Aequatio
21-11-2006, 04:04
M4A3 Spartan Mechanized Combat Vehicle
Image Gallery
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1855/m4a3spartancx8.png
M4A3 Spartan MCV
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2739/m1200advvs6.png
M1200 Vampyr Air Defence Vehicle armed with Quad-linked M125A6 35mm Automatic Cannons and MIM-230 "Talon" LIDAR-guided, High-Velocity Missiles.
Overview
The improvement programme for the Spartan Mechanized Combat Vehicle comes after the reviews of combat operations in The World Soviet Party against the mercenary forces of the Griffincrest Corporation and the heavily armoured Stormtroopers of the nation of Undershi, where many of the systems already installed on the M4A2 Spartan were seen as ineffective. The improvements are set to increase the effectiveness of all systems aboard the Spartan MCV, nearly rendering it a completely new vehicle.
Armament Systems
The primary armament of the M4A3 Spartan mechanized combat vehicle is the turret-mounted, computer-controlled gyrostabilized 40mm M132 Automatic Cannon. The development of the 40mm M132 Automatic Cannon began as a replacement for the 35mm M125 Automatic Cannon which has been in service as the standard small caliber cannon since it replaced the original 25mm M242 Bushmaster cannon. The design requirements are different however for the M132 cannon compared to the older M125 since the latter was originally designed as an area suppression weapon for use against enemy infantry units and a later developed to use anti-armour rounds, the former will be designed from the outset as an accurate, anti-armour weapon with area suppression capability.
The M132 cannon is a recoil-operated, self-loading weapon with an electromagnetic assist which is capable of firing repetitive shots and short bursts of up to eight rounds (two clips of four rounds each), and has a cyclic rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute. Ammunition is fed in four-round clips with the empty shell cases being ejected forwards out of the weapon to avoid turret clutter. The weapon operates on a long-recoil system (much like the 30mm L21A1 RARDEN cannon) in which both the barrel and breech initially close together. To allow for spent ammunition casings to be ejected, the barrel recoil ceases while the breech continues to extract the spent cartridge case, which is then ejected forward out of the turret. The barrel then moves forward again, following after an interval by the breech which loads another round.
The cannon uses a smoothbore barrel, for the use of its primary armour-peircing discarding sabot tracer (APDS-T) ammunition, which also benefits from electromagnetic (EM) rails along its length to maintain a high velocity for the rounds being fired so as to produce the optimal striking velocity of 1,900m/s. The system is fully enclosed and the internal section of the weapon only protrudes a mere 50cm into the turret space. The gun is charged by a small, powered cocking/loading handle and no fumes can penetrate the turret. The cannon has a double feeder, allowing for two types of ammunition to be ready for firing which are preloaded with a clip of both M950 High-Explosive Airburst (HEAB) and M951 Armour-Piecring Discarding Sabot Tracer (APDS-T). The vehicle carries a total of 120 HEAB and 80 APDS-T rounds.
The primary ammunition type of the M132 cannon is the M951 armour-piercing discarding sabot tracer (APDS-T) round using a depleted Uranium kinetic-energy penetrator with a 13.5mm diameter and 108mm length. With the use of the electromagnetic rails along the barrel of the cannon, the round can achieve up to 1,850m/s upon striking a target, allowing for almost 400mm of penetration against Rolled Homogenous Armour equivalent.
Secondary ammunition for the weapon include the M950 high-explosive airburst (HEAB) which contains a proximity fuse which is set to the distance determined by the vehicle’s laser rangefinder. Although it can be used in its primary fashion, it may also be used as a standard HE-FRAG round, especially in urban terrain, where its proximity fuse can be set to delay detonation after the round has penetrated an obstacle such as a wall or building.
The vehicle has also been provided with a pair of M5 Launchers for the effective BGM-225 Goblin-series optically-guided anti-tank missiles. The launchers each hold a preloaded round while another eight are carried inside the vehicle for reloading through a door atop the passenger compartment. The missiles carried can consist of both the A and B variants, ammunition load outs for the weapons are chosen by the unit commander in the theatre of operations. Mounted coaxially to the M132 cannon is an 8.5mm MG68 light machinegun which is also stabilized, allowing for firing on the move, and carries a total of 1,000 rounds of ammunition with a 1:6 ratio of tracer/ball ammunition.
