NationStates Jolt Archive

M-7A1 Jackson Main Battle Tank
Production Cost: 8 Million USD
Purchase Cost: 10 Million USD (Allies Only)
Designed By: Arkangel’skie Voennye Sistemy and Joint Strategic Command
Produced By: Arkangel’skie Voennye Sistemy
Weight: 80 Tons (72,727 Kilograms)
Height: 12.5 Feet (3.84 Meters)
Width: 13.5 Feet (4.15 Meters)
Length: 38 Feet (11.69 Meters)
Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, and Commander)
Propulsion: Isomer Reactor Turbine
Speed: 75 Miles per Hour (120 Kilometers per Hour) Off-Road, 93 Miles per Hour (148.6 Kilometers per Hour) On-Road
Endurance: Limited only to crew comfort and supplies
Armour: Warsaw (an update to the Kiev armour package). Average rating of 2,000mm RHA against SABOT and 3,250 against HEAT without NERA add-on armour
Armament:
150mm Electro-Thermal Chemical Main Gun – The weapon of the Jackson is an absolute beast. SABOT rounds fired from this cannon are capable of penetrating up to 1,500mm of Rolled Homogenous Armour.

(2) 10mm Automatic Cannons – One cannon is mounted in a fixed position on the forward glacis plate and the other is mounted on the Commander’s position on top of the turret and has a movement arc of 140 degrees. Ammunition is completely caseless, which means that the gun have an incredible firing rate and ammo storage is much easier.

(2) Korento Anti-Tank Guide Missile Launchers – Each launcher is a part of the tank body itself and is capable of firing two missiles. The Korento ATGM has a range of 20 Kilometers and is guided by LIDAR and passive IR. With its three warheads it is fully capable of killing almost any tank is one shot.

(2) 8-Pack LOSGR Launchers – Probably the strangest weapon on any Imperial tank, the Line-Of-Sight Guided Rocket is quite a lot like the LOSAT. The main difference is the smaller size and slightly greater range. The missiles are meant to be fired in swarms against infantry, light armoured vehicles, and aircraft. Guidance is much like the Korento, but somewhat easier to fool due to the missiles’ smaller size, which is the reason for the swarm tactics. The penetrator is a smaller but dense Osmium-Tungsten rod that will wreak havoc upon any of its intended targets and would probably make life harder for a Main Battle Tank.


Electronic Systems:
Multi-Level Tactical Digital Information System – The MLTDIS (pronounced Mult-Dis) is in some ways much like IVIS in that it is meant to share and coordinate combat data among many units. On the Jackson this can occur from the platoon level all the way up to the brigade level, although not at the same time. Plugging in a portable storage device with the proper decryption key and then providing a thumbprint on a touch-screen is used to determine the level of access granted. This means that an enemy would be incapable of disabling a tank and then viewing data that would then be relayed to battlefield intelligence.

Pulse LIDAR Targeting System - The PLIDARTS (pronounced Ply-Darts) is meant as a way of fooling active anti-laser counter-measures. Instead of a steady stream of ultra-violet light that most laser targeting systems provide, it uses pulses of light to track targets. The pulses come fast enough that targeting of the main gun does not suffer but at even the fastest setting allow for several clock cycles to pass on the processing chips inside enemy counter-measures. An added feature is the ability to program the laser to randomly pulse between the set acceptable highest and slowest time values; this adds even more confusion to enemy counter-measures.

MkII Multi-Spectrum Threat Warning Receiver – The MSTWR (pronounced Mist-War) is a simple detection system designed to warn tanks crews of potential enemy targeting systems being directed upon their Jackson. It is also capable of giving the bearing, possible range, and type of targeting based upon known performance data of enemy systems. Obviously, if one does not know what one is facing then it is extremely hard to take advantage of this feature. The system is also tied into a jamming system that is capable of neutralizing most targeting systems.


Counter-Measures: Beyond the aforementioned electronic counter-measure system, there are a couple physical counter-measures afforded to the tank. One is a fog generator that is capable of producing clouds of fog to fool laser-targeting systems and allow for tactical retreats to regroup. The other is a chaff/flare canister launching system that is installed into the turret itself. It is arranged into a hexagon pattern and the canisters are packed three deep in order to provide adequate protection against radar-guided missiles.

