The Autocarro FIAT 626N was a medium truck rom Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino (FIAT), in Turin for the civilian market soon requisitioned and produced exclusively for the Italian Regio Esercito or Italian Royal Army until 1943. It became the most common Italian medium truck during the Second World War. After the Armistice, thousands were produced for the Germans but simplified to ramp up production. Apat a few which served with the Repubblica Sociale Italiana or Partisans, and it saw action in Italian North Africa (1940–1943), East Africa (1940–1941), Balkans (1940–1944), France (1940–1944), and the Soviet Union (1941-1943/44), not counting the Germans in Italy until 1945.

Development

The 626, together with the corresponding heavy Fiat 666, was produced from 1939 as a "Unified" truck: since 1937, in fact, by law the Ministry of War required all manufacturers of civilian trucks to have standard characteristics regarding weight, number of axles, speed and range, in order to simplify logistics in the event of requisition by the armed forces. The 626 and 666, which replaced the Fiat 621 and Fiat 632 on the assembly lines respectively, were the first trucks from the Turin company with an advanced cab, i.e. with the engine totally contained inside the cab.

Design

In 1939, the 626 became the first Fiat truck with forward control (FC), replacing the 621 and 633. The initial version had the "N" for Nafta (diesel), followed by a slightly longer wheelbase version the 626NL ("Nafta Lungo" or "diesel long"). The military version also used by the Regia Aeronautica became the 626NLM ("Nafta Lungo Militare") but all military version were referred commonly as "NM". It became really the reliable workhorse of the Army, operating on all fronts.

The Fiat 626 weighted approximately 3 tonne (6,000 lb) for an overall lenght of 6.21 m, width of 2.18 m, height of 2.675 m, one driver and 1-2 passengers, up to 21 passengers (max). It had a 4x2 (later models 4x4) suspension, the latter being the bulk of the production in 1942-43. Operational range was 340 km (210 miles) and top speed 65 km/h (40 mph). The most striking aspect was its gently sloped nose with the compact, tranverse engine placed in front of a radiator.



The chassis had side members on two axles, with front steering wheels and twin driving rear wheels, a wheelbase (in the long wheelbase model) of 3.32 meters and a track of 1.72 metres; the 5750 cm³ 6-cylinder Fiat 326 diesel engine developed 70 hp at 2200 rpm and was characterized by the innovative arrangement on guides which allowed simple and rapid replacement. The gearbox had 4 forward gears and one reverse gear.

The first version produced was the diesel one for the civilian market, namely the N (Nafta), from which the colonial version NC and the long wheelbase NL (Nafta Lungo) were extrapolated. This last version was acquired by the Royal Army and the Royal Air Force and renamed NLM (Nafta Lungo Militare). The 626N and NL chassis found countless applications and fittings by specialized body shops, from various types of buses to fire brigade ladder trucks. A tractor for semi-trailers, called TNL, with a GVW was also derived from the NL. combined 14 tons.

Production

production resumed for the civilian and the army used it until 1954. When production stopped in 1948, some 10,000 Fiat 626 had left assembly lines and they served sometimes up to the late 1970s.

Italy: 28,170
France*: 1,650, including 700 units delivered before 10 June 1940
Germany**: 3,346 (+ those requisitioned from the factory?)
Bulgaria***: 100.

*France ordered 1,650 trucks; 700 had been delivered by the time Italy declared war on June 10, 1940.

**After the Italian armistice with the Allies in September 1943, the FIAT 626 was used by German forces. By 31 January 1945 3,000 had been produced for German use. In 1941, 100 trucks were purchased by the Bulgarian army after Bulgaria became an ally of Germany and Italy.

***The Bulgarian Army still used the vehicles in 1944–1945, after the country signed an armistice with the Allies' and participated in the war against Germany.