Fire Control Systems
The gunner is provided with improved sights with the use of the Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight, Mark VII (THOGS VII) which is integrated with the WillTell, Mark V Fire Control System and a Discrimination Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder. The THOGS VII uses a stabilized 12x Power Day Sight with optional thermal viewer suite and with positive target identification up to ranges of 10,000m. The commander also has a view through this main sight on a separate display at his/her station. There is also a backup 8x Power Day sight which can be used by the gunner should the primary sight become damaged.
The commander, in addition to his/her main sight viewer, has a monitor connected to the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer with an attached Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder for the commander to designate targets for the gunner and can enter them into the WillTell, Mark V Fire Control System's memory so that the gunner can quickly engage them with the main gun by selecting them from a list of targets provided on the gunner's monitor.
The WillTell, Mark V All-Digital Fire Control System is an improved version of the long legacy of computerized systems used in Aequatian tanks. It uses twin 128-bit Processors with an Aequatian Electronics Industries AEQ-MIL-9028D Databus and is fully integrated with other systems, including the Advanced Battlefield Information Control System (ABICS), Air Density Meter (ADM), Wind Direction and Speed Monitoring System (WDSMS), Main Gun Wear and Distortion Meter (MGWDM) and Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight, Mark VII (THOGS VII) with Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder.
Armour Protection
The M4A3 Spartan is provided with an armoured suite similar to that of the M20 Mackall series main battle tanks, although much lighter than the heavy composite armour, but no less robust. The outermost layer of armour consists of an Iron-Cobalt-Nickel alloy reinforced with Carbon, Chromium and Molybdenum to provide protection against small arms, shell fragments and splinters (this layer also helps to protect the underlying composites from unnecessary damage). A second layer consists of a Boron Nitride Composite Mesh which is designed to greatly disrupt both kinetic-energy and explosively-formed penetrators due to its low solid density and highly-efficient ballistic heat conduction, respectively. It also possesses an extremely high tensile strength, which is up to sixty times stronger than Rolled Homogenous Steel Armour. This layer is designed to provide the sloped armour of the tank protection from damage when struck by kinetic-energy penetrator (KEP) munitions and to ensure that the underlying composite layers are not comprimised.
The most protection, however, is provided by the layering of Boron Carbide ceramic composite which is encased within the same Iron-Cobalt-Nickel alloy reinforced with Carbon, Chromium and Molybdenum to provide structure. The alloy/ceramic composite provides a great amount of protection against shaped-charge anti-tank weapons such as infantry rockets like the M136 AT-4 and RPG-7. Along the inside is a Boron/High-Strength Polyethylene Synthetic Fibre Layer which protects interior personnel and vehicle systems from radiation and electromagnetic (EM) threats with a shielding rating up to 16 kRads of particle and electromagnetic radiation. It also provdes an Anti-Spall Protective Layer for interior crew and systems protection should a round be successful in penetrating the outer armoured layers.
More write-up coming...
Specifications - M4A3 Spartan Mechanized Combat Vehicle
Crew: 3 (Vehicle Commander, Driver, Gunner) + 10 Passengers
Combat Weight: 34,500kg
Ground Pressure: 307kg/m²
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 26.1hp/tonne
Hull Length: 7.60m
Overall Length: 7.60m
Width: 3.90m
Height to Turret Roof: 2.45m
RBC Protection System: Aequatian Military Industries (Special Warfare Division) AEQ-CPS-M1 Compact Crew Protection System with Attachments for Infantry MOPP and Crew Masks.
Engine: Aequatian Automotive Industries (Propulsion Division) AEQ-V24-UF Liquid-cooled, V-12 cylinder, 50.0-Litre, 4-stroke exhaust, turbo-charged universal fuel (Primary: Biodiesel) engine, developing 900hp (672 kW) @ 2,600 rpm
Powerplant: Aequatian Automotive Industries (Propulsion Division) AEQ-APU-M3 Liquid-Cooled Biodiesel Auxiliary Power Unit generating 90kJ for Vehicle Subsystems
Transmission: Aequatian Automotive Industries (Components Division) AEQ-HT-M900 Hydro-kinetic with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears.
