NationStates Jolt Archive

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/9901/m10pioneercommontrackedfw9.png

The picture isn't nearly complete, just to give you a good idea of what it looks like and how it is situated.

Basically, the CTEC or M10 Pioneer as it would be in Coorsotan service, is a common vehicle designed to be adapted for hundreds of roles: mobile radar system, mobile communication system, NBC reconaissance (specifically in devestated areas), reconaissance (long range w/ large mast mounted sensors), mobile air defense (missile), heavy APC for poor conditions (as this will be very mobile), heavy engineering vehicle, large mobile mortar, MLRS, logistics carrier (such as carrying loads over very inhospitable terrain), mobile command center, etc. etc. The forward portion of the vehicle is the crew portion and can easily accomodate 5-7 people (less would be better for more computer and electronics equipment space). The rear portion is an armored compartment designed to be adapted to carry whatever piece of equipment is necessary for the job (such as a mobile radar set, etc.). Spillover space is available on the top of the forward portion of the hull including the ability to carry a remote weapon station. This will carry fairly heavy armor and due to the standoff distance between the hull and ground in addition to the slight V-shape of the bottom hull, be nearly impervious to most mines and other explosive devices. Its drawbacks, however, would be that its fairly large (in absolute terms, its slightly taller than an MBT as pictured but could be shortened using the suspension and slightly longer). It is, however, highly mobile, with four independent track systems (which turn, like roadwheels, in addition to brake-steering).

I am just wondering if there would be a market for such a vehicle? Please feel free to offer any suggestions on it or if you'd be interested in this type of vehicle. Thanks.

Bump for anyone interested.

Holy epic and awesome. This concept has most definitely caught my interest.

Also, I highly suggest you check out LineartInc (http://z13.invisionfree.com/LineartInc/index.php?act=idx). Your art is fantastic.

OOC:

I would definitely purchase this if it came on the market. Your line art is excellent, and I approve of your design. It would work as a troop carrier and supply carrier for hard to reach areas. I need this, badly. Lol.

OOC: It is very pretty and I like common vehicles with modular parts through them. However until I get more details I am afraid I cannot make a judgment on its quality.

Thank you for the comments so far. Basically, I just wanted to see if there would be some interest in the design. Since there is at least some interest in it, I will probably develop it and market it. I'll post any future updates in this thread. I look forward to any comments or suggestions someone may have concerning it and what features it should or should not have. Also, ideas for packages or equipment it could carry would also be appreciated.

[OOC: Good concept. For packages, I recommend you simply steal (then modify) some Russian weapons systems from BTR-80 and BTR-T, which will give you plenty of offensive and defensive options.]

OOC: That is a very good concept indeed. I would be interested in purchasing it if it were made available for export. I can think of lots of roles that it could fulfill in Lamonian service.

I consider myself to have a fairly good idea of how military logistics work (based on reading of Army Staff College text books rather than just field manuals), and I have a few questions/comments:

1)You stated “This will carry fairly heavy armor and due to the standoff distance between the hull and ground in addition to the slight V-shape of the bottom hull.” The problem I see with this is that for gun trucks (i.e. cargo trucks up-armored and armed for convoy duty), the armor and weaponry weigh the truck down, killing its mobility and payload capabilities. I don’t think you could have a true prime mover for cargo purposes if the thing is armored like an AFV.

2)Why tracks? In theory, this vehicle would be moving over paved roads for much of its travel, where wheels are a better option. Over inhospitable terrain, the wheeled HEMTT can deflate/inflate tires as required, and is rated for 30% slopes. While tracks are an option, your vehicle looks more like an APC with a Mattrack kit installed

3)What is the payload? The Palletized Load System is rated at 16.5 tons, while the HETS can reliably carry 60 tons.

4) What is the range of this?

5)What role do you really see this as? If it is a heavy transit system, then it won’t do to well in rough terrain, while a lighter vehicle won’t be able to haul as much. You mentioned both mortar and logistics, but these seem on the surface to be contradictory (where a self-propelled mortar would draw counter battery fire and therefore need to have armor, a logistics vehicle is concerned with small arms fire and maximizing payload)

If this could adequatly replace the HEMTT/PLS, I’d take it.

1) When I say equipment carrier, I don't really mean a prime mover or any real sort of logistics vehicle. Those duties will be handled by more appropriate vehicles. What this will be is some sort of a specialist vehicle intended for roles that previously were fulfilled using MBT, IFV, or truck hulls. And when I meant armor, I meant something more than would be expected. It probably won't offer MBT-like protection or AFV/IFV-like protection but it will offer something more than an APC. The entire thing won't be armored, simply the forward crew portion. The rear portion, the sides, would be fuel, rear transmission components, etc.

2) This won't be destined for primary on-road usage. Originally, and how I got to this, was thinking of what I would want/need for a mobile radar set for SAM or anti-aircraft batteries. I needed a carrier for the radar set and associated personnel and nothing in my inventory (derivatives or not) would provide exactly what I wanted. So, I decided to design a whole new vehicle to carry it, and since I went that far, I might as well find other uses for it.

3) I haven't figured out the payload yet, but it would be in the PLS range. This is more designed to be a carrier for various types of equipment (mobile radar set, etc.) that would fit in the rear portion of the vehicle with the top of the forward section available for additional capability or whatever (such as fitting a small search radar in addition to a primary radar).

4) No idea yet, it would likely be similar to a main battle tank (it would carry more fuel but likely have worse fuel economy due to the layout).

5) I alluded to in #2, this is more of a specialist vehicle than anything else, and is intended to fulfill the role of the previous ad-hoc systems of modifying MBT or IFV hulls to fulfill a duty (and I guess this works, but since I had nothing in my inventory that would work like this, I had to design one that would and figured I might as well find other uses). I just threw out a number of possibilities, as some people may desire a very off-roadish logistics vehicle if they desire (provided what they wanted to carry would fit) as well as something that could fulfill a number of seperate duties.

I hope that kind of clears things up. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll have to think a little bit more about what I really intend to do with this.