Survivability Systems: Full Nuclear-Biological-Chemical protection. Armoured crew “pod” to separate crew from engine and external weapons damage. Armoured ammo storage area to protect tank from sympathetic detonations resulting from enemy fire.

Tank Systems: Computer-controlled hydraulic suspension. Hydrothermal exhaust system to reduce IR signature and protect infantry from turbine blast.




M-7E Jackson (Export) Main Battle Tank
Purchase Cost: 8 Million USD
Designed By: Arkangel’skie Voennye Sistemy
Produced By: Arkangel’skie Voennye Sistemy
Weight: 78 Tons (72,727 Kilograms)
Height: 12.5 Feet (3.84 Meters)
Width: 13.5 Feet (4.15 Meters)
Length: 38 Feet (11.69 Meters)
Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, and Commander)
Propulsion: 3,000 Horsepower Multi-Fuel Turbine
Speed: 50 Miles per Hour (80 Kilometers per Hour) Off-Road, 70 Miles per Hour (112 Kilometers per Hour) On-Road
Endurance: 500 Km
Armour: Dorchester. Average rating of 1,000mm RHA against SABOT and 1,625 against HEAT without NERA add-on armour
Armament:
150mm Electro-Thermal Chemical Main Gun – The weapon of the Jackson is an absolute beast. SABOT rounds fired from this cannon are capable of penetrating up to 1,250mm of Rolled Homogenous Armour.

(2) 10mm Automatic Cannons – One cannon is mounted in a fixed position on the forward glacis plate and the other is mounted on the Commander’s position on top of the turret and has a movement arc of 140 degrees. Ammunition is completely caseless, which means that the gun have an incredible firing rate and ammo storage is much easier.

(2) Dragoon Anti-Tank Guide Missile Launchers – Each launcher is a part of the tank body itself and is capable of firing two missiles. The Dragoon ATGM was developed exclusively for the export version of the Jackson; it has a much shorter range (4 Kilometers) than the Korento and is guided only by passive IR.

(2) 8-Pack LOSGR-IR Launchers – Probably the strangest weapon on any Imperial tank, the Line-Of-Sight Guided Rocket-IR is quite a lot like the LOSAT. The main difference is the smaller size and slightly greater range. The missiles are meant to be fired in swarms against infantry, light armoured vehicles, and aircraft. As the name implies it is guided by Infra-Red and only IR, making it a slightly weaker system than the Imperial LOSGR


Electronic Systems:
Multi-Level Tactical Digital Information System – The MLTDIS (pronounced Mult-Dis) is in some ways much like IVIS in that it is meant to share and coordinate combat data among many units. On the export version of the Jackson this can occur from the platoon level all the way up to the battalion level, although not at the same time. Encryption is achieved through a simple alphanumeric password system.

LIDAR Targeting System - The LIDARTS (pronounced Lie-Darts) is a simple laser targeting system; it does everything that most other laser targeting systems do. About the only notable feature are the shutters to keep enemy laser from destroying the system; they close automatically when a laser is pointed directly at the lens of the LIDARTS.

MkI Multi-Spectrum Threat Warning Receiver – The MSTWR (pronounced Mist-War) is a simple detection system designed to warn tanks crews of potential enemy targeting systems being directed upon their Jackson. The system is also tied into a jamming system that is capable of neutralizing most targeting systems. Unlike its more advanced cousin it cannot sniff out enemy illumination sources.


Counter-Measures: Beyond the aforementioned electronic counter-measure system, there are a couple physical counter-measures afforded to the tank. One is a fog generator that is capable of producing clouds of fog to fool laser-targeting systems and allow for tactical retreats to regroup. The other is a chaff/flare canister launching system that is installed into the turret itself. It is arranged into a hexagon pattern and the canisters are packed three deep in order to provide adequate protection against radar-guided missiles.

Survivability Systems: Full Nuclear-Biological-Chemical protection. Armoured crew “pod” to separate crew from engine and external weapons damage. Armoured ammo storage area to protect tank from sympathetic detonations resulting from enemy fire.

Tank Systems: Computer-controlled hydraulic suspension. Hydrothermal exhaust system to reduce IR signature and protect infantry from turbine blast.

OOC: Good tank design. Tanks are something I don't know too much about, but I have a few questions. Is the armor a form of depleted uranium? If not, is it stronger than DU?