Fuel Capacity: 450 gal. (1,135 Litres)
Fuel Consumption (Road): 3 Mpg (1.27 kilometers per litre)
Fuel Consumption (Cross Country): 1 Mpg (0.425 kilometers per litre)
Operational Range (Average): 364km
Maximum Speed (Road): 75km/h
Maximum Speed (Cross Country): 59km/h
Maximum Speed (Reverse, 2nd Gear): 32km/h
Fording Depth: 1.3m
Deep Water Depth: 1.6m
Underwater Drive: 3.5m
Slope: 60° Gradient, 35° Side Slope
Obstacle: 0.85m Vertical; 4.35m Trench
Main Gun: Aequatian Military Industries (Gun Division) 40mm/-calibre M132 Automatic Cannon with M98A2 Gyrostabilization Unit
Main Gun Ammunition Types:
M950 High-Explosive Airburst (HEAB)
M951 Armour-Piecring Discarding Sabot Tracer (APDS-T)
Stowed Main Gun Ammunition: 200 Rounds (120 M950 HEAB; 80 M951 APDS-T)
Gun Depression/Elevation Range: -15°/+45°
Secondary Armament:
Two Single M5 Launchers for BGM-225 Goblin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles with 10 Rounds
One Coaxial-mounted 8.5mm MG68 Light Machinegun with 1,000 Rounds
Provision for one cupola-mounted weapon.
Smoke Dischargers: 2x twin 90mm Multiple Smoke Grenade Launchers
Fire Control Systems: Aequatian Digital Enterprises WillTell Mark V Fire Contol Suite integrated with Advanced Battlefield Information Control System (ABICS), Air Density Meter (ADM), Wind Direction and Speed Monitoring System (WDSMS), Main Gun Wear and Distortion Meter (MGWDM) and Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight, Mark VII (THOGS VII) with Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder.
Unit Replacement Cost: 4,355,000 Aequatian Markes
Exclusive Domestic Production Rights: Determined in nation-by-nation fashion.
Image Gallery
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1855/m4a3spartancx8.png
M4A3 Spartan MCV
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2739/m1200advvs6.png
M1200 Vampyr Air Defence Vehicle armed with Quad-linked M125A6 35mm Automatic Cannons and MIM-230 "Talon" LIDAR-guided, High-Velocity Missiles.
Overview
The improvement programme for the Spartan Mechanized Combat Vehicle comes after the reviews of combat operations in The World Soviet Party against the mercenary forces of the Griffincrest Corporation and the heavily armoured Stormtroopers of the nation of Undershi, where many of the systems already installed on the M4A2 Spartan were seen as ineffective. The improvements are set to increase the effectiveness of all systems aboard the Spartan MCV, nearly rendering it a completely new vehicle.
Armament Systems
The primary armament of the M4A3 Spartan mechanized combat vehicle is the turret-mounted, computer-controlled gyrostabilized 40mm M132 Automatic Cannon. The development of the 40mm M132 Automatic Cannon began as a replacement for the 35mm M125 Automatic Cannon which has been in service as the standard small caliber cannon since it replaced the original 25mm M242 Bushmaster cannon. The design requirements are different however for the M132 cannon compared to the older M125 since the latter was originally designed as an area suppression weapon for use against enemy infantry units and a later developed to use anti-armour rounds, the former will be designed from the outset as an accurate, anti-armour weapon with area suppression capability.
The M132 cannon is a recoil-operated, self-loading weapon with an electromagnetic assist which is capable of firing repetitive shots and short bursts of up to eight rounds (two clips of four rounds each), and has a cyclic rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute. Ammunition is fed in four-round clips with the empty shell cases being ejected forwards out of the weapon to avoid turret clutter. The weapon operates on a long-recoil system (much like the 30mm L21A1 RARDEN cannon) in which both the barrel and breech initially close together. To allow for spent ammunition casings to be ejected, the barrel recoil ceases while the breech continues to extract the spent cartridge case, which is then ejected forward out of the turret. The barrel then moves forward again, following after an interval by the breech which loads another round.
