSO especially when you are just starting out with it, would be more a supportive one which involves flanking manoeuvres or to stick with your better armoured teammates who can withstand hits from enemy tanks such as Leopard 2A6's. Since the Ariete PSO is one of the weakest top tier MBTs for its battle rating, it is advised to keep your distance and try pick enemies from far away, the PSO can easily sit back and use its powerful DM53 APFSDS round to take care of enemies at range with one hit if you aim right. One great plus about the PSO is that if you are deciding to snipe and an enemy vehicle takes you by suprise, the PSO armour can actually be very useful, it can protect you against a multitude of ATGM's and can negate most autocanon fire. If you are lucky you will have enough time to react and take care of the enemy, most top tier MBT weak spots are present at the lower front of the vehicle. If you manage to flank the enemy team, go for the sides or where the ammunition is stored as that also will usually get rid of an enemy quickly. When playing aggressive you need to rely on fast reflexes otherwise there is a good chance that the 1st hit from a enemy will cripple you or knock you out of battle. The Ariete PSO also has an additional PSO modification but it really doesn't change much so it is not needed. The Ariete PSO also has access to commanders thermals, something the previous vehicle (Ariete (P)) does not have. This will be one of the most useful items in your arsenal and will allow you to better spot enemies from behind cover, as well as quickly engage and disengage without exposing yourself long enough for the enemy to see you coming. If you can master this technique, you'll be able to still be useful despite technically being at a disadvantage when compared to other MBT's. Remember that in Arcade Battles, enemies can easily find out where you are with your name tag and where your weak spots are.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Powerful OTO Breda 120/44 cannon
  • Turret armour gives crew good survivability, especially against nearly all HEAT-FS thanks to the PSO armour pack
  • Unlike other NATO MBTs, there is no ammo rack in the turret, reducing the chances of an instant knockout if the turret is penetrated
  • Fast turret traverse
  • Second generation CITV and gunner's sights
  • High reverse speed
  • Another additional roof-mounted Beretta MG42 to ward off enemy helicopters
  • Decent FOV and zoom levels
  • Access to DM53

Cons:

  • Mobility is subpar, only the Challenger 2 and ZTZ99 are less mobile
  • Large lower glacis
  • Least armoured MBT in the game
  • PSO Tipo 2 doesn't really offer any substantial differences or advantages over the regular PSO armour pack
  • Russian tanks with Explosive Reactive Armour are capable of stopping DM53 in certain places and will need careful aiming
  • Huge ammo rack next to the driver

History

The history of the C1 Ariete begins during the late stages of the Cold War, with a program born out of the need of the Italian army to modernize the fleet of tanks they had during the Cold War, which were the Leopards and M60s. Those tanks would be considered obsolete, considering the fact that many countries around the world who adopted such designs had either put them out of service or replaced them for something more modern. To make the new Italian MBT, Italy put Iveco and OTO Melara in charge. Iveco dealt with the hull, transmission, and engine, while OTO Melara took care of the turret, cannon, and the installation of sights. After many changes, and a couple of wooden mock-ups, the C1 Ariete (P), would first be shown to the public, at a presentation inside of La Spezia in 1987. Development kept on continuing towards the year of 1990, which allowed both Iveco and OTO Melara to refine the C1 Ariete's design. Deliveries were scheduled to first take place in 1993, however due to some setbacks (likely funding) it wouldn't be until 1995 that the first C1 Ariete production deliveries actually took place. At first an order of 300 tanks would be made, but due to the Cold War coming to an end, it was reduced to only 200 units, which would all finally be delivered on 7th August 2002.

