DontPissUsOff
24-05-2006, 02:24
UT-1 Main Battle Tank
Image: http://www.deviantart.com/view/33159505/
Overview
As with the Navy, the army found itself in a parlous state at the time of the accession of Emperor Marcus I. Its stocks of working equipment were distinctly low, much of it having become useless following the “Great Defence Depression” of the NLP government. However, there was also a less obvious, but far more critical problem, in that much of the new equipment supplied to the army before the Depression was, even if still functioning, not sufficient for the Imperium’s defence needs. This was especially true of tanks; the T-94B and T-95M MBTs, though effective by comparison to previous Republic tanks, had been superseded by the larger, heavier T-115 (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=384529) MBT, and few of them remained operable. The T-115s had fared somewhat better in numerical terms, but were ultimately a poor design; though they were theoretically very capable vehicles, their excessive weight of more than seventy tonnes made them incapable of manoeuvre in the many jungle areas on the Imperium’s territories and neighbouring areas of the Pacific, both owing to excessive weight and to their relatively high ground pressure. It was not uncommon for T-115s to be simply left behind on exercises by some of the more adventurous Ground Forces commanders, who found that they were likely to be stopped by bridges or indeed by mud; the requirement for T-115-derived ARVs was estimated at one ARV for every three tanks by one leading general, who cited numerous instances where his division’s tanks had been left struggling in patches of soft ground or trapped by weak bridges during wargames. The T-115’s other major failing lay in sheer complexity. Its 135mm ETC gun, though very potent by comparison to the 125mm conventional weapons which had preceded it, was extremely demanding in terms of maintenance, as was its complex FCS and various sensors, many of which were largely useless in jungle combat and only called for on those rare occasions where fighting took place in open ground.
In short, a new MBT was needed which would use the lessons learned from such wargames and move away from the established, Soviet-style tank theory prevalent in the old Republican Army. This tank’s weight would need to be reduced markedly from that of previous designs, and it would need greatly reduced complexity both as a result of exercise experience and as a consequence of the comparative paucity of well-trained technical personnel available to the Ground Forces at the time of its design. The UT-1 (Universal Tank, Type 1)was designed to fulfil these requirements, while remaining an effective fighting vehicle.
General Information
Length: 10.7m
Width: 4.5m
Height: 2.8m (to top of turret)
Weight (combat): 63.8 tonnes
Crew: Three
Gun: UFVG-2 dual-bore L/58 122/130mm smoothbore
Secondary armament: Dual UVMG-6 23x77mm GSh cannon
AAMG: UHMG-1V 12.7mm
Grenade launchers: Yes
ADS: UTPS (Universal Tank Protection System)
Armour: See text
ERA: Available
CERA: Available
FCS: “Illuminator” IFCS
Sights: Thermal, image intensification
Radar: Yes
LADAR: No
Rangefinder: Laser with stadiametric backup
Track area: 266,750cm2
Ground pressure: 0.24Kg/cm2
Vertical obstacle: 1.25m
Max. fording depth (unprepared): 2.0m
Max. Fording depth (prepared): 4.0m
Max. speed (road): 41 mph (governed)
Max. speed (off-road): 30-35 mph (governed)
Fuel (on board): 660L
Fuel (outboard with piping): 440L
Armament
Compared to the T-115, the UT-1’s armament is rather primitive. The UT-1’s main gun is the 122mm L/58 UFVG-2 chrome-lined smoothbore gun, developed by Drysdale-Kuzuki just prior to the Defence Depression for use in small ships such as frigates. Although the shell is of a 122mm bore, the gun’s propellants are of 130mm diameter; the propellant system was developed for the EMG (Experimental Medium Gun)-2 system which was intended to replace the existing 135mm ETC gun used by the Ground Forces, and also the AK-130 gun system then still in use some Republic Navy ships. However, the EMG-2 was cancelled, being felt to be too heavy for use in an MBT but too light for use in the new generation of warships; the breeches of the three experimental EMG-2 units were modified, with a new casting added to the front of the breech, designed around the 122mm shell.
The EMG-2’s propellant is essentially a cordite variant; it is designated UFP-1 (Universal Firearm Propellant) and used as standard in all Imperial firearms, from small arms to artillery pieces. The EMG-2 project, however, was aimed at investigating ways of improving propellant effectiveness without resorting to complex, heavy or expensive arrangements such as ETC weapons, solid propellants or EMA guns. One of the methods most thoroughly investigated was that of placing multiple detonators within the propellant “bag” to ensure a more complete combustion of the propellant material. This has been adopted for the production UFVG-2, the propellant for which has a total of three electrically-fired detonator “rings”, spread at 30cm intervals through the propellant. The passage of the electrical detonation current along the coiler priming wire leads to the sequential detonation of the charges from “bottom” to “top” of the propellant charge. Although this occurs within a tiny space of time, the three detonations are distinguishable in testing, and they lead to an increase in the quantity of powder undergoing combustion by some 20%, resulting in a concomitant increase in the volume of propulsive gas produced. This, in combination with the fact that the propellant charge is some 8mm greater in diameter than the shell it is propelling, results in a significant improvement in muzzle velocity over a more conventional 122mm gun propellant charge - estimated to be around 15% at peak performance - for comparatively little cost, both financial and logistical.
