FIAT 2000

History of FIAT 2000

Italy was slow in developing its armored forces compared to other countries. During World War I, Italy's battlefields were mostly mountainous and unsuitable for vehicles. However, they recognized the importance of armored cars and requested an evaluation sample from France in 1916.

The sample they received was the Schneider CA1, a slow vehicle with twin machine guns. The British were the leaders in tank development during the war. In 1917, Italy began testing its own armored vehicles and collecting data to fight German and Austro-Hungarian troops.

Fiat, an Italian company, played a significant role in the development of Italian tanks. They produced a heavy tank design called the "FIAT 2000," which had a distinct appearance and was primarily used as mobile cover. It weighed 40 tons and had a high-profile fixed superstructure with a sloping roof and side skirt armor.

The tank had a narrow track, which was not ideal for driving overland, and its weight distribution was affected. It featured a domed transverse turret with a 65mm field gun and 7 machine guns mounted on the hull panels for defense.

The tank required a crew of 10 specialists and had 15mm to 20mm thick armor for protection. It was powered by a 240-horsepower Fiat Aviazone A12-series engine, allowing it to reach a top speed of 4.3 mph on good terrain.

The tank's measurements were approximately 24 feet 3 inches in length, 10 feet 2 inches in width, and an overall height of 12 feet 10 inches.

Specification

Fundamentals

Year of Service: 1918

Origins: Italy

Crew: 10

Production: 2

Manufacturer: Fiat-Italy

Operators: Italy Kingdom

Roles

Fire Support/Attack/Breakthrough

Support allied forces with direct/indirect fire, attacking forward positions and/or breaking through fortified areas of the battlefield.

Tanks vs. Tanks

Fight with armored vehicles of similar form and function. Designed to play an equally special role on the battlefield.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 24. 3 feet (7.4m)

Width: 10. 2 feet (3.1m)

Height: 12.8 feet (3.9m)

Weight: 80,006 lbs (36,290 kg)

Tonnage: 40.0 tons

Power and Performance

Engine: 1 x 240 hp Fiat Aviazone A12 engine.

Speed: 4.3 km/h (7.0km/h)

Area: 46.6 km (75.0 km)

Armament

1 x 65mm main gun in turret.

2 x 6.5mm machine guns in bow hull plate.

2 x 6.5mm machine guns in each side hull plate (one machine gun per side).

2 x 6.5mm machine guns in rear hull fairing.