Another question, do you have the new countermeasure system developed for RPGs and other missiles that shoots electronic pulses out confusing the the missile and causing it to detonate prematurely and at a far distance from the tank?

(I read about it in Popular Mechanics. It will be on US Tanks very soon.)

Im sorry if this was mentioned in your post, but it somewhat confused me.

How much are production rights if you are selling them?

[No, the armour is not DU. The first layer is made up of what I call Alloy B, which is made up of several metal that cancel out each other's weaknesses and enhance the strengths and also incorporates some composite ceramics to make an effectice anti-KE layer. The next outer layers are a Osmium-Tungsten mesh/honeycomb which is meant to segment and divert the full force of a HEAT round. The outermost layer is made up of Alloy A, which is like Alloy B but without the composites, which makes it a very strong but moderately light general armour.

And for the anti-missile system, I didn't know it existed but it is something to think about. However, it won't work on RPGs as they aren't guided and are contact detonated. They're about as low tech as you can get and therefor aren't that conducive to high-tech solutions. RPGs aren't that much of a threat anyway, even a Bradley can take two or three and still get out of Dodge under its own power.

Jaxusism: Depends on just how many tanks you want. If it's above a certain number I'll say yes but I have to figure in royalties per tank. Also, keep in mind that if you're not above the 2010 tech level these tanks are going to be as expensive as hell to produce, you can double the purchase cost per tank automatically.

Oh, and before I forget, here's a picture of the Jackson:]
http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Rifts/Rifts-Earth-Vehicles/United_States/USA-M-7_Jackson_MBT-small.gif

How do we get the Non-Export Version?

[Okay guys, I'm going to ask that from now on OOC posts are marked as such. Orders are to be placed in an IC fashion, although the post need not be long-winded.

Nutropinia: *points to "Allies Only" notice next to purchase price of non-export version* Sorry, but you aren't an ally.]

OOC: You're right about the RPGs. I read the article early this year and just checked more on it online and found out that they are developing these little canisters to shoot out at the missile causing it to detonate. (I doubt that program will work as you are hitting a bullet with a bullet.) They are also developing the electronic laser system for other missiles like air launched ones and larger anti-tank missiles that are proximity fused.

To the administration of Arkangel’skie Voennye Sistemy:

The Republic of Mac Cumhail would like to purchase 300 of your M-7E Jackson MBTs. These tanks will form the basis of the Republican Vanguard Cavalry, our nation's newest armoured cavalry division.

We believe this equates to a price of 2.4 billion USD, or 6.288 billion Seaxei (plural of seaxe, mac cumhail's national currency, exchange rate set at 2.62 seaxei to the dollar).

Our nation's credit and financial information can be found here:
http://nseconomy.thirdgeek.com/nseconomy.php?nation=mac+cumhail

Please contact us if there are any questions concerning the purchase.

Sincerely,
Donchad O'Conner, National Defence Minister
Jason Borrugh, Minister of Finance

We thank Mac Cumhail for their order and wish to enquire as to whether or not the Ministry of Defense would like production rights to the Dragoon ATGM. Unlimited, non-commercial production rights are set at 100 million dollars.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy

To CFO Nowak:

We would appreciate said opportunity, and have included the funds neccessary in our payment wiring. Funds are being wired along with this message.

The Republic of Mac Cumhail thanks you for a fine business deal.

OOC:
IDF you are sort of confuisng a number of different protection systems:
Soviet style missile jamers designed to send laser or wire guided missiles off target,these have not turned out to be terribly good, the urssians are working on systems to compeltely jam the electronics of missiles but they are of debatable effectiveness.
Active protection systems: like the soviet arena system these basically fire a cassete or grenade that fills the air with shrapnel to try and kill an incoming round, next gen systems will liekly use explosively formed projectiles to literally smash both HEAT and kinetic either into little bits or out of the air.
Electrical Reactive Armor: basically the vehicle is covered in very light copper plate or similar and an electric feild is created around the vehicle, when a HEAT round strikes the vehicle the resultant palsma stream causes the electric feild to be earthed to the copper plates causing a massive spark that disrupts the plasma stream and forces it away from the tank (well thats one explanation, there are serveral theorys on how it actually works but udnerstandably the UK MOD are keeping very quiet on the details). this system has been tested on a warrior IFV which took 7 hits from RPG rounds without suffering so much as a couple of scorch marks...