The UT-1’s secondary armament is the standard UMG-6V dual 23x77mm cannon system. These cannon are standard on all Imperial Ground Forces vehicles requiring light cannon, and operate on the GSh principle (i.e. using the recoil of one gun to load the other). The installation is compact and powerful, giving the UT-1 an ability to engage enemy infantry, IFVs and soft vehicles without having to make use of its main armament. The cannon are provided with 2,000 rounds of ammunition, with the normal IGF load set as HEI-T and AP-T in the ratio of 3:1. The barrel is attached to the breech block by an interrupted screw, allowing rapid changing of the barrels from outside the tank without compromising the required gas seal. The barrels may also be changed from within the tank, although this operation requires the removal of the surrounding casing from around the weapon, the unscrewing of its mantlet from the inside, and its manhandling into the turret.
Both of these weapons may operate either slaved to the gunner’s sight, or slaved to the commander’s sight, as necessary. It is thus possible for the tank’s commander to control the main armament in the event of the gunner being injured or killed. The turret’s traverse is electric, with a manual backup provided, and gun elevation hydraulic. Main gun ignition is likewise electric; in the event of a total power failure, including loss of battery power, the gun may be fired using a small hand dynamo provided atop the breech to accumulate the required charge in a capacitor.
The main gun is provided with a Soviet-derived automatic loader, the rammer and loading tray for which are slaved to the breech of the gun and may reload shells at any angle from -5 degrees to +20 degrees. The autoloader is in most respects identical to that used by the Black Eagle MBT. Should the angle of the main gun preclude loading, the gun will be returned to the nearest possible angle at which reloading can occur, and then returned to the angle at which it was previously set once loading is complete. In the event of total electrical failure, the automatic loader may be operated manually. Hand cranks are provided within the turret for the operation of the loading chain mechanism. The round may be released from the chain by the application of a small current to the chain release switch, and this current is generated by the rotation of the chain manual drive crank, the shaft of which also drives a small dynamo, charging a 20-amp capacitor. Once the round has been released, the rammer may again be operated by a hand lever, and the breech closed by hand once the loading tray and rammer have withdrawn. Needless to say, this is a lengthy process, but it is felt by the Imperial Army that the ability to operate without electrical power is an important asset for any fighting vehicle.
The UT-1 is also equipped with a standard UHMG-1V, derived from the Soviet KORD HMG and designed for anti-aircraft use. The gun may be fired from within the turret using a remote camera for sighting, or slaved to the tank’s FCS for use in the ADS role. Normal ammunition loadout is 15% HEI-T, 50% HEI and 35% API.
Finally, the UT-1 is also equipped with two blocks of seven 50mm grenade-launchers. These may be loaded with a variety of munitions, and used either automatically in the role of active protection, or manually by the crew for the purposes of camouflage, elimination of nearby infantry and so forth. The latter role is considered by the Imperial Army to be exceptionally important in its home terrain, hence the unusually large number of launchers and their ability to be reloaded from within the tank by means of their retraction into the forward portion of the turret.
Main Gun: UFVG-2 122/130mm L/58 dual-bore smoothbore conventional
Max. elevation: 40 degrees
Max. depression: -7 degrees
Max. rate of fire: 10 RPM
Fume extractor: Yes
Thermal sleeve: Yes
Muzzle velocity (APFSDS): 2,000m/s
Penetrator composition: Depleted Uranium or Tungsten
Turret rangefinder: Two Type 07 rangefinding lasers with stadiametric optical systems provided for both commander and gunner.
Barrel life (approximate): 550 full-charge rounds
Main armament rounds carried: 45
Max. range (indirect fire): 9.5Km
Ammunition types: UFVA-4 APFSDS-DU (penetrator length 850mm, diameter 40mm); UFVA-5 HEAT; UFVA-6 HESH-FS; UFVA-7 HE-FRAG; UFVA-9 canister.
Noteworthy munitions
UFVA-4 APFSDS-DU: This round is the primary round of the UFVG-2 gun. It is a long-rod penetrator of 40mm diameter and 850mm length, with a mass of 9.6Kg. The propellant has been detailed in the above section regarding the tank’s main armament. It is fired at a muzzle velocity of around 2,000m/s and has a maximum effective range of 4,500m.
UFVA-6 HESH-FS: The British-developed HESH round has long found favour in the Imperial armed forces, and its use was only discontinued owing to the extra barrel longevity and improved KE projectile performance offered by smoothbore barrels. However, the HESH round was not forgotten, and Drysdale-Kuzuki engineers set about designing a new fin-equipped HESH round for the next generation of smoothbore weapons. The UFVA-6’s fins are, by contrast to an APFSDS projectile’s, canted; the projectile thus develops a slow spin (around 80 RPM) which allows it to be stabilised without necessitating a rifled barrel.
Secondary gun: UMG-6V dual GSh-pattern 23x77mm cannon..
Max. elevation: 40 degrees
Max. depression: -7 degrees
[b]Rate of fire: 650 RPM
Barrel life: Approx. 50,000 rounds.
Rounds carried: 5,000
Turret MG: UHMG-1V 12.7mm machine-gun.
Max. elevation: 77 degrees
Max. depression: -15 degrees
Rate of fire: 600 RPM
Barrel life: approx. 50,000 rounds
Rounds carried: 500 per ammunition box. Belt feed from each box within turret may be set up at user’s discretion. Normal load six magazines plus one in gun.
Passive protection
Armour: (N.B. Actual thickness ratings given herein are in reference to the UT-1’s frontal arc, unless otherwise stated.)
