Otomatic: Difference between revisions
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The '''Otomatic''' was an Italian prototype [[self-propelled anti-aircraft gun]] (SPAAG) built by [[OTO-Melara]]. It combined the chassis of a [[ |
The '''Otomatic''' was an Italian prototype [[self-propelled anti-aircraft gun]] (SPAAG) built by [[OTO-Melara]]. It combined the chassis of a [[Palmaria]] SPG, with a new turret mounting the [[Otobreda 76 mm]] gun along with associated search and targeting radars and their fire control systems: a S search radar SMA VPS-A05, with around 15 km range vs aicrafts and 8 km vs helicopters in hovering; and a fire control unit SMA VPG-A06 (Ka band). IT was available also an optic FCS with periscopes for search and aiming, with a laser range-finder. The whole turret, that was built in steel (roughly with the same thickness of the one used in early Leopard 1s) weighted 15 tonnes. OTO Melara offered it as a long-range SPAAG that could outperform systems like the [[Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard|Gepard]] and similar versions with the British [[Marksman turret]] that mounted much smaller 35 mm guns<ref>Po, Enrico: ''L'OTOMATIC si presenta'', RiD magazine, Chiavari, july 1987 p.36</ref>. |
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The gun could also be useful against lighter armored vehicles or older generation tanks. The barrel was strenghted in order to hold greater pressures, so it can fire not only HE, but also APFSDS ammunitions. There was also a 7.62 mm turret mount for close defence. However, the Otomatic was never put into production because the widespread presence of [[anti-aircraft missile]]s reduced the need for a long-range AA gun on the modern battlefield. Italian army had to have another turret used with a Leopard 1 chassis (the turret was adaptable to many 40 tons veicles, like the Leopard or the OF-40), but the omologation did never happened, as the SIDAM quad 25 mm gun was already in production and, despite being inferior and not all-weather, it was held in production and bough in almost 300 examples. The needing of 60-80 OTOMATIC was never satisfied, and italian army was even evaluating to use a L70 Bofors with a Leopard 1 as 'gap filler'. But this was not adopted as well, as it was a too limited for a '90s anti-aicraft self propelled gun<ref>Po, Enrico: ''L'arsenale dell'Esercito di Piacenza'', RiD Magazine, september 1997 p.34-38</ref>. OTOMATIC had never any orded by italian army, as both SIDAM and Skyguard Aspide were already in order with very high costs, coupled with the Stinger missiles and the program to upgrade HAWK and buy Aster missiles. Therefore, the costly (over 6 mld of lires, excluding the new logistic) 76 mm SPAG was never ordered, and received no order even from foreign costumers, despite the 76 mm gun was already well known and widespread in many navies around the world.<ref>Annati, Massimo: ''I moderni semoventi contraerei'', RiD Magazine, november 1997</ref>. |
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The gun could also be useful against lighter armored vehicles or older generation tanks. However, the Otomatic was never put into production because the widespread presence of [[anti-aircraft missile]]s reduced the need for a long-range AA gun on the modern battlefield. |
|||
OTO-Melara attempted to revive the concept with the '''AMRAD''' ("Artillery Multi-Role Area Defense"), which had a much lighter mounting, and which was intended for use on a variety of wheeled vehicles. In order to lower the weight of the system, the turret's armor was reduced and the radars were removed and replaced with an optical-only aiming system cued by a remote radar. Despite these changes, the AMRAD failed to sell<ref>Po, Eugenio: ''I nuovi semoventi di Oto Melara'', RiD Magazine, Chiavari, October 2011</ref>. |
OTO-Melara attempted to revive the concept with the '''AMRAD''' ("Artillery Multi-Role Area Defense"), which had a much lighter mounting, and which was intended for use on a variety of wheeled vehicles. In order to lower the weight of the system, the turret's armor was reduced and the radars were removed and replaced with an optical-only aiming system cued by a remote radar. Despite these changes, the AMRAD failed to sell<ref>Po, Eugenio: ''I nuovi semoventi di Oto Melara'', RiD Magazine, Chiavari, October 2011</ref>. |
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Revision as of 22:03, 12 April 2012
| Otomatic SPAAG | |
|---|---|
| Type | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin |  Italy |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 46.0 tonnes (101,400 lb) |
| Length | Hull: 7.27 metres (23 ft 10 in) |
| Width | 3.71 m (12 ft 2 in) |
| Crew | 4 |
Main armament | 1× Otobreda 76 mm derived autocannon with 70 rounds |
| Engine | MTU MB 837 Ka-500 diesel engine 750 hp (560 kW) |
| Power/weight | 16.3 hp / 1 tonne |
| Suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
Operational range | 500 kilometres (310 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) |
The Otomatic was an Italian prototype self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) built by OTO-Melara. It combined the chassis of a Palmaria SPG, with a new turret mounting the Otobreda 76 mm gun along with associated search and targeting radars and their fire control systems: a S search radar SMA VPS-A05, with around 15 km range vs aicrafts and 8 km vs helicopters in hovering; and a fire control unit SMA VPG-A06 (Ka band). IT was available also an optic FCS with periscopes for search and aiming, with a laser range-finder. The whole turret, that was built in steel (roughly with the same thickness of the one used in early Leopard 1s) weighted 15 tonnes. OTO Melara offered it as a long-range SPAAG that could outperform systems like the Gepard and similar versions with the British Marksman turret that mounted much smaller 35 mm guns[1].
The gun could also be useful against lighter armored vehicles or older generation tanks. The barrel was strenghted in order to hold greater pressures, so it can fire not only HE, but also APFSDS ammunitions. There was also a 7.62 mm turret mount for close defence. However, the Otomatic was never put into production because the widespread presence of anti-aircraft missiles reduced the need for a long-range AA gun on the modern battlefield. Italian army had to have another turret used with a Leopard 1 chassis (the turret was adaptable to many 40 tons veicles, like the Leopard or the OF-40), but the omologation did never happened, as the SIDAM quad 25 mm gun was already in production and, despite being inferior and not all-weather, it was held in production and bough in almost 300 examples. The needing of 60-80 OTOMATIC was never satisfied, and italian army was even evaluating to use a L70 Bofors with a Leopard 1 as 'gap filler'. But this was not adopted as well, as it was a too limited for a '90s anti-aicraft self propelled gun[2]. OTOMATIC had never any orded by italian army, as both SIDAM and Skyguard Aspide were already in order with very high costs, coupled with the Stinger missiles and the program to upgrade HAWK and buy Aster missiles. Therefore, the costly (over 6 mld of lires, excluding the new logistic) 76 mm SPAG was never ordered, and received no order even from foreign costumers, despite the 76 mm gun was already well known and widespread in many navies around the world.[3].
OTO-Melara attempted to revive the concept with the AMRAD ("Artillery Multi-Role Area Defense"), which had a much lighter mounting, and which was intended for use on a variety of wheeled vehicles. In order to lower the weight of the system, the turret's armor was reduced and the radars were removed and replaced with an optical-only aiming system cued by a remote radar. Despite these changes, the AMRAD failed to sell[4].
External links
| External image | |
|---|---|
| Otomatic SPAAG | |
 The Otomatic SPAAG |
- ^ Po, Enrico: L'OTOMATIC si presenta, RiD magazine, Chiavari, july 1987 p.36
- ^ Po, Enrico: L'arsenale dell'Esercito di Piacenza, RiD Magazine, september 1997 p.34-38
- ^ Annati, Massimo: I moderni semoventi contraerei, RiD Magazine, november 1997
- ^ Po, Eugenio: I nuovi semoventi di Oto Melara, RiD Magazine, Chiavari, October 2011
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