Bretton
10-02-2006, 13:49
While we at Brettonian Military Industries, producers of The Technology of Peace™, have produced some of the finest heavyweight combat vehicles available to the discerning military officials and world leaders, such as the now-famous A7V Peacemaker (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=444410) multi-legged tank, we've recently realized that our prodigious military lacks a rapid response weapons platform to deal with sudden threats that our heavier vehicles may not be capable of due to their size. With this deficiency in mind, we are pleased to present the newest addition to our arsenal, the mobility-minded LA3 Instigator.
Lineart (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/3ebb54ae.jpg)
Model number: LA3
Code name: Instigator
Unit type: lightweight rapid response/air defense vehicle
Manufacturer: Bretton
Operator: Bretton, Allanea, Commonalitarianism, Maldorians
Dimensions: hull length 5.2 meters, overall length 6.5 meters, width 2.9 meters, height 2.4 meters
Dry weight: 2.8 tons
Maximum weight: 5.67 tons
Construction: titanium/ceramic composite, various specialized armor materials; electric/reactive armor subsystem
Powerplant: quasiturbine, output rated at 1,300 horsepower
Propulsion: ten solid wheels utilizing axeless independent suspensison
Crew: unmanned, operated by onboard AI combat unit
Performance: road speed 118 km/h, cross-contry 88 km/h, 180 degree turn time 6.7 seconds
Range: 200 km
Equipment and design features: servo-mounted FLIR suite, includes nightvision, sonic imaging, etc.
Weapon systems: 25mm six-barrel rotary vulcan cannon; 7.92mm machine gun; 82mm rotary mortar system; 8 x 60mm grenade launcher
Description:
The Instigator lightweight weapons system provides a sturdy, highly mobile vehicle that can act where our much larger weapons systems cannot. Due to its high speed, significant armament, and lack of crew, it can not only plug holes in a land-based force, but also puts no trained vehicle operators in danger.
Armament: The Instigator's largest (and most obvious) weapon is the giant turret-mounted 25mm rotary vulcan cannon. The heavy weapon features a pair of flexible powered ammunition feeds; one acts as a backup for the other in the case of jamming or damage in combat. A liquid coolant tank is mounted on the back of the gun in case of serious barrel overheating. Also positioned in the turret is a powerful laser rangefinder, one of several high-resolution cameras, and a supplementary electric motor. Unlike many conventional vulcan/gatling guns and cannons, which are either powered by an external energy source or (less often) gas-operated, the Instigator's is a hybrid of both systems. Gas vents along the barrels' axis provide the energy required for rotation; the supplementary electric motor provides for increasing rotation speed in higher rates of fire, as well as magnetic braking to slow the barrel rotation when decreasing rate of fire, and to prevent unnecessary wear by ceasing barrel rotation when the weapon has finished firing. With the help of the supplementary motor, the vulcan cannon enjoys a variable rate of fire, with presets at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 rounds per minute, with an absolute maximum (utilizing both ammunition feeds simultaneously) near 6000. An elongated ejection chute spits the spent casings clear of the chassis as insurance against getting caught between wheels, the turret housing, etc. In order to aid in indirect fire applications, the Instigator has been provided with a six-chamber 82mm rotary mortar, mounted on a secondary turret on the engine deck. A wide variety of mortar ammunition enables the Instigator to engage various targets; it is also capable of delivering chemical warheads. At any given point, only five shells are loaded into the revolver chamber: this is due to the automatic reloading mechanism, which replaces a spent shell upon reaching the six o'clock position (for reference, the shell is fired from the twelve o'clock position). In situations of extreme necessity, the mortar can empty all of its chambers in a rapid-fire fashion, similar to the practice of 'fanning' a typical (hand-held) revolver. This feature is typically not used due to the high stress placed on both the firing and revolving mechanisms, as well as the delay required to reload individual shells may require as long as ten to twelve seconds before a fresh round has been cycled into the barrel. For local defense, eight grenade launchers, typically loaded with white phosphorous smoke/incendiary grenades, are mounted around the base of the vulcan turret. A stabilized 7.92mm machine gun is mounted in the servo-actuated FLIR suite, allowing the Instigator to conserve ammunition for its hungry vulcan gun in suppressing infantry and other soft targets at short-to-medium ranges.
