THE LEUTISH ARMS INDUSTRY has a long history of commercial exports to other nations and organisations outside of Leutland proper. The most successful of these exporting arms corporations was the Imperial and Royal Armory, which was nationalised in the aftermath of the January Revolution in 1926. Its assets were subsumed into the newly created Staatsege Wapenwerke, a state-owned entity created for the sole purpose of arming the Korporatist state against threats both internal and external. Export to other nations was out of the question.
However, times change, and so have the priorities of the People's Confederation. Internally secure against counter-revolutionary forces, Leutland has turned its attention outward and is now offering the sale of its equipment and small arms.
Staatsege Wapenwerke does not negotiate directly with purchasing parties. Rather, the Commissariat for External Affairs and the Commissariat for the Defence of the Revolution confer with prospective buyers over the sale and distribution of select armaments and equipment to foreign powers and organisations. Staatsede Wapenwerke is then ordered by the Commissariat for the Defence of the Revolution to produce exports on a case-by-case basism. This means that the People's Confederation reserves the right to decline orders placed on behalf of states which are deemed to be a threat to Leutland, her allies, or the Korporatist Revolution at large.
However, this also means that states which are perceived to be friendly or aligned to Leutland on the world stage are more than welcome to make purchases from the SW, and are actively encouraged to do so throughout the policy of discounts.
However, times change, and so have the priorities of the People's Confederation. Internally secure against counter-revolutionary forces, Leutland has turned its attention outward and is now offering the sale of its equipment and small arms.
Staatsege Wapenwerke does not negotiate directly with purchasing parties. Rather, the Commissariat for External Affairs and the Commissariat for the Defence of the Revolution confer with prospective buyers over the sale and distribution of select armaments and equipment to foreign powers and organisations. Staatsede Wapenwerke is then ordered by the Commissariat for the Defence of the Revolution to produce exports on a case-by-case basism. This means that the People's Confederation reserves the right to decline orders placed on behalf of states which are deemed to be a threat to Leutland, her allies, or the Korporatist Revolution at large.
However, this also means that states which are perceived to be friendly or aligned to Leutland on the world stage are more than welcome to make purchases from the SW, and are actively encouraged to do so throughout the policy of discounts.
DISCOUNTS OFFERED
- *40% discount for Korporatist states
*15% discount for socialist states
*additional 10% discount for allies of the People's Confederation
SMALL ARMS
HISTORY
Ammunition
The solution was a modernized version of the 7.7mm Kronwall cartridge using cased telescoping ammunition, or CTA. With CTA, the normal brass casing of the 7.7mm round was replaced by a specially designed polymer casing. CTA was an attractive option for several reasons-it theoretically had improved reliability, the cost of producing and transporting ammunition was sharply reduced, and the amount of rounds the average infantryman could carry was increased due to the ammunition's comparatively light weight. Furthermore, the use of specially designed interlocking CTA enabled more rounds to be fit into the magazine, giving the StG.19 a total of 25 rounds per magazine-five rounds more than the StG.57. The StG.19 was thus designed to be a weapon firing cased telescoping ammunition, with the intent being that the Leutish soldier would gain an edge over his opponents in protracted firefights-as well as taking some of the supply pressure off the logistics corps.
The StG.19's ammo utilises octogen as propellant in order to reduce the likelihood of an ammunition cookoff, for the simple reason that octogen possesses a good level of explosive power while being less sensitive to heat fluctuations than other compounds.
Operating System
The weapon's improved reliability when compared to the already rugged StG.57 rifles can be credited to key differences in the StG.19's operating system when compared to its predecessor. For instance, a thin gas tube runs almost the entire length of the barrel in many modern rifle designs. When the weapon is fired, the gases travel back down the tube into the chamber and push the bolt back to eject the shell casing and chamber a new round. The StG.19's gas system, by contrast, is connected to a mechanical operating rod, which does not blow carbon residue or propellant gases back into the chamber. This drastically cuts down on fouling, consequently improving reliability.
Receiver and Ergonomics
The StG.19 has an upper receiver made out of aluminum and a lower receiver composed almost entirely of polymer composite in order to save weight in the rifle, leading to an approximate 34% decrease in weight from the StG.57 family. The polymer used is carbon fibre-reinforced, giving it rugged durability. Both the tritium-illuminated sight and the aimpoint that come with the rifle incorporate infrared lasers and pointers which can be activated as needed by a pressure switch. This gives the stock StG.19 rifle comparability to contemporary rifles which have been fitted with a host of electronic add-ons, while still remaining lighter and more manoeuvrable. The rifle features a rail on top of the upper receiver and one below the barrel as well.
Field stripping the StG.19 was intended to be a simple and fast process in order to respond to rapidly changing operational demands. First, the charging handle is retracted and released. The safety is engaged, and then the front takedown pin is removed. This allows the lower receiver to be moved slightly forward and pulled down, separating it from the rest of the gun.
Next, the rear takedown pin is removed and then, while pressing the takedown button at the rear of the upper receiver, the buttstock assembly slides down and away from the upper receiver. This allows the recoil spring assembly to be removed. Finally, the bolt carrier assembly is pulled to the rear using the charging handle and when the charging handle is aligned with the cutout in the receiver, it is withdrawn which allows the bolt carrier to be removed from the back.
