OTOMATIC

Description

The development of the OTOMATIC began in the late 1980s when OTO Melara designed the family of OF-40/Palmaria vehicles, including MBT, ARV, and SPAA variants. Initially, OTO Melara proposed the ATAK-35 CA for the SPAA role, which was equipped with the Dutch Cheetah PRTL turret (similar to the Gepard's). However, this design did not generate much interest, despite being tested by multiple nations. As a result, OTO Melara came up with a new and radical design for the SPAAG, featuring a modified version of the naval 76 mm cannon developed by OTO Melara as the main armament. This anti-air vehicle was named OTO Main Anti-aircraft Tank for Intercept and Combat, or OTOMATIC for short. The OTOMATIC garnered interest from both the Italian army and air force, as Italy lacked a sophisticated self-propelled air defense system at the time, most examples instead being truck-transported static emplacements. The OTOMATIC also offered advanced features such as an extremely modern FCS with search and tracking radar, as well as a datalink for easy integration into a nation's air defense network. The 76 mm calibre allowed compatibility with rounds used by naval forces, and a special APFSDS round was also developed for potential use against enemy vehicles. Unfortunately, the OTOMATIC proved to be too expensive for Italy, and they ultimately chose the SIDAM 25 as a less sophisticated but more cost-effective option that could be acquired in larger numbers.

Introduced in Update 1.85 "Supersonic", the OTOMATIC is a highly potent radar-equipped SPAAG, capable of shooting proximity-fused fragmentation rounds that can destroy planes in a single, well-aimed shot. When acting as a pure anti-air vehicle, it is recommended to stay in a capture zone since the OTOMATIC carries a limited amount of ammunition (90 shells for a cannon with a 0.5s reload). Keep in mind that at your battle rating, you will encounter jets and helicopters that outrange you, so it is essential to remain hidden until the enemy aircraft are within range of your cannon. As the OTOMATIC is a large vehicle, it becomes an easy target for vehicles equipped with ATGMs when exposed in the open. The vehicle's armour is lacking, and enemy fire will easily penetrate both the hull and turret. Fortunately, the mobility of the OTOMATIC is excellent for a vehicle of its kind, allowing you to reach strategic positions without lagging behind your team.

It is advisable to focus on shooting down aircraft when you first unlock the OTOMATIC. The stock rounds can damage lightly armoured vehicles, but engaging enemy tanks with them is risky until APFSDS rounds are unlocked. Once unlocked, you can confidently take on enemy vehicles at your battle rating, thanks to the autoloader and powerful ammunition. However, engaging enemies frontally is not recommended as it reduces the chances of damaging key components. Flanking and firing at enemies from their sides is a more effective strategy.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour
• Structural steel (Radar equipment, Mudguards)
• Rubber-fabric screens

Mobility

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Main armament

The OTOMATIC is armed with the most famous naval autocannon, the OTO Breda Cannone da 76/62. This specific configuration is the Compact version, meaning the carousel is smaller for size reduction but with an increase in rate of fire. This particular gun, if already used in vessels, has one of the best trade-off in accuracy, stopping power and range. Different from other cannons, the 76 mm is the biggest anti-air calibre yet the smallest calibre for modern vehicles. The version mounted on the OTOMATIC is set to super-rapid fire, speeding the rate of fire from 60 RPM to 120 RPM. This has its own pros and cons. From one side you have a tremendous stopping power which can deal with all threats in seconds, including ground. However, on the other side, you devour ammunition when doing continuous fire, getting from 90 shells to 60 in a matter of seconds.

Ammunition

The OTOMATIC has access to both anti-air and anti-tank ammunition capable of dealing with a high variety of threats, from lightly-armoured IFVs to heavily armoured MBTs.

SAPOM - The Semi Armour-Piercing High Explosive Incendiary rounds has a multipurpose capabilities with a little bit of everything. It has a nice trade-off between anti-air and anti-tank capabilities due to the explosive mass and armour penetration. However, the SAPOM is not really suggested for anything rather than anti-tank roles as the HE-VT* is more than capable of dealing with enemy threats. It should be noted most of the targets faced can be killed from the sides if shot between the road wheels in the lower half of the chassis (in case for NATO tanks), engine deck (will only cause fire and damage to transmission), Gunner's Primary Sight (in case of M1 Abrams and XM-1s). When it comes to dealing with Russian targets (the most generally armoured MBTs in the game), SAPOM should be fire almost at the ground hitting the lowest part of the chassis. It is recommended to destroy their tracks and barrels in order to let friendly units take them out for this reason. SAPOM is capable of destroying all lightly-armoured targets seen at the battle-rating (IFVs, SPAAs, etc).

