Isselmere
17-01-2006, 08:48
Please note that L31 is the Isselmere-Nielander Army's classification for the vehicle rather than the manufacturer's model classification number, which starts with IMW-...
L31 Mammoth obstacle clearance vehicle
The L31 Mammoth obstacle clearance vehicle (OCV) is an armoured engineering vehicle system designed to remove natural and human-made hindrances from the path of mechanised, motorised, and dismounted units. The front of the Mammoth can fit a variety of dozer-blade or other engineering equipment attachments to assist in mine removal or other combat engineering functions, while the turret sports a short-barrelled 165mm howitzer as well as a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, two overhead weapon stations (OWS) capable of fitting a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, a machine gun (up to 15.5mm calibre), or a similarly sized device, and a 23.5-tonne capacity A-frame winch/crane. The rear of the L31 can house a combat engineer technician to manage the Bloodhound mine detection suite, the L87L Rattlesnake articulated mine clearance system trailer, and an uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) such as the mine-clearing Marmot or Penguin or the combat-ready Hyena or Jackal or further ammunition and modular charges for the 165mm howitzer.
Design
The chassis of the L31 is based upon that of the L21 Kodiak series of tracked heavy armoured vehicles, granting the hull the same level of protection as that of the Kodiak main battle tank. The attachment mounts for dozer-blades on the L21 series was, however, strengthened to accept heavier equipment as well as greater stressors. Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shielding has also been improved to cope with the power of the Beagle broadwave remote ordnance/ammunition detonation countermeasures active security transmitter (BROADCAST) system, which is capable of producing a strong radio pulse capable of over-riding improvised and otherwise unshielded remote control detonation devices.
Owing to the winch/crane and its associated mechanisms, the turret does not offer precisely the same level of protection as that of the L21 main battle tank (MBT). The slope of the armour is reduced slightly near the fitting and the placement of some components has caused for a reduction in spacing within the armour. The fitting of a larger calibre weapon has also led to a modest decrease in protection on the turret’s front face, although the addition of modular armour before the howitzer’s mantlet as on the turret of the Kodiak does greatly minimise the consequent weakening.
Armour Pattern [Secret IC]
The L31 may be fitted with appliqué armour, slat armour, Palisade non-explosive reactive armour (NXRA) blocks (which may be coated with Crinoline infrared signature suppressant paint), or may be prepared to attach the additional armour supplements used by the purchaser.
As noted above, the armour pattern of the Mammoth is similar to that of the Kodiak. It begins with Crinoline paint, followed by VLQ.291 electrostatic discharge panels. The VLQ.291 system is capable of defeating electrically or electronically fuzed munitions aimed at the vehicle by sending an electric pulse at the object, pre-detonating it before the weapon attains lethality. The sturdy dielectric panels are made of metal-doped carbon-fibre reinforced ceramic blocks backed by insulating interlocking ballistic ceramic blocks. If Palisade or other NXRA or explosive reactive armour (ERA) is fitted, the panels may be detached either completely (as with ERA) or to be placed atop the new armour layer (with appliqué armour or NXRA).
Since not all weapons that might be aimed at the L31 would be so fuzed, the Mammoth’s skin is capable of defeating kinetic energy weapons as well. A titanium-vanadium-aluminium (TVA) alloy shell forms the first layer of traditional armour. This first layer is able to counter many earlier high velocity guns and rocket propelled grenades (RPG). Should a chemical or kinetic energy weapon break through that layer, it will encounter Cuirass ceramic armour blocks sandwiched between two layers of kinetic energy resistant insulating (KERI) foam. KERI foam has a high melting point, reducing the energy of the molten jet created by a chemical energy round as does the low thermal conductivity of the ceramic plates. Cuirass ceramic plates have less brittleness than the earlier Baldric blocks, countering one of the significant problems with ceramic armour.
Under those first two layers comes an interstice of ballistic polymer fabric sheets suspended within a ballistic plastic shell. The third stage itself is founded upon a cage of tungsten-steel bars within further KERI foam sandwiched by ceramic- and carbon-fibre reinforced composite, composite honeycomb, and ballistic polymer fabric. This third level is the thickest layer of armour and provides the best protection against kinetic energy penetrators, such as depleted uranium (DU) bolts within many armour-piercing, fin-stabilised, discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds.
Next comes another set of Cuirass ceramic armour blocks in KERI foam over a nickel-tungsten steel shell. The nickel-tungsten steel shell provides the last layer of effective defence against most rounds, but it offers very effective protection on its own. Under the shell comes an anti-spall liner of tempered ballistic plastic and ballistic polymer fabric.
Environmental Awareness and Control
In order for a modern combat engineering vehicle to do its job, its crew must be fully aware of their surroundings night or day and in all weather. The vehicle must also be able to operate effectively within toxic environments. The Mammoth is well-suited to provide its crew all they may require.
Situational Awareness
Situational awareness involves knowing where one is and one’s foes are on the battlefield and what sort of environment in which one finds oneself. To those ends, the L31 has a broad array of sensors to detect opponents and toxic environments, permitting the crew to cope with both.