The gas piston assembly is removed by rotating the valve 180 degrees while pressing a spring-loaded detent with a narrow pointed object. The assembly can then be pulled forward and separated from the upper. The gas valve and piston are then pulled apart.
Barrel
The standard configuration of the SG.19 features a cold hammer- forged, chrome-lined 400mm barrel. There are three main configurations: the standard 400mm barrel, a 300mm barrel for CQB, and a 500mm barrel for DMR configuration. The StG.19 in its standard configuration has a noticeable barrel extension and barrel profile, as its heavy barrel and muzzle brake serve to reduce recoil whip and consequently improve accuracy. A bayonet lug is located beneath the gas block on the rifle.
PRICE:1,000 NSD/unit
LAND VEHICLES
The Panserkampwagn 102 Grabjorn is the primary main battle tank in service with the Confederate Army in Leutland. Conceived as a successor to the PkW.98 Svartbjorn main battle tank, the Grabjorn was intended to provide a nationally produced Leutish answer to international main battle tanks such as the Panthera Tigris or the Yvernyr, which the PkW.92 was deemed inadequate to compete with. The Grabjorn combines traditional Leutish emphases on reliability, ruggedness and operational flexibility with highly modern technology in order to create a domestically produced main battle tank which can go toe to toe with the most prominent international designs.
History
At the turn of the century, the General Staff of the Varnmakt underwent an extensive review of the capabilities of the Confederate Army as part of the Varnmakt 2020 process. As a professional force theoretically supplemented by reserve forces many times its magnitude, the Confederate Army would place a priority on operational effectiveness, especially in terms of its mechanised forces. However, most of the armoured vehicles then in service with the army did not hold up to the scrutiny of the General Staff. In particular, the PkW.92 was heavily examined. While the tank was noted to have excellent reliability and operational range characteristics, its first-shot first-kill capability was deemed to be unacceptably low compared to modern international MBTs. Its 120mm gun was characterised as underpowered and increasingly unlikely to defeat more modern armour designs, while its target acquisition and fire control systems were based on outdated technology. Furthermore, the PkW.92 was relatively limited in its operational flexibility, being designed almost purely as a tank-to-tank platform. Simulations of major wars between Leutland and similarly sized powers equipped with more modern MBTs projected astronomically high loses to Leutish mechanised forces, a reality which would have crippled the army’s operational capabilities. As a result of this review, the General Staff commissioned Statliga Vapenverk to create a ‘truly modern’ main battle tank. Meeting the requirements set by the general staff would prove to be no small feat. The General Staff requested the creation of a tank which displayed traditional Leutish reliability and endurance, with a minimum operational range of 600km. On top of this, the tank was required to have a high degree of operational flexibility, being able to operate in a variety of environments for a variety of purposes. Finally, the tank needed to be a superior platform in an armoured vehicle engagement, necessitating the creation of advanced target acquisition and fire control systems, signature reduction, a more powerful armament and more advanced protection. Statsejede Våbenværker took to the task with zeal, and development of the PkW.102 was begun.
SJV began the development process by first surveying the field of competition in international main battle tanks. It was quickly noted that many prominent international designs followed a scheme which SJV engineers termed ‘100% capability, 100% cost’. This meant that the international designs were created to be as effective as possible in any conceivable situation, and designed to that end regardless of cost. While the vehicles produced from such a design scheme were inarguably extremely effective, they were also invariably expensive to produce. Total capability in all situations required a substantial investment in the most advanced technologies, especially in armament and protection. SJV engineers noted that while such AFVs would indeed be extremely effective in their roles, these same vehicles would regardless still be extremely vulnerable to close air support, direct artillery attack, or infantry armed with advanced anti-tank weaponry. This made such a heavy investment in the superiority of individual vehicles a risky proposition. As a result, the SLV engineers decided on a design scheme which they termed ‘80% effectiveness, 50% cost’. This meant that the PkW.102, while not optimised for every conceivable situation, would represent a ‘middle ground’ solution focusing on a combination of cost effectiveness, operational flexibility, and logistical sustainability. The result would be a high-capability, but low-cost design aimed at widespread use during operational warfare.
Mobility
Early on in the design phase, SJV decided on the inclusion of a servo-assisted hydropneumatic suspension in the design. A hydropneumatic suspension offered several key advantages, especially in regards to operational flexibility. Firstly, hydropneumatic suspensions provide better ride quality characteristics than other suspensions, especially over rough terrain. This alone provided better firing accuracy from both a stationary position and while on the move. However, the PkW.102’s suspension system also incorporates the usage of hydraulic servomechanisms which transmit data to the PkW.102’s electronics suite. The data transmitted includes the tank’s current speed, the height of both the front and the rear of the tank, the tank’s current rate of turning, the speed of suspension travel and the movement of the accelerator throttle. In response to these data inputs, the servos adjust themselves accordingly, providing a vastly superior suspension system in terms of responsiveness to the environment. This network also provides data to the tank’s fire control system, allowing the FCS to compensate for terrain and movement. This enables the PkW.102 to maintain firing accuracy even in the most adverse environments.
