Fiat 2000

The Fiat 2000 was the first tank to be built in Italy, and was a private venture paid for by Fiat. Work on the Fiat 2000 began in August 1916, construction of the first prototype began in October 1916 and the vehicle was completed in 1917 when it became the Fiat 2000 Model 17. A second prototype was built, and in February 1918 both were given to the Italian army. Four more were built during 1919 and some remained serviceable into the 1930s!

The Fiat 2000 had a very tall box-like superstructure with slightly sloping upper armour. It was armed with seven machine guns for all-round fire. The prototype had a small cylindrical turret, while the four tanks produced in 1919 had a spherical turret that carried a 14mm machine gun. The last vehicle in service (as late as 1934) had its two front machine guns replaced with a 37mm semi-automatic cannon.

Weight: 40 tons
Crew: 10
Armament: Seven machine guns plus turret gun
Engine: 240hp
Speed: 4.5mph
Length: 24.27ft
Width: 10.17ft
Height: 12.46ft

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (10 April 2012), Fiat 2000 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_fiat_2000.html

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