The C1 Ariete had many new advancements that the previous tanks that Italy used could only dream of having. The first C1 Ariete production models had access to the TURMS 3rd generation LTFCS made by Officine Galileo, which gave the capability to the Ariete to fire on the move, both during the day and at night. However later down the line, the last 50 Arietes would receive an upgrade of their sights, which resulted in many improvements, such as giving the C1 Ariete commanders thermal imaging. In terms of armaments, the C1 Ariete (P) and C1 Ariete Production have access to a 120 mm smoothbore gun, made by OTO Melara, with similarities to the German made L44. The Ariete can fire all NATO standard munitions, however as of now the best round that is known the vehicle has in service, would be the CL3143 APFSDS, which is a license-produced version of the M322 Israeli-made round. In 2010 there were plans to buy M338 APFSDS for the C1 Ariete, which was basically DM43 with an improved cap, but nothing came out of it, however as previously mentioned before, if need be the C1 Ariete can fire the majority of NATO standard munitions. The C1 Ariete's armour is currently classified, as it is currently still in service, however CIO (Consorzio Iveco-Oto Melara) claim that it is a mix of steel and composite on both the hull and turret. Most experts claim that the C1 Ariete, at least the first production models, had similar if not better protection than a Leopard 2A4, this does hold some truth as both tanks were designed around the same time.

In terms of the PSO (Peace Support Operation) upgrade, its history would start on 21st December 2000, when between the General Directorate of Land Armaments (now Directorate of Ground Armaments) and the Iveco-OTO Melara Consortium, a contract of sorts was signed, which allowed the C1 Ariete to receive a new armour upgrade, in which 30 sets would be ordered and later on to be installed unto the C1 Ariete. Although it is unknown if all if all the orders would actually end up being complete. The Ariete with PSO would first be seen deployed in Iraq, for Operation Ancient Babylon in 2003. The PSO was made up of additional composite blocks on the side of the tank, these blocks would mainly be installed to increase crew protection against RPG fire, however it also worked well against low level APFSDS and standard HEAT munitions. This would be a great upgrade for the tank, however, the tank would suffer mobility wise, and be, rightfully slower than the regular version of the vehicle. After the C1 Arietes got sent back, the armour package would be removed and later on regular C1 Arietes would be spotted back to their original variant. Recently there has been a breakthrough and it was found that there was a variant of the C1 Ariete that mounted the PSO and WAR package at the same time, there is not too much information regarding this variant but it is possible it was done to answer the problems of the Ariete PSO, in which the sides would be covered but the front of the vehicle remained the same, with the addition of the WAR kit the front side of the Ariete would be a little more protected.

In terms of future upgrades, one is in the works, known as the C1 Ariete AMV, standing for "Ammodernamento di Mezza Vita" (English: "mid life update"). This new update is said to bring the C1 Ariete up to standard; planned upgrades include a new modern sight and thermal system made by Leonardo, active protection systems, better armour, new engine, and much more. The first 3 AMV prototypes are said to be complete by the end of 2021. In terms of service, the C1 Ariete has partaken in many peace-keeping operations around the globe, such as in Yugoslavia, Iraq, and now currently being used in Latvia for NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence mission.

Media

Skins
Videos
The Shooting Range #176 - Metal Beasts section at 00:32 discusses the Ariete PSO.

See also

Related development

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


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 medium tanks
  Italy
M13/40  M13/40 (I) · M13/40 (II) · M13/40 (III)
M14/41  M14/41 · M14/41 (47/40)
M15/42  M15/42
M16/43  Celere Sahariano
P26/40  P40 · P40 "G.C. Leoncello"
OF-40  OF-40 · OF-40 Mk.2A · OF-40 (MTCA)
Ariete  Ariete (P) · Ariete · Ariete PSO · Ariete AMV
Germany  ▄Pz.III N · ▄Pz.IV G · ▄Leopard 1A5
Allied powers  ▄Sherman I Composito · Sherman Ic · ▄Sherman Vc · ▄Sherman V · M26 "D.C.Ariete" · M26A1 · M47 (105/55) · M60A1 "D.C.Ariete"
  Hungary
Turán  Turan I · Turan II · Turan III
Germany  ◔Leopard 2A4 · Leopard 2A7HU
USSR  ◔T-72M1

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