The Mammoth offers its crew exceptional visibility in all weather conditions, day or night, with the Arachne optronic sensor blocks (OSB) of the L21 series of tracked heavy armoured vehicles, the two overhead weapons stations (OWS), the commander’s independent optronic sensor cupola (CIOSC), the gunner’s optronic targeting system (GOTS), and the driver’s optronic sighting equipment (DOSE). The Arachne system comprises six armoured vision blocks arranged to provide a 360-degree panoramic view with high resolution charge coupled device (CCD) offering low-light level television (LLTV) and imaging infrared (IIR) images presented on the vehicle’s touch sensitive Tactical Awareness Display System (TADS) of active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD) permitting the crew to identify and target an enemy in conjunction with the Mammoth’s main gun or OWS.
As well as the Arachne’s six OSB, the driver and commander are each provided with another set of OSB. The driver has three OSB equipped for LLTV and IIR to enable him or her to navigate at night and in dreadful weather conditions, whilst the commander has four similar OSB situated on his or her turret to indicate for the gunner or loader and to prosecute targets with the OWS.
With their high vantage point over the vehicle, the two OWS can see where the other OSB cannot. Although the optronics on the two OWS do not have the same level of armour protection, they have up to 6x magnification and they grant their operators the ability to search for enemies and prosecute them within the security of the vehicle.
The CIOSC has a broader array of sensors from which to choose. The armoured turret can withstand 155mm shell fragments as well as 20mm shells and can swivel through 360-degrees to giving the commander the ability to investigate the surroundings, to select targets for the gunner to attack, and to perform one of the vehicle’s primary tasks of searching for mines and improvised explosive devices (IED). Equipped with a laser designator/range-finder (LDRF), IIR, an imaging ultraviolet (IUV) sensor, and an LLTV CCD. The CIOSC permits the Mammoth to sniff out residual traces from mine/IED emplacement as well as nitrates leaking from the explosives themselves, forming only part of the vehicle’s mine countermeasures suite, as will be explained below. The systems within the CIOSC offer up to 12x magnification.
Sighting for the main gun is provided by an LDRF and the GOTS. The GOTS permits the gunner to identify targets with thermal imaging, IIR, and CCD imagery capable of 18x magnification.
Threat Management
Vision, even assisted by the best enhancements technology can offer, can only give only a portion of the needed battlefield awareness to survive in a modern war. One needs to know precisely where one’s friends and one’s enemies are lurking. The Hedgehog threat management system, using information generated from the Mammoth’s position locator device (PLD), the vehicle’s identification friend or foe system, and secure datalinks with uncrewed vehicles connected with the L31 as well as other vehicles and aircraft, presents the crew with a two-dimensional overhead perspective of the battlefield or, where digital mapping of an area exists or where three similarly equipped vehicles are able to triangulate and survey an area, a three-dimensional image of the terrain on their TADS. The Clarion positional locator device (PLD) operates using information collected through a secure datalink (the Brono tactical datalink in INA and RINM service), the Mammoth’s identification friend or foe (IFF) system as well as the vehicle’s own hybrid navigation system consisting of a GPS system embedded within a dual laser ring gyroscope inertial navigation system (LINS). These systems give the L31 Mammoth the opportunity of both finding chances that might otherwise be neglected and of avoiding difficulties that might not otherwise be foreseen.
Since not all things dangerous can necessarily be seen with the naked eye, the Mammoth possesses radiological and chemical sniffers to test the air and soil for toxic contaminants.* Should an NBC hazard arise, it will be presented upon the crew’s TADS. The L31’s over-pressure air conditioning system further ensures that the crew is not unnecessarily endangered, and the crew stations have been constructed to be operated from within NBC protective suits.
Armament
The L31 is equipped with a short-barrelled (12-calibre or L12) 165mm conventional howitzer firing a 29kg high explosive squash head shell to destroy enemy positions and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The howitzer is fed by a semi-automatic loader from an armoured magazine containing 36 shells and another with up to 96 modular charges. The 7.62mm coaxial machine gun has 1200 ready rounds as well as a further 2400 stored.
Each of the two OWS may sport a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, a lightweight 20mm autocannon, or a machine gun with a calibre of up to 15.5mm. The ready magazine and stored round capacity of each depends on the weapons carried and the necessary safety measures for ammunition storage.
Mine Countermeasures Suite
The Mammoth supports a wide range of equipment to detect and dispose of mines and other ordnance such as unexploded munitions (UXM) and IED. For maximum utility, the L31 operates with a modified remote-capable uncrewed mine clearance version of the L15 Badger series, the L15MN(D) Aardvark, and two Marmot DLMC series of uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV).
