FIAT 6614
Contents
Description
The FIAT 6614 (M40A1) is a rank IV Italian light tank with a battle rating of 6.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic".
General info
Survivability and armour
Armour type:
- Rolled homogeneous armour (hull)
- Gun steel (gun barrel, MG)
- Wheel (tires)
| Armour | Front (Slope angle) | Sides | Rear | Roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 8 mm (30-46°) Driver viewport 8 mm (70-81°) Upper Glacis 8 mm (52°) Lower Glacis |
8 mm (21-45°) Top 5 mm (12-20°) Radiator vents 8 mm (25-33°) Bottom 8 mm Wheelwells |
8 mm (17°) Upper plate 8 mm (43°) Lower plate |
8 mm (9-20°) Front Glacis 8 mm Crew compartment |
| Gun mount | 8 mm | |||
| Cupola | 8 mm | |||
Notes:
- All windows are 8 mm thick.
- The tires are 10 mm thick.
- The belly is 8 mm thick.
The FIAT 6614 has almost no armour, like other vehicles in the Italian tree, and with that very low survivability. Anything that hits a side shot will knock out at least one crew member, while a frontal or rear shot will incapacitate a minimum of 3 crew, enough to take the player back to the hangar.
The average effective thickness changes depending on where the FIAT 6614 is shot from. At the front, it ranges from 15-20 mm thick, although the front-facing window of the driver's hatch does only give 9 mm of armour between a machine gun round and the driver. While a 7.62 mm round will only penetrate at close range, a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun round will only fail to penetrate that window at over a kilometre away. Considering the car's most valuable advantage is its ability to get to good positions fast, an incapacitated driver will ruin the FIAT 6614's chances in the match.
The side's obvious weak spots are the grills near the front that are only 5mm thick. Considering that the vehicle has a hexagon-shaped cross-section if sliced from left to right, the upper plate of the slanted side offers 9 mm of protection after the grill and 10-12mm around and in front of the grill. The lower side plate gives a whole new world of armour with a minimum thickness of 10mm everywhere, which means at least the 7.62 mm machine guns can't penetrate the car through there. The doors have the same thickness as the rest of the sides.
On the back, there's one slanted plate that is 8 mm at the top which increases to 14 mm at the bottom. Again, like the sides, the door doesn't have a different thickness. Also, the gun is very easy to disable as it has a maximum effective thickness of 88 mm, which all tanks at this BR will be able to penetrate and disable in one shot.
This tank is still very vulnerable to strafing aircraft. Bombs and rockets also deal heavy damage if the FIAT 6614 is standing in their destruction radius.
Mobility
| Game Mode | Max Speed (km/h) | Weight (tons) | Engine power (horsepower) | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Reverse | Stock | Upgraded | Stock | Upgraded | ||
| Arcade | 112 | 22 | 8.7 | 225 | 305 | 25.86 | 35.06 |
| Realistic | 100 | 20 | 128 | 160 | 14.71 | 18.39 | |
The FIAT 6614's mobility is very good. The fastest speeds it can reach will depend on the terrain: on a track like the ones on Sinai, the FIAT 6614 can easily reach 60 or 70 km/h, and driving on an actual road or going downhill it will reach the 80's or 90's; but on a grassy field, it may only reach up to 45 km/h. Due to the FIAT 6614 being a wheeled car, going through sand, snow or a small uphill will trickle away its speed. The wheeled construction means the FIAT also cannot neutral steer, but it does have a small turning circle (tank-sized) and it can turn in this circle at 23 km/h.
When reversing the FIAT 6614 has good acceleration as well, reaching -10 km/h after about 3 seconds and will get to -20 by the fourth second.
