Astra BM 305

     Notes: This older semi-tractor was designed primarily to tow tank transporter semi-trailers.  It is not actually in use by the Italian Army, but has had sales to Middle Eastern and North African countries, though of late it has been largely replaced or supplemented by newer designs.  This model of the BM-305 is basically a military version of the civilian range of BM 305 heavy trucks, which were designed primarily for use in construction work.  The military BM 305 has a minimum of modifications to suit it to a military role; this consisted for the most part of taking out most amenities and replacing things like the seats with stronger materials and the civilian radios with military ones.  A NATO-type slave receptacle has also been added.  The BM 305 uses a forward-control tipper cab which also has several access panels for the engine and transmission for less demanding maintenance and repairs.  The cab has space for the driver and two passengers, as well as a space behind the seats for crew equipment.  The cab is primarily made of fiberglass over a steel frame. Behind the cab is a 20-ton-capacity winch and an operator’s platform. Suspension is 6x4, and the BM 305 is primarily meant for road use.  There is a choice of two engines provided to buyers, an Italian FIAT-built 8280.02 engine or a German-made Mercedes-built OM423 engine.  Both have 352 horsepower and are compatible with the same FIAT-built transmission, but the Mercedes engine has 10 cylinders as opposed to the FIAT engine’s 8, and although the FIAT engine is smaller, it has more torque than the Mercedes engine.  For game purposes, the performance with either engine is identical, except during maintenance or when finding parts is required.

Astra HD 66.45 TIM

     Notes: This semi-tractor is based on the Astra HD series of heavy trucks.  The wheelbase has been widened, and thicker rear axles have been fitted, making them stronger for towing operations and allowing the fitting of dual tires on the two rear axles.  The suspension is 6x6, but optimized for road use and with limited off-road capability.  Two 20-ton winches are mounted behind the cab, but 25-ton-capacity winches are an option (and cost $2500 more).  The cab is the forward control type, tipping forward for maintenance, and it is a sleeper cab with two bunks.  The cab also has a heater and air conditioner. The HD 66.45 TIM is powered by an IVECO 8280 TDA developing 440 horsepower, coupled with a ZF Servocom 8089 manual transmission with 16 forward and two reverse gears.

IVECO 320-45 WTM

     Notes: The 320-45 WTM was designed specifically for the towing of tank transporter trailers, especially carrying the Leopard 1s the Italian Army used at the time of its introduction to Italian service.  Known to the Italian Army as the ATC/81, it was introduced in 1978 and remains in service today; a variant is also used by the United Arab Emirates.  The trailer it normally tows is the Bartoletti Mod TCS-50 BO, but other semi-trailers may be towed as well.  The 320-45 WTM has a forward-control cab which tips forward.  There are two types of cab available: one is of all-steel construction with a hard top and doors, and the other has a canvas top, doors where the tops or the entire door may be removed, and a windshield that may be folded flat against the front of the cab.  At the rear of the cab are two winches with capacities of 20 tons each, with 50 meters of cable.  The suspension is an off-road 6x6 type, with single tires up front and duals for the two rear axles; the axles have locking differentials.  The engine of the 320-45 WTM is an IVECO 8280.22 turbodiesel developing 450 horsepower, coupled to a manual transmission incorporating a torque converter, a locking torque divider, and eight forward and one reverse gear.

     The variant used by the UAE has single tires on all wheels, but the rear two axles are fitted with special sand tires which are significantly larger than those on the front end.  The front tires are also larger than those used on Italian versions, and are also special sand tires.  The wheelbase is slightly longer than the Italian model, but the entire vehicle is lighter in weight than the Italian variant.

IVECO EuroTrakker

     Notes: These trucks – the MP 720E54 W and the MP 1100E80 W (and their variants) – are the semi-tractor components of the IVECO Euro range of civilian trucks, suitably militarized.  The cabs and transmissions are common to the civilian versions, but the engines, gearboxes, transfer boxes, and cooling systems are greatly upgraded.  Several engines are available for each truck, and they may have manual, automatic, or selectable manual/automatic transmissions.  The MP720E54 W is 6x6 and the smaller of the two; it has an off-road suspension, typically fitted with single front tires and dual rear tires, though single sand/snow tires on all wheels is an option.  Differential locks are standard, but antilock brakes and a central tire inflation system are optional.  The cab is all-steel and is a forward-control sleeper cab; options for the cab include a rear bench seat replacing the bunk, or two bunks instead of one.  Other options for the cab are additional armor protection, mine protection, air conditioning, and a roof hatch with a weapons mount (the latter two included in the stats below).  Behind the cab are a pair of 15-ton-capacity winches. The last number in the designation tells the horsepower of the engine used – the MP720E37 W has a 370-horsepower engine, the MP 1100E80 W uses an 800-horsepower engine, and so on.

     The MP 1100E80 W is similar, but is an 8x8 vehicle with greater towing capacity and generally higher engine horsepower. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These trucks are not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

*The AV listed applies only to the cab; the rest of the semi-tractor is not so protected.  However, the floor of the cab and under the engine is AV4Sp.

IVECO M 1100.50 WTM

     Notes: This semi-tractor is part of the IVECO Heavy Range of military trucks, and is basically the 320.42 WM modified into the semi-tractor role.  The cab is made of glass-fiber/resin composite, and can take add-on armor panels.  It is a cabover tipper design.  The chassis is made from high-grade steel.  There are tow pintles on the front and rear for recovery purposes.  Behind the cab are twin winches with a capacity of 25 tons each.  The suspension is a heavy-duty 8x8 design with differential locks and twin tires on the rear two axles.  The truck has power steering, antilock brakes, and an optional governor.  Standard towing capacity is 105 tons, but by reducing speed to half, 130 tons may be towed. The M 1100.50 WTM is powered by an IVECO 8210 Euro3 turbodiesel developing 600 horsepower, coupled with a ZF WSK 400 torque converter and a ZF 16S21 synchromesh transmission with 16 forward and 16 reverse gears.  The M 1100.50 WTM has power assisted steering and brakes.

*The AV listed applies only to the cab; the rest of the semi-tractor is not so protected.  However, the floor of the cab and under the engine is AV4Sp.