The PkW.102’s suspension system can also be adjusted by the tank’s commander in order to effectively respond to various operational situations. For instance, the suspension can be lowered in order to both reduce the vehicle’s profile and for better travel characteristics on roads, or it can be raised to provide improved clearance over rougher terrain, allowing it to effectively climb significant slopes and vertical obstacles. The tank can also ‘tilt’ in any variety of directions, for instance, simultaneously raising its rear while depressing its front in order to be able to fire downhill more effectively, or the reverse for being able to fire uphill. The tank also incorporates a wide track in order to more effectively distribute weight and improve off-road performance, especially in rough or muddy terrain. The PkW.102’s dynamic suspension system offers vastly improved operational flexibility to its predecessor, increasing the utility of the tank in a variety of situations.
Engine
One of the most important aspects of the PkW.102’s design was its onboard powerpack. Previous Leutish powerpacks aboard tanks had been either unwieldy in terms of size or too inefficient. For the 102, the General Staff had requested a powerpack which provided ample power and torque without sacrificing efficiency. A gas turbine engine, while attractive in terms of the raw power and torque it could produce, was ruled out due to its fuel consumption and effects on signature reduction. The designers decided upon a fully integrated and optimised powerpack based on a high-power, hybrid diesel engine, a hydromechanical transmission, and a greatly simplified drivetrain.
The hydromechanical transmission was chosen for its fuel efficiency across a variety of situations, including heavy duty off-road work, as well as the lower production cost associated with the transmission. However, the 102’s hydromechanical transmission differs from other CVTs of a similar type due to its inclusion of a conventional planetary gear system, creating what is known as an infinitely variable transmission. With an IVT, the engine’s RPM becomes decoupled from the wheel speed, allowing the engine to run at its highest level of efficiency. Owing to the quick response time of a hydromechanical transmission, a change in power demand can quickly be met by the engine without interrupting power flow, resulting in both higher fuel efficiency and more power to the ground.
The IVT system was designed in tandem with the 102’s 37L twin turbo V12 hybrid diesel engine. The main engine is a four-stroke, liquid-cooled, V-block design with multi-fuel capability producing 1,650hp and 3,837 lb-ft of torque at maximum output. Turbochargers were chosen for the 102’s forced induction system due to the capability of a diesel engine to absorb much higher boost pressure than a conventional spark-ignition engine, allowing for a higher level of induction. Furthermore, the incorporation of a turbocharger was deemed to be remarkably more efficient than a supercharger. A diesel-powered tank accelerating from rest would naturally put its engine under a heavy load. This would cause proportionately high boost pressures to be delivered by the turbochargers. However, once the tank reaches a constant speed and RPM, the load on the engine is decreased. This in turn leads to a lower level of boost from the turbocharger, and a consequently lower level of fuel consumption. In the context of an armoured vehicle, this means that extra fuel is delivered only when needed, such as when climbing a slope or an obstacle. A turbocharged engine delivers power proportionate to the current demand, while a supercharger delivers near-constant boost pressure, rendering it less efficient.
The 102’s main engine is built around the highly advanced variable compression ratio system. In a variable compression engine, the volume of the combustion chamber is altered by lowering the cylinder head closer to the crankshaft. This is accomplished by the creation of a two-part engine block, consisting of the cylinders in the upper block and the crankshaft in the lower portion As the two blocks are hinged together at one side, the volume of the combustion chamber can be modified by pivoting the upper block around the hinge point. In the PkW.102, this allows for vastly improved fuel efficiency across a variety of situations, and increased power output when needed.
The engine also incorporates a 250 kW electric component, the E60. First utilized on the StV.15 Wisent HIFV, the E60 serves a triple purpose. Its primary function is to act as a redundancy failsafe in the event of a main engine failure. However, the E60 can also be run independent of main engine failure. This provides a number of benefits. First, it allows for increased power production if necessary; secondly, the E60 running by itself produces a much lower thermal signature than the E1. As a result, a PkW.102 seeking to maneuver while preserving low thermal visibility could feasibly use the E60 to get around, albeit at the cost of drastically reduced power. Finally, the hybrid nature of the engine provides for drastically improved fuel efficiency, while only costing 5% more than a traditional fully mechanical system. This comes at an estimated reduction of 20% in life-cycle cost and up to 20% less fuel burned while the vehicle is stationary.
Armour and countermeasures
Both vehicle and crew survivability were of primary consideration during the PkW.102’s design phase. Owing to the ever increasing capabilities of kinetic energy penetrators as well as HEAT warheads, the Grabjorn’s physical armour system was required to be able to deal with both of these threats. To that end, the SLV engineers created a highly modular armor system for the PkW.102 that focused on ‘layered’ defence and cost effectiveness. The PkW.102’s metal alloys consist of a primary matrix of SLS-200, a new high-hardened steel, and MAT7720, an aluminum-titanium composite alloy. Inspired by the legendary ancient strength of Istakhari steel, the engineers behind MAT7720 set out to create a similarly potent creation for the modern world. MAT7720 requires only 38% of RHA weight to provide equivalent protection, approaching the performance of some ceramics if applied in sufficient volume. High-Strength Nitrogen SLS-200 requires 30% less thickness to provide an equivalent level of protection as Armox 500T steel. This layer of armour also features extreme sloping on the glacis and the turret of the tank in order to maximize the effectiveness of the armour. Finally, the alloys are lined on both sides by a layer of high-performance aluminum-titanium composite foam, known as KYR-22, encased in specially designed ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. KYR-22 is a closed-cell ceramic foam, made from hollowed titanium spheres inside a solid matrix of aluminum. KYR-22 is extremely porous, comprising only 25% of the base volume of its parent metals. Upon impact by a KEP or HEAT round, the presence of air in the structure imparts constant shearing and transverse forces on the penetrator. This, combined with the high tensile strength of the metal matrix, gives KYR-22 excellent deformative and disruptive properties against enemy munitions at a fraction of the weight and cost of heavier armours.