The UT-1’s armour is not actually attached to a separate hull and turret. Instead, the base layer of armour forms the structure of the tank itself, allowing for a substantial saving in weight. This base layer consists of a 100mm ferroconcrete “shell”, which holds the basic shape of the tank. The ferroconcrete is braced by a geodetic lattice of high-tensile steel, the joints of which are staggered to give the maximum possible degree of overlap and allow the structure a great ability to absorb the kinetic energy of a projectile without either fracturing or spalling beyond the ability of the Kevlar spall inhibitor. The concrete, meanwhile, acts not only to maintain the tank’s hull form, but as an insulator against CE shells; its high heat absorption capacity also allows the concrete to go some way to reducing the heat emissions of the tank, save for its exhausts. This layer is 100mm thick throughout the tank.
Attached to this first layer is a secondary layer, composed of ceramic sheets, titanium carbide rods, and glass-reinforced plastic. The ceramics, which are made from sheets 20mm thick, are laid with sufficient overlap to ensure that an impact on the “joint” between two plates will not cause the rupture of the “joints” beneath it. In appearance, this layer is very much a sandwich. The first ceramic layer is a 20mm layer of aluminium oxide panels. Next there lies a layer of titanium carbide rods, embedded within thixotropically-formed GRP reinforced with boron carbide aggregate; the addition of B4C to the resin mixture allows the GRP to assume a much greater degree of hardness than would otherwise be the case. Above these, there is a layer of fused quartz plates, which have very similar physical properties to hardened steel but at around 60% of steel’s weight. Another layer of GRP with B4C, this time unbraced by any rods, is then followed by the final layer of fused quartz sheeting. Thus, any projectiles which have cleanly penetrated the upper armour must then penetrate the extremely hard boron carbide plate layer, plus four more layers, each of 20 millimetres, before impacting the tank’s last line of passive defence.
The uppermost layer of armour is, proportionally, the heaviest, and consists of rods of Maraging steel, coated with a thin layer of tungsten carbide. The latter’s extreme hardness reduced the probability of a penetrator simply shearing a rod in two upon impact, whilst the Maraging steel’s high strength, even when exposed to high temperatures, means that it is unlikely to fracture and more likely to deform, absorbing the energy of the projectile. These rods are held within a matrix of fibre-reinforced thermosetting polyester, giving effective protection against CE warheads and also allowing the armour to flex in response to pressures exerted by KE projectiles.
Spall lining: Yes, 10mm Kevlar sheets attached to inside of vehicle.
NBC systems: PAZ-derived overpressure system operating at 10 psi with aid of renewable chemical filters. All hatches and openings are gas-tight. Vehicle also lined with synthetic, lead-based material to reduce effects of ionising radiation.
Physical thicknesses
Turret frontal arc: 500mm at 60 degrees, rounded
”Weakened zone”: 570mm at 60 degrees, rounded
Mantlet: 550mm at 70 degrees
Turret sides: 280mm at 25 degrees
Turret rear: 80mm at 10 degrees
Turret roof: 45mm in curve of 15 degrees
Glacis plate: 400mm at 80 degrees
Hull sides: 200mm at 10 degrees downward
Hull rear: 60mm
Belly: 40mm
Protection vs. KE (no ERA or similar)
Turret frontal arc: 1,500mm
”Weakened zone”: 1,650mm
Mantlet: 1,750mm
Turret sides: 680mm
Turret rear: 280mm
Turret roof: 120mm
Glacis plate: 1,600mm
Hull sides: 500mm
Hull rear: 120mm
Belly: 100mm
Protection vs. CE (no ERA or similar)
Turret frontal arc: 1,900mm
”Weakened zone”: 2,050mm
Mantlet: 2,250mm
Turret sides: 1,100mm
Turret rear: 400mm
Turret roof: 320mm
Glacis plate: 2,000mm
Hull sides: 700mm
Hull rear: 220mm
Belly: 200mm
Active Protection
The UT-1 is equipped with the UTPS ADS (Aggressive Defence System). This makes use of the tank’s own all-aspect IR sensor system detailed below, along with a Type 16 X-band MMW radar set, held in a retractable GRP dome and positioned on the left rear of the turret (not visible in the accompanying illustration). The UTPS system is guided both by the IRSR system and/or the MMW radar, and can identify targets at ranges of up to 10,000 metres. It is capable of tracking 10 targets simultaneously.
The munitions available to the ADS vary according to the user’s chosen loadout. As well as the forward grenade launchers, there are mounting points for further grenade launchers, fixed shrapnel launchers and similar weapons on the side of the turret, above the stowage bins, and on the turret bustle. Attachment requires only the use of screws and the connection of the power and data feed cables from the launchers to the I/O and power ports on the tank’s turret. Current standard IGF mounting is one quintuple, non-reloadable grenade launcher block and a triple fixed shrapnel launcher installation, operating in tandem to provide medium-range and point-blank range firepower against both infantry and ATGMs.
Electronics
Electro-optics and Imaging IR: Fully-stabilised thermal imaging sights for the commander and gunner, with image intensification and thermal imaging systems fitted as standard. The commander and gunner may access the omnidirectional IRST unit atop the gun turret to allow them a more balanced view of the battlefield. Projected onto the commander’s and gunner’s sight are small arrows, allowing the commander to designate up to three targets for sequential engagement; the tank’s FCS records the position of the nearest IR and/or radar signature on the azimuth of the commander’s selection and tracks its location, updating both commander and gunner by use of the aforementioned projections. The driver is meanwhile provided with an image intensification sight for use in night driving. The tank is also provided with four wide-angle vision blocks, the prisms of which are able to withstand bullets of 7.26x58mm Imperial calibre.
