Notes: The Ariete is similar in form and concept to the Leopard 2 or Leclerc, being a modern design with a 120mm gun, advanced fire control and night vision, and composite armor for protection. The design is standard, with the driver at the front center deck, and commander and loader’s hatches on the turret roof. The turret has blow-out panels for the ammunition bin; if a turret hit indicates an ammunition explosion, the Ariete is not destroyed and the crew killed. Instead, the ammunition in the turret is destroyed, the armament, sensors, rangefinder, and radios take minor damage, and each member of the crew takes 50 points of concussion damage. There is also a hatch in the left of the turret for ammunition resupply. 15 rounds of ammunition may be carried in the turret. First deliveries to the Italian Army were in 1995.

Twilight 2000 Notes: As delivery of the Ariete to Italian forces did not begin until early 1994 and prewar lack of funding prevented the rapid acquisition the Italian Army had hoped for, the Ariete was less common in the Twilight War than its counterpart NATO designs. The level of protection proved to be inferior to that of the Leopard 2 (especially the 2A5 and 3), and many tank duels between Italian and German forces went the Germans’ way.

Notes: The OF-40 was designed specifically for the export market and was not intended to be used by Italian forces. 18 Mk 1s were sold to the United Arab Emirates, and then they bought 18 Mk 2s and 3 of the recovery vehicle version. The 18 Mk 1s were then brought up to Mk2 standards. The OF-40 is no longer being marketed.

The OF-40 is a standard sort of tank, if behind the times. It does not have the composite armor of most of its contemporaries, but it does have the virtue of being lighter and cheaper than them. It has night vision, but not thermal imaging. It uses a 105mm gun instead of a 120mm. Fire control is adequate. The Mk 2 adds an advanced fire control system and an independent sight for the commander.

The OF-40/120 Mk 2A is a different beast altogether. It is a greatly modified Mk 2; it has a 120mm gun. The turret is similar to the C-1 Ariete. The fire control system is fully computerized with a laser rangefinder. The armor is more advanced.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The OF-40 found pre-war sales only to the United Arab Emirates, but during the war, sales were made to Thailand and Greece, and some were taken into service in the Italian Army. A few OF-40/120 Mk2As (about 10) were sold to the United Arab Emirates before the war, but most ended up in the hands of the Italian Army, who continued low-rate production during the Twilight War until the factory was destroyed by air strikes.