With regard to the transfer of armaments to the Ukrainian armed forces, it should be noted that it was a very convenient operation of emptying the deposits by the Italian Army which, in this way, disposed of missile systems that have now expired, otherwise difficult and expensive disposal.
We are referring to shoulderable counter-aircraft missiles Stinger of the first generation purchased in the United States in the late eighties of the last century and counter-tank missiles MILAN produced under Franco-German license since the XNUMXs. These systems are still of undoubted war efficacy but, in consideration of their production date, they could encounter probable malfunctions in their use. In fact, even the missiles have their expiration date and during their operational life they must be periodically subjected to technical visits with eventual transfers to the manufacturing company for accurate checks and replacement of parts, especially the electronic ones.
As for the MILAN, already disqualified from the service as they have been replaced by the Spikes of Israeli production, it has so far been found more convenient to shoot them in shooting ranges in Sardinia than to dispose of them. However, this caused journalist controversy and also a judicial investigation, as these missiles have small parts of a radioactive substance, such as thorium, in the tracker of the guidance system.
Weapons donated to Ukraine also include portable counter-tank rocket launchers L.A.W., purchased by the United States in the 1s at the time of the Vietnam War. Famous is the cinematic scene of the film Rambo XNUMX of the use of a LAW against the entrance to a mine where the protagonist had taken refuge. Also in this case these are systems of a certain war performance against lightly armored vehicles, but of construction dating back many decades.
About firearms heavy machine guns were provided Browning M2HB 12,7 mm guns acquired free of charge by the United States since the 42s and 59 mm NATO MG7,62 / XNUMX dual machine guns produced in Italy under German license in the XNUMXs. Even if they are old models, as they date back to the Second World War and even before, they are effective weapons and still of profitable use. However, their caliber is not compatible with the ammunition of Russian origin used up to now by the Ukrainians.
I 120 mm mortars they should be of the 1963 model, the year in which it was adopted by the Italian Army. These are good weapons, with a smooth-bore launch tube, light, easily disassembled for transport and powerful even if of limited range with ordinary ammunition and not high precision. These mortars, which have been replaced with a mechanically driven and ribbed core model, were widely used in NATO armies at the time of the Cold War.
FC
Photo: Italian Army
