NationStates Jolt Archive

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Presents



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Promotional Image of Coorsotan-version of the LARIAT Main Battle Tank provided by ACC
The LARIAT Main Battle Tank

Excerpt from the Sand Draw Tribune
Sand Draw, Coorsota

The Allis-Chalmers Corporation (ACC) Defense Services Division announced late today that the company had begun development on a main battle tank under the name LARIAT. "We are, as a member of the defense industry, ecstatic that we now have the knowledge, and the capability, to join dozens of other companies, and nations for that matter, capable of developing their own main battle tanks," stated Defense Services Division Vice President Gary Vought. The presentation provided the nation with its first glimpse of what could be serving with the Ground Defense Force. Allis-Chalmers revealed a concept image of the tank, covered in the GDF's distinctive "shredded mountain" camouflage, much to the enjoyment of the audience. A short speech was followed by a video and finally a presentation on the development and production process. Company officials, however, did not reveal whether development began only recently or has been on-going for some time.

"To me," said President John Bohlinger of the Coorsotan Republic, "this is everyday news - of Coorsotans standing up to what needs to be done. The guys in the Defense Department are, I guarantee you, licking their chops over this deal especially if they're given the chance to shape the development of this machine." The LARIAT main battle tank, Allis-Chalmers execs say, would be specifically designed for the terrain and situations encountered in Coorsota. However, it would not replace the current main battle tank of the Republic - the MCA-7C "Timber Wolf", but simply supplement it. The MCA-7Cs are far too prized by the Defense Department to be let go. The MCA-7Cs in Coorsotan service, however, are not standard MCA-7Cs, instead they were upgraded, by Allis-Chalmers Corporation, using weapons systems purchased from Kriegzimmer Corporation. The upgraded "Timber Wolf" tank has served the country well thus far and receives high accolades from not only the Defense Department but the public as well who have adopted the foreign-built machine as "Coorsota's own."

Additional reporting provided by TSDN.





OOC- This thread will be updated as I complete the write-up for the tank.

I'll take some, to compare against our Mk88E3 Thor tank, which looks like a cross between an M60 and your Lariat, which is in its 16th year of service.

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Statement of The Allied States of Fallacious Defence Office
To: The Allis-Chalmers Company
From: Matthew Dabling

It is with pleasure I write to inform you that the Allied States of Fallacious is intrgued to learn of your new battletank. The Allied States of Fallacious would also like to inform you that the main land armed forces are on the look for a new main battletank such as the LARIAT.
We look forward to hearing about prices and availability.

Yours,
Matthew Dabling.
Secretary of State for Defence.

U.D.S.C wishes to enquire if it possible for us to obtain both the production and the selling rights for this Lariat M.B.T.We intend to sell it on our storefront.
If indeed you agree,please name the conditions needed for the agreement to take place.

Thank you,

The U.D.S.C Management.

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“The LARIAT main battle tank is, unfortunately, hardly available for sale at this point. The development process, although begun, will not finish for some time. Needless to say, however, your interest is noted and you are welcome to order the vehicle for testing purposes when we announce that the LARIAT project is nearing completion. Allis-Chalmers Corporation is especially interested in the possibility that the LARIAT main battle tank may be tested against similar-generation foreign main battle tanks, as this would provide our development team with irreplaceable experience.

Nonetheless, we must thank you for your support of our ongoing development program for the LARIAT main battle tank and we look forward to working with you in the future.”

-Gary Vought
Defense Services Division Vice President

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The Lariat main battle tank, in its earliest stages of conception, was envisioned as employing a drivetrain directly modified from that found on the MCA-7C “Timber Wolf” main battle tank. The engines, especially, were prized for their power and capability, and were designated as the engine of choice for the Lariat main battle tank. Western Motors Company, however, heavily protested the choice of that engine for development of the Lariat, citing two major concerns: the inclusion of foreign-built components and the noted unwillingness of the engine’s manufacturer to export the design, specifically the rights to its manufacture. Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division readily ceded the latter point, as it was widely known that the Guarita powerplant’s manufacturer had turned down Western Motor’s attempts to import a vast number of the engines or possibly produce it under license. Western Motors further lobbied Allis-Chalmers to allow it to manufacture the Lariat’s engine and drive train components, and eventually won the Allis-Chalmers sponsored drivetrain design competition.

The D600AGP2 diesel engine was Western Motors’ answer to replacing the Guarita engine. The D600AGP2 is a liquid cooled multi-fuel capable sixteen cylinder (four valves per cylinder) sequential turbocharged four-stroke diesel engine displacing 18.3L (1116 cubic inches). The D600AGP2 maintains several features to promote efficiency, power, and reliability. The diesel engine is controlled by a Central Electronic Control Unit (CECU) which observes and regulates every major action of the engine from varying turbocharging pressures to timing fuel injections and adjusting exhaust gas recirculation. The CECU also provides advanced diagnostics to the crew of the tank during operation as well as to repair personnel when the engine is in need of repair. An exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) is also present. The EGR system grabs a small portion (~10%) of manifold exhaust and directs it through a cooler (positioned ahead of the radiator) that reduces its temperature. The cooled exhaust is then portioned into the intake air stream. This reduces the oxygen content in combustion air leading to cooler combustion temperatures, and also happens to reduce certain emissions. Air-to-air intercooling is also used to reduce the temperature of intake air, raising its density and resulting in more thorough fuel combustion. The CECU-controlled common rail fuel injection system operates using fuel injectors positioned vertically between sets of intake and exhaust valves and directly over the center of symmetrical piston bowls. This location allows multiple streams of highly vaporized fuel to be dispersed around the cylinder so it can readily mix with intake air. The pistons are composed of high-strength steel with a symmetrical bowl head design that works in conjunction with multiple injections of fuel and twin intake valves to boost compression. Higher power densities result from this combination. A grid block/head heater and fuel preheater provide cold weather starting ability.

The D600AGP2’s turbocharging system operates as a sequential unit with two independent turbochargers working in tandem. The first turbocharger compresses combustion air as usual. Exhaust is directed to a second turbocharger downstream from the first. The energy from this second turbine transfers to the crankshaft and offers multipoint efficiency gains (~3-5%). The crankcase offers structural ribs to increase the crankcase’s life, improve strength, and reduce operating noise. Crankcase oil is now cooled through pipettes to decrease operating temperatures.

Together, all of these features allow the D600AGP2 to produce 932 kW (1250 HP) in addition to a power reserve of 90 kW at 1,800 RPM. The engine also produces a 40% torque rise (from lowest available torque to highest available torque) at 1,400 RPM. Maximum torque is ~4000 Nm.

The drivetrain is rounded out by a Western Motors designed T250FGT1 transmission component. The T250FGT1 is a compact automatic transmission which features an infinitely variable hydrostatic-hydrodynamic steering system, combined braking system, infinitely variable cooling fan, high efficiency, digital controls (using a derivative of CECU), and provides easy operation to the driver and repair to maintenance personnel. The transmission is mounted parallel with the engine.

The Lariat MBT's suspension was designed, like the rest of the tank, for Coorsotan terrain. Thus, its suspension is capable of adapting to Coorsota's widely varied terrain - from rolling plains to the more ubiquitous rocky foothills. The suspension is largely hydraulic with swing arms designed to give the roadwheels a generous amount of movement and soften the motions of the tank so the fire control system has an easier time at compensating for the movement. The suspension is also partially active, allowing for the ride height of the tank to be adjusted (such as positioning the suspension to give a greater hull-down capability). Road wheels, track supports, idlers, and drive sprockets are all composed of high strength steel. Road wheels have a layer of rubber to reduce wear to track links and to the wheels themselves.



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T250FGT1 Automatic Transmission Pack

Armament Sub System

Allis-Chalmers Defense Systems Division received invaluable experience and knowledge in armament system design and use when it undertook the project to switch out the MCA-7C’s standard gun armament with the AGS 250.A electro-thermal chemical gun purchased as part of an upgrade package from Kriegzimmer. The ETC weapon, the only one of its type in Coorsota, provided invaluable insight into armament design and led Allis-Chalmers to begin developing its own ETC-style weapon. Unfortunately progress on the design stalled as Allis-Chalmers realized it did not have the technical background or experience required to produce efficient models of ETC-style armaments. The project was put on the backburner as a potential future upgrade for the Lariat MBT and all progress was instead turned to developing a conventional smoothbore main gun. Eventually the 120mm G120EGS1 high-pressure breech smoothbore gun was developed, and fielded. The G120EGS1 in its base format is 45 calibers in length; however, an adapter allows the gun to be lengthened to 55 calibers. The gun, when fired, operates on a long-recoil principle reducing the total felt recoil energy on the tank.

The G120EGS1 gun is mated to a bustle-type linear action motor ram autoloader. The autoloader was designed using some concepts exhibited in the autoloader design in the MCA-7C, but does not retain the complexity in the design. Reload time is, however, slower at about eight rounds per minute, but reliability has increased substantially. All ammunition are complete rounds stored in the turret bustle and sealed from the crew (the autoloader compartment is also sealed from the crew) with venting system and blow-off panels to prevent total destruction to the turret in event of an ammunition cook-off. Up to forty-five rounds of up to four separate types of ammunition can be carried.

The primary ammunition for the G120EGS1 main gun is the domestically developed and produced Type 19A armored piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot and then Type 08D high explosive anti-tank multi-purpose round. Additional types of ammunition are available and can be stored. The Type 19A APFSDS anti-tank round is the standard kinetic energy projectile of the Ground Defense Force and fires a depleted uranium projectile weighing 10.0 kg (penetrator weighs only 5.1 kg) from the barrel at a velocity of about 1,650 m/s (using the standard G120EGS1 barrel). Due to advances in propellant design, and using the extended barrel, the Type 19A can reach out to almost 4,000m. The Type 19A’s HEAT-MP counterpart, the Type 08D fires an 11.5 kg projectile at about 1,400 m/s to achieve an effective range of almost 4,500 m. The Type 08D’s warhead is sub-caliber with a discarding sabot and capable of multiple fuzing options, including airburst. An additional ammunition option is the M40A1 barrel-fired anti-tank guided missile. The M40A1 is designed to be fired from the Lariat MBT’s main gun and utilizes a semi-active laser homing system. The missile is guided by laser designation – provided by either the tank or another platform (another tank, helicopter, UAV) and is capable of multiple engagement options. The top-attack option allows the tandem-warhead missile to angle up before descending on its target and during its terminal phase the guidance portion of the warhead (used to detect the laser radiation) is ejected off towards the target. This is designed to trigger an opponent’s active defense system, if equipped, and allow the tandem warheads to strike the vulnerable upper armor of the tank. It’s effective range is about 12 km.

In addition to the tank’s main gun, the Lariat MBT carries a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun for anti-personnel duties and 1500 rounds of ammunition. The commander’s position is outfitted with a 14.5mm heavy machine gun (MG5) for anti-aircraft, anti-personnel, and anti-vehicle roles. The machine gun can be fired from within the vehicle. Armored shields can be fitted to provide the commander with defense against shrapnel and assault rifle rounds. An additional 1500 rounds of ammunition are provided for this machine gun. Storage is available for up to three assault rifles and ammunition.

Is there a one with a diesel?

Is there a one with a diesel?

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You tell me.

OOC- Yes, its standard powerplant is diesel. By the way, I am open to criticism. This is a development program and criticism is expected of various parties involved within the development process which ultimately shapes the final product. Unfortunately, I do not argue with myself and so I would appreciate external criticism, comments, or suggestions. Thank you.

[ Gunning for 55-tonne tank or thereabouts? ]

OOC: I'm not really seeing anything wrong with it. It's very well done. There are features that would be good that you haven't included: for example, you don't have the ubiquitous grenade launchers, and your 14.5mm gun would in my opinion be better off as a modular mount, that would fit either a rapid-fire 40mm grenade launcher, an 81mm mortar, or a 20-25mm HMG.

I don't know much about engines, but all that looks good, assuming you're going for a lighter tank than some NS designs: 1250 HP is probably not enough to move some of the heavier NS MBTs more than a sloth's pace.

A useful feature you could add is the use of the engine exhaust: you can create a smokescreen with it, and distill drinkable water from it (not at the same time obviously). Finally, for the HEAT missile you have, why not add more decoys? Some tanks will have more than one active-protection system, and to ensure one-hit-kill capability, I'd add more decoys.

All these are suggestions, though, not things that are flawed in your design. As I said, it's thorough and very good.

OOC- I am looking for a weight between 55-60 tonnes, you are correct. Thank you for the comments so far, they are appreciated. Alot of what you are mentioning, I have thought about and am likely to include in a later version of the tank, especially your mention of a modular mount (or remote weapon system). Right now, I'm intending to produce the Lariat MBT as a 'basic' tank for the time being. I'm going to include the smoke grenades, and a smoke generator, in another section probably under the heading "Defense" where I'll have both armor and defensive systems. Otherwise, I appreciate your comments and will keep them in mind as I continue developing the tank, especially its later versions. Here is my fire control system, likely this will be added on to, as I'm just trying to get things down first.

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Fire Control

The Lariat MBT’s fire control system is composed of a number of systems which operate in unison to provide the crew with an unobstructed battlefield view and maintain their awareness of their surroundings. In addition to the optical periscopes positioned around his egress hatch, the commander is given an independent periscope with an LCD information overlay (TS/PQ-12A) and independent thermal viewer TS/EQ-31A. The two systems provide 360 degree target identification while the thermal viewer is enhanced with a day/night camera for higher-resolution non-thermal imaging and identification as well as a commander’s independent laser rangefinder and designator. Output from the TS/EQ-31A is displayed on an LCD monitor in a stabilized mount, and can appear on the LCD optronics overlay on the TS/PQ-12A. The TS/EQ-31A’s output can also be transferred to the gunner, allowing the gunner access to the same field of view of the commander.

The gunner’s station is fitted with an FC/TQ-7A1 dual magnification stabilized primary sight. The FC/TQ-7A1 has an integral laser rangefinder and is mated to an Allis-Chalmers OsprEye forward-looking infrared imager. The laser rangefinder is a Neodinium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) solid state laser and can provide up to five range values in three seconds. The range data is transmitted to the fire control system via fiber optic link and is used to calculate firing algorithms. The gunner, and commander, both have access to the laser rangefinder. The commander’s rangefinder also serves as a laser designator with a variable power setting. Maximum laser range is ~10km.

The final system is the ES/WQ-1B Common Warning Receiver. The ES/WQ-1B is composed of several RADAR and laser warning receivers located around the vehicle to provide full awareness. Four imagers are located on the sides of the turret with two looking forward and two looking aft, each covering about a 90 degree arc, and are designed as a higher resolution laser warning receiver, capable of lending information to the fire control system to engage targets actively employing an active LADAR system.

The CS/TQ-2B is the system that ties all the imaging systems together and produces a fire control solution for the main gun. The system directly controls the main gun and provides fire-on-the-move, stabilized operation with high accuracy and efficiency. The CS/TQ-2B is capable of being locked onto a target to maintain a continuous fire control solution. A queuing system is available to the commander to designation and queue targets for the gunner. The system operates using a single hard-drive hard storage system in a shock absorbent casing but actively uses only solid state memory devices during actual operation; this prevents hard maneuvers, hits, and roughness from damaging the tank’s memory. When the tank is shut down, the solid state memory transfers to the hard drive until the vehicle is started. All electronics are shock and jolt stabilized.

In addition to the actual imaging and fire control systems, the CS/TQ-2B carries several other features to assist in the tank’s operation. The fire control system of the Lariat MBT maintains a standing record of the current lifetime of the barrel and how many rounds have been fired through it. When the breech is opened and the shell has been extracted, a small laser measures the interior barrel diameter and its change from the previous scan. The fire control system then uses this data, in addition to a stored barrel wear spreadsheet (with expected wear values), to compensate the fire control solution for barrel wear.

The TS/FQ-101A is a fire control subsystem designed to be used in a high-threat environment. In a typical combat situation, if a tank is struck, the chances of that tank recovering from the impact in time to fire a shot to defend itself is relatively low, allowing the opposing tank to load and fire a second round. The advantage often goes to the tank that can fire, and hit, first. A single shot that is not enough to disable the Lariat but invariably affects the crew and other systems, and creates a few moments of ‘down time’, gives another enemy tank the chance to quickly follow up and disable the Lariat MBT. The TS/FQ-101A levels the playing field, partially negating the opponent’s advantage in firing first. When in a high threat environment, the gunner presses an ‘arming’ button as he’s adjusting the tank’s solution on the target and preparing to fire. In a situation where the Lariat can fire first, the gunner will depress the trigger and the weapon will fire. However, if the Lariat is struck before it can fire and the impact/damage is enough for the gunner’s hand to leave the control [and if the damage does not seriously affect the core fire control and gun systems], the Lariat will automatically engage the target the gunner was locked on to. Once the round is fired, the autoloader will cycle in a new round. By about this time the gunner, unless he is incapacitated, should be able to resume operational control over the main gun and fire control systems. If he is incapacitated, the commander can take control of the main gun.

The gunner and commander of the Lariat MBT are each given something considered antiquated to most current tank crew – a completely analog fire control system augmented by a size/range comparison plate with a provision for a secondary laser-rangefinder. A mechanical computer is also provided. The analog fire control systems were added to all in-service MCA-7Cs due to a common criticism of the tanks’ fire control and targeting systems in relation to the sometimes very rough terrain encountered in Coorsota. Most problems occurred during trials or training exercises when the tank in question was on the move and preparing to fire on a target, and hit a rock ledge, resulting in the forward portion of the tank dropping up to 5 feet into rock. The subsequent impact and jolt, although not enough to actually damage the tank, did its number on the sensitive electronics within, often knocking out one or more LCD screens and partially disabling some fire control systems. From this point forward, the tank couldn’t effectively fire its main gun until the tank could be serviced in the field. The experiences led to the shock-dampening of all electronics in the Lariat MBT, including all monitors in cased in a shock absorbing cradle. The completely analog fire control system including manual gun elevation and traverse, would allow the tank to effectively operate without power to the turret control systems, when the primary and secondary fire control systems are disabled, or when the tank wishes to remain hidden yet still engage a target. The autoloader is also fitted to be manually operated with levers in the crew compartment to cycle the loader and color coded tabs to indicate which rounds are going to be rammed.

OOC: Tagged, will enjoy reading and will post, OOCly, anything that I see that might be wrong, I'll post OOCly too. I would go farther ICly, but the C series and the D086-2S99 have both been effectivly discontinued. Now replaced with the D086-2T00, which is much superior, and the G (Plus an export model I may post tonight that will not be to the G what the C was to the B).

Nice to see someone noticed some of the faults of the C too.

OOC- Thank you, Dostanuot Loj, it is appreciated and I look forward to your ideas and criticism. A few notes, however, alot of this I'm just putting down to have it down, I have alot of ideas I'd like to further incorporate and probably will either on this version or the next, but don't hold back on your suggestions. Additionally some systems may seem "generic" and that's because they are, I need a placeholder until I can update it further.

I just now stole a glance at your export MCA-7E and I will say I'm impressed, the G model must be superb in accordance. Possibly an upgrade is in order for our variants of the MCA-7 to whatever standard your export policy would allow.

OOC: Right now export policy is allowing the E to be exported, which is vietually identical to the G, and thus top of the line. Although I don't believe the C can be upgraded to full E standards. A new turret would be needed, as would all new virtually everything. The B could do it, and I have sold off some of those, but that's about it. If you're interested I could either sell you 100 replacement Es at a discount with trade in of the 100 Cs you have. It would probably knock 5 million or so off the price.

OOC- We would be willing to purchase all-new tanks with the discount you mentioned, we'll simply strip out the armament and control systems we purchased independently from Kriegzimmer (the original systems, which are in storage, will be returned as well). From there we'll at least look at the option of refitting them to the MCA-7G although from the looks of it the MCA-7G is very capable in that regard and may not require the time and effort to upgrade. Instead, we may just outfit the Lariat MBTs that will see service in Coorsota with the foreign electronics and main gun systems, (feasability permitting) and storing any leftovers for replacements.

Optional ERA
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OOC- This is the optional ERA package, obviously, it is quite heavy but I aimed for a 55-60 tonne tank that, when fitted with ERA, would be around 70-75 tonnes. The small tooth-like charges are shaped charges and act similarly to the NOZH system, but on a smaller scale and within a composite ERA system. A quick description: behind the initial ceramic layer are four layers of alternating explosives designed to reduce HEAT effectiveness and induce some yaw into a KE projectile. Following that are thinner rubber-polymer-steel plates which induce more yawing to a KE projectile and eliminate any remaining HEAT threat. Heavy ERA in back eliminates the KE threat with the shaped charges and blast layering with a steel/ceramic backing. Image is not quite to scale so consider it a general representation of the layout.

Altogether, with this potential addition, I am considering upping my engine output to ~1100-1200 bkW to compensate for the additional mass when the ERA is fitted.

OOC- Bump and updated pic - can you spot the not-really-hidden "image" that is a tanker's tradition in Coorsota?

I plan on working on the base armor tonight and defensive systems.

[ Quite. I'd thought I was seeing things earlier, but now . . .

