NationStates Jolt Archive

Background With the release of the Praetonian-built IPO 145 Hoplite II Phalanx main battle tank, the Incorporated Ordnance Company realised it was falling behind in the tank race with Soviet Bloc's ST-29 and Doomingsland's M-29 tanks, The Silver Sky's M-125 and the Phalanx all leaving the Z-32 Zephyr in the dust. Engineers at IOC studied plans and worked feverishly to develop their own tank that could lead the way for the Incorporated Sarzonian Army in the battlefield of the future. The result of the research and development by the IOC and the ISA is the Z-33 'Jaguar' MBT.

Electronics/Countermeasures The Jaguar makes use of advanced electronics such as a millimetric radar system and a LADAR/LIDAR system tied into a new Panorama electronics suite, a modernised Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) with third generation thermal imager; commander's display for digital colour terrain maps; third generation GEN III TIS thermal imaging gunner’s sight with increased range; driver's integrated display and thermal management system including an eyesafe laser rangefinder, north-finding module and precision lightweight global positioning receiver which provide targeting solutions for the Far Target Locate (FTL) function. FTL gives accurate targeting data to a range of 9,500 metres with a CEP (Circular Error of Probability) of less than 20 metres. The system allows a complete view of the battlefield and assesses targets and prioritises based on potential threat.

Along with 10 smoke grenade launchers, the Jaguar is coated with a layer of radar-absorbent paint to inhibit detection. The Jaguar is painted in a dark matte finish to absorb light and hamper an enemy tank's LIDAR detection. The CIWS system is the DREAD weapon system mounted on each side to allow greater horizon coverage.

Armament The main armament is a 125 mm/58 calibre ETC gun that allows for longer range than other guns of similar size. The Jaguar improves on the Zephyr's secondary armament by adding a 40 mm grenade launcher which is greatly effective in urban warfare, and a 30 mm autocannon that can disable most IFVs and APCs without using the main gun. The Jaguar retains the Zephyr's FN BRG-15 machine gun (http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg26-e.htm) as an anti-personnel weapon. The Jaguar can often fire a saboted round to allow it to cause damage to turret faces of even the most heavily armoured MBTs. The Jaguar includes an auto-loader that is designed to allow manual loading in the event of an electronics failure.

Propulsion The new Windham and Green Secretariat turbo diesel-electric hybrid engine powers the Jaguar at 2,100 hp, allowing the Jaguar to travel at speeds of up to 80 km per hour on the road, 60 km/hr. cross country, and 20 km/hr. snorkeling. The engine is designed to allow the Jaguar to have an effective range of 650 km.

Protection Another key element to the development of the Jaguar is the adoption of a new armour scheme that puts it on a par with the MBTs it is designed to combat. The first layer, of Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA), reduces the effectiveness of HEAT rounds. The second layer, a Chobham/tungsten honeycomb gives the Jaguar well-rounded protection. Ballistic ceramics give the Jaguar additional resistance to heat and kinetic energy attacks, while the fourth layer, of boronated polycarbons, absorbs radiation. Finally, a layer of kevlar and rubber protects the crew against spalling. The tank is EMP hardened and sealed against chemical or biological attacks.

RHA values:
Front: 1,975 mm (KE)/2,625 mm (HEAT)
Sides: 875 mm (KE)/1,000 mm (HEAT)
Rear: 530 mm (KE)/725 mm (HEAT)

An electronics backup system allows the tank to switch to an emergency battery that can allow it to function even when the electronics are damaged. Magazines and engine compartments are also heavily armoured to further protect both machine and crew. An electrical generator tied to the engines stores power in batteries that allow them to run silently, and also continue to operate even when the main engine is damaged.

