Pz.Kpf.W AY2-1B 'Panthera Uncia'
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Background
The AY2 was conceptualised as a result of practicality and ease of logistics requirement. During the developmental phase of the AY1 Serenity, debates were on-going within the VMK Board of Committee regarding the initial negative outcome of the AY1 prototype. Initially equipped with a six cyclinder engine as its propulsion system, the prototype of the AY1 model could not withstand the various internal pressure and weight resulting from its networking sensory systems, electronics, and most importantly, its 140mm/L48 AY1M smoothbore gun, until the adoption of the twelve cylinders Forza FB-12TSD as its primary propulsion system.
However, even then complication regarding logistics were still visible and more than apparent, together with various factors such as the essential requirement upon the application of tank bridging vehicles and/or means of transport due to the substantial weight of the AY1 Serenity, which consequently result in the lacking of most bridges' capability to handle its operational weight without any chance of structural risk involved, also being regarded as just one example of the AY1 model's setbacks. These reasons wer included as some of the primary explanation behind the development of the AY2 series as a way to fill the much needed ease of logistics and mobility role essential upon the success of an operational tactical breakthrough.
Nevertheless, the presence of the ever increasing effectiveness of inter-branches support role, or more commonly known as joint-support service role within most of (although perhaps some still did not) today's armed forces, has rendered even more the apparent vulnerability and invalidity of the heavy-weight AY1 known for its unrealibility to act as both a power projectile mean of tactical breakthrough, and at the same time as an effective mean of exploiting the aforementioned tactical initiative itself, namely to seize the role of an operational mobility battle system.
Whilst the AY1 Serenity was able to more than adequately fill the role of a power project mean of creating the aforementioned breakthrough, however it was lacking severely in mobility, and therefore the development of an accompanying main battle tank system to act as a mobile support force, and perhaps if it need be, the replacement of direct power projectile means within its immediate operational field tactically, was regarded as a must.
Lessons learnt from the utilisation of the AY1 series in combat has provided the technological knowledge essentially needed by the VMK Bureau of Development and Technological Research, and as a result the AY2 came into existence. Weighting much less and with emphasis being put within its electronics and mobility, designated in full as the Pz.Kpf.W AY2-1B Tiger, the AY2 was thus conceptualised with 1B designated to symbolise its first variant type to enter production, and service. The development of the AY2 was initiated with chassis flexibility and the possibility of future variants' ease of modification being put in mind within its design, unlike that of its counterpart, the heavier AY1 Serenity.
Primary Armament
The designated primary gun of the AY2-1B Tiger is the AY2M 125mm, 55 calibre (6.6mm) electrothermal-chemical (ETC) smoothbore gun.
During the past five years, the VMK Bureau of Development and Technological Research has discovered in parts, consecutively and continously developed locally within Yohannes, in which Yohannesian scientists has intermingled with each other to, in consensus, act as a catalyst towards the Kingdom's technological development in terms of effectiveness and ease of knowledge collection and distribution.
It was by this process that consecutively and slowly but surely the VMK Bureau of Development and Technological Research has discovered a process in which a substantial increasing and higher rate of a projectile's muzzle velocity can be initiated by combining the initiation of both electro-thermal energy and liquid propellant. The VMK Bureau has also realised that the aforementioned initiation would result not just in a controlled increase of the projectile's muzzle velocity, but also the maintenance of a maximum safetiness of gas pressure within the barrel of the planned M series of AY smoothbore gun.
Furthermore when combined with precision in a careful manner, the application of an electro-thermal chemical gun, or abbreviated as the ETC gun, will result in a situation whereby both the disadvantages and negative sideffect of a separate utilisation of the aforementioned technology in a gun would be negated.
Historically an armoured fighting vehicle's gun has applied the usage of an extended barrel platform, with its breech end and centre bore structurally being put closed together. A burning of propellant by an igniter is needed to produce heated gasses, which act as a catalyst for the gun's projectile to progress through the bore, and as a result of this process, a substantial rate of initial high pressure would be generated.
Nevertheless, its initial high pressure rate will then decrease alongside the movement of the projectile within the barrel of the gun. Although a maintenance of high pressure rate as the projectile is being propelled can be achieved by the utilisation of a liquid fuelling process, the crucial application of a substantial size of fuel chamber and process of the aforementioned fuelling ignition however, meant that such a utilisation would be impractical.
Meanwhile, the utilisation of a chemical propellant system within the future AYM gun series would be regarded as equally, if not even more so, more defective. The mixing and utilisation of two chemicals were difficult to control and predict, and as a result the risk factor involved within such a process has made the VMK AG Bureau of Development and Technological Research team to twice considered upon the application of the aforementioned technology within the AYM series of gun, and it was not even counting the unjustifable extra expenses incurred upon by such a complex system of sealing and calculation technology.