The cannon uses a smoothbore barrel, for the use of its primary armour-peircing discarding sabot tracer (APDS-T) ammunition, which also benefits from electromagnetic (EM) rails along its length to maintain a high velocity for the rounds being fired so as to produce the optimal striking velocity of 1,900m/s. The system is fully enclosed and the internal section of the weapon only protrudes a mere 50cm into the turret space. The gun is charged by a small, powered cocking/loading handle and no fumes can penetrate the turret. The cannon has a double feeder, allowing for two types of ammunition to be ready for firing which are preloaded with a clip of both M950 High-Explosive Airburst (HEAB) and M951 Armour-Piecring Discarding Sabot Tracer (APDS-T). The vehicle carries a total of 120 HEAB and 80 APDS-T rounds.
The primary ammunition type of the M132 cannon is the M951 armour-piercing discarding sabot tracer (APDS-T) round using a depleted Uranium kinetic-energy penetrator with a 13.5mm diameter and 108mm length. With the use of the electromagnetic rails along the barrel of the cannon, the round can achieve up to 1,850m/s upon striking a target, allowing for almost 400mm of penetration against Rolled Homogenous Armour equivalent.
Secondary ammunition for the weapon include the M950 high-explosive airburst (HEAB) which contains a proximity fuse which is set to the distance determined by the vehicle’s laser rangefinder. Although it can be used in its primary fashion, it may also be used as a standard HE-FRAG round, especially in urban terrain, where its proximity fuse can be set to delay detonation after the round has penetrated an obstacle such as a wall or building.
The vehicle has also been provided with a pair of M5 Launchers for the effective BGM-225 Goblin-series optically-guided anti-tank missiles. The launchers each hold a preloaded round while another eight are carried inside the vehicle for reloading through a door atop the passenger compartment. The missiles carried can consist of both the A and B variants, ammunition load outs for the weapons are chosen by the unit commander in the theatre of operations. Mounted coaxially to the M132 cannon is an 8.5mm MG68 light machinegun which is also stabilized, allowing for firing on the move, and carries a total of 1,000 rounds of ammunition with a 1:6 ratio of tracer/ball ammunition.
Fire Control Systems
The gunner is provided with improved sights with the use of the Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight, Mark VII (THOGS VII) which is integrated with the WillTell, Mark V Fire Control System and a Discrimination Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder. The THOGS VII uses a stabilized 12x Power Day Sight with optional thermal viewer suite and with positive target identification up to ranges of 10,000m. The commander also has a view through this main sight on a separate display at his/her station. There is also a backup 8x Power Day sight which can be used by the gunner should the primary sight become damaged.
The commander, in addition to his/her main sight viewer, has a monitor connected to the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer with an attached Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder for the commander to designate targets for the gunner and can enter them into the WillTell, Mark V Fire Control System's memory so that the gunner can quickly engage them with the main gun by selecting them from a list of targets provided on the gunner's monitor.
The WillTell, Mark V All-Digital Fire Control System is an improved version of the long legacy of computerized systems used in Aequatian tanks. It uses twin 128-bit Processors with an Aequatian Electronics Industries AEQ-MIL-9028D Databus and is fully integrated with other systems, including the Advanced Battlefield Information Control System (ABICS), Air Density Meter (ADM), Wind Direction and Speed Monitoring System (WDSMS), Main Gun Wear and Distortion Meter (MGWDM) and Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight, Mark VII (THOGS VII) with Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder.
Armour Protection
The M4A3 Spartan is provided with an armoured suite similar to that of the M20 Mackall series main battle tanks, although much lighter than the heavy composite armour, but no less robust. The outermost layer of armour consists of an Iron-Cobalt-Nickel alloy reinforced with Carbon, Chromium and Molybdenum to provide protection against small arms, shell fragments and splinters (this layer also helps to protect the underlying composites from unnecessary damage). A second layer consists of a Boron Nitride Composite Mesh which is designed to greatly disrupt both kinetic-energy and explosively-formed penetrators due to its low solid density and highly-efficient ballistic heat conduction, respectively. It also possesses an extremely high tensile strength, which is up to sixty times stronger than Rolled Homogenous Steel Armour. This layer is designed to provide the sloped armour of the tank protection from damage when struck by kinetic-energy penetrator (KEP) munitions and to ensure that the underlying composite layers are not comprimised.