Armor: What the Instigator gains in mobility and firepower it loses in armor protection. Contrary to the vast majority of The Technology of Peace™, the Instigator posesses very little armor. The chassis and turret are given rudimentary armor protection, rated to protect against small arms fire up to the Russian 14.5x115mm bullet (the same used by our Stahlkörpe (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=447922) assault suit), vehicle- and aircraft-mounted autocannons, as well as certain antimaterial rifles, will perforate the Instigator's skin with relative effectiveness. The electric/reactive armor subsystem has been provided to help negate the effectiveness of man-portable antitank missiles, and may be able to stop HEAT shells fired by artillery or main battle tanks, but the resultant impact velocity from said shells alone may still be enough to incapacitate the vehicle. Its wheels, despite being mostly solid, are still vulnerable to being shredded by sustained automatic fire. In addition to increasing its speed, armor was also sacrificed to save weight as a means of increasing ammunition capacity (more on this below). The discerning military commander should take this into account before deploying Instigators in the field against any enemy posessing heavy weapons.
Logistics and Operation: The Instigator's exceptional speed and mobility, as well as the ability to law down significant suppression firepower at a variety of ranges, compose its main assets in a combat situation. Great effort has gone into reducing its weight as much as possible. In addition to the obvious benefits of increased speed, these weight-cutting measures have allowed us to provide the Instigator with a substantial supply of ammunition for its exceptionally shell-hungry vulcan gun while still keeping the vehicle under the six ton goal. Indeed, when fully loaded, over two and a half tons of the vehicle's overall weight is in ammunition for its gun. By default, the Instigator is provided with 10,000 rounds of 25mm (available in solid slug armor-piercing, high explosive, sabot, and obviously, tracer) and 70 rounds of 82mm (also typically high explosive, though chemical warfare shells may also be used). This heavy ammunition load allows the Instigator to lay down a continual barrage of fire for up to two and a half minutes before necessitating a retreat from combat to rearm. The vast majority of the chassis is given up to a massive ammunition drum, with the remaining space used by the engine, fuel storage, and the AI combat unit. In order to expedite rearming in a combat situation, a large hatch mounted on the rear of the chassis allows for the entire ammunition drum to be removed and replaced with a fresh one in a matter of minutes. Reloading the mortar shells requires marginally longer, owing to the semicircular magazine, which is wedged in above the aforementioned ammunition drum. Making the unit unmanned was as much a result of necessity was it was an effort to remove skilled vehicle operators from frontline positions: there was simply no room to accomodate a crew! Giving the Instigator's high rate of fire, high mobility, and rapid turret rotation speed, there also came the application of utilizing it as a self-propelled antiaircraft gun (SPAAG), or more appropriate, self-propelled air defense vehicle (which is less acronym-friendly). An original plan to equip a variant with a precision radar system replacing the 82mm mortar was canned on account of lack of space for additional computing power. However, the air defense capability has been preserved via a powerful radio antenna capable of penetrating even the strongest jamming measures at short range. This allows multiple Instigators to coordinate with an independent search radar-equipped vehicle, which provides the necessary targeting information to act in a proper air defense role. Obviously, helicopters, large missiles, and low-flying strike aircraft are most vulnerable to this effect.
Computing: The Instigator features an AI combat unit which controls every aspect of the vehicle's operation. Ideally, Instigators in the field would receive general commands from a designated command vehicle operating a safe distance away, but in a pinch, they can operate fully autonomously, though their effectiveness suffers somewhat. The Instigator's AI combat unit resembles a simplified, miniaturized version of the behemoth computers onboard the A7V Peacemaker. Unlike the Peacemaker, however, it is not capable of engaging in electronic warfare; it is simply used to acquire combat data and respond accordingly. Numerous cameras, as well as a sophisticated servo-mounted FLIR "and then some" suite, provide most of the incoming data. When in doubt, an Instigator may reference its data via GPS, or when more detailed information is required, direct laser communication between other Instigators, the command vehicle, or a satellite (if available).