The application of an electric energy propulsive system as the chosen propulsive system of the AYM series of armoured fighting vehicle gun however, was unfavourably viewed with skepticism within the Bureau's inner circle, most apparent within the clique' of the VMK Procurement Team. Such skepticism has resulted from the VMK PT's reasoning in which the resulting system of the aforementioned system would result in a sizably uneconomical end result in terms of weight and features, as a result of the requirement of a large electronic source which would act as the main power supply needed
And therefore the development of an electrothermal-chemical technology to increase the AYM gun's accuracy and muzzle velocity whilst negating the aforementioned defect features of both the propulsive systems, was regarded as the VMK Bureau of Development and Technological Research Team's number one top priority within the development of the AY series of main battle tanks (which was initiated and successfuly accomplished in the form of the AY1M 140mm gun used by the AY1 Serenity).
Following its successful application within the AY1 series of main battle tanks' 140mm gun, the VMK BDTR has decided to replicate the aforementioned system of projectory propusion towards the new AY2M 125mm 55 calibre smoothbore gun of the AY2 series.
A replicate of the AY1M 140mm electro-thermal chemical smoothbore gun used on the heavier AY1 Serenity, the AY2 Tiger's AY2M 125mm 55 calibre's performance was increased substantially as a result of its utilisation of an electro-thermal chemical propulsive system. The fusion of electro-thermal and chemical propellant energy has resulted in a higher density of energy towards the AY2M 125mm 55 calibre smoothbore gun. Furthermore, an identical electrical supply charged propellant system, minus its previous drawback if applied without the utilisation of chemical propellent functionality, is also present, obvious as it was to the VMK BDTR team.
The VMK BDTR team furthermore has ackowledged the advantageous result of the initiation of higher density chemical propellants within the forthcoming AY2M gun. Such an initiation will result in a process whereby the said propellant system would require less source of electric energy, and following field testing within the Valedonian range was discovered to be relatively superior to that of a solidly granulated propellant which can be found in most (although the trend has since altered slowly) conventional armoured fighting vehicle guns.
Field testing and experimentation has seen the substantial increase of performance an electro-thermal chemical application has brought to the AY2M smoothbore gun, as the result of a higher level of energy density reached by utilisation of both an elecro-thermal and chemical energy combination. Under auspices of Dr. Harvey Proctor, the VMK Bureau of Development and Technology Research has discovered that a further increasing of the propellant by exploiting the arrangement of the gun's chemical substance can be achieved by applying the electrical application carefully in balance with that of its chemical counterpart, and thereby optimising the aforementioned process.
Furthermore, the AY2JM has the ability to maintain a high projectile velocity rate, whilst maintaining a comparatively low chamber and breech pressure rate, by ejecting a substantial amount of electrical output from the plasma's vessel branches. A fuse wire will then be diffused to establish a high rate of temperature, ideally in-between the 1,000-2,000 K range. The diffused plasma will then act as a source of ionised gass which will further diffused and act as a catalyst for the fuel's combination with its oxidising material.
As a result, a continuous power supply will be maintained, which will then further control the fuel and oxidising material's combustion rate. The energy released as a result of the aforementioned process will then act as further pressure towards the projectile, which will ensure the projectile's constant nature as it travel along the gun barrel's length, thereby maintaining the projectile's relatively high velocity rate whilst maintaining a comparatively low chamber and breech pressure rate.
For the AY2M gun to be deemed as effective, an ideal level of a kinetic energy can be achieved by controlling the gun's maximum pressure. The VMK BDTR team initiated the process by decreasing the AY2M's propellant burning, which was accomplished in practicality by altering the arrangement of the gun's electrical and propellant systems to limit the gun's pressure rate.
The existing interaction between the system's propellants and electrical discharges was designated to be kept at all cost. Such a measure would result in the maintenance of a substantial high pressure level within the gun as the gun's projectile accelerate and progress. As a result, the AY2M 125mm 55 calibre smoothbore Electro-thermal chemical gun's lethality was substantially increased within the AY1 Tiger's field of tactical operation usage considerably.
The AY2M 125mm gun uses a variety of rounds, such as that of the Yohannesian AY-18 APFSDS-T (anti-tank roundarmour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot), AY-33A ATGW (anti-tank guided weapon), and the AY-03A HEAT (high explosive anti-tank) rounds, and the gun is fitted with a rigid fibre glass thermal sleeve blanket around the AY2M's barrel to protect the AY2M thermally from on-and-off the battlefield environmental conditions. Developed by the VMK AG Bureau of Development and Research during the late developmental phase of the AY2M gun, it utilised the then discovery of a ring-shaped gap found between the AY2M's barrel and that of the sleeve, and consists of sandwiched honeycomb layers of materials in-between that of the stiff and unyielding inner and outer envelopment.
Crucially the development of the previous AY1M 140mm 48 calibre smoothbore Electrothermal-chemical gun has given increased emphasis' to the development of automatic loaders as the size and weight of the 140 mm ammunition means that a man cannot realistically and effectively handle it within the confines of the would be AY1 Serenity turret. As a result of commonality factor, the VMK Bureau of Development and Technological Research has decided to adopt the AY1's automatic loading system modified form within the AY2 Tiger tank, the XA1Y-E1.