To be honest EleRA is the only real way of defeating RPGs from that selection of systems as RPGs have not electronics to interfer with and theya re often launched at rnages far too short to allow time for an active defense system to engage them.
(on a side note, crookfur vehilces have used EleRA since about jun '03)

[As I understand it, it's been tested on Challenger 2s as well, with similar results. Also, if rumors are to be believed, the US donated one of its few M1A3s for testing. If that's true then I think we can predict one of the upgrades to the M1 series when its time to do that again.

EDIT: Oh, by the way, what do you think of the tank?]

Bump

Bump

Want something that is capable of taking on the fabled GT-6 and G-7 Main Battle Tanks and win? Want something that can engage multiple targets? Want something that out-runs 95% of the tanks out there? Something that can dispatch ground and air targets with equal elacrity? Then the M-7 series of Main Battle Tanks is for you.

Ill pay 5-10 billion (your choice but be reasonable) for production rights. Money wired upon confirmaton. (cause Ive gotta go but Ill pay 5-10 as long as you accept so money will be wired)

[Production rights for this tank don't work like that. You need to tell me how many you intend to build and then I tell you how much in royalties you owe. Once you build that many tanks then your production liscence is up and you have to come back again to renew it.]

OOC: Nice job Scandavian...

IC:

The 7th People's Army of the Republic would be interested in purchasing thirty of these tanks for testing. Once testing is completed, we shall see if they are a viable alternative to our current MBTs...

Thank you,

Anatoliy Severnaya Aleksandrov
People's General of the Republic
7th People's Army

OOC: I gotta go to bed, when I get on tomorrow night this post will be replaced by a proper IC post as requested by SS.

General Alexandrov,

We would be happy to supply your unit with the required tanks. Given the status of your coutry as a signatory of the UnAPS charter, we are assuming that you would like the M-7A1. Total purchasing cost comes to $300 Million and we shall include ten complete combat loads for each tank at no extra cost.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy


[IDF, I would appreciate it if you would make an IC post, which generally means posting in the 3rd person and writing the post out like you would a letter.]

Greetings, from the Republic of Ancient Terra.

Terran High Command has recieved authorization from Congress to purchase 36 M-7A1 Jackson MBTs for an evaluation of the vehicle and its capabilities. If we find the M-7A1 to fit our requirements for a new MBT during trials, we would be interested in purchasing a large number of the vehicles, in order to completely retire the M1A2 SEP Abrams from Active Duty; somewhere in the realm of several thousand, at least.

Therefore, we will place an order for 36 M-7A1's. In addition, we would ask you to reserve enough production facilities to ensure that there is the production capacity available to process our future orders. We believe that the price will come to some 360 million dollars.

Good day,

~Terran High Command~

(ooc: Excellent vehicle, SS. The 'trial period' is just a roleplaying thing; we plan to place an order for several thousand vehicles soon. :))

The Omzian Army, using older 120mm and 140mm gunned heavy tanks for almost decades, finds that it is very important to have an Omzian indigenous replacement for these older tanks, despite their success in the Omzian Homeland Defence War. However, as the Omzian arms contractors are still designing the weapons system, it has been decided that we are in dire need of an interim replacement for our older tanks. As we are still uncertain about the path that we will take in the future, with proper authorization, we wish to procure a total of 24 M7A1 Jackson main battle tank systems for intensive evaluation and testing. As they will be evaluated, the tanks will be placed into intensive testing in simulated high threat environment, both open and urban.

As we place an order for the 24 tanks, we determine that the base cost would be atotal of $240 million. Once the sale is approved, the monetary funds will be wired in 6 installments of $40 million each, over a period of 1 month.

Ministry of National Defence,
Omzian Democratic Federal Republic

OOC: About the bomber project, sorry that I got them on a delay, but they will be completed soon along with (hopefully) your CAS aircraft.

OOC: You're right about the RPGs. I read the article early this year and just checked more on it online and found out that they are developing these little canisters to shoot out at the missile causing it to detonate. (I doubt that program will work as you are hitting a bullet with a bullet.) They are also developing the electronic laser system for other missiles like air launched ones and larger anti-tank missiles that are proximity fused.

Also OOC: Nope, you're hitting a Rocket (much slower, at least in this case) with shotgun Blast, and that's very different! I've been following the progress of Metalstorm, and their various 'Mad Scientist' inventions, and I think it's got a very good chance to work!

