Iveco VM 90

A VM 90T of the San Marco Regiment of the Marina Militare in Iraq, during Operation Antica Babilonia.

The Iveco VM 90 is an Italian multirole military vehicle. It is a hybrid, somewhere between a truck and tactical SUV, manufactured by Iveco, on the base of the Iveco Daily. From this version was subsequently also derived the 40.10WM civilian version, designed for law enforcement and civil protection.

It is in service in the Italian Army in three versions:

The Torpedo version is also supplied with ground forces of the Italian Navy and the Italian Air Force. The VM 90 is powered by a diesel engine.

Versions

Torpedo

The Torpedo version is the basic version, with rear tilt and capable of carrying 10 men, besides the driver. This version is suitable for transportation tactical troop, but does not have an armor, among other uses, there is the possibility of pulling small artillery pieces or serve as a tactical command post.

It is used by all departments of the Italian Army since the service was used in all missions outside the box.

Features

Protected

A VM 90P of the Carabinieri.
Two VM 90P of the Carabinieri with new colors layout (2012).

This variant is intended to deal with the need to ensure greater protection for personnel. The secure version has a full armor, with a cockpit that replaces the rear platform with tarpaulin version of Torpedo. The armored cockpit is equipped with rear door windows and holes to use the arms without exposing himself, as well as trap-gun or other weapon.

The vehicle has been criticized for being unsafe for its crew, as the armor does not offer high protection, but was adopted into service anyway as a temporary solution pending the entry into service of the VBL Puma.[1] The vehicle was employed in Somalia, during Operation Restore Hope, and in Iraq during Operation Antica Babilonia. Due to his evident lack of safety in war theatre, the VM 90P has never been loved by Italian military personnel; because of a vague resemblance, italian soldiers "lovely" nicknamed it as the "scarrafone" (big ugly cockroach).

At that time the deadliest incident involving this kind of armored vehicle took place: on 27 April 2006 in Nasiriya an IED exploded under a VM90P with 5 servicemen on board. Three of them were killed instantly due to thermal shock and the other two were critically burned and died thereafter.

Features

Ambulance

Iveco-Pegaso 40.10WM of the Spanish Army.

The ambulance version of the VM 90 is a variant of the Torpedo suited to carry injured off-road and tactical level, which will join the ambulance version of the Fiat Ducato, also supplied all Italian Army.

Features

Operators

Map with VM 90 operators in blue
Bulgaria Gendarmerie VM90 APC
Canadian Armed Forces VM90 shelter carrier

Current operators

Civilian operators

Variants

Canadian Forces LSVW light truck

Western Star, then of Canada, produced a licensed version of the VM90 for the Canadian Forces during the 1990s called the LSVW.

See also

References

  1. ↑ See preamble on the data sheet of VM90P in the database of wheeled vehicles of the Italian Army
  2. ↑ http://www.aoi.com.eg/aoiarab/aoi/kader/eng_new_page_6.html
  3. ↑ http://www.armyrecognition.com/march_2015_global_defense_security_news_uk/government_of_italy_has_donated_military_trucks_and_armoured_vehicles_to_somalia_to_rebuild_army.html
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