APFSDS - The dart ammunition has a full anti-tank role though it can be used for anti-air roles, however it is not recommended. It has decent penetration and stopping power as a dart and is more than capable with dealing enemy tanks. It is able to destroy enemy targets in one hit if it's a well placed shot. Ammunition should be targeted with the APFSDS as the low amount of ammunition carrying can make it run out of APFSDS before destroying the enemy. Trapshots are suggested (driver's port, cupola, mantlets, etc).

HE-MOM - The High Explosive Variable Time fuse proximity shell has a full anti-air role with zero anti-tank role. Thanks to the high calibre, the HE is able to carry a proximity fuse with a lethal explosive mass, making it capable of destroying all aerial threats with one or two hits. Trigger discipline is recommended as, due to the fast fire rate, the OTOMATIC can spend the whole ammunition reserve really fast. Thanks to being a big shell, most enemy helicopters and aircraft will not redirect course when being fired at until it's too late compared to the continuous fire smaller calibre SPAA have (25, 30, 35, 40 mm, etc). They do not trigger Missile Alert Warning systems and do not have a visible tracer, making them the ultimate helicopter killer.

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the OTOMATIC

Radars

The OTOMATIC is equipped with a SMA VPS-A05 search radar and a SMA VPS-A06 tracking radar; both radars are located on the top of the turret, with the SMA VPS-A05 being mounted on an arm at the rear, and the SMA VPS-A06 being mounted further forwards on the left hand side of the turret roof. The radar system is capable of tracking a target while scanning, but can only track targets within a 180° arc from the front of the turret. Both radar can be folded.

Usage in battles

The OTOMATIC is one of the more role-diverse SPAA in the game, akin to that of the ADATS with its anti-air/anti-tank missiles. However, the OTOMATIC can practice these diverse roles without needing to notify the enemy of what role it is prior to an engagement. The OTOMATIC has the mobility, speed, armour and electronics to make it one of the best SPAA or anti-tank vehicle, depending on what the commander or battlefield situation dictate.

The OTOMATIC has a big ammo rack with three types of ammunition for all types of players, for those who want to be deadly to only aircraft and control the skies as quickly as possible, and for those who want to carry out as much destruction as possible regardless if they want to go anti-air or anti-tank. The only drawback is that the OTOMATIC can only carry 12 APFSDS rounds. The recommended round load is 50 HE-VT*, 20 SAPOM, and 12 APFSDS for both anti-air and anti-tank capabilities. Each of these rounds are well-suited for the targets they are specialized to fight against.

HE-VT*

This round makes nailing aircraft such an easy task, though it has its pros and cons compared to missiles that other high-ranking SPAA are using. As a con, a HE-VT* shell carries less explosive power, cannot be guided, and has a slower muzzle velocity compared to missiles. However, the HE-VT* as a shell will not trigger the aircraft's Missile Approach Warning system (MAW) and so the enemy may be caught unaware of an incoming 76 mm HE-VT* shell if they do not see it coming. This shell does not have a visible tracer. The only visual cue they would have is the muzzle flash when firing the cannon, compared to a missile smoke streak that may be traced to the firing SPAA vehicle. The larger number of HE-VT* shells carried also means the OTOMATIC can quickly follow-up a shot if the first shot missed, without too much worry on ammunition waste.

This round helps make the OTOMATIC one of the more reliable SPAA at the top-rank battlefield. A missile would cause hovering aircraft like helicopters to simply find cover as soon as the MAW is activated. Top-rank SPAA that uses missile also have a reliance to their radar lock, as it must maintain that lock for the missile to track and hit the target. The OTOMATIC also has access to thermal sights and a laser rangefinder to help locate aircraft in the air and find their range without use of the radar. With this, the OTOMATIC can track a helicopter and find their distance without the enemy helicopter being aware that they are within the OTOMATIC's sights and firing range.