As to the "Jackson", it's an interesting piece of Fantasy, but you might as well buy yourself a squadron of X-Wings for 'air support' (Incom tech is much 'older', anyways!)... :->
The author would do well to take a look at a copy of Jane's to get a sense of scale, before he continues writing.
Very few tank engines produce more than 1,000 Horsepower, and those are enough to get better performance out of real-world systems than what his supposed 3,000 HP engine can produce...
and a 150mm gun that can't pierce more than 1,500 mm of RHA just isn't going to cut it on the battlefields of today! It's like he went to a high-tech solution to reduce the weapons efficiency!

Of course, that "Isomer Turbine" that seems never to need fuel would be of VERY great interest to a number of Nations... :->

Nice tank, but wouldnt a 150mm gun require powder bags to fire and have a horribly low muzzel velocity compared to modern tank guns?

[Yes, and very few tanks weigh eighty tons. To get the speed I wanted I had to go with with a very high horsepower engine. Just an FYI, the Abrams turbine produces a little over 2,000 BHP.

As for the reactor, I think you need to bone up on what's going to be powering the Predator UAV in a couple years, the interesting thing about the technology is that it's scaleable. It could power a jet turbine or it could power a car, the only real difference between the two reactors is size and power.

Now onto penetration. In ideal conditions a SABOT from a 120mm gun can only penetrate 800mm of Rolled Hemogenous Armour @ 2 kilometers, which is better than a similar Soviet 125mm round will do. I'm sorry that my tank guns only have nearly double the penetrating qualities of the Abrams. However, it's not like I use traditional SABOT rounds anyway,

Since I have that out of the way, kindly leave my thread.]

Nice tank, but wouldnt a 150mm gun require powder bags to fire and have a horribly low muzzel velocity compared to modern tank guns?

[You didn't happen to see that it was an ETC, did you? ETC shells are not cased, not even the smaller caliber ones.]

I would like to purchase 400 of these tanks, the total cost would come to 3,200,000,000, which will be wired upon confirmation.

[You need to make an IC post, Jaxus. Notice how everyone else is doing it? That's how you need to do it.]

We would like to purchase 10,000 of the M-7A1 Jackson Main Battle Tank if possible. Otherwise, we would like to purchase 15,000 of the M-7E Jackson (Export) Main Battle Tank. Monies shall be wired upon confirmation.

Hal Luxton
Army Chief
Incorporated States of Sarzonia

[You need to make an IC post, Jaxus. Notice how everyone else is doing it? That's how you need to do it.]

[[Ugh fine... I never RP buying things in other places but here I go...]]

Scandavian States...

The Grand Empire of Jaxusism has taken quite an interest in your tanks. We wish to purchase 400 of these vehicles, coming to a grand total of 3,200,000,00 dollars. These tanks will become a stable in the Jaxusism defensive force. The money will be wired to your nation on confirmation of order. Thank you.

~ Jaxusism Grand Empire Foreign Affairs

Chief Luxton,

As your nation is an ally of the Imperium in good stead, we will accept your order for 10,000 M-7A1 Main Battle Tanks. The total purchasing cost for these tanks is $100 Billion. Because of the large amount of money, we will only require that the tanks be payed for as they are recieved. We extend to you the offer for unlimited non-commercial production rights to the Korento ATGM, the price of which is set at $100 Million.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy


Jaxusism Grand Empire Foreign Affairs,

I would like to take this time to confirm your order for 400 M-7E Main Battle Tanks. Total purchasing price is indeed $3.2 Billion. We extend to you the offer for unlimited non-commercial production rights to the Dragoon ATGM, the price of which is set at $100 Million.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy


[I can pump out 2,000 Jacksons per NS Year, so give it about a week for all current orders to be fullfilled.]

I'm just glad you didn't call it the Jackson-5 tank.

Ministry of National Defence,

We would be happy to fullfill your order and provide for your defense. The stated payment due is correct, we await your wire transfer to begin production of the tanks.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy

The nation of IDF would like to purchase 50 of the fine export versions of your new tank. While we aren't the nation with the best land army in the world, we do still wish to improve. There seems to have been a proliferation of these massive tanks from the new F-22K to the T-98s. Our Joint Chiefs have decided that the only way to counter an invasion from nations with these new large tanks is to purchase tanks that have the ability penetrate their armor.

