Lyras
01-02-2008, 23:29
Specifications – LY4A1 Wolfhound Main Battle Tank, Protectorate of Lyras
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Key Data
Crew 3 (Driver, Commander, Gunner)
Dimensions
Length (With Gun Forward) 9.52m
Height 2.68m
Width 4.1m (+ 0.60m with slat armour fitted)
Weight 75.83 tonnes
Ground Clearance Variable. Default at 50cm
Performance
Maximum (Governed) Speed 87 kph (54.4mph)
Cross Country Speed 63.4 kph
Speed, 10% Slope 31 kph
Speed, 60% slope 15 kph
Acceleration 0kph to 32 kph in 6.8 seconds
Range 600 km (505 km at operational cruising speed)
Manoeuvrability
Vertical Obstacle Crossing 116 cm (45 in)
Trench 300 cm (10 ft)
Suspension Hydropneumatic
Armament
Main Armament 120mm 55 calibre ETC smoothbore LY402 (45 rnds)
Coaxial Weapon KWF PAK2 25mm automatic cannon (550 rnds) OR 14.7mm LY60 HMG
Commander's Weapon 7.62mm machine gun, LY64 (2,400 rnds) on powered remote rotary platform OR 14.7mm LY60 HMG (700 rnds).
Additional Laterally mounted 4 barrelled multi-purpose grenade launchers
2 x TPFMI MkII “Helios II” BVR ATGM
Power
Propulsion 50L LY664 V10 multi-fuel propane-injected twin-turbo diesel 2,000 HP (1,500 kW) at 3000RPM.
Transmission Hydropneumatic automatic transmission (5 fwd gears, 2 rvse)
Power-to-Weight Ratio 26.37hp/ton
Armour and Protection
Armour Chobham, 4th Generation Composite, ERA blocks, slat attachments, dU mesh, North Point applique armour.
NBC Protection SCFM, clean cooled air, LYMkII CBRN overpressure system.
Missile Countermeasures GOLIATH APS.
Background to LY4 Wolfhound
Despite the tremendous export success of the LY3A1/2 Warhound series, the project had had its detractors from the start. While highly capable, and delivering all that it had claimed it would, the LY3 had a number of important issues, primarily, but not limited to, logistics. The LY3 was extremely heavy, very long, wide, and phenomenally logistics intensive to maintain in the field, due to its very high power, highly fuel-inefficient engine. These factors would limit its export capability, in a period when the Protectorate is increasingly keen to capitalise on a highly lucrative source of revenue.
Further, even while the first production run of the LY3 was rolling off, Protectorate Research and Development was examining methods of dropping weight, increasing deployability, and, most importantly, bringing the Protectorate's MBTs into functional integration and network commonality with the increasingly coherent and information-focused Lyran Defence Force.
Although the LY3 Warhound series was seen as more than sufficient to counter any feasible anti-Lyran conflicts, a work was to develop and field a more advanced main battle tank with heavy emphasis on networking and international integration, a Lyran first, and brought about in large part due to export concerns. While the Warhound series has, to date, yielded in excess of NS$300bn in foreign currency earnings, foreign competition has still seen the lion's share of international arms trade. Coalition-focussed, co-operative, innovative and forward thinking designing of the new LY4 Wolfhound has allowed the Lyran Defence Force to export the newly developed tank into a highly competitive and discerning world market. Lyras has traditionally focused on entirely domestic production of locally developed, tested and manufactured weapons systems, and thus the country has, until recently, been unwilling to participate in the international military market in large scale. The Warhound tested the waters. The Wolfhound will change the face of the international market for leading edge MBTs.
The Protectorate Research and Development Commission was charged with the task of developing a new main battle tank with state-of-the-art technologies, deriving those technologies from anywhere, and, importantly, not restricting themselves to Lyran designs. Having little experience in designing an entire main battle tank, several Lyran allies were nonetheless able to contribute niche expertise to advance the final project. The People's Freedom, Holy Empire of Verenberg and even North Calaveras assisting in elements of the Wolfhound's development or equipment. Over the course of several years and costing approximately NS$290m, the design was finally confirmed as production-ready. Somewhere in the area of 25% of the vehicle's design is non-Lyran, a new benchmark in allied co-operation. The vehicle is manufactured by Lyran Arms, at the Bredubar, Eastcudgel and Castlegate Manufacturing Zones.
The LY4 is, in many ways, a revolutionary, rather than evolutionary vehicle; in many ways it is truly ground breaking. It pioneers Lyran use of high energy military-grade ETC technology, and, even more importantly, it finally establishes the oft-maligned Cromwell system as the global benchmark for force interconnectivity and information warfare supremacy.
The LY4 is intended to be a true combined arms platform, integrated into a modern, sophisticated defence force that is willing and able to deploy the most advanced technological systems. The Wolfhound was built to be able to slide seamlessly into such a force, and provide long ranged, high endurance, high survivability, rapid reacting, self-directing and highly lethal elements to such an organisation.
Background to LY4A1 upgrade
Over a number of years, the LY4 Wolfhound has become one of the most widely exported and extensively utilised armoured fighting vehicles in history, with over a million in service in more than thirty countries. Several new developments in main gun technology, however, began to pose a threat to the existing armour schemes of most MBTs on the international market, and the Executive Command Staff, provided with forewarning of the deployment of burst-firing AT guns by successful operations of Lyran Intelligence, pushed hard for a pre-emptive upgrade program.
The main components of the A1 upgrade were the shift from Helios I to Helios II, the dramatically increased modular nature of the secondary weapons systems, and the upgrade from the WATCHKEEPER to GOLIATH APS system.
The LY4A1 has been specifically upgraded to provide significantly improved survivability against high-lethality anti-armour systems, thus allowing the more flexible weapons options to be utilised as required, within the high-tempo, high-threat battlespace.
Main Armament
The LY4A1's main gun, unchanged from the LY4, is an LY402 120mm, 55 calibre (6.6m) electrothermal chemically fired smoothbore, and is autofrettaged and stress-hardened to increase durability over extended periods of firing.
For some time, MBTs the world over have been increasing in speed, armour protection and lethality, and it was becoming more and more evident that the conventionally propelled MBT main gun was reaching its zenith. Main gun bore diameter and projectile sizes can only get so large before the size of the projectile limits the amount of ammunition carried, making vehicle combat ineffective. While the LY3 series sidestepped the issue, in part, by the simple recourse of making the entirety of the platform notably larger, that was always seen as a somewhat stopgap solution to the issue of technological advancement. So while the simple answer may have been to go with a bigger gun, because it had the very real advantage of being available immediately, it was generally accepted within the Protectorate that alternate means of delivering increased muzzle energy had to be considered.
Prolonged testing, carried out in parallel to the development of the LY3 series lead to several divergent paths, all of which the Protectorate is involved in examining.
Railguns were considered, but it was quickly established that current technology prevented their implementation on a platform of MBT size. Specifically, the power required was substantially greater than could be delivered by a tank-portable power cell. While the technology was determined to be well worth further investigation, the system was determined to not be sufficiently developed to warrant active attempts at implementation in the short term.
Related coilgun technology was also considered, and demonstrated similar issues to the railgun, complicated by extensive wear on numerous components in addition to the barrel itself.
Even evaluations of acquired former Upper Virginian examples of the Varessan-designed 'Crimson Star' magnetic catapult system were inconclusive, although primarily due to the absence of the finer aspects of what remains a very closely guarded piece of Commonwealth technology.
As a result, the electrothermal chemical system was adopted, almost more as an affirmation of the limits of current understanding than anything else.
Nevertheless, trials of several ETC-based weapons systems were conducted at the Lughenti Testing Range, with differing but generally positive results.
Logistics eventually dictated the selection, with the 120mm projectile selected, due to high parts commonality with already existing 120mm rounds.
Extensive testing of multiple means of propellant ignition lead to the selection of an adaptive plasma-based flashboard large area emitter (FLARE) coupled with the development and production of liquid propellant, designed to, in concert, increase muzzle energy into the area of 21 MJ, a similar energy to a mid-level 140mm gun. While still not as powerful as the 65 calibre 155mm LY366 fitted to the LY3 series, the notably lighter weight of the LY402 (lighter in the order of several tonnes) allowed for a substantially lighter tank, despite upgrades to armour and a far more extensive integrated electronics suite, despite upgrades to armour and a far more extensive integrated electronics suite, without sacrificing lethality.