The recent establishment of the ever increasing number of large weapon has seen the development and initiation of varios autoloading systems worldwide, as arms manufacturing entities strived to establish its own autoloader system. Most apparently needed in a setting whereby a large field gun is fielded upon an armoured fighting vehicle, and especially that of tanks, the VMK Bureau of Design and Technological Research has proceeded to develop its own automatic gun loading system, to be used towards its main battle tank projects.
Observed by the VMK AG BDTR team upon the development of an automatic loading system towards the AY2M's gun of the AY2 Tiger would be the fact that such an initiation would considerably increased the AY2M's rate of fire, save substantial crew manpower by the removal of the gun loading personnel, and consequently providing more space within the main battle tank as well at the same time. Observation of various prior autoloaders has seen the technical complexities of mantaining such a system within its corresponding armoured fighting vehicle's operational field. The XA1Y-E1 was therefore, conceptualised with a different tehnicality in mind.
The XA1Y-E1's ability to load the AY2M effectively under almost any azimuth and elevation co-ordination within its limit has resulted in a substantial increase of its firing rate, and the XA1Y-E1's sytematic structure enable the retrieval of a previous gun breech loaded shells from the magazine affordlessly, consequently allowing the transfer of shells within the gun from the magazine in a more flexible and reduced rate of pace. Thus, the XA1Y-E1 has a relatively small power requirements in comparison to a normal autoloader, and this feet was achieved without effecting the autoloader's rate of firepower potential.
This was done by including a trolley mounted by a pair of opposing guidance tracks for the controlling of its movement between a magazine position whereabout the shell will be retrieved from the storage of the magazine within the revolving turret's basket, and the emplacement of a position of gun loading arrangement in which the shells will then be rammed upon the turret mounted gun's breech. The tracks utilised for guidance will then set itself to move in conjunction with the gun's azimuth and elevation co-ordination.
The trolley will then initiate forward an electric motor to be used as the appropriate propulsion mean along the aforementioned guidance track, and will then carry it towards a two stage rammer, which consequently result in the deliverance of its propulsive electric motor. The motor is then activated to propel the trolley and shell, which was acquired from the gun's magazine, and was activated by the rammer's motor. The trolley's motor will then propel the trolley and extract the shell towards the pod of the AY2M gun.
As it approaches the interior pod of the AY2M and its ready loading position, a controlled pivotal movement will then be produced by a cam roller, which will then be jointed together with the AY2M's pod, thereby resulting in a fastening between the rammer and the AY2M's shell, aligned with its boreline. Once thr ramming position has been initiated completely, the rammer's motor will then activate the stages of the two rammer in quick succession to propel the aforementioned shell towards the breech of the AY3M. Once the XA1Y-E1 autoloader has assumed its fixed position with the AY2M's magazine, the gun's detachable pod will then be removed systematically to provide sufficient space for the AY2M's recoilling process
The XA1Y-E1 automatic gun loading system has the ability to maintain an accurate control on each of the AY2M's shell on various rough terrains in general, and is manufactured to be sufficiently compact in-feature within an ergonomically space saving structural design, and by utilising the gunner's gyro-stabilised panoramic sight, the AY2's crew is capable of collecting on-board hit avoidance and target acquisition sensors, which are mounted on the surrounding left and right frontal side of the AY2 turret, and the main battle tank's turret structural-based and adapted 125 mm automatic loader is capable of handling and firing up to 15 rounds of AY2M ammunitions per minute. It then can internally be replenished from within the turret or externally through the rear.
The addition of an AY2M's supporting burst diaphragm further ensures that when an ignition of the ammunition as a result of a penetration towards the automatic loader and magazine happens, the forthcoming centre pressure of the blast would be vented upwards, consequently altering it away from the AY2's crew compartment.
The AY2M 125mm 55 calibre electrothermal-chemical smoothbore gun is capable of power elevating from 20 º to -10.
Additional Armaments
As an addition, the B variant comes with a co-axial 45mm Mark 30 automatic cannon (300 rounds), one Ignatz-Ewald 12.7mm AY14-HMG (2,400 rounds) and eight multipurpose smoke-capable, fragmentary firing grenade launchers on both the surrounding left and right side of the turret with a capability to engage opposing infantries and support personnel within the vicinity of the tank.
The Mark 30 is an Amastoli and The Macabees' revolver, preferred over the gatling gun type configuration for the sake of initial velocity, given that a revolver has less mass than a gatling gun and therefore is easier to spin. Following agreement with Argus, It was decided that VMK will incorporate the Mark 30 during the development of the AY2-1B.
Although, unfortunately, the rate of fire decreases due to bore pressure and barrel heat issues, it's considered a pertinent trade-off given the task of the gun and the miniscule amount of time given to react. In this gun's case, the chamber module contains five seperate chambers, allowing for a lower mass over only having four chambers but accounting for the heat related issues of having six chambers.