SAPOM

This round provides some flexibility in the usage of the OTOMATIC. It is a Semi Armour-Piercing High-Explosive Incendiary (SAPHEI) round that does not have the penetration values of a likewise APCBC round, while also not having as much high-explosives as a dedicated HE shell. However, this round in the 76 mm calibre does still present some general-purpose uses. While there is enough high-explosives in the shell to use against an aircraft, the presence of the HE-VT* shell makes this role redundant by a more capable shell. The shell can fight enemy armoured fighting vehicles, but a maximum penetration of 60 mm at point-blank range means this round will struggle against any main battle tanks fought at the OTOMATIC's battle-rating. Nevertheless, as the only armour-piercing round available to the OTOMATIC before it unlocks the APFSDS, it must be used with caution, patience, and practice for maximum efficiency.

Arguably one of the best use of the SAPOM round is as a reserve so that the valuable 12 APFSDS that can be carried in the OTOMATIC is not wasted; or in the worst case all HE-VT* is spent. As such, its use should be reserved to fighting lightly-armoured vehicles, when out of APFSDS against ground units, or out of HE-VT* against air targets.

Fighting Specific Tanks with SAPOM

NATO allegiance MBTs (Leopard, Abrams, Leclerc, etc.):

• When facing from the front:
  • Aim at the main gun to disable the tank's firepower. After that is disabled, aim for the tracks to immobilize the vehicle. Then allow a more capable ally destroy the enemy tank.

• When facing from the side/rear:
  • Aim at medium lower section of a tank's hull sides, in between the road wheels where the armour is generally weaker.
  • If the OTOMATIC is positioned to be somewhere towards the vehicle's rear, aim instead at the turret bustle ammunition rack. No tank has enough armour to withstand multiple hits to the ammo rack. Aiming at engine deck is worthless if gun is not disabled.

CSTO allegiance MBTs (T-80, T-90, ZTZ-99, etc.)

• When facing from the front:
  • Aim at the main gun to disable the tank's firepower. After that is disabled, aim for the tracks to immobilize the vehicle. Then allow a more capable ally destroy the enemy tank.

• When facing from the side/rear:
  • Unfortunately, CSTO MBTs are often more well-armoured at the sides than NATO tanks, enough so to resist SAPOM rounds more easily with slight angling. As such, an attack with SAPOM rounds should not be attempted even from the sides.
  • If able to hit the vehicle's rear, the only place of worth the OTOMATIC may penetrate is the engine deck. Shoot there to disable the enemy's mobility, but make sure to disable the enemy's gun as it reacts otherwise it may destroy the OTOMATIC.

Generally speaking, try and avoid combat with CSTO MBTs if the OTOMATIC only has SAPOM rounds available, unless it is mission-critical that the enemy tank must be immobilized or disabled.

APFSDS

This is probably the most used round by the OTOMATIC when it is being used for anti-tank purposes. This is the same round the Rooikat uses, meaning it is a reliable round with good capabilities, but does require trigger discipline, situational awareness and knowledge of the enemy tank's "anatomy" to make every single round count as there are only 12 round carried. While the APFSDS round has nowhere enough penetration power to deal with enemy MBT, it does have enough to penetrate weakpoints and from favourable angles of attack.

NATO allegiance MBTs (Leopard, Abrams, Leclerc, etc.):

• When facing from the front:
  • As explained above, utilize the terrain to the OTOMATIC's advantage against the enemy. However, a frontal encounter is highly discouraged

• When facing from the side/rear:
  • Aim at the hull ammo racks
    • Leopard/Leclerc/Type 90: Next to driver
    • Abrams: Almost at engine deck, a small wall ammo rack
  • If able to hit the enemy from an angle closer to their rear, aim exclusively at turret bustle ammo rack. APFSDS will over-penetrate and make the blast shields useless.

CSTO allegiance MBTs (T-80, T-90, ZTZ-99, etc.)

