Lyras
07-01-2009, 00:29
LY224 'Sorcha' Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle
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Key Data
Crew: 2 (Driver, Commander/Gunner) + 8 dismounts
Dimensions
Length: 7.7m
Height : 2.1m
Width: 4.1m (+ 0.60m with slat armour fitted)
Weight: 71.3 tonnes
Ground Clearance: Variable. Default at 50cm
Performance
Maximum (Governed) Speed: 87 kph (54.4mph)
Cross Country Speed: 65.9 kph
Speed, 10% Slope: 34 kph
Speed, 60% slope: 18 kph
Acceleration: 0kph to 32 kph in 6.4 seconds
Range: 665 km (560 km at operational cruising speed)
Manoeuvrability
Vertical Obstacle Crossing: 116 cm (45 in)
Trench: 300 cm (10 ft)
Suspension: Hydropneumatic
Armament
Armament: 50mm LY106 compact automatic cannon
Coaxial Weapon: 14.7mm LY60 HMG OR 15mm AGH-32 HMG OR 7.62mm LY64 GPMG
Additional: Laterally mounted 4 barrelled multi-purpose grenade launchers, 4 x TPFMI MkII “Helios II” BVR ATGM, 4 x SALY28 SAMs
Power
Propulsion: LY693 20L hybrid-electric opposing-piston multi-fuel hyperbar engine, generating 2,000 HP (1,500 kW) at 3000RPM.
Transmission: Hydropneumatic automatic transmission (5 fwd gears, 2 rvse)
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 28.05hp/ton
APU: 2 (underarmour)
Batteries: 14 x high density Li+ polymer.
Armour and Protection
Armour: Titanium-ceramic, HERA, North Point
Anti-spalling: Semi-synthetic anciniform spider silk
NBC Protection: SCFM, clean cooled air, LYMkII CBRN overpressure system.
Missile Countermeasures: GOLIATH Active Protection System.
Conceptualisation
The LY224 Sorcha (Irish Gaelic; sork'ha, from the Hebrew: Sarah, 'Princess', but more importantly the name of the lead designer's pet Irish Wolfhound, Sorcha (http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/2821090/Sorcha.jpg)) is a heavy infantry fighting vehicle series based on the chassis of the LY4 Wolfhound main battle tank. Designed and built by the Protectorate of Lyras, it serves in the military of that state, and other states to whom the Sorcha has been exported.
Background and Development
With Israel and the Russian Federation both successfully converting large numbers of older tanks (T54/55s, Centurions and older Merkavas in Israel's case, T55s in Russia's) into heavily armoured APCs/IFVs, interest was piqued within the Lyran Protectorate. The phenomenal investment of time and resources that each individual combatant represented to Lyras placed a very high premium on the protection of vehicle crew and dismounts. Initial progress was slow, however, as the LY219 was deemed more than adequate for the majority of situations likely to be encountered. This changed when casualties among Greali forces during the TPF occupation were noted. While admittedly the decisions to engage MBTs with IFVs can be disputed, as indeed it often was, it should be acknowledged that the progress of battle does not always allow one to take the course of action one generally deem ideal. That conflict served as a reminder for many, reaffirming the vulnerability of conventional IFVs to heavier (especially kinetic) anti-armour weaponry (such as 120mm ETC main guns of leading NS-grade MBTs), and with this in mind the Protectorate Research and Development Commission re-opened the development of heavy infantry carriers.
The most widely available chassis at this point was the LY4 and LY4A1 Wolfhound, both marks of which offered extremely high levels of survivability. As a consequence this was the platform chosen for conversion, and research was commenced in November of that year, with development proceeding in tandem with the LY4A2 upgrade. The first steps taken involved the replacement of the turret, modification of the engine bay (featuring a more fuel efficient, quiet and compact engine, relative to the LY4A1), installation of new clamshell-type rear doors and heightening of the crew compartment.
Given the relative simplicity of the development, problems were few, and upon successful prototype trials at Dexter and Lughenti testing ranges, a number of the upgrades from the LY4A2 were integrated into the newly christened 'Sorcha'. By the conclusion of evaluation and development, the -224 was essentially an LY4A2 without an MBT-grade main gun, but carrying infantry dismounts instead. Given the very heavy secondary armament of the -A2, this was considered a more-than-acceptable trade, given the role for which the Sorcha was envisaged.
Soon after development, it was realised that the LY224 had potential for an extremely wide range of derivatives to cover a wide range of heavy armoured roles. As with the earlier (and immensely lighter) LY219 Ironheart, the LY224's utility allows it to be fielded in IFV, C3, EW, mine clearance, NBCD and Decon, heavy cargo carrier, ambulance and armoured recovery roles, although that list is not exhaustive. In modularity terms, the LY224 provides an extremely heavily armoured and well protected alternative to the LY219, coming at the cost of increased weight and logistic footprint.
As has become a trend, the first operational unit to take delivery was the 8th (Wolfspiders) Mechanised Division, 2nd Order, which received the new units barely a year after development commenced. 'Sorcha' units will be distributed to heavy mechanised infantry and combat engineering forces, by priority, but to all medium and heavy formations over time.
Armament
In the same manner that the LY219 series (IFV marks) used the PAK2 25mm cannon as their primary, the weapon system that was co-axial on many existing Lyran tanks, the LY224 uses the coaxial of the LY4A2 as its primary weapon. As with the LY4A2, this is not in any way reflective of the capabilities of the PAK2, which remains a very reliable and highly effective autocannon, broadly speaking, but is more due to the increasing protection of medium and heavy IFVs, some of which boast armour schemes that made the use of a 25mm weapon in the anti-materiel role problematic.
As such, the primary weapon of the Sorcha is the LY106 50mm compact medium autocannon. The LY106 fires the increasingly common (amongst Fedalan nations) 50 x 300mm caseless telescoping round, first seen in the primary weapon system of the Sumerian PIV-30 Armoured Infantry Combat Vehicle. The LY106 is a chain-operated, externally powered (by the same 4 HP motor that proved to be the most reliable element of the failed LY105 30mm cannon) weapon, which, as with the PAK2, uses a system of sprockets, grooves and clutches to not only feed, load and fire rounds, but also allows the operator to switch ammunition types, by selecting from which of the four ammunition drums to draw rounds from. Available ammunition types include APFSDS-T, HEI-T, HEDP-T, Illum and practice rounds.
Much of the weapon system is titanium, which, while expensive, is considerably lighter than its steel volume/strength equivalent, thus allowing for the weapon's mounting to be considerably lighter. Given that the total weapon is firmly secured to the MBT's turret while used in the coaxial role, the now-lighter elements of the receiver assembly do not adversely affect the weapon's recoil characteristics. A high-efficiency muzzle brake and long recoil mechanism (45mm) also lower the felt recoil signature, and provide for more efficient firing characteristics. As with all weapons on the platform, the LY106 is linked to the Cromwell FCS, and thus benefits from the attendant sensory and ballistic calculatory suite.
The barrel is 50 calibres long, putting it 2.25m from the end of the reciever, and is chrome-lined to improve durability, and allow for the provision of higher-pressure propellant charges.
