Ukrainian Warfighters to Receive 400 Camilino APCs From Italy
Italy’s Ministry of Defence has announced it will send VCC-2 Camilino armored personnel carriers to Ukraine in response to Russia’s continued aggression.
Revealed as part of Rome’s 11th installment of military aid to Kyiv, the donation will include 400 vehicles, with some in combat-ready condition and others for use as spare parts.
The vehicles will come with an undisclosed type of satellite surveillance system to enhance the Ukrainian military’s operational coordination and situational awareness on the frontlines.
Details on the Camilino shipment’s schedule and value have not yet been disclosed, local Ukrainian news agencies reported.
About the VCC-2 Camilino
The VCC-2 Camilino is the Italian Army variant of the American M113 troop transport system first deployed during the Vietnam War.
Among the primary modifications of the Camilino is its chassis design, which has a heavy focus on enhanced protected mobility and firepower over the original M113’s passenger capacity.
Last year, the Ukrainian National Police’s “Liut” Assault Brigade adopted the standard M113 vehicle as its workhorse system for infantry transport.
In 2022, NATO partnered with Rome to process the demilitarization, dismantling, and disposal of more than 700 old M113 personnel carriers in the Italian Army. While the government employs about 1,200 of the systems, most of them have not been fielded for years. In 2021, the fleet’s final ten M113s were retired from service.
The remaining vehicles from this decommissioning are speculated to be the same units to be supplied to Ukraine under the recent defense assistance.
Specifications
The Camilino measures 5 meters (16 feet) long, weighs approximately 11,600 kilograms (25,574 pounds), and has seating for up to nine personnel.
It is covered with aluminum protective armor, which has thicker sheets on the front and side panels.
The vehicle is powered by three-forward transmission and a 215-horsepower six-cylinder water-cooled diesel engine for speeds of 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour and a range of more than 500 kilometers (311 miles).
The platform’s main armament is a Browning .50-caliber heavy machine gun.