Visual Gallery
1. Instigator on patrol, view from one o'clock (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-45.jpg)
2. View from nine o'clock, note the FLIR suite moving simultaneously with the turret (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-46.jpg)
3. Closeup of the FLIR suite, note the forward-projecting spike designed to protect the sensitive suite while driving through walls, obstacles, etc. (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-47.jpg)
4. The 82mm mortar preparing to fire (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-48.jpg)
5. Instigator propelling itself through a wall (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-49.jpg)
6. Taking a bead on an enemy combatant (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-50.jpg)
7. Another FLIR closeup (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-51.jpg)
8. 25mm vulcan gun in action (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-52.jpg)
9. Suppressing fire (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-53.jpg)
10. Catching some air, courtesy of light vehicle weight and powerful engine (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-54.jpg)
11. Landing nicely, courtesy of excellent suspension (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-55.jpg)
12. Pursing a target and firing while on the move, note the obvious gas vents (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-56.jpg)
13. The impressive muzzle blast, including gas vent effects (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-57.jpg)
14. Suppressing a target inside a building, note the twin ammunition feeds (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-58.jpg)
15. Countless shell casings spilling down the side (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-59.jpg)
16. Confronting the same enemy combatant (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-60.jpg)
17. A second Instigator arrives on scene. The weight of the vulcan gun causes it to lean forward when braking heavily (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-62.jpg)
18. FLIR suite examining something (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-64.jpg)
19. That got its attention! Turret is rotating to face the percieved threat (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-65.jpg)
20. Absorbing a hit from an unseen attacker (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-63.jpg)
LA3 Total Programme Cost: J$24,230,000 (twenty-four million, two hundred-thirty thousand jions)
LA3 Unit Production Cost: J$2,110,000 (two million, one hundred-ten thousand jions)
LA3 Unit Export Cost: J$2,850,000 (two million, eight hundred-fifty thousand jions)
At Brettonian Military Industries, our ultimate goal is the end of warfare through the worldwide dissemination of The Technology of Peace™, and as always we will be happy to sell to any interested parties. Weapons demonstrations will be offered to potential buyers at agreed-upon locations. Please contact us with any inquiries.
Lineart (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/3ebb54ae.jpg)
Model number: LA3
Code name: Instigator
Unit type: lightweight rapid response/air defense vehicle
Manufacturer: Bretton
Operator: Bretton, Allanea, Commonalitarianism, Maldorians
Dimensions: hull length 5.2 meters, overall length 6.5 meters, width 2.9 meters, height 2.4 meters
Dry weight: 2.8 tons
Maximum weight: 5.67 tons
Construction: titanium/ceramic composite, various specialized armor materials; electric/reactive armor subsystem
Powerplant: quasiturbine, output rated at 1,300 horsepower
Propulsion: ten solid wheels utilizing axeless independent suspensison
Crew: unmanned, operated by onboard AI combat unit
Performance: road speed 118 km/h, cross-contry 88 km/h, 180 degree turn time 6.7 seconds
Range: 200 km
Equipment and design features: servo-mounted FLIR suite, includes nightvision, sonic imaging, etc.
Weapon systems: 25mm six-barrel rotary vulcan cannon; 7.92mm machine gun; 82mm rotary mortar system; 8 x 60mm grenade launcher
Description:
The Instigator lightweight weapons system provides a sturdy, highly mobile vehicle that can act where our much larger weapons systems cannot. Due to its high speed, significant armament, and lack of crew, it can not only plug holes in a land-based force, but also puts no trained vehicle operators in danger.