In order to handle the dramatically increased recoil force brought about by the adoption of ETC technology, a muzzle brake was fitted, in addition to the installation of a new 600mm recoil mechanism.
The turret of the Wolfhound was designed around the autoloader in order to avoid the problems common to other tanks fielding autoloaders. The Wolfhound autoloader allows a rate of fire of 15 shots per minute and holds 30 rounds of ready ammunition; it can accommodate up to six different types of ammunition at once, and unlike most autoloader systems it can change ammunition types after a round has been loaded into the breech. A further 15 rounds are stored in the hull, and while slower to use, are available for combat without interrupting ongoing operations. The most common types of round carried are the armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) with a depleted uranium core and the high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round, although Lyran-modified M1028 120mm canister rounds using liquid propellant are also available in large quantities.
Additional armament
As with the LY4, the LY4A1 utilises a medium autocannon as a co-axial weapon for use against light vehicles, the excellent and battle-tested KWF PAK2 25mm automatic cannon being again chosen. The PAK2 can destroy lightly armoured vehicles and aerial targets (such as helicopters and slow-flying aircraft). It can also suppress enemy positions such as exposed troops, dug-in positions, and occupied built-up areas.
This chain-driven weapon system uses sprockets and extractor grooves to actively feed, load, fire, extract, and eject rounds. A system of clutches provides for the use of alternates thus allowing the gunner to switch between armour piercing, high explosive and high explosive incendiary rounds, as well as manually selecting the rate of fire.
It has a rating of 31,000 mean rounds between stoppage (MRBS), which is much higher than many comparable devices.
Cartridge; 25mm x 216mm
Operation: chain gun (1.5hp)
Feeds: Disintegrating link belt
Weight: 115kg
Length: 2.25m
Muzzle velocity; 1200m/s
ROF: Cyclic 200 +/- 25 RPM
Max effective range; 2200m
Max range; 6800m
The standard LY64 7.62mm machine gun, essentially analogous to an FN MAG, can also be fitted atop a command-operated remote weapon station, for conventional anti-personnel, general defence roles.
Also available, though rarely fielded, is the LY60 HMG. The LY60 heavy machine gun was one of the first weapons designed and produced by Lyras, appearing in both watercooled and aircooled versions. Combat experience demonstrated that the aircooled version was highly suitable for many applications, following a modest increase in the mass of the barrel, and it is in the aircooled version that the LY60 serves today. In AA roles, the LY60 is used on several Lyran AA platforms, and serves as the primary co-axial weapon of the LY2 Mastiff series. The weapon is a belt fed, short recoil operated, open bolt, fully automatic weapon. Metallic disinitegrating link belts can feed it from either the left or right of the reciever. The quick change barrel is removable with the barrel jacket as a unit. The bore is chromium plated to increase barrel life and durability. The weapon fires the the LY112 14.7 x 115mm cartridge. The LY60 has a maximum effective range of 1400m against air targets, and 2200m against ground targets. The standard firing controls consist of a push-type thumb trigger and sear release buttons located between the dual spade grips. Alternatively, an electric trigger can be installed for mounted vehicle applications. The gun is simple in design and rugged in construction, and considered one of the most reliable heavy machine guns in service anywhere in the world.
The LY60 entered mass production as an infantry support weapon, with a tripod mount designed at the Lughenti Test Range. Within three years, the heavy Lughenti Type-I mount was replaced by a lighter design, and it is the Type-II that continues to see service within Lyran infantry formations. Guns produced prior to the arrival of the Type II mount have been retrospectively upgraded.
The infantry version of the LY60, however, had a relatively short primacy within Lyras, being replaced in numerical majority by the version fielded as primary armament for several LY219 variants. It also finds use in several anti-aircraft roles, alongside the KWF PAK2 25mm cannon.
Very similar to the Soviet-designed KPV, the LY60 provides almost double the muzzle energy of a conventional 12.7mm (ie, .50 caliber) weapon. With muzzle velocities between 960 - 1030 meters per second and bullet weights near 60grams, the LY60 generates muzzle energy of about 32 kilojoules, and, again similarly to the KPV, penetrated over 30mm of steel armor at 500 meters range and approximately 20mm at 1000 meters.
When vehicle mounted, LY60s feature still-heavier barrels and longer belts.
Cartridge; 0.588 cal (14.7mm x 115mm)
Operation: Short-recoil automatic, open bolt
Method of locking: roller locking
Feeds: Disintegrating link belt
Weight: (with bipod): 45.15kg
Length: 1.625m
Muzzle velocity; 960-1030m/s
ROF: Cyclic 600-700 RPM
Max effective range, bipod; 800m
tripod or pintle: 2200m
The Wolfhound mounts two lateral grenade launchers. Each launcher is electronically-fired, and consists of four barrels which can be intermixed with either smoke, fragmentation or chaff grenades. The smoke grenades are capable of shrouding the tank from visual or thermal detection, and the chaff grenades are utilised as a means of breaking up the tank's radar cross-section.
Helios II Anti-Tank Guided Missile
The LY4A1, as with its LY4 predecessor, utilises side of turret mounted, box-launched ATGMs, and again like the LY4 utilises the Helios series, in this case the Helios II. Helios II was developed following a decision by High Command of TPF to design and implement a new gun-launched anti-tank guided missile. The decision was based on the fact that the original ATGM designed for next-generation Prussian main battle tanks and armoured fighting vehicles had been a dismal failure and something of an embarrassment to the otherwise highly effective and professional TPF military. According to High Command and the Army Office of Weapons Systems, the new missile should have the capability to destroy any MBT on the market today, with the minimum of trouble. In addition, High Command ordered that the missiles have Beyond Visual Range capability, to take advantage of the Army's and Marine's new high-tech information orientated battlespace. In short, the intent was to field a system able to destroy hostile MBTs while they remained outside of visual and gun range. A number of corporations and teams began work, and in June of that year, Vickers Tank Factory won the contract.
The Helios was designed to be a high-speed, top attack, ATGM. Vickers incorporated a number of unique (or at least rare) design features to achieve this end. Helios utilises a tri-seeking warhead, which allows it to select one of a number of means to acquire and destroy designated targets. The primary seeker, which is most commonly used, is the missile's radar. Using millimetric radar, the Helios II is able to acquire, identify and track and engage enemy AFV's. The secondary seeker-head is a laser beam-rider. This was primarily designed to allow UAV's and special forces (and also regular infantry if equipped with laser designators), to target enemy AFV's and employ the anti-armour capabilities of an MBT from BVR. The third and final seeker is a fiber-optic guided seeker. This is perhaps the most jam-proof and secure way of guidance, but it is limited in range. In order to defeat and confuse active protection systems, which generally utilise radar for targeting, two independent counter-measures were integrated into the Helios II. The first was an active radar-jamming device, designed mainly to jam the NS-standard millimeter wave length APS radar, thus allowing successful bypass of most APS systems. The second counter-measure is a conventional (albeit compact) chaff dispenser. This also allows for it to confuse the APS radar by presenting a number of false positive contacts. Helios itself is designed to be gun-launched, propelled by the tanks main cannon, but can be box-launched when booster-assisted. Upon clearing the firing platform and reaching required velocity, the missile's ramjet fires, propelling the missile to mach 3.5. Helios then goes into top-attack mode, whereupon it identifies the target, adjusts and then dives at the target at engagement velocity.
Helios II's warhead is a tandem-charge HEAT system, with the first (EFP) charge designed to initiate any ERA while the second, a shallow cone shaped charge, provides the majority of the penetration/damage. The tandem charge also allows it to penetrate any roof-mounted reactive armor, which is increasingly common on many vehicles.
Seeker: Tri-Seeker, Radar, Laser, Fiber-Optic
Warhead: One Explosively Formed Penetrator, One Shallow Cone Shaped Charge
Propellant: Gun- or box-launched, ramjet assisted.
Range: 14km
Penetration: ~1,000 IRHA equivalent
[B]Active Protection System
The LY4A1 Wolfhound uses a new active protective system developed from the world-benchmark WATCHKEEPER. The new system has been named GOLIATH, and, like its ancestor, has been developed in partnership with Krupp Steel of The People's Freedom.