A nice personal touch. ]

Excerpt from the Sand Draw Tribune
Sand Draw, Coorsota

Coorsota’s largest company, Allis-Chalmers Corporation, has hit stormy financial waters after cost overruns related to its latest venture. Stock prices of Allis-Chalmers Corporation (ALIS on the CCSE) have tumbled $24.81, or 32.9%, to $50.55 in the last few days of trading on the Coorsotan Central Stock Exchange. Stock analysts cite major concerns over Allis-Chalmers’ annual earnings being far less than expected as the primary culprit. “What we’re seeing here is similar to what happened to Western Motors (Corporation) ten years ago,” said John Schmidt, an analyst with Mountain North Financial Services. “They overstated their initial earnings forecast and either overlooked or failed to account for massive short-term expenditures.” Western Motors Corporation experienced a similar reduction in stock price, of about 30%, in 1997 after it experienced a lackluster year of sales yet expended a much larger amount of cash on research and expansion projects than normally budgeted.

Company officials, however, have not yet eased investors’ fears and misgivings about the company’s financial future. Company President Bruce Walaker stated in his weekly investors relations newsletter that the stock price fall they’ve experienced in recent days is a short term problem related primarily to projects involved with the LARIAT main battle tank (Sand Draw Tribune, 2/9/07). He offered no additional insight.

Allis-Chalmers also announced, in light of the reduction in its share values and that it had failed to refinance almost $5 billion in maturing debt, that it would not pay any distribution for the first half of the 2008 financial year. They have, however, received an extension until February 28th to refinance.

To cover debt requirements, Allis-Chalmers officials have considered selling portions of the business, specifically its Financial Services division (formerly Constellation Financial) and Credit Services division. Allis-Chalmers will also consider selling some of its assets into joint ventures, specifically its Allis-Chalmers Defense Services division (responsible for the LARIAT Main Battle Tank).

“That really is an integral part of the strategic review that the board has committed to undertake,” chief executive officer Scott Andrews told journalists concerning the intent to sell portions of the business.

This is the first time Allis-Chalmers Corporation, begun in 1955, has experienced such a rapid drop in stock price, and is the only time in the corporation’s fifty plus year history where the future of the company and its components are in doubt.

Additional reporting provided by TSDN.

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OOC- Thank you, its a tanker's tradition in Coorsota to do so, similar to the convention of using pinup-style girls on aircraft. The GDF, however, won't allow any colors beyond those found in the camouflage scheme of the vehicle at the time to be used so most tank crew simply post silhouettes. The silhouette/tank is then given a name and the primary crew sign the hull. Full-color vinyl version of the silhouette with faces, features, etc. can be posted on the tank for parade or show purposes.

As for this post, in otherwords, Allis-Chalmers is seeking investors to buoy the company, specifically a company willing to invest heavily and perhaps enter into a joint venture concerning Allis-Chalmers Defense Services, the division responsible for the Lariat MBT and other defense-related products. Any one interested is free to state their willingness, but Allis-Chalmers is interested in well-established corporations capable of handling a short period of turbulence and possibly aiding in its ventures. Stock prices are at modern era record lows and create a perfect buying opportunity, 49.9% percent of shares are for sale. If no suitable single investor is found, Allis-Chalmers will divide this accordingly among two or three seperate investors. If there is no interest, and if the Financial and Credit Services divisions cannot be sold, the Lariat program will be cancelled, or sold.

[ It seems odd that the flag isn't a low-visibility version, then.

I'm curious as to what the long serial number near the back means. Engine displacement seems low, but I could be wrong. Why use a V16? ]

[OOC: This might not be pertinent, but it's based on how I understand your ERA to work. Any explosive under the ceramic will end up damaging the ceramic, most likely, not cause it to move forward. Ceramics have low fracture toughness, which is why they require metal or composite backing (this is a generalization, but normally the harder the ceramic the more it will crack and the more backing it will need). I also think the mass per block is light, although the mass might be based on real-life figures (?). That said, I think total mass is heavy. According to DRDO the ERA designed to be fitted on an Arjun will add a total of 1.5 tons to a tank's weight, while aluminum blazer blocks were supposed to add less than 1 ton to Spain's AMX-30EM2s (eventually no ERA was adopted because the structural steel was found to be incapable of taking the impact of the moving back plate). ERA, in general, is supposed to be fairly light. In regards to the amount of blocks, I think you can count them on Russian tanks - that will give you an idea of how many blocks are normally fitted to a real-life tank (referring to K-5 ERA, not K-1).]

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Zanziim Military Industries
A Technological Future for the Zanziim Nation

It has come to the attention of myself and the boardmembers of ZmI that the Allis-Chalmers Corporation has run across some difficult and uncertain financial times. After consulting with each other on the status and potential of your Allis-Chalmers Defense Services division LARIAT Main Battle Tank Project, and your request for investors in your company, we have decided to offer a purchase by ZmI of as many shares as you wish to make available for our purchase.

For nearly a century, Zanziim Military Industries has been the largest and most powerful supplier of military armament in Zanziik. Emerging from state ownership while retaining a majority of the Zanziim military order has given ZmI a unique status as one of the most profitable capitalist corporations in the Emirates of Zanziik.

We have full confidence in the potential of the LARIAT Main Battle Tank Project, and would enjoy working with you to see it's fruition and it's use by the Zanziim Military.

Any questions or correspondence should be relayed to myself, Anthony James, CEO of Zanziim Military Industries. I look forward to a favorable reply.

[signed]
Anthony James, CEO
ZmI Board of Directors

OOC- The flag, hull numbers, and symbols aren't low-visibility because the GDF doesn't require them to be, however, it requires that crews can't paint any designs themselves using colors not found in the prevailing camouflage system. This is to prevent elaborate and colorful displays from dominating portions of the tank's exterior. A size limit also applies and only allows a certain square footage of the tank's surface to be painted, and only in select places, primarily the 1st, 3rd, or 4th skirt partitions. The second is reserved for hull number and markings, and the fifth and six are reserved for additional markings including the flag. The fifth is only ever used for parade purposes. In most actual combat situations, the crew would apply a can of grease to dull the white symbols, hull numbers, and flag, making them less reflective in light and more subdued, especially after an accumulation of dust and dirt. Hull markings on the rear of the tank are not covered and are the primary means of identification, besides radio, during combat maneuvers.

The serial number is basically the tank's identification number. The serial number, from right to left, reads "8th Squadron; 54th Mechanized Infantry Brigade; 135th Armored Regiment; Tank Hull 44 (production #); and Series A (original model). The tank, specifically, is from 54th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 135th Armored Regiment, 8th Squadron. The hull number is 1 (role/standing in squadron not production number), or first tank from 8th squadron. The chevron indicates the 135th armored regiment. The serial number is basically used for logistics purposes in being able to catalogue the tank and attribute parts and supplies to the appropriate brigade/regiment and, if the tank was lost in combat, properly identify the tank, identify its crew at the time, and credit the proper brigade/regiment with a replacement vehicle.

As for engine displacement, it should be about right, but I'm planning on upping both figures anyways to account for the weight gains attributed to an optional ERA system.


[OOC: This might not be pertinent, but it's based on how I understand your ERA to work. Any explosive under the ceramic will end up damaging the ceramic, most likely, not cause it to move forward. Ceramics have low fracture toughness, which is why they require metal or composite backing (this is a generalization, but normally the harder the ceramic the more it will crack and the more backing it will need). I also think the mass per block is light, although the mass might be based on real-life figures (?). That said, I think total mass is heavy. According to DRDO the ERA designed to be fitted on an Arjun will add a total of 1.5 tons to a tank's weight, while aluminum blazer blocks were supposed to add less than 1 ton to Spain's AMX-30EM2s (eventually no ERA was adopted because the structural steel was found to be incapable of taking the impact of the moving back plate). ERA, in general, is supposed to be fairly light. In regards to the amount of blocks, I think you can count them on Russian tanks - that will give you an idea of how many blocks are normally fitted to a real-life tank (referring to K-5 ERA, not K-1).]


Well, the mass should be about right, keep in mind a third of the block's internal volume is composed of the steel-polymer-rubber layers seperating the light ERA and heavy ERA. The trigger system for the outer ERA is after the initial ceramics so by then the ceramics will have been bypassed. The sequential light ERA detonations produce more and more for the HEAT jet or penetrator to cut through in addition to impacting their penetration characteristics. I don't know if that helps to understand it, but hopefully I can get a more in-depth description of it with my armor and defense features.

I think I probably did put too many blocks on here, specifically for the glacis and turret. And that probably stems from me using rough figures on what my planned dimensions are. Thank you for the comments, any additional insight is welcomed.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/923/lariatmbt6zs6.png








Armament Sub System

Allis-Chalmers Defense Systems Division received invaluable experience and knowledge in armament system design and use when it undertook the project to switch out the MCA-7C’s standard gun armament with the AGS 250.A electro-thermal chemical gun purchased as part of an upgrade package from Kriegzimmer. The ETC weapon, the only one of its type in Coorsota, provided invaluable insight into armament design and led Allis-Chalmers to begin developing its own ETC-style weapon. Unfortunately progress on the design stalled as Allis-Chalmers realized it did not have technical background or experience required to produce efficient models of ETC-style armaments. The project was put on the backburner as a potential future upgrade for the Lariat MBT and all progress was instead turned to developing a conventional smoothbore main gun. Eventually the 120mm G120EGS1 high-pressure breech smoothbore gun was developed, and fielded. The G120EGS1 in its base format is 45 calibers in length; however, an adapter allows the gun to be lengthened to 55 calibers. The gun, when fired, operates on a long-recoil principle reducing the total felt recoil energy on the tank. The entire turret is electrically rotated, reducing in reduced heat and reduction in volume from hydraulic systems. As mentioned later, manual turret traverse, and gun elevation, are available.

The G120EGS1 gun is mated to a bustle-type linear action motor ram autoloader. The autoloader was designed using some concepts exhibited in the autoloader design in the MCA-7C, but does not retain the complexity in the design. Reload time is, however, slightly slower at about eight rounds per minute, but reliability has increased substantially. All ammunition are complete rounds stored in the turret bustle and sealed from the crew (the autoloader compartment is also sealed from the crew) with venting system and blow-off panels to prevent total destruction to the turret in event of an ammunition cook-off. Up to forty-five rounds of up to four separate types of ammunition can be carried.

The primary ammunition for the G120EGS1 main gun is the domestically developed and produced Type 19A armored piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot and then Type 08D high explosive anti-tank multi-purpose round. Additional types of ammunition are available and can be stored. The Type 19A APFSDS anti-tank round is the standard kinetic energy projectile of the Ground Defense Force and fires a rippled depleted uranium projectile weighing 10.0 kg (penetrator weighs only 5.1 kg) from the barrel at a velocity of about 1,650 m/s (using the standard G120EGS1 barrel). The rippled designed lessens drag, allows for some flex in the design (with a ‘softer’ metal at the thinnest portions bonded by a polymer sandwich), and reduces the effectiveness of certain ERA types. Due to advances in propellant design, and using the extended barrel, the Type 19A can reach out to almost 4,000m. A variation on the Type 19A, the Type 19B BCRM or Beyond Conventional Range Munition, utilizes a rocket motor, rudimentary flight control, and a tri-mode seeker (semi-active laser, millimeter wave radar, and imaging infrared) to engage targets up to twice the range of a conventional Type 19A munition. This allows the Lariat MBT to engage adversaries beyond their line of sight by firing the weapon and either allowing it to guide itself to target (MMW and imaging infrared) or be guided to the target by a proxy such a scout, helicopter, aircraft, or other type of system using the Lariat's data-communication systems. The Type 19A/B’s HEAT-MP counterpart, the Type 08D fires an 11.5 kg projectile at about 1,400 m/s to achieve an effective range of almost 4,500 m. The Type 08D’s warhead is sub-caliber with a discarding sabot and capable of multiple fuzing options, including airburst. An additional ammunition option is the M40A1 barrel-fired anti-tank guided missile. The M40A1 is designed to be fired from the Lariat MBT’s main gun and utilizes a semi-active laser homing system. The missile is guided by laser designation – provided by either the tank or another platform (another tank, helicopter, UAV) and is capable of multiple engagement options. The top-attack option allows the tandem-warhead missile to angle up before descending on its target and during its terminal phase the guidance portion of the warhead (used to detect the laser radiation) is ejected off towards the target. This is designed to trigger an opponent’s active defense system, if equipped, and allow the twin warheads to strike the vulnerable upper armor of the tank. It’s effective range is about 12 km.

In addition to the tank’s main gun, the Lariat MBT carries a coaxial 14.5mm machine gun for anti-personnel duties and 1500 rounds of ammunition. The commander’s position is outfitted with a 14.5mm heavy machine gun (MG5) for anti-aircraft, anti-personnel, and anti-vehicle roles. The machine gun can be fired from within the vehicle. Additionally, a light machine gun mount is available at the loader’s position. Armored shields can be fitted to provide the commander with defense against shrapnel and assault rifle rounds. An additional 1500 rounds of ammunition are provided for this machine gun. Storage is available for up to three assault rifles and ammunition.



Defense

Armor

The armor scheme of the Lariat Main Battle Tank was developed from materials, ideas, and examples provided by the Advanced Materials Education Coalition (AMEC) of Larange State University and the Knife Point Technical Institute. Allis-Chalmers contacted AMEC in regards to the educational consortium researching and developing advanced materials intended for use in armor of a main battle tank. Larange State University, being a state university, opted not to participate in the research phase but did allow the use of previously researched materials and techniques to be used by the research group from Knife Point. The Knife Point AMEC developed the following “Cuera” armor scheme, beginning with the outermost layer for the turret face and glacis:

Primary Armor (600mm real thickness; Spacing through out the design results in a real thickness between 650-700mm)
• 150mm high hardness monoplate steel
• 20mm rubber plate
• 10mm plastic plate
• 20mm rubber plate
• 100mm section of steel plates of 20mm thickness at 45 degree angle standoff from each other at 20mm with reactive polymer that quickly solidifies from HEAT or pressure
• 50mm depleted uranium
• 50mm hard monoplate steel
• 50mm rubber
• 50mm hard monoplate steel
• 50mm soft monoplate steel
• 10mm hard monoplate steel
• 10mm soft monoplate steel
• 30 mm rubber

The varying thickness and density (either soft or hard) steel plates induces yaw into a penetrating KE projectile, potentially even shattering it.

Following this is the 100mm spall liner, composed of densely packed fibers within a rubber enclosure within a plastic box. The face of this box towards the armor side is 5mm steel and rubber plates for 50mm. In addition, all interior metal surfaces are first covered in a plastic panel then painted with a rubber-like non-slip paint surface.

Armor on the turret sides is effectively similar only slightly reduced thicknesses and reduced spacing. Armor on the back of the turret and hull is reduced by removing the 100mm section of angled steel plates and the 50mm soft/hard monoplate sections (400mm). Roof armor is about ~150mm real thickness using a similar construction scheme. Most of the exterior armor is coated in a non-slip layer.


Vaquero ERA
The Vaquero ERA system was designed using data from the Advanced Materials Education Coalition, Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division, and independent labs and entities across Coorsota and abroad. The Lariat MBT’s optional explosive reactive armor was designed to combat most munitions encountered on the battlefield today and originally intended to be equal to most available types of explosive reactive armor. ERA research in Coorsota started with the arrival of the MCA-7C Timber Wolf MBT in order to develop a possible ERA package for the tank. Progress was slow however but produced a working, if basic, ERA system. Allis-Chalmers, with federal aid, funded several additional research and development programs at universities (explosives research) and private labs (ERA design and implementation) to eventually produce the precursor to the Vaquero ERA. With the initialization of the Lariat MBT program, design was halted on fitting the ERA to the MCA-7C and it was instead brought back to the research and development phase with the intent to modify and fit it to the Lariat main battle tank. This project resulted in the Vaquero ERA system. The Vaquero ERA is a layered system composed of the following layers besides an initial ceramic outer layer (to defend against the initial warhead of a tandem-warhead weapon) and a steel/ceramic backing:
• Layer 1: Trigger in very front, plate behind, and explosive below, which alternates for the second plate, inverts again for the third plate, and again for the fourth plate. When a HEAT jet or KE penetrator triggers the ERA, the first layer of that portion of the ERA will detonate and the explosives on the bottom will push the plate up (or roughly perpendicular to the jet/penetrator's line of travel). If the jet/penetrator penetrates that plate, the explosives on the second layer will push the second plate downward and so on. This serves to 'feed' the plate into the jet or penetrator from both top and bottom at different depths of penetration. This'll feed material into a HEAT jet eroding its effectiveness, and depending on the composition of a penetrator (especially the narrow diameter/long rods) potentially snap it or create some yaw, at least before it reaches the final ERA layers.
• Layer 2: This is a thinner rubber-polymer-steel layering which induces yawing in KE projectiles and further impacts a HEAT jet.
• Layer 3: This is the heavy ERA component of the Vaquero ERA system and is designed to specifically eliminate the KE threat by using shaped charges to induce more yawing in addition to dismembering the penetrator. Heavy blast layering behind this is formed in a way so that if triggered, it will likely crush any remnants with its faceplates and explosive pressure.

The entire system is encased in resin.


Countermeasures

The Lariat MBT was originally determined to carry only a basic set of countermeasures, mainly grenade launchers (to launch smoke grenades, aerosol canisters, or chaff) and a smoke generator. However, as development wore on, additional features were researched and available for the initial production model. Allis-Chalmers engineers took the next step and combined all the countermeasures features into a single unit capable of operating together to ensure the survival of the tank against a wide assortment of threats. The basis of the SS/CQ-10A combined active/passive countermeasures system is the smoke generator found near the diesel engine and grenade launchers (8x with 2 canisters per launcher; can fire either chaff, aerosol, or smoke). These are capable of operating independently under crew control or with the SS/CQ-10A system. Beyond this is the component CQ-29 mast-deployed active protection system and is designed to combat most missile threats. The CQ-29 is not a single system but is rather both active and passive and utilizes soft-kill measures to assist its core hard-kill system. Threats are located using a passive thermal imager as well as an active radar system, and these can operate with the tank’s primary systems. Using infrared jammers, electronic interference, chaff/smoke/aerosol launchers, smoke generator, or decoys, the CQ-29 will attempt to ‘soft-kill’ the threat, if this is unsuccessful in completely eliminating the threat, the CQ-29 will resort to its hard-kill system. When this determination is made, the CQ-29 will shutter the primary optics (the primary forward looking infrared and the commander’s primary thermal imager; leaving backup imagers and optics) and the hard-kill system is activated and fires explosive packets at the incoming target.

The third system is simply a threat warning system designed to allow the crew to rapidly engage an ATGM crew, and if configured to do so, will automatically align the turret station to the ATGM launch point and allow the commander or loader to engage the target.



Fire Control

The Lariat MBT’s fire control system is composed of a number of systems which operate in unison to provide the crew with an unobstructed battlefield view and maintain their awareness of their surroundings. In addition to the optical periscopes positioned around his egress hatch, the commander is given an independent periscope with an LCD information overlay (TS/PQ-12A) and independent thermal viewer TS/EQ-31A. The two systems provide 360 degree target identification while the thermal viewer is enhanced with a day/night camera for higher-resolution non-thermal imaging and identification as well as a commander’s independent laser rangefinder and designator. Output from the TS/EQ-31A is displayed on an LCD monitor in a stabilized mount, and can appear on the LCD optronics overlay on the TS/PQ-12A. The TS/EQ-31A’s output can also be transferred to the gunner, allowing the gunner access to the same field of view of the commander.

The gunner’s station is fitted with an FC/TQ-7A1 dual magnification stabilized primary sight. The FC/TQ-7A1 has an integral laser rangefinder and is mated to an Allis-Chalmers OsprEye forward-looking infrared imager (with a smaller, lower resolution backup imbedded in the turret on the other side of the main gun). The laser rangefinder is a Neodinium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) solid state laser and can provide up to five range values in three seconds. Augmenting this is an electro-optical rangefinder which uses a camera to focus in on its target. To focus, the lenses are moved apart and once the tank is in focus, the range is determined by taking a value associated with the distance the two are apart and using that to derive the range to target in 5m increments. This allows the tank to find the range of an enemy tank while emitting no laser radiation (and tripping a laser warning receiver) and is particularly useful in the first engagement. The range data from both systems is transmitted to the fire control system via fiber optic link and is used to calculate firing algorithms. The gunner, and commander, both have access to the laser rangefinder. The commander’s rangefinder also serves as a laser designator with a variable power setting. Maximum laser range is ~10km.

The final system is the ES/WQ-1B Common Warning Receiver. The ES/WQ-1B is composed of several RADAR and laser warning receivers located around the vehicle to provide full awareness. Four imagers are located on the sides of the turret with two looking forward and two looking aft, each covering about a 90 degree arc, and are designed as a higher resolution laser warning receiver, capable of lending information to the fire control system to engage targets actively employing an active LADAR system.

The CS/TQ-2B is the system that ties all the imaging systems together and produces a fire control solution for the main gun. The system directly controls the main gun and provides fire-on-the-move, stabilized operation with high accuracy and efficiency. The CS/TQ-2B is capable of being locked onto a target to maintain a continuous fire control solution. A queuing system is available to the commander to designation and queue targets for the gunner. The system operates using a single hard-drive hard storage system in a shock absorbent casing but actively uses only solid state memory devices during actual operation; this prevents hard maneuvers, hits, and roughness from damaging the tank’s memory. When the tank is shut down, the solid state memory transfers to the hard drive until the vehicle is started. All electronics are shock and jolt stabilized.

