C1 Ariete [REVIEW + SPECS] | Defence Database
  
C1 Ariete main battle tank
Posted by: Andrei Dcs

C1 Ariete is an Italian main battle tank (MBT) developed by Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara (CIO), a consortium formed by the Italian companies Iveco and OTO Melara.

Iveco manufactured the chassis and the engine, while OTO Melara produced the turret and the fire control system.

Author: 7th Army Training Command from Grafenwoehr, Germany
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C1 Ariete MBT was produced in 200 units from 1995 to 2002.

Entering service with the Italian Army starting with 1995, Ariete still is the main battle tank of Italy.

Italian Army is the sole operator of the C1 Ariete main battle tank. With 200 unit in service, the Italian Army plans to modernize its Ariete tanks and keep them in operational service until 2035.

Ariete is a medium main battle tank with a mass of 54 t (53 long tons; 60 short tons).

It measures 9.52 m (31.2 ft) in length, 3.61 m (11.8 ft) in width, 2.45 m (8.0 ft) in height, and has a ground clearance of 0.44 m (1.4 ft).

The crew of the Ariete MBT consists of four persons.

Ariete armour is made of steel and composite materials.

C1 Ariete has a 120 mm OTO Breda L/44 smoothbore gun with 42 rounds.

Of the total 42 rounds, 15 rounds are ready to use in the turret basket and 27 additional rounds are stored in the hull rack.

As secondary armament, Ariete is equipped with two machine guns: a 7.62 mm MG 42/59 coaxial machine-gun and a 7.62 mm MG 42/59 AA machine-gun with a total of 2,500 rounds.

The Ariete main battle tank is powered by a 1,270 hp (950 kW) Fiat MTCA 12V, 25.8-litre diesel engine.

At a weight of 54 tons and with a power of 1,270 hp (950 kW), Ariete MBT has a power-to-weight ratio of 23.5 hp/t (17.5 kW/t).

With a torsion bar suspension, Ariete can reach a maximum speed of 65 km/h (40 mph) and has an operational range of 600 km (370 mi).

C1 Ariete - General Data and Specifications: