NationStates Jolt Archive


Admiral A-1 Final Production Type

Axis Nova
09-04-2005, 21:11
This will hopefully settle all the problems people have had with this thing once and for all. The weight has been bumped up big time, the dimensions increased a bit, and it's no longer air droppable, though it is air transportable (by me at any rate). Many weapons have been removed as they are now redundant due to the new linear weapons being equipped.

e: Image of the vehicle this is based on added.

http://www.animeleague.net/~berrik/AdmiralA1Mk3.jpg

Hopefully this last revision will satisfy the IRC illuminati-- weight is more than reasonable by any standards now.

Code Name: Admiral A-1, Mark III(r)
Unit Type: Super Heavy Assault Tank
Dimensions: Length 27.5 meters; width 12.2 meters; height 8.5 meters
Maximum Weight: 784 tons
Powerplant: 1 x GenTech Bubble fusion reactor; 300 MW output
Propulsion: 2 x 12-wheel tread set driven by individual engines
Performance: Maximum land speed: 65 km/h; 180-degree turn time: 8 seconds
Crew: 9 (commander, driver, 7 gunners)

Offensive Weapon Systems:
1x 280mm linear cannon: A weapon which, like a railgun, uses electromagnetic forces rather than gunpowder to fire its projectiles. However, the conductive projectiles fired from a linear gun don't come into physical contact with the firing mechanism, and are instead accelerated using attractive and repulsive magnetic forces, as in a so-called magnetic levitation (maglev) train. Although the acceleration produced is relatively small compared to that of a railgun, a linear gun can yield similar muzzle velocities if its barrel is long enough, and the lack of physical contact eliminates friction heat and wear on the barrel. The length of the gun combined with the incredible power output of the Admiral A-1's reactor gurantees extremely powerful magnetic fields, and thus, high velocity. Capable of penetrating almost any amount of armor. The final production type mounts a monstrous example of this type of weapon, benefitting from technology intended to be implemented in the next round of upgrades to the Fleet.

3x 155mm Short-Range Howitzer: Mounted in a triple turret with short barrels, these guns are intended for general area suppression, direct fire on enemy positions, and obstacle destruction. They utilize caseless ammunition, like most of the projectile weapons on the Admiral A-1.

4x 120mm Linear Cannon: Mounted in seperate sponson mounts to provide 360 degree coverage, they are similar to the main gun, except that the smaller weapon means lower velocities and shorter range. Still, they have more penetration and range than than any comparable gunpowder or ETC weapon.

2x 20mm Rotary Vulcans: These are mounted in the 'high mount' turret, and are designed for general suppression and anti-aircraft useage. Like their smaller 14mm bretheren, they use electromagnetic rotation and caseless ammunition.:

1x Imp SAM Turret: Imp missiles are small, high-speed, anti-aircraft kinetic kill weapons. The turret carries 20 of them in 2 racks and can fire 10 at once between 4 second rearms. Mounted on the port weapons blister.

6x 60mm Metal-Storm Automatic Mortars: Mortar weapons capable of extreme rates of fire, multiple types of ammo are available, usually the standard loadout is 2 tubes with high explosive, 2 tubes with anti-infantry, and 2 tubes with smokescreens. Mounted on the back deck.

1x Flamethrower: Pumped up version of everyone's favorite bunker clearing weapon. The flamethrower uses a special fuel mixture containing thermite which allows it to totally ruin vehicles and metal objects usually not affected by flamethrowers. The pressure it fires at is similar to the hoses on firefighting boats, meaning it can tear apart wearhouses and basically any small structures. The flamethrower depletes so much oxygen that unprotected people in the area of the tank will suffocate.

12x 40mm Linear Gatling Cannon: Replacing all of the standard machineguns and vulcan cannons, these weapons consist of a cluster of 4 40mm linear guns. Unlike a conventional gatling gun, the weapon does not spin but instead each barrel fires as it's capacitors are recharged and new ammunition is loaded into the barrel. Capable of either solid slug, HE cannister, or beehive flechette rounds, these weapons are capable of dealing a devastating amount of damage to anything they're directed at. Mounted all around the tank in various positions to allow overlapping 360 degree coverage.

20x 10mm Point Defense Guns: Essentially a 10mm rapid-fire machinegun with a camera and millimeter band radar scope sitting on a 1000 round cassette of caseless ammunition, the turrets are slightly smaller than a human torso. With a firing rate of 1100rpm they attempt to kill infantry and shoot down missiles.They are mounted in small armored blisters protruding from the hull.