Three rates of fire are able to be selected: semi-automatic, low-rate automatic and high-rate automatic, which allow single-shot, 50rpm (approx.) and 100 rpm (approx.) respectively.
The LY106 is designed to provide the LY4A2 with effective, reliable and accurate firepower for the destruction of most medium-armoured threats, including helicopters, IFVs, APCs, and even many MBTs outside of the frontal arc. In this anti-armour role, the LY106 is considerably more potent than its PAK2 predecessor, despite the earlier weapon's distinguished service record.
The vehicle's coaxial station, fitted to the left of the primary weapon, is designed to be able to fit weapons generally of up to 20mm. Conventional armament on Lyran vehicles for the coaxial station is the LY60 14.7mm 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, and as the secondary coaxial on the LY7. 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.
The Sorcha also 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. Both of these measures work most effectively in conjunction with the 'Warshroud' system to maximise operational performance.
Above and to the rear of the ultra-low-profile RWS turret is a quartet of SALY28 SAMs, which provides mobile local area air defence, and takes the burden of that role away from dismounted infantry, allowing them to focus on their immediate battlefield.
As with its MBT predecessor, the Sorcha utilises side-of-turret mounted, box-launched ATGMs, and again like the LY4 utilises the superb TPF-designed Helios II, although Sorcha follows on from the -A2, fielding four rather than two. Helios II was developed following a decision by Prussian High Command to design and implement a new high-performance 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, and with a fair degree of overmatch, to ensure continued lethality against future AFVs. In addition, High Command ordered that the missiles have Beyond Visual Range capability, to take advantage of the military's new high-tech information-orientated battlespace networking capabilities. 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, beyond-visual-range 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. This system can also switch to home-on-jamming, should EW render the primary detection method ineffective. 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 a high-power 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.
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 that may be present, a feature increasingly common on many vehicles.
Helios itself is designed to be gun-launched, propelled by the tanks main cannon, but can be box-launched when booster-assisted, as is the case with all marks of the LY4. When box-launched, the firing platform is able to simultaneously engage multiple targets, a feature that Lyras considered to be well worthwhile. In one notable example, a North Stornian LY4 engaged three Fehnmari Leopard2A5s, and destroyed all three in less than the time it took the Leopards to bring their turrets to bear. With four missiles carried by the Sorcha, the effectiveness of this particular weapon system is further enhanced, and provides the IFV with a reliable, responsive, accurate, long range and high-lethality anti-tank system, granting an anti-armour reliability almost unmatched amongst IFVs on the international market, especially when considered in conjunction with the high-pressure 50mm cannon which forms the platform's primary armament.
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 LY224, like every Lyran combat vehicle designed to engage in LOS combat, uses active protection systems, in the same manner as all of its immediate predecessors. As with earlier marks of the LY4, the -224's system has been developed in conjunction with Krupp Steel, one of the leading Prussian military technology and support corporations.
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 continued to think of it in those terms.
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 on x 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 -224 features very similar systems to those featured on the -A2 upgrade of the base LY4, which itself builds on the existing range of active ECM as a means of defeating incoming radar guided missiles. The suite is usually activated if detection equipment determines that multiple radar signatures are illuminating the vehicle in question. Also fitted, as an adjunct to this feature, is a early warning reciever, which displays on the crew's HUDs the location and presence of any radar systems illuminating (or even simply contacting) the vehicle, allowing for their far-easier engagement should circumstances warrant, or their evasion should it not. A common practice is to set the Helios missiles to automatic engagement, which grants clearance to Cromwell to automatically fire off a Helios missile at any non-friendly radar which illuminates the platform. This generates a reaction time almost an order of magnitude faster than that achievable by the human operators, although it is advised that this capacity only be enabled in high-threat environments, to ensure minimisation of collateral damage.
Networking, Sensory and Fire Control System
In terms of electronic uplinking and data sharing, the -224 essentially uses the same electronics suite as the LY4A2, which is a major advancement on the -A1 in terms of its networking, sensory, fire-control and crew interfacing capabilities. This point in itself is highly notable, given the -A1's still-world benchmark capabilities in those fields. The -A2, and now -224, vehicle is fitted with a highly extensive sensor suite so as to enable the transmission of as much information as possible into any extant battlenet, while possessing substantial internal (multiple-redundant) computational facilities so as to handle required downloads from that selfsame network.
While designed to slot into any existing battlespace architecture, the Sorcha by default utilises the world-benchmark Cromwell II. Cromwell II is an integrated and adaptive battlespace network that maximises combat lethality, performance, and 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. With the -A2, and now with the -224, the Cromwell II system has begun to mature as a force-multiplier, with effectiveness of the system increasingly and exponentially evident to all but the most entrenched detractors. Image and pattern recognition software constantly interfaces with sensory systems (even while the given input is not being examined by crew), and the results both relayed to friendly and superior force elements, and also displayed for action by the vehicle operators. For example, a Sorcha's commander has the turret swivelled to the 2 o'clock position, trained on a suspicious-looking patch of vegetation, with the view in the HUD set to thermal imagery. While in that orientation, the vehicle's sensors at 11 o'clock register motion non-consistent with environmental movement, and the image is instantly cross-referenced to Cromwell's databanks. A pattern match is found – the front-right quadrant of a javelin MANPATGM. Performing a quick locstat recheck, Cromwell ensures that no corresponding friendly forces are in the given location. The identified target is then silhouetted (with any of a number of settings [such as colour-coding or numerical assignment] in place to illustrate level of threat, in both relative and absolute terms), and the image is displayed on the HUD. Cromwell, evaluating the javelin system as a moderately credible threat (relative to the lack of any other targets... had the vehicle been in the process of engaging a quartet of MBTs, on its own, at close range, the Cromwell would probably have marked it, but not highlighted it as a priority for engagement, given the relatively higher threat represented by the tanks, and leaving aside the fact that that would imply a serious problem on a number of levels, unless the IFV is conducting an ambush), activates the audio notification system, and informs the vehicle's operators accordingly. The target identification and crew notification process has, to this point, taken less than a third of a second, baring the half second it has taken for the auditory warning to be processed by the crew's central nervous system and brain.
The Cromwell II system utilises this information to compute a firing solution for the commander, based upon analysis of the target, as the turret swivels to follow the commander's turning head, concluding as the target slides beneath the appropriate reticle. This firing solution is finalised at the moment the operator depresses the firing stud, and is completed in less time than it takes the finger to depress all the way. The firing solution that Cromwell II generates, utilising the enormous range of sensory inputs available to it, ensures a near-perfect hit percentage at standard ranges, across all conditions using any of the available weapons systems.
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 almost completely 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.
Borrowing from fire control measures designed by the Koreans for the K2 Black Panther, and implemented in the LY7, Lyran Arms and the Varessan Commonwealth's VMRDB developed a built-in trigger-delay mechanism. Other contemporary AFVs, up to and including the LY4A1, but not including the K2, LY7 and LY4A2, can be found to, despite all other fire control methods, miss their target when they fire their gun/s and hit a slight bump at the same time, a problem exacerbated, as would be expected, by movement at high speeds and/or across uneven terrain. The designers of the K2 anticipated this situation, and generated a solution for it by installing a laser emitter-receiver assembly linked to the FCS, a concept that was brought across for implementation in the main gun on the LY7, and is now integrated into the LY106 of the LY224.