In regards to mass, the 'chamber module' can include up to six chambers in its given volume and so only four chambers would mean that the two volumes that could otherwise hold more chambers would be solid masses - so a five-chambered module is considered to be the 'best of both worlds'. The modelo 451 is gas-operated, as inferred, and offers a rate of fire of a maximum of one thousand rounds per minute, which is on par with similar-type gun systems of the latest generation.
The breech supports a dual-feed system, although this should not be confused with 'simultaneous feed'. The dual-feed allows for two separate ammunition stowage bins feeding two separate types of ammunition, consequently either the fire control system (based on the type of detected threat) or the manual user overriding the automatic fire (more likely in a ground-based air defense vehicle) can select the type of ammunition and the gun can load either. Such selective fire gives the weapon system much more operational flexibility and tactical versatility, although the gun must slow or stop in order to change type of ammunition.
As already indicated, the fact that the multiple chambers are all leading into one barrel for repeated and automatic fire means that the barrel will receive a high rate of barrel wear. In order to offer some protection against the inevitable wear of the barrel due to the pressure of expanding propellant gasses, apart from the inclusion of electrothermal-chemical technology, the Mark 30 includes a chrome-lined barrel. Normally, especially in tank guns and naval guns, this is done to allow the barrel to withstand greater barrel pressure so that the propellant grain can be enlarged, allowing for much greater muzzle velocities; in ground-based and naval-based artillery this means much greater range, while for tanks it means either greater penetrator mass or greater muzzle velocity (generally speaking, equating to greater penetration).
On the other hand, both Sistemas Terrestres Segovia and Argus Industrial Manufacturing were more interested in chrome-plating to extend the lifetime of each barrel to make the gun much more economical, given that the companies have agreed that lethality is at an optimum (in the future, given the threats, priorities can be changed). Although the increase in life-span is only a small percentage of the lifespan without chrome plating, the hundreds of extra rounds may still be important in an extended naval engagement, where barrel replacements might not always be possible. This is more true in larger, more conventional naval battles than against assymetric threats, but conventional warfare is still far more prominent than its assymetrical cousin.
As mentioned above, the Mark 30 model 451 uses electrothermal-chemical enhancement of its solid propellant. The 'plasma initiator' is embedded inside the round itself, coming into contact with the breech and the electric catalyst as the revolver closes the air gap as it brings the next chamber to the breech. A standard 45mm projectile, in the Swift Kill, will require a 55kJ charge, although ultimately given the rate of fire the required pulsed power supply, which has to be integrated into the combat system and not into the gun, is larger than 100 kJ.
The pulsed power supply can either be a separate battery system, such as on the Nakíl or the Lince or it can be integrated into the vehicle if that vehicle uses hybrid propulsion. In any case, the plasma is created by a copper diamond string, in the form of a chord, wrapped around the propellant in each individual projectile case.
This string normally vaporizes and iniozes and thereby creates a plasma, which both ignites the propellants and makes the gasses' expansion much smoother. This type of electrothermal-chemical plasma initiation process is known as a flashboard large area emitter, or FLARE - although perhaps not the most modern type of initiation method, it requires a lower amount of energy and is more desirable for a low energy requirement electrothermal-ignition round, like the 45mm CTA used by the Swift Kill. In the case of this particular gun, unlike many other systems which take advantage of electrothermal-ignition, the interest is in increasing barrel life, as opposed to increasing muzzle velocity.
Due to the fact that the plasma will better control the expansion of the propellant gasses, the propellant will expand in a much more stable matter thereby decreasing pressure on the barrel's inner walls. Some increase in velocity has been attained by this technology, and through the new solid propellant being used, but that has not been a priority.
As introduces in Calzado y Bayo's recent CB.125 and in Atmos Incorporated's AGS.250 for the Nakíl main battle tank, the Swift Kill also incorporates chemically augmented combustion, more specifically referred to as hydrogen augmented combustion, or more commonly known as HAC. In HAC, hydrogen interacts with the molecules of the expanding propellant gasses, decreasing their molecular weight exothermally.
This results in a higher number of species and a higher velocity of sound, thereby resulting in a higher force, which concludes in higher gun performance. A convenient side effect is also a reduction in barrel pressure, increasing the gun barrel's lifespan by a notable factor. In this way, the technology is actually very similar to electrothermal-chemical propulsion in the way that it helps to control the expansion of the propellant, thus increasing muzzle velocity and spreading the pressure more evenly along the surface of the barrel's interior walls.
On the other hand, HAC does not require electrical input and can normally be integrated into the cartridge of the projectile, making it more 'volume efficient'. As experienced both here, in the Mark 30, and in the CB.125 HAC technology can be easily integrated together with ETC technology, since they are not mutually exclusive. Although the Mark 30 is built as a solid propellant gun, HAC and ETC, which together may be referred to as HYPEC, can be also used with liquid propellants - such as on the AGS.250 and its 125mm brother, the CB.125.
Recoil is dampened by a dual-cylinder recoil mechanism, with an extended recoil length of 35 millimetres. The recoil cylinders are contructed out of titanium, in order to save weight. The barrel and chambers are manufactured out of quality steel, in order to guarantee the system's ability to survive constant pressure in areas which will come in contact with the expanding propellant gasses.