The WATCHKEEPER APS has become one of the most well-known and effective active protection systems available today, owing much of its success to the tremendous export success of the LY4 Wolfhound MBT, LY219 Ironheart series of combat vehicles, and LY6 Werewolf Assault Gun, the former two in particular being some of the most widely exported armored fighting vehicles in the world. Originally an interim solution by TPF to Lyran requirements for an APS suite, TPF designers, despite the system's success, often thought of it has an interim measure.
Responsible for a great number of saved vehicles, especially amongst the LY219s fighting on the Cancun peninsula during the Mokan Civil War WATCHKEEPER nevertheless proved to have some trouble targeting and destroying multiple threats that originated from greater than 30 degrees elevation. Thus, designers began work on the GOLIATH, which was to be a multi-tiered system that could combat multiple threat natures effectively, quickly, reliably and flexibly.
GOLIATH detects incoming missiles by two means, one by millimeter wavelength radar (mounted on seven flat-panel antennae with a combined field of 360°/6400mils), and the other by LIDAR. This dual-mode sensor input provides a higher degree of redundancy against any failures or jamming methods, and has raised reliability against a number of active anti-countermeasure systems. The system has a reaction time of 0.4 seconds.
The first defensive mechanism GOLIATH employs is a soft-kill suite. The suite includes a number of features designed to confuse or misdirect enemy guided anti-tank systems. Primarily, the system uses the 'Gold' targeting program, interlinked to the databanks of the Cromwell II, which identifies incoming projectiles, classifies and prioritises them for intercept. By way of illustration, the system would engage a Helios II, Koronet and Javelin, most likely in that order, while ignoring the three incoming RPGs. In addition, the Gold computer automatically deploys applicable alternate counter-measures including IR-suppressant smoke grenades and electro-optical jammers.
In addition to the soft-kill suite, GOLIATH also features an advanced and layered hard-kill suite. The first layer employs four 2.5 inch kinetic kill rockets. These rockets are designed to engage and destroy incoming targets out to 600 meters. This allows the tank to eliminate threats before they become of concern to the shorter ranged systems. The rockets also have an increased proportional effectiveness against air-launched ATGMs.
The second tier of the hard-kill suite is the most widely used system, and consists of four bundles of grenades, each consisting of four grenades a piece. This allows the GOLIATH to engage many multiple targets at the same time, while still providing a firm degree of protective target neutralisation. The second tier system can reach out to just over 100 meters.
The final tier is based more directly on the WATCHKEEPER, and is rarely employed, and generally only in the case of ammunition expenditure in the previous two tiers. The Cromwell fire control computer detects the incoming weapons system and calculates an approach vector. Once the attack is fully classified, the Cromwell system determines, if required, the best time and angle to fire the 3rd tier of GOLIATH. The response comes from four launchers installed on the vehicle, two on each side of the turret. The launchers can pivot/rotate onx and y axes, and can therefore engage targets in any direction that the fire control computer deems necessary. The launchers fire a spread of tungsten balls, similar to the projectiles of an M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel weapon, at the target at ranges out to 25 meters. The system is reloadable and there is a total of eight spreads.
The LY4A1 also sports an impressive suite of active ECM as a means of defeating incoming radar guided missiles, and the suite is usually activated if detection equipment determines that multiple radar signatures are illuminating the vehicle in question.
Networking, Sensory and Fire Control System
The LY4A1 Wolfhound, as with all contemporary and planned Lyran-designed vehicles, uses the Cromwell II fire control and battlespace integration system as the basis of its electronic and information warfare suite. Cromwell II system inputs and actively seeks information from a wide variety of sensory sources, including (but not limited to) the thermal or daylight weapon sight, GPS, a laser rangefinder, automatic crosswind sensor, barometer, meteorlogical datastreams, a pendulum static cant sensor, ammunition type and temperature and so on.
Cromwell II system is part of an integrated and adaptive battlespace network that maximises combat lethality, performance, output and enables command and control on an unprecedented scale. Information is sourced not only from multiple sources on the individual platform, but from every Cromwell II equipped friendly vehicle within the battlespace, which provides constant informational updates across a broad spectrum of sources, both known to the operators, and operating below their awareness.
The Cromwell II system utilises this information to compute a firing solution for the gunner, based upon analysis of the target beneath the reticle. This is achieved in less time than it would take the gunner to depress the firing stud. The firing solution that Cromwell II generates ensures a near-perfect hit percent at standard ranges, across all conditions.
At the most basic level, the Cromwell II system aims to accelerate engagement cycles and increase operational tempo at all levels of the warfighting system. This acceleration is achieved by providing a mechanism to rapidly gather and distribute targeting information, and rapidly issue directives. Cromwell II's ultra-high speed networking permits error-free, high integrity transmission in a bare fraction of the time required for voice-based transmission, and permits transfer of a wide range of data formats, from a multitude of compatible sources
Well implemented networking, using the Cromwell II system, can contribute to improved effectiveness in other ways as well. Rather than micromanage a Wolfhound or similar Cromwell-equipped platform with close control via a command link tether (such as a radio), networked platforms are given significant autonomy, defined objectives, and allowed to take the initiative in how they meet these objectives. The size, integration and scope of the networked Cromwell II system enables the equipped vehicles to respond to events as they happen, with less reliance on top-down direction.
The system, in its entirety, is fully insulated against electronic interference and data-hacking, and all communications and information exchange programs are 512 bit encrypted to ensure maximum network security.
All crew stations are fitted with Networked Independent Thermal Viewers, which can be used to locate targets and pass them on to each other, to their peer units, or to the networked higher command, to ensure optimum engagement flexibility. The thermal sight uses NS (and Lyran) standard common modules, with 120 element cadmium mercury telluride, CdHgTe (also known as CMT) infra-red detector array operating in the 8 to 14 micron waveband. The infra-red detector units are cooled with a closed-cycle engine.
As a feature new to the LY4 series, as developed for the LY6 and being retrofitted to previous hardware as part of the ongoing maintenance cycle, the electrics are composed of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) circuitry, rendering the vehicle proof against electromagnetic interference or EMP-based attack, although itself a highly expensive addition.
Armour
In general the LY4A1 Wolfhound borrows heavily from the superb armour of its LY3 and LY4 predecessors, protected by multiple forms of armour as standard. Chobham, a form of composite armor composed of multiple layers of steel and ceramic, forms a large portion of the defensive mix, as does explosive reactive armour, which is fitted as standard to the turret and forward hull areas, as standard. Fireproof armoured bulkheads seperate the crew compartment from the rear-mounted engine bay.
Fuel and ammunition are located within armoured sub-compartments, with integral blowout panels and anti-spalling kevlar liners, although steltexolites are used as spalling to protect the internals of the crew compartment, given its greater resilience to armour piercing AT weapons. The steltexolite spall liners also provide a high degree of noise and thermal insulation, making the Wolfhound one of the quietest tanks to operate in on the market.
As was featured in the LY3A2, the Wolfhounds incorporate depleted uranium (DU) mesh in their armour. Unlike the LY3A2, which had it placed to the fore of the turret and in the forward sections of the low-profile hull, the Wolfhound capitalises on the reductions in weight brought about by the downsizing of the main gun and turret, by significantly up-armouring. DU mesh is applied to not just the forward of the turret and hull, but also to the traditionally more vulnerable areas of the side, rear and top of the tank. Armour bolstered by this DU is considerabley better protected against medium and high-grade anti-tank weaponry, but the Wolfhound has ended up carrying an additional two tonnes of armour, turret notwithstanding, when compared to the older LY3 series.
Wolfhounds are, like the LY3 series, designed to be fitted with slat (or bar) armour, which is a simple “cage” on the outside of the hull, designed to detonate anti-tank weapons before they contact the main body of the MBT. This also increases the weight fractionally, but, especially in urban operations, is more important in that it adds an additional 30 cm of width to both sides of the vehicle. Lyran Wolfhounds are universally equipped with slat armour as standard, viewing that the drawbacks are far outweighed by the benefits that the armour provides against many forms of anti-tank weaponry.
Building on the observed successes of the Arca IV Nakil series, the Wolfhound has a major armour difference from its forebears in the distribution of the armour across the tank. Instead of applying armour protection in accordance with the global norms, Lyran Arms followed on what is increasingly likely to become a trend established by the well protected Nakil, and has distributed its armour protection more evenly, reinforcing the engine bays, side armour and turret top. In addition, the Wolfhound series has reshaped and up-armoured the underside of the chassis, as well as relocating in-chassis ammunition storage. Trials (very expensive trials!) have demonstrated that Wolfhound crews (not the tanks, unfortunately) survive the detonation of an anti-tank mine under the tank without suffering any injuries.