In addition to the actual imaging and fire control systems, the CS/TQ-2B carries several other features to assist in the tank’s operation. The fire control system of the Lariat MBT maintains a standing record of the current lifetime of the barrel and how many rounds have been fired through it. When the breech is opened and the shell has been extracted, a small laser measures the interior barrel diameter and its change from the previous scan. The fire control system then uses this data, in addition to a stored barrel wear spreadsheet (with expected wear values), to compensate the fire control solution for barrel wear. Finally, the fire control system computes and accounts for air temperature, humidity, wind velocity (using a cross wind sensor), barrel temperature, and other factors in its fire solution.

The TS/FQ-101A is a fire control subsystem designed to be used in a high-threat environment. In a typical combat situation, if a tank is struck, the chances of that tank recovering from the impact in time to fire a shot to defend itself is relatively low, allowing the opposing tank to load and fire a second round. The advantage often goes to the tank that can fire, and hit, first. A single shot that is not enough to disable the Lariat but invariably affects the crew and other systems, and creates a few moments of ‘down time’, gives another enemy tank the chance to quickly follow up and disable the Lariat MBT. The TS/FQ-101A levels the playing field, partially negating the opponent’s advantage in firing first. When in a high threat environment, the gunner presses an ‘arming’ button as he’s adjusting the tank’s solution on the target and preparing to fire. In a situation where the Lariat can fire first, the gunner will depress the trigger and the weapon will fire. However, if the Lariat is struck before it can fire and the impact/damage is enough for the gunner’s hand to leave the control (and if the damage does not seriously affect the core fire control and gun systems), the Lariat will automatically engage the target the gunner was locked on to. Once the round is fired, the autoloader will cycle in a new round. By about this time the gunner, unless he is incapacitated, should be able to resume operational control over the main gun and fire control systems. If he is incapacitated, the commander can take control of the main gun.

The gunner and commander of the Lariat MBT are each given something considered antiquated to most current tank crew – a completely analog fire control system augmented by a size/range comparison plate with a provision for a secondary laser-rangefinder. A mechanical computer is also provided. The analog fire control systems were added to all in-service MCA-7Cs due to a common criticism of the tanks’ fire control and targeting systems in relation to the sometimes very rough terrain encountered in Coorsota. Most problems occurred during trials or training exercises when the tank in question was on the move and preparing to fire on a target, and hit a rock ledge, resulting in the forward portion of the tank dropping up to 5 feet into rock. The subsequent impact and jolt, although not enough to actually damage the tank, did its number on the sensitive electronics within, often knocking out one or more LCD screens and partially disabling some fire control systems. From this point forward, the tank couldn’t effectively fire its main gun until the tank could be serviced in the field. The experiences led to the shock-dampening of all electronics in the Lariat MBT, including all monitors in cased in a shock absorbing cradle. The completely analog fire control system including manual gun elevation and traverse, would allow the tank to effectively operate without power to the turret control systems, when the primary and secondary fire control systems are disabled, or when the tank wishes to remain hidden yet still engage a target. The autoloader is also fitted to be manually operated with levers in the crew compartment to cycle the loader and color coded tabs to indicate which rounds are going to be rammed.

In addition to the above fire control and electronics, the Lariat MBT carries the VRC-9661 multiband, multimode tactical vehicular radio which provides HF (2-30 Mhz; long range strategic communications) and V/UHF (30-512 Mhz; short range tactical communications) radio communications ability in addition to digital communications between tanks (such as sharing firing data or coordinates, etc.). The system also provides inter-tank communications between the driver, commander, and gunner. In addition to this, the system’s “field telephone functionality” is diverted to an externally, rear mounted phone system which allows supporting infantry to use the communications system to communicate to the tank’s crew or to communicate with any other unit (from tanks and aircraft to infantry) within range. Finally, the VRC-9661 provides a GPS connection to allow for both satellite communications (if equipped) and geolocating abilities.



Mobility

The Lariat main battle tank, in its earliest stages of conception, was envisioned as employing a drivetrain directly modified from that found on the MCA-7C “Timber Wolf” main battle tank. The engines, especially, were prized for their power and capability, and were designated as the engine of choice for the Lariat main battle tank. Western Motors Company, however, heavily protested the choice of that engine for development of the Lariat, citing two major concerns: the inclusion of foreign-built components and the noted unwillingness of the engine’s manufacturer to export the design, specifically the rights to its manufacture. Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division readily ceded the latter point, as it was widely known that the Guarita powerplant’s manufacturer had turned down Western Motor’s attempts to import a vast number of the engines or possibly produce it under license. Western Motors further lobbied Allis-Chalmers to allow it to manufacture the Lariat’s engine and drive train components, and eventually won the Allis-Chalmers sponsored drivetrain design competition.

The D900AGP2 diesel engine was Western Motors’ answer to replacing the Guarita engine. The D900AGP2 is a liquid cooled multi-fuel capable sixteen cylinder (four valves per cylinder) sequential turbocharged four-stroke diesel engine displacing 28.7L (1749 cubic inches; 130mm x 135mm bore*stroke). The D900AGP2 maintains several features to promote efficiency, power, and reliability. The diesel engine is controlled by a Central Electronic Control Unit (CECU) which observes and regulates every major action of the engine from varying turbocharging pressures to timing fuel injections and adjusting exhaust gas recirculation. The CECU also provides advanced diagnostics to the crew of the tank during operation as well as to repair personnel when the engine is in need of repair. An exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) is also present. The EGR system grabs a small portion (~10%) of manifold exhaust and directs it through a cooler (positioned ahead of the radiator) that reduces its temperature. The cooled exhaust is then portioned into the intake air stream. This reduces the oxygen content in combustion air leading to cooler combustion temperatures, and also happens to reduce certain emissions. Air-to-air intercooling is also used to reduce the temperature of intake air, raising its density and resulting in more thorough fuel combustion. The CECU-controlled common rail fuel injection system operates using fuel injectors positioned vertically between sets of intake and exhaust valves and directly over the center of symmetrical piston bowls. This location allows multiple streams of highly vaporized fuel to be dispersed around the cylinder so it can readily mix with intake air. The pistons are composed of high-strength steel with a symmetrical bowl head design that works in conjunction with multiple injections of fuel and twin intake valves to boost compression. Higher power densities result from this combination. A grid block/head heater and fuel preheater provide cold weather starting ability. A muffler and combined radiator system are also present.

The D900AGP2’s turbocharging system operates as a sequential unit with two independent turbochargers working in tandem. The first turbocharger compresses combustion air as usual. Exhaust is directed to a second turbocharger downstream from the first. The energy from this second turbine transfers to the crankshaft and offers multipoint efficiency gains (~3-5%). The crankcase offers structural ribs to increase the crankcase’s life, improve strength, and reduce operating noise. Crankcase oil is now cooled through pipettes to decrease operating temperatures.

Together, all of these features allow the D900AGP2 to produce 1192 kW (1600 HP) in addition to a power reserve of 110 kW at 1,800 RPM. The engine also produces a 40% torque rise (from lowest available torque to highest available torque) at 1,400 RPM. Maximum torque is ~4300 Nm. No governor is present. Instead crews are trained to maximize fuel economy when required. This allows the full breadth of the engine’s power and capability to be used when needed. Warning systems are present to alert the crew to dangerous conditions if they proceed to push the powerplant systems too far.

Using experience from adopting the MCA-7C Timber Wolf, Allis-Chalmers designed an under-armor auxiliary power unit for use on the Lariat MBT. This 32kW diesel turbine allows for the primary systems of the tank to function without using the main engine and wasting unnecessary amounts of fuel (as well as lay in ambush with a reduced heat signature).

The drivetrain is rounded out by a Western Motors designed T250FGT1 transmission component. Originally, the Lariat MBT was to be fitted with a similar, automatic transmission. However, in component testing where the transmission was instead used in a converted M-60 MBT, the automatic proved to be troublesome. Proper crew training, however, alleviated the majority of these problems except for the transmission’s capability to serve in a ‘tractor’ role, such as towing other tanks. The Ground Defense Force required that a tank be able to also serve as a recovering unit for other tanks if a dedicated recovery vehicle was not around, and the automatic transmission was ill suited for this task, amongst others. Instead, Western Motors produced a similar design which uses a series of primary gears, eight in total, and each with its own range of three gears. This completely manual system would allow the driver to select an appropriate gear for the task at hand, and have the capability to upshift or downshift to meet the power requirements of the task. During testing, the transmission when placed in first gear (up to third gear depending on the medium the tanks are operating in) had no problem pulling a similar-weight tank, and the driver could then shift between three ranges in this gear, going from 1-1 (creeper) to 1-2 and then 1-3 (and back again) with the motion of a single lever and no clutch. All gears can be shifted into from a standing point, with the upper four gears requiring little or no load and designed primarily as maneuvering or road gears. Fourth gear was optimized as a ‘battle gear’ and provides quick acceleration with the throttle and smooth gear transitioning. This gear can operate under some load in less-than-ideal terrain (such as in snow or light mud). The modified T250FGT1 provides reduced maintenance over its automatic cousin, improved fuel economy, improved performance in some areas, and the ability to serve as a recovery, or even engineering, vehicle. The T250FGT1 is a compact automatic transmission which features an infinitely variable hydrostatic-hydrodynamic steering system, combined braking system, infinitely variable cooling fan, high efficiency, digital controls for some functions (using a derivative of CECU), and provides easy operation to the driver and repair to maintenance personnel. The transmission is mounted parallel with the engine. The entire engine/transmission package is capable of being removed together using a built-in rail assembly facilitating quick replacement or repair in field conditions, a must in Coorsota.

The Lariat MBT's suspension was designed, like the rest of the tank, for Coorsotan terrain. Thus, its suspension is capable of adapting to Coorsota's widely varied terrain - from rolling plains to the more ubiquitous rocky foothills. The suspension is largely hydraulic with swing arms designed to give the roadwheels a generous amount of movement and soften the motions of the tank so the fire control system has an easier time at compensating for the movement. The suspension is also partially active, allowing for the ride height of the tank to be adjusted (such as positioning the suspension to give a greater hull-down capability). Road wheels, track supports, idlers, and drive sprockets are all composed of high strength steel. Road wheels have a layer of rubber to reduce wear to track links and to the wheels themselves.

The Lariat MBT can serve as an emergency recovery vehicle with no threat of damage to its drivetrain and thus carries the mounting points and tow hooks required to be able to tow and recover other main battle tanks in lieu of a dedicated recovery vehicle. Heavy duty tow cables and chains are carried in addition to straps for recovering smaller vehicles.

Finally, the Lariat maintains the ability to carry external fuel stores. These external fuel stores, however, are not drum-type but instead a box-style system hung over the muffler system on the tank and not directly visible from the forward arc. They are self-sealing and partially armored against most small arms fire and shrapnel. Due to their built-up nature, they are usually recovered later. The fuel boxes can be jettisoned from within the tank. A drum-type external fuel system can also be used.


NBC Protection and Crew Comfort

The Lariat MBT includes a sealed chassis and turret including air filtration (HEPA for biological threats and centrifuge for radiological threats) and overpressure air conditioning system. The tank also includes NBC masks for crew in the event of a seal failure. The air conditioning system has two vents per crew member’s station, both capable of being adapted to blow cold air through a tube which can be inserted into a crew member’s uniform to provide adequate cooling. Heat can also be directed through these vents. Each station is provided with a secured cup holder and a basket for small personal items or other materials.



Fording

The Lariat MBT can ford up to its hull height, and with minor modification (to seal the engine intake and add an adapter) can ford above the total height of the tank. The adapter allows the engine to breathe air from the crew compartment (turret) using a snorkel at the rear of the turret.



General Specifications
Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Length: 7.80 m ; 10.18 m w/ gun
Width: 4.02 m
Height: 2.92 m
Ground clearance: 0.61 m
Weight: 58.50 t

Mobility
Power plant: Twin-Turbocharged 28.7L D900AGP2 producing 1192 kW
Transmission: T250FGT1 Manual Ranged Transmission; 8 Gear Ranges
Suspension: Semi-Active Hydraulic Torsion Bar
Maximum speed: 75 km/h
Power/weight: 20.7kW/tonne
Fuel efficiency: 1.57 liters per kilometer
Fuel capacity: 1,100 L in main fuel tank
Range: 700 km
Fording depth: 1.7 m unprepared/<7 m with snorkel
Vertical obstacle: 0.95 m
Maximum grade: 60%
Maximum side slope: 30%

Armor and Armament
Armor: Cuera standard armor; Vaquero add-on ERA
Main armament: 120mm G120EGS1 L/45 or L/55 smoothbore
Elevation: -10/+19°
Elevation rate: 25° per second (electrohydraulic)
Traverse rate: 35° per second (electric traverse)
Stabilization: Azimuth and elevation
Rate of fire: 8 rounds/minute (autoloader)
Ammunition: 45 rounds
Secondary armament
coaxial MG5 14.5 mm machine gun
commander’s station MG5 14.5 mm machine gun
gunner’s station light machine gun (7.62 mm)
2x4 smoke grenade launchers (2x canisters per launcher)

Thank you to Jeuna for letting me adapt his stat block!

[ Just a quick note: loader’s station light machine gun (7.62 mm) <-- I thought it used an autoloader? Also, most Western tanks (K2/K1A1, M1A2) can negotiate a slope of about 60% (34.4°)—ex (http://www.army-technology.com/projects/k1/images/k1_7.jpg). ]

OOC- You're right, I meant to put gunner's MG. And for slope, I meant for both grade and slop to be in percentages, I didn't even realize it was in degrees. I was used to seeing percentages for both so I saw what you had and didn't even register the degree symbol, and thought they were a little 'off'. Whoops. Thank you for bringing both to my attention.

OOC- Bump for any additional comments and criticism. Also, last call for anyone interested in investing in the Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division.

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Zanziim Military Industries
A Technological Future for the Zanziim Nation

It has come to the attention of myself and the boardmembers of ZmI that the Allis-Chalmers Corporation has run across some difficult and uncertain financial times. After consulting with each other on the status and potential of your Allis-Chalmers Defense Services division LARIAT Main Battle Tank Project, and your request for investors in your company, we have decided to offer a purchase by ZmI of as many shares as you wish to make available for our purchase.

For nearly a century, Zanziim Military Industries has been the largest and most powerful supplier of military armament in Zanziik. Emerging from state ownership while retaining a majority of the Zanziim military order has given ZmI a unique status as one of the most profitable capitalist corporations in the Emirates of Zanziik.

We have full confidence in the potential of the LARIAT Main Battle Tank Project, and would enjoy working with you to see it's fruition and it's use by the Zanziim Military.

Any questions or correspondence should be relayed to myself, Anthony James, CEO of Zanziim Military Industries. I look forward to a favorable reply.

[signed]
Anthony James, CEO
ZmI Board of Directors

(OOC: Bump in case you missed it...)

OOC- Meant to reply sooner...



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Mr. Anthony James,

Currently we are tendering offers from several corporate entities on entering a joint venture concering our division, the Defense Services Division of Allis-Chalmers Corporation. Our corporate executives, including both the President and Chief Executive Officer, and board of directors, however, would like more information concerning your business entity, Zanziim Military Industries. More specifically, as we are a defense-related division, they, and I, are interested in your products and services available as part of your own corporation. Under my supervision, Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division has become the largest defense-related corporation in Coorsota, and we are looking to continue this state of excellence after our joint venture with an eventual goal of becoming a defense services corporation known the world over for providing outstanding equipment and service.

Although we respect your interest in entering into a joint venture with Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division, it seems you are more interested in the Lariat MBT project and not the entirety of our division. If this is the case, we are more than willing to accept funding from ZMI to continue the Lariat MBT project. Doing so, your corporation may provide funding for the Lariat MBT and thus, when the project is completed, be available to receive a production license for the Lariat MBT proportional to the amount of financing. Zanziim Military Industries, then, would be allowed to provide consultation on the design in addition to receiving the production license. Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division and whomever our joint venture partner will be, however, will have the ultimate say on the Lariat MBT's final design.

We await further correspondence before the Allis-Chalmers leadership and Board of Directors make a final decision concerning our joint venture proposal and your potential interest in either being our joint venture partner or being a financing contributor to the Lariat MBT project.

Thank you,

Gary Vought
Vice President, Defense Services Division

Allis-Chalmers Corporation

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Zanziim Military Industries
A Technological Future for the Zanziim Nation

The fact that you have questions regarding the current business status of Zanziim Military Industries is disappointing, though not unexpected. ZmI is at present still unable to offer it's munitions (mainly infantry arms, though not entirely) globally due to such high demand in Zanziik alone. It is now our most predominant goal to expand into the global market.

We are the sole provider of infantry armaments to the Zanziim military. Our ARZmI-1 assault rifle is in use by over one million Zanziim soldiers deployed throughout the world, and has not only been acclaimed by front line infantry, but also complimented by ZmI's competing designers as an excellent assault weapon capable of holding it's own in the heat of battle. The ZmI monopoly of the Zanziim military order has not been unearned.

Our main interest in Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division is not, in fact, the LARIAT Main Battle Tank, that project is merely the current embodiment of our goals for the potential we see for your company. While we have no issues with financing the LARIAT directly, it is still our foremost intention to acquire as much of Allis-Chalmers Defense Services as possible, and the future of innovation and excellence that it embodies.

[signed]
Anthony James, CEO
ZmI Board of Directors

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From: M. Robert Wiatt, CEO, Sequoia Defence Systems Inc.
To: Bruce Walaker, President, Allis-Chalmers Corporation

Sequoia Defence Systems Inc. (“SDS”) has been observing closely the market’s reaction to the surprising announcement of the steep price drop experienced in Allis-Chalmers Corporation (“ALIS”) common stock over recent days.

The board of SDS feels with your current market position the creation of a joint venture between the Defence Services Division of Allis-Chalmers and our subsidiary Sequoia Automotive Systems (“SAS”) would be highly compelling from a strategic perspective due to synergies in products, customers and channels. SDS can offer financing and debt restructuring to assure the long term future of Allis-Chalmers and of projects such as the Lariat main battle tank.

Our proposal would involve an exchange of shares at an exchange ratio of 0.5 SAS shares per ALIS share to purchase the principal amount of Allis-Chalmers outstanding senior debt. Based on closing prices, our proposal represents a 25% premium over Allis-Chalmers current market price and a 5% premium based on Sequoia Automotive Systems average share price over the last 30 days. This exchange ratio would remain constant and will result in ALIS stockholders owning approximately 21% of joint common stock in SAS in return for a 49.9% stake in Allis-Chalmers.

As part of this deal SDS will agree to settle all of Allis-Chalmers outstanding senior debt with a yet-to-be-determined single cash payment to their creditors, and to provide it a US$500 million financial facility as working capitol for the joint venture. Under this agreement our subsidaries will incorporate a joint venture to be registed in Coorsova as Sequoia-Allis Defence Services and agree to unlimited licensing of any technology developed by this joint venture to both Allis-Chalmers Corp. and Sequoia Defence Systems Inc.

We believe that this proposal will be substantially more attractive to your stockholders than any other offer you may have recieved as it guarantees the full independence of Allis-Chalmers and its subsidaries and secures a long term future for the entire group.

The Board of SDS has unanimously approved this proposal and we have been authorized by the General-Secretariat of the Unitary Technocracy of Etoile Arcture to proceed. We look forward to meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss and negotiate our proposal in detail and to achieve prompt agreement. You can be assured that we will do everything in our power to see this transaction through to successful completion. We strongly prefer to consummate this transaction on a mutually satisfactory, negotiated basis.

Sincerely,
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Well, the mass should be about right, keep in mind a third of the block's internal volume is composed of the steel-polymer-rubber layers seperating the light ERA and heavy ERA. The trigger system for the outer ERA is after the initial ceramics so by then the ceramics will have been bypassed.


OOC: Ceramics are only mass efficient when they have a thick metal backing, normally steel. The backing is designed to keep ceramic plates intact, even when they fracture. Otherwise, the protection capabilities of any ceramic is going to go down. The fracture of the ceramic plate, cratering and spalling will most likely set-off the explosive reactive armor before the penetrator does.


The sequential light ERA detonations produce more and more for the HEAT jet or penetrator to cut through in addition to impacting their penetration characteristics.


ERA doesn't defeat a HEAT jet through an explosion, it defeats it through using a forward-flying steel plate to erode the jet (or break it). I'm not sure an explosive force will be successful in decreasing penetrator effiiciency.

OOC- I fudged my own description, and that's not actually what happens, sorry for the mistake. I realize conventional ERA defends against a HEAT jet by using the explosive's force to send both the face plate and the back plate into the jet.

The idea of the outside ceramic layer is just a buffer against multi-warhead shells and is designed to defend against the weaker (usually initial) warhead from detonating the ERA and the ceramic upon impact will most likely powderize or fracture out. What happens from there is actually when the HEAT jet or KE penetrator triggers the ERA, the first layer of that portion of the ERA will detonate and the explosives on the bottom will push the plate up (or roughly perpendicular to the jet/penetrator's line of travel). If the jet/penetrator penetrates that plate, the explosives on the second layer will push the second plate downward and so on. This serves to 'feed' the plate into the jet or penetrator from both top and bottom at different depths of penetration. This'll feed material into a HEAT jet eroding its effectiveness, and depending on the composition of a penetrator (especially the narrow diameter/long rods) potentially snap it or create some yaw, at least before it reaches the final ERA layers.

I hope this clears it up at least some.

I will post concerning the joint venture later, thank you to everyone interested.

EDIT: Also, minor update in the description. Changed to a different transmission, but forgot to put it in the general specs portion, added a communications system, modified the NBC protection system and added some crew comforts. As well as a few minor things here and there that I may have changed.