We don't need the delivery immediatally, but if they can be delivered in the next 36 months, that will be sufficient. Thank you and have a nice day.


(money wired on confirmation)

Chief Luxton,

As your nation is an ally of the Imperium in good stead, we will accept your order for 10,000 M-7A1 Main Battle Tanks. The total purchasing cost for these tanks is $100 Billion. Because of the large amount of money, we will only require that the tanks be payed for as they are recieved. We extend to you the offer for unlimited non-commercial production rights to the Korento ATGM, the price of which is set at $100 Million.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy


Jaxusism Grand Empire Foreign Affairs,

I would like to take this time to confirm your order for 400 M-7E Main Battle Tanks. Total purchasing price is indeed $3.2 Billion. We extend to you the offer for unlimited non-commercial production rights to the Dragoon ATGM, the price of which is set at $100 Million.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy


[I can pump out 2,000 Jacksons per NS Year, so give it about a week for all current orders to be fullfilled.]

The Jaxusism Grand Empire would like to purchase the rights you have offered us. 100 million dollars have been wired to your nation.

Thanks.

~Jaxusism Foreign Affairs

To: Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy
From: Hal Luxton
Army Chief, Incorporated Sarzonian Army
Subject: Production rights agreement

We accept your gracious offer of unlimited non-commercial production rights to the Korento ATGM at $100 million USD. I have contacted our Accounting Directorate and they will wire the money to you [six NS hours] after the transmission of this message.

We accept your arrangement to pay upon delivery, though we would like to note that our observation of your business dealings leads us to express confidence that all purchases will be delivered within the timeframe promised.

We thank you for your consideration of our order and once again for the production rights to the Korento.

The nation of IDF would like to purchase 50 of the fine export versions of your new tank. While we aren't the nation with the best land army in the world, we do still wish to improve. There seems to have been a proliferation of these massive tanks from the new F-22K to the T-98s. Our Joint Chiefs have decided that the only way to counter an invasion from nations with these new large tanks is to purchase tanks that have the ability penetrate their armor.

We don't need the delivery immediatally, but if they can be delivered in the next 36 months, that will be sufficient. Thank you and have a nice day.


(money wired on confirmation)


To Whom It May Concern,

We would be pleased to fullfill your order request. While it means putting off the rather massive orders, we can fit the delivery schedule quite easily. As we do with all our of our M-7E customers, we offer you the production rights to the Dragoon ATGM.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy

Nice tank, but wouldnt a 150mm gun require powder bags to fire and have a horribly low muzzle velocity compared to modern tank guns?

OOC: By WWII standards, yes...
If the old-fashioned Tank Guns are compared to a car engine using a carbeurator, an Electro-Chemical Gun is using 'Fuel Injection'.
In other words, rather than powder propellant, you only load in the 'payload', and a fuel-air mixture of some kind is sprayed in, and ignited, behind it...

Need to fire a shell to maximum range? Use the full load!
Need to fire at something much closer, like a squad of infantry setting up thier anti-tank missile? Dial it down, and save on propellant!

It can all be computer controlled, and in theory, it should work well...
but we've got all those conventional tank guns out there, and they still work, so no one much sees the need to switch at the moment!

[Actually... no. The propellent of an ETC is a circle of metal that, when a large electromagnetic charge is applied, turns to plasma gas and the expansion of that plasma propels the shells forward at much greater velocities than a conventional shell. Estimates vary from 30% all the way up to fifty per cent greater hitting power than normal.

On a totally unrelated note, please keep in mind that the armour ratings shown are averages, frontal armour is going to be substantially higher than what is shown and the areas around openings and vents are going to be substantially weaker.]

To Whom It May Concern,

We would be pleased to fullfill your order request. While it means putting off the rather massive orders, we can fit the delivery schedule quite easily. As we do with all our of our M-7E customers, we offer you the production rights to the Dragoon ATGM.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy

To Viktor Nowak,

We are unsure on whether or not we will purchase production rights for your Dragoon ATGM. Seeing as our force is mainly older M1A2 or A1 based, we seee a need for such a vehicle and would like to purchase 4 for evaluation before reaching a final decision.

Sincerely,
General of the Army Yacok Bernstein, CinC IDF Army

General of the Army Yacok Bernstein,

We would be happy to supply you with four missiles. As such a small order can be fullfilled with out stocks, please expect an AVS cargo plane to deliber them to your primary international airport in about 36 hours.