In response to burst-firing main guns being fielded by several nations, Lyran personnel enquired of Krupp Industries of TPF as to the possibility of developing a new form of armour suitable for up-armouring the LY4 series. After an extensive design and implementation process, the Bismarck armour, for which Krupp Industries had purchased rights to, was selected as the basis. Given that, from the outset, the new armour would be appliqué in nature (allowing for extensive retrofitting), emphasis was placed on creating effective armour that would not drastically increase the weight of the LY4 which was already heavy at just over seventy tons. The new armour system for the LY4A1 came to be known as 'North Point'.
Designers decided that there would be three primary layers added to the glacis and turret of the LY4. The first layer was a thick plate of approximately 80mm in actual thickness which correlated to an additional 350mm of RHAe equivalence. This plate consists of ceramic backed up significantly by heavy metals. First layer North Point relies primarily on boron carbide sandwiched between layers of Improved Rolled Homogenous Armour (IRHA). This plate is slanted at 45 degrees to further assist the defeat of kinetic penetrators and chemical energy (ie HEAT) threats.
The second layers is a backing to the first, and serves to utilise heavy metals to help defeat kinetic penetrators and explosively formed plasma jets. Due to weight limitations, this layering is only 20mm in actual thickness and consists of a IRHA plate embedded with depleted uranium pellets.
The third layer consists mainly of a specially designed Heavy Explosive Reactive Armor set [HERA] which is meant to provide high levels of protection for the tank with (proportionally) little gain in weight. The HERA, named “Rainmaker” uses a system of operation whereupon the offending projectile in engaged by the “rays” [Small EFPs] of the HERA and thus deflecting the projectile or (in some cases) actually destroying LRPs, thus drastically reducing penetrating ability of the offensive system.
North Point is composed of “bricks” making each “brick” easily replaceable once used and allowing the system to be fitted to LY4s already in service. The “bricks” are lightweight (at around 3kg) and this allows them to be positioned on as many areas of the tank as needs require. On the LY4A1 these are not only positioned on the frontal glacis and turret front and sides, but also on the sides of the vehicle, thus providing a high degree of protection against side threats.
The bricks are smaller than the armour plates on which they sit, and as such it is extremely unlikely that, in the advent of engagement by a vehicle employing a burst-fire main gun, the burst will strike the same brick. As a consequence, the chances of penetration being scored by a burst firing weapon against a North Point equipped LY4A1 is substantially lowered relative to its unaugmented counterpart. North Point has added a total of 5.6 tons to the overall weight of the original LY4.
Finally, the turret roof of the LY4A1 has been mounted with non-explosive reactive armor [NxRA] bricks. These thick bricks grant the tank multiple hit capability against threats such as explosively formed penetrators, and thus is the most effective lightweight solution that can be provided to an area not condusive to HERA employment.
An automatic, location-specific fire-suppression system is also fitted as standard to detect and render safe any internal fires that might erupt.
Propulsion and mobility
While the LYM 663 Bw-404 engine that powered the LY3 series proved highly effective, and lived up to its promises, the Protectorate didn't quite appreciate the enormous strains that the 2500hp V12 would put on their logistics tail. The heavy, up-engined LY3 guzzled petrol at a rate almost three times higher than any other tank the Protectorate has ever fielded.
So, in addition to the weight already saved by the replacement of the 155mm LY366 main gun and the shortening of the hull by nearly 2.5 metres, it was decided to utilise a smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient engine that should nevertheless deliver equal or similar performance on the new chassis. As such, a new engine was designed from scratch, based on similar but more advanced Varessan and Pantocratorian designs. Care was taken within Protectorate Research and Development not to ask about how the plans and specifications came to the table.
The new engine, dubbed the LYM 665, was a propane-injected, intercooled twin turbo-charged 50L V10, generating 2000hp at 3000RPM. This gave the Wolfhound a still high hp/ton ratio of 26.37.
There are numerous differences to the total propulsion system, however. The most notable addition to the engine that was not featured on the earlier LY3 series (although it was on the LY4) is a new link to the Cromwell system, which keeps track of the temperatures of each individual segment of the engine, and both monitors and records engine stresses. This then notifies both the operators and higher command when replacement or repair is required for components, as well as when the engine or parts of it are coming due for routine maintenance. Over time, this reduces attrition to an armoured unit, and increases total combat readiness. The Cromwell system is also responsible for monitoring the active cooling of the vehicle's exhaust, as a means of reducing the tank's thermal signature.
Unlike the older variant, however, the more modern hydro-pneumatic automatic transmission (built under licence) features a five forward, two reverse system, which, when coupled with the Wolfhound's lighter weight compared to the earlier Warhounds, has lead to a considerable increase in vehicular performance, especially in range, but also in agility.
The new vehicle, despite a 20% less powerful and several tons lighter engine is now one of the fastest MBTs on the market, with a a governed top speed of 87 kph (54.4 mph) on paved roads, and 65.4 kph (40.875 mph) cross-country. With the governor deactivated, the Wolfhound, on sealed roads, can reach speeds of around 120 kph (75 mph) but at a greatly increased risk of damage to the drive train or tracks, and notable reduction in both range and drive system service life. Furthermore, these speeds will tend to greatly degrade road surfaces. The engine governer can be set to “off” by the commander if the circumstances require, a feature the Wolfhound has inherited from the LY3 series, in which it has proven highly useful.
A further, important, alteration of the powerplant is the addition of dual auxiliary power units, to provide functionality while the main engine is off, and also to assist in starting the main engines particularly in cold conditions. The APUs can provide power to all systems while the main engine is shut down, another design allowing maximum flexibility and responsiveness to the MBT and battleforce, as a whole.
The entire engine is also fitted with deployable sand filters for use in high-sand environments, such as deserts or certain parts of the littoral.
A number of near-misses in early model Wolfhounds has also lead to the addition of driver rear-vision cameras for manoeuvering in close country or urban environments.
Tracks are fairly standard, with seven road wheels and two drive rollers, with only the rear roller on each side unshrouded.
Crew Amenities
Like the LY4, the LY4A1 contains a drink point, providing hot water, cold water, and with two further compartments that can be filled with hot or cold drinks of the crew or unit's choice. As well as being morale boosting, hot water in particular can be of direct military value, with it being used to brew tea or coffee, produce other hot beverages and, most importantly, it is used for dehydrated ration packs common to many armies and armed services.
Situated immediately below the drink point is a small bar fridge, which can either carry spare rations, 'jack' rations, or approximately two cases of soft-drinks or equivalent.
The NBC system follows Lyran standard, and features quite adequately as a climate control system, making for working temperatures easily adjustable to every national or personal need (operating temperature range -40C to 55C).
Seat warmers/coolers are also fitted, to ensure greater comfort and optimise combat endurance and deployability of both crew and personnel being transported. The seats can also be adjusted, manually or electronically, to ensure optimum comfort and control access for any shape or size.
LY4A1s, like the LY4s, Ironhearts, Werewolves and Manticores, are also equipped, as standard, with integral high-speed wireless (satellite) broadband internet connections, allowing the crew to surf the internet, check their emails, or correspond with family. The provision of insulated external connections allows accompanying or transported personnel to simply plug in to the side of the vehicle, and then they to can go online. Vehicles with this feature, an increasing proportion of the Lyran arsenal, are invariably popular with the units that field them, or are attached to them, as they not only ensure vastly improved fire support, but also mean that personnel are going to get, hot (or cold) drinks, snacks and a way to talk to home, all of which ensures dramatically higher morale and the notably higher performance that such morale generates.
Export
Export versions are identical to Lyran versions, with most of the Lyran cryptographic and communications equipment being memory erased to prevent compromise. All are, however, still integratable into a single force, should the requirement to synchronise operations on a multinational basis arise. Modified and/or custom versions of the Wolfhound are available from the Lyran Protectorate, with costs altering as circumstances warrant.
Asgarnieu, Verenberg, TPF, Errikland, Bomble, the Federal Republic of Hamilay and and select other nations are eligible for special dispensation, if they wish to utilise the LY4/LY4A1.
Prices for export start at NS $12,000,000 per unit. Production licenses are available through negotiations with the Lyran Governmental Trade Department (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=541320). Refits to existing LY4s can be purchased at NS$2,000,000 a piece.