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Mr. M Robert Wiatt, CEO of Sequoia Defence Systems,

Allis-Chalmers Corporation has received numerous tenders in relation to our interest on selling roughly half of our stock in Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division. The Board of Directors, myself, and other company executives including those within the Defense Services Division, have reviewed these offers and decided that the offer from Sequoia Defence Systems Incorporated best fulfills our company’s goals and satisfies the needs of our share-holders. Subsequently, the Board of Directors at Allis-Chalmers Corporation has unanimously approved your offer to exchange roughly 21% of Sequoia Automotive Systems stock for 49.9% of all shares for the Defense Services Division at Allis-Chalmers in addition to settling our debt requirements and providing $500 million in working capital towards the joint venture.

Under the terms of this agreement and pending final approval by the Republic of Coorsota’s Department of Commerce and related tax and registration entities, Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division will be transferred to a business entity named Sequoia-Allis Defense Services administered jointly by Allis-Chalmers Corporation and Sequoia Defence Systems.

Allis-Chalmers Corporation, its subsidiaries, and personnel, I included, look forward to our cooperation in regards to Sequoia-Allis Defense Services. Furthermore, I look forward to future correspondence on this joint venture and meeting with you and your management personnel in person at a later date.

Best regards,

Bruce Walaker
President


Allis-Chalmers Corporation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sequoia Defence Systems Inc. (http://www.nationstates.net/-1/page=display_nation/nation=etoile_arcture)

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Sequoia Defence Systems Inc. and Allis-Chalmers Corp. to Form Joint Venture

HARMONY CITY, E.A. (AP) - Sequoia Automotive Systems LLC (“SAS”), a subsidiary of Sequoia Defence Systems Inc. (”SDS”) of Etoile Arcture, and the Defence Services Division of Allis-Chalmers Corporation (“ALIS”) of Coorsota today announced their intention to form a joint venture company.

The proposed name of the joint venture is to be Sequoia-Allis Defence Services and it will be headquartered at Allis-Chalmers existing manufacturing center in Coorsota. Finalization of the agreement is pending approval by the Republic of Coorsota’s Department of Commerce. Completion is expected to occur in late December 2007.

Under the terms of the agreement SDS and ALIS have agreed a debt-for-equity stock swap resulting in SDS acquiring a 49.9 per cent economic stake in the venture, which sees Allis-Chalmers shareholders recieving a 21 per cent stake in SAS. SDS has agreed to pay all outstanding debt of the Allis-Chalmers group and invest US$500 million in the joint venture to continue work on such projects such as the Lariat main battle tank. The new venture will not impact the employment of Allis-Chalmers staff.

Chief Executive Officer of Sequoia Defence Systems M. Robert Waitt said: "We have a terrific partner in Allis-Chalmers, and a great respect for the engineering and technological maturity of their solutions and products. Together we have the know-how to build and expand the strength of both our core businesses to meet the challenges and opportunities provided by the growing global arms market. We are looking forward to working with Allis-Chalmers to build Sequoia-Allis Defence Services into a leading player in the global defence market.”

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Promotional Image Provided by Sequoia-Allis Defense Systems; Image Depicts Potential Upgrades to Current or Future Versions of Lariat MBT



OOC- Above image depicts the potential changes I may make concerning the initial version of the Lariat MBT or, if I decide to wait, a future modification of the Lariat MBT, perhaps a "Lariat 1A1" (with other modifications that I have envisioned). It depicts a possible up-gunning of the coaxial weapon to either a 20mm or 30mm autocannon as well as the standard implementation of a remote weopon station at the commander's weapon position. The 'dome' on top of the remote weapon station houses a portion of the active defense system, and is placed there to increase the distance that the active defense system can engage a hostile threat from the tank itself (as opposed to it sitting on the turret roof, adding almost a full meter of distance depending on the projectile's path; this could make a huge difference if the weapon is a top-attack munition or an ATGM with a high ballistic path). This allows the remote weapon station to function as a 'sort-of' close in weapon system and the entire RWS can move in tandem with the defense system to engage a hostile threat as well as the launch point (such as an ATGM crew). The radar for the defense system is housed in the assembly as well along with another thermal imager and other electro-optical equipment (including a rangefinder and designator) to give day/night engagement oppurtunity for the commander. Perhaps I could do away with the commander's independent viewer, although the redundancy is probably useful.

The current version of the tank, regardless to whether I incorporate the above features, is fully capable of housing a remote weapon station, but it does not come standard with the tank and can be added after delivery by the recipient nation.

Otherwise, I'm looking for some additional criticism of the design;the writeup f,or anyone interested, is on the previous page. This will soon be available for sale.

Etoile Arcture, perhaps you could send me a TG, or just post here, on what you would like me to consider whether it is design-wise (such as technical input or advice) or export/sale-wise. I'm looking forward to your input and any ideas you have concerning anything about this tank, its export, as well as any future projects you would like to undertake.

OOC: Are you a newbie or an old-timer? Because this design is top-notch compared to nearly every newbie design and is pretty decent compared to even veteran designs.

OOC- Previous to this I was Western Motors, and designed a few small items such as a logistics truck (M5 and M6 Aparejo), a sports car (Wildfire WST or Wildfire Sport Turbine, kind of off-the-wall), and a personal defense weapon (M7). And even prior to that I dabbled in alot of this stuff and designing. I've always been interested in tanks and this tank started not long after I neglected my account on NS and it happened to die, I didn't exactly want to carry over using my previous account so I made a new one (Coorsota is more country-like than WMC was and now WMC happens to be an automotive/defense company in Coorsota). I basically started designing the Lariat and looking at ideas and concepts then. My primary sources of inspiration were from the tanks I had purchased (the excellent MCA-7C from Dostunuot Loj with the main gun and electronics from the Nakil MBT sold by the Macabees) and then tried to find ways I could best adapt them to what I felt I needed as an MBT.

Unfortunately, I lack some of the more in-depth technological knowledge to incoporate such advanced features, specifically the main gun armament on the Nakil (and I would not dare copy it or any other system found on any of the two tanks I sought inspiration from), as well as the IC ability to produce them. So far I'm happy with the result, I have put quite a bit of time and effort into this and I'm glad that people have noticed and are willing to offer insight, as it is always needed in my case. I hope to continue to upgrade this tank until its served its useful life, and, depending on how long that takes and whether I'm still around and have the zest within me to do so, may make another one.

But thank you for the comment, I truly appreciate it.

OOC- I suppose one more bump for any additional criticism.

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Internal Memorandum

Distribution: Sequoia-Allis Defence Services
Subject: Development of Lariat Main Battle Tank

Following the establishment of the Allis-Chalmers Joint Venture the Defence Directorate has issued Operational Requirement 939A (OR 939A) to investigate options regarding the procurement of the Allis-Chalmers Lariat main battle tank for service with the Etoile Arcture Defence Forces (EADF).

Budget overruns and schedules slippages within the M35A2 Cataphract main battle tank program has created a gap in capability between the retirement of the current M35A1 Cataphract fleet and introduction of the next-generation M35A2. A projected shortfall of 3,000 hulls over the next 48 months has been predicted. Correctie options include increasing production of the M34A3 Cataphract Assault Tank (CAT), keeping a proportion of M35A1 hulls in service, or procuring a foreign main battle tank in the interim.

The Defence Directorate have determined that the CAT lacks the endurance and firepower of a main battle tank and would be ill-suited if pressed into this role. The M35A1 design is over a decade old and must urgently be replaced to keep ahead of threat force capability. The Defence Directorate has therefore agreed to purchase in part or in whole the Lariat main battle tank to meet the expected short fall. The Lariat will see service with the Ground Forces where it will be deployed exclusively for homeland defence, allowing the M35A2 Cataphract to be released to the Expeditionary Forces as it becomes available.

The Lariat main battle tank has been evaluated by Seqioua Automtive Systems (SAS) as possessing excellent qualities in mobility, survivability and growth potential. Allis-Chalmers have already proposed a 1A1 upgrade to the basic Lariat hull that incorporates a remote weapon station and improved active protection system, but the design does not meet the full OR 939A specification. SAS, working with Allis-Chalmers engineers, have proposed a further upgrade of the Lariat hull to meet OR 939A. This 1A2 upgrade will see employment of a new hybrid-electric integrated power pack, new electro-thermal chemical main gun, new fire control and fourth-generation sensors and two remote weapon stations, in addition to the existing active protection system. The coaxial 20 mm autocannon and analogue fire control system of the 1A1 will be deleted on the 1A2. The Vaquero ERA will not be purchased on either baseline design.

SAS have proposed purchasing of Lariat main battle tank in three tranches. The first tranche will be of 1A1 hulls (type classified M22A1 Lariat) directly from Allis-Chalmers in Coorsota with the work to outfit new weapons and electronics performed by SAS and Seqioua Electrodynamics in Etoile Arcture. Based on experienced gained the remaining two tranches of 1A2 hulls (type classified M22A2 Lariat) will be manufactured in Etoile Arcture using parts supplied by Allis-Chalmers. To contain costs SAS have advised no changes be made to the Lariat 1A1/1A2 hull, turret and armour scheme, and retention of the armanent and fire control of the Lariat 1A1 with an option for upgrade to 1A2 standard. To qualify for the OR 939A specification the final M22A2 Lariat configuration will feature:

Mobility: a signficiant upgrade to a underframe decoupled suspension instead of swing arms attached to the side frame, and a new hybrid-electric integrated power pack and electric transmission system based around a 1,500 hp diesel-electric prime power unit with integrated direct-drive permanent magnet brushless alternator, solid-state DC-DC step transformer and 286 kW battery pack.

Fire Control: Multisensor Target Acqusition Suite combining electro-optics, lidar and millimeter wave radar and fourth-generation hyperspectral weapon sights, with software aide target tracking, recognition and firing solution computing.

Electronics: JTRS Cluster 1 communication suite fitted.

Lethality: all electric turret controls, solid propellant main gun replaced by the XM451, 120 mm, 55 calibre, electro-thermal chemical main gun and 400 kJ pulse forming network armanent package. Two turret roof remote weapon stations mounting M3M .50 cal machine gun and MK 47 Striker 40 mm automatic grenade launchers.

Survivability: networked threat warners and countermeasures, replacment of SS/CQ-10A countermeasures launches with expendable countermeasure (EXCM) launchers. Non-Energetic Reactive Armour (NERA) modules fitted to the glacis and sides for enhanced protection from HEAT rounds. The CQ-29 mast-deployed active protection system will be retained across both versions.

Situational awareness: peripheral vision system equipping both 1A1 and 1A2 hulls, bistatic sensor sharing over JTRS suite

Crew stations: duplicate fixed hull stations with visual-audio cues and direct voice inpout (DVI) for all crew and networked over a MIL-STD-1553B databus allowing any crewmember to take over driving, fire control or gunnery tasks.

Additionally, Seqioua Defence Systems have reported that their link-up with Allis-Chalmers has provided additional expertise and know how that will benefit M35A2 Cataphract program. The CQ-29 active protection system will almost certainly be purchased to equip the M34 and M35 vehicles, and Allis-Chalmers will also provide technical assistance to the SPH-158 program. Negotiations have also begun with Western Motors for joint development of an Advanced Supersonic Component Engine as the next generation integrated power pack for future armoured fighting vehicles.

The Lariat Main Battle Tank is ready for export, but I need one final piece of help, pricing.

I'm thinking about $7 or $8 million. Someone who has a better grasp on pricing a main battle tank, though, is free to advise whether this is about right, too much, or too little. Thank you.

The Lariat Main Battle Tank is ready for export, but I need one final piece of help, pricing.

I'm thinking about $7 or $8 million. Someone who has a better grasp on pricing a main battle tank, though, is free to advise whether this is about right, too much, or too little. Thank you.

OOC: The better the electronics, the higher the price. The largest portion of modern tank cost is in the electronics and software systems.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sequoia Defence Systems Inc. (http://www.nationstates.net/-1/page=display_nation/nation=etoile_arcture)

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Lariat 1A2 Main Battle Tank completes development

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(A prototype M22A2 Jackal (Lariat 1A2) shown in Warm/Temperate camouflage)

HARMONY CITY, E.A. (AP) - Sequoia-Allis Defence Services LLC, a joint venture of Sequoia Defence Systems Inc. of Etoile Arcture and the Allis-Chalmers Corporation of Coorsota, has completed development and testing of the Lariat 1A1 and 1A2 main battle tanks.

The Allis-Chalmers Lariat 1A2, type classified the M22A2 in Etoilian service and known by tankers as the Jackal, will become the cornerstone of the Ground Force armour fleet. A total buy of 14,500 tanks is expected to be announced shortly by the Office of the Defence Directorate to equip all Manoeuvre Brigades and Armour Battlegroups of the Ground Forces.

The hull and automotive parts of the M22A2 Jackal are based on Allis-Chalmers Lariat 1A1 tank, furnished with an armanent package, fire control and countermeasure suite supplied by Sequoia Electrodynamics. The CQ-29 active protection system developed by Allis-Chalmers will be licensed for use on the M22A2 Jackal.

Under a revised production agreement with Allis-Chalmers, Sequoia Defence Systems have ordered the Lariat 1A1 and M22A2 Jackal in three tranches totalling up to 3,000 tanks. These will include a first tranche of 300 Lariat 1A1 tanks built in Coorsota with the option of conversion to M22A2 Jackal standard at a later date. A further 2,700 tanks, built to the M22A2 (Lariat 1A2) standard, will be ordered in two further tranches. The hull and turret of the M22A2 is to be manufactured in Coorsota by Allis-Chalmers, with final assembly and system integration performed by Sequoia Automotive Systems in Etoile Arcture. It is believed full production will then move to Etoile Arcture, and could total as many as 11,500 tanks, with work split between Sequoia Automotive Systems factories and the Marine and Heavy Tool Works division of Sequoia Defence Systems.

The Lariat 1A2 will not be made available for sale on the open market, but Allis-Chalmers have an agreement as part of their joint venture with Sequoia Defence Systems to export the Lariat 1 and Lariat 1A1 tank. It is expected that the average unit acquisition cost of the Lariat 1A1 will be in the region of US$7-8 million.

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OOC- The Lariat 1A1 MBT is nearing completion, with the top pic being a sort of promotional pic and is updated with additional details and a longer main gun. The tank itself is 'Easy, Girl' and is a squadron-mate of the previous tank I've drawn up. I've ran out of time lately (sorry for not entering that RP yet, Russkya!) and so I don't know when things'll get done but, I figured I'd make my bump for tonight in this thread as I never really put a link to the export/sales thread in here for anyone who hadn't seen the export/sales thread. So that button, below, links to the export thread if you're interested in buying the Lariat MBT.


http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8539/lariat1a1mbttabusetl6.png (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=546634)

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Lariat 1A1 Main Battle Tank


Introduction

The M8 Lariat 1A1 Main Battle Tank, or simply Lariat 1A1, is a development of the original Lariat MBT and incorporates several new features and modifications including an entirely new autoloader, remote weapon station, coaxial weapon, fire control computer updates, etc. The Lariat MBT project was started under Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division, a division of Allis-Chalmers Corporation, and transferred to Sequoia-Allis Defense Services, a joint venture between that division and the Sequoia Automotive Systems subsidiary of Sequoia Defense Systems Inc.

The M8 Lariat MBT project is intended to be a continuous development project focused on continually improving the Lariat MBT through progressive upgrades designed through user experience and feedback, technological development, and prototype testing. All future upgrades are intended to be readily adaptable to the current M8 Lariat MBT frame.


Armament Sub System

Main Gun
Allis-Chalmers Defense Systems Division (now Sequoia-Allis Defense Services) received invaluable experience and knowledge in armament system design and use when it undertook the project to switch out the MCA-7C’s standard gun armament with the AGS 250.A electro-thermal chemical gun purchased from Kriegzimmer. The ETC weapon, the only one of its type in Coorsota, provided invaluable insight into armament design and led Allis-Chalmers to begin developing its own ETC-style weapon. Unfortunately progress on the design stalled as Allis-Chalmers realized it didn't have the technical background or experience required to produce efficient models of ETC-style armaments. The project was put on hold as a potential future upgrade for the Lariat MBT and all progress was instead turned to a conventional smoothbore main gun. Eventually the 120mm G120EGS1 high-pressure breech smoothbore gun was developed, and fielded. The G120EGS1 in its base format for the Lariat 1A1 is 55 calibers in length; compared to the original Lariat’s L/45 main gun, and allows for additional gains in terms of accuracy and round velocity. The gun, when fired, operates on a long-recoil principle reducing the total felt recoil energy on the tank. The entire turret is electrically rotated, resulting in reduced heat and a reduction in volume from hydraulic systems. As will be mentioned later, manual turret traverse and gun elevation are available.

Ammunition
The primary ammunition for the G120EGS1 main gun is the domestically produced Type 19A armored piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot and Type 08D high explosive anti-tank multi-purpose round. Additional types of ammunition are available and can be stored. The Type 19A APFSDS anti-tank round is the standard kinetic energy projectile of the Ground Defense Force and fires a rippled depleted uranium projectile weighing 10.0 kg (penetrator weighs only 5.1 kg) from the barrel at a velocity of about 1,650 m/s (using the standard G120EGS1 barrel). The rippled designed lessens drag, allows for some flex in the design (with a ‘softer’ metal at the thinnest portions bonded by a polymer sandwich), and reduces the effectiveness of certain ERA types. Due to advances in propellant design, and using the extended barrel, the Type 19A can reach out to almost 4,000m. The Type 19A’s HEAT-MP counterpart, the Type 08D fires an 11.5 kg projectile at about 1,400 m/s to achieve an effective range of almost 4,500 m. The Type 08D’s warhead is sub-caliber with a discarding sabot and fragmenting outer jacket and is also capable of multiple fuzing options, including airburst. An additional ammunition option is the M40A1 barrel-fired anti-tank guided missile. The M40A1 is designed to be fired from the Lariat MBT’s main gun and utilizes a semi-active laser homing system. The missile is guided by laser – provided by either the tank or another platform (another tank, helicopter, UAV) and is capable of multiple engagement options. The top-attack option allows the tandem-warhead missile to angle up before descending on its target and during its terminal phase the guidance portion of the warhead (used to detect the laser radiation) is ejected off towards the target. This is designed to trigger an opponent’s active defense system, if equipped, and allow the twin warheads to strike the vulnerable upper armor of the tank. It’s effective range is about 12 km.

Autoloader
The Lariat 1A1 uses an entirely new autoloader design compared to the previous S120GAL0 bustle-type linear ramming-action autoloader. In its place is the S121GAL1, or Sigleuir 1VXB by trade-name, drop-shelf type bustle linear ramming-action autoloader. The S121GAL1, sometimes affectionately referred to as ‘Panzervergewaltigen Faustladevorrichtung’, is a fast action bustle-based 42 round ramming action autoloader.

The 1VXB Autoloader was engineered at the Sigleuir Prototyping and Experimental Design Division Facility as a fast action, high reliability, and relatively inexpensive autoloader design contracted by Coorsota's Ground Defense Forces for the M8 Lariat 1A1 MBT. It is a 120mm autoloader design based off the IPR-201's Drop-Shelf Type Bustle Linear Ramming-Action Autoloader, but optimized for the production budget of the Republic of Coorsota's M8 Lariat 1A1 MBT. In 9 days, a working prototype design was tested in a mockup turret rig, consisting of a turret ring stand with an electrical power supply adapted to it, a turret with many internal similarities to the M8 Lariat 1A1 MBT, and with a supplies of simulated shells that would be then loaded into the breech that would drop them into a small collection basket. The turret test bed was created to prevent design conflicts between the actual tank and autoloader integrations, often found in many forms of "cut and paste" jobs, where components are "dropped" onto a tank, then "stapled" to it, with minimal care to conflicts that occur from the physical level to the ergonomic level. In the end, very few revisions were made, specifically noting that the autoloader indicator system was integrated to the tank's viewfinders, and the autoloader ammo tracking system had its own LCD added. In addition, the gunner and commander's multifunction displays are integrated with the ammo management end of the autoloader.

When the gunner or commander, with priority to whoever has ammo selection, presses the selected type of round, the autoloader will proceed to start into cycle one (for estimated time of cycles and operations, see below), where the system will proceed to test its components to ensure the proper operation by operating parameters, then proceeds to move the round selected from the six "shelves" to the ramp, which will adjust its height to allow for this, then locks it into place, waiting on the blast door and external ramp. Cycle two is primarily on the process of the ramp extension and ramp tilt. After this the autoloader will proceed to move to cycle three where the round within its armored box will be pushed outwards from the bustle toward the first ramp where it locks into place while the round is inserted into the gun; this will then proceed to allow the ramp extension mechanism to release the latching mechanism of the armored box to be released, so that the box can collapse as the rammer proceeds to retract. On cycle four, as the rammer and ramp retract the box is dropped and the gun is unlocked to be prepared into firing, waiting for the ramp to fully retract to prevent collision during recoiling from firing. The autoloader completes these cycles in about 1.8 seconds, with 2 seconds being the longest wait based on the capacitor charge. The capacitor has the capability to operate the rammer up to three times before having to be fully recharged from zero. An addition to the autoloader is the capablity to operate it rapidly in manual mode, where the gunner would be able to operate the autoloader through selecting the cycle one by lever, and then rotating the hand crank system which is linked to a mechanically automatic gearbox which also can be selected to a 1 to 2 fixed gear as a backup. The gunner would then advanced through the cycles in 6 seconds, going from cycle one to two and then having the ramp and rammer starting to retract in cycles three to four. This system allows for fast, efficient loading operation. The ammo selection is handled, however, by using a second hidden panel, which is opened, where L1-3 and R1-3 is marked, with a lever pointing to each letter-number combination indicating the shelf selected. A rotating hand crank is then used on that side to push the round in, causing the rotating indicator to go from the red to the green on the cycle crank.