Radar: One retractable Type 16 dual-antenna LPI MMW radar. This is normally kept stowed unless in action to avoid damage to the aerials, and is positioned well to the rear of the commander and gunners’ positions. Mounted on a telescopic mast that allows it to extend some 2 feet from the turret of the tank, the Type 02 is intended to augment the tank’s passive sensors, rather than substitute for them; it is not generally used unless necessary, owing to the likelihood of detection it incurs. The radar has a detection range of approximately ten kilometres for a large ATGM, and is capable of tracking 10 targets simultaneously.
Fire-control: One Type 11 “Illuminator” IFCS. The Type 11 FCS is largely similar to previous Imperial/Republic FCS installations, taking as it does measurements of wind velocity and direction, muzzle droop, cant angle, breech and barrel temperatures, target range (based upon laser rangefinder data and where applicable radar and ImIR data) and target velocity and course (again using laser, radar and ImIR sources) before accounting for these variables in the solution. As well as being responsible for gunlaying, the FCS also control the tank’s ADS, and is capable of engaging five targets simultaneous, providing they are within range of one or more of its available weapons stations. The FCS may take control of the commander’s remotely-operated MG if the commander has not overridden its doing so. The FCS also provides the crew, including the driver, with tactical maps of the area, updated by datalink with other vehicles to provide the crew with the latest information concerning the battlefield.
Radios: Two Type 19 medium-range MW transceivers for tactical use. Command tanks fitted with one long-range Type 21 128-bit encrypted transceiver.
Navigation: One Type 03 GPS, accuracy 1.1m; one Type 01 INS.
Powerplant and drive train
The UT-1’s engine is the latest in a long series of opposed-piston turbo-diesel engines designed on the “Deltic” principle by private engineering firm Akimi-Kuril at their Park Island engine works. The AK-21-2140 engine is a compact unit - the engine on its own is a mere 3m long, 1.9m in height and 1.7m in width. It is a 90-litre triangular 21-cylinder liquid-cooled two-stroke engine of some 4,900Kg and fabricated mostly (88%) from duralumin, with chrome-lined cylinders and piston heads. The engine is derived from marine Deltic engines, and has been fitted with an engine limiting governor which reduces maximum output by some 300 horsepower to extend the power unit’s life between type “B” servicing (replacement of easily-accessed and readily-repaired components) from 1,200 hours to approximately 2,500 hours. The engine ordinarily produces a total of 2,100 HP at 2,500 RPM., with a maximum sustained output of 1,835hp at 1,800 RPM., making use of a pair of turbochargers (one small and one large) to allow for the maximum power output possible. It is multifuel-capable, although diesel oil is most commonly used by the Ground Forces owing to its low rate of consumption, high flashpoint and ease of transport. The engine drives through two seven-speed (six forwards, one reverse) manual planetary gearboxes to the rear-mounted drive sprockets. Although it is theoretically capable (at its maximum output of some 2,450hp) of propelling the tank at up to 51 MPH on the road, the unacceptable rate of wear this would cause to engine and powertrain components has resulted in the fitment of an engine governor, limiting the UT-1 to 40 MPH. At its optimum economical cruising speed of 18 MPH, the tank consumes approximately 1 litre of fuel for every 1.25 kilometres travelled. The engine’s alternator has a generating capacity of 100 amps and is powered by a standard belt connection to the fan end of the crankshaft. During sustained running tests at the Akimi, Kuril & Co. Ltd. Park Island Works, an AK-21-2450 engine was run at maximum output for 1,100 hours continuously, recording no breakdowns during the test. The average time between complete overhauls of the AK-21-2450 is stated by Akimi, Kuril & Co. engineers to be approximately 4,000 hours. The phasing gears are cast steel units with teeth coated in Teflon impregnated with mineral oil to reduce wear and friction and, lubricated with high-viscosity gear oil contained entirely in an oil bath.
The UT-1’s track system is unusual among tanks, being an amalgam of practices from within and without the Ground Forces. The suspension makes use of triple-walled aluminium pneumatic cylinders, one of which is mounted vertically above the axle of the roadwheel, which are pressurised centrally via a small aperture on the centre of the tank’s right-hand running board. The valves to allow these cylinders must be held open against the pressure of a spring; when closed, they act to seal off the individual pneumatic cylinders, ensuring that the destruction or rupture of one should not result in the depressurisation of the other cylinders on the tank. These cylinders are aided by a pair of torsion bars, somewhat smaller than those commonly fitted to MBTs, which carry the roadwheels in addition to the pneumatic cylinder. Should the cylinder depressurise, the torsion bars are fully capable of taking the weight of the tank; however, the pneumatic cylinder allows for a somewhat smoother and more comfortable ride than the torsion bars alone provide. The tank’s drive sprocket, idler wheel, return rollers and roadwheels are all hollow steel castings, reducing their weight considerably compared to solid components. The tracks themselves are composed of aluminium oxide, making them light and relative strong, with titanium nitride coatings applied to the track pins to ensure longevity.
Engine: One Akimi-Kuril AK-21-2450 two-stroke 21-cylinder opposed-piston “Deltic”-pattern diesel engine.