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Key Data
Crew 3 (Driver, Commander, Gunner)
Dimensions
Length (With Gun Forward) 9.52m
Height 2.68m
Width 4.1m (+ 0.60m with slat armour fitted)
Weight 75.83 tonnes
Ground Clearance Variable. Default at 50cm
Performance
Maximum (Governed) Speed 87 kph (54.4mph)
Cross Country Speed 63.4 kph
Speed, 10% Slope 31 kph
Speed, 60% slope 15 kph
Acceleration 0kph to 32 kph in 6.8 seconds
Range 600 km (505 km at operational cruising speed)
Manoeuvrability
Vertical Obstacle Crossing 116 cm (45 in)
Trench 300 cm (10 ft)
Suspension Hydropneumatic
Armament
Main Armament 120mm 55 calibre ETC smoothbore LY402 (45 rnds)
Coaxial Weapon KWF PAK2 25mm automatic cannon (550 rnds) OR 14.7mm LY60 HMG
Commander's Weapon 7.62mm machine gun, LY64 (2,400 rnds) on powered remote rotary platform OR 14.7mm LY60 HMG (700 rnds).
Additional Laterally mounted 4 barrelled multi-purpose grenade launchers
2 x TPFMI MkII “Helios II” BVR ATGM
Power
Propulsion 50L LY664 V10 multi-fuel propane-injected twin-turbo diesel 2,000 HP (1,500 kW) at 3000RPM.
Transmission Hydropneumatic automatic transmission (5 fwd gears, 2 rvse)
Power-to-Weight Ratio 26.37hp/ton
Armour and Protection
Armour Chobham, 4th Generation Composite, ERA blocks, slat attachments, dU mesh, North Point applique armour.
NBC Protection SCFM, clean cooled air, LYMkII CBRN overpressure system.
Missile Countermeasures GOLIATH APS.
Background to LY4 Wolfhound
Despite the tremendous export success of the LY3A1/2 Warhound series, the project had had its detractors from the start. While highly capable, and delivering all that it had claimed it would, the LY3 had a number of important issues, primarily, but not limited to, logistics. The LY3 was extremely heavy, very long, wide, and phenomenally logistics intensive to maintain in the field, due to its very high power, highly fuel-inefficient engine. These factors would limit its export capability, in a period when the Protectorate is increasingly keen to capitalise on a highly lucrative source of revenue.
Further, even while the first production run of the LY3 was rolling off, Protectorate Research and Development was examining methods of dropping weight, increasing deployability, and, most importantly, bringing the Protectorate's MBTs into functional integration and network commonality with the increasingly coherent and information-focused Lyran Defence Force.
Although the LY3 Warhound series was seen as more than sufficient to counter any feasible anti-Lyran conflicts, a work was to develop and field a more advanced main battle tank with heavy emphasis on networking and international integration, a Lyran first, and brought about in large part due to export concerns. While the Warhound series has, to date, yielded in excess of NS$300bn in foreign currency earnings, foreign competition has still seen the lion's share of international arms trade. Coalition-focussed, co-operative, innovative and forward thinking designing of the new LY4 Wolfhound has allowed the Lyran Defence Force to export the newly developed tank into a highly competitive and discerning world market. Lyras has traditionally focused on entirely domestic production of locally developed, tested and manufactured weapons systems, and thus the country has, until recently, been unwilling to participate in the international military market in large scale. The Warhound tested the waters. The Wolfhound will change the face of the international market for leading edge MBTs.
The Protectorate Research and Development Commission was charged with the task of developing a new main battle tank with state-of-the-art technologies, deriving those technologies from anywhere, and, importantly, not restricting themselves to Lyran designs. Having little experience in designing an entire main battle tank, several Lyran allies were nonetheless able to contribute niche expertise to advance the final project. The People's Freedom, Holy Empire of Verenberg and even North Calaveras assisting in elements of the Wolfhound's development or equipment. Over the course of several years and costing approximately NS$290m, the design was finally confirmed as production-ready. Somewhere in the area of 25% of the vehicle's design is non-Lyran, a new benchmark in allied co-operation. The vehicle is manufactured by Lyran Arms, at the Bredubar, Eastcudgel and Castlegate Manufacturing Zones.
The LY4 is, in many ways, a revolutionary, rather than evolutionary vehicle; in many ways it is truly ground breaking. It pioneers Lyran use of high energy military-grade ETC technology, and, even more importantly, it finally establishes the oft-maligned Cromwell system as the global benchmark for force interconnectivity and information warfare supremacy.
The LY4 is intended to be a true combined arms platform, integrated into a modern, sophisticated defence force that is willing and able to deploy the most advanced technological systems. The Wolfhound was built to be able to slide seamlessly into such a force, and provide long ranged, high endurance, high survivability, rapid reacting, self-directing and highly lethal elements to such an organisation.
Background to LY4A1 upgrade
Over a number of years, the LY4 Wolfhound has become one of the most widely exported and extensively utilised armoured fighting vehicles in history, with over a million in service in more than thirty countries. Several new developments in main gun technology, however, began to pose a threat to the existing armour schemes of most MBTs on the international market, and the Executive Command Staff, provided with forewarning of the deployment of burst-firing AT guns by successful operations of Lyran Intelligence, pushed hard for a pre-emptive upgrade program.
The main components of the A1 upgrade were the shift from Helios I to Helios II, the dramatically increased modular nature of the secondary weapons systems, and the upgrade from the WATCHKEEPER to GOLIATH APS system.
The LY4A1 has been specifically upgraded to provide significantly improved survivability against high-lethality anti-armour systems, thus allowing the more flexible weapons options to be utilised as required, within the high-tempo, high-threat battlespace.
Main Armament
The LY4A1's main gun, unchanged from the LY4, is an LY402 120mm, 55 calibre (6.6m) electrothermal chemically fired smoothbore, and is autofrettaged and stress-hardened to increase durability over extended periods of firing.
For some time, MBTs the world over have been increasing in speed, armour protection and lethality, and it was becoming more and more evident that the conventionally propelled MBT main gun was reaching its zenith. Main gun bore diameter and projectile sizes can only get so large before the size of the projectile limits the amount of ammunition carried, making vehicle combat ineffective. While the LY3 series sidestepped the issue, in part, by the simple recourse of making the entirety of the platform notably larger, that was always seen as a somewhat stopgap solution to the issue of technological advancement. So while the simple answer may have been to go with a bigger gun, because it had the very real advantage of being available immediately, it was generally accepted within the Protectorate that alternate means of delivering increased muzzle energy had to be considered.
Prolonged testing, carried out in parallel to the development of the LY3 series lead to several divergent paths, all of which the Protectorate is involved in examining.
Railguns were considered, but it was quickly established that current technology prevented their implementation on a platform of MBT size. Specifically, the power required was substantially greater than could be delivered by a tank-portable power cell. While the technology was determined to be well worth further investigation, the system was determined to not be sufficiently developed to warrant active attempts at implementation in the short term.
Related coilgun technology was also considered, and demonstrated similar issues to the railgun, complicated by extensive wear on numerous components in addition to the barrel itself.
Even evaluations of acquired former Upper Virginian examples of the Varessan-designed 'Crimson Star' magnetic catapult system were inconclusive, although primarily due to the absence of the finer aspects of what remains a very closely guarded piece of Commonwealth technology.
As a result, the electrothermal chemical system was adopted, almost more as an affirmation of the limits of current understanding than anything else.
Nevertheless, trials of several ETC-based weapons systems were conducted at the Lughenti Testing Range, with differing but generally positive results.
Logistics eventually dictated the selection, with the 120mm projectile selected, due to high parts commonality with already existing 120mm rounds.
Extensive testing of multiple means of propellant ignition lead to the selection of an adaptive plasma-based flashboard large area emitter (FLARE) coupled with the development and production of liquid propellant, designed to, in concert, increase muzzle energy into the area of 21 MJ, a similar energy to a mid-level 140mm gun. While still not as powerful as the 65 calibre 155mm LY366 fitted to the LY3 series, the notably lighter weight of the LY402 (lighter in the order of several tonnes) allowed for a substantially lighter tank, despite upgrades to armour and a far more extensive integrated electronics suite, despite upgrades to armour and a far more extensive integrated electronics suite, without sacrificing lethality.