The emitter is fitted near the top of the barrel, with the receiver being placed at the barrel's base. The weapon can only be fired when the laser receiver array is exactly aligned with the emitted laser. To illustrate, if at the point of firing, when the gunner presses the trigger, linked as it is to the fire control system, the vehicle comes upon an irregularity in the terrain at the same moment, the laser will find itself pushed off the reciever by the sudden movement, and the FCS will delay the round's ignition until the beam reorients to the receiver again. As the barrel shakes up and down, the FCS will automatically fire off the gun when the laser finds its mark, and the barrel is judged to be on target. This system, combined with both an advanced gyro-stabiliser, static pendulum cant sensor and powerful fire control system, dramatically improves the vehicle's capacity to engage targets while moving at speed, even across broken terrain.
In case of an emergency, the vehicle can be operated by a single, member of its three crew. The FCS can autonomously locate and track visible targets, comparing them both to known hostiles (identified by datalink) or targets established by image recognition (again as available via information uplink), avoid blue-on-blue engagements and fire its main gun without needing any input from a human operator, although the absence of a human operator will adversely affect engagement tempo.
The crew-stations again borrow extensively from the LY4A2, and utilise a far more advanced and adaptive control interface than that of earlier platforms. The new system integrates the data gathered by the vehicle's external sensors and projects it directly onto the HUD inside the crew's headset-visor, a feature not dissimilar to that utilised in the BALCOTH helmet. As the operator turns his head, the view pans, and the image displayed can be either a direct projection of the terrain and environs, as would be seen with the naked eye were the tank's hull not in the way, or various overlays, magnification and enhancements that can be applied or superimposed to highlight important elements (such as friendly forces), in a fashion not dissimilar to an aircraft's HUD. From this point, either physical or voice activated controls are then used as required. By way of example, the vehicle commander may look left, with the weapon mounted on the weapon station following his movement (if the function is activated). With Cromwell having identified hostile dismounted infantry, the vehicle's commander simply places the targetting reticle (located by default in the centre of his HUD) upon the desired target, and presses the firing stud. Alternatively, he could centre the reticle at a target, and designate it for engagement by accompanying forces, by either voice command or toggle. Targets can be sequenced for engagement, and the operator may target and fire in a similar manner using the vehicle's main gun, or co-axial. The gunner's station can take on the role of driver, if the situation requires, and vice versa, due to the intuitive and flexible command systems, and adaptive interface provided by the Cromwell system. When used in conjunction with Cromwell II, and the new fast-traversing shielded-electric turret, the engagement speeds of the Sorcha are 80% as fast again as that of its LY4A1 MBT ancestor, on par with the LY7 and LY4A2, and nearing double that of most other armoured platforms. Traverse speed is such that the bore of the main gun will traverse at the same speed as the operator's head (even if startled, which lead to jokes about the effects of sneezing while in control of an -A2, although for some reason this piece of humour hasn't taken in quite the same way regarding the Sorcha), allowing real-time orientation and lag-free look-shoot capability.
For dismounts or other personnel within the Sorcha, if BALCOTH is available then the sensor data from the Sorcha's external imagery systems can be fed through to the helmet's HUD on request, in the same manner that information can be presented to the vehicle's controllers although no vehicle control commands are enabled by default. This allows dismounting personnel to have already been examining the battlezone, in real time, prior to their exit, a factor which tremendously increases their confidence and battlefield awareness, which in turn positively influences their responsiveness and engagement speeds.
Continuing on a trend in Lyran hardware that was established by the LY6 and has been continuously and retrospectively fitted, the electrics of the vehicle, more specifically the circuitry, are composed of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), rendering the vehicle proof against electromagnetic interference or EMP-based attack, although the GaAs is itself a highly expensive addition. Given the ever increasing utilisation of sophisticated electronic and sensory systems, shielding these systems is, now more than ever, deemed a centre of gravity for the platform's protective systems. It was quickly reasoned that when operating in an environment which may include anti-strategic platforms such as the LY4032 “Rampart”, the chances of the platform encountering high levels of electromagnetic interference goes up dramatically, and the dangers presented by these and similar munitions far outweighs the relatively modest (though expensive in absolute terms) cost of the implementation of GaAs components.
The immense potential of this as a feature of military system was demonstrated in spectacular fashion during the Stoklomolvi Civil War, when Lyran warships not only saved the lives of countless Stoklomolvi civilians by defending them from nuclear attack on two seperate instances, but also then, in both cases, were able to exploit the massive EMP side-effect the 'Rampart' generates in nuclear defence. The result was a carrier battle group destroyed, to no Lyran loss. While not a land-based example, the lesson has been learned, and gallium arsenide is set to stay as a standard feature of Lyran electrics for the some time to come.
The Sorcha follows on from the LY4A2 in fielding standard and integral short-to-medium range fire-finder radar, for use in locating and engaging concealed hostile armour, and assisting in the overall battleforce's identification (and locating) of opposing indirect fire support, be it intimate to tactical forces, or attached at manoeuver-group level. Often this feature is also cross-linked to automatic firing authorisation for the Helios II, allowing for extremely rapid shoot-back capabilities for the battleforce as a whole. The radar is a license-built derivative of the Lamonian LA-135 Cutlass fire-finder radar, and also features a number of systems that had been first seen on the AN/SPD – 83 Observant fire-finder radar first fielded on the Battleaxe-class cruisers of the Lyran navy. As would be expected, of course, the system, being as it is considerably smaller than that fielded by the 22,000 ton cruiser, has a limited range, and very often will not actually be able to see the point at which the rounds were fired from. However, the generally predictable nature and regular form of the parabolic ballistic arc ensures that the system's projected estimation of the originating location of hostile indirect fire, matched with, and superimposed over, Cromwell-backed geographical data, is generally accurate to within 50 metres, for ranges between 5000m and 40,000m. At ranges shorter than that, the margin of error decreases considerably.
Armour
Given the aforementioned importance placed by the Lyran Protectorate on preservation of friendly combat forces, an absolute premium was placed on survivability of crew by use of the very best in armour technology that was available. Indeed, given that the Sorcha was designed with protection as the motivating factor, armour protection was not compromised upon in any way, and was essentially a carbon copy of the world-leading armour scheme of the -A2 variant of the LY4 series. The conceptualisation behind that armour scheme was simple: take the advances learned, both nationally and internationally, in the development of the LY7, and apply them to the LY7's larger cousin.
The resulting protection levels were striking. The LY7 had been forced to keep weight levels at or below 60 tons, and had to maintain effective armour within that parameter. In essence, at 16 tons less, the LY7 possessed an armour scheme nearly identical to that of the LY4, and only a few scant percentage points behind the LY4A1. For the LY4A2, the LY7's armour scheme had been selected... but with an additional 10 tons added, bringing the LY4A2 back to essentially the same weight as it possessed prior to upgrade, when the additional weight of the LY410 gun, relative to the LY402, is factored in. For the Sorcha, however, bereft of the LY410 140mm ETC main gun, still further armour is added, making the Sorcha the most heavily armoured AFV fielded by Lyras since the LY6 Werewolf, although the LY6 comes in at 98 tons, rather than the Sorcha's 71.3 tons.