Max. output: 2,450hp (governor disabled); 2,100hp (governor enabled) @ 2,500 RPM
Max. continuous output: 1,845hp @ 2,000 RPM
Turbochargers: Two
Intercooling: Yes
Approximate engine life between overhauls: 4,000hrs
Fuels: Diesel, petrol or paraffin (must be mixed with lubricating oil prior to being placed in the fuel tanks)
Image: http://www.deviantart.com/view/33159505/
Overview
As with the Navy, the army found itself in a parlous state at the time of the accession of Emperor Marcus I. Its stocks of working equipment were distinctly low, much of it having become useless following the “Great Defence Depression” of the NLP government. However, there was also a less obvious, but far more critical problem, in that much of the new equipment supplied to the army before the Depression was, even if still functioning, not sufficient for the Imperium’s defence needs. This was especially true of tanks; the T-94B and T-95M MBTs, though effective by comparison to previous Republic tanks, had been superseded by the larger, heavier T-115 (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=384529) MBT, and few of them remained operable. The T-115s had fared somewhat better in numerical terms, but were ultimately a poor design; though they were theoretically very capable vehicles, their excessive weight of more than seventy tonnes made them incapable of manoeuvre in the many jungle areas on the Imperium’s territories and neighbouring areas of the Pacific, both owing to excessive weight and to their relatively high ground pressure. It was not uncommon for T-115s to be simply left behind on exercises by some of the more adventurous Ground Forces commanders, who found that they were likely to be stopped by bridges or indeed by mud; the requirement for T-115-derived ARVs was estimated at one ARV for every three tanks by one leading general, who cited numerous instances where his division’s tanks had been left struggling in patches of soft ground or trapped by weak bridges during wargames. The T-115’s other major failing lay in sheer complexity. Its 135mm ETC gun, though very potent by comparison to the 125mm conventional weapons which had preceded it, was extremely demanding in terms of maintenance, as was its complex FCS and various sensors, many of which were largely useless in jungle combat and only called for on those rare occasions where fighting took place in open ground.
In short, a new MBT was needed which would use the lessons learned from such wargames and move away from the established, Soviet-style tank theory prevalent in the old Republican Army. This tank’s weight would need to be reduced markedly from that of previous designs, and it would need greatly reduced complexity both as a result of exercise experience and as a consequence of the comparative paucity of well-trained technical personnel available to the Ground Forces at the time of its design. The UT-1 (Universal Tank, Type 1)was designed to fulfil these requirements, while remaining an effective fighting vehicle.
General Information
Length: 10.7m
Width: 4.5m
Height: 2.8m (to top of turret)
Weight (combat): 63.8 tonnes
Crew: Three
Gun: UFVG-2 dual-bore L/58 122/130mm smoothbore
Secondary armament: Dual UVMG-6 23x77mm GSh cannon
AAMG: UHMG-1V 12.7mm
Grenade launchers: Yes
ADS: UTPS (Universal Tank Protection System)
Armour: See text
ERA: Available
CERA: Available
FCS: “Illuminator” IFCS
Sights: Thermal, image intensification
Radar: Yes
LADAR: No
Rangefinder: Laser with stadiametric backup
Track area: 266,750cm2
Ground pressure: 0.24Kg/cm2
Vertical obstacle: 1.25m
Max. fording depth (unprepared): 2.0m
Max. Fording depth (prepared): 4.0m
Max. speed (road): 41 mph (governed)
Max. speed (off-road): 30-35 mph (governed)
Fuel (on board): 660L
Fuel (outboard with piping): 440L
Armament
Compared to the T-115, the UT-1’s armament is rather primitive. The UT-1’s main gun is the 122mm L/58 UFVG-2 chrome-lined smoothbore gun, developed by Drysdale-Kuzuki just prior to the Defence Depression for use in small ships such as frigates. Although the shell is of a 122mm bore, the gun’s propellants are of 130mm diameter; the propellant system was developed for the EMG (Experimental Medium Gun)-2 system which was intended to replace the existing 135mm ETC gun used by the Ground Forces, and also the AK-130 gun system then still in use some Republic Navy ships. However, the EMG-2 was cancelled, being felt to be too heavy for use in an MBT but too light for use in the new generation of warships; the breeches of the three experimental EMG-2 units were modified, with a new casting added to the front of the breech, designed around the 122mm shell.
The EMG-2’s propellant is essentially a cordite variant; it is designated UFP-1 (Universal Firearm Propellant) and used as standard in all Imperial firearms, from small arms to artillery pieces. The EMG-2 project, however, was aimed at investigating ways of improving propellant effectiveness without resorting to complex, heavy or expensive arrangements such as ETC weapons, solid propellants or EMA guns. One of the methods most thoroughly investigated was that of placing multiple detonators within the propellant “bag” to ensure a more complete combustion of the propellant material. This has been adopted for the production UFVG-2, the propellant for which has a total of three electrically-fired detonator “rings”, spread at 30cm intervals through the propellant. The passage of the electrical detonation current along the coiler priming wire leads to the sequential detonation of the charges from “bottom” to “top” of the propellant charge. Although this occurs within a tiny space of time, the three detonations are distinguishable in testing, and they lead to an increase in the quantity of powder undergoing combustion by some 20%, resulting in a concomitant increase in the volume of propulsive gas produced. This, in combination with the fact that the propellant charge is some 8mm greater in diameter than the shell it is propelling, results in a significant improvement in muzzle velocity over a more conventional 122mm gun propellant charge - estimated to be around 15% at peak performance - for comparatively little cost, both financial and logistical.
