Image Source: topwar.ru
Italy is preparing to transfer a very large number of armored vehicles to Ukraine, certainly not new ones. We are talking about decommissioned M113 armored personnel carriers and their Italian modification VCC-1 Camillino, which are under conservation. The Italian army doesn't need them, but the Ukrainian army will be very useful.
According to reports, there are about 400 decommissioned M113 armored personnel carriers of several modifications in the warehouses of the Italian army. It is unknown how many of them will go to Ukraine, the Italians do not disclose their plans, although the deconservation of equipment has already begun. Italian social networks publish many pictures of armored personnel carriers being transported from storage sites to enterprises, where they will be restored to normal.
It is assumed that about half of the 400 armored personnel carriers will be brought into combat readiness, the other will be disassembled for spare parts due to poor condition. Well, this amount is enough to put two mechanized brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on armored personnel carriers. There is also no data on delivery dates, so far Rome has only announced plans to transfer equipment to the Ukrainian army, and even then it was back in May of this year.
Image source: topwar.ru
The Italian version of the VCC-1 Camillino differs from the American M113 by having a diesel engine, an upgraded transmission and a radio station. Armament — two machine guns of 12.7 and 7.62 mm caliber. There was an option with a 20 mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 automatic cannon, but the Italian government felt it would be too expensive.
It is worth noting that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are armed with American M113 armored personnel carriers of several modifications supplied by European countries, as well as Australia. So this technique is well studied and there will be no problems with mastering it.