The autoloading system can be loaded from internally in the tank, where the round is inserted through the same blast door in its armored container, and then the autoloader will automatically read the round type by the indentations on the shell rim. The autoloader will then proceed to raise the ramp to the right level and insert it to the proper shelf. The manual operation can be done as well through using the selection crank, and sliding the bottom switch from "Load Gun" to "Load Autoloader", and then rotating the hand crank to move the ramp into the proper shelf height and moving the round into the shelf before locking the internal blast door and ramp into the normal position again; the same green-red indicator used on the manual operation of the autoloader is used to confirm if the cycle is completed. External loading is completed by unlocking the external hatch from the inside, then pulling it outwards from the rear center of the bustle. After this, an internal hatch will be revealed, which can be pulled open by grasping the handle and pulling upwards, which will reveal the inside of the autoloader ramp from the top. Rounds are inserted from the rear, within their armored boxes to load to the autoloader, the same manual process can be completed or the automatic process. The ammo management computer can be used to specifically pick which "shelf" the round type will belong to.

The autoloader has full venting paths through the sides, if any form of penetration should happen, combined with the fact of individually armored ammo boxes that prevent ammunition fratricide. The autoloader itself is armored to prevent up to 35mm autocannon penetration, combined with the bustle armor that the tank already has. Combined with internal mounting points for 18 Halon bottles (3 bottles per shelf, which can be manually fired, or automatically fired as separate bottles or as a group), as well as blast door separation. The autoloader has great fire fighting capablity, and if that were to fail, the venting paths also prevent each "shelf" from going up, minimizing ammunition fratricide to a maximum of seven shells per shelf level combustion. Not only does the autoloader have crew separation to ammunition while autoloading, it has its own self contained NBC system with air conditioning to ensure that no matter what form of penetration entering the autoloader, no entry into the fighting compartment can occur.

Each round is within a collapsible box with 1CM thickness on all sides for 150mm diameter (shell diameter, not actual round diameter) by 1,000mm long rounds. With complete immunity to small arms fire and extreme resistance to .50 anti IFV/APC and anti-air fire, followed by moderate resistance to 25mm AP-I or HE-T rounds. The armored box also has venting paths to prevent ignition fratricide, combined with its natural heat resistance shielding the round. The box its self can be collapsed into flattened parts after removing the retaining latches, similar to cardboard boxes; this is combined with the tank's autoloader where it automatically handles the storage of the empty boxes, which can be reused. Autoloader capacity of forty-two rounds determined by: three stacked levels in height (three ‘shelves’), two sides (left and right with center being occupied by ramming system occupying 200mm), and seven rounds per side of each shelf.

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Secondary Armament
In addition to the tank’s main gun, the Lariat MBT carries a coaxial G25AGS2 25mm autocannon and 1500 rounds of ammunition as standard equipment. This was possible after some internal modifications were made, mostly resulting from the use of a new autoloader and other internal features which freed up additional space. The upgraded gunnery allows the tank to better engage IFVs, APCs, and other targets without utilizing its main gun ammunition and which may be out of range of a conventional 14.5mm machine gun.

The commander’s position in the Lariat 1A1 upgrade comes standard with the A141RGS1 Commander’s Remote Weapon Station. The A141RGS1, better known as ‘the Rifleman’ (for the remote weapon stations’ designation’s {A141RGS1} supposed resemblance to Adrian Riggs’ name, a popular Coorsotan film star who played ‘the Rifleman’), is a large multiple-weapon capable remote weapon station that serves not only to give the commander an independent ability to engage targets from within the tank but also serves as his ‘heavy’ independent viewer. It was designed to be an ‘add-on’ feature and not require extensive modification of the turret or interior of the tank. To this end, the Rifleman RWS requires little modification of the Lariat 1A1 turret and most of its components are mounted exterior to the armor. The Rifleman remote weapon station provides all the same electronics system as the TS/EQ-31A Commander’s Independent Viewer only in a larger, more rugged format. This includes the commander’s laser rangefinder/designator, thermal imager, and day/night optics. In this situation, the Rifleman has largely replaced the TS/EQ-31A for the commander’s purposes; however, the TS/EQ-31A is retained as a back-up and to give the gunner an auxiliary imaging system in place of his primary sights and backup systems. Besides this, the A141RGS1 has the ability to mount several types of weapons from the MG4 light machine gun all the way to the G20AGS2 20mm autocannon (requires modification), however the MG5 14.5mm heavy machine gun is mounted as standard fare for the Lariat 1A1 and fulfills its purpose well as an anti-personnel, anti-helicopter, and anti-light vehicle tool. This lethality can be expanded on by adapting the Rifleman RWS with an ATGM launching system. This pack, armored up to light machine gun ammunition, carries two anti-tank (or anti-aircraft provided they are small enough) missiles in a shuttered, ready-to-fire pack, giving the Lariat 1A1 the ability to engage tanks at extended ranges, although the gun-launched ATGM is already capable of this. Light anti-aircraft missiles are also capable of being utilized with this system and are often found useful scattered in deployed Lariat 1A1s, creating a hazardous environment for opposing aerial assets.

An interesting addition to the Rifleman remote weapon station is a portion of the CQ-29 active defense system, particularly, the grenade launcher systems and part of the millimeter wave radar component. Among the benefits of this arrangement: the engagement distance is increased by around a meter, the whole Rifleman RWS can be used as a sort of close-in defense system and not only engaging the threatening warhead/missile but also engaging the launch point of that threat. Ammunition for the remote weapon station, depending on the type of the weapon, is fed from within the tank and can be reloaded from within the tank provided that a new belt is attached before the old belt has left the interior of the tank (often, the crew will link two or more belts immediately to save them from having to do this after firing only ten or fifteen rounds).

The final weapons system is the gunner’s weapon mount which can be fitted to use a light machine gun.


Defense

Armor
The armor scheme of the Lariat Main Battle Tank was developed from materials, ideas, and examples provided by the Advanced Materials Education Coalition (AMEC) of Larange State University and the Knife Point Technical Institute. Allis-Chalmers contacted AMEC in regards to the educational consortium researching and developing advanced materials intended for use in armor of a main battle tank. Larange State University, being a state university, opted not to participate in the research phase but did allow the use of previously researched materials and techniques to be used by the research group from Knife Point. The Knife Point AMEC developed the “Cuera” armor scheme for use in the Lariat MBT and subsequent variants. The Cuera armor system is composed or largely common materials arranged in a specific format which provides a startling amount of protection for the thickness and weight of armor but without inducing exorbitant costs for exotic materials. To this end, the Cuera armor layout is as effective, or more, than most expensive, composites-augmented armors. The Cuera armor scheme is composed of the following layers, beginning with the outermost layer for the turret face and glacis:

Primary Armor (600mm real thickness; Spacing through out the design results in a real thickness between 650-700mm)
• 150mm high hardness monoplate steel
• 20mm rubber plate
• 10mm plastic plate
• 20mm rubber plate
• 100mm section of steel plates of 20mm thickness at 45 degree angle standoff from each other at 20mm with reactive polymer that quickly solidifies from HEAT or pressure
• 50mm depleted uranium
• 50mm hard monoplate steel
• 50mm rubber
• 50mm hard monoplate steel
• 50mm soft monoplate steel
• 10mm hard monoplate steel
• 10mm soft monoplate steel
• 30 mm rubber

The varying thickness and density (either soft or hard) steel plates induces yaw into a penetrating KE projectile, potentially even shattering it. The turret face armor is angled at 30 degrees from the vertical and 12 degrees from the horizontal. Turret side armor is angled at about ten degrees from the vertical.

Following this is the 100mm spall liner, composed of densely packed fibers within a rubber enclosure within a plastic box. The face of this box towards the armor side is 5mm steel and rubber plates for 50mm. In addition, all interior metal surfaces are first covered in a plastic panel then painted with a rubber-like non-slip paint surface.

Armor on the turret sides is effectively similar only slightly reduced thicknesses and reduced spacing. Armor on the back of the turret and hull is reduced by removing the 100mm section of angled steel plates and the 50mm soft/hard monoplate sections (400mm). Roof armor is between 150-250mm real thickness using a similar construction scheme. Most of the exterior armor is coated in a non-slip layer.


Vaquero ERA
The Vaquero ERA system was designed using data from the Advanced Materials Education Coalition, Allis-Chalmers Defense Services Division, and independent labs and entities across Coorsota and abroad. The Lariat MBT’s optional explosive reactive armor was designed to combat most munitions encountered on the battlefield today and originally intended to be equal to most available types of explosive reactive armor. ERA research in Coorsota started with the arrival of the MCA-7C Timber Wolf MBT in order to develop a possible ERA package for the tank. Progress was slow however but produced a working, if basic, ERA system. Allis-Chalmers, with federal aid, funded several additional research and development programs at universities (explosives research) and private labs (ERA design and implementation) to eventually produce the precursor to the Vaquero ERA. With the initialization of the Lariat MBT program, design was halted on fitting the ERA to the MCA-7C and it was instead brought back to the research and development phase with the intent to modify and fit it to the Lariat main battle tank. This project resulted in the Vaquero ERA system. The Vaquero ERA is a layered system composed of the following layers besides an initial ceramic outer layer (to defend against the initial warhead of a tandem-warhead weapon) and a steel/ceramic backing:
• Layer 1: Trigger in very front, plate behind, and explosive below, which alternates for the second plate, inverts again for the third plate, and again for the fourth plate. When a HEAT jet or KE penetrator triggers the ERA, the first layer of that portion of the ERA will detonate and the explosives on the bottom will push the plate up (or roughly perpendicular to the jet/penetrator's line of travel). If the jet/penetrator penetrates that plate, the explosives on the second layer will push the second plate downward and so on. This serves to 'feed' the plate into the jet or penetrator from both top and bottom at different depths of penetration. This'll feed material into a HEAT jet eroding its effectiveness, and depending on the composition of a penetrator (especially the narrow diameter/long rods) potentially snap it or create some yaw, at least before it reaches the final ERA layers.
• Layer 2: This is a thinner rubber-polymer-steel layering which induces yawing in KE projectiles and further impacts a HEAT jet.
• Layer 3: This is the heavy ERA component of the Vaquero ERA system and is designed to specifically eliminate the KE threat by using shaped charges to induce more yawing in addition to dismembering the penetrator. Heavy blast layering behind this is formed in a way so that if triggered, it will likely crush any remnants with its faceplates and explosive pressure.

The entire system is encased in resin.

Countermeasures
The Lariat MBT was originally designed to carry only a basic set of countermeasures, mainly grenade launchers (to launch smoke grenades, aerosol canisters, or chaff) and a smoke generator. However, as development wore on, additional features were researched and available for the initial production model. Allis-Chalmers engineers took the next step and combined all the countermeasures features into a single unit to ensure the survival of the tank against a wide assortment of threats. The basis of the SS/CQ-10A combined active/passive countermeasures system is the smoke generator found near the diesel engine and grenade launchers (8x with 2 canisters per launcher; can fire chaff, aerosol, or smoke). These are capable of operating independently under crew control or with the SS/CQ-10A system. Beyond this is the component CQ-29 mast-deployed active protection system and is designed to combat most missile threats. The CQ-29 is not a single system but is rather both active and passive and utilizes soft-kill measures to assist its core hard-kill system. Threats are located using a passive thermal imager as well as an active radar system, and these can operate with the tank’s primary systems. Using infrared jammers, electronic interference, chaff/smoke/aerosol launchers, smoke generator, or decoys, the CQ-29 will attempt to ‘soft-kill’ the threat, if this is unsuccessful in completely eliminating the threat, the CQ-29 will resort to its hard-kill system. When this determination is made, the CQ-29 will shutter the primary optics (the primary forward looking infrared, RWS, and the commander’s primary thermal imager; leaving backup imagers and optics) and the hard-kill system is activated and fires explosive packets at the incoming target.

The third system is simply a threat warning system designed to allow the crew to rapidly engage an ATGM crew, and if configured to do so, will automatically align the RWS to the ATGM launch point and allow the commander or gunner to engage the target.


Fire Control

The Lariat MBT’s fire control system is composed of a number of systems which operate in unison to provide the crew with an unobstructed battlefield view and maintain their awareness of their surroundings. In addition to the optical periscopes positioned around his egress hatch, the commander is given an independent periscope with an LCD information overlay (TS/PQ-12A) and independent thermal viewer TS/EQ-31A. The two systems provide 360 degree target identification while the thermal viewer is enhanced with a day/night camera for higher-resolution non-thermal imaging and identification as well as a commander’s independent laser rangefinder and designator. Output from the TS/EQ-31A is displayed on a multifunction LCD monitor in a stabilized mount, and can appear on the LCD optronics overlay on the TS/PQ-12A. The TS/EQ-31A’s output can also be transferred to the gunner, allowing the gunner access to the same field of view of the commander (and vice versa).

The gunner’s station is fitted with an FC/TQ-7A1 dual magnification stabilized primary sight. The FC/TQ-7A1 has an integral laser rangefinder and is mated to an Allis-Chalmers OsprEye forward-looking infrared imager (with a smaller, lower resolution backup imbedded in the turret on the other side of the main gun). The laser rangefinder is a Neodinium Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) solid state laser and can provide up to five range values in three seconds. Augmenting this is an electro-optical rangefinder which uses a camera to focus in on its target. To focus, the lenses are moved apart and once the tank is in focus, the range is determined by taking a value associated with the distance the two lenses are apart and using that to derive the range to target in 5m increments. This allows the tank to find the range of an enemy tank while emitting no laser radiation (and tripping a laser warning receiver) and is particularly useful in the first engagement. The range data from both systems is transmitted to the fire control system via fiber optic link and is used to calculate firing algorithms. The gunner, and commander, both have access to the laser rangefinder. The commander’s rangefinder also serves as a laser designator with a variable power setting. Maximum laser range is ~12km.

The final system is the ES/WQ-1B Common Warning Receiver. The ES/WQ-1B is composed of several RADAR and laser warning receivers located around the vehicle to provide full awareness. Four imagers are located on the sides of the turret with two looking forward and two looking aft, each covering a 90 degree arc, and are designed as a higher resolution laser warning receiver, capable of lending information to the fire control system to engage targets employing an active LADAR system.

Updated with the Lariat 1A1 upgrade package, the CS/TQ-3A is the system that ties all the imaging systems together and produces a fire control solution for the main gun. The system directly controls the main gun and provides fire-on-the-move, stabilized operation with high accuracy and efficiency. The CS/TQ-3A is capable of being locked onto a target to maintain a continuous fire control solution. A queuing system is available to the commander to designate and queue targets for the gunner, allowing up to ten simultaneous targets to be queued and tracked. The system operates using a single hard-drive hard storage system in a shock absorbent casing but actively uses only solid state memory devices during actual operation; this prevents hard maneuvers, hits, and roughness from damaging the tank’s memory. When the tank is shut down, the solid state memory transfers to the hard drive until the vehicle is started. Both forms of memory, solid-state and hard-disk, are capable of being upgraded to any size necessary to carry out all the functions required by the crew and fire control system. Finally, all crewmembers are given at least one multifunction LCD display. All electronics are shock and jolt stabilized.

In addition to the actual imaging and fire control systems, the CS/TQ-3A carries several other features to assist in the tank’s operation. The fire control system of the Lariat 1A1 MBT maintains a standing record of the current lifetime of the barrel and how many rounds have been fired through it. When the breech is opened and the shell has been extracted, a small laser measures the interior barrel diameter and its change from the previous scan. The fire control system then uses this data, in addition to a stored barrel wear spreadsheet (with expected wear values), to compensate the fire control solution for barrel wear. Finally, the fire control system computes and accounts for air temperature, humidity, target velocity/direction, tank velocity/direction, wind velocity (using a cross wind sensor), barrel temperature, and other factors in its fire solution. Besides updated bussing systems, computer components, etc. the Lariat 1A1’s CS/TQ-3A includes a new system designed to allow the tank to better engage known threats. Using the tank’s upgraded solid state and hard-storage systems, the Lariat 1A1 now has the ability to store target information, specifically thermal image characteristics and useful information of certain tanks to aid the Lariat 1A1 in the proper identification and best course of action to take when engaging a tank of a certain model. One interesting feature of this functionality is the ability to program the fire control system to aim for specific ‘weaknesses’, whether these be actual physical weaknesses (such as reduced armor, design attributes, etc.) or weaknesses in capability (such as programming the CS/TQ-3A to take advantage of an opponent’s lower-ranged gun, or sensor deficiencies), although in the former case, this depends largely on range due to the circular error of probability of actually hitting a small area on a tank while in motion on the battlefield. This system also maintains a standing catalogue of engagements (storage space and tank survival permitting) including most of the conditions encountered during firing and whether or not the hit was successful on the tank.

The TS/FQ-101A is a fire control subsystem designed to be used in a high-threat environment. In a typical combat situation, if a tank is struck, the chances of that tank recovering from the impact in time to fire a shot to defend itself is relatively low, allowing the opposing tank to load and fire a second round. The advantage often goes to the tank that can fire, and hit, first. A single shot that is not enough to disable the Lariat 1A1 but invariably affects the crew and other systems, creates a few moments of ‘down time’ and gives another enemy tank the chance to quickly follow up and disable the Lariat 1A1 MBT. The TS/FQ-101A levels the playing field, partially negating the opponent’s advantage in firing first. When in a high threat environment, the gunner presses an ‘arming’ button as he’s adjusting the tank’s solution on the target and preparing to fire. In a situation where the Lariat 1A1 can fire first, the gunner will depress the trigger and the weapon will fire. However, if the Lariat 1A1 is struck before it can fire and the impact/damage is enough for the gunner’s hand to leave the control (and if the damage does not seriously affect the core fire control and gun systems), the Lariat 1A1 will automatically engage the target the gunner was locked on to. Once the round is fired, the autoloader will cycle in a new round. By about this time the gunner, unless he is incapacitated, should be able to resume operational control over the main gun and fire control systems. If he is incapacitated, the commander can take control of the main gun.

The gunner and commander of the Lariat 1A1 MBT are each given something considered antiquated to most current tank crew – a completely analog fire control system augmented by a size/range comparison plate with a provision for a secondary laser-rangefinder. A mechanical computer is also provided. The analog fire control systems were added to all in-service MCA-7Cs due to a common criticism of the tanks’ fire control and targeting systems in relation to the sometimes very rough terrain encountered in Coorsota. Most problems occurred during trials or training exercises when the tank in question was on the move and preparing to fire on a target, and hit a rock ledge. The subsequent impact and jolt, although not enough to actually damage the tank, did its number on the sensitive electronics within, often knocking out one or more LCD screens and partially disabling some fire control systems. From this point forward, the tank couldn’t effectively fire its main gun until the tank could be serviced in the field. The experiences led to the shock-dampening of all electronics in the Lariat 1A1 MBT, including all monitors in cased in a shock absorbing cradle. The completely analog fire control system including manual gun elevation and traverse, would allow the tank to effectively operate without power to the turret control systems, when the primary and secondary fire control systems are disabled, or when the tank wishes to remain hidden yet still engage a target.

In addition to the above fire control and electronics, the Lariat 1A1 MBT carries the VRC-9661 multiband, multimode tactical vehicular radio which provides HF (2-30 Mhz; long range strategic communications) and V/UHF (30-512 Mhz; short range tactical communications) radio communications ability in addition to digital communications between tanks (such as sharing firing data or coordinates, etc.). The system also provides inter-tank communications between the driver, commander, and gunner. In addition to this, the system’s “field telephone functionality” is diverted to an externally, rear mounted phone system which allows supporting infantry to use the communications system to communicate to the tank’s crew or to communicate with any other unit (from tanks and aircraft to infantry) within range. Finally, the VRC-9661 provides a GPS connection to allow for both satellite communications (if equipped) and geolocating abilities.


Mobility

The Lariat 1A1 main battle tank, in its earliest stages of conception, was envisioned as employing a drivetrain directly modified from that found on the MCA-7C “Timber Wolf” main battle tank. The engines, especially, were prized for their power and capability, and were designated as the engine of choice for the Lariat 1A1 main battle tank. Western Motors Company, however, heavily protested the choice of that engine for development of the Lariat 1A1, citing two major concerns: the inclusion of foreign-built components and the noted unwillingness of the engine’s manufacturer to export the design, specifically the rights to its manufacture. Western Motors further lobbied Allis-Chalmers to allow it to manufacture the Lariat 1A1’s engine and drive train components, and eventually won the Allis-Chalmers sponsored drivetrain design competition.

