OF-40
Encyclopedia
The OF-40 tank is a main battle tank
developed as a joint venture between OTO Melara
and FIAT
, and intended primarily for export sales. OTO Melara would develop and produce the hulls, and automotive components would be provided by FIAT. Initial design work was started by OTO Melara in 1977, with the first prototypes ready by 1980.
Leopard 1 with welded turrets (Leopard 1A3 & 1A4). The OF-40 does share some common components with the Leopard 1, which had also been produced under license by OTO Melara since 1974. The OF-40 follows a conventional modern tank design. The driver is located in the front-right of the hull, with ammunition storage and NBC overpressure
system located to the driver's left. The turret is located toward the middle of the tank, with the gunner and commander on the right side of the turret, and the loader on the left.
, demonstrated in Egypt
and offered for local production in Spain
and Greece
, the only orders for the vehicles ultimately came from the United Arab Emirates
. The first UAE order of 18 OF-40s was filled in 1981. This was followed by a second order for 18 more OF-40s, and 3 OF-40 derived armoured recovery vehicle
s which was filled by 1985. OTO Melara no longer offers the OF-40 for purchase.
OF-40 ARV - An armoured recovery vehicle based on the OF-40 hull.
OF-40 SPAAG - Although it was never produced, a self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle similar to the Gepard
was proposed should any customers request it.
- The OF-40 hull was later used as the basis for the Palmaria self-propelled artillery
system. The Palmaria met with far more success than the OF-40, with 210 being ordered by Libya
and 25 by Nigeria
. Argentina
purchased the Palmaria turrets, but used their own TAM
hulls.
OTOMATIC
- Both Leopard 1 and OF-40 hulls were used during the development for the as yet unordered OTOMATIC self-propelled air-defence system
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
developed as a joint venture between OTO Melara
Oto Melara
Oto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of Vickers and Terni. During World War I, Vickers Terni produced many weapons with calibre 40 mm and upwards. In 1929 the company was renamed Odero Terni Orlando with the...
and FIAT
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, and intended primarily for export sales. OTO Melara would develop and produce the hulls, and automotive components would be provided by FIAT. Initial design work was started by OTO Melara in 1977, with the first prototypes ready by 1980.
Design
Superficially, the OF-40 appears very similar to versions of the GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Leopard 1 with welded turrets (Leopard 1A3 & 1A4). The OF-40 does share some common components with the Leopard 1, which had also been produced under license by OTO Melara since 1974. The OF-40 follows a conventional modern tank design. The driver is located in the front-right of the hull, with ammunition storage and NBC overpressure
Overpressure
The term Overpressure is applied to a pressure difference, relative to a "normal" or "ambient" pressure, in various circumstances:* In engineering: the pressure difference over the wall thickness of a pressure vessel...
system located to the driver's left. The turret is located toward the middle of the tank, with the gunner and commander on the right side of the turret, and the loader on the left.
Sales
While the tank was trialed by ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, demonstrated in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and offered for local production in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, the only orders for the vehicles ultimately came from the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. The first UAE order of 18 OF-40s was filled in 1981. This was followed by a second order for 18 more OF-40s, and 3 OF-40 derived armoured recovery vehicle
Armoured recovery vehicle
An armoured recovery vehicle is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to repair battle- or mine-damaged as well as broken-down armoured vehicles during combat, or to tow them out of the danger zone for more extensive repairs...
s which was filled by 1985. OTO Melara no longer offers the OF-40 for purchase.
Variants
OF-40 Mk.2 - The Mk.2 version of the OF-40 featured an improved fire control system which featured better gun stabilisation and additional sensors. The Mk.2 also had an improved day/night periscope for the commander, a scope with better magnification for the gunner, and a turret mounted LLLTV camera. All UAE OF-40s have been upgraded to Mk.2 standard.OF-40 ARV - An armoured recovery vehicle based on the OF-40 hull.
OF-40 SPAAG - Although it was never produced, a self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle similar to the Gepard
Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard
The Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard is an autonomous, all-weather-capable German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun . It was developed in the 1960s and fielded in the 1970s, and has been upgraded several times with the latest electronics...
was proposed should any customers request it.
Related Developments
PalmariaPalmaria (artillery)
The Palmaria is an Italian self-propelled 155 mm howitzer.-History:Developed by OTO Melara for the export market, the development of the Palmaria began in 1977, with the first prototype appearing in 1981.-Design:...
- The OF-40 hull was later used as the basis for the Palmaria self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
system. The Palmaria met with far more success than the OF-40, with 210 being ordered by Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
and 25 by Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
purchased the Palmaria turrets, but used their own TAM
TAM (tank)
The Tanque Argentino Mediano , or TAM, is the main battle tank in service with the Argentine Army. Lacking the experience and resources to design a tank, the Argentine Ministry of Defense contracted German company Thyssen-Henschel...
hulls.
OTOMATIC
Otomatic
The Otomatic was an Italian prototype self-propelled anti-aircraft gun built by OTO-Melara. It combined the chassis of a Leopard 1 or OF-40 tank with a new turret mounting the Otobreda 76 mm gun along with associated search and targeting radars and their fire control systems...
- Both Leopard 1 and OF-40 hulls were used during the development for the as yet unordered OTOMATIC self-propelled air-defence system
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon
An anti-aircraft vehicle, also known as a self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon or self-propelled air defense system , is a mobile vehicle with a dedicated anti-aircraft capability...