H-74 Xīniú (Rhino) MBT
Old photograph of H-74 Xīniú Main Battle Tank
Image
Sideview of H-74
Entered service: 1765
Crew: 3 men with autoloader
Manufacturer: Chomobursk Mechanical Plant Ltd.
Dimensions and weight
Weight: 41.5 tonnes
Length (gun forward): 10.5 m
Hull length: 6.89 m
Width: 3.35 m
Height: 2.23 m
Armament
Main gun: 125-mm smoothbore
ATGW: Varies
Machine guns: 1 x 7.62-mm MGs (1xCOAX), 1 x 12.7-mm
Armour: Alloyed composite, Era
Elevation range: - 4 to + 20 degrees
Traverse range: 360 degrees
Ammunition load
Main gun: 42 rounds
Machine guns: 950 x 7.62, 900 x 12.7
Mobility
Engine: Dergan Ltd. Diesel turbine
Engine power: 1090 hp
Maximum road speed: 80 km/h
Range: 500km
Maneuverability
Gradient: 60%
Side slope: 40%
Vertical step: 1 m
Trench: 2.85 m
Fording: 1.2 m
Fording (with preparation):5 m
Overview
The H-74 or also known as ZTZ-74 entered service with the Minrozian Army in 1775. It is estimated that over 4600 of these main battle tanks were built. Other sources claim, that over 5 000 - 6000 of these tanks were produced. The Minrozians mass-produced Rhino tanks to swarm the U.C.O. (Omaska), hoping to win through sheer numbers and weight of firepower.
The H-74 MBT is armed with a fully-stabilized 125-mm smoothbore gun, fitted with an autoloader. Both the gun and autoloader were looked like copied from the Soviet T-72. This main battle tank might be compatible with the Russian AT-11 Sniper gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles, or its Minrozian copies. Maximum rate of fire is 6 - 8 rounds per minute. A total of 42 rounds are carried.
It is fitted with a night vision system with image intensifier. This MBT can engage moving targets, while on the move. Also the H-74 is equipped with the nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection system to protect the crew. Secondary armament is similar to all Russian and Chinese tanks. It consists of coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and another 12.7-mm machine gun, mounted on top of the roof.The H-74s has a excellent composite armour and known to withstand direct hits from opposing tanks. Vehicle is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.
The H-74s tank is powered by a turbocharged Diesel engine; developing 1090 hp. Engine and transmission are built in one module for easier servicing and maintenance. It can be replaced within 40 minutes in field conditions. This main battle tank has a maximum road range of 500 km, which is extended to 700 by adding external fuel tanks. Vehicle can be fitted with a deep wading kit. The H-74s has a mass-produced hybrid hydro-pneumatic and torsion bar suspension allowing the vehicle to "kneel" and increases the main gun depression angle. This feature is very useful in mountainous terrain.
Today, the Minrozian scientists and engineers modernised the H-74s into much better and simple versatile tank, afforded it to be unmatched reliability and their excellent levels of armour have gone to preserve many units that is normally lost.
History
Unlike Minroz’s Southern Neighbours, the Minrozian World Empire had to rebuild its Armed Forces from scratch due to managements by Oyyuk’s generals, notorious for their misuses of resources. However the rebuilding of the Minroz industry and agricultural centres following the war was the main priority for Kurultai leaders. From the 1570s till the late 1670s the Imperial Army was forced to use the old Tanks and other AFVs left over from the First Iclamian War. Things not might have changed if not for the ancient grudge between Omaska and Xoraine.
They too needed to rebuild following the First Iclamian War. The massive damage across their lands was their primary concern following the war. They wanted a quick withdrawal from the Empire so their money could be spent on reconstruction. Leary of maintaining sole responsibility for the Minrozians; the Confederacy began a pullout shortly after the start of the Xoran one. More control was handed back to the Minrozian World Empire and eventually the Imperial leadership was able to operate without restrictions. As a result the Minroz was able to move freely to secure its borders in the late 70s.
Unrest that had begun in the former Imperial Territories was spilling over into the Minroz itself. Eager to stop the unrest and to regain control of their former states, the leadership in Zhongyang announced it was sending in the Imperial Army to restore order. The Xorans and Omaskans, not willing to go in and aid the former vassals themselves allowed the Minrozians to carry out their incursion. Sensing weakness and distrust among their former enemies, the Imperial Army began as series of small modernization and research programs for their armed forces.