The D900AGP2 diesel engine was Western Motors’ answer to replacing the Guarita engine. The D900AGP2 is a liquid cooled multi-fuel capable sixteen cylinder (four valves per cylinder) sequential turbocharged four-stroke diesel engine displacing 28.7L (1749 cubic inches; 130mm x 135mm bore*stroke). The D900AGP2 maintains several features to promote efficiency, power, and reliability. The diesel engine is controlled by a Central Electronic Control Unit (CECU) which observes and regulates every major action of the engine from varying turbocharging pressures to timing fuel injections and adjusting exhaust gas recirculation. The CECU also provides advanced diagnostics to the crew of the tank during operation as well as to repair personnel when the engine is in need of repair. An exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) is also present. The EGR system grabs a small portion (~10%) of manifold exhaust and directs it through a cooler (positioned ahead of the radiator) that reduces its temperature. The cooled exhaust is then portioned into the intake air stream. This reduces the oxygen content in combustion air leading to cooler combustion temperatures, and also happens to reduce certain emissions. Air-to-air intercooling is also used to reduce the temperature of intake air, raising its density and resulting in more thorough fuel combustion. The CECU-controlled common rail fuel injection system operates using fuel injectors positioned vertically between sets of intake and exhaust valves and directly over the center of symmetrical piston bowls. This location allows multiple streams of highly vaporized fuel to be dispersed around the cylinder so it can readily mix with intake air. The pistons are composed of high-strength steel with a symmetrical bowl head design that works in conjunction with multiple injections of fuel and twin intake valves to boost compression. Higher power densities result from this combination. A grid block/head heater and fuel preheater provide cold weather starting ability. A muffler and combined radiator system are also present.

The D900AGP2’s turbocharging system operates as a sequential unit with two independent turbochargers working in tandem. The first turbocharger compresses combustion air as usual. Exhaust is directed to a second turbocharger downstream from the first. The energy from this second turbine transfers to the crankshaft and offers multipoint efficiency gains (~3-5%). The crankcase offers structural ribs to increase the crankcase’s life, improve strength, and reduce operating noise. Crankcase oil is now cooled through pipettes to decrease operating temperatures.

Together, all of these features allow the D900AGP2 to produce 1192 kW (1600 HP) in addition to a power reserve of 110 kW at 1,800 RPM. The engine also produces a 40% torque rise (from lowest available torque to highest available torque) at 1,400 RPM. Maximum torque is ~4300 Nm. No governor is present. Instead crews are trained to maximize fuel economy when required. This allows the full breadth of the engine’s power and capability to be used when needed. Warning systems are present to alert the crew to dangerous conditions if they proceed to push the powerplant systems too far.

Using experience from adopting the MCA-7C Timber Wolf, Allis-Chalmers designed an under-armor auxiliary power unit for use on the Lariat 1A1 MBT. This 32kW diesel turbine allows for the primary systems of the tank to function without using the main engine and wasting unnecessary amounts of fuel (as well as lay in ambush with a reduced heat signature).

The drivetrain is rounded out by a Western Motors designed T250FGT1 transmission component. Originally, the Lariat 1A1 MBT was to be fitted with a similar, automatic transmission. However, in component testing where the transmission was instead used in a converted M-60 MBT, the automatic proved to be troublesome. Proper crew training, however, alleviated the majority of these problems except for the transmission’s capability to serve in a ‘tractor’ role, such as towing other tanks. The Ground Defense Force required that a tank be able to also serve as a recover unit for other tanks if a dedicated recovery vehicle was not around, and the automatic transmission was ill suited for this task. Instead, Western Motors produced a similar design which uses a series of primary gears, eight in total, each with its own range of three gears. This completely manual system would allow the driver to select an appropriate gear for the task at hand, and have the capability to upshift or downshift to meet the power requirements of the task. During testing, the transmission when placed in first gear (up to third gear depending on the medium the tanks are operating in) had no problem pulling a similar-weight tank, and the driver could then shift between three ranges in this gear, going from 1-1 (creeper) to 1-2 and then 1-3 (and back again) with the motion of a single lever and no clutch. All gears can be shifted into from a standing point, with the upper four gears requiring little or no load and designed primarily as maneuvering or road gears. Fourth gear was optimized as a ‘battle gear’ and provides quick acceleration with the throttle and smooth gear transitioning. This gear can operate under some load in less-than-ideal terrain (such as in snow or light mud). The modified T250FGT1 provides reduced maintenance over its automatic cousin, improved fuel economy, improved performance in some areas, and the ability to serve as a recovery, or even engineering, vehicle. The T250FGT1 is a compact automatic transmission which features an infinitely variable hydrostatic-hydrodynamic steering system, combined braking system, infinitely variable cooling fan, high efficiency, digital controls for some functions (using a derivative of CECU), and provides easy operation to the driver and repair to maintenance personnel. The transmission is mounted parallel with the engine and entire engine/transmission package is capable of being removed together using a built-in rail assembly facilitating quick replacement or repair in field conditions.

The Lariat 1A1 MBT's suspension was designed, like the rest of the tank, for Coorsotan terrain. Thus, its suspension is capable of adapting to Coorsota's widely varied terrain - from rolling plains to the more ubiquitous rocky foothills. The suspension is largely hydraulic with swing arms designed to give the roadwheels a generous amount of movement and soften the motions of the tank so the fire control system has an easier time at compensating for the movement. The suspension is also partially active, allowing for the ride height of the tank to be adjusted (such as positioning the suspension to give a greater hull-down capability). Road wheels, track supports, idlers, and drive sprockets are all composed of high strength steel. Road wheels have a layer of rubber to reduce wear to track links and to the wheels themselves.

The Lariat 1A1 MBT can serve as an emergency recovery vehicle with no threat of damage to its drivetrain and thus carries the mounting points and tow hooks required to be able to tow and recover other main battle tanks in lieu of a dedicated recovery vehicle. Heavy duty tow cables and chains are carried in addition to straps for recovering smaller vehicles.

Finally, the Lariat 1A1 maintains the ability to carry external fuel stores. These external fuel stores, however, are not drum-type but instead a box-style system hung over the muffler system on the tank and not directly visible from the forward arc. They are self-sealing and partially armored against most small arms fire and shrapnel. Due to their built-up nature, they are usually recovered later. The fuel boxes can be jettisoned from within the tank. A drum-type external fuel system can also be used.


NBC Protection, Crew Comfort, Fording

The Lariat 1A1 MBT includes a sealed chassis and turret including air filtration (HEPA for biological threats and centrifuge for radiological threats) and overpressure air conditioning system. The tank also includes NBC masks for crew in the event of a seal failure. The air conditioning system has two vents per crew member’s station, both capable of being adapted to blow cold air through a tube which can be inserted into a crew member’s uniform to provide adequate cooling. Heat can also be directed through these vents. Each station is provided with a secured cup holder and a basket for small personal items or other materials. Storage is also provided for consumables including a cooled storage unit to keep items cold.

All seats are braced and designed to absorb significant impacts, specifically from anti-tank mines, and to ensure that any member of the crew is not significantly injured by an anti-tank mine or improvised device which may damage the tank or transfer most of its energy to the tank.

The Lariat 1A1 MBT can ford up to its hull height, and with minor modification (to seal the engine intake and add an adapter) can ford above the total height of the tank. The adapter allows the engine to breathe air from the crew compartment (turret) using a snorkel at the rear of the turret.


Versions

Armored Recovery Vehicle – Burro ARV
The Burro ARV is the armored recovery variant of the Lariat 1A1 MBT and does away with the turret and utilizes an overbuilt main hull. The Burro ARV contains all the required tools and recovery systems to both recover and repair the Lariat 1A1 MBT among other tanks in service. The Burro ARV maintains a hydraulic, extending arm to assist in extensive repairs of the Lariat 1A1 MBT (such as attaching via cable and chain to remove the main gun assembly, powerplant assembly, and other portions of the vehicle designed to be remove as such). An under armor auxiliary power unit provides accessory power for all jobs.

The Burro ARV also carries an arc welder, wire welder, plasma torch, oxy-acetylene torch, air compressor, drill press, hydraulic press (for replacing bearings, shims, etc.), various saws (metal cutting rotary and metal cutting band saws), and a full complement of power and air tools. The Burro ARV also maintains storage for spare parts including an external mount on the rear of the vehicle for one entire Lariat 1A1 MBT powerpack. The Burro ARV, in desperate situations, is also designed to be able to remove its own powerpack (exact same as the Lariat 1A1 MBTs; uses power from the auxiliary power unit) and transfer it to a Lariat 1A1 MBT in need of a powerpack replacement. This of course leaves the Burro ARV immobile, but will allow the tank in question to rejoin operations.

The Burro ARV maintains a single machine gun mount that can be fitted with anything from a light machine gun to a remote weapon station if the environment requires it. Smoke grenade launchers and most of the defensive features of the Lariat 1A1 MBT are retained aside from the active defense system. A hydraulically operated bulldozer blade is capable of being fitted.

Engineering Services Vehicle – Burro ESV
The Burro ESV is similar to, and based on, the Burro ARV and both look externally similar. The Burro ESV, however, is designed for more engineering-related tasks and carries a back-hoe type arm instead of the loader arm on the Burro ARV as well as a hydraulically actuated bulldozer blade. The ESV carries the same tool load out which enables it to perform repair tasks as well as construction-related tasks including fabrication, welding, cutting, and construction. The ESV is also capable of supporting Lariat 1A1 MBTs in that it can function as an emergency armored recovery vehicle.

Bridge Deploying Vehicle – Lobo BDV
The Lobo BDV is the bridge laying variant of the Lariat 1A1 MBT and shares the same hull with little modification aside from the removal of the turret and some armor. The turret space has been replaced with the equipment necessary to deploy a bridge capable of supporting the weight of any Lariat 1A1 MBT. Bridges vary in size/length and construction.


General Specifications
Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Length: 7.80 m ; 11.38 m w/ gun
Width: 4.02 m
Height: 2.92 m
Ground clearance: 0.61 m
Weight: 59.60 t

Mobility
Power plant: Twin-Turbocharged 28.7L D900AGP2 producing 1192 kW
Transmission: T250FGT1 Manual Ranged Transmission; 8 Gear Ranges
Suspension: Semi-Active Hydraulic Torsion Bar
Maximum speed: 75 km/h
Power/weight: 20 kW/tonne
Fuel efficiency: 1.57 liters per kilometer
Fuel capacity: 1,100 L in main fuel tank
Range: 700 km
Fording depth: 1.7 m unprepared/<7 m with snorkel
Vertical obstacle: 0.95 m
Maximum grade: 60%
Maximum side slope: 30%

Armor and Armament
Armor: Cuera standard armor; Vaquero add-on ERA
Main armament: 120mm G120EGS1 L/45 or L/55 smoothbore
Elevation: -10/+19°
Elevation rate: 25° per second (electrohydraulic)
Traverse rate: 35° per second (electric traverse)
Stabilization: Azimuth and elevation
Ammunition: 42 rounds
Secondary armament
coaxial G25AGS2 25mm Autocannon
A141RGS1 ‘Rifleman’ Remote Weapon Station w/ 14.5mm MG5
Capability for additional light machine gun at gunner’s position
2x4 smoke grenade launchers (2x canisters per launcher)
Equipment
Self-Entrenching Blade
Obstacle-clearing Blade
Mine-clearing Blade
Tank Recovery Kit


Sales/Pricing

Sequoia-Allis Defense Services reserves the right to refuse sale to anyone. Unlimited production rights are not available at this time, although, if a placed order exceeds Sequoia-Allis Defense Services production capacity for any given time, Sequoia-Allis Defense Services will issue a limited production license for a specific amount of units. Individual design components can be licensed on a per-request basis.

Unit Price of M8 Lariat 1A1 Main Battle Tank: US$8.3 million
Unit Price of M81 Burro Armored Recovery Vehicle: US$6.1 million
Unit Price of M82 Burro Engineering Services Vehicle: US$6.6 million
Unit Price of M83 Lobo Bridge Deploying Vehicle: US$5.5 million


Additional Images

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/6789/burroarv1nn2.png
Burro ARV


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4269/sequoiaallisfooterxy4.png


OOC- So far this is what I've got. Assistance appreciated.

Mobility

The D900AGP3 is the result of a mid-life engine upgrade program to increase the D900AGP2’s fuel efficiency in addition to other minor upgrades. To this end, the engine’s common rail fuel injection was replaced with a new common rail system using piezoelectric crystals in place of solenoids in the injectors and provides an instantaneous response for fuel injection. An additional feature was added, as a result to the injection modification, which allows for greater use of available air in the cylinder. The sequential turbochargers were modified with ceramic turbine wheels to provide lower inertia and a faster response time to load. The conventional barrier-filter filtration system was replaced with a pressure-side filtration system with the primary filter downstream of the turbochargers and a pre-filter upstream. And finally, the piston design was modified to account for the changes in the direct injection and the new functions.

The D900AGP3 is a liquid cooled multi-fuel capable sixteen cylinder (four valves per cylinder) sequential turbocharged four-stroke diesel engine displacing 28.7L (1749 cubic inches; 130mm x 135mm bore*stroke). The D900AGP3 maintains several features to promote efficiency, power, and reliability. The diesel engine is controlled by a Central Electronic Control Unit (CECU) which observes and regulates every major action of the engine from varying turbocharging pressures to timing fuel injections (from the new piezoelectric common rail fuel injection system) and adjusting exhaust gas recirculation. The CECU also provides advanced diagnostics to the crew of the tank during operation as well as to repair personnel when the engine is in need of repair. The CECU-controlled common rail fuel injection system operates using the fuel injectors using piezoelectric crystals. This allows for a more precise control of fuel flow to the engine and permits the fuel flow to be controlled four times more quickly than the previous system. Additionally, the new system incorporates a ‘pilot injection’ feature which, prior to the main injection, releases a small, pilot amount of fuel to initiate the combustion process without the dramatic peak in the heat release rate compared to a conventional fuel injection and ignition process (allows the air in the cylinder to be better utilized). Using less than ten percent of the injection fuel in the pilot injection (determined by the CECU), this system reduces NOx by approximately 35 percent and smoke by 60-80% without worsening fuel consumption. The addition of the piezoelectric crystal injectors increases fuel efficiency to 1.4 l/km and increases power from 1192 kW to 1201 kW.

An exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) is also present. The EGR system grabs a small portion (~10%) of manifold exhaust and directs it through a cooler (positioned ahead of the radiator) that reduces its temperature. The cooled exhaust is then portioned into the intake air stream. This reduces the oxygen content in combustion air leading to cooler combustion temperatures, and also happens to reduce certain emissions. Air-to-air intercooling is also used to reduce the temperature of intake air, raising its density and resulting in more thorough fuel combustion. The pistons are composed of high-strength steel with a symmetrical shallow-bowl head design that works in conjunction with multiple injections of fuel and twin intake valves to boost compression. Higher power densities result from this combination. Air filtration is now provided by a ‘pressure-side’ filtration system which uses a more compact filtration component positioned downstream of the turbochargers with an up-stream vortex tube prefilter. The new filtration system results in less than half the volume of the previous barrier-filter filtration system and results in less engine gas exchange loss if there’s a blockage in the filter.

The D900AGP3’s turbocharging system operates as a sequential unit with two independent ceramic-wheeled turbochargers working in tandem. The first turbocharger compresses combustion air as usual. Exhaust is directed to a second turbocharger downstream from the first. The energy from this second turbine transfers to the crankshaft and offers multipoint efficiency gains (~3-5%). The new ceramic turbine wheels allow for lower inertia and thus a faster response time to load. The ceramic face now also functions to protect the turbine wheel in the face of particulate matter between the pre-filter and primary filter of the air filtration system.

The crankcase offers structural ribs to increase the crankcase’s life, improve strength, and reduce operating noise. Crankcase oil is now cooled through pipettes to decrease operating temperatures. A grid block/head heater and fuel preheater provide cold weather starting ability. A muffler and combined radiator system are also present.

Together, all of these features allow the D900AGP2 to produce 1201 kW (1610 HP) in addition to a power reserve of 110 kW at 1,800 RPM. The engine also produces a 40% torque rise (from lowest available torque to highest available torque) at 1,400 RPM. Maximum torque is ~4300 Nm. No governor is present. Instead crews are trained to maximize fuel economy when required. This allows the full breadth of the engine’s power and capability to be used when needed. Warning and predictive diagnostic systems are present to alert the crew to dangerous conditions if they proceed to push the powerplant systems too far.

Using experience from adopting the MCA-7C Timber Wolf, Allis-Chalmers designed an under-armor auxiliary power unit for use on the Lariat 1A1 MBT. This 32kW diesel turbine allows for the primary systems of the tank to function without using the main engine and wasting unnecessary amounts of fuel (as well as lay in ambush with a reduced heat signature).

The drivetrain is rounded out by a Western Motors designed T250FGT1 transmission component. Originally, the Lariat 1A1 MBT was to be fitted with a similar, automatic transmission. However, in component testing where the transmission was instead used in a converted M-60 MBT, the automatic proved to be troublesome. Proper crew training, however, alleviated the majority of these problems except for the transmission’s capability to serve in a ‘tractor’ role, such as towing other tanks. The Ground Defense Force required that a tank be able to also serve as a recovery unit for other tanks if a dedicated recovery vehicle was not around, and the automatic transmission was ill suited for this task. Instead, Western Motors produced a similar design which uses a series of primary gears, eight in total, and each with its own range of three gears. This completely manual system would allow the driver to select an appropriate gear for the task at hand, and have the capability to upshift or downshift to meet the power requirements of the task. During testing, the transmission when placed in first gear (up to third gear depending on the medium the tanks are operating in) had no problem pulling a similar-weight tank, and the driver could then shift between three ranges in this gear, going from 1-1 (creeper) to 1-2 and then 1-3 (and back again) with the motion of a single lever and no clutch. All gears can be shifted into from a standing point, with the upper four gears requiring little or no load and designed primarily as maneuvering or road gears. Fourth gear was optimized as a ‘battle gear’ and provides quick acceleration with the throttle and smooth gear transitioning. This gear can operate under some load in less-than-ideal terrain (such as in snow or light mud). The modified T250FGT1 provides reduced maintenance over its automatic cousin, improved fuel economy, improved performance in some areas, and the ability to serve as a recovery, or even engineering, vehicle. The T250FGT1 is a compact automatic transmission which features an infinitely variable hydrostatic-hydrodynamic steering system, combined braking system, infinitely variable cooling fan, high efficiency, digital controls for some functions (using a derivative of CECU), and provides easy operation to the driver and repair to maintenance personnel. The transmission is mounted parallel with the engine and entire engine/transmission package is capable of being removed together using a built-in rail assembly facilitating quick replacement or repair in field conditions.

The Lariat 1A1 MBT's suspension was designed, like the rest of the tank, for Coorsotan terrain. Thus, its suspension is capable of adapting to Coorsota's widely varied terrain - from rolling plains to the more ubiquitous rocky foothills. The suspension is largely hydraulic with swing arms designed to give the road wheels a generous amount of movement and soften the motions of the tank so the fire control system has an easier time at compensating for the movement. The suspension is also partially active, allowing for the ride height of the tank to be adjusted (such as positioning the suspension to give a greater hull-down capability). Road wheels, track supports, idlers, and drive sprockets are all composed of high strength steel. Road wheels have a layer of rubber to reduce wear to track links and to the wheels themselves.

The Lariat 1A1 MBT can serve as an emergency recovery vehicle with no threat of damage to its drive train and thus carries the mounting points and tow hooks required to be able to tow and recover other main battle tanks in lieu of a dedicated recovery vehicle. Heavy duty tow cables and chains are carried in addition to straps for recovering smaller vehicles.

Finally, the Lariat 1A1 maintains the ability to carry external fuel stores. These external fuel stores, however, are not drum-type but instead a box-style system hung over the muffler system on the tank and not directly visible from the forward arc. They are self-sealing and partially armored against most small arms fire and shrapnel. Due to their built-up nature, they are usually recovered later. The fuel boxes can be jettisoned from within the tank. A drum-type external fuel system can also be used.



OOC- Upgraded powerplant. Working on additional electronics/fire control features as well.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6383/sandiesellogousekp4.png

D990AGP1 Advanced Technologies Tank Engine

Mobility

Introduction
The D990AGP1 is the result of a mid-life engine upgrade program to increase the D900AGP2’s fuel efficiency and power density to an extent, however, the D900AGP3, as it was known at the time, slowly evolved into an entirely new engine: the D990AGP1. To this end the previous engine’s common rail fuel injection was replaced with a new common rail system using piezoelectric crystals in place of solenoids in the injectors and provides an instantaneous response for fuel injection. An additional feature was added, as a result of the injection modification, which allows for greater use of available air in the cylinder. The sequential turbochargers were modified with ceramic turbine wheels to provide lower inertia and a faster response time to load. The conventional barrier-filter filtration system was replaced with a pressure-side filtration system with the primary filter downstream of the turbochargers and a pre-filter upstream. And finally, an electromechanical valve train was added to give full control of all engine functions to the Central Electronic Control Unit.

Engine
The D990AGP1 is a liquid cooled multi-fuel capable twelve cylinder (four valves per cylinder) sequential turbocharged four-stroke diesel engine displacing 28L (1708 cubic inches; 150mm x 132mm bore*stroke). The diesel engine is controlled by a Central Electronic Control Unit (CECU) which observes and regulates every major action of the engine including varying turbocharger pressures, valve timing, direct injection properties (injection timing, duration, fuel amount), exhaust gas recirculation, etc. and can optimize the performance of the engine for several preset modes from which the driver or commander can choose from: the two major modes being performance and efficiency. The engine mode can be switched during any moment of the engine’s operation and crews may ease fuel consumption during transit with the CECU set to efficiency and when preparing for battle, switch to performance. The CECU also provides advanced diagnostics to the crew of the tank during operation as well as to repair personnel when the engine is in need of repair.