The gun's barrel weighs roughly 110kg, while the recoil mechanism weighs 230kg; the gun system, as a whole, weighs 580kg. Apart from the recoil mechanism, weight is saved through the use of composite materials in breech manufacturing. These manufacturing techniques have also been used on the AGS.250 and the CB.125 tank cannons, where they have saved between 300 and 600 kg worth of weight. Unfortunately, such radical weight savings have not been found easily in the Swift Kill, given the delicacy of its operation and the requirement for a sturdy gun barrel, as well as combustion chamber.
Weight savings can be much more radical when it comes to the mount for the close-in weapon station system, and for the short-range air defense vehicle's turret; such weight savings will be witnessed in the product sheets for both future Castillian systems. Then again, mass is important in an air-defense gun due to the requirement for fast traverse to meet the threat as quickly as possible. Indeed, the reason to choose an autocannon over a gatling gun is particularly for this reason! It's safe to assume that future models of the Swift Kill will integrate new manufacturing processes and materials to make the gun lighter.
As indicated beforehand, the Mark 30 is designed to acknowledge, engage and defeat a wide variety of threats. On the conventional naval battlefield these include light anti-shipping missiles and heavy anti-shipping missiles, which can have various different flight paths, including high angles of attack or sea-skimming engagement paths. Furthermore, new heavy anti-shipping missiles, designed to defeat heavily armored capital warships, offer thick ballistic penetrating caps built out of tungsten or depleted uranium, which are difficult to defeat using lower-power armor piercing discarding sabots or even advanced hit efficiency and destruction projectiles.
Apart from the missile threat, conventional threats include low-flying reconaissance, utility or attack helicopters, as well as low-flying fixed-wing aircraft. A modern close-in weapon station must be designed to cope with all the relevant threats, or else it will quickly become antiquated. Furthermore, there is also an assymetrical threat posed by terrorist organizations or low-intensity third world government forces. These threats include fast patrol craft and suicide explosives craft, with skeleton crews, and their potential has recently been made very obvious, as more and more large ships are temporarilly lost to these types of attacks.
Consequently, the Swift Kill must be designed to defeat the assymetrical dimension, as well. To accomplish this, both Argus Industrial Manufacturing and Sistemas Terrestres Segovia have introduces three principle types of ammunition for the gun, depending on its eventual use in any given weapon system. More specific types of ammunition may be developed as new roles are provided, but until then the main 'loud out' remains: high explosive, armor piercing discarding sabot and advanced hit efficiency and destruction. Furthermore, apart from the improvements in the gun's propulsion system, as explained above, all the rounds are manufactured with a new solid propellant to maximize efficiency and increase lethality.
The propellant has been designed to maximize performance over a longer-range of ambient temperatures, both inside the combustion chamber and in the barrel. For the past century, or so, solid propellants have been designed almost exclusively out of nitrocellulose, but recently chemical compounds such as cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine and triaminoguanadine nitrate which have much larger energy densities. In specific, the solid propellant used by the Swift Kill's ammunition is referred to as TX90 and is primarilly composed of HMX, since this has a higher energy density than TAGN and a lower burning rate.
Temperature sensitivity is reduced considerably through the bonding of glycidyl azide polymer (GAP). TX90 has a specific impetus of 1,300J/g+ and a loading energy density of 1.5g/cm3+, which is superior to most current solid propellants. However, in the sense of its low burning rate TX90 can be characterized as a low vulnerability (LOVA) propellant, much like CL20. The TX90 is a unicharge, similar to the modular charge concept, which means that each submodel is identical; each submodel is self-contained with its own igniter, flash suppressant and wear-reducive additive.
The propellant charges are manufactured in sticks and are perforated for 'tailored burning'; this has the effect of making the propellant burning rate more progressive, thus increasing gun performance without increasing pressure, by using the perforation to control the burning rate at the beginning and cause a sudden increase after the perforation has been passed. As a consequence, TX90 is a powerful charge meant to decrease temperature sensitivity and increase muzzle velocity, without increasing pressure on the barrel's interior walls.
The Yohannesian-manufactured Ignatz-Ewald 12.7mm AY14-HMG heavy machine gun is also utilised as a secondary countermeasure reinforcement towards the B variant.
With a field of firing range of over 2,800 metres and 570 rounds per minute rate of firing, the AY14-HMG was conceptualised as a vehicle mounted machine gun, although it can still be utilised by ground infantries, but are nonetheless deemed as ineffective in such a role, a negative side-effect of its heavy weight of approximately 50 kilograms.
The AY14-HMG is utilised by virtue of its recoil system, which incorporate a double sliding piece chamber together with a fixed barrel. Its barrel extension, which utilised a systematic special holding cavity, will then be filled with the chamber’s left and right operations, with the left side operating as an ejector and the right side operating as the round’s main support.
The right side is also attached by an arched camming initiation which operates as a control and ejection accelerator, towards the chamber. The slide utilised as both the extractor and ejector mean is attached to the recoil spring, and is initiated as the round’s selection primary function, which of course, can be utilised as the round’s extraction system as well.