Remaining steel in a structural sense, the -A2, and subsequent -224, uses titanium as the prevailing armour material, which, in general terms, offers considerably higher protection levels per unit of weight. Since the widespread production of the LY7, which likewise makes extensive use of titanium, costs per unit have fallen considerably, and are expected to continue to do so.
The primary external armour is thus titanium-chobham, a form of composite armour composed of multiple layers of titanium and ceramic. The titanium plates hold the ceramic in position and the ceramic maintains its resistance to shock even when fragmented, as long as it remains held together. Explosive reactive armour is fitted as standard (though can be removed) to the turret and major hull areas. Fireproof armoured bulkheads seperate the crew compartment from the engine bay, which also cuts out most of the engine's acoustic or harmonic interference with crew activity.
Fuel and ammunition are located within armoured sub-compartments with integral anti-spalling layers, and those self-same antispalling systems are also used to protect the internals of the crew compartment.
Extensive use of heavy explosive reactive armour on multiple surfaces is integral and expected. The vehicle's heavy use of titanium (especially on the sides and rear, where surfaces generally have the least slope) to keep weight to a minimum while not sacrificing protection, allows for for further up-armouring, should circumstances dictate. It is expected that, as new or more effective forms of modular armour are developed, users will be easily able to integrate the packages into the chassis with a bare minimum of effort.
Available from the Lyran Protectorate, at no extra cost, is the North Point applique armour system, designed for the LY4A1 and carried over first to the -A2, and now to the -224. In response to burst-firing main guns being fielded by several nations, Lyran personnel enquired of Krupp Industries 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'.
North Point is a triple-layered active/passive system, which finds its predominant use on the turret and glacis. The first layer is 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 tungsten disulfide 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 AFVs 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.
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 vehicle is substantially lowered relative to its unaugmented counterpart. North Point has added a total of 5.6 tons to the overall weight of a 'clean' LY4.
Finally, the LY4's turret roof, as part of the North Point upgrade, can be mounted with non-explosive reactive armor [NERA] 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. The smaller turret of the Sorcha means that this is less of an issue, but NERA bricks are fitted to the upper surfaces of the hull instead, with much the same effect.
Tungsten disulfide (WS2) is the key material in the first layer of HERA, and is the same substance used not only in Lyran MBTs since the LY4A1 (and now the Sorcha), but also in the 'Dauntless' ballistic armour series. WS2 is an inorganic fullerene; a tubular or spherical nanocomposites. First proposed as a ballistic protection by the Israeli-based ApNano corporation, research into tungsten disulfide had proceeded independently for some time, despite considerable interest from a large number of national military and police forces. The Protectorate Research and Development Commission entering into an information-sharing agreement with the group in late 2006. A manufacturer of other high-strength armour-ceramic materials, such as boron carbide and silicon carbide, ApNano's research showed tungsten disulfide granting at least twice the protection level of equivalent mass boron carbide, between 4 and 5 times stronger than steel, and 6 times the strength of kevlar.
In contrast to organic (carbon-based) Fullerenes, WS2 is easier and much less expensive to produce, is chemically stable and is dramatically less reactive and less flammable. Organic fullerenes are also considered to be highly toxic, whereas WS2, like most other inorganic fullerenes, is not. As WS2 forms, it does so in layers, much like graphite, which is - along with diamond - one of two common forms carbon takes in nature. In WS2, molecules are bonded in trigonal prismatic layers, similar to molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). These form flat layers that are stacked on top of one another like sheets of paper.
In an interview recorded in late 2005, Dr. Menachem Genut, ApNano CEO, explained that the company was moving into semi-industrial manufacturing within the next six months producing between 100-200 kilograms of the material per day, gradually moving to full-scale industrial production by 2007, which lead to the production of several tons each day. Although it was difficult to determine the exact price of the "nano-armor" when in full industrial production, given the cost of the original materials and the relatively low production costs, Dr. Genut stated (in 2005) that a kilogram of the new material will cost considerably less than a similar amount of the carbon-based Fullerenes. As at the time of interview, the company was optimistic that with some external financial backing it will be possible to have the first product ready in less then three years.
The Lyran Protectorate was more than happy to provide such backing, which it did to the tune of NS$18 billion. That investment has reaped the requisite rewards, with multiple manufacturing complexes now devoted to production of the materials required for the production of “Dauntless” body armour, in addition to the North Point applique armour package. The investment was recovered nicely, with sales of 'Dauntless', reaching over 195 million units before export was restricted (due to the system's effectiveness) to states allied to Lyras only.
In mid-2005, research into WS2 was conducted at the University of Nottingham, England. A sample of the material was subjected to severe shocks, from a steel projectile moving at speeds of up to 1.5 km/second. The tungsten disulfide withstood the impacts of up to 250 tons per square centimeter. This is approximately equivalent to dropping four diesel locomotives onto an area the size of ones fingernail. During the test the material proved to be so strong that after the impact the samples remained essentially unchanged, when compared to the original material. Additionally, a recent study by Prof. J. M. Martin from Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France tested the new material under isostatic pressure and found it to be stable up to at least 350 tons/cm2.
While it is acknowledged that WS2 is three times the weight of boron carbide, and grants only twice the protection, it has been judged that in a large number of cases the additional total weight will not be of great concern to the tank, with the additional two tons of weight being well worth the extra protection against KE and HEAT threats. Or, put another way, while the protection per unit weight may be only two thirds that of boron carbide, the protection per unit of volume, judged by the Protectorate Research and Development Commission, in this instance, to be a more pressing concern, is 50% greater.
Anti-spalling protection builds on Lyran experience with semi-synthetic anciniform spider silk. Despite its unusual origins, once threads are manufactured, the silk is woven in the same manner as fibrous material anywhere. The fibres mesh well, and fibrous internal friction is low while elasticity and tensile strength both remain very high, allowing for exceptionally good resistance, particularly so when compared to other similar substances, such as aramids. The fibres, unusually, become proportionally stronger as they get thinner, and research and implementation quickly established what spiders established millions of years ago, that weaving 100 thin fibres into a silken strand is almost 60% stronger than an equivalent width single strand, while utilising (approximately) only 80% of the material mass. Also, critically, spider silk has a biphasic modulus – when initially subjected to force it is very stiff, like Kevlar, but just before the yield point it becomes very elastic. It also undergoes hysteresis, so if released from tension it comes back into shape.
In essence, while offering only very slightly improved protection-to-weight ratios than kevlar, anciniform spider silk is dramatically thinner, allowing notably more material to be packed into the same space. As a consequence, while the protection per unit weight may be similar to kevlar, the protection per unit volume is considerably higher, and it is this consideration that lead to its adoption as anti-spalling on most Lyran vehicles, at the cost of an additional 400kg of weight.
Automatic fire suppression systems are activated in the event of fire, and inoperable systems within the platform are cut off from the central power supply until diagnostics confirm their return to full readiness. This not only lowers the risk of further damage or injury by electrical fire, but also lowers the power drain to the vehicle.