The inert layer of the PkW.102's armour is primarily made up of high-polysulfide ethylene propylene rubber, which was chosen for its low cost, ease of production, and capability for storing kinetic energy. This layer of armour is effectively designed as a type of non-explosive reactive armour-when it is struck by a projectile, the kinetic absorption capability of the EPR will help create a localized bulge rather than a full-on penetration of the armour. In recent years, resilin has been a popular choice for this inert layer in international designs. While resilin possesses excellent characteristics when used in this role, the production of synthetic resilin is expensive. SJV designers sought to create a similar benefit but at a much lower cost. Inspired by the protective qualities of ballistic foam in aircraft design, the HPEPR is laced with fiberglass. Upon penetration by a KEP or HEAT round, the fiberglass strands help to slow and disrupt the path of the munition, reducing the energy and decreasing the likelihood of full penetration.
The primary ceramics used in the design are titanium diboride and inserts of nano-crystalline carbon. Titanium diboride has a number of characteristics which made it a desirable armor ceramic. It demonstrates extremely high fracture toughness, up to 12.5 MPa m0.5, and possesses ablative properties which wear down kinetic penetrators. The nano-carbon inserts, while expensive, are roughly 100 times stronger than steel while only a sixth as heavy. These nanotube inserts are placed strategically in locations primarily along the frontal glacis of the tank, particularly in areas where it was not possible to slope the armour to a great extent, maximizing their effectiveness while keeping total costs down. The sheer tensile strength of the combined materials gives this layer of the PkW.102's armour multi-hit capability. The structure of the ceramic matrix is laid out in a honeycomb pattern designed to continually disrupt the penetrating jet of a HEAT warhead. This structural pattern ideally disperses the energy of the penetrating jet to the point where it fails to defeat the armour by imparting shearing and transverse forces on the jet, reducing its concentrated effectiveness. Owing to the honeycomb construction of the matrix, a degree of these forces are applied to kinetic energy penetrators as well, reducing their penetrating power. The ceramic layer is backed up by an additional layer of KYR-22 ceramic foam.
The body of the tank is divided into three isolated parts by sealed compartments mounted along the longitudinal axis armored sheets, with the compartmentalization improving survivability in the event of armor penetration. The sides of the fuel compartments’ hull plates are covered with slabs of anti-radiation material, and the driver's compartment and crew compartment are covered with slabs of splinter-proof material. Finally, the 102 incorporates a layer of spaced armor backed by a fibreglass spall liner in order to protect the crew from spalling effects.
The Grabjorn also makes use of the Pladepost NERA applique to further increase its defensive capabilities. Pladepost is a type of non-energetic reactive armour developed originally for use on the Svartbjorn MBT, designed to provide adequate applique protection at a highly economical cost while granting greater tactical flexibility to the vehicle compared to ERA modules. Although NERA did not offer as much protection as explosive reactive armour, it had numerous characteristics which appealed to the design team. It was far lighter than an ERA kit, and possessed more modularity as it could be placed on any part of the vehicle and in multiple spaced layers as the situation demanded. NERA modules were also particularly effective against tandem-charge HEAT warheads as the system could not be defeated simply via the primary charge. Finally, it was far safer for nearby infantry, making it an ideal choice for a Leutish doctrine that emphasized extremely close cooperation between armour and infantry. Pladepost comprises the same two metallic alloys found in the 102's primary armour, but incorporate synthetic resilin instead of EPR as their 'filler' layer. Resilin is an extremely durable compound and is capable of storing vast amounts of kinetic energy. Its presence in the Pladepost NERA kit allows for the PkW.102 to be 'up-armoured' as the situation demands, while keeping production and maintenance costs lower.
The final layer on top of the Grabjorn’s considerable physical defences is the Skjoldmø Active Protection System. Skjoldmø, which translates as ‘Shieldmaid’, consists of a millimeter-wave fire-control radar and six rotating projectile launchers installed at the base of the turret. The radar uses four flat-panel antennae to provide a full 360 degrees of coverage around the vehicle. Upon detecting an incoming projectile, the system’s computer creates an optimal firing solution for intercepting the projectile based on approach vector. As this is occurring, Skjoldmø will attempt to jam the target's active radar guidance via concentrated radar beams. The launchers then fire a concentrated blast of smaller projectiles at the incoming projectile.
Signature reduction
The Grabjorn makes use of a sophisticated signature reduction system called Skygge, or ‘Shade’, comprised of a layered countermeasures system. Laser warning receivers are positioned around the Grabjorn. Once these receivers detect that the tank has been painted by a laser, a pair of infra-red and optical dazzlers, located on the front of the tank's turret, are slewed in the direction that the laser energy originated from automatically. In addition to this automatic defence, the tank commander may manually make use of the Grabjorn’s 60mm mortar to deploy IR-concealing smoke grenades in order to further stymy enemy targeting systems.