Armament: The Instigator's largest (and most obvious) weapon is the giant turret-mounted 25mm rotary vulcan cannon. The heavy weapon features a pair of flexible powered ammunition feeds; one acts as a backup for the other in the case of jamming or damage in combat. A liquid coolant tank is mounted on the back of the gun in case of serious barrel overheating. Also positioned in the turret is a powerful laser rangefinder, one of several high-resolution cameras, and a supplementary electric motor. Unlike many conventional vulcan/gatling guns and cannons, which are either powered by an external energy source or (less often) gas-operated, the Instigator's is a hybrid of both systems. Gas vents along the barrels' axis provide the energy required for rotation; the supplementary electric motor provides for increasing rotation speed in higher rates of fire, as well as magnetic braking to slow the barrel rotation when decreasing rate of fire, and to prevent unnecessary wear by ceasing barrel rotation when the weapon has finished firing. With the help of the supplementary motor, the vulcan cannon enjoys a variable rate of fire, with presets at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 rounds per minute, with an absolute maximum (utilizing both ammunition feeds simultaneously) near 6000. An elongated ejection chute spits the spent casings clear of the chassis as insurance against getting caught between wheels, the turret housing, etc. In order to aid in indirect fire applications, the Instigator has been provided with a six-chamber 82mm rotary mortar, mounted on a secondary turret on the engine deck. A wide variety of mortar ammunition enables the Instigator to engage various targets; it is also capable of delivering chemical warheads. At any given point, only five shells are loaded into the revolver chamber: this is due to the automatic reloading mechanism, which replaces a spent shell upon reaching the six o'clock position (for reference, the shell is fired from the twelve o'clock position). In situations of extreme necessity, the mortar can empty all of its chambers in a rapid-fire fashion, similar to the practice of 'fanning' a typical (hand-held) revolver. This feature is typically not used due to the high stress placed on both the firing and revolving mechanisms, as well as the delay required to reload individual shells may require as long as ten to twelve seconds before a fresh round has been cycled into the barrel. For local defense, eight grenade launchers, typically loaded with white phosphorous smoke/incendiary grenades, are mounted around the base of the vulcan turret. A stabilized 7.92mm machine gun is mounted in the servo-actuated FLIR suite, allowing the Instigator to conserve ammunition for its hungry vulcan gun in suppressing infantry and other soft targets at short-to-medium ranges.
Armor: What the Instigator gains in mobility and firepower it loses in armor protection. Contrary to the vast majority of The Technology of Peace™, the Instigator posesses very little armor. The chassis and turret are given rudimentary armor protection, rated to protect against small arms fire up to the Russian 14.5x115mm bullet (the same used by our Stahlkörpe (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=447922) assault suit), vehicle- and aircraft-mounted autocannons, as well as certain antimaterial rifles, will perforate the Instigator's skin with relative effectiveness. The electric/reactive armor subsystem has been provided to help negate the effectiveness of man-portable antitank missiles, and may be able to stop HEAT shells fired by artillery or main battle tanks, but the resultant impact velocity from said shells alone may still be enough to incapacitate the vehicle. Its wheels, despite being mostly solid, are still vulnerable to being shredded by sustained automatic fire. In addition to increasing its speed, armor was also sacrificed to save weight as a means of increasing ammunition capacity (more on this below). The discerning military commander should take this into account before deploying Instigators in the field against any enemy posessing heavy weapons.
Logistics and Operation: The Instigator's exceptional speed and mobility, as well as the ability to law down significant suppression firepower at a variety of ranges, compose its main assets in a combat situation. Great effort has gone into reducing its weight as much as possible. In addition to the obvious benefits of increased speed, these weight-cutting measures have allowed us to provide the Instigator with a substantial supply of ammunition for its exceptionally shell-hungry vulcan gun while still keeping the vehicle under the six ton goal. Indeed, when fully loaded, over two and a half tons of the vehicle's overall weight is in ammunition for its gun. By default, the Instigator is provided with 10,000 rounds of 25mm (available in solid slug armor-piercing, high explosive, sabot, and obviously, tracer) and 70 rounds of 82mm (also typically high explosive, though chemical warfare shells may also be used). This heavy ammunition load allows the Instigator to lay down a continual barrage of fire for up to two and a half minutes before necessitating a retreat from combat to rearm. The vast majority of the chassis is given up to a massive ammunition drum, with the remaining space used by the engine, fuel storage, and the AI combat unit. In order to expedite rearming in a combat situation, a large hatch mounted on the rear of the chassis allows for the entire ammunition drum to be removed and replaced with a fresh one in a matter of minutes. Reloading the mortar shells requires marginally longer, owing to the semicircular magazine, which is wedged in above the aforementioned ammunition drum. Making the unit unmanned was as much a result of necessity was it was an effort to remove skilled vehicle operators from frontline positions: there was simply no room to accomodate a crew! Giving the Instigator's high rate of fire, high mobility, and rapid turret rotation speed, there also came the application of utilizing it as a self-propelled antiaircraft gun (SPAAG), or more appropriate, self-propelled air defense vehicle (which is less acronym-friendly). An original plan to equip a variant with a precision radar system replacing the 82mm mortar was canned on account of lack of space for additional computing power. However, the air defense capability has been preserved via a powerful radio antenna capable of penetrating even the strongest jamming measures at short range. This allows multiple Instigators to coordinate with an independent search radar-equipped vehicle, which provides the necessary targeting information to act in a proper air defense role. Obviously, helicopters, large missiles, and low-flying strike aircraft are most vulnerable to this effect.