Specifications
Length: 9.3 m (hull); 14.5 m (including gun)
Width: 4.6 m
Height: 3.9 m
Ground Clearance: 0.6 m
Weight: 76,000 kg
Crew: Four (Commander, Driver, Gunners)
Main armament: 1 x 125 mm ETC gun
Ammunition Storage: 40 rounds
Secondary Armament: 1 x 30 mm autocannon; 1 x 40 mm grenade launcher; 1 x FU BRG-15 machine gun; 2 x DREAD tank CIWS; 10 x smoke grenade launchers
Ammunition Storage: 1,000 15 mm rounds; 850 30 mm rounds; 150 40 mm rounds
Engine: 1 x Windham & Green Secretariat turbo diesel-electric hybrid engine
Theoretical Speed: 80 km/hr. (road); 60 km/hr. (cross-country); 10 km/hr. (snorkel)
Operational Range: 650 km
Fording Depth: 2.2 m (normal); 4.5 m (snorkel)
Price: $12.5 million
Purchase Limit: 250 per customer per order

[OOC: Feedback? Soviet Bloc helped me with this design and I was also inspired somewhat by Praetonia's tank.]

Background With the release of the Praetonian-built IPO 145 Hoplite II Phalanx main battle tank, the Incorporated Ordnance Company realised it was falling behind in the tank race with Soviet Bloc's and Doomingsland's ST-29 tanks, Space Union's M-125 and the Phalanx all leaving the Z-32 Zephyr in the dust. Engineers at IPO studied plans and worked feverishly to develop their own tank that could lead the way for the Incorporated Sarzonian Army in the battlefield of the future. The result of the research and development by IPO is the Z-33 'Jaguar' MBT.
<snip>
Umm, that's MY M-125!

OOC: Sorry. I'll go correct that.

OOC: Sorry. I'll go correct that.
Thanks, and BTW nice tank, looks good.

Thanks. I corrected that bit.

think you could get a pic up?

Nope. I'm horrible with Paint.

May... have... to... buy... some... Must... resist...

Honestly, a great tank, which will soon be another great export success for you. Best wishes!

Snore. Yet another ETC gun carrier, and not a particularly impressive one at that.

By the way, antiradar paint will be rather useless in stealthing a main battle tank-- it's armor composition and shape are horrible for stealth purposes.

I'm not a huge fan, and I think that Axis Nova brings up some good points, but you have still done yourself proud compared to most other NSers.

Radar-absorbant paint reduces the ability of tanks that rely heavily on electronics to detect them until their weapons range advantage is gone. The dark matte finish is in place to make LIDAR detection more difficult. One of the major advantages of the ST-29 Soviet Bloc designed is its ability to see you first and fire on you first. These features negate that advantage.

OOC:Not bad at all. I'll try and make a pic for this thing, if I have time. BTW, I call my version of the ST-29 the M-29, which is what you'll be facing in Inkana, so your designers will probably be more farmiliar with that make.

That'd be great if you have the time. I'll go ahead and edit the description where it mentions your version to reflect the version name.

Axis Nova: Arent all tanks just gun carriers? What did you want him to make? An airship? :/

I agree about the radar-reducing paint - it probably wont do much on a tank - but it's better to have it than not I suppose.

I also disagree that the ST-29 has any greater chance of seeing you first than any other tank. Maybe if two tanks faced off on a completely flat, empty surface with no clutter whatsoever and no UAVs around or scouts to act as advanced spotters. In any real situation, you dont just advance acorss completely flat open ground towards each other until you come into gun range and then instantly open fire. What counts for most is maneuvering. Especially true as every MBT these days has milimetric band radar, IR sensors etc etc

OOC: How useful would millimetric band radar be to a tank, considering tanks all have radar warning receivers, don't always operate in the most conducive environments for radar (woods, etc.)? This is an honest question.

[OOC:


Along with 10 smoke grenade launchers, the Jaguar is coated with a layer of radar-absorbent paint to inhibit detection. The Jaguar is painted in a dark matte finish to absorb light and hamper an enemy tank's LIDAR detection. The CIWS system is the DREAD weapon system mounted on each side to allow greater horizon coverage.

I think this was covered in Fluffywuffy's missile thread, because we started ranting about CIWS. However, the DREAD system, simply because of the laws of physics, doesn't work near half the capacity it was vaunted to work at - consequently, I suggest you go back to your standard CIWS system.