The Skygge system also incorporates a magnetic mine detection system that uses an electromagnetic pulse to disable mines before the tank runs them over. Finally, the most extensive part of the Skygge system is its usage of physical signature reduction via the use of radar absorbent paints and materials, infra-red reducing paint and insulation to mask the vehicle's internal heat signatures. Visually, Skygge may be applied in a variety of multi-spectral disruptive patterns in order to effectively obscure visual detection at range. By masking both infrared and radar detection capabilities, the Krigshylster offers considerable protection even against modern multi-spectrum detection methods.
Armament
The 102’s primary armament consists of the SJV-manufactured L-17 130mm gun, a 12.7mm coaxial gun, a 7mm LMG mounted on the commander's hatch and two optional 2-bank ATGM launchers. The L-17 is a smoothbore, chrome-lined gun developed specifically for the 102 in response to the increasing defensive capabilities of international designs. The 120mm gun of the PkW. 92 was deemed inadequate to deal with these more modern threats, and several calibre options were put forth for the 102. These were 125mm, 130mm, and 140mm. SJV found that the increase from 120mm to 130mm, while representing only a miniscule increase in calibre and the total weight of the gun system, offered a whopping 50% more kinetic energy. The designers found 130mm to strike an ideal balance between cost, weight, power, and ammunition capacity; thus, the L-17 was born. The 102 is capable of carrying 42 rounds of ammunition, with 25 stored in the autoloader. The autoloader itself utilises a continuous belt mechanism and is mounted in the turret, outside the crew compartment, in order to reduce the likelihood of an ammunition cook-off and also to improve the reliability of the system. In the event of a potential ammunition cook-off, the autoloader incorporates a blow-out ammunition compartment in order to protect both the crew and the interior of the tank. When triggered, armored panels expel the module from its niche in order to protect the vehicle.
The autoloader in the L-17 utilises a ‘rifle clip’ concept. Upon depletion, the entire autoloader module can be replaced by a new one by means of a dedicated transloader vehicle, facilitating extremely fast replenishment of ammunition in the field and the sustainment of rapid tactical operations. This also allows any malfunctioning autoloader to be rapidly replaced in the field. The autoloader may also be replenished one round at a time by the crew, in case of malfunction. The autoloader system itself boasts an approximately 4 second cycle time. The high ammunition capacity and the potential speed of replacement meant that the PkW.102 could perform effectively at the operational level for extended periods of time, making it an ideal fit for Leutish doctrine.
Of primary concern to the designers was the gun’s ‘first shot’ accuracy and its capacity to recover from recoil. To that end, the PkW.102 boasts the most advanced recoil compensation system ever utilised on a Leutish tank. Like many modern tank designs, the recoil system is hydro-pneumatic based. The L-17, however, incorporates the same hydraulic servomechanisms utilised in the 102’s suspension system. These servos are optimised for usage in the gun but are directly connected to the tank’s onboard electronics suite. Upon firing the weapon, the sensors transmit data such as the gun’s initial elevation and azimuth upon firing the first round. The tank’s fire control system makes a series of rapid calculations and the gun servos automatically adjust themselves to get back on target as soon as possible.
The gun was designed to fire standard KEP and HEAT munitions, as well as three ‘specialty munitions’: the DIS munition, the LYN-EFP munition, and the Kampøkse ATGM. These three munitions give the 102 very broad combat flexibility: the first providing it with the ability to provide effective infantry support, and the latter two giving it impressive long-range engagement capability.
DIS
The DIS is a 130mm time-delay HE shell developed specifically for the L-17 gun. After the shell is loaded, a subroutine in the L-17’s fire control suite programs the time-delay fuse to detonate at a specific point in the projectile's flight path, depending on the gunner’s manual input. The round can be timed to explode for maximum effect either above, in front or inside of a target-for instance, after penetrating the skin of a transport vehicle or the wall of a house. The DIS represents a significant upgrade in the tactical flexibility of conventional HE shells, being able to perform tasks as diverse as supporting an infantry assault in a variety of environments or engaging light-to-medium armored vehicles.
LYN-EFP
The LYN, or ‘Thunderbolt’, Explosively Formed Penetrator is a 130mm round design, consisting of an 87 lb shell containing two autonomous, sensor-fused, fire-and-forget submunitions. The submunitions each contain a depleted uranium-based high-penetration explosively formed warhead for use primarily against enemy main battle tanks.