Computing: The Instigator features an AI combat unit which controls every aspect of the vehicle's operation. Ideally, Instigators in the field would receive general commands from a designated command vehicle operating a safe distance away, but in a pinch, they can operate fully autonomously, though their effectiveness suffers somewhat. The Instigator's AI combat unit resembles a simplified, miniaturized version of the behemoth computers onboard the A7V Peacemaker. Unlike the Peacemaker, however, it is not capable of engaging in electronic warfare; it is simply used to acquire combat data and respond accordingly. Numerous cameras, as well as a sophisticated servo-mounted FLIR "and then some" suite, provide most of the incoming data. When in doubt, an Instigator may reference its data via GPS, or when more detailed information is required, direct laser communication between other Instigators, the command vehicle, or a satellite (if available).
Visual Gallery
1. Instigator on patrol, view from one o'clock (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-45.jpg)
2. View from nine o'clock, note the FLIR suite moving simultaneously with the turret (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-46.jpg)
3. Closeup of the FLIR suite, note the forward-projecting spike designed to protect the sensitive suite while driving through walls, obstacles, etc. (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-47.jpg)
4. The 82mm mortar preparing to fire (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-48.jpg)
5. Instigator propelling itself through a wall (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-49.jpg)
6. Taking a bead on an enemy combatant (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-50.jpg)
7. Another FLIR closeup (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-51.jpg)
8. 25mm vulcan gun in action (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-52.jpg)
9. Suppressing fire (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-53.jpg)
10. Catching some air, courtesy of light vehicle weight and powerful engine (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-54.jpg)
11. Landing nicely, courtesy of excellent suspension (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-55.jpg)
12. Pursing a target and firing while on the move, note the obvious gas vents (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-56.jpg)
13. The impressive muzzle blast, including gas vent effects (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-57.jpg)
14. Suppressing a target inside a building, note the twin ammunition feeds (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-58.jpg)
15. Countless shell casings spilling down the side (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-59.jpg)
16. Confronting the same enemy combatant (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-60.jpg)
17. A second Instigator arrives on scene. The weight of the vulcan gun causes it to lean forward when braking heavily (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-62.jpg)
18. FLIR suite examining something (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-64.jpg)
19. That got its attention! Turret is rotating to face the percieved threat (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-65.jpg)
20. Absorbing a hit from an unseen attacker (http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/MalikCarr/Tank/APPLESEED_PEACEMAKER_SE-63.jpg)
LA3 Total Programme Cost: J$24,230,000 (twenty-four million, two hundred-thirty thousand jions)
LA3 Unit Production Cost: J$2,110,000 (two million, one hundred-ten thousand jions)
LA3 Unit Export Cost: J$2,850,000 (two million, eight hundred-fifty thousand jions)
At Brettonian Military Industries, our ultimate goal is the end of warfare through the worldwide dissemination of The Technology of Peace™, and as always we will be happy to sell to any interested parties. Weapons demonstrations will be offered to potential buyers at agreed-upon locations. Please contact us with any inquiries.