Please have $800,000 ready for transfer on delivery. A cashier's check is preferable but cash will be accepted.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy

The Department of Defense of Communist Louisiana would be very interested in purchasing 1000 of these highly advanced tanks.

The total for these 1000 tanks should come to $8,000,000,000. This money will be sent upon confirmation of the order.

CL Department of Defense
Steven Autin
Secretary of Defense
New Orleans, Louisiana, CL

Secretary Austin,

We will of course accept your order for 1,000 M-7E Jackson Main Battle Tanks. As we do with every customer who orders that particular model of the M-7, we offer you unlimited non-commercial production rights to the M90 Dragoon Anti-Tank Guided Missile for $100 Million. Should you accept that offer, the total amount due will be $8.1 Billion. If not, the money owed will be as you have stated.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy

CL Department of Defense
Steven Autin
Secretary of Defense
New Orleans, Louisiana, CL

We would like to purchase these rights for the extra amount of money.

Money Wired

bump

bump

To whom it may concern...

The Republic of Ancient Terra has been extremely impressed with the capabilities of the M-7A1. In recent trials, it has outperformed anything we have ever seen before, and it exceeds the requirements in every category, from firepower to ease of maintenance. Terran High Command has unanimously voted to procure the M-7A1 in favor of other heavy tanks, as a replacement for the M1A2 SEP.

To accomplish this, we require the purchase of 12,000 M-7A1's. If possible, we would like their deliveries staggered in blocks of 600, allowing us time to train our Armored Corps to make the best use of their new vehicles.

We have calculated the cost at 120 Billion Dollars. As we said before, we have been extremely impressed with these vehicles, and are thankful that you have provided such an excellent solution.

Your faithful ally,

~Terran High Command~

Terran High Command,

Frankly, we are well and truly grateful for this order, if a bit staggered. Because of several smaller outstanding orders we are forced to put production of your tanks on hold instead of beginning immediate production. However, full run production can begin in two years time, at which point we will be able to deliver the requested lots every 3 1/3 months. Since your order is extremely large and therefor very expensive we will accept payment for the tanks as they are delivered. Also, we offer unlimited non-commercial production rights for $100 Million.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy

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[You didn't happen to see that it was an ETC, did you? ETC shells are not cased, not even the smaller caliber ones.]
Even so, it would have a low muzzel velocity... when you go above about 135mm tank guns get less effective if you rely on APFSDS, as everyone who wants to make a decent tank does. 150mm is SP howitzer calibre.

Even so, it would have a low muzzel velocity... when you go above about 135mm tank guns get less effective if you rely on APFSDS, as everyone who wants to make a decent tank does. 150mm is SP howitzer calibre.

[If that were true then why are the US, UK, Germany, and France considering 140mm (non-ETC) main guns as an upgrade for their MBTs?]

OOC: As far as I'm aware only Germany is doing so, and 140mm is different to 150mm. In my opinion 135mm is the practical limit but that's just my opinion.

In responce to your question, I have no idea. It seems like a really stupid 'upgrade'.

[No, all four are doing so now, Germany just took the lead in doing so. However, the US and Britain are likely to wait it out another five years and upgrade the 120mm guns to ETCs.]

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Mr. Nowak, the later delivery date is fine. Our engineering divisions estimate it will take at least that long to upgrade our base facilities to handle these vehicles, and to construct new shelters for them. While we are grateful for the option to pay on delivery, we would like to pay a 10 billion dollar advance now, to help finance your production facilities. Furthermore, we accept your offer for production rights to the Korento ATGM, and will wire that money shortly.

Once again, thank you for your prompt response to this order.

Good day,

~Terran High Command~

TO:
Viktor Nowak
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy

FROM:
Hillan Rudder
Chief Of The Armed Forces
Harnley


Greetings! The Armed Forces of Harnley would like to purchase 300 M-7E Jackson Main Battle Tanks. We will await confirmation of our order to wire the $2.4 Billion.

Chief Hillan Rudder,

We are pleased to accept your order. As present, there is a rather large backlog of orders. However, we expect that to clear up within a year or two at which point your order will be fulfilled post haste.

Sincerely,
Viktor Nowak,
CFO, Arkangel'skie Voennye Sistemy