In order to handle the dramatically increased recoil force brought about by the adoption of ETC technology, a muzzle brake was fitted, in addition to the installation of a new 600mm recoil mechanism.
The turret of the Wolfhound was designed around the autoloader in order to avoid the problems common to other tanks fielding autoloaders. The Wolfhound autoloader allows a rate of fire of 15 shots per minute and holds 30 rounds of ready ammunition; it can accommodate up to six different types of ammunition at once, and unlike most autoloader systems it can change ammunition types after a round has been loaded into the breech. A further 15 rounds are stored in the hull, and while slower to use, are available for combat without interrupting ongoing operations. The most common types of round carried are the armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) with a depleted uranium core and the high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round, although Lyran-modified M1028 120mm canister rounds using liquid propellant are also available in large quantities.
Additional armament
As with the LY4, the LY4A1 utilises a medium autocannon as a co-axial weapon for use against light vehicles, the excellent and battle-tested KWF PAK2 25mm automatic cannon being again chosen. The PAK2 can destroy lightly armoured vehicles and aerial targets (such as helicopters and slow-flying aircraft). It can also suppress enemy positions such as exposed troops, dug-in positions, and occupied built-up areas.
This chain-driven weapon system uses sprockets and extractor grooves to actively feed, load, fire, extract, and eject rounds. A system of clutches provides for the use of alternates thus allowing the gunner to switch between armour piercing, high explosive and high explosive incendiary rounds, as well as manually selecting the rate of fire.
It has a rating of 31,000 mean rounds between stoppage (MRBS), which is much higher than many comparable devices.
Cartridge; 25mm x 216mm
Operation: chain gun (1.5hp)
Feeds: Disintegrating link belt
Weight: 115kg
Length: 2.25m
Muzzle velocity; 1200m/s
ROF: Cyclic 200 +/- 25 RPM
Max effective range; 2200m
Max range; 6800m
The standard LY64 7.62mm machine gun, essentially analogous to an FN MAG, can also be fitted atop a command-operated remote weapon station, for conventional anti-personnel, general defence roles.
Also available, though rarely fielded, is the LY60 HMG. The LY60 heavy machine gun was one of the first weapons designed and produced by Lyras, appearing in both watercooled and aircooled versions. Combat experience demonstrated that the aircooled version was highly suitable for many applications, following a modest increase in the mass of the barrel, and it is in the aircooled version that the LY60 serves today. In AA roles, the LY60 is used on several Lyran AA platforms, and serves as the primary co-axial weapon of the LY2 Mastiff series. The weapon is a belt fed, short recoil operated, open bolt, fully automatic weapon. Metallic disinitegrating link belts can feed it from either the left or right of the reciever. The quick change barrel is removable with the barrel jacket as a unit. The bore is chromium plated to increase barrel life and durability. The weapon fires the the LY112 14.7 x 115mm cartridge. The LY60 has a maximum effective range of 1400m against air targets, and 2200m against ground targets. The standard firing controls consist of a push-type thumb trigger and sear release buttons located between the dual spade grips. Alternatively, an electric trigger can be installed for mounted vehicle applications. The gun is simple in design and rugged in construction, and considered one of the most reliable heavy machine guns in service anywhere in the world.
The LY60 entered mass production as an infantry support weapon, with a tripod mount designed at the Lughenti Test Range. Within three years, the heavy Lughenti Type-I mount was replaced by a lighter design, and it is the Type-II that continues to see service within Lyran infantry formations. Guns produced prior to the arrival of the Type II mount have been retrospectively upgraded.
The infantry version of the LY60, however, had a relatively short primacy within Lyras, being replaced in numerical majority by the version fielded as primary armament for several LY219 variants. It also finds use in several anti-aircraft roles, alongside the KWF PAK2 25mm cannon.
Very similar to the Soviet-designed KPV, the LY60 provides almost double the muzzle energy of a conventional 12.7mm (ie, .50 caliber) weapon. With muzzle velocities between 960 - 1030 meters per second and bullet weights near 60grams, the LY60 generates muzzle energy of about 32 kilojoules, and, again similarly to the KPV, penetrated over 30mm of steel armor at 500 meters range and approximately 20mm at 1000 meters.
When vehicle mounted, LY60s feature still-heavier barrels and longer belts.
Cartridge; 0.588 cal (14.7mm x 115mm)
Operation: Short-recoil automatic, open bolt
Method of locking: roller locking
Feeds: Disintegrating link belt
Weight: (with bipod): 45.15kg
Length: 1.625m
Muzzle velocity; 960-1030m/s
ROF: Cyclic 600-700 RPM
Max effective range, bipod; 800m
tripod or pintle: 2200m
The Wolfhound mounts two lateral grenade launchers. Each launcher is electronically-fired, and consists of four barrels which can be intermixed with either smoke, fragmentation or chaff grenades. The smoke grenades are capable of shrouding the tank from visual or thermal detection, and the chaff grenades are utilised as a means of breaking up the tank's radar cross-section.
Helios II Anti-Tank Guided Missile
The LY4A1, as with its LY4 predecessor, utilises side of turret mounted, box-launched ATGMs, and again like the LY4 utilises the Helios series, in this case the Helios II. Helios II was developed following a decision by High Command of TPF to design and implement a new gun-launched anti-tank guided missile. The decision was based on the fact that the original ATGM designed for next-generation Prussian main battle tanks and armoured fighting vehicles had been a dismal failure and something of an embarrassment to the otherwise highly effective and professional TPF military. According to High Command and the Army Office of Weapons Systems, the new missile should have the capability to destroy any MBT on the market today, with the minimum of trouble. In addition, High Command ordered that the missiles have Beyond Visual Range capability, to take advantage of the Army's and Marine's new high-tech information orientated battlespace. In short, the intent was to field a system able to destroy hostile MBTs while they remained outside of visual and gun range. A number of corporations and teams began work, and in June of that year, Vickers Tank Factory won the contract.
The Helios was designed to be a high-speed, top attack, ATGM. Vickers incorporated a number of unique (or at least rare) design features to achieve this end. Helios utilises a tri-seeking warhead, which allows it to select one of a number of means to acquire and destroy designated targets. The primary seeker, which is most commonly used, is the missile's radar. Using millimetric radar, the Helios II is able to acquire, identify and track and engage enemy AFV's. The secondary seeker-head is a laser beam-rider. This was primarily designed to allow UAV's and special forces (and also regular infantry if equipped with laser designators), to target enemy AFV's and employ the anti-armour capabilities of an MBT from BVR. The third and final seeker is a fiber-optic guided seeker. This is perhaps the most jam-proof and secure way of guidance, but it is limited in range. In order to defeat and confuse active protection systems, which generally utilise radar for targeting, two independent counter-measures were integrated into the Helios II. The first was an active radar-jamming device, designed mainly to jam the NS-standard millimeter wave length APS radar, thus allowing successful bypass of most APS systems. The second counter-measure is a conventional (albeit compact) chaff dispenser. This also allows for it to confuse the APS radar by presenting a number of false positive contacts. Helios itself is designed to be gun-launched, propelled by the tanks main cannon, but can be box-launched when booster-assisted. Upon clearing the firing platform and reaching required velocity, the missile's ramjet fires, propelling the missile to mach 3.5. Helios then goes into top-attack mode, whereupon it identifies the target, adjusts and then dives at the target at engagement velocity.
Helios II's warhead is a tandem-charge HEAT system, with the first (EFP) charge designed to initiate any ERA while the second, a shallow cone shaped charge, provides the majority of the penetration/damage. The tandem charge also allows it to penetrate any roof-mounted reactive armor, which is increasingly common on many vehicles.
Seeker: Tri-Seeker, Radar, Laser, Fiber-Optic
Warhead: One Explosively Formed Penetrator, One Shallow Cone Shaped Charge
Propellant: Gun- or box-launched, ramjet assisted.
Range: 14km
Penetration: ~1,000 IRHA equivalent
[B]Active Protection System
The LY4A1 Wolfhound uses a new active protective system developed from the world-benchmark WATCHKEEPER. The new system has been named GOLIATH, and, like its ancestor, has been developed in partnership with Krupp Steel of The People's Freedom.
The WATCHKEEPER APS has become one of the most well-known and effective active protection systems available today, owing much of its success to the tremendous export success of the LY4 Wolfhound MBT, LY219 Ironheart series of combat vehicles, and LY6 Werewolf Assault Gun, the former two in particular being some of the most widely exported armored fighting vehicles in the world. Originally an interim solution by TPF to Lyran requirements for an APS suite, TPF designers, despite the system's success, often thought of it has an interim measure.