The Aardvark advanced clearing vehicle (ACV) and the Marmot UGV are operated by remote control either through a datalink or by a secure digital video feed. The datalink permits line-of-sight (LOS) control up to about 4 km away whilst the secure digital video link allows operation from up to 5 km distance. The Aardvark, equipped with either a surface munition clearing device or a mineplough performs the initial sweep of an area, using magnetic signature duplicators (MSD) fitted to both attachments to pre-detonate magnetically fuzed mines as well as an IIR-IUV turret, the CIOSC, to detect thermal variances in the soil caused by the presence of mines or IED. Cleared lanes are marked by side-mounted marker dispensers and mines by a mine-marker dispenser arm fitted to the centre-rear of the Aardvark. A rear-mounted optronic turret with an IIR camera and an LLTV CCD permits the remote operator to ensure the mine marking system is working properly and to detect any further mines that might have been subsequently revealed by the mineplough.
Behind the Aardvark come the Marmots. The two UGV possess a broad array of detection equipment. An extremely sensitive minimum metal detector (MMD) array fitted to the front is able to detect small amounts of metal needed for fuzes within non-metallic mines. Behind the MMD is a ground penetrating radar (GPR) set able to detect not only non-metallic mines but deeply implanted mines as well. A forward-looking IIR CCD scans for any thermal anomalies within the soil that may have been missed by the Aardvark. Should any mines, metallic or otherwise, be detected by the Marmot, the vehicle uses its thermal neutron activation detector to identify high concentrations of nitrogen revealed by the strong electromagnetic pulse emitted by the GPR. Should a mine or IED be confirmed, it is marked with a post-marker by an articulated arm.
Mines are not simply physically marked, but are fed into the Bloodhound mine detection suite using the Aardvark and the Marmot’s hybrid navigation system consisting of a GPS embedded LINS, which provides accurate 12-figure grid references that are fed into the Mammoth’s Hedgehog threat management system.
Once a minefield has been detected and marked, the Mammoth or the Aardvark will advance with the three-cell L87L Rattlesnake mine clearance device trailer. The Rattlesnake is a 260m long, 22cm diameter flexible tube filled with 220m of insensitive explosive attached to a Venturi rocket that is capable of clearing a corridor up to 230m long and 7.5m wide. The trailer itself is well armoured against most threats up to 30mm rounds fired from a conventional chain gun.
In its mine clearing capacity, the L31 is fitted with a mineplough in place of its dozer/obstacle clearance blade. The mineplough is equipped with magnetic signature duplicators that fool magnetically fuzed mines into detonating prior to being ploughed. The plough permits a 4.6m wide, 30cm deep lane to be cut through shallow minefields at speeds up to 15 km/h.
Rather than the mineplough or surface clearance blade, the Mammoth may be fitted with a mine-flail or a fore-and-rear mine roller set, the latter which may be equipped with a set of MSD.
Other Fittings and Roles
The Mammoth may be fitted with maxi-pipe fascine launcher above the turret enabling even heavy armoured vehicles to cross gaps up to 5m in length and depth. Up to three bundles of 2500kg may be carried.
L31 Mammoth characteristics
Type: Obstacle clearance vehicle
Crew: 5: driver, gunner, loader, commander, mine countermeasures operator (capable of uncrewed operation in mine clearance capacity)
Dimensions:
Length
Hull only: 8.48m
With dozer blade and/or winch forward: 9.76m
With dozer blade and winch trailing: 13.5m
With mineplough and winch trailing: 15.03m
L87L Rattlesnake mine clearance device (MCD) trailer: 3.63m
Width
Hull: 3.76m
Dozer blade: 4.34m
Mineplough: 4.76m (extended)
Height
Turret roof: 2.54m
Overall: 3.05m
Ground clearance: 0.50m
Ground pressure: 0.9 kg/cm^2
Power-to-weight ratio: 15.85 kW/t (21.61 hp/t)
Mass: 78,883 kg (combat loading)
Propulsion: 1250kW (1,705 shp) IMW LMM-52T multi-fuel-electric (MFE) four-stroke 12-cylinder 90-degree inline-V (i.e. liquid cooled)
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 1 reverse.
Reservoirs: Fuel: 2,048 litres; Oil: 172 litres; Coolant: 208 litres.
Speed: Land: burst: 66 km/h (road); standard maximum: 56 km/h; cruise: 50 km/h; cross-country (maximum): 46 km/h; mine clearing (maximum safe): 15 km/h
Range (at cruise speed): 525 km
Protection (values in RHA vs KE/CE):
Pattern: See above.
Turret: 1080-1160/2100-2430
Turret top (with blow-out panels for stored ammunition): 465/600-930
Glacis: 770/940
Lower front hull: 770/940
Sides (w/o skirts, applique armour, etc.): 465/570
Rear: 465/600**
Bottom: 320-465/400-600
Restrictions:
Obstacles: Trenches: 3m wide; Walls: 1.25m
Grades (combat equipped): Forward: 65%; Side Slope: 38%
Weapons:
Main gun: 165mm L10 howitzer (32 high explosive squash head (HESH) shells and 96 modular charges), semi-automatic loading of shells and charges from armoured flash-proof magazine.