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Key Data
Crew: 2 (Driver, Commander/Gunner) + 8 dismounts
Dimensions
Length: 7.7m
Height : 2.1m
Width: 4.1m (+ 0.60m with slat armour fitted)
Weight: 71.3 tonnes
Ground Clearance: Variable. Default at 50cm
Performance
Maximum (Governed) Speed: 87 kph (54.4mph)
Cross Country Speed: 65.9 kph
Speed, 10% Slope: 34 kph
Speed, 60% slope: 18 kph
Acceleration: 0kph to 32 kph in 6.4 seconds
Range: 665 km (560 km at operational cruising speed)
Manoeuvrability
Vertical Obstacle Crossing: 116 cm (45 in)
Trench: 300 cm (10 ft)
Suspension: Hydropneumatic
Armament
Armament: 50mm LY106 compact automatic cannon
Coaxial Weapon: 14.7mm LY60 HMG OR 15mm AGH-32 HMG OR 7.62mm LY64 GPMG
Additional: Laterally mounted 4 barrelled multi-purpose grenade launchers, 4 x TPFMI MkII “Helios II” BVR ATGM, 4 x SALY28 SAMs
Power
Propulsion: LY693 20L hybrid-electric opposing-piston multi-fuel hyperbar engine, generating 2,000 HP (1,500 kW) at 3000RPM.
Transmission: Hydropneumatic automatic transmission (5 fwd gears, 2 rvse)
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 28.05hp/ton
APU: 2 (underarmour)
Batteries: 14 x high density Li+ polymer.
Armour and Protection
Armour: Titanium-ceramic, HERA, North Point
Anti-spalling: Semi-synthetic anciniform spider silk
NBC Protection: SCFM, clean cooled air, LYMkII CBRN overpressure system.
Missile Countermeasures: GOLIATH Active Protection System.
Conceptualisation
The LY224 Sorcha (Irish Gaelic; sork'ha, from the Hebrew: Sarah, 'Princess', but more importantly the name of the lead designer's pet Irish Wolfhound, Sorcha (http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/2821090/Sorcha.jpg)) is a heavy infantry fighting vehicle series based on the chassis of the LY4 Wolfhound main battle tank. Designed and built by the Protectorate of Lyras, it serves in the military of that state, and other states to whom the Sorcha has been exported.
Background and Development
With Israel and the Russian Federation both successfully converting large numbers of older tanks (T54/55s, Centurions and older Merkavas in Israel's case, T55s in Russia's) into heavily armoured APCs/IFVs, interest was piqued within the Lyran Protectorate. The phenomenal investment of time and resources that each individual combatant represented to Lyras placed a very high premium on the protection of vehicle crew and dismounts. Initial progress was slow, however, as the LY219 was deemed more than adequate for the majority of situations likely to be encountered. This changed when casualties among Greali forces during the TPF occupation were noted. While admittedly the decisions to engage MBTs with IFVs can be disputed, as indeed it often was, it should be acknowledged that the progress of battle does not always allow one to take the course of action one generally deem ideal. That conflict served as a reminder for many, reaffirming the vulnerability of conventional IFVs to heavier (especially kinetic) anti-armour weaponry (such as 120mm ETC main guns of leading NS-grade MBTs), and with this in mind the Protectorate Research and Development Commission re-opened the development of heavy infantry carriers.
The most widely available chassis at this point was the LY4 and LY4A1 Wolfhound, both marks of which offered extremely high levels of survivability. As a consequence this was the platform chosen for conversion, and research was commenced in November of that year, with development proceeding in tandem with the LY4A2 upgrade. The first steps taken involved the replacement of the turret, modification of the engine bay (featuring a more fuel efficient, quiet and compact engine, relative to the LY4A1), installation of new clamshell-type rear doors and heightening of the crew compartment.
Given the relative simplicity of the development, problems were few, and upon successful prototype trials at Dexter and Lughenti testing ranges, a number of the upgrades from the LY4A2 were integrated into the newly christened 'Sorcha'. By the conclusion of evaluation and development, the -224 was essentially an LY4A2 without an MBT-grade main gun, but carrying infantry dismounts instead. Given the very heavy secondary armament of the -A2, this was considered a more-than-acceptable trade, given the role for which the Sorcha was envisaged.
Soon after development, it was realised that the LY224 had potential for an extremely wide range of derivatives to cover a wide range of heavy armoured roles. As with the earlier (and immensely lighter) LY219 Ironheart, the LY224's utility allows it to be fielded in IFV, C3, EW, mine clearance, NBCD and Decon, heavy cargo carrier, ambulance and armoured recovery roles, although that list is not exhaustive. In modularity terms, the LY224 provides an extremely heavily armoured and well protected alternative to the LY219, coming at the cost of increased weight and logistic footprint.
As has become a trend, the first operational unit to take delivery was the 8th (Wolfspiders) Mechanised Division, 2nd Order, which received the new units barely a year after development commenced. 'Sorcha' units will be distributed to heavy mechanised infantry and combat engineering forces, by priority, but to all medium and heavy formations over time.
Armament
In the same manner that the LY219 series (IFV marks) used the PAK2 25mm cannon as their primary, the weapon system that was co-axial on many existing Lyran tanks, the LY224 uses the coaxial of the LY4A2 as its primary weapon. As with the LY4A2, this is not in any way reflective of the capabilities of the PAK2, which remains a very reliable and highly effective autocannon, broadly speaking, but is more due to the increasing protection of medium and heavy IFVs, some of which boast armour schemes that made the use of a 25mm weapon in the anti-materiel role problematic.
As such, the primary weapon of the Sorcha is the LY106 50mm compact medium autocannon. The LY106 fires the increasingly common (amongst Fedalan nations) 50 x 300mm caseless telescoping round, first seen in the primary weapon system of the Sumerian PIV-30 Armoured Infantry Combat Vehicle. The LY106 is a chain-operated, externally powered (by the same 4 HP motor that proved to be the most reliable element of the failed LY105 30mm cannon) weapon, which, as with the PAK2, uses a system of sprockets, grooves and clutches to not only feed, load and fire rounds, but also allows the operator to switch ammunition types, by selecting from which of the four ammunition drums to draw rounds from. Available ammunition types include APFSDS-T, HEI-T, HEDP-T, Illum and practice rounds.
Much of the weapon system is titanium, which, while expensive, is considerably lighter than its steel volume/strength equivalent, thus allowing for the weapon's mounting to be considerably lighter. Given that the total weapon is firmly secured to the MBT's turret while used in the coaxial role, the now-lighter elements of the receiver assembly do not adversely affect the weapon's recoil characteristics. A high-efficiency muzzle brake and long recoil mechanism (45mm) also lower the felt recoil signature, and provide for more efficient firing characteristics. As with all weapons on the platform, the LY106 is linked to the Cromwell FCS, and thus benefits from the attendant sensory and ballistic calculatory suite.
The barrel is 50 calibres long, putting it 2.25m from the end of the reciever, and is chrome-lined to improve durability, and allow for the provision of higher-pressure propellant charges.