The UT-1’s secondary armament is the standard UMG-6V dual 23x77mm cannon system. These cannon are standard on all Imperial Ground Forces vehicles requiring light cannon, and operate on the GSh principle (i.e. using the recoil of one gun to load the other). The installation is compact and powerful, giving the UT-1 an ability to engage enemy infantry, IFVs and soft vehicles without having to make use of its main armament. The cannon are provided with 2,000 rounds of ammunition, with the normal IGF load set as HEI-T and AP-T in the ratio of 3:1. The barrel is attached to the breech block by an interrupted screw, allowing rapid changing of the barrels from outside the tank without compromising the required gas seal. The barrels may also be changed from within the tank, although this operation requires the removal of the surrounding casing from around the weapon, the unscrewing of its mantlet from the inside, and its manhandling into the turret.
Both of these weapons may operate either slaved to the gunner’s sight, or slaved to the commander’s sight, as necessary. It is thus possible for the tank’s commander to control the main armament in the event of the gunner being injured or killed. The turret’s traverse is electric, with a manual backup provided, and gun elevation hydraulic. Main gun ignition is likewise electric; in the event of a total power failure, including loss of battery power, the gun may be fired using a small hand dynamo provided atop the breech to accumulate the required charge in a capacitor.
The main gun is provided with a Soviet-derived automatic loader, the rammer and loading tray for which are slaved to the breech of the gun and may reload shells at any angle from -5 degrees to +20 degrees. The autoloader is in most respects identical to that used by the Black Eagle MBT. Should the angle of the main gun preclude loading, the gun will be returned to the nearest possible angle at which reloading can occur, and then returned to the angle at which it was previously set once loading is complete. In the event of total electrical failure, the automatic loader may be operated manually. Hand cranks are provided within the turret for the operation of the loading chain mechanism. The round may be released from the chain by the application of a small current to the chain release switch, and this current is generated by the rotation of the chain manual drive crank, the shaft of which also drives a small dynamo, charging a 20-amp capacitor. Once the round has been released, the rammer may again be operated by a hand lever, and the breech closed by hand once the loading tray and rammer have withdrawn. Needless to say, this is a lengthy process, but it is felt by the Imperial Army that the ability to operate without electrical power is an important asset for any fighting vehicle.
The UT-1 is also equipped with a standard UHMG-1V, derived from the Soviet KORD HMG and designed for anti-aircraft use. The gun may be fired from within the turret using a remote camera for sighting, or slaved to the tank’s FCS for use in the ADS role. Normal ammunition loadout is 15% HEI-T, 50% HEI and 35% API.
Finally, the UT-1 is also equipped with two blocks of seven 50mm grenade-launchers. These may be loaded with a variety of munitions, and used either automatically in the role of active protection, or manually by the crew for the purposes of camouflage, elimination of nearby infantry and so forth. The latter role is considered by the Imperial Army to be exceptionally important in its home terrain, hence the unusually large number of launchers and their ability to be reloaded from within the tank by means of their retraction into the forward portion of the turret.
Main Gun: UFVG-2 122/130mm L/58 dual-bore smoothbore conventional
Max. elevation: 40 degrees
Max. depression: -7 degrees
Max. rate of fire: 10 RPM
Fume extractor: Yes
Thermal sleeve: Yes
Muzzle velocity (APFSDS): 2,000m/s
Penetrator composition: Depleted Uranium or Tungsten
Turret rangefinder: Two Type 07 rangefinding lasers with stadiametric optical systems provided for both commander and gunner.
Barrel life (approximate): 550 full-charge rounds
Main armament rounds carried: 45
Max. range (indirect fire): 9.5Km
Ammunition types: UFVA-4 APFSDS-DU (penetrator length 850mm, diameter 40mm); UFVA-5 HEAT; UFVA-6 HESH-FS; UFVA-7 HE-FRAG; UFVA-9 canister.
Noteworthy munitions
UFVA-4 APFSDS-DU: This round is the primary round of the UFVG-2 gun. It is a long-rod penetrator of 40mm diameter and 850mm length, with a mass of 9.6Kg. The propellant has been detailed in the above section regarding the tank’s main armament. It is fired at a muzzle velocity of around 2,000m/s and has a maximum effective range of 4,500m.
UFVA-6 HESH-FS: The British-developed HESH round has long found favour in the Imperial armed forces, and its use was only discontinued owing to the extra barrel longevity and improved KE projectile performance offered by smoothbore barrels. However, the HESH round was not forgotten, and Drysdale-Kuzuki engineers set about designing a new fin-equipped HESH round for the next generation of smoothbore weapons. The UFVA-6’s fins are, by contrast to an APFSDS projectile’s, canted; the projectile thus develops a slow spin (around 80 RPM) which allows it to be stabilised without necessitating a rifled barrel.
Secondary gun: UMG-6V dual GSh-pattern 23x77mm cannon..
Max. elevation: 40 degrees
Max. depression: -7 degrees
[b]Rate of fire: 650 RPM
Barrel life: Approx. 50,000 rounds.
Rounds carried: 5,000
Turret MG: UHMG-1V 12.7mm machine-gun.
Max. elevation: 77 degrees
Max. depression: -15 degrees
Rate of fire: 600 RPM
Barrel life: approx. 50,000 rounds
Rounds carried: 500 per ammunition box. Belt feed from each box within turret may be set up at user’s discretion. Normal load six magazines plus one in gun.
Passive protection
Armour: (N.B. Actual thickness ratings given herein are in reference to the UT-1’s frontal arc, unless otherwise stated.)