Machine gun: 7.62mm coaxial
Overhead weapon stations (OWS): 2; commander, loader
Electronics:
Optronic sensor blocks: Arachne (6), Hermes (driver, 3), Athene (commander, 4), Artemis (OWS, 2), Hecate (CIOSC), Ares (GOTS)
Communications: Secure radios
Navigation: Position Locator Device (PLD), Hybrid Navigation System (GPS embedded LINS)
Countermeasures: Identification friend or foe (IFF), laser warning receiver system (LWR), magnetic signature duplicators (MSD), radar warning receiver system (RWR), Beagle broadwave remote ordnance/ammunition detonation countermeasures active security transmitter (BROADCAST) system
Expendable Countermeasures Launchers:
4 x 4 (turret) and 2 x 8 (hull) GLE.141 70mm grenade dispensers (smoke, fragmentation, other), rotating 4-cell GLE.200 70mm anti-missile grenade dispenser (on turret), GLQ.291 electro-static discharge system (turret)
Cost (Vehicle only): $8.7 million
Domestic Production Rights: $10,200 million
L15MN(D) Aardvark characteristics
Type: Crewed or uncrewed ground mine clearance vehicle
Dimensions:
Length
Hull: 6.8m
With surface clearance device (SCD): 8.78m
Width
Hull: 3.2m
With SCD: 4.5m
Height:
Overall: 3.25m (with VLE.200)
Ground clearance: 0.5m
Powerplant: 650 hp Isselmere Motor Works (IMW) LMM-44T multi-fuel engine
Protection (RHA vs. KE, without appliqué armour or explosive reactive armour (ERA)):
Hull:
Front: 320
Sides: 160
Top; 110
Rear: 120
Weight: 28,682 kg
Weapons
Forward OWS: 7.62x51mm GPMG (250 ready, 1,000 stored resupply; other weapon may be used)
Rear OWS: 6.5x39mm LMG (250 ready, 1,000 stored resupply; other weapon may be used)
Electronics:
Optronics/Sighting systems: laser designator-RF, IIR, IUV, LLTV
Navigation: Hybrid navigation system (GPS embedded LINS)
Self-protection: IFF, LWR, MSD, RWR, Beagle BROADCAST
Expendable Countermeasures: 2 x 4-cell (turret) and 2 x 8-cell (hull) VLE.141 countermeasure grenade ejector, 4-cell VLE.200 anti-projectile grenade launcher (atop turret); slat and appliqué armour may be fitted
Cost: $3.75 million
Domestic Production Rights: tba
L87L Rattlesnake characteristics
Type: Mine clearance device trailer
Dimensions:
Length: 3.78m
Width: 3.2m
Height:
Overall: 1.63m
Ground clearance: 0.5m
Cost: tba
Domestic Production Rights: tba
Marmot DLMC.1 characteristics
Type: Uncrewed ground mine clearance vehicle
Dimensions:
Length: 4.65m (with MMD extended)
Width: Hull: 3m (including MMD)
Height
Height: 2.85m (extended), 1.62m (transport)
Ground clearance: 30cm (hull), 5cm (MMD lowered)
Ground pressure: tba kg/cm^2
Power-to-weight ratio: tba kW/t (tba hp/t)
Mass: 1582 kg (combat loading); maximum (w/ slat armour): 1956 kg
Propulsion: Multi-fuel-electric hybrid engine
Transmission:
Reservoirs: Fuel: tba litres; Oil: tba litres; Coolant: tba litres.
Speed:
Burst: 15 km/h (road); standard maximum: 10 km/h; cruise: 8 km/h; mine clearing (maximum safe): 5 km/h
Range (at cruise speed): 20 km
Protection (values in RHA vs KE/CE):
Pattern: Temperature resistant aluminium alloy, Hauberk ceramic-doped composite, ballistic plastic, ceramic block, ballistic polymer fabric.
Front: 110/185
Sides: 95/165
Rear: 95/165
Bottom: 120/220
Restrictions:
Obstacles
Trenches: 0.65m (MMD raised)
Walls: 0.15m (MMD raised)
Grades (combat equipped)
Forward: 65% (MMD raised)
Side Slope: 38%
Electronics:
Forward optronic sensor array (FOSA):
Communications: Secure datalink, secure video datalink
Navigation: Position Locator Device (PLD), Hybrid Navigation System (GPS embedded LINS)
Countermeasures: Identification friend or foe (IFF), laser warning receivers (LWR), magnetic signature duplicators (MSD), radar warning receivers (RWR), Beagle BROADCAST***
Cost (Vehicle only): $54,250
Domestic Production Rights: tba
Cost (Complete system): $12.56 million
Domestic production rights (No foreign sales or resale): $15,072 million ($15.072 billion)
* Please note that this does not mean the vehicle is entirely suited to performing the NBC reconnaissance mission, simply that it has the capacity of self-protection against NBC environments, which is not to say it wouldn’t be possible of building an NBC variant, however.