Three rates of fire are able to be selected: semi-automatic, low-rate automatic and high-rate automatic, which allow single-shot, 50rpm (approx.) and 100 rpm (approx.) respectively.
The LY106 is designed to provide the LY4A2 with effective, reliable and accurate firepower for the destruction of most medium-armoured threats, including helicopters, IFVs, APCs, and even many MBTs outside of the frontal arc. In this anti-armour role, the LY106 is considerably more potent than its PAK2 predecessor, despite the earlier weapon's distinguished service record.
The vehicle's coaxial station, fitted to the left of the primary weapon, is designed to be able to fit weapons generally of up to 20mm. Conventional armament on Lyran vehicles for the coaxial station is the LY60 14.7mm 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, and as the secondary coaxial on the LY7. 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.
The Sorcha also 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. Both of these measures work most effectively in conjunction with the 'Warshroud' system to maximise operational performance.
Above and to the rear of the ultra-low-profile RWS turret is a quartet of SALY28 SAMs, which provides mobile local area air defence, and takes the burden of that role away from dismounted infantry, allowing them to focus on their immediate battlefield.
As with its MBT predecessor, the Sorcha utilises side-of-turret mounted, box-launched ATGMs, and again like the LY4 utilises the superb TPF-designed Helios II, although Sorcha follows on from the -A2, fielding four rather than two. Helios II was developed following a decision by Prussian High Command to design and implement a new high-performance 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, and with a fair degree of overmatch, to ensure continued lethality against future AFVs. In addition, High Command ordered that the missiles have Beyond Visual Range capability, to take advantage of the military's new high-tech information-orientated battlespace networking capabilities. 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, beyond-visual-range 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. This system can also switch to home-on-jamming, should EW render the primary detection method ineffective. 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 a high-power 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.
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 that may be present, a feature increasingly common on many vehicles.
Helios itself is designed to be gun-launched, propelled by the tanks main cannon, but can be box-launched when booster-assisted, as is the case with all marks of the LY4. When box-launched, the firing platform is able to simultaneously engage multiple targets, a feature that Lyras considered to be well worthwhile. In one notable example, a North Stornian LY4 engaged three Fehnmari Leopard2A5s, and destroyed all three in less than the time it took the Leopards to bring their turrets to bear. With four missiles carried by the Sorcha, the effectiveness of this particular weapon system is further enhanced, and provides the IFV with a reliable, responsive, accurate, long range and high-lethality anti-tank system, granting an anti-armour reliability almost unmatched amongst IFVs on the international market, especially when considered in conjunction with the high-pressure 50mm cannon which forms the platform's primary armament.
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 LY224, like every Lyran combat vehicle designed to engage in LOS combat, uses active protection systems, in the same manner as all of its immediate predecessors. As with earlier marks of the LY4, the -224's system has been developed in conjunction with Krupp Steel, one of the leading Prussian military technology and support corporations.
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 continued to think of it in those terms.
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 on x 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 -224 features very similar systems to those featured on the -A2 upgrade of the base LY4, which itself builds on the existing range of active ECM as a means of defeating incoming radar guided missiles. The suite is usually activated if detection equipment determines that multiple radar signatures are illuminating the vehicle in question. Also fitted, as an adjunct to this feature, is a early warning reciever, which displays on the crew's HUDs the location and presence of any radar systems illuminating (or even simply contacting) the vehicle, allowing for their far-easier engagement should circumstances warrant, or their evasion should it not. A common practice is to set the Helios missiles to automatic engagement, which grants clearance to Cromwell to automatically fire off a Helios missile at any non-friendly radar which illuminates the platform. This generates a reaction time almost an order of magnitude faster than that achievable by the human operators, although it is advised that this capacity only be enabled in high-threat environments, to ensure minimisation of collateral damage.
Networking, Sensory and Fire Control System
In terms of electronic uplinking and data sharing, the -224 essentially uses the same electronics suite as the LY4A2, which is a major advancement on the -A1 in terms of its networking, sensory, fire-control and crew interfacing capabilities. This point in itself is highly notable, given the -A1's still-world benchmark capabilities in those fields. The -A2, and now -224, vehicle is fitted with a highly extensive sensor suite so as to enable the transmission of as much information as possible into any extant battlenet, while possessing substantial internal (multiple-redundant) computational facilities so as to handle required downloads from that selfsame network.
While designed to slot into any existing battlespace architecture, the Sorcha by default utilises the world-benchmark Cromwell II. Cromwell II is an integrated and adaptive battlespace network that maximises combat lethality, performance, and 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. With the -A2, and now with the -224, the Cromwell II system has begun to mature as a force-multiplier, with effectiveness of the system increasingly and exponentially evident to all but the most entrenched detractors. Image and pattern recognition software constantly interfaces with sensory systems (even while the given input is not being examined by crew), and the results both relayed to friendly and superior force elements, and also displayed for action by the vehicle operators. For example, a Sorcha's commander has the turret swivelled to the 2 o'clock position, trained on a suspicious-looking patch of vegetation, with the view in the HUD set to thermal imagery. While in that orientation, the vehicle's sensors at 11 o'clock register motion non-consistent with environmental movement, and the image is instantly cross-referenced to Cromwell's databanks. A pattern match is found – the front-right quadrant of a javelin MANPATGM. Performing a quick locstat recheck, Cromwell ensures that no corresponding friendly forces are in the given location. The identified target is then silhouetted (with any of a number of settings [such as colour-coding or numerical assignment] in place to illustrate level of threat, in both relative and absolute terms), and the image is displayed on the HUD. Cromwell, evaluating the javelin system as a moderately credible threat (relative to the lack of any other targets... had the vehicle been in the process of engaging a quartet of MBTs, on its own, at close range, the Cromwell would probably have marked it, but not highlighted it as a priority for engagement, given the relatively higher threat represented by the tanks, and leaving aside the fact that that would imply a serious problem on a number of levels, unless the IFV is conducting an ambush), activates the audio notification system, and informs the vehicle's operators accordingly. The target identification and crew notification process has, to this point, taken less than a third of a second, baring the half second it has taken for the auditory warning to be processed by the crew's central nervous system and brain.
The Cromwell II system utilises this information to compute a firing solution for the commander, based upon analysis of the target, as the turret swivels to follow the commander's turning head, concluding as the target slides beneath the appropriate reticle. This firing solution is finalised at the moment the operator depresses the firing stud, and is completed in less time than it takes the finger to depress all the way. The firing solution that Cromwell II generates, utilising the enormous range of sensory inputs available to it, ensures a near-perfect hit percentage at standard ranges, across all conditions using any of the available weapons systems.
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 almost completely 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.
Borrowing from fire control measures designed by the Koreans for the K2 Black Panther, and implemented in the LY7, Lyran Arms and the Varessan Commonwealth's VMRDB developed a built-in trigger-delay mechanism. Other contemporary AFVs, up to and including the LY4A1, but not including the K2, LY7 and LY4A2, can be found to, despite all other fire control methods, miss their target when they fire their gun/s and hit a slight bump at the same time, a problem exacerbated, as would be expected, by movement at high speeds and/or across uneven terrain. The designers of the K2 anticipated this situation, and generated a solution for it by installing a laser emitter-receiver assembly linked to the FCS, a concept that was brought across for implementation in the main gun on the LY7, and is now integrated into the LY106 of the LY224.