Responsible for a great number of saved vehicles, especially amongst the LY219s fighting on the Cancun peninsula during the Mokan Civil War WATCHKEEPER nevertheless proved to have some trouble targeting and destroying multiple threats that originated from greater than 30 degrees elevation. Thus, designers began work on the GOLIATH, which was to be a multi-tiered system that could combat multiple threat natures effectively, quickly, reliably and flexibly.
GOLIATH detects incoming missiles by two means, one by millimeter wavelength radar (mounted on seven flat-panel antennae with a combined field of 360°/6400mils), and the other by LIDAR. This dual-mode sensor input provides a higher degree of redundancy against any failures or jamming methods, and has raised reliability against a number of active anti-countermeasure systems. The system has a reaction time of 0.4 seconds.
The first defensive mechanism GOLIATH employs is a soft-kill suite. The suite includes a number of features designed to confuse or misdirect enemy guided anti-tank systems. Primarily, the system uses the 'Gold' targeting program, interlinked to the databanks of the Cromwell II, which identifies incoming projectiles, classifies and prioritises them for intercept. By way of illustration, the system would engage a Helios II, Koronet and Javelin, most likely in that order, while ignoring the three incoming RPGs. In addition, the Gold computer automatically deploys applicable alternate counter-measures including IR-suppressant smoke grenades and electro-optical jammers.
In addition to the soft-kill suite, GOLIATH also features an advanced and layered hard-kill suite. The first layer employs four 2.5 inch kinetic kill rockets. These rockets are designed to engage and destroy incoming targets out to 600 meters. This allows the tank to eliminate threats before they become of concern to the shorter ranged systems. The rockets also have an increased proportional effectiveness against air-launched ATGMs.
The second tier of the hard-kill suite is the most widely used system, and consists of four bundles of grenades, each consisting of four grenades a piece. This allows the GOLIATH to engage many multiple targets at the same time, while still providing a firm degree of protective target neutralisation. The second tier system can reach out to just over 100 meters.
The final tier is based more directly on the WATCHKEEPER, and is rarely employed, and generally only in the case of ammunition expenditure in the previous two tiers. The Cromwell fire control computer detects the incoming weapons system and calculates an approach vector. Once the attack is fully classified, the Cromwell system determines, if required, the best time and angle to fire the 3rd tier of GOLIATH. The response comes from four launchers installed on the vehicle, two on each side of the turret. The launchers can pivot/rotate onx and y axes, and can therefore engage targets in any direction that the fire control computer deems necessary. The launchers fire a spread of tungsten balls, similar to the projectiles of an M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel weapon, at the target at ranges out to 25 meters. The system is reloadable and there is a total of eight spreads.
The LY4A1 also sports an impressive suite of active ECM as a means of defeating incoming radar guided missiles, and the suite is usually activated if detection equipment determines that multiple radar signatures are illuminating the vehicle in question.
Networking, Sensory and Fire Control System
The LY4A1 Wolfhound, as with all contemporary and planned Lyran-designed vehicles, uses the Cromwell II fire control and battlespace integration system as the basis of its electronic and information warfare suite. Cromwell II system inputs and actively seeks information from a wide variety of sensory sources, including (but not limited to) the thermal or daylight weapon sight, GPS, a laser rangefinder, automatic crosswind sensor, barometer, meteorlogical datastreams, a pendulum static cant sensor, ammunition type and temperature and so on.
Cromwell II system is part of an integrated and adaptive battlespace network that maximises combat lethality, performance, output and enables command and control on an unprecedented scale. Information is sourced not only from multiple sources on the individual platform, but from every Cromwell II equipped friendly vehicle within the battlespace, which provides constant informational updates across a broad spectrum of sources, both known to the operators, and operating below their awareness.
The Cromwell II system utilises this information to compute a firing solution for the gunner, based upon analysis of the target beneath the reticle. This is achieved in less time than it would take the gunner to depress the firing stud. The firing solution that Cromwell II generates ensures a near-perfect hit percent at standard ranges, across all conditions.
At the most basic level, the Cromwell II system aims to accelerate engagement cycles and increase operational tempo at all levels of the warfighting system. This acceleration is achieved by providing a mechanism to rapidly gather and distribute targeting information, and rapidly issue directives. Cromwell II's ultra-high speed networking permits error-free, high integrity transmission in a bare fraction of the time required for voice-based transmission, and permits transfer of a wide range of data formats, from a multitude of compatible sources
Well implemented networking, using the Cromwell II system, can contribute to improved effectiveness in other ways as well. Rather than micromanage a Wolfhound or similar Cromwell-equipped platform with close control via a command link tether (such as a radio), networked platforms are given significant autonomy, defined objectives, and allowed to take the initiative in how they meet these objectives. The size, integration and scope of the networked Cromwell II system enables the equipped vehicles to respond to events as they happen, with less reliance on top-down direction.
The system, in its entirety, is fully insulated against electronic interference and data-hacking, and all communications and information exchange programs are 512 bit encrypted to ensure maximum network security.
All crew stations are fitted with Networked Independent Thermal Viewers, which can be used to locate targets and pass them on to each other, to their peer units, or to the networked higher command, to ensure optimum engagement flexibility. The thermal sight uses NS (and Lyran) standard common modules, with 120 element cadmium mercury telluride, CdHgTe (also known as CMT) infra-red detector array operating in the 8 to 14 micron waveband. The infra-red detector units are cooled with a closed-cycle engine.
As a feature new to the LY4 series, as developed for the LY6 and being retrofitted to previous hardware as part of the ongoing maintenance cycle, the electrics are composed of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) circuitry, rendering the vehicle proof against electromagnetic interference or EMP-based attack, although itself a highly expensive addition.
Armour
In general the LY4A1 Wolfhound borrows heavily from the superb armour of its LY3 and LY4 predecessors, protected by multiple forms of armour as standard. Chobham, a form of composite armor composed of multiple layers of steel and ceramic, forms a large portion of the defensive mix, as does explosive reactive armour, which is fitted as standard to the turret and forward hull areas, as standard. Fireproof armoured bulkheads seperate the crew compartment from the rear-mounted engine bay.
Fuel and ammunition are located within armoured sub-compartments, with integral blowout panels and anti-spalling kevlar liners, although steltexolites are used as spalling to protect the internals of the crew compartment, given its greater resilience to armour piercing AT weapons. The steltexolite spall liners also provide a high degree of noise and thermal insulation, making the Wolfhound one of the quietest tanks to operate in on the market.
As was featured in the LY3A2, the Wolfhounds incorporate depleted uranium (DU) mesh in their armour. Unlike the LY3A2, which had it placed to the fore of the turret and in the forward sections of the low-profile hull, the Wolfhound capitalises on the reductions in weight brought about by the downsizing of the main gun and turret, by significantly up-armouring. DU mesh is applied to not just the forward of the turret and hull, but also to the traditionally more vulnerable areas of the side, rear and top of the tank. Armour bolstered by this DU is considerabley better protected against medium and high-grade anti-tank weaponry, but the Wolfhound has ended up carrying an additional two tonnes of armour, turret notwithstanding, when compared to the older LY3 series.
Wolfhounds are, like the LY3 series, designed to be fitted with slat (or bar) armour, which is a simple “cage” on the outside of the hull, designed to detonate anti-tank weapons before they contact the main body of the MBT. This also increases the weight fractionally, but, especially in urban operations, is more important in that it adds an additional 30 cm of width to both sides of the vehicle. Lyran Wolfhounds are universally equipped with slat armour as standard, viewing that the drawbacks are far outweighed by the benefits that the armour provides against many forms of anti-tank weaponry.
Building on the observed successes of the Arca IV Nakil series, the Wolfhound has a major armour difference from its forebears in the distribution of the armour across the tank. Instead of applying armour protection in accordance with the global norms, Lyran Arms followed on what is increasingly likely to become a trend established by the well protected Nakil, and has distributed its armour protection more evenly, reinforcing the engine bays, side armour and turret top. In addition, the Wolfhound series has reshaped and up-armoured the underside of the chassis, as well as relocating in-chassis ammunition storage. Trials (very expensive trials!) have demonstrated that Wolfhound crews (not the tanks, unfortunately) survive the detonation of an anti-tank mine under the tank without suffering any injuries.
