• As some of you know, the old forum database was deleted by the previous administrator. I am attempting to paste any retrievable discussions back into this forum using the internet archive. It won't look pretty - but at least we can preserve some valuable information. Feel free to add to the discussions as these old posts are restored.

Italy: Post WWll - Present

M

MelaraClubPrez

Member


This is a thread for Italian deployments and conflicts covering (see topic title) the period after WWII to the present.

Everything from tactical nukes to Check Point Pasta can be found here.

I think this'll be a good place for the CIA reading room link.
 
jwsleser

jwsleser

Member
Staff member
Excellent!
 
M

MelaraClubPrez

Member


Italy in Lebanon. Pic is from someone's imgur public account. "Peacemaker", I believe is his/her name.

There's some youtube video and other pictures from Italy's extensive service in Lebanon. I've even come across some old videos from the 80s
I'll post them within this post as I come across them depending on how long it takes to find them again.

Italy arriving in Lebanon. Video is from 2015:
Same place in 1983:
 
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M

MelaraClubPrez

Member
Interesting article about the Chinese 76mm and OTO Melara's version:

Air Defense: Chinese 76mm Breakthrough

The Chinese marines have been seen testing a new version of the decades old 76mm dual-purpose auto-loading, radar guided naval gun The marine version was mounted on a 10x10 wheeled armored vehicle In 2016 a Chinese firm had offered a version mounted on
www.strategypage.com www.strategypage.com

"The Chinese paid more attention to OTO Melara developments because this Italian original was steadily updated so that by the 1990s it was effective against anti-ship missiles. What made this possible was the AHEAD shell which could be programmed by the fire control system while in the gun to detonate at a specific distance from the gun and produce a cone of tungsten (heavy metal) projectiles that acted like a shotgun shell that did serious damage to missiles or aircraft. AHEAD shells came in various calibers (30mm-76mm) and the Chinese/Russian version could reliably destroy and incoming missile (like the Harpoon) with under 25 rounds fired at 120 RPM (two per second). The PJ26 can fire single rounds at surface targets as quickly or slowly as desired. Smaller caliber versions (30-40mm) used as anti-aircraft or IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) weapons could disable a tank with AHEAD ammo by shredding all external sensors and fire control system components. The tank crew would survive but they would be unable to use their main gun because the fire control system was destroyed. Against aircraft, the effects are worse because of such shredding damages jets and helicopters to the point where they can no longer fly."

The article seems a bit off. Since it's not sourced, I have to wonder how accurate it is.
 
M

MelaraClubPrez

Member
More from same article:

"It is unclear exactly what the Chinese marines intend their 10x10 vehicle version to do. Only pictures of this vehicle (painted in distinctive Chinese marines camouflage colors) have been seen. But the capabilities of the PJ26 are well known and this weapon can fire HE (high explosive) rounds and be useful for supporting a marine beach landing or ground operations in general. The 10x110 76mm weapon is not really a front line system since the fire control radar behind the turret can easily be damaged. The truck-mounted version uses a radar on a separate vehicle but is not as well armored or mobile as the 10x10 marines version."

I believe that's this vehicle:

The bottom photo is obviously the Italian made Draco
 
M

MelaraClubPrez

Member
I ran into a tid-bit about the Italians during Desert Storm.
From Desert Storm Air War: The Aerial Campaign Against Saddam's Iraq In The 1991 Gulf War by Jim Corrigan
Page 91
"Italy's contribution to the air war was small, just eight Tornados stationed at Abu Dhabi."
"Bad weather was making aerial refueling difficult for everyone, and to the newcomers it seemed nearly impossible. All but one tornado gave up and returned to Abu Dhabi still toting their weapons. The remaining aircrew, Maj. Gianmarco Bellini and Capt. Maurizio Cocciolone, felt honor-bound to proceed alone. They were shot down shortly after dropping their bombs and taken prisoner."

Youtube video from the Gulf War:
 
M

MelaraClubPrez

Member
Cold War and Modern aircraft:
Modern military Aircraft: The World's Greatest Weapons by T. Newdick & T. Cooper

Fiat G.91 R/3 (West Germany)
Fiat G.91 R/4 (Portugal)
Aermacchi M.B. 339A (Argentine Navy, used during Falklands War)
Piaggio P180 AM Avanti (Italy)
Aermacchi M.B. 339 (UAE)
Aermacchi M 346 (UAE)
Alenia Aeritalia G. 222 transport (Libya)
Portuguese G.91:


Nigeria- G-222 & MB 339
Ghana- MB 339
Congo- MB 326
Zaire- MB 326
- In 1980, during the turmoil in Chad, Libya sends troops with additional support from Zaire. The French eventually intervene and a ceasefire is signed in 1987.
- Portugal used its G-91s in Angola & Mozambique
- In 1977-78 Congo used its MB 326s during the Katangan/Zaire separatist movement. French & Moroccan intervention ends that conflict as well.
 
M

MelaraClubPrez

Member
Lamborghini Cheetah from tank encyclopedia:
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar-us-lamborghini-cheetah-hmmwv-prototype/
129

From the article:
"The Cheetah was marketed as being suitable for military use for several roles and could be fitted with a variety of weapons and armor kits as well as advanced communications equipment. These included:

TOW Missile carrier
Recoilless rifle carrier
Reconnaissance vehicle
Command and Control Vehicle
Prime Mover for light artillery
Combat support vehicle
Small caliber rocket launcher platform
Convoy escort
Security patrol"
 
M

MelaraClubPrez

Member
Heh, I learn something new everyday:
I did not know about this operation in Vietnam.
www.analisidifesa.it

Boat People: quando l’Italia accoglieva veri perseguitati – Analisi Difesa

www.analisidifesa.it www.analisidifesa.it

1566596512280.png

"In the summer of 1979, the 8th Naval Group of the Navy, composed of the cruisers Vittorio Veneto and Andrea Doria and the supplier Stromboli, was hastily sent to South East Asia to join fleets from all over the Western world and brought in Peninsula almost a thousand Vietnamese refugees, all then integrated into our society without difficulty, especially in Veneto and Friuli."

1566596488744.png
 
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