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:

  • VM 90T Torpedo, a tactical vehicle with a tarpaulin covered rear.
  • VM 90P Protetto (Protected), fitted with a fully armored body.
  • Ambulanza VM 90 (Ambulance VM 90), fitted with an ambulance body.

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

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Torpedo

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Bulgarian Gendarmerie VM90 APC.
Canadian Armed Forces VM90 shelter carrier.

The Torpedo version is the basic version, with rear tilt and capable of carrying 10 men, besides the driver. This version is suitable for transporting tactical troops, 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

  • Displacement: 2499cc
  • Cylinders: 4
  • Power: kW: 73.5, HP: 100 at 3,800 rpm
  • Length: 4500 mm
  • Width: 2000 mm
  • Height: 2483 mm
  • Transmission gears: 5 manual
  • Strength: Full
  • Speed: 102 km / h
  • Positions: 1 + 8
  • Range: 800 km

Protected

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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 armour, with a cockpit that replaces the rear platform with tarpaulin version of Torpedo. The armoured 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 criticised for being unsafe for its crew, as the armour 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 its evident lack of protection offered, the VM 90P has never been loved by Italian military personnel; because of a vague resemblance, Italian soldiers "lovingly" nicknamed it as the "scarrafone" (big ugly cockroach).

At that time the deadliest incident involving this kind of armoured 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

  • Displacement: 2499 cm 3
  • Cylinders: 4
  • Power: kW: 75.7 (HP: 103) at 3800 rpm
  • Length: 4680 mm
  • Width: 1980 mm
  • Height: 2380 mm
  • Transmission gears: 5 speed manual
  • Strength: Full
  • Positions: 1 + 6
  • Range: 800 km.

Ambulance

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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

  • Displacement: 2499 cm 3
  • Cylinders: 4
  • Power: kW: 75.7 (HP: 103) at 3800 rpm
  • Length: 4880 mm
  • Width: 2040 mm
  • Height: 2200 mm
  • Transmission gears: 5 manual
  • Strength: Full
  • Top speed: 110 km / h
  • Positions: 3 front, 1 rear, 2 stretchers
  • Range: 800 km.

Operators

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Map with VM 90 operators in blue

Current operators

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Iveco VM 90 with the Royal Brunei Land Force

Civilian operators

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Foreign production

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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. LSVWs feature a turbocharger to increase power to 115 horsepower (86 kW), and a four-speed automatic transmission.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ See preamble on the data sheet of VM90P in the database of wheeled vehicles of the Italian Army Archived 2010-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Kader Factory". Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
  3. ^ "Capabilities & Facilities". www.deftech.com.my. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Military items | Military vehicles | Military trucks | Military Badge Collection » Malta". Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  5. ^ Passe par tout (2009-06-27), GNR Iveco VM90 P (Protetto), retrieved 2022-01-13
  6. ^ "Recrutamento Militar - Marinha | Exército | Força Aérea". recrutamentomilitar.bud.gov.pt. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  7. ^ a b "Portugal vai já enviar blindados para a Ucrânia". Jornal SOL (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  8. ^ "Government of Italy has donated military trucks and armoured vehicles to Somalia to rebuild army | March 2015 Global Defense Security news UK | Defense Security global news industry army 2015 | Archive News year".
  9. ^ "Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine".
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