The chamber’s second half is initiated as the accelerator of the round’s progress, and as a feeding belt mean to link it with one another within its cycle. A selector firing pin will then ignite once the process is completed, and this cycle will start all over again.
The cycle’s force is acquired from the motion in which the round is pushing itself against the operating holder, and pressurise both the two sides together up until the pressure is lowered to a sufficiently safe level. This will then allow both of the halves to be motioned back again. The accelerating role is seized by the cammed side, which will then fling the other side back together with it. Used rounds are ejected down, or to the left and right side, optionally to be chosen by each individual operating the gun.
The gun’s feed mechanism can also be motioned towards both side, with as little changes to its operation as possible, thereby increasing the gun’s effectiveness in terms of manpower and time cost. The aforementioned operation is considered to be quiet heavy in practicality, although the reason it was chosen was due to the fact that it generates an increasing rate of accuracy of the fixed barrel, and also will generate timesaving operation for a quick change of barrel.
This moderately heavy barrel is utilised both to optimise surface area and decrease the operation cooling period and heat dispersion initiation. A front forward grip is also utilised and fixed to act as assistance towards the barrel’s change operation. It is also used to remove the need of protecting arm glove utilisation.
A dual trigger mechanism is utilised towards the AY14-HMG, consequently requiring both of the triggers’ depressing method operation to allow for the first shot initiation. However, automatic firing operation will be sustained throughout the rest of the gun’s utilisation with only a single trigger, which will henceforward allow for a better energy saving of manpower, whilst simultaneously and drastically increasing the gun’s safeties level.
The sixteen smoke-firing capabled general purpose grenades' conceptualisation was a result of the VMK Bureau's additional requirement of an additional armaments allocation and all-around camouflage protection intensive battle systems to further reinforce its corresponding armoured fighting vehicle's safetiness within its field of engagement, in this case being that of the B variant.
The AY2-1B utilise the regular procurement of an invisible-purposed, fast burning and slow burning charged smoke shell to cover the AY2's presence from hostile fire when deemed as needed necessarily. As do of most existing smoke grenade's usage, the associated armoured fighting vehicle will then be protected by a partial smoke screen envelopment in-between the associated vehicle itself, and that of the opposing entity's line of fire.
By utilising the rapid establishment of the surrounding thick wall of smoke layers, the vehicle's three crews would be able to establish a fairly effective means of secondary prevention and camouflage method against the enemy's general abilities to project any of its available power projectile threats against the vehicle, and to further maintain the smoke layers' length of time considerably in durational terms.
The process was done by utilising two smoke emitting, partial charging, differing reactionary and emitting rate, smoke shells. The VMK Bureau of Procurement and Development discovered that the condition in which a longer duration of length the discharged smoke would engulfed and therefore, screened its corresponding armoured fighting vehicle, would be achieved by expelling whilst burst charging the aforementioned smoke shell simultaneously. The result is an approximate slow burning time of 200 seconds after firing.
Electronics
The AY2 and its variants' fire control system is that of the Yohannesian AYTRACK turret-mounted fire control system, following the Yohannesian VMK Bureau of Procurement and Development's tradition, and is all its application an equal of the heavier AY1 'Serenity' model's AYTRACK fire control system and electronics. AYTRACK was conceptualised and developed by the VMK Bureau of Design Committee to provide its corresponding armoured fighting vehicle with the ability to engage mobile targets on the move, and thereby increasing the vehicle's power projectile accuracy and capacity's scope of operational effectiveness and capability within its immediate field of tactical surrounding.
With the seemingly unending cold hostility between the multiple present major powers internationally, military development and advancement of research has progressed by leap and bound, with the sucessful development of various multi-day and night laser ranging sights, and the existence of an accurate digital tracking target acquisition computer electronics advancement regarded as the future replacement over that of raw firepower and armour alone. The VMK Bureau of procurement and Research has noted that the development of these computerised system has reached a level whereby its digital processing systems was able to accurately track its target on the field of battle, day and night and under some of the most undesirable mobile vibration and situational environmental conditions, to be worrying.
And therefore the development of a remotely controlled weaponry networking systems ignoring all its neccessary developmental characteristics cost was initiated with great haste, as the VMK Bureau of Procurement and Technology Research has realised that the Kingdom of Yohannes was well behind in terms of its domestic military development to that of other major powers within its rank, categorically regarded as it was as a financial and monetary exchange country, or more simply as an economic powerhouse only, and not a military powerhouse. The AYTRACK was therefore, developed as a direct result of these developments.
The AYTRACK fire control system is fitted with a compensatory automatic drift device, and its gunner's sight has a two-axis integral laser range-finder incorporated line of stabilised sight together with a missile guidance informational processing capability.