** The engine is placed in the front of the vehicle enabling greater protection (with spaced armour) in the rear.
*** Powered through an elevated cable attached to either the command vehicle or the Advanced Clearance Vehicle (ACV).
L31 Mammoth obstacle clearance vehicle
The L31 Mammoth obstacle clearance vehicle (OCV) is an armoured engineering vehicle system designed to remove natural and human-made hindrances from the path of mechanised, motorised, and dismounted units. The front of the Mammoth can fit a variety of dozer-blade or other engineering equipment attachments to assist in mine removal or other combat engineering functions, while the turret sports a short-barrelled 165mm howitzer as well as a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, two overhead weapon stations (OWS) capable of fitting a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, a machine gun (up to 15.5mm calibre), or a similarly sized device, and a 23.5-tonne capacity A-frame winch/crane. The rear of the L31 can house a combat engineer technician to manage the Bloodhound mine detection suite, the L87L Rattlesnake articulated mine clearance system trailer, and an uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) such as the mine-clearing Marmot or Penguin or the combat-ready Hyena or Jackal or further ammunition and modular charges for the 165mm howitzer.
Design
The chassis of the L31 is based upon that of the L21 Kodiak series of tracked heavy armoured vehicles, granting the hull the same level of protection as that of the Kodiak main battle tank. The attachment mounts for dozer-blades on the L21 series was, however, strengthened to accept heavier equipment as well as greater stressors. Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shielding has also been improved to cope with the power of the Beagle broadwave remote ordnance/ammunition detonation countermeasures active security transmitter (BROADCAST) system, which is capable of producing a strong radio pulse capable of over-riding improvised and otherwise unshielded remote control detonation devices.
Owing to the winch/crane and its associated mechanisms, the turret does not offer precisely the same level of protection as that of the L21 main battle tank (MBT). The slope of the armour is reduced slightly near the fitting and the placement of some components has caused for a reduction in spacing within the armour. The fitting of a larger calibre weapon has also led to a modest decrease in protection on the turret’s front face, although the addition of modular armour before the howitzer’s mantlet as on the turret of the Kodiak does greatly minimise the consequent weakening.
Armour Pattern [Secret IC]
The L31 may be fitted with appliqué armour, slat armour, Palisade non-explosive reactive armour (NXRA) blocks (which may be coated with Crinoline infrared signature suppressant paint), or may be prepared to attach the additional armour supplements used by the purchaser.
As noted above, the armour pattern of the Mammoth is similar to that of the Kodiak. It begins with Crinoline paint, followed by VLQ.291 electrostatic discharge panels. The VLQ.291 system is capable of defeating electrically or electronically fuzed munitions aimed at the vehicle by sending an electric pulse at the object, pre-detonating it before the weapon attains lethality. The sturdy dielectric panels are made of metal-doped carbon-fibre reinforced ceramic blocks backed by insulating interlocking ballistic ceramic blocks. If Palisade or other NXRA or explosive reactive armour (ERA) is fitted, the panels may be detached either completely (as with ERA) or to be placed atop the new armour layer (with appliqué armour or NXRA).
Since not all weapons that might be aimed at the L31 would be so fuzed, the Mammoth’s skin is capable of defeating kinetic energy weapons as well. A titanium-vanadium-aluminium (TVA) alloy shell forms the first layer of traditional armour. This first layer is able to counter many earlier high velocity guns and rocket propelled grenades (RPG). Should a chemical or kinetic energy weapon break through that layer, it will encounter Cuirass ceramic armour blocks sandwiched between two layers of kinetic energy resistant insulating (KERI) foam. KERI foam has a high melting point, reducing the energy of the molten jet created by a chemical energy round as does the low thermal conductivity of the ceramic plates. Cuirass ceramic plates have less brittleness than the earlier Baldric blocks, countering one of the significant problems with ceramic armour.
Under those first two layers comes an interstice of ballistic polymer fabric sheets suspended within a ballistic plastic shell. The third stage itself is founded upon a cage of tungsten-steel bars within further KERI foam sandwiched by ceramic- and carbon-fibre reinforced composite, composite honeycomb, and ballistic polymer fabric. This third level is the thickest layer of armour and provides the best protection against kinetic energy penetrators, such as depleted uranium (DU) bolts within many armour-piercing, fin-stabilised, discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds.
Next comes another set of Cuirass ceramic armour blocks in KERI foam over a nickel-tungsten steel shell. The nickel-tungsten steel shell provides the last layer of effective defence against most rounds, but it offers very effective protection on its own. Under the shell comes an anti-spall liner of tempered ballistic plastic and ballistic polymer fabric.
Environmental Awareness and Control
In order for a modern combat engineering vehicle to do its job, its crew must be fully aware of their surroundings night or day and in all weather. The vehicle must also be able to operate effectively within toxic environments. The Mammoth is well-suited to provide its crew all they may require.
Situational Awareness
Situational awareness involves knowing where one is and one’s foes are on the battlefield and what sort of environment in which one finds oneself. To those ends, the L31 has a broad array of sensors to detect opponents and toxic environments, permitting the crew to cope with both.