Also, wouldn't the two types of paintcoats cancel each other out? Meaning, you have the RADAR absorbent paintcoat painted over with a LIDAR absorbent paintcoat - consequently, your paintcoat is no longer RADAR absorbent, it's LIDAR absorbent. I ran into the same problem when I tried to put RADAR absorbent paint and LIDAR absorbent material on my aircraft.

Nonetheless, overall nice tank.

OOC: How useful would millimetric band radar be to a tank, considering tanks all have radar warning receivers, don't always operate in the most conducive environments for radar (woods, etc.)? This is an honest question.
Not very. But if you do happen to be fighting in open ground I imagine it would be useful. Also a short-range radar would be useful for finding ATGMs and other such threats.

Also a short-range radar would be useful for finding ATGMs and other such threats.
OOC: Hadn't thought of that. I tend to use thermal and air pressure sensors for those, but a low-power radar wouldn't be a bad idea.

Very Nice, Sarzonia. My only suggestion is to go a little more in depth with your electronics.

Very Nice, Sarzonia. My only suggestion is to go a little more in depth with your electronics.Perhaps you and I could talk about that sometime on AIM?

*bump*

ooc: Nice.

Now A few questions:

1.) Any way to reclaim the energy used by the ETC gun so that a faster ROF can be achieved?

2.) Can the ETC gun be further assisted? (i.e: Rail Assist, Electromagnetic Assist or Electromagnetic Rifling?)

3.) You have 4 crew members?

4.) What kind of safety systems does the tank have? (i.e: Fire supressing systems, spall liners).

To Mac: Paint that absorbs radar can also absorb the electrons from LIDAR. It doesn't have to do just one thing at a time.

Perhaps you and I could talk about that sometime on AIM?
Be Glad to, just get on.

To Mac: Paint that absorbs radar can also absorb the electrons from LIDAR. It doesn't have to do just one thing at a time.

[OOC: Normally, paint that absorbs RADAR is black - black paint doesn't absorb electrons. Furthermore, normal LIDAR is not electromagnetic electron fluxes, it's just a laser without a magnetic charge, meaning whether or not it absorbs electrons is inconsequential, since light works with photons, not electrons.]

OOC: As you noted but must be stressed, not all radar-absorbent paint is black. Yet the electron v. photon statement is very important. A better solution is simply to have a laser warning system: cheaper than having to constantly repaint, especially as tanks have a terrible tendency to get dirty, muddy, etc., in the field.

OOC: As you noted but must be stressed, not all radar-absorbent paint is black.
OOC: I actually recall that they had tried daylight painting schemes on the F-117, though having RAM materials on an aircraft doesn't mean that it would be all black. However, despite all this, radar signature reduction methods is still less important than thermal signature reduction, considering that for detecting enemy vehicles, thermal sights will be used more than radar-based systems on the battlefield anyways - both on the ground and from the air.

Especially as thermal or infra-red detectors are generally passive receivers rather than active transmitters.

Very nice overall, though I question radar aborbant paint like many others, and I'm not too fond of those high KE RHA values, especially sides and rear. However, my biggest problem lies in the speed. Now, I find a swimming speed of 20 km/h to be extreme - the AAV7A1 only goes 13.5 km/h, and the only thing faster does so operating as a speedboat rather than a ground vehicle. Most amphibious combat vehicles are limited to 5-10 km/h swimming speed.
So what about deep fording (using a snorkel)? That's even slower. Every figure I've seen for that is 2-5 km/h, tops. This is a very slow process, and the capability is only there because it beats having to rely on a bridge, which can be destroyed and, if not already present, needs a lot of time to get to the front and set up.

The latest American amphibious vehicle can do 20 kts in calm waters, but that's because it is comparitively light and requires with a host of vanes and planes to make it happen. A tank, as CSJ noted, is a very different beast.

*bump*

*bump*

{OOC: Very cool Sarzonia. :)}

OOC:Get on AIM, Sarz.

*bump*

OOC: Get on MSN Sarz :p
(no but seriously, I need to talk to you about something)

*bump*

*added more information about electronics*