The CECU-controlled common rail fuel injection system operates the fuel injectors using piezoelectric crystals. This allows for a more precise control of fuel flow to the engine and permits the fuel flow to be controlled four times more quickly than the previous system. Additionally, the new system incorporates a ‘pilot injection’ feature which, prior to the main injection, releases a small, pilot amount of fuel to initiate the combustion process without the dramatic peak in the heat release rate compared to a conventional fuel injection and ignition process (allows the air in the cylinder to be better utilized). Using less than ten percent of the injection fuel in the pilot injection (determined by the CECU), this system reduces NOx by approximately 35 percent and smoke by 60-80% without worsening, and actually improving, fuel efficiency.

The traditional mechanical valves, cam, rockets, etc. on the D990AGP1 are replaced, entirely, with an electromechanical valve train system (EMVT). With the EMVT system, the traditional poppet valves are operated by electromagnets positioned above the valve guide, effectively doing away with the mechanical cam and rocker system. The valve is operated through two sets of magnets, one above and one below an armature on the valve stem above the cylinder head and within the EMVT housing. For air-intake or expelling exhaust, the lower magnets are electrified and pull the plate downward thus opening the valve. When the valves should be fully sealed for compression and ignition, the upper magnets are electrified, the plate is pulled upwards, and the valve is sealed. Two springs, one above the assembly and the other below, recessed into the cylinder head between the assembly and head, maintain tension and when the engine is off, keep the valve in the half-open position. The system allows for fully variable valve timing (including faster valve-to-seat velocities: below .05 m/s) and superb integration with the advanced direct injection systems already employed by the D990AGP1 engine. The ability for the engine computer to vary the valve timing and duration-of-opening allows for greater fuel efficiency, improves cold-start and warm-up behavior, etc. especially in conjunction wit h the other features involved in the D990AGP1. Additionally, repair is facilitated due to the easily-replaceable nature of the single EMVT system for each cylinder head and requires no tuning beyond plugging into the CECU.

An exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) is also present. The EGR system grabs a small portion (~10%) of manifold exhaust and directs it through a cooler (positioned ahead of the radiator) that reduces its temperature. The cooled exhaust is then portioned into the intake air stream. This reduces the oxygen content in combustion air leading to cooler combustion temperatures, and also happens to reduce certain emissions. Air-to-air intercooling is also used to reduce the temperature of intake air, raising its density and resulting in more thorough fuel combustion. The pistons are composed of high-strength steel with a symmetrical shallow-bowl head design that works in conjunction with multiple injections of fuel and twin intake valves to boost compression. Higher power densities result from this combination. Air filtration is now provided by a ‘pressure-side’ filtration system which uses a more compact filtration component positioned downstream of the turbochargers with an up-stream vortex tube prefilter. The new filtration system results in less than half the volume of the previous barrier-filter filtration system and less engine gas exchange loss if there’s a blockage in the filter.

The D990AGP1’s turbocharging system operates as a sequential unit with two independent ceramic-wheeled turbochargers working in tandem. The first turbocharger compresses combustion air as usual. Exhaust is directed to a second turbocharger downstream from the first. The energy from this second turbine transfers to the crankshaft and offers multipoint efficiency gains (~3-5%). The new ceramic turbine wheels allow for lower inertia and thus a faster response time to load. The ceramic face now also functions to protect the turbine wheel in the face of particulate matter between the pre-filter and primary filter of the air filtration system.

The crankcase offers structural ribs to increase the crankcase’s life, improve strength, and reduce operating noise. Crankcase oil is now cooled through pipettes to decrease operating temperatures. A grid block/head heater and fuel preheater provide cold weather starting ability in addition to the CECU’s ability to adjust operating conditions. A muffler and combined radiator system are also present.

Together, all of these features allow the D990AGP1 to produce 1230 kW (1650 HP) in addition to a power reserve of 115 kW at 1,800 RPM. The engine also produces a 40% torque rise (from lowest available torque to highest available torque) at 1,400 RPM. Maximum torque is ~4400 Nm. No governor is present beyond the CECU’s moderation. Instead crews are trained to maximize fuel economy when required. This allows the full breadth of the engine’s power and capability to be used when needed. Warning and predictive diagnostic systems are present to alert the crew to dangerous conditions if they proceed to push the powerplant systems too far.

Auxiliary Power Unit
Using experience from adopting the MCA-7C Timber Wolf, Allis-Chalmers designed an under-armor auxiliary power unit for use on the Lariat 1A1 MBT. This 32kW diesel turbine allows for the primary systems of the tank to function without using the main engine and wasting unnecessary amounts of fuel (as well as lay in ambush with a reduced heat signature).

Transmission
The drivetrain is rounded out by a Western Motors designed T250FGT1 transmission component. Originally, the Lariat 1A1 MBT was to be fitted with a similar, automatic transmission. However, in component testing where the transmission was instead used in a converted M-60 MBT, the automatic proved to be troublesome. Proper crew training, however, alleviated the majority of these problems except for the transmission’s capability to serve in a ‘tractor’ role, such as towing other tanks. The Ground Defense Force required that a tank be able to also serve as a recovery unit for other tanks if a dedicated recovery vehicle was not around, and the automatic transmission was ill suited for this task. Instead, Western Motors produced a similar design which uses a series of primary gears, eight in total, and each with its own range of three gears. This completely manual system would allow the driver to select an appropriate gear for the task at hand, and have the capability to upshift or downshift to meet the power requirements of the task. During testing, the transmission when placed in first gear (up to third gear depending on the medium the tanks are operating in) had no problem pulling a similar-weight tank, and the driver could then shift between three ranges in this gear, going from 1-1 (creeper) to 1-2 and then 1-3 (and back again) with the motion of a single lever and no clutch. All gears can be shifted into from a standing point, with the upper four gears requiring little or no load and designed primarily as maneuvering or road gears. Fourth gear was optimized as a ‘battle gear’ and provides quick acceleration with the throttle and smooth gear transitioning. This gear can operate under some load in less-than-ideal terrain (such as in snow or light mud). The modified T250FGT1 provides reduced maintenance over its automatic cousin, improved fuel economy, improved performance in some areas, and the ability to serve as a recovery, or even engineering, vehicle. The T250FGT1 is a compact automatic transmission which features an infinitely variable hydrostatic-hydrodynamic steering system, combined braking system, infinitely variable cooling fan, high efficiency, digital controls for some functions (using a derivative of CECU), and provides easy operation to the driver and repair to maintenance personnel. The transmission is mounted parallel with the engine and entire engine/transmission package is capable of being removed together using a built-in rail assembly facilitating quick replacement or repair in field conditions.

Suspension
The Lariat 1A1 MBT's suspension was designed, like the rest of the tank, for Coorsotan terrain. Thus, its suspension is capable of adapting to Coorsota's widely varied terrain - from rolling plains to the more ubiquitous rocky foothills. The suspension is largely hydraulic with swing arms designed to give the road wheels a generous amount of movement and soften the motions of the tank so the fire control system has an easier time at compensating for the movement. The suspension is also partially active, allowing for the ride height of the tank to be adjusted (such as positioning the suspension to give a greater hull-down capability). Road wheels, track supports, idlers, and drive sprockets are all composed of high strength steel. Road wheels have a layer of rubber to reduce wear to track links and to the wheels themselves.



Miscellaneous
The Lariat 1A1 MBT can serve as an emergency recovery vehicle with no threat of damage to its drive train and thus carries the mounting points and tow hooks required to be able to tow and recover other main battle tanks in lieu of a dedicated recovery vehicle. Heavy duty tow cables and chains are carried in addition to straps for recovering smaller vehicles.

Finally, the Lariat 1A1 maintains the ability to carry external fuel stores. These external fuel stores, however, are not drum-type but instead a box-style system hung over the muffler system on the tank and not directly visible from the forward arc. They are self-sealing and partially armored against most small arms fire and shrapnel. Due to their built-up nature, they are usually recovered later. The fuel boxes can be jettisoned from within the tank. A drum-type external fuel system can also be used.









OOC- Pretty much a whole new engine, instead this is a V12 producing similar power figures. And a new engine manufacturer. I will be diversifying components to a number of 'home-made' manufacturers. SANDIESEL is one I'm thinking of taking an extra step and maybe bringing it up to par with Allis-Chalmers and Western Motors. Criticism is always appreciated.

OOC: Had to be quick reading, so I might have missed more, but you've got some serious problems.

An exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) is also present. The EGR system grabs a small portion (~10%) of manifold exhaust and directs it through a cooler (positioned ahead of the radiator) that reduces its temperature. The cooled exhaust is then portioned into the intake air stream. This reduces the oxygen content in combustion air leading to cooler combustion temperatures, and also happens to reduce certain emissions.
Has an adverse effect on combustion, especially in terms of power. An engine running like this will produce ~20% or so less power then an engine without it, for little gain that can't be made up in the exhaust system. It will screw with engine starting and require a long time run by an external starter motor to get it going in a way it can sustain itself, and has a very high chance of simply stalling under any kind of load. The engine gets it's power from the oxygen, removing it is bad, very very bad.

And that system effectivly negates an intercooler.

The D990AGP1’s turbocharging system operates as a sequential unit with two independent ceramic-wheeled turbochargers working in tandem. The first turbocharger compresses combustion air as usual. Exhaust is directed to a second turbocharger downstream from the first. The energy from this second turbine transfers to the crankshaft and offers multipoint efficiency gains (~3-5%). The new ceramic turbine wheels allow for lower inertia and thus a faster response time to load.

Two things.
First, the bolded section, doesn't work. It's a complete waste of a turbocharger. You will add no energy to the crank, defintly no power, and you'll have to gear it down (Crank turning at 1800 rpm, turbocharger turning at 40,000 rpm). You're signifigantly better off using that as an actual turbocharger, and as a heavier one at that.
Which brings me to point two, your turbocharging system. You're not going to ger signifigant gains in spool-up time on turbochargers using ceramics. it will help, but not much. You'll get a huge result though using a small (and thus quickly spooled up with low exhaust pressure) turbocharger running into a large (takes more pressure, but provides more pressure, and thus more power) one. This biturbo arrangement is used in some really high performance engines (Like the one in the Porsche 959) and can quickly reduce turbo lag. It's nowhere near as good as a hyperbar or super/turbo combo, but it's very effective none the less.

OOC: I'm removing the EGR, that was iffy at best for its inclusion on this engine anyways.

However, for the turbocharger, its based on a compound turbocharger in use on the new Steiger 485 from CNH Global/Case IH. I did neglect to say that it does require a hydrocoupling and gear reduction to the crankshaft. The two turbochargers (maybe a better word for the second is 'turbine') are connected in series, as I stated, and the exhaust gas spools up the first to force air into the intake, and immediately after into the second turbo where it transmits additional energy directly to the crankshaft (via a hydrocoupling and reduction gears). In company literature they stated gains around 3% in efficiency in addition to additional horsepower (could be bloated advertising?). However, basically I guess you can say its turbo-compound, since its using energy from the exhaust and partially reclaiming it. Another example of a similar tech is the new DD15 from Detroit Diesel. They claim 5% additional efficiency over its predecessor, but the -15 series also has a few other tricks, so its probably less than that that comes from the turbo system.

Any additional insight would be appreciated.

OOC: The way you write it is not acompound turbo but simply a turbine assisted crank, which does not help.

Keep in mind however, that the rev ranges you will need to run to get such a system to not suck power from the engine will be high, to keep pressure up. And the turbine you would need from the second stage would be so huge that it would not be easily boosted by anything small enough for a quick boost. In effect you're going to have the same turbo lag as if you had one big turbo, unless you go with three or even four turbos of differing sized, but that adds weight, or you're stuck with a system that has no noticible gain or even saps energy. Or your exhaust system is very high pressure to accomodate the system, which is easily done, but it negates all filtering and sound suppression so your engine will be loud, and pump out lots of bad stuff.

Diesel truck engines don't have this issue (Higher average RPM, much much higher pressure exhaust abilities), and aircraft engines that used to have this system don't even remotely care about either.

3% (If the DD15 gets any more then I'd be surprised) is very low considering that designs 60 years ago could give 30% boost in power. The difference, and why the DD15 has such little gain, is that exhaust issue I pointed out. And that's ignoring (comnpletelyP) the unreliability of the system (They broke very very often in Alison engines).

Edit: Although on an externally boosted (like Hyperbar) engine you could effectivly mute a huge number of these with this system. Although fuel consumption would go up in general, the ratio of fuel consumption per power would go down, meaning more power for less fuel (As in you use say 10% more fuel, get 50% more power), which is a biggie.

Edit2: Although now my mind is thinking on my next externally boosted engine design.

Official Communiqué

Dear sir/madam,

The Realm wishes to purchase a total of five thousand (5 000) M81 Burro Armored Recovery Vehicles to replace its ancient M20 Samaritan ARVs, which have been in service since the early seventies. The total cost of $30.5 billion USD shall be wired to your accounts upon confirmation of this order.

We thank you in advance for your positive reply.


[signed]
Viseadmiral Ørjan Bakke
Procurement Division
Ministry for the Defense of the Realm
The Realm of Cotland

OOC- And what kind of range of RPM? The DD15's measured HP point is 1800 RPM, which is the same as mine, and a similar system from Scania steps it down to 1900 RPM when it hits the crank, after its passed a gear reduction and hydro coupling set-up. The exhaust temp when it hits the second turbocharger is about 600 deg. celsius according to Scania so I can't imagine there being a lack of pressure. And just to clarify, all of this only applies while the engine is under load. It does sap some energy, but according to Detroit, it applies 50HP under load. But of course that's debateable.

Regardless, I am open to alternatives.

OOC- I'll confirm this one here, but from now on, please order from this thread (click the image, even though the Lariat 1A1 isn't yet up over there). Thank you.


http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8539/lariat1a1mbttabusetl6.png (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=546634)



------------------------------------

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6142/sequoiaallisheaderob1.png



Viseadmiral Ørjan Bakke,

Your request for five thousand M81 Burro Armored Recovery Vehicles has been confirmed for a standing order total of US$30.5 Billion. Production on your order will begin immediately with delivery beginning after the one hundredth unit is produced. Sequoia-Allis Defense Services would like to thank you for your purchase and support of our company.

We look forward to what the future may bring between Sequoia-Allis Defense Services and the Realm of Cotland.

Regards,

Gary Vought
Sequoia-Allis Defense Services Vice President

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4269/sequoiaallisfooterxy4.png

OOC- Actually, Dostanuot, I looked into a Hyperbar engine and I might consider employing something similar. Any other insight would be appreciated and thanks for all you've given thus far.

At this point, although I've allowed for the 1A1 to be sold, I'm still looking for some additions and toying with a few options concerning fire control. Another possibility would be changes in the armor.

[OOC: Your armor, other than the depleted uranium, is most likely less mass efficient than steel against long-rod penetrators; it's a quasi-bulging armor with depleted uranium. Not that there's anything technically wrong, but just saying - just in case you wanted to improve it. I don't want to sound like a dick, if that's the way I'm sounding. It's just hard to formulate posts here without sounding pretentious.]

OOC- No that's fine, I realize my armor needs improvement, and more than likely, a complete overhaul. However, the problem is, I don't know where to begin and I'm not entirely savvy on the more advanced armor composites and layouts around as evidenced by the current armor scheme, which is most of what I know on the subject, and thus pretty lacking.

If I was to continue on a new armor, I would likely need some assistance.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7272/lariat1a1longarmhw7.png

I don't know if this will be the image for the Lariat 1A2 or instead another upgrade program (maybe even the Lariat 1A1 if I can get help with and produce a new armor and a few other things). If it were to be another upgrade, it would likely be for the 1A1 (or 'Long Arm Upgrade Program').

Again, help with armor would be appreciated as well as any additional insight on any other piece of equipment used in the design. Thanks.

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4108/lariat1a1longarmupgradewq9.png
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9708/lariat1a1longarmivkh3.png

Picture mk. II because I found myself with nothing better to do but fiddle with the image some more.

Formidable, and yet so efficient. The design of the tank coincides with the terrain of our nation. Our nation is small and new, and we would like to purchase merely five (5) units for testing purposes. We can convert the amount of Entous into your currency if that's what you would like.

OOC- I'll confirm this one here, but from now on, please order from this thread (click the image). But yes, we'll give you five Lariat 1A1s for testing.


http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/8539/lariat1a1mbttabusetl6.png (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=546634)

Or you can click this one, they both go to the same place:

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1517/lariatclicktoviewnx1.png (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=546634)

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7272/lariat1a1longarmhw7.png

I don't know if this will be the image for the Lariat 1A2 or instead another upgrade program (maybe even the Lariat 1A1 if I can get help with and produce a new armor and a few other things). If it were to be another upgrade, it would likely be for the 1A1 (or 'Long Arm Upgrade Program').

Again, help with armor would be appreciated as well as any additional insight on any other piece of equipment used in the design. Thanks.

Have you thought about the idea of a small internal mortar like the Merkava uses? Also, if space permits what about a direct energy weapon for anti-infantry purposes should the tank become overwhelmed in an urban environment? Think also about attached, rear slat armor, like the M1A2 TUSK has.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/750/lariat1a1longarmtestranox5.png
Promotional Image of Lariat 1A1 Long Arm Test Firing New Main Gun at Sand Draw Range



I've thought about the mortar capability and there still may be a chance I employ it. Currently though, I'm not sure if there's enough space for an internal mortar. I've also been toying with the idea of having, instead, a sizeable grenade launcher with the remote weapon station to give that infantry-support indirect fire when needed. Some sort of energy weapon may be used in a future version but for the time being there's not enough space (nor, in my case, a reason to employ it, although I'm sure some buyers would like the capability).

I didn't think about it, but yes, I'll employ slat armor on future versions, I guess I never specified anything about it (must've slipped my mind). Thanks for the suggestions.

Updated fire control for the Lariat 1A1L Long Arm Upgrade. Added a few additional features including upgrading the thermal imager into a more potent, advanced system capable of extended range, high contrast, high resolution. New laser rangefinder to offer slightly greater range but much better defense against countermeasures and detection (low beam divergence means less scattered radiation for a LWR to detect; infrared laser with higher pulse rates to also aid in defense against countermeasures and detection on opposing infrared imagers). Modified designator system.



Fire Control

The Lariat MBT’s fire control system is composed of a number of systems which operate in unison to provide the crew with an unobstructed battlefield view and maintain their awareness of their surroundings. In addition to the optical periscopes positioned around his egress hatch, the commander is given an independent periscope with an LCD information overlay (TS/PQ-12A) and independent thermal viewer TS/EQ-31A. The two systems provide 360 degree target identification while the thermal viewer is enhanced with a day/night camera for higher-resolution non-thermal imaging and identification as well as a commander’s independent laser rangefinder and designator. Output from the TS/EQ-31A is displayed on a multifunction LCD monitor in a stabilized mount, and can appear on the LCD optronics overlay on the TS/PQ-12A. The TS/EQ-31A’s output can also be transferred to the gunner, allowing the gunner access to the same field of view of the commander (and vice versa).

The gunner’s station is fitted with an FC/TQ-8A1 dual magnification stabilized primary sight. The FC/TQ-8A1 has an integral laser rangefinder and is mated to a Sheyenne Technologies Group OsprEye III forward-looking infrared imager (with a smaller, lower resolution backup imbedded in the turret on the other side of the main gun). The OsprEye II is a new addition with the Lariat Long Arm upgrade and represents a leap in design technology over the original OsprEye and OsprEye II forward-looking infrared imager. The new unit features a polarization-sensitive focal plane array with etched polarization elements integrated to each imaging pixel and layered in a grid pattern alternating with semi-reflective coated layers. The OsprEye III also exhibits a large photomultiplier channel within a nested set of tubes lined with a very black, absorbent filter. With these modifications, the OsprEye III allows for greater target detection by exploiting infrared polarization signatures and enhancing the contrast of targets versus backgrounds in addition to a higher gain on the image (through the larger photomultiplier channel and tubes). Finally, to increase contrast and efficiency even more, the OsprEye III utilizes a more advanced and effective coolant system which dumps the heat into the radiator system of the tank. OsprEye III output is 640x480 pixels which in addition to offering higher resolution, also aids in longer range targeting and classification (up to and exceeding ~10-12 km). In addition, the OsprEye III carries an uncooled indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) shortwave infrared imager to better defeat optical camouflage and to provide another layer of information for the fire control system to process into a compound image for the gunner/commander. The InGaAs SWIR imager is also capable of seeing most laser rangefinders, specifically those in the eye-safe range. The FC/TQ-7A’s laser rangefinder is a Gallium Aluminum Arsenide (GaAlA) solid state infrared laser and can provide up to five range values in three seconds. The GaAlA laser, with high quality lenses and filters, provides a greater range and lower beam divergence, which also aids in defense against laser countermeasure systems and is less likely to be detected by a laser warning receiver. This defense against countermeasure and detection is aided by the laser’s ability for very high pulse rates, capable of pulsing faster than the refresh rate on an opposing tank’s infrared imager. The GaAlA laser is capable of operating ~3500 hours before fading and is capable of being field replaced. Augmenting this is an electro-optical rangefinder which uses a camera to focus in on its target. To focus, the lenses are moved apart and once the tank is in focus, the range is determined by taking a value associated with the distance the two lenses are apart and using that to derive the range to target in 5m increments. This allows the tank to find the range of an enemy tank while emitting no laser radiation (and tripping a laser warning receiver) and is particularly useful in the first engagement. The range data from both systems is transmitted to the fire control system via fiber optic link and is used to calculate firing algorithms. The gunner, and commander, both have access to the primary laser rangefinder. The commander’s independent laser rangefinder/designator has been replaced with the LD/RQ-15A rangefinder/designator. The LD/RQ-15A is a multi-color, multi-pulse infrared laser rangefinder/designator and allows for the commander to independently determine range and designate a target with a unique pulse frequency and wavelength to identify the target for engagement by a separate source (such as an aircraft, other tank, or anti-tank missiles). This rangefinder is capable of operating in the ultraviolet wavelength, making it indiscernible to most infrared or thermal imaging systems. While operating in the infrared spectrum, pulse rates can be increased to the point where the pulsing is faster than the refresh rate of opposing thermal imagers, decreasing the chance of detection and countermeasures. Maximum laser range for the primary laser rangefinder is ~14km. Good lock potential exists to about 10 km.