The Mammoth offers its crew exceptional visibility in all weather conditions, day or night, with the Arachne optronic sensor blocks (OSB) of the L21 series of tracked heavy armoured vehicles, the two overhead weapons stations (OWS), the commander’s independent optronic sensor cupola (CIOSC), the gunner’s optronic targeting system (GOTS), and the driver’s optronic sighting equipment (DOSE). The Arachne system comprises six armoured vision blocks arranged to provide a 360-degree panoramic view with high resolution charge coupled device (CCD) offering low-light level television (LLTV) and imaging infrared (IIR) images presented on the vehicle’s touch sensitive Tactical Awareness Display System (TADS) of active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCD) permitting the crew to identify and target an enemy in conjunction with the Mammoth’s main gun or OWS.
As well as the Arachne’s six OSB, the driver and commander are each provided with another set of OSB. The driver has three OSB equipped for LLTV and IIR to enable him or her to navigate at night and in dreadful weather conditions, whilst the commander has four similar OSB situated on his or her turret to indicate for the gunner or loader and to prosecute targets with the OWS.
With their high vantage point over the vehicle, the two OWS can see where the other OSB cannot. Although the optronics on the two OWS do not have the same level of armour protection, they have up to 6x magnification and they grant their operators the ability to search for enemies and prosecute them within the security of the vehicle.
The CIOSC has a broader array of sensors from which to choose. The armoured turret can withstand 155mm shell fragments as well as 20mm shells and can swivel through 360-degrees to giving the commander the ability to investigate the surroundings, to select targets for the gunner to attack, and to perform one of the vehicle’s primary tasks of searching for mines and improvised explosive devices (IED). Equipped with a laser designator/range-finder (LDRF), IIR, an imaging ultraviolet (IUV) sensor, and an LLTV CCD. The CIOSC permits the Mammoth to sniff out residual traces from mine/IED emplacement as well as nitrates leaking from the explosives themselves, forming only part of the vehicle’s mine countermeasures suite, as will be explained below. The systems within the CIOSC offer up to 12x magnification.
Sighting for the main gun is provided by an LDRF and the GOTS. The GOTS permits the gunner to identify targets with thermal imaging, IIR, and CCD imagery capable of 18x magnification.
Threat Management
Vision, even assisted by the best enhancements technology can offer, can only give only a portion of the needed battlefield awareness to survive in a modern war. One needs to know precisely where one’s friends and one’s enemies are lurking. The Hedgehog threat management system, using information generated from the Mammoth’s position locator device (PLD), the vehicle’s identification friend or foe system, and secure datalinks with uncrewed vehicles connected with the L31 as well as other vehicles and aircraft, presents the crew with a two-dimensional overhead perspective of the battlefield or, where digital mapping of an area exists or where three similarly equipped vehicles are able to triangulate and survey an area, a three-dimensional image of the terrain on their TADS. The Clarion positional locator device (PLD) operates using information collected through a secure datalink (the Brono tactical datalink in INA and RINM service), the Mammoth’s identification friend or foe (IFF) system as well as the vehicle’s own hybrid navigation system consisting of a GPS system embedded within a dual laser ring gyroscope inertial navigation system (LINS). These systems give the L31 Mammoth the opportunity of both finding chances that might otherwise be neglected and of avoiding difficulties that might not otherwise be foreseen.
Since not all things dangerous can necessarily be seen with the naked eye, the Mammoth possesses radiological and chemical sniffers to test the air and soil for toxic contaminants.* Should an NBC hazard arise, it will be presented upon the crew’s TADS. The L31’s over-pressure air conditioning system further ensures that the crew is not unnecessarily endangered, and the crew stations have been constructed to be operated from within NBC protective suits.
Armament
The L31 is equipped with a short-barrelled (12-calibre or L12) 165mm conventional howitzer firing a 29kg high explosive squash head shell to destroy enemy positions and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The howitzer is fed by a semi-automatic loader from an armoured magazine containing 36 shells and another with up to 96 modular charges. The 7.62mm coaxial machine gun has 1200 ready rounds as well as a further 2400 stored.
Each of the two OWS may sport a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, a lightweight 20mm autocannon, or a machine gun with a calibre of up to 15.5mm. The ready magazine and stored round capacity of each depends on the weapons carried and the necessary safety measures for ammunition storage.
Mine Countermeasures Suite
The Mammoth supports a wide range of equipment to detect and dispose of mines and other ordnance such as unexploded munitions (UXM) and IED. For maximum utility, the L31 operates with a modified remote-capable uncrewed mine clearance version of the L15 Badger series, the L15MN(D) Aardvark, and two Marmot DLMC series of uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV).
