The Type 6614 (4 × 4) APC was a joint development between FIAT and Oto Melara, the former responsible for the hull and the automotive components and the latter for the armament installation. The vehicle shares many common components with the FIAT-Oto Melara Type 6616 (4 × 4) armoured car for which there is a separate entry. Production of the Type 6614 and Type 6616 4 × 4 light armoured vehicles was completed some years ago and they are no longer marketed.

The Type 6614 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was manufactured under licence in South Korea by the Asia Motors Company Incorporated. Production has been completed in South Korea and it is understood that between 200 and 275 vehicles were built for the South Korean Army. There were no vehicles exported from South Korea.

The Type 6614 APC was used by the Italian contingent serving in the Lebanon and was tested by the Italian Army in Denmark and Norway while operating as part of the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force.

The Italian Air Force has 110 vehicles for patrolling airfields while 60 were delivered to the Italian Police. More recently the Italian Army has taken delivery of 14 vehicles for use by its Alpine units. Total production of the Type 6614 APC for home and export markets amounted to 1,160 vehicles. The Type 6614 APC is no longer being marketed.

It is expected that the Italian Police will replace its Type 6614 APC with the South African BAE Systems Land Systems OMC RG-12 (4 x 4) internal security vehicles.

In mid-2004 it was stated that the RG-12 had been selected to meet the requirements of the Italian Carabinieri and Police following extensive trials. The first batch of six vehicles was supplied by late 2004.

It was also stated at that time that a further batch of 150 vehicles would be ordered for the Carabinieri and 50 for the Police and that these would be ordered in batches.

By September 2005 the first batch of 30 vehicles for the Carabinieri were being manufactured and negotiations were on order for the next batch of 50 vehicles, with the full Italian order still at 200 units. First units are now in service with the Carabinieri.

The defence element of Fiat is today known as IVECO SpA, Defence Vehicles. Description

The hull of the Type 6614 APC is of all-welded steel, which provides the crew with protection from small arms fire and shell splinters.

The driver sits at the front of the hull on the left side and has a single-piece domed hatch cover that opens to the right. To the front and side of the driver are five vision blocks which cover an arc of 200°, the centre three with wiper blades.

The power pack is mounted at the front of the vehicle to the right of the driver and is separated from the personnel compartment by a fireproof bulkhead. The IVECO Model 8062.24 supercharged engine is coupled to a manual five-speed transmission from which power is transmitted to the two-speed transfer case and then to the front and rear axles by propeller shafts. Both front and rear differentials are mechanically lockable. The planetary final drives, front and rear, consist of epicyclic gear trains in the wheel hubs.

Entry doors in each side of the hull both open forward and have a vision block and a firing port. There are another three vision blocks and firing ports in each side of the hull. At the rear of the hull is a large ramp hinged at the bottom, either side of which is a single vision block and firing port. The 10 infantrymen, one of whom acts as gunner, have individual seats which can be folded up. In the centre of the roof is mounted the main armament installation. On the basic vehicle this consists of an M113-type cupola which has five day periscopes and a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the rear. Mounted on the forward part of this is a .50 (12.7 mm) M2 HB machine gun. Other types of armament can be mounted if required, for example a fully enclosed turret armed with single or twin 7.62 mm machine guns. The two roof hatches over the top of the troop compartment open either side of the vehicle. A ventilator is mounted in the roof at the rear.

The suspension, front and rear, is of the independent strut and link type with a helical spring and coaxial rubber bump stop. Each wheel station has two hydraulic shock-absorbers and anti-roll bars are fitted as standard. The tyres are of the run-flat type.

The vehicle is fully amphibious, being propelled in the water by its wheels. Standard equipment included four electrically operated bilge pumps with a capacity of 180 litres/min each. Optional equipment includes passive or active night vision equipment, an air conditioning system, a fire extinguishing system in the wheel arches, a spare wheel and holder, two three-barrelled 76 mm smoke grenade dischargers and a front-mounted 4,500 kg capacity winch with 40 m of 12 mm diameter cable. Variants

Although designed primarily for use as an APC, the Type 6614 was also marketed for other roles such as reconnaissance and internal security. Projected variants included an ambulance, cargo, command and mortar carrier.

The Italian Army deployed a number of Type 6614 (4 × 4) armoured personnel carriers to Bosnia. These were fitted with a bank of three electrically operated 76 mm grenade launchers either side towards the rear, passive armour for a higher protection level and a spare wheel is carried on the roof towards the rear. The .50 (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun installation is also provided with additional armour protection for the gunner.