Aequatio
25-06-2005, 05:05
Aequatian Armoured Gun System, Mark 1, "Hellcat"
http://img117.echo.cx/img117/9889/hellcatlarge7sm.png
The Hellcat AGS was developed as a project for the Aequatian Army's Airborne/Air Assault Divisions to provide them with a vehicle that is air-portable and maneuverable but is equipped with the firepower of a main battle tank. Trials with the vehicle have shown it to be transportable by a C-130 Hercules aircraft and can be successfully deployed via a landing skid on a hastily constructed airstrip or flat terrain.
Weapon Systems
The main armament of the Hellcat AGS is the turret-mounted Aequatian Military Industries M41 120-104mm gun with a gradually tapering bore and a shell with skirts which decrease in diameter as it travels through the barrel. The bore tapers from 120mm at the breech to 104mm at the muzzle; this steps up pressure and gives the shot a higher velocity than any gun developed by Aequatian Military Industries. The shell consists of a tungsten-carbide core and aluminium alloy skirts which are swaged down so that a slender and heavy shot leaves the barrel.
An enclosed turret which houses an Aequatian Military Industries M90 20mm autocannon provides the vehicle with anti-aircraft weapon and a defensive weapon against infantry.
Defensive Systems
Armour
Due to weight restrictions due to the air-portable requirements, the Hellcat AGS is only lightly armoured. Standard titanium/carbon-60 armour plates reach thinknesses between 45mm on the front and sides with only 20mm on the rear of the vehicle. In addition to the vehicle's main hull armour, there is also the addition of the Aequatian Military Industries "Helmet" Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) to improve protection against both shaped-charge jets and APFSDS rounds.
It is very important to note that while light ERA containers are completely destroyed in the process of detonation, "Helmet" sections are not, as their detonation is contained by the outside armor plates. Therefore even after detonation "Helmet" sections continue to provide some appliqué protection.
Active Defence Systems
In addition to the passive armour systems, the Hellcat AGS is equipped with a Laser Sensor which has been adopted from the "Shield" EOCDAS which warns the crew about having their vehicle "painted" by an enemy laser designator for use in laser-guided missiles, the commander can then choose to launch the vehicle's smoke grenades to obscure the vehicle from the painter.
Secondary Systems
The Hellcat AGS is equipped for fight on the modern battlefield with the incorporation of several systems which are also included on several of the Aequatian Republic's Main Battle Tanks and Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
The Battlefield Information Control System (BICS) allows the vehicle's commander to co-ordinate his efforts with those of his platoon and any attached elements to complete missions. The Forward Looking InfraRed Sighting System allows the commander to designate targets for the tank's gunner and organize them into priorities for elimination.
The WillTell Computerized Fire Control System (FCS) was developed to work in co-operation with the tank's Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder to distinguish targets and aid the commander in identifying targets on the battlefield.
The tank is equipped with a 200 SCFM Clean Cool Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection System to keep the crew safe against an attack from a biological or chemical agent and protection against an irradiated area from a nuclear attack.
The sighting system provides the gunner with a 16-times power gunsight with a secondary 8-times power sight should the former become damaged or inoperable. As well, the primary 16x sight is equipped with an "Inferno" Thermal Imager which helps him distinguish targets during night combat.
Crew Complement
While the optimal complement for the Hellcat AGS would be three crewmembers, due to the nature of the main gun and its ammunition, care must be taken in the loading procedure so as to avoid jamming due to improper loading. The Hellcat AGS has a crew of four which include a commander who sits in the right side of the turret and is in control of the vehicle's FLIR and BICS systems which the Gunner sits to the left of the main gun and controls the traverse of the turret and the elevation and depression of the M41 main gun. The driver sits low in the hull centered at the front of the vehicle and has a display for the BICS. The loader is stationed at the rear of the turret behind the breech of the main gun.
Powerplant and Performance
To cut down on the vehicle's weight, the powerplant of the Hellcat AGS is the Aequatian Automotive Industries V8 Diesel Engine which provides 565hp and give the vehicle a road speed of 69 kilometres an hour and a cross country speed of 57 kilometres an hour. The Hellcat can ford through 1.22 metres of water as well as defeat vertical obstacles up to 0.76 metres high and cross trenches of up to 1.69 metres in width. The tank carries enough fuel to have a maximum operational range of 580 kilometres.