AYTRACK gun sight features the application of a computerised controlled targetting mark, or more specifically a range marking, graticule-calibrated application in which it is capable of pointing its associated gun's specific form of ammunitions, in conjunction to the axis of its corresponding armoured fighting vehicle's gun barrel. The VMK AG Bureau of Development and Technological Research however identified a certain flaws within the aforementioned system, in which the condition of a constant parameter value could not be achieved, despite multiple-fix error re-programming, and the revelation that upon the conclusion of a successful target hit, a departure from the aforementioned graticule marking range would be needed in regard to the amount of cumulative variation input identified within the system's parameter.
However, recent development has made the discovery of a fire control system whereby the situation in which a range of standard ballistic value, complete with the gun's elevation rate and a computerised arrangement of correlation in regard to the range between the corresponding armoured fighting vehicle to its target possible, has propelled the VMK Bureau of Technological Reserach and Procurement to develop a new gun fire control system to countermeasure these previous setbacks.
With the ability to utilise an improved graticulated sight, the VMK Bureau of Research and Technological Development team had decided to initiate the programming of a computer system which will effectively arrange and provide the appropriate range of ballistic effectiveness value to provide the AYTRACK corresponding armoured fighting vehicle's crews with the ability to calculate the right gun elevation exaction which would be most effectively be initiated upon by the appropriate circumstance's choice of ammunitional range.
The crews will now be able to pre-programme the computer to change the exact type of ammunition needed for the right circumstance, and pending the relatively correct input given in regard to the condition only however, in which the parameter of the gun's atmosphere and barrel are at the right set value, the AYTRACK will then be able to automatically provide an accurate target hit value in exaction, in which the chance that the target will be hit is nevertheless, no less than 98% in chance.
The fire control system's field of view consists of a kinetic energy stadiametric ranging scale, fragmentary high explosive and chemical energy ammunition information and statistics input, designated as it was as an effective Yohannesian secondary range finding method in case of an unexpected emergency. The system unable the gunner of its corresponding armoured fighting vehicle to accurately and smoothly track and verified its target within its scope of operational range tactically. Further aiding AYTRACK is the X1A-AY GPS sub-system.
The Yohannesian X1A-AY GPS (global positioning system) system of navigation is included to calculate and determine the armoured fighting vehicle's gun barrel position, and it collected its informational input and surrounding visible surface and statistical data within a state-of-the-art light modulating LCD (liquid crystal display) screen.
The X1A-AY is able to give the AYTRACK's corresponding armoured fighting vehicle the ability to observe its immediate surrounding operational condition tactically, and to present a rough and general outline of the vehicle's environmental and physical surrounding. Vehicular radio data furthermore link the corresponding vehicle to the AYTRACK immediate fire control command, which will allow the aforementioned vehicle to initiate its operation upon independent fire-strike missions rapidly once the system has delivered the collected position data of the target. The X1A-AYGPS sub-system further serve to reduce the chance of friendly formational casualties by utilising an Yohannesian X10-A BCIS (battlefield combat identification system).
Once the target within the input of the main AYTRACK screen is located within an ideal, if not suitable range of interception, the gunner will then be able to fire the gun by pressing a launch section located within the computerised LCD screen.
The development of the AYTRACK fire control system has considerably altered the main disadvantage of the previous heavier AY1 'Serenity''s initial prototype model upon production, which utilised a more basic fire control computing programme, and AYTRACK further enhanced the effectiveness of the AY2-1B 'Tiger'.
The gun sight of the AYTRACK fire control system is also locked in conjunction with its telescopic axis sight, providing a parallel combined gun system, with one set of azimuthal drives and set of elevation, and another set of azimuthal sensors and elevation rate, assisted by the utilisation of a gyroscope gun stabilisation system which further enhanced the associated system's elevation and lateral sensor capability, and in finality, considerably altered the capability of the system to control its corresponding armoured fighting vehicle's gun line of sight.
The AYTRACK fire control system features a gunner's operated thermal imaging sight as well as a commander's active control and monitor panel, allowing both of the commander and gunner to retroactively detect, engage, and verified targets at long range, with a high rate of accuracy, and under some of the most unfavourable weather conditions within the battlefied and tactical scope of operation.
AYTRACK in general is divided by two stages in which the commander can select either a low-resolution imagery to identify minor threat, to be followed if necessary by an infra-red, high resolution and radar integrated imagery to provide a more thorough analysis of the target's position, and range. An AYTRACK sub-system commander-operated anti-aircraft sight allows the commander of the AY2 to subsequently engage air targets by utilising the AY2-1B's 12.7mm AY14-HMG from within the safety of its turret.
AYTRACK's internally operated target acquisition networking and management systems, infrared and laser ranging controlled data are initiated by controlling its stabilised networking, gunner-operated device to automatically aim the AY2's main gun towards any visible mobile and stationary target, with a twenty four hour day and night capability coverage, providing an accurate ballistic elevation and azimuth offset field position whilst providing a systematic informational gathering input essential upon the accuracy and capability of an effective modern fire control system.
By utilising the features of a combined sensors sight, in conjunction with its application internally within the AYTRACK computerised fire control system, the AY2 has acquired the ability to effectively countermeasure the ever-growing air threats coming from opposing enemy air support aircraft and ground projectile threat, in finality targetting the aforementioned threat from within its combined sensors sight, and thereby to aim its power projectile capability against the aforementioned threat.
