Italy already maintained several thousand license-production American M113 armored personnel carriers by OTO Melara, so it was no surprise that a decision was made to develop the system further with Italian modifications made as necessary. The resulting system became known as the VCC-1 "Camillino" and served with the Italian Army in the same role as the M113 once did.
Changes to the base M113 system included a redesign rear hull portion. Whereas the original M113 suffered from any kind of armor protection for its 12.7 machine gun cupola and offered no firing ports for the passengers, the VCC-1 addressed these deficiencies in a sloped-armor upper hull with two firing ports per side two remotely-controlled top-mounted 12.7mm machine gun and rear-facing hull mounted 7.62mm machine gun. Outwardly, the VCC-1 still maintained the visual similarity to the M113 - most notable in the forward portion of the hull but in essence everything else was of all-Italian design.
The driver was positioned to the forward left of the design with his own cupola. The commander was seated just to the rear of the driver with his cupola. The main 12.7mm armament was mounted onto a powered cupola to the commander's extreme right. Periscopes are fitted to each cupola to address vision issues from when within the vehicle. Passenger accommodations allow for up to seven combat-ready personnel with exit/entry made possible by a large powered rear ramp.
The VCC has appeared in a few forms that include the application of additional armor and a 20mm cannon. Some 1,000 Camillinos have been reportedly produced. Saudi Arabia maintains some anti-tank VCCs which are similar in nature to the role as played by the M113 conversion model known in the US Army inventory as the "M901 Improved TOW Vehicle" or M901 ITV. These VCCs similarly mount the TOW anti-tank missile launcher system to the top of the hull.
Specifications
Year: 1982
Crew 2
Manufacturing Automotive Technical Service / OTO Melara - Italy
Production 1,900 Units
Italy; Saudi Arabia
- Infantry Support
- Reconnaissance (RECCE)
- Troop-Carrying
Length:
16.54 ft (5.04 m)
Width/Span:
8.83 ft (2.69 m)
Height:
6.66 ft (2.03 m)
Weight:
13 tons (11,600 kg; 25,574 lb)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the VCC-1 Camillino production model)
1 x GMC Model 6V-53 V-6 water-cooled diesel engine developing 210 horsepower.
(Showcased powerplant information pertains to the VCC-1 Camillino production model)
Maximum Speed:
40 mph (65 kph)
Maximum Range:
342 miles (550 km)
(Showcased performance values pertain to the VCC-1 Camillino production model; Compare this entry against any other in our database)
OPTIONAL:
1 x 12.7mm M2HB machine gun in roof-mounted cupola.
1 x 7.62mm machine gun in center hull rear.
Smoke Grenade Launchers
Additionally any personal crew-served weapons can be fired through the avilable firing ports.
Ammunition: Dependent on armament arrangement.
(Showcased armament details pertain to the VCC-1 Camillino production model)
VCC-1 Mk 1 - Base armored personnel model; 7 passenger capacity; 700 total VCC-1 examples produced.
VCC-1 Mk 2 - Fitted with a remote-controlled 12.7mm machine gun cupola.
VCC-1 Mk 3 - Fitted with a 20mm cannon in a roof-mounted turret; proposed prototype.
VCC-2 - Improved VCC-1; fitted with applique armoring along sides and front; 11 passenger capacity; 1,200 examples produced.
"Arisgator" - Fully amphibious variant of M113
VTC-9
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Italy; Saudi Arabia