Among the first things addressed by the Imperial Army was the creation of a new main battle tank. The end result was the H-74s. As with pervious Minrozian tanks it focused on firepower and armour, however there are a number of interesting changes. First was the abandonment of a circular round turret. Designers opted instead to build an angular western style turret including the use of blow out panels with an ammunition bay in the turret. One major complaint by veterans of the First Iclamian War was the tendency of Imperial armour to explode its ammunition when the turret was breached by a round. Although the H-74s system was not up to Omaskan standards, it was better then nothing.
H-74 Prototype
A very new idea for the H-74s was the addition of big 125mm smoothbore cannon. Western designs used rifled tank barrels. The smoothbore feature doubled the range of the gun and increased muzzle velocity. Later models of the H-74 would be able to fire anti-tank missiles from their cannons. The fourth crewmember, the loader, was eliminated from the tank. A new electric automatic one took his place. Good armour protection combined with the powerful gun did lead to a slower tank. When shown the first production models Holy Emperor Maometh Merrmesh remarked, “Look at this gun, a fine gun. Very long like a Rhino’s horn.”
The comment by the Emperor was not forgotten by the Imperial Defence Minster and his deputies. As a result the H-74s was soon called the Rhino much to Maometh’s delight. First revealed to the Southern Powers in 1711 during a parade in Tiantsing Square, the Omaskan observers were dismayed to see how far the Minrozians had come in such a short time. An Omaskan military officer working in the Embassy in Zhongyang wrote that the H-74 incorporated a series of new features while maintaining a low silhouette.
Rhinos first saw combat in the hands of Minrozian clients in minor Iclamian nations. The formation of the Northern Alliance gave the Minrozian World Empire a number of allies and weapons testing ground around the Iclamian world. Even though the H-74 could not outclass the latest Western designs, the sheer numbers produced combined with their firepower and armour protection would ensure victory according to leaders of the Imperial Army. All the Minrozian Motor-Rifles and Tank divisions were using Rhinos by the time of Second Iclamian War.
Omaskan Grizzly tanks were overwhelmed by Minrozian numbers and surprise in 1768. Many of the attacking Rhinos also included new defensive armour. Explosive Reactive Armour was something the Minrozians had been experimenting with in-between the Iclamian Wars. A block of explosives the ERA was designed to defeat HEAT warheads. Imperial tankers were thrilled as Omaskan TOW and Dragon missiles failed to kill them. But the ERA did not always protect the H-74s nor did they stop the sabot rounds fired by M61s. In a series of crushing battles the Rhinos swept into the Omaskan plains and devastated Confederate forces in early battles.
The H-74 was the mainstay of Minrozian forces throughout the war. It’s heavier and more complicated cousin, the H-92 Apocalypse Tank never entered the war in sufficient numbers to phase out the Rhino. As the Omaskans rallied and began their counterattacks during the war they did so with increasingly effective equipment. The Minrozian research and development departments found it hard to keep up with their Southern counterparts. As a result the Rhino began to fall behind the curve of new tank improvements. In the end the sheer number of H-74s produced worked against the Empire. The Minrozians during the Second Iclamian War simply couldn’t afford to add thermal sights, new electronics, and other high cost upgrades to the thousands of Rhinos that had been made. Still the H-74s served till the end with the Altanmurr’s Revolution.
Ishvarrian H-74 in action
Although many were destroyed during the Iclamian wars, numerous H-74s Rhinos lay in storage for the reserve divisions of the reformed Minrozian Khaganate. Others were used to equip their allied armies of countries like Tarlarnian Caliphate, Ruuz Tsardom, Oran Empire, Ishvarr and other Minroz’s associates are still using H-74s with indigenous upgrades ensuring that the Rhino will be in service into the Modern era. Until now, ever since the National Reforms program by Altanmurr had brought back these tanks out of the dusty storage modernized and placed back into service of the Imperial Territorial Army as their basic Minrozian MBTs. The newly up-to-date Rhinos were instrumental in Altanmurr’s reclamation of former Imperial Territories held by Xoraine and Omaska; the Holy Emperor himself ardently praised these tanks. Today, the H-74s Rhino MBTs continued to be in service of the Imperial Army.