The emitter is fitted near the top of the barrel, with the receiver being placed at the barrel's base. The weapon can only be fired when the laser receiver array is exactly aligned with the emitted laser. To illustrate, if at the point of firing, when the gunner presses the trigger, linked as it is to the fire control system, the vehicle comes upon an irregularity in the terrain at the same moment, the laser will find itself pushed off the reciever by the sudden movement, and the FCS will delay the round's ignition until the beam reorients to the receiver again. As the barrel shakes up and down, the FCS will automatically fire off the gun when the laser finds its mark, and the barrel is judged to be on target. This system, combined with both an advanced gyro-stabiliser, static pendulum cant sensor and powerful fire control system, dramatically improves the vehicle's capacity to engage targets while moving at speed, even across broken terrain.
In case of an emergency, the vehicle can be operated by a single, member of its three crew. The FCS can autonomously locate and track visible targets, comparing them both to known hostiles (identified by datalink) or targets established by image recognition (again as available via information uplink), avoid blue-on-blue engagements and fire its main gun without needing any input from a human operator, although the absence of a human operator will adversely affect engagement tempo.
The crew-stations again borrow extensively from the LY4A2, and utilise a far more advanced and adaptive control interface than that of earlier platforms. The new system integrates the data gathered by the vehicle's external sensors and projects it directly onto the HUD inside the crew's headset-visor, a feature not dissimilar to that utilised in the BALCOTH helmet. As the operator turns his head, the view pans, and the image displayed can be either a direct projection of the terrain and environs, as would be seen with the naked eye were the tank's hull not in the way, or various overlays, magnification and enhancements that can be applied or superimposed to highlight important elements (such as friendly forces), in a fashion not dissimilar to an aircraft's HUD. From this point, either physical or voice activated controls are then used as required. By way of example, the vehicle commander may look left, with the weapon mounted on the weapon station following his movement (if the function is activated). With Cromwell having identified hostile dismounted infantry, the vehicle's commander simply places the targetting reticle (located by default in the centre of his HUD) upon the desired target, and presses the firing stud. Alternatively, he could centre the reticle at a target, and designate it for engagement by accompanying forces, by either voice command or toggle. Targets can be sequenced for engagement, and the operator may target and fire in a similar manner using the vehicle's main gun, or co-axial. The gunner's station can take on the role of driver, if the situation requires, and vice versa, due to the intuitive and flexible command systems, and adaptive interface provided by the Cromwell system. When used in conjunction with Cromwell II, and the new fast-traversing shielded-electric turret, the engagement speeds of the Sorcha are 80% as fast again as that of its LY4A1 MBT ancestor, on par with the LY7 and LY4A2, and nearing double that of most other armoured platforms. Traverse speed is such that the bore of the main gun will traverse at the same speed as the operator's head (even if startled, which lead to jokes about the effects of sneezing while in control of an -A2, although for some reason this piece of humour hasn't taken in quite the same way regarding the Sorcha), allowing real-time orientation and lag-free look-shoot capability.
For dismounts or other personnel within the Sorcha, if BALCOTH is available then the sensor data from the Sorcha's external imagery systems can be fed through to the helmet's HUD on request, in the same manner that information can be presented to the vehicle's controllers although no vehicle control commands are enabled by default. This allows dismounting personnel to have already been examining the battlezone, in real time, prior to their exit, a factor which tremendously increases their confidence and battlefield awareness, which in turn positively influences their responsiveness and engagement speeds.
Continuing on a trend in Lyran hardware that was established by the LY6 and has been continuously and retrospectively fitted, the electrics of the vehicle, more specifically the circuitry, are composed of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), rendering the vehicle proof against electromagnetic interference or EMP-based attack, although the GaAs is itself a highly expensive addition. Given the ever increasing utilisation of sophisticated electronic and sensory systems, shielding these systems is, now more than ever, deemed a centre of gravity for the platform's protective systems. It was quickly reasoned that when operating in an environment which may include anti-strategic platforms such as the LY4032 “Rampart”, the chances of the platform encountering high levels of electromagnetic interference goes up dramatically, and the dangers presented by these and similar munitions far outweighs the relatively modest (though expensive in absolute terms) cost of the implementation of GaAs components.
The immense potential of this as a feature of military system was demonstrated in spectacular fashion during the Stoklomolvi Civil War, when Lyran warships not only saved the lives of countless Stoklomolvi civilians by defending them from nuclear attack on two seperate instances, but also then, in both cases, were able to exploit the massive EMP side-effect the 'Rampart' generates in nuclear defence. The result was a carrier battle group destroyed, to no Lyran loss. While not a land-based example, the lesson has been learned, and gallium arsenide is set to stay as a standard feature of Lyran electrics for the some time to come.
The Sorcha follows on from the LY4A2 in fielding standard and integral short-to-medium range fire-finder radar, for use in locating and engaging concealed hostile armour, and assisting in the overall battleforce's identification (and locating) of opposing indirect fire support, be it intimate to tactical forces, or attached at manoeuver-group level. Often this feature is also cross-linked to automatic firing authorisation for the Helios II, allowing for extremely rapid shoot-back capabilities for the battleforce as a whole. The radar is a license-built derivative of the Lamonian LA-135 Cutlass fire-finder radar, and also features a number of systems that had been first seen on the AN/SPD – 83 Observant fire-finder radar first fielded on the Battleaxe-class cruisers of the Lyran navy. As would be expected, of course, the system, being as it is considerably smaller than that fielded by the 22,000 ton cruiser, has a limited range, and very often will not actually be able to see the point at which the rounds were fired from. However, the generally predictable nature and regular form of the parabolic ballistic arc ensures that the system's projected estimation of the originating location of hostile indirect fire, matched with, and superimposed over, Cromwell-backed geographical data, is generally accurate to within 50 metres, for ranges between 5000m and 40,000m. At ranges shorter than that, the margin of error decreases considerably.
Armour
Given the aforementioned importance placed by the Lyran Protectorate on preservation of friendly combat forces, an absolute premium was placed on survivability of crew by use of the very best in armour technology that was available. Indeed, given that the Sorcha was designed with protection as the motivating factor, armour protection was not compromised upon in any way, and was essentially a carbon copy of the world-leading armour scheme of the -A2 variant of the LY4 series. The conceptualisation behind that armour scheme was simple: take the advances learned, both nationally and internationally, in the development of the LY7, and apply them to the LY7's larger cousin.
The resulting protection levels were striking. The LY7 had been forced to keep weight levels at or below 60 tons, and had to maintain effective armour within that parameter. In essence, at 16 tons less, the LY7 possessed an armour scheme nearly identical to that of the LY4, and only a few scant percentage points behind the LY4A1. For the LY4A2, the LY7's armour scheme had been selected... but with an additional 10 tons added, bringing the LY4A2 back to essentially the same weight as it possessed prior to upgrade, when the additional weight of the LY410 gun, relative to the LY402, is factored in. For the Sorcha, however, bereft of the LY410 140mm ETC main gun, still further armour is added, making the Sorcha the most heavily armoured AFV fielded by Lyras since the LY6 Werewolf, although the LY6 comes in at 98 tons, rather than the Sorcha's 71.3 tons.