The Aardvark advanced clearing vehicle (ACV) and the Marmot UGV are operated by remote control either through a datalink or by a secure digital video feed. The datalink permits line-of-sight (LOS) control up to about 4 km away whilst the secure digital video link allows operation from up to 5 km distance. The Aardvark, equipped with either a surface munition clearing device or a mineplough performs the initial sweep of an area, using magnetic signature duplicators (MSD) fitted to both attachments to pre-detonate magnetically fuzed mines as well as an IIR-IUV turret, the CIOSC, to detect thermal variances in the soil caused by the presence of mines or IED. Cleared lanes are marked by side-mounted marker dispensers and mines by a mine-marker dispenser arm fitted to the centre-rear of the Aardvark. A rear-mounted optronic turret with an IIR camera and an LLTV CCD permits the remote operator to ensure the mine marking system is working properly and to detect any further mines that might have been subsequently revealed by the mineplough.
Behind the Aardvark come the Marmots. The two UGV possess a broad array of detection equipment. An extremely sensitive minimum metal detector (MMD) array fitted to the front is able to detect small amounts of metal needed for fuzes within non-metallic mines. Behind the MMD is a ground penetrating radar (GPR) set able to detect not only non-metallic mines but deeply implanted mines as well. A forward-looking IIR CCD scans for any thermal anomalies within the soil that may have been missed by the Aardvark. Should any mines, metallic or otherwise, be detected by the Marmot, the vehicle uses its thermal neutron activation detector to identify high concentrations of nitrogen revealed by the strong electromagnetic pulse emitted by the GPR. Should a mine or IED be confirmed, it is marked with a post-marker by an articulated arm.
Mines are not simply physically marked, but are fed into the Bloodhound mine detection suite using the Aardvark and the Marmot’s hybrid navigation system consisting of a GPS embedded LINS, which provides accurate 12-figure grid references that are fed into the Mammoth’s Hedgehog threat management system.
Once a minefield has been detected and marked, the Mammoth or the Aardvark will advance with the three-cell L87L Rattlesnake mine clearance device trailer. The Rattlesnake is a 260m long, 22cm diameter flexible tube filled with 220m of insensitive explosive attached to a Venturi rocket that is capable of clearing a corridor up to 230m long and 7.5m wide. The trailer itself is well armoured against most threats up to 30mm rounds fired from a conventional chain gun.
In its mine clearing capacity, the L31 is fitted with a mineplough in place of its dozer/obstacle clearance blade. The mineplough is equipped with magnetic signature duplicators that fool magnetically fuzed mines into detonating prior to being ploughed. The plough permits a 4.6m wide, 30cm deep lane to be cut through shallow minefields at speeds up to 15 km/h.
Rather than the mineplough or surface clearance blade, the Mammoth may be fitted with a mine-flail or a fore-and-rear mine roller set, the latter which may be equipped with a set of MSD.
Other Fittings and Roles
The Mammoth may be fitted with maxi-pipe fascine launcher above the turret enabling even heavy armoured vehicles to cross gaps up to 5m in length and depth. Up to three bundles of 2500kg may be carried.
L31 Mammoth characteristics
Type: Obstacle clearance vehicle
Crew: 5: driver, gunner, loader, commander, mine countermeasures operator (capable of uncrewed operation in mine clearance capacity)
Dimensions:
Length
Hull only: 8.48m
With dozer blade and/or winch forward: 9.76m
With dozer blade and winch trailing: 13.5m
With mineplough and winch trailing: 15.03m
L87L Rattlesnake mine clearance device (MCD) trailer: 3.63m
Width
Hull: 3.76m
Dozer blade: 4.34m
Mineplough: 4.76m (extended)
Height
Turret roof: 2.54m
Overall: 3.05m
Ground clearance: 0.50m
Ground pressure: 0.9 kg/cm^2
Power-to-weight ratio: 15.85 kW/t (21.61 hp/t)
Mass: 78,883 kg (combat loading)
Propulsion: 1250kW (1,705 shp) IMW LMM-52T multi-fuel-electric (MFE) four-stroke 12-cylinder 90-degree inline-V (i.e. liquid cooled)
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 1 reverse.
Reservoirs: Fuel: 2,048 litres; Oil: 172 litres; Coolant: 208 litres.
Speed: Land: burst: 66 km/h (road); standard maximum: 56 km/h; cruise: 50 km/h; cross-country (maximum): 46 km/h; mine clearing (maximum safe): 15 km/h
Range (at cruise speed): 525 km
Protection (values in RHA vs KE/CE):
Pattern: See above.
Turret: 1080-1160/2100-2430
Turret top (with blow-out panels for stored ammunition): 465/600-930
Glacis: 770/940
Lower front hull: 770/940
Sides (w/o skirts, applique armour, etc.): 465/570
Rear: 465/600**
Bottom: 320-465/400-600
Restrictions:
Obstacles: Trenches: 3m wide; Walls: 1.25m
Grades (combat equipped): Forward: 65%; Side Slope: 38%
Weapons:
Main gun: 165mm L10 howitzer (32 high explosive squash head (HESH) shells and 96 modular charges), semi-automatic loading of shells and charges from armoured flash-proof magazine.