Modifications and economy
| Mobility | Protection | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Main armament
| 106 mm Cannone da 106 s.r.M40A1 | Turret rotation speed (°/s) | Reloading rate (seconds) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Capacity | Vertical | Horizontal | Stabilizer | Stock | Upgraded | Full | Expert | Aced | Stock | Full | Expert | Aced |
| Arcade | 17 | -10°/+12° | ±360° | N/A | 9.5 | 13.2 | 16.0 | 17.7 | 18.8 | 13.00 | 11.50 | 10.60 | 10.00 |
| Realistic | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 9.4 | 10.0 | ||||||||
Ammunition
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | |||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| M344A1 | HEAT | 433 | 433 | 433 | 433 | 433 | 433 |
| M361A1 | HESH | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 | 152 |
| Shell details | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Type of warhead |
Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile Mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | ||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | |||||||
| M344A1 | HEAT | 502 | 10 | 0 | 0.01 | 1,650 | 65° | 72° | 77° |
| M361A1 | HESH | 498 | 10 | 0.1 | 4 | 5,040 | 73° | 77° | 80° |
Ammo racks
| Full ammo |
1st rack empty |
2nd rack empty |
3rd rack empty |
4th rack empty |
5th rack empty |
Visual discrepancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 11 (+6) | 9 (+8) | 7 (+10) | 3 (+14) | 1 (+16) | No |
Notes:
- Rounds are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
- Full ammo load should be brought for the cannon because running out of shells is very common in this vehicle.
Machine guns
The M80 is a spotting machine gun attached to the M40A1 recoilless rifle. The low velocity of its projectiles and limited capacity make it ineffective against enemy ground vehicles, only being able to effectively damage exposed crew members. However, the ballistics of the weapon are aligned with the gun's ballistics, meaning that it can be used to range a target, rather than using the rangefinding skill.
| 12.7 mm M80 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount | Capacity (Belt) | Fire rate | Vertical | Horizontal |
| Coaxial | 120 (5) | 300 | N/A | N/A |
Usage in battles
Ground RB/SB/AB
The FIAT is a light tank destroyer with extremely potent anti-tank grenades that are almost guaranteed to slice through any armoured foe. Never put yourself on the front lines as your armour is not up to the task against anything heavier than .30 calibre machine gun fire, so striking from the shadows is the best option. One of the main upsides is that you don't have an actual gunner who exposes themselves to fire, meaning all you have to do is find a great position and remain hull-down. Getting to said position is fairly easy if you are on a map with easily accessible roads. The FIAT 6614 will manage to reach its top speed and overtake most of the vehicles at its battle rating, use your speed to your absolute advantage, with the FIAT 6614, to maximize your effectiveness on the battlefield, you need to be in places were regular enemies won't suspect vehicles to be shot at from. Another great feature that the FIAT 6614 has access to is the scouting mechanic. Scouting will allow you to earn even more points, whilst also providing great intel for your teammates to take advantage of. Due to the excellent penetration of the both HEAT and HESH rounds, this tank destroyer is best played pointing and shooting at the target, not minding weak spots, especially due to the overpressure damage mechanic. Although some tanks will be able to survive one or two shots, generally speaking you should make quick work of anyone you encounter. If you get spotted, you should quickly disengage and move to a new spot where enemies will again not suspect you shooting from, to disengage you can use smoke grenades to cover your retreat for a short while. Always remember to stay at a safe distance, as previously mentioned you wont be able to withstand much, if anything. You'll be at the mercy of artillery strikes and enemy aircraft. It's recommended to take cover inside a building or behind a natural obstacle that will protect you from such threats. Also keep in mind that in Arcade Battles, enemies can easily find out where you are located with the nametag and are able to quickly find out where your weak spots are.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- HEATFS is capable of frontally penetrating all tanks at its BR while providing good post penetration damage
- 360-degree turret transverse
- Fast on hard terrain
- The gun mounting allows you to hide the entire hull behind cover while still having the gun above cover, allowing you to engage enemies with nothing but the gun exposed. More positions can be opened up thanks to the lower than average muzzle velocity, allowing you to lob shells over the terrain.
