I think that there is a hidden message in there that the Italian Cavalry regts are giving up 24 of their Centauros (ie all the ones from their recce squadrons) and replacing them with Freccias.
It would be interesting to hear the rationale for that. Maybe the Centauro, like the MGS, isn't all its cracked up to be.
I won't even get into the question of why a tank regiment or the heavy infantry battalion uses Linces in its recce platoon.
Well every Italian Brigade, Heavy, Medium or Light, gets a Cavalry Regiment along with three single battalion Manoeuvre Regiments. Those can be either 3x Light, 3x Medium or 2x Heavy and a Tank or 2x Tank and a Heavy.
The tale starts with the
Centauro 1, of which the Italians bought 400 starting in
1991.
The vehicle was developed in response to
an Italian Army requirement for a tank destroyer with the
firepower of the old Leopard 1 main battle tank then in service with the Italian Army, but
with greater strategic mobility. The
main mission of the Centauro is to protect other, lighter, elements of the cavalry, using its good
power-to-weight ratio, excellent range and cross country ability (despite the wheeled design) and computerized fire control system to accomplish this mission. Centauro entered production in 1991 and deliveries were complete by 2006.
The
Centauro 1 has a crew of 4 with 3 in the turret manning the 105mm 52 caliber high pressure gun. Italy divested itself of 141 of the Centauros, donating them to Jordan but retaining 259 for their own use.
The Centauro 1 then became the basis for 249
Freccia IFVs (190 IFV, 36 AT, 21 Mor-120, 2 CP). This was considered enough to equip 1 single Medium Brigade. They were delivered between
2006, when production of the Centauro 1 stopped, and
2017. The original Freccia IFV, with a crew of 3 and 8 passengers, has a 25mm 2 man turret.
The
Centauro 2 is based on the Freccia IFV and is intended as a replacement for the 30 year old Centauro 1. The Centauro 2 has a crew of with 2 crew in the turret manning the 120mm smoothbore. The Centauro 2 is heavier and has a wider stance than the Centauro 1. The production plan calls for 150 Centauro 2 with the first 10 units ordered in
2018.
In
Dec 2019 the Italians started to equip a second Medium Brigade by initially ordering
81 of the original 25mm Freccia (5 IFVs, 36 AT, 14 Mor-120, 26 CP).
Currently the Italians are receiving, in addition to the 150 Centauro 2,
330 Freccia EVO which are based on the Centauro 2 hull. The Freccia EVO has an unmanned, remotely operated turret mounting a 30mm autocannon. The intention is to purchase
180 for the Medium Brigade(s) and
120 of a Recce version. The Recce version is to be equipped with a
Janus mast. This is a passive EO/IR sensor. No radars.
JANUS-T is a high performance, stabilised, day/night, all weather multi-sensor designed specifically for Land Vehicle application. It combines both medium and long range panaromic sights in a rugged, self-contained, compact package. It is an upgraded version of the field-proven JANUS multi-sensor selected by the Italian Army to equip the Freccia multirole Armoured Vehicle (VBM).
JANUS-T incorporates the company’s high performance infrared staring focal plane array sensor technology (with colour CCD TV) for high resolution night vision. In order to deliver a hunter-killer capability, it also includes an eye-safe laser range finder.
electronics.leonardo.com
So, if I take all that together I would suggest that:
1. The Italians are not unhappy with the wheeled platform - retaining, developing and expanding it.
2. The Italians are not unhappy with the wheeled cannon - retaining and developing it.
3. The Italians are not unhappy with wheeled Cavalry - retaining it and supplying each of their brigades, Lt, Med, and Hvy with a regiment.
4. The Italians separate their Sneak-and-Peek forward scouts from their Protection elements but push their Protection far enough forward to cover their scouts.
5. The Italians, are giving up some of that forward Protection by swapping the 105mm Centauro in the Recce Squadrons for the 30mm Freccia, but adding a longer range sensor suite to work in conjunction with the scouts. The Centauro, upgunned to 120mm will be retained in the Cavalry Regiment's Heavy Squadron.
6. The Italians use a common Regimental Structure across all their manoeuvre elements.
The single battalion regiment has a Colonel commanding the Regiment with a Command and Logistics Subunit. The Cmd and Log element comprises a Command, Control and Comms Platoon, a Transport and Maintenance Platoon, a QM or Commissariat Platoon and a Medical Platoon.
The Manoeuvre Group or Bn is commanded by the Lt Col and they all have a Heavy or Support Subunit. With the exception of the Cavalry all other elements, infantry and tank have a Support Company with a very small Cmd Squad with two trucks and two of the common vehicles of the unit. All the Support Companies, have a 120mm mortar platoon of 4 tubes, an Anti-Tank platoon of 4 vehicles, and a Recce platoon of 12 Lince scout cars.
The Cavalry Regiment replaces the Support Company with the Heavy Squadron with its 120mm Centauros.
The Tank Bns, in addition to the common Support Company have 4 tank companies of 14 120mm Ariete.
The Infantry Battalions, also with their own Support Companies have 3 rifle companies. The companies are organized around 3 rifle platoons with 3 rifle sections each and a platoon HQ. In addition there is a Support Platoon with 2 AT systems and 3 81mm mortars. The company is commanded by a Cmd Squad with 2 trucks and 2 of the common vehicle for the company.
7. The Italians are automating. 3 man turrets being replaced by 2 man turrets and 2 man turrets being replaced by unmanned turrets. There is also more emphasis on long range sensors. Presumably the sensor equipped recce vehicles will hold the scout cars in reserve to explore dead ground, rather than having them advance to contact blind.
The trends as I see them are:
Heavy elements retained
Medium elements increased from 1 brigade to 2.
Wheels for everyone else (including the light infantry when appropriate, Bv206 alternate)
Longer Range Weapons and Sensors
Heavier Armament (105 to 120, 25 to 30)
Automation
Reduced Manning
Standardization of both equipment and organizations.
The last one is particularly interesting. It looks to me that Officers and NCOs, as they advance through their careers, could be moved from Cavalry to Tank to Heavy to Medium to Light and constantly understand the organization so they could concentrate on the peculiarities of the equipment and the tasks.
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