The VMK Bureau of Acquisition and Application Management has recently observed as the availability and discovery of state-of-the-art sensors, combined with a range of previously unavailable micro electronics and computerised development has made the realisation of an advanced multi-threat targetting sight enveloped together within a unitary sensor, possible.
After two years of developmental research and quontum, the VMK Head of Procurement and Development Research, Dr. Siti Subrono has decided that the incoming AY2 project, alongside the heavier AY1, would utilise the aforementioned technology, thereby increasing the armoured fighting vehicle's direct projectile effectiveness and surveillance platform capability against opposing rotocraft, land-based power projectile threat, and of course, hostile combat personnel.
Utilising the latest AYD0B active ballistic computer, the system features the ability to automatically verified angular crosswind and target speed input, course angle, and target range. AYD0B ABC act as a mean of informational input firing statistics data storing within the AYTRACK, and is mainy processed to approximately determine and track ballistic informational data, in-between that of the already stored information and the main collectible data.
The flexibility of the AYD0B active computer system enable the AY2's personnel to manually utilise the system's ability to track the associated ambient air temperature and barrel wear air pressure, and the ability to calculate with accuracy the neccesary time that high-explosive, fragmentary projectile controlled detonation should be initiated over an identified and verified target.
The AYD0B computerised system detected multiple ballistic ammunition and projectile types, and its categorised informational input includes the verified target's drift signals, flight time, and superelevation. AYD0B computer system operates by utilising a large collection of several sub-channels which will then transmit the collected operational data through several wires simultaneously, and used together in conjunction with an adjustable first operational amplifier which indicate with relative accuracy and precision the information and range of the tracked, and verified target.
In terms of communication systems collection and integration, crews of the vehicle is provided with an inter-crew operational ISLM helmet mounted digital communication system, with the addition of a fibre-optic net located within its associated vehicle. As a result, the vehicle is adequately protected from external jamming initiation by the utilisation of jamming devices, as well as simultaneously providing a superior communication method over other conventional communication systems.
The ISLM digital helmet communication system, or more commonly known as the ISLM-17 DCS, comprises of a helmet mounted display imitation capability with the capacity of providing a resolute rear projection screen visualisation, and an eyepiece optical providence, which is utilised to expand the large field of viewable images of the crew. The said technologies enhanced the ISLM-17 DCS’ XA-1SLM sub-system, or more commonly known as the XA-1 light spatial modulator system, which is incorporated to receive and simultaneously pass collected data and accurate images from that of the SLM sub-system, towards the projection screen’s rear side. Enhanced light magnification optics are utilised as an additional measure to receive and pass the modulated light from that of the XA-1 SLM.
The said arranged light magnification optics collectively has the projected capacity to accurately align visual light coming from the optical source to produce a numerically low natured illumination beam light, altogether with a beam pattern detachment to guide the illuminated light towards the designated path of modulated light space provided by the XA-1 SLM sub-system. There are two methods in which the said projection can be accomplished, that of a 90 degrees angle guidance in relation to the original light path, and that of a straight guidance.
As a result, the ISLM-17 DCS is capable of providing a markedly superior light modulation and image projection towards the usage by that of the vehicle’s crews, in comparison to other existing equipment of its level.
As a further addition of inter-vehicular communication towards the system’s integration is that of the XAV-T10 UHFR radio or more commonly known within the Wehrmacht as the XAV-T10 High Frequency Tactical Communication radio.
The XAV-T10 incorporate the addition of a transmission and receiver antenna & communication link, paired together with that of an integrated electrical microcircuit chip. The former is mounted to the circuit of silicon chip, whilst the receiver link accommodates the collected base of input and output signals flowing to and fro the pair of communication path. Thus essential information and data will be received at a significantly faster rate, allowing the saving of precious time upon critical operational and inter-vehicular tactical condition.
The said operation can simultaneously be integrated with that of a LAN communications radio operation, with the addition of an identical cycle, as previously mentioned above, inter-connected with that of a communication local area network, with the ability to restrict external interference by utilising the addition of the integrated electrical microcircuit arrangement in relation to the transmission and receiver communication link. As a result, crews of the vehicle may connect and surf the internet at leisure time with minimal interference, and utilised the previously mentioned above integrated communication systems to collect crucial tactical information from that of nearby allied, supporting and/or friendly vehicles. In conclusion, to further ensure maximum utilisation of spatial providence and safety allocation of the integrated systems, a default installation position is provided into each of the internal crew’s seat, and is protected from external shock and vibration.
Furthermore, as a resulf of its integration with the Nexus G Network, originating from Xzaerom and the Government of the Empires of Jenrak, crews of the vehicle has the capacity to 'snyc' and 'swarm' collected and browsed internet web pages within the limit of the G Network's allocation of passive memory storage. As a result, in leisure crews of the vehicle may record important tactical and strategic situational update within the vehicle's corresponding operational radius, as well as, amusingly, browsed saved websites from the worldwide web with ease.
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