Defensive Capabilities:
Armor composed of depleted uranium, titanium and ceramics with high-density deflective beads, thick enough to resist an ETC naval gun. Layer of aerogel with cold plasma suspended inside provides energy weapon dissipation and anti-spalling capabilities. Thin layers of carbon-nanochainmail prevent spalling. "Electric armor" capacitor system vaporizes armor-piercing metal jets used in RPGs. Next generation reactive armor panels fitted above this disrupt energy weapons as well as kinetic kill devices. Spacing fence detonates RPGs and grenades prematurely and harmlessly. Internal compartments seperated by full scale armor. Treads made of full armor, roadwheels are spheres made of spun carbon-nanofiber with compartmentalized tires overlayed on them. Treads and roadwheels are protected by armored skirts. An extensive point defense system provides protection against large anti-tank missiles. Twelve grenade launchers fire airburst grenades at infantry, launch chaff, and lay smokescreens. Lack of an exhaust system gives low IR signature. Internal areas kept in vacuum to prevent fires, chemical extinguishers instantly freeze room and deplete oxygen.

Sensors:
Decked out with almost every sensor imagineable including; fluid superlenses, IR, millimeter band radar scopes, nightvision, ultraviolet, electromagnetic, olfactory, LIDAR, Sileetris's famous HSCDEADGR radar, satellite imagery uplink, and mounting a small launcher for camera drones. Despite its size, the vehicle is often aware of an opponent before they are aware of it.

Powerplant:
The vehicle is powered by a high output Bubble Fusion reactor generating 300 MW.

AI Computer System:
Many of the Admiral A-1's functions are extensively automated, requiring little to no crew attention. It will automatically track and engage incoming missiles, but requires firing commands issued by the gunnery crew to attack any other target (though it will automatically target enemies and provide verbal warnings and threat ratings, along with a suggested response). Of course, any weapon can be overridden and manually controlled at any time.

Crew:
9 crewmembers are assigned to sit at various positions throughout the tank. A small area with folding bunks, a cooler with stores of dehydrated food, a chemical toilet and a full (if cramped) emergency medical system are provided to allow for long-term deployment in the event the unit should be stranded behind enemy lines.

Army Integration:
Houses very powerful, state-of-the-art networking and communications equipment to allow for battlefield coordination between friendly units.

Mobility: The Admiral A-1 boasts more than enough horsepower to navigate through any terrain, though it will wreck almost any road ever laid and no bridge in the world can hold it (though it is fully capable of simply driving across a river on it's own). It is generally transported to it's destination by specialized transport airships. Usually four or so are deployed per armored division, with the rest of the vehicles being the more standard Lion tank destroyers.
Phreya
09-04-2005, 21:17
Well done, although I'm almost absolutely positive this tank would have to travel in a fleet, not as a recon or stealth vehicle. No. In which case, it would not matter whether the enemy would notice this vehicle or not, since it would obviously not be travelling alone. How much do these behemoths cost?
Axis Nova
09-04-2005, 21:20
As much as an entire battalion of normal Lion tank destroyers. =p

Not for export, obviously.
Praetonia
09-04-2005, 21:22
[OOC: A very nice post modern tech vehicle, but I would advise you to replace the 280mm railgun with a rifled ETC - the four smaller railguns can deal with tanks, but you need something explosive to deal with fortifications.]
Juumanistra
09-04-2005, 21:28
[784...tons? How, pray tell, do you plan on deploying this monstrosity? I mean, honestly, even in a post-modern scenario, the thing would be hell-in-a-hand basket to deploy anywhere beyond fifty miles. And that's in addition to the absolute mechanical nightmare that it must be to attempt to maintain two entire drive systems in addition to all the stuff that lets them work together.

This thing ain't a tank. It's a Rolling Killamobajiggerthingy.]
Axis Nova
09-04-2005, 21:29
[OOC: A very nice post modern tech vehicle, but I would advise you to replace the 280mm railgun with a rifled ETC - the four smaller railguns can deal with tanks, but you need something explosive to deal with fortifications.]

