- Yes
- No
During the late cold war OTO Melara had been very active in a lot of defence sectors, as such it was no surpise that they would begin to develop a multitude of wheeled and tracked military platforms. One of their most important designs was known as the OF-40. The OF-40 was a stepping stone for OTO Melara as thanks to that design a lot of new variants of vehicles would be made or proposed based on it. Its design could be traced back to the OTO Melara Leone, which was in essence a modified Leopard 1 tank. That experience was vital when creating the OF-40, so much so that some design elements from the Leone would make their way unto the OF-40. The tank was initally offered to the Italian army but due to the fact that they already had several hundred Leopard 1 tanks in service they would see no need in adopting the OF-40. OTO Melara would instead focus their efforts with the OF-40 by placing it on the export market. Some nations would be interested but only the UAE would ever adopt the OF-40. OTO Melara would then create an upgrade which improved the previous OF-40 (now known as OF-40 MK1) variants of the OF-40 into the MK2 standard. Sometime after OTO Melara had created the MK2 they had then kept on studying the machine to see what other upgrades could be implemented to further increase its chances of being exported. An evolution of the OF-40 platform would be made, known as the Palmaria. The Palmaria mainly reffered to the artillery system that was placed on the improved OF-40 platform, the Palmaria platform would be able to install heavier turrets and had access to better engines. This same Palmaria platform would eventually lead to vehicles such as the OTOMATIC and the OF-40 MK3. One lesser known and quite obscure variant would be the OF-40 SPAA, its official designation is unknown but it usually would be known as the ‘Semovente OF-40/CA1’ or ‘OF-40 ATAK-35’. It would be made around the 1980’s and seemingly was shortly offered to the Italian army as at the time they had little to no modern AA systems at their disposal. This platform paired the Italian OTO Melara Palmaria platform with the Swiss Contraves AG Twin 35mm ATAK turret. The ATAK turret would be based on the German Gepard but with some noteable differences which allowed the system to have considerably higher combat capabilities. This was mainly due to the new digital onboard fire-control system, improved gun systems and loading, reduced reaction time, higher hit probability and improved armament which allowed the cannons to fire new generation Oerlikon-Bührle 35mm muntions. The range of the 35mm cannons would be around 5km, which was similar to the Gepard platform. It had access to a search radar which had a max range of 15km whilst the tracking radar had a max range of 13km. If for whatever reason it had to retreat or just cover itself, it also had access to 12 smoke grenades, a small improvement over the 8 of the Gepard. OTO Melara together with Contraves would try to market this platform to many nations but ultimately had no luck, OTO Melara put the prototype in storage and likely got scrapped some years ago due to it not being in good enough condition to warrant a restoration.
Armament+Equipment
x2 35mm Oerlikon-Bührle cannon (able to fire most nato standard 35mm munitions)
x12 smoke grenades
Search and tracking radar
Specifications
Spoiler
Specification for this specific turret/model
Search Radar max range of 15 km
Tracking Radar max range of 13 km
(both of which are made by Hollandse Signaalapparaten)
No Laser Rangefinder compared to Gepard 1A1 and 1A2
12 total smoke grenades (compared to 8 on the gepard)
Specs of the 35mm Oerlikon 35mm cannon:
Rate of Fire: 1100 total (2x550)
Max Anti-Air bullets of 320 per gun (total of 640)
Max Armor-Piercing Bullets of 20 per gun (total of 40)
Barrel Length: 3150 mm
Gun depression/elevation -5 to +85
Max range of about 5km (same as the Gepard 1A1 and 1A2)
Shells:
APDS-T (DM23) PMD-049
Muzzle velocity 1440 m/s
Round mass of 1445 g
Projectile mass 380 g
With a pen of 90mm at 1000 meters (not the current 112 which is present on the gepard that is not true) (at 0 degrees)
FAPDS (DM33) PMD-055
Muzzle velocity 1440 m/s
Round mass 1440 g
Projectile mass 375 g
With a pen of 90mm at 1000 meters (same as the DM23) (at 0 degrees)
The length for both of these (PMD-049 and PMD-055) are the same, those are:
Complete round 340 mm
Cartridge case 228 mm
SAPHEI-T (DM??) PMD-044
Muzzle velocity 1175 m/s
Round mass of 1565 g
Projectile mass 550 g
Explosive mass 22 g
with a pen of 40mm at 1000 meters (at 0 degrees)
HEI-T (Possibly DM11 but not sure) PMD-040
Muzzle velocity 1175 m/s
Round mass of 1550 g
Projectile mass 535 g
Explosive mass 98 g
HEI (DM??) PMD-048
Muzzle velocity 1175 m/s
Round mass of 1572 g
Projectile mass 535 g
Explosive mass 85 g
These rounds (PMD-044, PMD-040 and PMD-048) share the same length, those are:
Complete round 387 mm
Cartridge case 228 mm
Why it should be added in game
Italy needs more types of AA systems which have access to search and track radars, this platform would be really good if placed at the right BR. It would not be OP due to its playstyle being very similar to the Gepard already in game. The model for this platform could be made relatively easily, it overall would be a welcome addition.
Sources
Spoiler
(Many thanks to MandeFTW who provided me with more detailed specs on the turret when i first submitted this suggestion on the old WT forums)
Museo Della Melara archives
Contraves mit erfreulichen Zukunftsperspektiven
Janes Ammunition Handbook 2002
Oerlikon Contraves Brochure 1990
Official KMW Gepard/Cheetah PRTL Specsheet
Jane’s A&A 1993-94
Jane’s A&A 1987-88
JDW 13/10/1984
Michael Schielbert The Leopard Family
Gli Autoveicoli dell’EI vol.4
Flakpanzer Gepard upgrades | Secret Projects Forum
Operating Report: OF-40 Gepard PRTL
OF-40 - Wikipedia
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/of_40.htm
Gepard | Weaponsystems.net
SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM: OTO MELARA - FIAT OF-40 - PALMARIA - OTOMATIC
Flakpanzer Gepard - Tank Encyclopedia
OF-40 - Wikipedia
Photos
Spoiler
