Fiat 665NM protetto

The Fiat 665NM protetto (protected) or scudato (shielded) was a wheeled armoured personnel carrier, produced in Italy and employed during World War II by the Royal Italian Army, the National Republican Army and the Wehrmacht.

Fiat 665NM protetto
A 665NM protetto in yellow sand coloration as originally intended at the African front.
TypeArmored personnel carrier
Place of originKingdom of Italy
Service history
In service1942-1945
Used byRoyal Italian Army
National Republican Army
Wehrmacht
WarsWorld War II
Production history
ManufacturerFiat Veicoli Industriali-Arsenale Regio Esercito di Torino
No. built110
VariantsFiat 666
Specifications
Mass9 t
Length7,345 m
Width2,73 m
Height2,73 m
Crew2
Passengers20
Armor7,5 mm
Main
armament
Breda 30 automatic rifle
EngineDiesel Fiat 366, 6-cylinder, direct injection, 9365 cm³
110 hp a 2000 r/min
Transmission4×4
Maximum speed 57 km/h

History
Armoured driver and commander seat

The vehicle was developed in 1942 at the Arsenale Regio Esercito di Torino in collaboration with the Fiat Veicoli Industriali following the request of the Military Staff for a troop carrier to be issued to the armoured division on the African front. 300 were ordered but the Armistice of Cassibile stopped production in 1943 at 110 vehicles. Because of the landing of US troops in Tunisia. They never arrived on the African front,[1] but were instead assigned to the 154th infantry division "Murge" and 13th infantry division"Re" and used in the Balkans against the partisan forces.[2] After the armistice they were employed by the forces of the Italian Social Republic and by occupying Wehrmacht forces.[3]

The vehicle, although only resistant to small arms fire, proved satisfactory for police functions in the occupied territories.

Description

The vehicle is based on the Fiat 665 heavy truck , the diesel, four-wheel drive version of the Fiat 666. The mechanics remained unchanged, while the modifications involve armor with steel plates of 7.5 mm thick, which ensured the protection against small arms fire. The driver's seat was fully armored, with armored doors protecting of the radiator and windshield replaced by an armored panel with slits, that shields the driver and the commander.[4] The rear combat compartment preserved the wood sides of the truck body, which are armored internally, while the upper part was made up of inclined plates and internally provided with eight slits per side and two on the back. The top of the combat compartment was open and was accessed via a rear ladder. The compartment could accommodate 20 soldiers, sitting on two benches placed along the sides of the compartment. The protection also extended to the fuel tank.

Rear view

Besides individual armament of the infantry, used via the slits, generally every vehicle was equipped with a Breda Mod. 30 automatic rifle.[5]

Note
  1. Pignacca, Brizio. Ruote in divisa. Giorgio Nada Editore.
  2. Bossi, Paolo. Cent'anni di Camion Fiat. Fondazione Negri.
  3. Bossi, Paolo. Storia illustrata del Camion Italiano. Fondazione Neri.
  4. Pignato, Nicola; Cappellano, Filippo (2005). Gli Autoveicoli tattici e logistici del Regio Esercito Italiano fino al 1943, vol. II. Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito Ufficio Storico.
  5. Pignato, Nicola. Gli Autoveicoli del Regio Esercito nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Storia Militare.

See also
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