The linear gun is superior to an ETC in every possible way-- it's the standard weapon for my forces due to this. As for explosive, it can either use the triple howitzer... or just use HE cannister rounds from the linear guns, or even just drive up and bake the fortification with it's flamethrower.

e: Juumanistra, maintenance on this thing isn't so bad-- since many of the mechanical parts take advantage of postmodern materials technology, they're quite durable even under the nastiest of conditions. As for deployment, it's generally just flown to it's destination with said specialized transport airships (I use large, fusion powered heavier than air craft to move things around due to the terrain of my nation), and once it's in the general deployment area it can just DRIVE to where it needs to go. Using a fusion reactor means I don't need to worry about fuel.
Axis Nova
10-04-2005, 01:56
Bump for more comments. I'll probably bump this a few more times.
Axis Nova
10-04-2005, 02:24
Bump
No endorse
10-04-2005, 02:41
Interesting... My question is how you deal with the HUGE weight of the vehicle. Hard-packed dirt can easily support this, but what about more marshy terrain, or fording a river as you suggested?
Phalanix
10-04-2005, 03:01
OCC: Holy shit. The mental image of that beast is just disturbing. Even as a FT nation that thing would worry me if I lacked the proper anti-armor weapons. Though very nice work.
Axis Nova
10-04-2005, 03:02
Ground can only compress so much, and the treads are quite broad, plus it has MASSIVE horsepower. The immense weight actually helps traction in that regard, as soft mushy ground is simply compressed flat. Probably what would happen if it drove into a marsh is that it'd be slowed down quite a bit, but still be able to plow through. Same thing for a river-- can't travel at full speed in one, but since it won't lose traction, it WILL get through eventually.
The Macabees
10-04-2005, 03:14
You can count on concrete or asphalt roads to just crack under its weight, that's for sure. I would never employ a tank that heavy, ever. It's just too expensive, a gas guzzler, and the job can be done with something cheaper and smaller.
Axis Nova
10-04-2005, 03:21
You can count on concrete or asphalt roads to just crack under its weight, that's for sure. I would never employ a tank that heavy, ever. It's just too expensive, a gas guzzler, and the job can be done with something cheaper and smaller.

I'm not too concerned with the condition of other people's roads, and since these things are powered by fusion reactors, there's no fuel issues.

The distant predecessor of this model was diesel powered, and got horrible mileage, it was only able to go 200 miles on one tank. :)

On the other hand, said distant predecessor is also possible to actually build using MT... (though there are improvements that can be made =p)
The Macabees
10-04-2005, 03:26
Oh, is this FT?
Axis Nova
10-04-2005, 03:28
Oh, is this FT?

Nah, postmodern.

If it was FT I'd have done with the detailed stats and just give it uber nuke plasma blasters :)
Axis Nova
10-04-2005, 06:12
bump
Juumanistra
10-04-2005, 06:36
Eh, I still maintain that thing is more trouble than its worth(the fact that finding a suitable airstrip anywhere near the deployment area might be a pain comes to mind as a main concern) and that an inventive engineering battalion could have a field day with the thing, but since it's not coming to a battlefield near me anytime soon, no need for me to make a scene. What kind of price tag did you envision for these things, anyway? I'd suspect somewhere north of half-a-billion dollars and I'd think that's conservative.

And that was an unfair swipe at FT nations. Back when I did FT(and when I get back into it) I made extensive use of linear guns. Hell, by the time I retired the first time around, all the guns in my fleet were linear. Nothing beats hurling around 80cm penetrator rods at 70,000 mi/s in an arena where almost everyone's optimized for dealing with energy weaponry. :D
Axis Nova
10-04-2005, 07:16
Heh, my linear guns don't fling things quite that fast, though their peak muzzle velocity tends to be much higher than that of an ETC gun.

As for price, when you get as big as I am, price isn't really an issue. (in other words, I have no freakin' idea =p)
Juumanistra
10-04-2005, 07:50
Well, you've got remember FT tends to be geared for space-based stuff; guns get up into the range of naval artillery at the minimum(those 80cm guns on my destroyers had 31" breaches) and all the problems associated with aerodynamic resistence and decrease of velocity over distance evaporate. At that point, it becomes all about putting speed on a hunk of metal and when you're sitting atop a zero-point reactor, acceleration upwards of two-fifths of the speed of light isn't all that outlandish.

Kinda gets tangental, though. And it's understandable about not conceptualizing the price. Was just curious, as the search for fair and adequate pricing in PMT and FT is almost endless.
Axis Nova
10-04-2005, 19:05
And one more bump.
Axis Nova
11-04-2005, 01:32
bump
Axis Nova
11-04-2005, 03:47
One last bump, if there arn't any more comments I'll assume that it's pretty much accepted *shrug*