- Source: Fiat 18BL
The Fiat 18BL was a military truck produced by Fiat for the Italian Army, starting in 1915, developed from the Fiat 18 truck.
History
In 1914 the Italians were in great need of vehicles, especially trucks, so the War Department tasked Fiat with developing a standard military truck comparable to those used by Britain, France, and Germany. The 18BL turned out to be a sturdy, rugged design and was produced by the hundreds from 1915 to 1921. The 38 hp Fiat CA four cylinder engine gave the truck a top speed of 24 km/h and was mated to a five speed (4 forward, one reverse) transmission. Carrying capacity was 3.5 tonnes with a 165 cm wide wheelbase that allowed for a 6.8 m turning radius. Overall length was 3.5 m and overall width was 1.75 m, and the truck was equipped with a wooded frame and sides covered by a canvas body.
The 18BL proved popular and was used by not only the Italian Army, but also by British, French and Russian forces during World War I where it served alongside the Fiat 15. The 18BL served as the basis for several specialized vehicles, including as a searchlight truck where a generator was mounted to the truck and connected to a searchlight mounted in a towed converted horse cart. An improved model, the Fiat 18BLR, was introduced with smaller wheels, heavier springs, and a larger body with a top speed of 21 km/h. The BLR was used as an "autocannoni" anti-aircraft gun, fitted with a Cannon 76/40 Model 1916.
