NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: I made this tank's description as short and sweet as possible. However, if you want more information then simply ask me for the full file.)

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/security/EZRSA/rsa.gif
Official Message from Ravenkov Security Arsenal

For over 50 years Ravenkov Security Arsenal had outfitted the Volzgradien Military and a select few other nations. However, I would now like to pronounce the first official Ravenkov vehicle to be available for purchase worldwide. RSA has always been a "sheltered" corporation. However, if sales for the VT-95 are good, then RSA may consider opening a storefront.

Signed,
Alexei Ravenkov, CEO of RSA

Rules and Notes:
1) If you want, then we may do the math for you. However, a nation that does its own math for the purchase receives a 10% discount (the discount also has to be calculated by the nation).

2) You may purchase as many VT-95s as you wish. There are currently no limits as to how many we can buy.

3) Orders usually arrive within a few days. However, the amount of tanks purchased may increase the length of time until shipment.

4) All nations excluding enemies of Volzgrad may purchase the VT-95.

5) Any nation which has an embassy located in Volzgrad receives a 10% discount on their purchase.



VT-95 "Jackhammer" MBT

Image: http://www.frontlineswar.com/?page=image&cat=vehicles&image=t119
Classification: Main Battle Tank (may be a heavy tank in some nations)
Users: Volzgradien Army, Volzgradien Marine Corp, Army of Cypron,
Wars: Rynibar Conflict, Aziast Revolt (prototype), various border conflicts

Designer: Ivan Mikhailovich
Designed: 1989
First Combat Use: 1995
Manufacturer: Ravenkov Security Arsenal
Unit Cost: $4.25 million USD
Produced: 1990-present
Variants: VT-95A, VTS-95, (neither are for sale)

Weight: 65 tons
Length: 28.5 ft (hull), 35.5 ft (gun forward)
Width: 14 ft
Height: 12 ft
Crew: 3 (Commander, gunner, driver)

Armor: Rolled Homogeneous Armor, Chobham
Primary Armament: 120mm smooth bore cannon,
Secondary Armament: 2 50. caliber heavy machine guns
Engine: STF-1600C multi-fuel turbine engine (1600 hp)
Power/Weight: 24.62 hp/tonne
Transmission: Vladimir DDA X-1000-3b
Suspension: Torsion bar
Ground clearance: 0.6 m
Operational Range: 500 km, 460 km (with NBC)
Speed: 70 km/h (road), 56.43 km/h (off-road)

OOC: This is my first tank design so please feel free to critique and give advise.

Not bad, but I would ditch the picture. The Red Alert series is infamous for poor vehicle design, and that thing would be a shot trap with thin armor to boot.

Why 145mm? That's a massive main gun, and since the round is moving slower than, say, a 120mm, it might actually have less power. Larger rounds also mean bulkier turrets and, consequently, much larger tanks. I very much doubt you could fit a 145mm on a 65 ton tank without sacrificing all of its armor. Rifiling the barrel is a choice that has several advantages, but be warned that is cuts the lifetime of the barrel in half, thus increasing downtime and costs.

AT missiles are probably not something you want on your tank. They're very expensive and could be employed better on a lighter, faster platform.

Only one secondary weapon? Tanks usually have two to four, ranging from 7.62mm to 25mm.

It's certainly not a bad tank, but yeah, get rid of the picture. Also, if you like designing things, feel free to stop over at the NationStates Draftroom (http://z4.invisionfree.com/NSDraftroom/index.php?). Almost three hundred members, all of them designers like yourself.

Ralkovia would like to buy 100 of your VT-95 battle tanks.
We have done the math and the total comes out to be
$425 million(we are not including the discount since we like to pay in full).
We would like to make modifications to the tank armor and are wondering if this is okay with you and your government.
These modifications would be after we have acquired the tank, so it would not cost you anything.

Ralkovian order is confirmed. You may add whatever modifications you wish to the tank now that you have bought them.

OOC: Thanks for the support. I'll get rid of the picture ASAP. Also, thanks for telling me about the 145mm cannon. It was originally going to be a siege tank with a slow firing siege gun. It seems I forgot to lower the caliber when I changed it to an MBT.

bump

bump. Guess my tank isn't too popular.

It's not that it's a bad tank. It's just not an exceptional tank. What your offering is basicly a main battle tank, and a basic one at that. Most people will allready have one similar in their army, so won't need this. I for example am using the American M1 abrahams MBT. If you want sales you need something extrodinary, like a tank with a plasma cannon for it's main wepon. I'd buy that.

...stick a plasma cannon on this and it moves from being a main battle tank to a mystical fairy tank. Plasma cannons don't work, and won't work, even in future tech. But that's another discussion. The fact is, most people don't buy things. The only place to get gear or sell it nowadays is on the International Mall, which is part of the NationStates Draftroom I linked in my last post.

EDIT: Oh, and I like the changes you made. Pic is very nice and the extra MG will really help.

How much would it cost if we requested thicker plating and reactive armor bricks?

I beg to differ, Kargucagstan. AMI (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=530096) has a roaring business and to my knowledge isn't represented on the International Mall at the NSD.

Volzgrad, I'd recommend a line-of-sight armour thickness for the hull front, hull flanks, hull rear, and underside of the hull. There are more specialized terms you can learn later; such as glacis and nose plate, mantlet and bustle. The same armour values (front, sides, rear, roof) should be given for the turret.

What is the 120mm gun? Is it served by an automatic loader, or does the crew of three rely on the gunner / commander jacking shells into the breech?

You also switch between metric and Imperial units of measurement, which is generally a no-no. Example, your length is presented in Imperial feet, while your ground clearance is presented in the metric metre.

Touche, forgot about storefronts. The point is, products are only rarely offered by themselves.

No, quite a few products are offered by themselves. For instance, the CL-32 Buitre which was designed by the Third Spanish States. I seem to recall seeing an individual equipment sales thread - and for a beginning nation, it's essentially the only way to go until they have a product base built up.

The major difference, which is why I recommend perusing storefronts and once you've got some stuff up, setting your own storefront up (and linking to it in your signature for easy access by others) is that storefronts tend to be bumped up to the front pages of NS more often by repeat business. It's a rare week when the Aequatian Military Industries thread goes more than four pages back in the seven page II catalogue. (Granted, some people have page length set far beyond default values).

Volzgrad, send me a telegram if you'd like some help immediately with the vehicle. The NSD is sometimes a not very effective classroom.

(To Neorn) You may purchase the tank and then do the upgrading yourself. This is recommended because upgrading on our part would be more expensive.

OOC: Sorry about the switching in measurements. I simply chose whichever I thought would be easiest for the part of the tank. The VT-95 is the first Volzgradien tank that has an auto-loader instead of a more traditional crew loader. Some help would be appreciated on Russkya's part. I've already registered on the Draftroom but I have yet to receive a confirmation email.

Carousel or bustle rack automatic loader? Is it equipped with blow-out panels to protect the fighting compartment in the event of a penetrating hit to ammunition storage? Et cetera - these are the important details that will set this vehicle apart from existing ones. What is the rate of fire achievable by the primary ordnance (the 120mm gun) with the automatic loader? So on.

Edit: I've sent you a TG, we can continue this discourse there so as not to clutter your sales thread.

We wish to purchase 100 for evaluation use.

Noern would like to purchase 60 VT-95s over a period of time.

Leocardian and Neorn evaluation requests confirmed. The necessary amount of VT-95 MBTs will arrive within a few days to their respective nations.