The LYN-EFP is first fired in a ballistic arc, and after a certain distance a timer fuse ignites a small ejector rocket in the nose, which drags the two submunitions out of the shell casin. After the submunitions are released, they open up a parachute. While slowly descending, the submunitions rotate, scanning the area below with an infra-red sensor and a millimeter wave radar in order to determine the ideal angle of attack. Once a target vehicle has been identified beneath the submunition, it detonates, creating an explosively formed penetrator directed against the weak top armor of the vehicle. Simultaneously, the radar in the submunition casing attempts to jam any similar millimeter-wave radar on the target vehicle, in order to inhibit any active protection systems. The flammable properties of the DU liner assist in causing ammunition or fuel cook-offs within the targeted vehicle. The LYN-EFP gives the PkW.102 an impressive degree of standoff capability, allowing it to effectively engage enemy armor at ranges of up to 12km and also to strike targets which would otherwise be concealed behind terrain,
Kampøkse ATGM
The Kampøkse anti-tank guided missile is the primary ATGM in service with the Leutish armed forces. The increasing amount and sophistication of armour being applied to modern tanks led to the Ministry of Defence concluding that the R28 'Sledgehammer' ATGMs in its arsenal were fast becoming outdated. The fact that the R28s were incapable of engaging targets without line-of-sight was another red flag for the Ministry, which insisted that the Leutish armed forces be given an ATGM which was capable of attacking targets with speed and precision, even if line of sight was not available from the launch platform in question.
It was out of this necessity for a new missile system that the Kampøkse was developed. Weighing in at a total of thirteen kilograms, the Kampøkse was initially designed as a conventional tandem-charge HEAT missile that could defeat up to 1,400mm of rolled homogenous armour equivalent. Eventually, though, a conventional HEAT charge would be substituted for a HESZATT charge.
The Kampøkse has two primary forms of guidance. The first is a semi-active laser guidance system, capable of both direct and indirect laser designation - the target in question can be laser-designated by the launching platform or another platform, such as a helicopter or a reconaissance team, which requires minimal exposure for the launch platform in the firing position. The second is the missile's own onboard millimeter-wave radar. With a low launch signature, the missile’s trajectory can be set to match either top attack or direct attack engagements. Upon terminal approach to the target, the missile uses its own onboard radar in order to jam any millimeter-wave based APS on the target vehicle. The warhead, which weighs a total of 10kg, has a triple charge. The first charge, the one intended to defeat explosive reactive armour, is lined with a simple layer of copper. The second charge, however-the one designed for actual penetration of the armour-is lined with gold, a metal whose density and malleability make it ideal for use in a HEAT charge. The third and final charge is made up of sponge zirconium, a highly flammable substance which is capable showering nearby areas with flaming metal fragments and increasing the likelihood of magazine cookoffs within the tank it has struck. This charge is known within Leutish service as a HESZATT charge, which stands for High Explosive Sponge Zirconium, Anti-Tank, Tandem.
If needed, however, the missile can also be outfitted with a TOW-like guidance system. In the TOW system, the launch platorm is capable of guiding the trajectory of the missile by passing electrical signals down two wires which are physically attached to the missile. The result of this is that the missile's guidance is practically impossible to jam-but the missile does suffer a reduction in range.
The missile was designed to be versatile in terms of its launch platform. Anything from tanks to LUVs to helicopters to simple infantrymen can carry and launch the Kampøkse ATGM, with the appropriate systems. For infantry, a Command Launch Unit (CLU) with four different forms of view was created. The first was a 4x day-and-night view, while the second was a Wide Field of View infrared view. The WFOV shares the same 4x magnification as the day-and-night view, but it is used to pick up targets on thermal at a distance with-as the name implies-a wider field of view than a more magnified view could offer. The third view is a 9x thermal magnification view, known as the Narrow Field of View. Its purpose was to be able to better identify targets at long ranges before launching. Finally, the fourth and final view offered by the Kampøkse’s CLU is a TOW-compatible view that is only utilised for guiding missiles with that configuration.
Target acquisition and fire control
Target acquisition was deemed to be possibly the most important aspect of cost effectiveness by SJV. The designers reasoned that in modern tank warfare between similar platforms, the vehicle which landed the first hit was far more likely to get the first kill. The PkW. 102’s fire control and target acquisition systems are, as a consequence, by far the most advanced ever seen on a Leutish tank. The fire control system itself is linked to the tank’s central electronic suite, through which it receives input data from both the gun and suspension servos in order to provide accurate firing solutions. This data covers everything from the tank’s current speed, the height of both the front and the rear of the tank, the tank’s current rate of turning, the speed of suspension travel, the movement of the accelerator throttle, as well as the bearing and azimuth of the gun. The FCS also makes use of a laser-based trigger delay system to improve firing accuracy in adverse terrain. This system consists of a laser emitter at the top of the barrel and a sensor at the base. In the event of travel over rough terrain, the oscillation of the gun barrel will interrupt the laser’s connection with the sensor. If an attempt is made to fire the weapon at this time, the FCS will automatically delay activation until the beam is re-aligned, providing much greater accuracy for long-ranged fire over rough terrain. This system can be manually disabled if necessary.
The 102’s sensors consist of a millimeter-wave frequency radar system located on the front of the turret, a laser rangefinder, dual-band thermographic camera and a crosswind sensor. The thermographic camera was a particular focal point in the design phase. Aware that more and more tanks were incorporating infrared-concealing technology in their designs, SJV opted to endow the PkW.102 with a powerful thermal detection system to assist in the long-range identification of concealed targets. The Halogi Thermal Detection System (HTDS) is a digital image processed sensor array capable of both forward-looking infrared and infrared search-and-track capability. HTDS can use search-and-track in conjunction with the tank’s laser rangefinder in order to calculate a firing solution both for conventional munitions and gun-launched missiles. All of the onboard sensors make use of target profiles stored in the tank’s electronics suite, allowing the rapid and automatic identification, tracking, and target acquisition of vehicles matching a thermal or radar profile in the data banks. Via the RAGNAROK battlenet system, these profiles can be compared with data transmitted from other friendly vehicles to prevent redundant engagement of targets, improving combat efficiency.