Vehicle Dimensions
Length:
(gun forward) 8.65 metres
(hull) 7.7 metres
Width: 2.75 metres
Height: 2.45 metres
Weight: 14,750 kilograms
Total Cost of Hellcat Armoured Gun System: 1,055,000 Aequatian Markes
http://img117.echo.cx/img117/9889/hellcatlarge7sm.png
The Hellcat AGS was developed as a project for the Aequatian Army's Airborne/Air Assault Divisions to provide them with a vehicle that is air-portable and maneuverable but is equipped with the firepower of a main battle tank. Trials with the vehicle have shown it to be transportable by a C-130 Hercules aircraft and can be successfully deployed via a landing skid on a hastily constructed airstrip or flat terrain.
Weapon Systems
The main armament of the Hellcat AGS is the turret-mounted Aequatian Military Industries M41 120-104mm gun with a gradually tapering bore and a shell with skirts which decrease in diameter as it travels through the barrel. The bore tapers from 120mm at the breech to 104mm at the muzzle; this steps up pressure and gives the shot a higher velocity than any gun developed by Aequatian Military Industries. The shell consists of a tungsten-carbide core and aluminium alloy skirts which are swaged down so that a slender and heavy shot leaves the barrel.
An enclosed turret which houses an Aequatian Military Industries M90 20mm autocannon provides the vehicle with anti-aircraft weapon and a defensive weapon against infantry.
Defensive Systems
Armour
Due to weight restrictions due to the air-portable requirements, the Hellcat AGS is only lightly armoured. Standard titanium/carbon-60 armour plates reach thinknesses between 45mm on the front and sides with only 20mm on the rear of the vehicle. In addition to the vehicle's main hull armour, there is also the addition of the Aequatian Military Industries "Helmet" Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) to improve protection against both shaped-charge jets and APFSDS rounds.
It is very important to note that while light ERA containers are completely destroyed in the process of detonation, "Helmet" sections are not, as their detonation is contained by the outside armor plates. Therefore even after detonation "Helmet" sections continue to provide some appliqué protection.
Active Defence Systems
In addition to the passive armour systems, the Hellcat AGS is equipped with a Laser Sensor which has been adopted from the "Shield" EOCDAS which warns the crew about having their vehicle "painted" by an enemy laser designator for use in laser-guided missiles, the commander can then choose to launch the vehicle's smoke grenades to obscure the vehicle from the painter.
Secondary Systems
The Hellcat AGS is equipped for fight on the modern battlefield with the incorporation of several systems which are also included on several of the Aequatian Republic's Main Battle Tanks and Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
The Battlefield Information Control System (BICS) allows the vehicle's commander to co-ordinate his efforts with those of his platoon and any attached elements to complete missions. The Forward Looking InfraRed Sighting System allows the commander to designate targets for the tank's gunner and organize them into priorities for elimination.
The WillTell Computerized Fire Control System (FCS) was developed to work in co-operation with the tank's Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder to distinguish targets and aid the commander in identifying targets on the battlefield.
The tank is equipped with a 200 SCFM Clean Cool Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection System to keep the crew safe against an attack from a biological or chemical agent and protection against an irradiated area from a nuclear attack.
The sighting system provides the gunner with a 16-times power gunsight with a secondary 8-times power sight should the former become damaged or inoperable. As well, the primary 16x sight is equipped with an "Inferno" Thermal Imager which helps him distinguish targets during night combat.
Crew Complement
While the optimal complement for the Hellcat AGS would be three crewmembers, due to the nature of the main gun and its ammunition, care must be taken in the loading procedure so as to avoid jamming due to improper loading. The Hellcat AGS has a crew of four which include a commander who sits in the right side of the turret and is in control of the vehicle's FLIR and BICS systems which the Gunner sits to the left of the main gun and controls the traverse of the turret and the elevation and depression of the M41 main gun. The driver sits low in the hull centered at the front of the vehicle and has a display for the BICS. The loader is stationed at the rear of the turret behind the breech of the main gun.
Powerplant and Performance
To cut down on the vehicle's weight, the powerplant of the Hellcat AGS is the Aequatian Automotive Industries V8 Diesel Engine which provides 565hp and give the vehicle a road speed of 69 kilometres an hour and a cross country speed of 57 kilometres an hour. The Hellcat can ford through 1.22 metres of water as well as defeat vertical obstacles up to 0.76 metres high and cross trenches of up to 1.69 metres in width. The tank carries enough fuel to have a maximum operational range of 580 kilometres.
Vehicle Dimensions
Length:
(gun forward) 8.65 metres
(hull) 7.7 metres
Width: 2.75 metres
Height: 2.45 metres
Weight: 14,750 kilograms
Total Cost of Hellcat Armoured Gun System: 1,055,000 Aequatian Markes