Machine gun: 7.62mm coaxial
Overhead weapon stations (OWS): 2; commander, loader
Electronics:
Optronic sensor blocks: Arachne (6), Hermes (driver, 3), Athene (commander, 4), Artemis (OWS, 2), Hecate (CIOSC), Ares (GOTS)
Communications: Secure radios
Navigation: Position Locator Device (PLD), Hybrid Navigation System (GPS embedded LINS)
Countermeasures: Identification friend or foe (IFF), laser warning receiver system (LWR), magnetic signature duplicators (MSD), radar warning receiver system (RWR), Beagle broadwave remote ordnance/ammunition detonation countermeasures active security transmitter (BROADCAST) system
Expendable Countermeasures Launchers:
4 x 4 (turret) and 2 x 8 (hull) GLE.141 70mm grenade dispensers (smoke, fragmentation, other), rotating 4-cell GLE.200 70mm anti-missile grenade dispenser (on turret), GLQ.291 electro-static discharge system (turret)
Cost (Vehicle only): $8.7 million
Domestic Production Rights: $10,200 million
L15MN(D) Aardvark characteristics
Type: Crewed or uncrewed ground mine clearance vehicle
Dimensions:
Length
Hull: 6.8m
With surface clearance device (SCD): 8.78m
Width
Hull: 3.2m
With SCD: 4.5m
Height:
Overall: 3.25m (with VLE.200)
Ground clearance: 0.5m
Powerplant: 650 hp Isselmere Motor Works (IMW) LMM-44T multi-fuel engine
Protection (RHA vs. KE, without appliqué armour or explosive reactive armour (ERA)):
Hull:
Front: 320
Sides: 160
Top; 110
Rear: 120
Weight: 28,682 kg
Weapons
Forward OWS: 7.62x51mm GPMG (250 ready, 1,000 stored resupply; other weapon may be used)
Rear OWS: 6.5x39mm LMG (250 ready, 1,000 stored resupply; other weapon may be used)
Electronics:
Optronics/Sighting systems: laser designator-RF, IIR, IUV, LLTV
Navigation: Hybrid navigation system (GPS embedded LINS)
Self-protection: IFF, LWR, MSD, RWR, Beagle BROADCAST
Expendable Countermeasures: 2 x 4-cell (turret) and 2 x 8-cell (hull) VLE.141 countermeasure grenade ejector, 4-cell VLE.200 anti-projectile grenade launcher (atop turret); slat and appliqué armour may be fitted
Cost: $3.75 million
Domestic Production Rights: tba
L87L Rattlesnake characteristics
Type: Mine clearance device trailer
Dimensions:
Length: 3.78m
Width: 3.2m
Height:
Overall: 1.63m
Ground clearance: 0.5m
Cost: tba
Domestic Production Rights: tba
Marmot DLMC.1 characteristics
Type: Uncrewed ground mine clearance vehicle
Dimensions:
Length: 4.65m (with MMD extended)
Width: Hull: 3m (including MMD)
Height
Height: 2.85m (extended), 1.62m (transport)
Ground clearance: 30cm (hull), 5cm (MMD lowered)
Ground pressure: tba kg/cm^2
Power-to-weight ratio: tba kW/t (tba hp/t)
Mass: 1582 kg (combat loading); maximum (w/ slat armour): 1956 kg
Propulsion: Multi-fuel-electric hybrid engine
Transmission:
Reservoirs: Fuel: tba litres; Oil: tba litres; Coolant: tba litres.
Speed:
Burst: 15 km/h (road); standard maximum: 10 km/h; cruise: 8 km/h; mine clearing (maximum safe): 5 km/h
Range (at cruise speed): 20 km
Protection (values in RHA vs KE/CE):
Pattern: Temperature resistant aluminium alloy, Hauberk ceramic-doped composite, ballistic plastic, ceramic block, ballistic polymer fabric.
Front: 110/185
Sides: 95/165
Rear: 95/165
Bottom: 120/220
Restrictions:
Obstacles
Trenches: 0.65m (MMD raised)
Walls: 0.15m (MMD raised)
Grades (combat equipped)
Forward: 65% (MMD raised)
Side Slope: 38%
Electronics:
Forward optronic sensor array (FOSA):
Communications: Secure datalink, secure video datalink
Navigation: Position Locator Device (PLD), Hybrid Navigation System (GPS embedded LINS)
Countermeasures: Identification friend or foe (IFF), laser warning receivers (LWR), magnetic signature duplicators (MSD), radar warning receivers (RWR), Beagle BROADCAST***
Cost (Vehicle only): $54,250
Domestic Production Rights: tba
Cost (Complete system): $12.56 million
Domestic production rights (No foreign sales or resale): $15,072 million ($15.072 billion)
* Please note that this does not mean the vehicle is entirely suited to performing the NBC reconnaissance mission, simply that it has the capacity of self-protection against NBC environments, which is not to say it wouldn’t be possible of building an NBC variant, however.
** The engine is placed in the front of the vehicle enabling greater protection (with spaced armour) in the rear.
*** Powered through an elevated cable attached to either the command vehicle or the Advanced Clearance Vehicle (ACV).