The UT-1’s armour is not actually attached to a separate hull and turret. Instead, the base layer of armour forms the structure of the tank itself, allowing for a substantial saving in weight. This base layer consists of a 100mm ferroconcrete “shell”, which holds the basic shape of the tank. The ferroconcrete is braced by a geodetic lattice of high-tensile steel, the joints of which are staggered to give the maximum possible degree of overlap and allow the structure a great ability to absorb the kinetic energy of a projectile without either fracturing or spalling beyond the ability of the Kevlar spall inhibitor. The concrete, meanwhile, acts not only to maintain the tank’s hull form, but as an insulator against CE shells; its high heat absorption capacity also allows the concrete to go some way to reducing the heat emissions of the tank, save for its exhausts. This layer is 100mm thick throughout the tank.
Attached to this first layer is a secondary layer, composed of ceramic sheets, titanium carbide rods, and glass-reinforced plastic. The ceramics, which are made from sheets 20mm thick, are laid with sufficient overlap to ensure that an impact on the “joint” between two plates will not cause the rupture of the “joints” beneath it. In appearance, this layer is very much a sandwich. The first ceramic layer is a 20mm layer of aluminium oxide panels. Next there lies a layer of titanium carbide rods, embedded within thixotropically-formed GRP reinforced with boron carbide aggregate; the addition of B4C to the resin mixture allows the GRP to assume a much greater degree of hardness than would otherwise be the case. Above these, there is a layer of fused quartz plates, which have very similar physical properties to hardened steel but at around 60% of steel’s weight. Another layer of GRP with B4C, this time unbraced by any rods, is then followed by the final layer of fused quartz sheeting. Thus, any projectiles which have cleanly penetrated the upper armour must then penetrate the extremely hard boron carbide plate layer, plus four more layers, each of 20 millimetres, before impacting the tank’s last line of passive defence.
The uppermost layer of armour is, proportionally, the heaviest, and consists of rods of Maraging steel, coated with a thin layer of tungsten carbide. The latter’s extreme hardness reduced the probability of a penetrator simply shearing a rod in two upon impact, whilst the Maraging steel’s high strength, even when exposed to high temperatures, means that it is unlikely to fracture and more likely to deform, absorbing the energy of the projectile. These rods are held within a matrix of fibre-reinforced thermosetting polyester, giving effective protection against CE warheads and also allowing the armour to flex in response to pressures exerted by KE projectiles.
Spall lining: Yes, 10mm Kevlar sheets attached to inside of vehicle.
NBC systems: PAZ-derived overpressure system operating at 10 psi with aid of renewable chemical filters. All hatches and openings are gas-tight. Vehicle also lined with synthetic, lead-based material to reduce effects of ionising radiation.
Physical thicknesses
Turret frontal arc: 500mm at 60 degrees, rounded
”Weakened zone”: 570mm at 60 degrees, rounded
Mantlet: 550mm at 70 degrees
Turret sides: 280mm at 25 degrees
Turret rear: 80mm at 10 degrees
Turret roof: 45mm in curve of 15 degrees
Glacis plate: 400mm at 80 degrees
Hull sides: 200mm at 10 degrees downward
Hull rear: 60mm
Belly: 40mm
Protection vs. KE (no ERA or similar)
Turret frontal arc: 1,500mm
”Weakened zone”: 1,650mm
Mantlet: 1,750mm
Turret sides: 680mm
Turret rear: 280mm
Turret roof: 120mm
Glacis plate: 1,600mm
Hull sides: 500mm
Hull rear: 120mm
Belly: 100mm
Protection vs. CE (no ERA or similar)
Turret frontal arc: 1,900mm
”Weakened zone”: 2,050mm
Mantlet: 2,250mm
Turret sides: 1,100mm
Turret rear: 400mm
Turret roof: 320mm
Glacis plate: 2,000mm
Hull sides: 700mm
Hull rear: 220mm
Belly: 200mm
Active Protection
The UT-1 is equipped with the UTPS ADS (Aggressive Defence System). This makes use of the tank’s own all-aspect IR sensor system detailed below, along with a Type 16 X-band MMW radar set, held in a retractable GRP dome and positioned on the left rear of the turret (not visible in the accompanying illustration). The UTPS system is guided both by the IRSR system and/or the MMW radar, and can identify targets at ranges of up to 10,000 metres. It is capable of tracking 10 targets simultaneously.
The munitions available to the ADS vary according to the user’s chosen loadout. As well as the forward grenade launchers, there are mounting points for further grenade launchers, fixed shrapnel launchers and similar weapons on the side of the turret, above the stowage bins, and on the turret bustle. Attachment requires only the use of screws and the connection of the power and data feed cables from the launchers to the I/O and power ports on the tank’s turret. Current standard IGF mounting is one quintuple, non-reloadable grenade launcher block and a triple fixed shrapnel launcher installation, operating in tandem to provide medium-range and point-blank range firepower against both infantry and ATGMs.
Electronics
Electro-optics and Imaging IR: Fully-stabilised thermal imaging sights for the commander and gunner, with image intensification and thermal imaging systems fitted as standard. The commander and gunner may access the omnidirectional IRST unit atop the gun turret to allow them a more balanced view of the battlefield. Projected onto the commander’s and gunner’s sight are small arrows, allowing the commander to designate up to three targets for sequential engagement; the tank’s FCS records the position of the nearest IR and/or radar signature on the azimuth of the commander’s selection and tracks its location, updating both commander and gunner by use of the aforementioned projections. The driver is meanwhile provided with an image intensification sight for use in night driving. The tank is also provided with four wide-angle vision blocks, the prisms of which are able to withstand bullets of 7.26x58mm Imperial calibre.