A laser imaging system, such as LADAR or LIDAR, was originally planned to be fielded in the Lariat main battle tank. However, introduction of a LADAR system would have compromised the tank’s ability to operate passively, as the LADAR system, through its laser imaging system and intermittent laser pulses, would essentially serve as a targeting beacon for enemy tanks with laser receivers/imagers. Instead, the Lariat and Lariat 1A1 are fitted with the ES/WQ-1B Common Warning Receiver. The ES/WQ-1B is composed of several RADAR and laser warning receivers located around the vehicle to provide full awareness. Four imagers are located on the sides of the turret with two looking forward and two looking aft, each covering a 90 degree arc, and are designed as a higher resolution laser warning receiver, capable of lending information to the fire control system to engage targets employing an active LADAR system.

Updated with the Lariat 1A1 upgrade package, the Cortronics CS/TQ-3A is the system that ties all the imaging systems together and produces a fire control solution for the main gun. A composite image of the target is created using the electro-optical and imaging infrared (long wave/thermal and short wave) imaging systems. The composite image provides better target definition with warm and cool spots being directly referenced with the non-thermal images gathered by the SWIR and visual (low light) imaging systems, defeating a large number of optical and thermal camouflage patterns. The CS/TQ-3A directly controls the main gun and provides fire-on-the-move, stabilized operation with high accuracy and efficiency. The system is capable of being locked onto a target to maintain a continuous fire control solution. A queuing system is available to the commander to designate and queue targets for the gunner, allowing up to ten simultaneous targets to be queued and tracked. The system operates using a single hard-drive hard storage system in a shock absorbent casing but actively uses only solid state memory devices during actual operation; this prevents hard maneuvers, hits, and roughness from damaging the tank’s memory. When the tank is shut down, the solid state memory transfers to the hard drive until the vehicle is started. Both forms of memory, solid-state and hard-disk, are capable of being upgraded to any size necessary to carry out all the functions required by the crew and fire control system. Finally, all crewmembers are given at least one multifunction LCD display. All electronics are shock and jolt stabilized.

In addition to the actual imaging and fire control systems, the CS/TQ-3A carries several other features to assist in the tank’s operation. The fire control system of the Lariat 1A1 MBT maintains a standing record of the current lifetime of the barrel and how many rounds have been fired through it. When the breech is opened and the shell has been extracted, a small laser measures the interior barrel diameter and its change from the previous scan. The fire control system then uses this data, in addition to a stored barrel wear spreadsheet (with expected wear values), to compensate the fire control solution for barrel wear. Finally, the fire control system computes and accounts for air temperature, humidity, target velocity/direction, tank velocity/direction, wind velocity (using a cross wind sensor), barrel temperature, muzzle reference system, and other factors in its fire solution. Besides updated bussing systems, computer components, etc. the Lariat 1A1’s CS/TQ-3A includes a new system designed to allow the tank to better engage known threats. Using the tank’s upgraded solid state and hard-storage systems, the Lariat 1A1 now has the ability to store target information, specifically thermal image characteristics and useful information of certain tanks to aid the Lariat 1A1 in the proper identification and best course of action to take when engaging a tank of a certain model. One interesting feature of this functionality is the ability to program the fire control system to aim for specific ‘weaknesses’, whether these be actual physical weaknesses (such as reduced armor, design attributes, etc.) or weaknesses in capability (such as programming the CS/TQ-3A to take advantage of an opponent’s lower-ranged gun, or sensor deficiencies), although in the former case, this depends largely on range due to the circular error of probability of actually hitting a small area on a tank while in motion on the battlefield. This system also maintains a standing catalogue of engagements (storage space and tank survival permitting) including most of the conditions encountered during firing and whether or not the hit was successful on the tank.

The TS/FQ-101A is a fire control subsystem designed to be used in a high-threat environment. In a typical combat situation, if a tank is struck, the chances of that tank recovering from the impact in time to fire a shot to defend itself is relatively low, allowing the opposing tank to load and fire a second round. The advantage often goes to the tank that can fire, and hit, first. A single shot that is not enough to disable the Lariat 1A1 but invariably affects the crew and other systems, creates a few moments of ‘down time’ and gives another enemy tank the chance to quickly follow up and disable the Lariat 1A1 MBT. The TS/FQ-101A levels the playing field, partially negating the opponent’s advantage in firing first. When in a high threat environment, the gunner presses an ‘arming’ button as he’s adjusting the tank’s solution on the target and preparing to fire. In a situation where the Lariat 1A1 can fire first, the gunner will depress the trigger and the weapon will fire. However, if the Lariat 1A1 is struck before it can fire and the impact/damage is enough for the gunner’s hand to leave the control (and if the damage does not seriously affect the core fire control and gun systems), the Lariat 1A1 will automatically engage the target the gunner was locked on to. Once the round is fired, the autoloader will cycle in a new round. By about this time the gunner, unless he is incapacitated, should be able to resume operational control over the main gun and fire control systems. If he is incapacitated, the commander can take control of the main gun.

The gunner and commander of the Lariat 1A1 MBT are each given something considered antiquated to most current tank crew – a completely analog fire control system augmented by a size/range comparison plate with a provision for a secondary laser-rangefinder. A mechanical computer is also provided. The analog fire control systems were added to all in-service MCA-7Cs due to a common criticism of the tanks’ fire control and targeting systems in relation to the sometimes very rough terrain encountered in Coorsota. Most problems occurred during trials or training exercises when the tank in question was on the move and preparing to fire on a target, and hit a rock ledge. The subsequent impact and jolt, although not enough to actually damage the tank, did its number on the sensitive electronics within, often knocking out one or more LCD screens and partially disabling some fire control systems. From this point forward, the tank couldn’t effectively fire its main gun until the tank could be serviced in the field. The experiences led to the shock-dampening of all electronics in the Lariat 1A1 MBT, including all monitors in cased in a shock absorbing cradle. The completely analog fire control system including manual gun elevation and traverse, would allow the tank to effectively operate without power to the turret control systems, when the primary and secondary fire control systems are disabled, or when the tank wishes to remain hidden yet still engage a target.

In addition to the above fire control and electronics, the Lariat 1A1 MBT carries the Cortronics VRC-9661 multiband, multimode tactical vehicular radio which provides HF (2-30 Mhz; long range strategic communications) and V/UHF (30-512 Mhz; short range tactical communications) radio communications ability in addition to digital communications between tanks (such as sharing firing data or coordinates, etc.). The system also provides inter-tank communications between the driver, commander, and gunner. In addition to this, the system’s “field telephone functionality” is diverted to an externally, rear mounted phone system which allows supporting infantry to use the communications system to communicate to the tank’s crew or to communicate with any other unit (from tanks and aircraft to infantry) within range. Finally, the VRC-9661 provides a GPS connection to allow for both satellite communications (if equipped) and geolocating abilities.

G25AGS3 “Outlaw” 25mm Autocannon

The G25AGS3, also known as the Krieimir 25mm Extiltrik 1a Coorsota, is a 25mm autocannon from Krieimir Nemitel group based off the Krieimir 25mm Mililtrik 1ia autocannon. The G25AGS3 is a high re-fire capable autocannon in the 25mm caliber, based off the Militrik 1ia series, and designed specifically for the M8 Lariat 1A1L Long Arm. Performance wise, it is capable of a sustained 1,500 rounds per minute firing rate and capable of performing a twenty round 4,000RPM burst for up to ten times within one minute. The G25AGS3 is variable RPM autocannon with 100 and 250 RPM steps starting from 500 RPM to 1,500 RPM automatic and up to a cooling-limited 4,000 RPM burst twenty rounds. Semiautomatic, and other burst options are also capable through the mechanical limiter which is linked to a digitalization system to allow fast operation from the gunner’s station.

Mechanics
The G25AGS3’s mechanical action is based off the Krieimir R116 Carbine, a caseless rifle made by Krieimir. The action found in the Extriltrik is known as a mechanically limited cylindrical rotary bolt. The action relies on a "cylindrical bolt" which is reffered to as the "cake", which rotates from 0 degrees from firing, to either 45 or 90 degrees for loading - which it can rotate a whole 360degrees to load or "twitch" in a rapid motion to the load angle and fire angle. The mechanical action that allows for the high re-fire work in recoil, as the drum is slightly unbalanced by mass while the recoiling energy is then directed to cause the rotation of the "cake". The mechanical limiter would then, by selection, limit the degrees of rotation the drum can travel to load a round and prepare to fire. The mechanical limiter would be also used to select if the autocannon would fire in semi-open or closed bolt. The "cake" of the action is internally cooled by a Peltier system that would in the Lariat, dump the excess heat off into the engine radiator, while using water cooling to transfer any remaining heat off; the cooling system is actually integrated into the autocannon mount in a discreet package to the left of the gun. Otherwise, the feed action is mechanically linked to the autocannon operation, thus allowing a feed without power.

Performance
The G25AGS3 autocannon is capable of achieving 4,000RPM in a limited burst of twenty rounds, whereas its sustained fire is 1,500RPM which can be sustained for up to 90 minutes in theory as long as cooling is actively functioning. However, under zero active cooling situations, the autocannon can fire at 500 RPM sustained to 45 minutes in theory. This is due to how the barrel is directly heat sunk as with the action in a path to the tank's radiator, combined with a Peltier system. The autocannon can feed from two or four ammo feeds, depending on the setup with the 45 and 90 degree feed angles, and if a splitting system is used or not. In the bolt assembly, the autocannon can communicate data to the round through the bolt, just before firing, thus eliminating the need of fuse setting through external means.

Heatsinking
The G25AGS3 is expected to be capable of reaching very high temperatures due to its burst rate, thus must be capable of quickly removing heat. The cooling system is composed of the passive cooling where the thermal shroud and inner contact of the turret can transfer part of the heat, where the active elements have a watercooling system to the turret ring, then a loop heat pipe array to the engine radiator, and the other element being a Peltier system to cool the assembly down rapidly when needed. This allows the G25AGS3 to fire its 4,000RPM twenty round bursts every five seconds without damage, and lowering its temperature to near ambient in a short amount of time. The cooling and heatsinking system fits cleanly into the autocannon, and integrates into the tank seamlessly.

Materials and Reliability
The G25AGS3 is built using a high strength steel alloy frame that contains the bolt assembly, the inner part of the "cake", and contacting section of the bolt using a titanium alloy for resistance against corrosion and temperature. Titanium alloys are also used in the limiter mechanism. The remaining outer part of the body is built using an aerospace grade aluminum that contains the frame. The recoil springs are made from high quality spring steel body with a prestrained titanium-vanadium coil fiber. The heatsinking sections of the cannon contain aluminum with hard anodized points of contact with dissimilar metals that can cause cold welding.

Due to the inertia type recoil action used to rotate the "cake" assembly, the G25AGS3 has a lack of gas related jams. As with its recoil action, the autocannon can be operated without electrical input, thus allowing for the crew to fire it under zero power conditions, as well as loading it under zero power conditions; combined with the feed being operated by this recoil action as well. The only parts that can fail in theory would be the mechanical limiter unit, which is used to select ammo types, limit the "cake assembly" rotation, and select the fire rate; and the bolt-firing assembly, of which is highly unlikely due to the over engineering done to ensure their durability. Inspections should be preformed every 25,000 rounds, and any required maintenance to be carried out. Generally maintenance would be needed to the "cake" assembly, surrounding carriage for "cake" assembly, and bolt assembly, as they are the parts that sustain the highest wear rate during firing. The mechanical limiter is capable of showing signs of wear before failure, and should last for the life of the tank. Otherwise, the recoil system should be checked every 25,000 rounds for any signs of fatigue, and replaced if required. The cooling system needs minimal maintenance, and is integrated with an alert system before failure, and should be inspected every 5,000 rounds, or when needed.

Ammunition Types
Four new ammunition types were produced specifically for use in the G25AGS3autocannon. The full length Type 29A AP-Frag type round, the full length Type 27A high velocity APFSDS, the reduced length Type 18A Dual Purpose Concussion HE round, and the Type 16A HE-Frag. The Type 29A, Type 18A, and Type 16A rounds can be fused for detonation on multiple conditions. All rounds use the Type 02 propellant case.

The Type 29A is a 25mm Armor Penetrating Fragmentation Core round that has an outer multilayer steel-graphite rolled sheet epoxy resin laminate jacketing containing a hardened tungsten carbide nose cone and inner DU core with the explosive and fusing assembly. The steel-graphite epoxy laminate was chosen over the alternate option of segmented microrods rolled into a sleeve on the round. Due to the extreme velocities the Type 29A can reach, the tungsten carbide portion of the nose is actually reduced in size, to accommodate several ablate layers of coating, which are dimpled as with the tungsten. During flight, the coatings will wear away from the high velocities, to reveal the inner coatings of varying rate of wear - shaped into stabilizing winglets. Due to the ablation rate, the parasitic drag of these winglets are minimal, however the aerodynamic gain is massive. The fuse settings are: Time, Time Post Penetration, Velocity Change, Impacts, Delayed Impact, and Non Fuse Activation.

The Type 27A is a High Velocity 12.7mm High Velocity APFSDS round, it is constructed of an outer steel-graphite epoxy laminate on a tungsten carbide sleeve around an inner DU penetrator with carbon fibrils for stabilization versus a fin system. The carbon fibrils are capable of improving aerodynamics through a large reduction of drag that can form into helical or conic shapes during flight. A side effect is the increase the armor penetration capability and lethality through reaching high temperatures during flight. They are arranged from being short to the front and longer in the back, trailing freely once the sabot has induced spin and fallen away. Due to the extreme velocities the penetrator can reach, the tungsten laminate portion of the nose is actually reduced in size, to accommodate several ablate layers of coating, which are dimpled as with the tungsten. During flight, the coatings will wear away from the high velocities, to reveal the inner coatings of varying rate of wear - shaped into stabilizing winglets. The outer steel-graphite laminate on carbide sleeve has a spiral type groove cut into them and then filled with a magnesium alloy gel that has a high flashpoint; the magnesium alloy gel would compress during flight, causing it to ignite and stabilize on trajectory to the target, when during impact if any magnesium gel remains, would splatter violently across the tank and burn. Due to the ablation rate, the parasitic drag of these winglets are minimal, however the aerodynamic gain is massive. There are no fusing options, however the post impact properties are similar to an incendiary fragmentation grenade; standoff and ERA may actually cause additional damage on less armored vehicles.

The Type 18A is a 25mm Dual Purpose Concussion High Explosive round and is constructed of an inert polymer shell construction with a mild steel rear body shell. The inner construction of the nose section is composed of layers of contact explosive behind a RDX mixed rear explosive which encases the fusing element of the shell with slight contacts going to the mild steel body that would connect to the primer. Against tanks on impact or delayed impact mode, the effects of the Type 18A can be much more damaging and lethal to the crew than a 25mm equivalent in HESH; the concussive forces are also quite deadly to infantry who are in, or outside of, a tank. The fuse settings are: Time, Time Post Impact, Velocity Change, Impact, and Non Fuse Activation.

The Type 16A is a 25mm High Explosive Fragmentation round is a relatively thin prestressed steel rear shell containing the nose and inner body that is constructed of a prestressed spring steel with a spiral groove lift patterning; the nose has a thin polymer shell over it as a ballistics cap. The inner construction has a similar nose to the Type 18A, where layers of contact explosives are inside the nose, but the rear is composed of a RDX mixed rear with spring steel plates that have been prestressed and created into a semi cylindrical pattern around them for additional fragmentation, which have an outer layer of explosive to detonate the outer shell. The fusing mechanism is in the core of this composition. The fragmentation of the Type 16A shell is, however, equivalent to much larger 60mm to 80mm autocannon shells, or even near the point of infantry level mortars. The fuse settings are: Time, Time Post Impact, Velocity Change, Impact, and Non Fuse Activation.

The Type 02 propellant case is a long, high temperature combustion cartridge case with an inner cubane base and graphite gel sheets containing a thin coat of nickel as an organometallic catalyst for the cubane base, wrapped in a spiral type pattern with small perforations for surface area. Versus the Type 03 propellant, the Type 02 is used on the Type 29A and Type 27A Armor Penetrating shells to maximize their momentum and penetration energy. The cubane base propellant and catalyzing graphite gel sheet with nickel plating allows shells fired from the G25AGS3 to reach velocities that cannot be achieved using conventional propellants or ETC systems within the same size or weight-energy ratio. This however means that projectiles can reach velocities high enough to cause them to become molten slag during flight, and thus must be accommodated for.

The Type 03 propellant is a short, high temperature combustion cartridge case with an inner cubane base and graphite gel sheets containing a thin coat of nickel as an organometallic catalyst for the cubane base, wrapped in a spiral type pattern with small perforations for surface area. Versus the Type 02 propellant, the Type 03 is used on the Type 18A and Type 16A HE shells for capacity and the capability to "lob" over longer ranged targets. Unlike the Type 25A propellant, the shortened length does not propel shells fired from the G25AGS3 to velocities high enough that in the atmosphere they can become molten slag, however HE shells still reach velocities considered "high" for HE rounds from autocannons.

Alternatively, other forms of propellant and shells can be used as long as they fit within the G25AGS3 specifications.

Burst Utilization
Due to the 4,000RPM burst capability, the G25AGS3 is capable of being lethal to many targets on the battlefield due to its multiple repeat hit capability on the same armor area, enabling a delivery of AP rounds followed by HE rounds fused to detonate slightly after the range of the enemy armor surface, either killing crew or destroying anything on the interior. Otherwise, AP streams are capable of penetrating a greater distance than main guns in many cases due to the sudden, rapid, continuous hit stream; this allows the G25AGS3 to be highly effective in the 25mm caliber. The HE round capability is as lethal due to the capability to cause aggressive abrasion of enemy tanks. Otherwise, the capability of the streaming of the rounds is enhanced by the aerodynamic effect of drafting, where the rounds behind the leading round will remain within the "stream" versus going off into a slightly different trajectory.


Ammunition Performance
Type 29A

Effective Lethal Range: > 5km
Velocity: > 4,500m/s at 1atm at sea level
Penetration at 0: > 575mm RHAe and Krieimir MFA1 Heavy Armor Simulation Target with lethal spalling
Lethal Fragmentation Range: 3m
Incapacitating Fragmentation Range: 10m
Fragmentation Pattern is conic patterned with sharp side expansion and moderate to rear combined with small shards of burning DU.
Survives and functions after 50g shock


Type 27A

Effective Lethal Range: > 5km
Velocity: > 9,300m/s at 1atm at sea level
Penetration at 0: > 900mm RHAe and Krieimir MFA1 Heavy Armor Simulation Target with heavy spalling
Lethal Fragmentation Range: 10m
Incapacitating Fragmentation Range: 30m
Fragmentation Pattern is composed of burning DU shards in a conic pattern post penetration of 10mm RHA plate.
Survives and functions after 50g shock


Type 16A

Effective Lethal Range: > 5km
Velocity: > 1,950m/s at 1atm at sea level
Penetration at 0: > 1mm and causes spalling in Krieimir MFA1 Heavy Armor Simulation Target
Lethal Blast Range: 3m
Lethal Concussion Range: 5m
Incapacitating Blast Range: 8m
Incapacitating Concussion Range: 15m
Survives and functions after 100g shock


Type 18A

Effective Lethal Range: > 5km
Velocity: > 1,500m/s at 1atm at sea level
Penetration at 0: > 5mm with surface damage from fragmentation
Lethal Blast Range: 1m
Lethal Fragmentation Range: 25m
Incapacitating Blast Range: 2m
Incapacitating Fragmentation: 80m
Survives and functions after 200g shock


Type 22A Propellent Cartridge

Fire resistant to 300C
Survives and functions after 400g shock
Cartridge capable of surviving and functioning after 100lbs/in^3


Type 22A Propellent Cartridge

Fire resistant to 300C
Survives and functions after 450g shock
Cartridge capable of surviving and functioning after 100lbs/in^3


Krieimir MFA1 Heavy Armor Simulation Target

2x200mm + 1x200mm RHA plates with Kontakt 5 ERA standoff plus Kontakt 1 ERA in three layers combined with 2x50mm Chobham plates with 2x25mm tungsten plates on interior with 2x25mm steel plates on exterior and 4x40mm aluminum plates combined with 4x 10mm rubber plates between.

Bump, sorry I've been busy/gone for awhile and haven't accomplished much of anything.

How about that IFV?!

Sorry Anselmus, I got very busy off-line, but this here, a few posts up, is the autocannon I was talking about, and very shortly I should have it finished. Within a week or so I'll have the IFV done.

How about that IFV, boyo?