In response to burst-firing main guns being fielded by several nations, Lyran personnel enquired of Krupp Industries of TPF as to the possibility of developing a new form of armour suitable for up-armouring the LY4 series. After an extensive design and implementation process, the Bismarck armour, for which Krupp Industries had purchased rights to, was selected as the basis. Given that, from the outset, the new armour would be appliqué in nature (allowing for extensive retrofitting), emphasis was placed on creating effective armour that would not drastically increase the weight of the LY4 which was already heavy at just over seventy tons. The new armour system for the LY4A1 came to be known as 'North Point'.
Designers decided that there would be three primary layers added to the glacis and turret of the LY4. The first layer was a thick plate of approximately 80mm in actual thickness which correlated to an additional 350mm of RHAe equivalence. This plate consists of ceramic backed up significantly by heavy metals. First layer North Point relies primarily on boron carbide sandwiched between layers of Improved Rolled Homogenous Armour (IRHA). This plate is slanted at 45 degrees to further assist the defeat of kinetic penetrators and chemical energy (ie HEAT) threats.
The second layers is a backing to the first, and serves to utilise heavy metals to help defeat kinetic penetrators and explosively formed plasma jets. Due to weight limitations, this layering is only 20mm in actual thickness and consists of a IRHA plate embedded with depleted uranium pellets.
The third layer consists mainly of a specially designed Heavy Explosive Reactive Armor set [HERA] which is meant to provide high levels of protection for the tank with (proportionally) little gain in weight. The HERA, named “Rainmaker” uses a system of operation whereupon the offending projectile in engaged by the “rays” [Small EFPs] of the HERA and thus deflecting the projectile or (in some cases) actually destroying LRPs, thus drastically reducing penetrating ability of the offensive system.
North Point is composed of “bricks” making each “brick” easily replaceable once used and allowing the system to be fitted to LY4s already in service. The “bricks” are lightweight (at around 3kg) and this allows them to be positioned on as many areas of the tank as needs require. On the LY4A1 these are not only positioned on the frontal glacis and turret front and sides, but also on the sides of the vehicle, thus providing a high degree of protection against side threats.
The bricks are smaller than the armour plates on which they sit, and as such it is extremely unlikely that, in the advent of engagement by a vehicle employing a burst-fire main gun, the burst will strike the same brick. As a consequence, the chances of penetration being scored by a burst firing weapon against a North Point equipped LY4A1 is substantially lowered relative to its unaugmented counterpart. North Point has added a total of 5.6 tons to the overall weight of the original LY4.
Finally, the turret roof of the LY4A1 has been mounted with non-explosive reactive armor [NxRA] bricks. These thick bricks grant the tank multiple hit capability against threats such as explosively formed penetrators, and thus is the most effective lightweight solution that can be provided to an area not condusive to HERA employment.
An automatic, location-specific fire-suppression system is also fitted as standard to detect and render safe any internal fires that might erupt.
Propulsion and mobility
While the LYM 663 Bw-404 engine that powered the LY3 series proved highly effective, and lived up to its promises, the Protectorate didn't quite appreciate the enormous strains that the 2500hp V12 would put on their logistics tail. The heavy, up-engined LY3 guzzled petrol at a rate almost three times higher than any other tank the Protectorate has ever fielded.
So, in addition to the weight already saved by the replacement of the 155mm LY366 main gun and the shortening of the hull by nearly 2.5 metres, it was decided to utilise a smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient engine that should nevertheless deliver equal or similar performance on the new chassis. As such, a new engine was designed from scratch, based on similar but more advanced Varessan and Pantocratorian designs. Care was taken within Protectorate Research and Development not to ask about how the plans and specifications came to the table.
The new engine, dubbed the LYM 665, was a propane-injected, intercooled twin turbo-charged 50L V10, generating 2000hp at 3000RPM. This gave the Wolfhound a still high hp/ton ratio of 26.37.
There are numerous differences to the total propulsion system, however. The most notable addition to the engine that was not featured on the earlier LY3 series (although it was on the LY4) is a new link to the Cromwell system, which keeps track of the temperatures of each individual segment of the engine, and both monitors and records engine stresses. This then notifies both the operators and higher command when replacement or repair is required for components, as well as when the engine or parts of it are coming due for routine maintenance. Over time, this reduces attrition to an armoured unit, and increases total combat readiness. The Cromwell system is also responsible for monitoring the active cooling of the vehicle's exhaust, as a means of reducing the tank's thermal signature.
Unlike the older variant, however, the more modern hydro-pneumatic automatic transmission (built under licence) features a five forward, two reverse system, which, when coupled with the Wolfhound's lighter weight compared to the earlier Warhounds, has lead to a considerable increase in vehicular performance, especially in range, but also in agility.
The new vehicle, despite a 20% less powerful and several tons lighter engine is now one of the fastest MBTs on the market, with a a governed top speed of 87 kph (54.4 mph) on paved roads, and 65.4 kph (40.875 mph) cross-country. With the governor deactivated, the Wolfhound, on sealed roads, can reach speeds of around 120 kph (75 mph) but at a greatly increased risk of damage to the drive train or tracks, and notable reduction in both range and drive system service life. Furthermore, these speeds will tend to greatly degrade road surfaces. The engine governer can be set to “off” by the commander if the circumstances require, a feature the Wolfhound has inherited from the LY3 series, in which it has proven highly useful.
A further, important, alteration of the powerplant is the addition of dual auxiliary power units, to provide functionality while the main engine is off, and also to assist in starting the main engines particularly in cold conditions. The APUs can provide power to all systems while the main engine is shut down, another design allowing maximum flexibility and responsiveness to the MBT and battleforce, as a whole.
The entire engine is also fitted with deployable sand filters for use in high-sand environments, such as deserts or certain parts of the littoral.
A number of near-misses in early model Wolfhounds has also lead to the addition of driver rear-vision cameras for manoeuvering in close country or urban environments.
Tracks are fairly standard, with seven road wheels and two drive rollers, with only the rear roller on each side unshrouded.
Crew Amenities
Like the LY4, the LY4A1 contains a drink point, providing hot water, cold water, and with two further compartments that can be filled with hot or cold drinks of the crew or unit's choice. As well as being morale boosting, hot water in particular can be of direct military value, with it being used to brew tea or coffee, produce other hot beverages and, most importantly, it is used for dehydrated ration packs common to many armies and armed services.
Situated immediately below the drink point is a small bar fridge, which can either carry spare rations, 'jack' rations, or approximately two cases of soft-drinks or equivalent.
The NBC system follows Lyran standard, and features quite adequately as a climate control system, making for working temperatures easily adjustable to every national or personal need (operating temperature range -40C to 55C).
Seat warmers/coolers are also fitted, to ensure greater comfort and optimise combat endurance and deployability of both crew and personnel being transported. The seats can also be adjusted, manually or electronically, to ensure optimum comfort and control access for any shape or size.
LY4A1s, like the LY4s, Ironhearts, Werewolves and Manticores, are also equipped, as standard, with integral high-speed wireless (satellite) broadband internet connections, allowing the crew to surf the internet, check their emails, or correspond with family. The provision of insulated external connections allows accompanying or transported personnel to simply plug in to the side of the vehicle, and then they to can go online. Vehicles with this feature, an increasing proportion of the Lyran arsenal, are invariably popular with the units that field them, or are attached to them, as they not only ensure vastly improved fire support, but also mean that personnel are going to get, hot (or cold) drinks, snacks and a way to talk to home, all of which ensures dramatically higher morale and the notably higher performance that such morale generates.
Export
Export versions are identical to Lyran versions, with most of the Lyran cryptographic and communications equipment being memory erased to prevent compromise. All are, however, still integratable into a single force, should the requirement to synchronise operations on a multinational basis arise. Modified and/or custom versions of the Wolfhound are available from the Lyran Protectorate, with costs altering as circumstances warrant.
Asgarnieu, Verenberg, TPF, Errikland, Bomble, the Federal Republic of Hamilay and and select other nations are eligible for special dispensation, if they wish to utilise the LY4/LY4A1.
Prices for export start at NS $12,000,000 per unit. Production licenses are available through negotiations with the Lyran Governmental Trade Department (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=541320). Refits to existing LY4s can be purchased at NS$2,000,000 a piece.