Radar: One retractable Type 16 dual-antenna LPI MMW radar. This is normally kept stowed unless in action to avoid damage to the aerials, and is positioned well to the rear of the commander and gunners’ positions. Mounted on a telescopic mast that allows it to extend some 2 feet from the turret of the tank, the Type 02 is intended to augment the tank’s passive sensors, rather than substitute for them; it is not generally used unless necessary, owing to the likelihood of detection it incurs. The radar has a detection range of approximately ten kilometres for a large ATGM, and is capable of tracking 10 targets simultaneously.
Fire-control: One Type 11 “Illuminator” IFCS. The Type 11 FCS is largely similar to previous Imperial/Republic FCS installations, taking as it does measurements of wind velocity and direction, muzzle droop, cant angle, breech and barrel temperatures, target range (based upon laser rangefinder data and where applicable radar and ImIR data) and target velocity and course (again using laser, radar and ImIR sources) before accounting for these variables in the solution. As well as being responsible for gunlaying, the FCS also control the tank’s ADS, and is capable of engaging five targets simultaneous, providing they are within range of one or more of its available weapons stations. The FCS may take control of the commander’s remotely-operated MG if the commander has not overridden its doing so. The FCS also provides the crew, including the driver, with tactical maps of the area, updated by datalink with other vehicles to provide the crew with the latest information concerning the battlefield.
Radios: Two Type 19 medium-range MW transceivers for tactical use. Command tanks fitted with one long-range Type 21 128-bit encrypted transceiver.
Navigation: One Type 03 GPS, accuracy 1.1m; one Type 01 INS.
Powerplant and drive train
The UT-1’s engine is the latest in a long series of opposed-piston turbo-diesel engines designed on the “Deltic” principle by private engineering firm Akimi-Kuril at their Park Island engine works. The AK-21-2140 engine is a compact unit - the engine on its own is a mere 3m long, 1.9m in height and 1.7m in width. It is a 90-litre triangular 21-cylinder liquid-cooled two-stroke engine of some 4,900Kg and fabricated mostly (88%) from duralumin, with chrome-lined cylinders and piston heads. The engine is derived from marine Deltic engines, and has been fitted with an engine limiting governor which reduces maximum output by some 300 horsepower to extend the power unit’s life between type “B” servicing (replacement of easily-accessed and readily-repaired components) from 1,200 hours to approximately 2,500 hours. The engine ordinarily produces a total of 2,100 HP at 2,500 RPM., with a maximum sustained output of 1,835hp at 1,800 RPM., making use of a pair of turbochargers (one small and one large) to allow for the maximum power output possible. It is multifuel-capable, although diesel oil is most commonly used by the Ground Forces owing to its low rate of consumption, high flashpoint and ease of transport. The engine drives through two seven-speed (six forwards, one reverse) manual planetary gearboxes to the rear-mounted drive sprockets. Although it is theoretically capable (at its maximum output of some 2,450hp) of propelling the tank at up to 51 MPH on the road, the unacceptable rate of wear this would cause to engine and powertrain components has resulted in the fitment of an engine governor, limiting the UT-1 to 40 MPH. At its optimum economical cruising speed of 18 MPH, the tank consumes approximately 1 litre of fuel for every 1.25 kilometres travelled. The engine’s alternator has a generating capacity of 100 amps and is powered by a standard belt connection to the fan end of the crankshaft. During sustained running tests at the Akimi, Kuril & Co. Ltd. Park Island Works, an AK-21-2450 engine was run at maximum output for 1,100 hours continuously, recording no breakdowns during the test. The average time between complete overhauls of the AK-21-2450 is stated by Akimi, Kuril & Co. engineers to be approximately 4,000 hours. The phasing gears are cast steel units with teeth coated in Teflon impregnated with mineral oil to reduce wear and friction and, lubricated with high-viscosity gear oil contained entirely in an oil bath.
The UT-1’s track system is unusual among tanks, being an amalgam of practices from within and without the Ground Forces. The suspension makes use of triple-walled aluminium pneumatic cylinders, one of which is mounted vertically above the axle of the roadwheel, which are pressurised centrally via a small aperture on the centre of the tank’s right-hand running board. The valves to allow these cylinders must be held open against the pressure of a spring; when closed, they act to seal off the individual pneumatic cylinders, ensuring that the destruction or rupture of one should not result in the depressurisation of the other cylinders on the tank. These cylinders are aided by a pair of torsion bars, somewhat smaller than those commonly fitted to MBTs, which carry the roadwheels in addition to the pneumatic cylinder. Should the cylinder depressurise, the torsion bars are fully capable of taking the weight of the tank; however, the pneumatic cylinder allows for a somewhat smoother and more comfortable ride than the torsion bars alone provide. The tank’s drive sprocket, idler wheel, return rollers and roadwheels are all hollow steel castings, reducing their weight considerably compared to solid components. The tracks themselves are composed of aluminium oxide, making them light and relative strong, with titanium nitride coatings applied to the track pins to ensure longevity.
Engine: One Akimi-Kuril AK-21-2450 two-stroke 21-cylinder opposed-piston “Deltic”-pattern diesel engine.
Max. output: 2,450hp (governor disabled); 2,100hp (governor enabled) @ 2,500 RPM
Max. continuous output: 1,845hp @ 2,000 RPM
Turbochargers: Two
Intercooling: Yes
Approximate engine life between overhauls: 4,000hrs
Fuels: Diesel, petrol or paraffin (must be mixed with lubricating oil prior to being placed in the fuel tanks)