Remaining steel in a structural sense, the -A2, and subsequent -224, uses titanium as the prevailing armour material, which, in general terms, offers considerably higher protection levels per unit of weight. Since the widespread production of the LY7, which likewise makes extensive use of titanium, costs per unit have fallen considerably, and are expected to continue to do so.
The primary external armour is thus titanium-chobham, a form of composite armour composed of multiple layers of titanium and ceramic. The titanium plates hold the ceramic in position and the ceramic maintains its resistance to shock even when fragmented, as long as it remains held together. Explosive reactive armour is fitted as standard (though can be removed) to the turret and major hull areas. Fireproof armoured bulkheads seperate the crew compartment from the engine bay, which also cuts out most of the engine's acoustic or harmonic interference with crew activity.
Fuel and ammunition are located within armoured sub-compartments with integral anti-spalling layers, and those self-same antispalling systems are also used to protect the internals of the crew compartment.
Extensive use of heavy explosive reactive armour on multiple surfaces is integral and expected. The vehicle's heavy use of titanium (especially on the sides and rear, where surfaces generally have the least slope) to keep weight to a minimum while not sacrificing protection, allows for for further up-armouring, should circumstances dictate. It is expected that, as new or more effective forms of modular armour are developed, users will be easily able to integrate the packages into the chassis with a bare minimum of effort.
Available from the Lyran Protectorate, at no extra cost, is the North Point applique armour system, designed for the LY4A1 and carried over first to the -A2, and now to the -224. In response to burst-firing main guns being fielded by several nations, Lyran personnel enquired of Krupp Industries 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'.
North Point is a triple-layered active/passive system, which finds its predominant use on the turret and glacis. The first layer is 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 tungsten disulfide 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 AFVs 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.
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 vehicle is substantially lowered relative to its unaugmented counterpart. North Point has added a total of 5.6 tons to the overall weight of a 'clean' LY4.
Finally, the LY4's turret roof, as part of the North Point upgrade, can be mounted with non-explosive reactive armor [NERA] 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. The smaller turret of the Sorcha means that this is less of an issue, but NERA bricks are fitted to the upper surfaces of the hull instead, with much the same effect.
Tungsten disulfide (WS2) is the key material in the first layer of HERA, and is the same substance used not only in Lyran MBTs since the LY4A1 (and now the Sorcha), but also in the 'Dauntless' ballistic armour series. WS2 is an inorganic fullerene; a tubular or spherical nanocomposites. First proposed as a ballistic protection by the Israeli-based ApNano corporation, research into tungsten disulfide had proceeded independently for some time, despite considerable interest from a large number of national military and police forces. The Protectorate Research and Development Commission entering into an information-sharing agreement with the group in late 2006. A manufacturer of other high-strength armour-ceramic materials, such as boron carbide and silicon carbide, ApNano's research showed tungsten disulfide granting at least twice the protection level of equivalent mass boron carbide, between 4 and 5 times stronger than steel, and 6 times the strength of kevlar.
In contrast to organic (carbon-based) Fullerenes, WS2 is easier and much less expensive to produce, is chemically stable and is dramatically less reactive and less flammable. Organic fullerenes are also considered to be highly toxic, whereas WS2, like most other inorganic fullerenes, is not. As WS2 forms, it does so in layers, much like graphite, which is - along with diamond - one of two common forms carbon takes in nature. In WS2, molecules are bonded in trigonal prismatic layers, similar to molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). These form flat layers that are stacked on top of one another like sheets of paper.
In an interview recorded in late 2005, Dr. Menachem Genut, ApNano CEO, explained that the company was moving into semi-industrial manufacturing within the next six months producing between 100-200 kilograms of the material per day, gradually moving to full-scale industrial production by 2007, which lead to the production of several tons each day. Although it was difficult to determine the exact price of the "nano-armor" when in full industrial production, given the cost of the original materials and the relatively low production costs, Dr. Genut stated (in 2005) that a kilogram of the new material will cost considerably less than a similar amount of the carbon-based Fullerenes. As at the time of interview, the company was optimistic that with some external financial backing it will be possible to have the first product ready in less then three years.
The Lyran Protectorate was more than happy to provide such backing, which it did to the tune of NS$18 billion. That investment has reaped the requisite rewards, with multiple manufacturing complexes now devoted to production of the materials required for the production of “Dauntless” body armour, in addition to the North Point applique armour package. The investment was recovered nicely, with sales of 'Dauntless', reaching over 195 million units before export was restricted (due to the system's effectiveness) to states allied to Lyras only.
In mid-2005, research into WS2 was conducted at the University of Nottingham, England. A sample of the material was subjected to severe shocks, from a steel projectile moving at speeds of up to 1.5 km/second. The tungsten disulfide withstood the impacts of up to 250 tons per square centimeter. This is approximately equivalent to dropping four diesel locomotives onto an area the size of ones fingernail. During the test the material proved to be so strong that after the impact the samples remained essentially unchanged, when compared to the original material. Additionally, a recent study by Prof. J. M. Martin from Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France tested the new material under isostatic pressure and found it to be stable up to at least 350 tons/cm2.
While it is acknowledged that WS2 is three times the weight of boron carbide, and grants only twice the protection, it has been judged that in a large number of cases the additional total weight will not be of great concern to the tank, with the additional two tons of weight being well worth the extra protection against KE and HEAT threats. Or, put another way, while the protection per unit weight may be only two thirds that of boron carbide, the protection per unit of volume, judged by the Protectorate Research and Development Commission, in this instance, to be a more pressing concern, is 50% greater.
Anti-spalling protection builds on Lyran experience with semi-synthetic anciniform spider silk. Despite its unusual origins, once threads are manufactured, the silk is woven in the same manner as fibrous material anywhere. The fibres mesh well, and fibrous internal friction is low while elasticity and tensile strength both remain very high, allowing for exceptionally good resistance, particularly so when compared to other similar substances, such as aramids. The fibres, unusually, become proportionally stronger as they get thinner, and research and implementation quickly established what spiders established millions of years ago, that weaving 100 thin fibres into a silken strand is almost 60% stronger than an equivalent width single strand, while utilising (approximately) only 80% of the material mass. Also, critically, spider silk has a biphasic modulus – when initially subjected to force it is very stiff, like Kevlar, but just before the yield point it becomes very elastic. It also undergoes hysteresis, so if released from tension it comes back into shape.
In essence, while offering only very slightly improved protection-to-weight ratios than kevlar, anciniform spider silk is dramatically thinner, allowing notably more material to be packed into the same space. As a consequence, while the protection per unit weight may be similar to kevlar, the protection per unit volume is considerably higher, and it is this consideration that lead to its adoption as anti-spalling on most Lyran vehicles, at the cost of an additional 400kg of weight.
Automatic fire suppression systems are activated in the event of fire, and inoperable systems within the platform are cut off from the central power supply until diagnostics confirm their return to full readiness. This not only lowers the risk of further damage or injury by electrical fire, but also lowers the power drain to the vehicle.