Italian tank destroyers stuck in Ukraine due to training delays
According to the Bulgarian Military, the Italian wheeled tank destroyers B1 Centauro, which were secretly delivered to Ukraine, are not firing at the Russians because they are stuck in a warehouse near Lviv. The issue, however, is not the technical condition of the equipment but rather the prolonged training of Ukrainian soldiers, who have never dealt with such vehicles before.
The B1 Centauros were spotted in Ukraine only in February of this year, but not during battles on the front; instead, they were seen during transportation on trailers. The Italian government had not previously announced plans to transfer them to Ukraine. This is not the first such situation, as Italy had previously kept weapons transfers to Ukraine secret, including M109L self-propelled howitzers and Puma 6x6 armored personnel carriers.
B1 Centauro in a warehouse instead of the frontline
The issue with the B1 Centauro is the prolonged training of Ukrainian crews. As a result, equipment with interesting parameters and capabilities is being held in a warehouse near Lviv.
In its analysis, the Bulgarian Military points out that the delay draws attention to the logistical and training difficulties that could hinder Ukraine’s ability to effectively deploy these advanced vehicles in ongoing combat. Despite the B1 Centauro’s reputation for mobility and firepower, and the potential it brings to enhance Ukraine's tactical capabilities, its absence from the battlefield reflects deeper issues related to the integration of Western-supplied equipment into the structure of the Ukrainian armed forces.
High firepower and mobility combined
The B1 Centauro is manufactured by IVECO – Oto Melara, a wheeled tank destroyer with an 8x8 drive and an engine with 520 horsepower. Despite weighing approximately 27.5 tons, it is capable of reaching speeds over 60 mph.
The Italians opted for this design, seeking a quick platform with high firepower that would serve in rapid reaction units as a lighter and more maneuverable alternative to tracked main battle tanks.
They implemented a turret with a 105 mm caliber cannon (with a barrel length of 52 calibers), which can use anti-tank or high-explosive shells. The additional armament includes 7.62 mm caliber machine guns and a smoke grenade launcher. The B1 Centauro is also equipped with a fire control system, TURMS (Tank Universal Reconfigurable Modular System), borrowed from the Ariete tank.
The Bulgarian Military notes that the B1 Centauro distinguishes itself from other wheeled platforms through its balanced combination of firepower and maneuverability. In contrast, the French AMX-10RC, which has been delivered to Ukraine and is equipped with a 105 mm gun, weighs 16.5 tons and is primarily designed for reconnaissance rather than direct combat. As a result, it is often employed as mobile artillery in Ukrainian military operations.