In view of the shipment to Russia, the NLM was fitted with a 5,750 cm³ 70 hp Fiat 226 petrol engine, more suitable for low temperatures, and a larger tank; this version was renamed BLM (Benzina Lungo Militare), while the same 4x4 all-wheel drive version was renamed Fiat 625. In addition to the standard vehicles, Fiat also put into production two special chassis, one elongated and lowered, called 626RB (Ribassato Benzina) and one intended for bus fittings called 626RNL (Lowered Nafta Lungo). The bus version, very widespread even after the war, was approved for 27 seats, plus 32 in the possible trailer.

Models

Fiat 626NLM and 626RNL

The 626 "Nafta Lungo Militare" differed from the civilian "NL" due to the presence of a differential lock, oil air filter and wooden body with fixed side walls. It was adopted in the following sub-versions:

• basic version with 3 t capacity wooden box
• Tanker
• Fire truck
• Field Kitchen
• Ambulance, widely used in army medical units
• 626RNL bus with lowered and extended chassis with 27 seats
• Radio Road Train Tractor*
• Armored truck**

*The 626NLM cab mounted a radio receiving station and towed an E393 N radio direction finder on a Viberti short type trailer Mod. 1940, forming the Radio Road Train complex in service with the Regia Aeronautica.

**Troop transport vehicle version obtained in 1941 for field modification in Italian North Africa The cabin was protected with armored plates, while the caisson was transformed into an open-air combat compartment for the infantry, through the application of armored trench plates, equipped with slits, on the banks. Similar conversions, on an even more artisanal level, were proposed again by the Germans in northern Italy towards the end of the occupation and used to combat the partisans.

Of the 1,650 vehicles ordered by the French Armée de terre, 700 were delivered before the declaration of war on 10 June 1940. The 626NLM military version, presented as modern, reliable and suitable for all terrains, however revealed serious shortcomings during use in North Africa, especially due to the underpowering of the engine, poor maneuverability and rapid wear due to the lack of specific oil filters , then adopted.

After the armistice the production of the 626NLM continued for the Germans, who called it Lastkraftwagen 3 t Fiat (i) Typ 626 and which was produced in 3,346 examples, used both in Italy and on other fronts (such as Normandy, and assigned also to the National Republican Army. It remained in service until the 1950s with the Italian Army.

Fiat 626BLM and 625

The 626 Long Wheelbase Military Petrol was developed specifically for the armed forces in anticipation of use on the Russian front. The petrol engine, with an ether pre-heating system, was designed for easier starting at low temperatures, while the larger tank increased the autonomy of the vehicle on the immense expanses typical of that theatre. Despite this, the vehicle presented the structural problems already encountered in Africa by the diesel version. The Fiat 625, the all-wheel drive version of the petrol 626, demonstrated excellent performance, but the armistice of 1943 blocked its development without the vehicle entering production.

Fiat 626GL and 628N

After the Armistice of Cassibile, the Germans, who occupied northern Italy and controlled the factories, in addition to acquiring the N version in more than 3000 vehicles, ordered the 626GL version from Fiat due to the shortage of fossil fuels. Theh had a gas generator. Finally, in 1945 the Wehrmacht put up the Fiat 628N into service. It was the normal chassis of the 626NM diesel, which mounted German-type wheels and on which the stanaddr, simplified "Einheit" cab was installed, i.e. a standardized cab, used for example also on the Lancia 3Ro and on the Fiat-SPA T40, built in wood to save money and precious metals.

Fiat 626NM specifications
Dimensions	6,21 x 2.18 x 2,675m
Total weight, battle ready	3.96t
Crew	2 (+8 troops)
Propulsion	Diesel Fiat 326, 6 cyl. direct injection 5,750 cm³ 65 hp 2200 rpm
Top speed	63 kph
Maximum range (on/off road)	400/340 km off road
Payload	2 tons
Transmission & suspension	Manual 3+1 speeds, 4x2 leaf springs
Production	7,941 1939-43

See the full article on Tank Encyclopedia

Links about the Fiat 626

it.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
o5m6.de

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Amatori, Franco; et al. (1992). Storia della Lancia — Impresa Tecnologie Mercati 1906–1969. Milan.

Reference illustrations

Fiat 626NM in North Africa 1941 (sabbia livery)

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