History
At the turn of the century, the General Staff of the Varnmakt underwent an extensive review of the capabilities of the Confederate Army as part of the Varnmakt 2020 process. As a professional force theoretically supplemented by reserve forces many times its magnitude, the Confederate Army would place a priority on operational effectiveness, especially in terms of its mechanised forces. However, most of the armoured vehicles then in service with the army did not hold up to the scrutiny of the General Staff. In particular, the PkW.92 was heavily examined. While the tank was noted to have excellent reliability and operational range characteristics, its first-shot first-kill capability was deemed to be unacceptably low compared to modern international MBTs. Its 120mm gun was characterised as underpowered and increasingly unlikely to defeat more modern armour designs, while its target acquisition and fire control systems were based on outdated technology. Furthermore, the PkW.92 was relatively limited in its operational flexibility, being designed almost purely as a tank-to-tank platform. Simulations of major wars between Leutland and similarly sized powers equipped with more modern MBTs projected astronomically high loses to Leutish mechanised forces, a reality which would have crippled the army’s operational capabilities. As a result of this review, the General Staff commissioned Statliga Vapenverk to create a ‘truly modern’ main battle tank. Meeting the requirements set by the general staff would prove to be no small feat. The General Staff requested the creation of a tank which displayed traditional Leutish reliability and endurance, with a minimum operational range of 600km. On top of this, the tank was required to have a high degree of operational flexibility, being able to operate in a variety of environments for a variety of purposes. Finally, the tank needed to be a superior platform in an armoured vehicle engagement, necessitating the creation of advanced target acquisition and fire control systems, signature reduction, a more powerful armament and more advanced protection. Statsejede Våbenværker took to the task with zeal, and development of the PkW.102 was begun.
SJV began the development process by first surveying the field of competition in international main battle tanks. It was quickly noted that many prominent international designs followed a scheme which SJV engineers termed ‘100% capability, 100% cost’. This meant that the international designs were created to be as effective as possible in any conceivable situation, and designed to that end regardless of cost. While the vehicles produced from such a design scheme were inarguably extremely effective, they were also invariably expensive to produce. Total capability in all situations required a substantial investment in the most advanced technologies, especially in armament and protection. SJV engineers noted that while such AFVs would indeed be extremely effective in their roles, these same vehicles would regardless still be extremely vulnerable to close air support, direct artillery attack, or infantry armed with advanced anti-tank weaponry. This made such a heavy investment in the superiority of individual vehicles a risky proposition. As a result, the SLV engineers decided on a design scheme which they termed ‘80% effectiveness, 50% cost’. This meant that the PkW.102, while not optimised for every conceivable situation, would represent a ‘middle ground’ solution focusing on a combination of cost effectiveness, operational flexibility, and logistical sustainability. The result would be a high-capability, but low-cost design aimed at widespread use during operational warfare.
Mobility
Early on in the design phase, SJV decided on the inclusion of a servo-assisted hydropneumatic suspension in the design. A hydropneumatic suspension offered several key advantages, especially in regards to operational flexibility. Firstly, hydropneumatic suspensions provide better ride quality characteristics than other suspensions, especially over rough terrain. This alone provided better firing accuracy from both a stationary position and while on the move. However, the PkW.102’s suspension system also incorporates the usage of hydraulic servomechanisms which transmit data to the PkW.102’s electronics suite. The data transmitted includes the tank’s current speed, the height of both the front and the rear of the tank, the tank’s current rate of turning, the speed of suspension travel and the movement of the accelerator throttle. In response to these data inputs, the servos adjust themselves accordingly, providing a vastly superior suspension system in terms of responsiveness to the environment. This network also provides data to the tank’s fire control system, allowing the FCS to compensate for terrain and movement. This enables the PkW.102 to maintain firing accuracy even in the most adverse environments.
The PkW.102’s suspension system can also be adjusted by the tank’s commander in order to effectively respond to various operational situations. For instance, the suspension can be lowered in order to both reduce the vehicle’s profile and for better travel characteristics on roads, or it can be raised to provide improved clearance over rougher terrain, allowing it to effectively climb significant slopes and vertical obstacles. The tank can also ‘tilt’ in any variety of directions, for instance, simultaneously raising its rear while depressing its front in order to be able to fire downhill more effectively, or the reverse for being able to fire uphill. The tank also incorporates a wide track in order to more effectively distribute weight and improve off-road performance, especially in rough or muddy terrain. The PkW.102’s dynamic suspension system offers vastly improved operational flexibility to its predecessor, increasing the utility of the tank in a variety of situations.
Engine
One of the most important aspects of the PkW.102’s design was its onboard powerpack. Previous Leutish powerpacks aboard tanks had been either unwieldy in terms of size or too inefficient. For the 102, the General Staff had requested a powerpack which provided ample power and torque without sacrificing efficiency. A gas turbine engine, while attractive in terms of the raw power and torque it could produce, was ruled out due to its fuel consumption and effects on signature reduction. The designers decided upon a fully integrated and optimised powerpack based on a high-power, hybrid diesel engine, a hydromechanical transmission, and a greatly simplified drivetrain.