• When facing from the front:
  • As explained above, utilize the terrain to the OTOMATIC's advantage against the enemy. However, a frontal encounter is highly discouraged

• When facing from the side/rear:
  • Aim at the hull ammo racks
    • T-64s/T-80s: any hit to the side. Ammo rack is in an "L" shape, making ammo rack hits easy
    • T-72s/T-90: aim in a manner like if the target was a T-80, but closer to the ground due to ammo rack closer to the ground as it is in a "=" shape
  • If able to hit the enemy from an angle closer to their rear, aim exclusively at anywhere is possible to hit. Preferably the turret rear to disable critical modules or even hit an ammunition rack if there is any.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Radar guidance system
• Equipped by default with HE-VT* fuse shells capable of annihilating aircraft within 1-3 indirect hits. Direct hits usually destroy the aircraft in one blow
• Excellent scoped zoom for an SPAA (8.0x to 16.1x)
• Immense fire rate for the gun calibre; 120 RPM for a 76 mm gun
• Two axis stabiliser
• APFSDS can penetrate up to 311 mm, enough to destroy any top-rank MBT with a well-placed shot
• Equipped with SAPHEI shells, capable of dealing with many light tanks and the XM-1
• Capable of taking out long-range helicopters with ammunition which does not explode until approximately 4.6 km away, allowing for shots well past the radar tracking range
• The OF-40 chassis provides reasonable protection and mobility (especially compared to the M163 and ZSU-23-4)
• Fantastic turret rotation and elevation speed
• Generation 1 thermals for the gunner - makes spotting enemy aircraft, helicopters and tanks a much easier task
• Fear factor - Enemy pilots who know there is an OTOMATIC around will fall back in a far more cautious playstyle and are less likely to attack friendly ground vehicles in the open
• Large cannon breech - can soak up shrapnel, thereby protecting the turret crew
• HE-VT* and SAPHEI rounds do not have a visible tracer, making them impossible to spot in flight

Cons:

• Turret has immensely thin armour, can be penetrated by other SPAA as well as secondary cannons from the MBT-70 or AMX-40
• Several turret-mounted ammo racks that are almost impossible not to hit
• APFSDS rounds are a tier IV modification
• APFSDS capacity limited to 12 rounds
• APFSDS has limited accuracy at range
• Massive profile, straightforward to spot and shoot
• This vehicle's reputation precedes it, enemies will prioritise its destruction
• SAPHEI penetration is abysmal, and 62 mm consistently fails to penetrate the sides of Abrams or T-64s/T-72s/T-80s
• First-stage ammo stowage capacity of 29 rounds. The gun's high rate of fire will empty this quickly
• There must be at least one shell in the first-stage stowage to fire the gun
• Each round must be loaded into the first-stage stowage individually. This massively increases reload times if the stowage is empty
• The gun can only elevate 60 degrees. This is below average for an SPAA vehicle of this tier.
• Rate of fire decreases when your loader is knocked out
• A hit to the turret, even if it doesn't kill the crew, will always result in a destroyed breech due to the sheer amount of space the breech takes up in the turret
• The lack of visible tracers on the HE-VT* and SAPHEI rounds can make correcting your aim difficult against distant targets

History

Development of the OTOMATIC SPAAG began during the mid 1980s as a private venture of the OTO Melara company. The basic concept behind the OTOMATIC was to take the successful 76 mm Super Rapido utility cannon used on naval vessels and fit it to a suitable mobile platform in order to create a long-range SPAA vehicle that would outmatch similar designs such as the German Gepard or British Marksman system. Although a challenging feat, Italian engineers eventually succeeded in this endeavour, creating a vehicle that wasn't only up to the latest technological standards but also perfectly suited, and even exceeded, various NATO requirements of the time. The first prototype of the OTOMATIC was ready for testing in the late 1980s. Intended to be compatible with a large number of NATO vehicles of the time, the OTOMATIC, similarly to the British Marksman system, was tested on several hulls and it was planned to be capable of fitting any NATO tank, including the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams. However, as the Cold War ended and general interest for SPAAG vehicles began declining in favour of more modern missile systems, the OTOMATIC project never received any interest from potential users. For the Italian army, the project was initially accepted, but later abandoned due to budget cuts.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the OTOMATIC from live.warthunder.com.

Images

Videos

See also

Vehicles equipped with the same chassis

• OF-40 (Family)

External links

• [Devblog] OTOMATIC SPAAG: Belated Perfection
• [Wikipedia] Otomatic
• [Tanks Encyclopedia] OTOMATIC
• [Forum] Official Forum Thread for the OTOMATIC.