- Can swim
Cons:
- Very thin armour, vulnerable to machine gun fire, artillery and strafing
- HESH damage is very random
- Bad off-road speed, reduces to a crawl in snow or mud
- Poor gun handling
- Low muzzle velocity can make ranged engagements difficult
History
The Fiat 6614 was an APC joint venture between Fiat and OTO Melara. Post-war Italy had realized the need of having light vehicles that could easily be deployed at long distances to further support the front-line troops, without actually being in the front-line. The Fiat 6614 was specifically made to fill in the requirements of the many military and para-military organizations, where some form of mobile armoured protection is required for personnel. The first prototype was made in 1972, which underwent many changes, both aesthetic and armament-wise. An example would be such as the Fiat 6614 having access to a dual .50 cal turret, which would be ultimately removed after testing. Fiat would be in charge of the engine and the automotive components while OTO Melara was in charge of the hull and weapon system. The Fiat 6614 would be outfitted with an IVECO 8062.24 diesel engine, this allowed the Fiat 6614 to reach speeds of 100 km/h. It had a max crew of 3, but being a APC, could carry up to 10 soldiers at once. One of its staple abilities was the fact that it could be amphibious (propulsion once in the water was provided by the road wheels), which further allowed it to push itself into it being a multi-role vehicle. There was plenty of optional equipment available for the Fiat 6614, such as: recovery winch, night vision equipment, smoke grenade discharges and also an air conditioning system. Armament-wise, due to its weight, it couldn't really support heavy loads (primarily also why the Fiat 6616 was made), this didn't stop it from having a few armaments installed, one of the more obscure variants being one with a FIROS-6 rocket launcher. It's good to note that it was also marketed as a mortar carrier, medi-vac ambulance and also a reconnaissance vehicle.
This FIAT 6614 is a further development prototype for anti heavy armoured target purposes by mounting a 106 mm M40A1 recoilless rifle forward of the commander's position on the turret roof. It was only a one-off, as far as we know of, which members of the Italian military would use to evaluate its effectiveness on the field. Ultimately it wasn't picked up due to other vehicles in the Italian army being much better candidates, and also due to the M40A1 recoilless rifle getting more and more obsolete. It was able to fire M40A1 standard munitions, such as HEAT and HESH, and the rounds would be stored near the backside of the vehicle.
In terms of service, the Italian Fiat 6614 is still technically in service, inside of the 'Polizia di Stato' (State police), mainly used for riot control and during natural disasters where its amphibious abilities can come in handy. Other times it was used would be when the Italian Army deployed a number of Fiat 6614's to Bosnia and Somalia, for safekeeping. They had a huge success in the export market, one of the biggest successes being in the South Korean army. The Fiat 6614 would be license produced in South Korea, where it was widely used, although as of now it's said they've completely gone out of service. The South Korean Fiat 6614 is known as the KM900, while locally introduced variants, known as the KM901 can include an armoured ambulance, mortar carriers, and command vehicles. Other countries still using it to this day include Libya, Somalia, Tunisia, Argentina, Venezuela, and Peru. Fiat 6616 also known as 'Autoblinda 1974' (AUBL/74) is a further development model of the Fiat 6614, after OTO Melara and Fiat engineers started experimenting on up-arming the Fiat 6614.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
- Other vehicles equipped with a recoilless rifle
- Other vehicles equipped with a similar chassis
External links
| Italy light tanks | |
|---|---|
| Italy | |
| L6/40 | L6/40 · L6/40 (31 Rgt.) |
| M11/39 | M11/39 |
| Autoblindo | AB 41 · AB 43 |
| Fiat 6614/6616 | FIAT 6614 · AUBL/74 · AUBL/74 HVG |
| R3 Capraia | R3 T106 FA |
| Centauro | Centauro I 105 · Centauro I 105 R · Centauro I 120 · Centauro RGO · VRCC |
| Freccia | VBC (PT2) · Freccia |
| Dardo | Dardo · VCC-80/60 · VCC-80/30 |
| Other | C13 T90 |
| USA | ▄M3A3 · ▄M24 · ▄M18 |
| Hungary | |
| WWII | Csaba · Toldi IIA |
| Post | ◔BTR-80A · KF41 |