The most protection, however, is provided by the layering of Boron Carbide ceramic composite which is encased within the same Iron-Cobalt-Nickel alloy reinforced with Carbon, Chromium and Molybdenum to provide structure. The alloy/ceramic composite provides a great amount of protection against shaped-charge anti-tank weapons such as infantry rockets like the M136 AT-4 and RPG-7. Along the inside is a Boron/High-Strength Polyethylene Synthetic Fibre Layer which protects interior personnel and vehicle systems from radiation and electromagnetic (EM) threats with a shielding rating up to 16 kRads of particle and electromagnetic radiation. It also provdes an Anti-Spall Protective Layer for interior crew and systems protection should a round be successful in penetrating the outer armoured layers.
More write-up coming...
Specifications - M4A3 Spartan Mechanized Combat Vehicle
Crew: 3 (Vehicle Commander, Driver, Gunner) + 10 Passengers
Combat Weight: 34,500kg
Ground Pressure: 307kg/m²
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 26.1hp/tonne
Hull Length: 7.60m
Overall Length: 7.60m
Width: 3.90m
Height to Turret Roof: 2.45m
RBC Protection System: Aequatian Military Industries (Special Warfare Division) AEQ-CPS-M1 Compact Crew Protection System with Attachments for Infantry MOPP and Crew Masks.
Engine: Aequatian Automotive Industries (Propulsion Division) AEQ-V24-UF Liquid-cooled, V-12 cylinder, 50.0-Litre, 4-stroke exhaust, turbo-charged universal fuel (Primary: Biodiesel) engine, developing 900hp (672 kW) @ 2,600 rpm
Powerplant: Aequatian Automotive Industries (Propulsion Division) AEQ-APU-M3 Liquid-Cooled Biodiesel Auxiliary Power Unit generating 90kJ for Vehicle Subsystems
Transmission: Aequatian Automotive Industries (Components Division) AEQ-HT-M900 Hydro-kinetic with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears.
Fuel Capacity: 450 gal. (1,135 Litres)
Fuel Consumption (Road): 3 Mpg (1.27 kilometers per litre)
Fuel Consumption (Cross Country): 1 Mpg (0.425 kilometers per litre)
Operational Range (Average): 364km
Maximum Speed (Road): 75km/h
Maximum Speed (Cross Country): 59km/h
Maximum Speed (Reverse, 2nd Gear): 32km/h
Fording Depth: 1.3m
Deep Water Depth: 1.6m
Underwater Drive: 3.5m
Slope: 60° Gradient, 35° Side Slope
Obstacle: 0.85m Vertical; 4.35m Trench
Main Gun: Aequatian Military Industries (Gun Division) 40mm/-calibre M132 Automatic Cannon with M98A2 Gyrostabilization Unit
Main Gun Ammunition Types:
M950 High-Explosive Airburst (HEAB)
M951 Armour-Piecring Discarding Sabot Tracer (APDS-T)
Stowed Main Gun Ammunition: 200 Rounds (120 M950 HEAB; 80 M951 APDS-T)
Gun Depression/Elevation Range: -15°/+45°
Secondary Armament:
Two Single M5 Launchers for BGM-225 Goblin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles with 10 Rounds
One Coaxial-mounted 8.5mm MG68 Light Machinegun with 1,000 Rounds
Provision for one cupola-mounted weapon.
Smoke Dischargers: 2x twin 90mm Multiple Smoke Grenade Launchers
Fire Control Systems: Aequatian Digital Enterprises WillTell Mark V Fire Contol Suite integrated with Advanced Battlefield Information Control System (ABICS), Air Density Meter (ADM), Wind Direction and Speed Monitoring System (WDSMS), Main Gun Wear and Distortion Meter (MGWDM) and Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight, Mark VII (THOGS VII) with Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder.
Unit Replacement Cost: 4,355,000 Aequatian Markes
Exclusive Domestic Production Rights: Determined in nation-by-nation fashion.