Late in 2017, while in Latvia covering the first roulement of the Canadian-led eFP (enhanced Forward Presence) multinational NATO battlegroup based at Adazi, we seized the opportunity to snap the armour used by Italy’s 9º Reggimento Fanteria.

An Italian infantry platoon in FRECCIA IFVs with LINCE to the fore cautiously advancing to contact during SILVER ARROW ’17 [© Bob Morrison]
The 9th ‘Bari’ Infantry Regiment (9º Reggimento Fanteria) which maintains the traditions of the historic Queen’s Regiment of Savoy, is an all-volunteer battalion-strength (in peacetime) formation and part of the Pinerolo Mechanised Brigade. Based at Trani near the top of the heel of Italy, the battalion comprises the Headquarters Company, three Fusilier ( Fucilieri ) Companies and a Manoeuvre & Support Company.
VBM FRECCIA
After three rounds of post-Cold War restructuring of the Italian Army between 1991 and 2002 it was decided to re-equip the Pinerolo Mechanised Brigade with modern wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicles to replace their aged M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers (known as VCC-2 in Italian service). This new vehicle, christened VBM (Veicolo Blindato Medio) FRECCIA, was built by Italian manufacturers Iveco and Oto Melara on the hull of the earlier B1 CENTAURO armoured anti-tank vehicle.
Rear troop compartment is accessed and egressed through a near full width ramp which also has quite a large side-hinged door [© Bob Morrison]

A different FRECCIA pgotographed on a another day during SILVER ARROW ’17 – combat weight is 28 tonnes [© Bob Morrison]

The FRECCIA is built on the same hull as the CENTAURO anti-armour vehicle but was uparmoured for the infantry role [© Bob Morrison]
VTLM LINCE

At a time when budget constraints are forcing the UK to cast its relatively small PANTHER fleet the Italians are doubling their LINCE fleet [© Bob Morrison]

LINCE main armament here is a 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun – note also bumper-mounted self-recovery winch [© Bob Morrison]

The armoured crew compartment is entirely between the axles for blast survivability – kit is carried in the rear compartment accessed through side doors hidden here by foliage [© Bob Morrison]

The LINCE Ambulance is built on a stretched wheelbase chassis – the rear pod is also armoured [© Bob Morrison]
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