The hydromechanical transmission was chosen for its fuel efficiency across a variety of situations, including heavy duty off-road work, as well as the lower production cost associated with the transmission. However, the 102’s hydromechanical transmission differs from other CVTs of a similar type due to its inclusion of a conventional planetary gear system, creating what is known as an infinitely variable transmission. With an IVT, the engine’s RPM becomes decoupled from the wheel speed, allowing the engine to run at its highest level of efficiency. Owing to the quick response time of a hydromechanical transmission, a change in power demand can quickly be met by the engine without interrupting power flow, resulting in both higher fuel efficiency and more power to the ground.
The IVT system was designed in tandem with the 102’s 37L twin turbo V12 hybrid diesel engine. The main engine is a four-stroke, liquid-cooled, V-block design with multi-fuel capability producing 1,650hp and 3,837 lb-ft of torque at maximum output. Turbochargers were chosen for the 102’s forced induction system due to the capability of a diesel engine to absorb much higher boost pressure than a conventional spark-ignition engine, allowing for a higher level of induction. Furthermore, the incorporation of a turbocharger was deemed to be remarkably more efficient than a supercharger. A diesel-powered tank accelerating from rest would naturally put its engine under a heavy load. This would cause proportionately high boost pressures to be delivered by the turbochargers. However, once the tank reaches a constant speed and RPM, the load on the engine is decreased. This in turn leads to a lower level of boost from the turbocharger, and a consequently lower level of fuel consumption. In the context of an armoured vehicle, this means that extra fuel is delivered only when needed, such as when climbing a slope or an obstacle. A turbocharged engine delivers power proportionate to the current demand, while a supercharger delivers near-constant boost pressure, rendering it less efficient.
The 102’s main engine is built around the highly advanced variable compression ratio system. In a variable compression engine, the volume of the combustion chamber is altered by lowering the cylinder head closer to the crankshaft. This is accomplished by the creation of a two-part engine block, consisting of the cylinders in the upper block and the crankshaft in the lower portion As the two blocks are hinged together at one side, the volume of the combustion chamber can be modified by pivoting the upper block around the hinge point. In the PkW.102, this allows for vastly improved fuel efficiency across a variety of situations, and increased power output when needed.
The engine also incorporates a 250 kW electric component, the E60. First utilized on the StV.15 Wisent HIFV, the E60 serves a triple purpose. Its primary function is to act as a redundancy failsafe in the event of a main engine failure. However, the E60 can also be run independent of main engine failure. This provides a number of benefits. First, it allows for increased power production if necessary; secondly, the E60 running by itself produces a much lower thermal signature than the E1. As a result, a PkW.102 seeking to maneuver while preserving low thermal visibility could feasibly use the E60 to get around, albeit at the cost of drastically reduced power. Finally, the hybrid nature of the engine provides for drastically improved fuel efficiency, while only costing 5% more than a traditional fully mechanical system. This comes at an estimated reduction of 20% in life-cycle cost and up to 20% less fuel burned while the vehicle is stationary.
Armour and countermeasures
Both vehicle and crew survivability were of primary consideration during the PkW.102’s design phase. Owing to the ever increasing capabilities of kinetic energy penetrators as well as HEAT warheads, the Grabjorn’s physical armour system was required to be able to deal with both of these threats. To that end, the SLV engineers created a highly modular armor system for the PkW.102 that focused on ‘layered’ defence and cost effectiveness. The PkW.102’s metal alloys consist of a primary matrix of SLS-200, a new high-hardened steel, and MAT7720, an aluminum-titanium composite alloy. Inspired by the legendary ancient strength of Istakhari steel, the engineers behind MAT7720 set out to create a similarly potent creation for the modern world. MAT7720 requires only 38% of RHA weight to provide equivalent protection, approaching the performance of some ceramics if applied in sufficient volume. High-Strength Nitrogen SLS-200 requires 30% less thickness to provide an equivalent level of protection as Armox 500T steel. This layer of armour also features extreme sloping on the glacis and the turret of the tank in order to maximize the effectiveness of the armour. Finally, the alloys are lined on both sides by a layer of high-performance aluminum-titanium composite foam, known as KYR-22, encased in specially designed ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. KYR-22 is a closed-cell ceramic foam, made from hollowed titanium spheres inside a solid matrix of aluminum. KYR-22 is extremely porous, comprising only 25% of the base volume of its parent metals. Upon impact by a KEP or HEAT round, the presence of air in the structure imparts constant shearing and transverse forces on the penetrator. This, combined with the high tensile strength of the metal matrix, gives KYR-22 excellent deformative and disruptive properties against enemy munitions at a fraction of the weight and cost of heavier armours.
The inert layer of the PkW.102's armour is primarily made up of high-polysulfide ethylene propylene rubber, which was chosen for its low cost, ease of production, and capability for storing kinetic energy. This layer of armour is effectively designed as a type of non-explosive reactive armour-when it is struck by a projectile, the kinetic absorption capability of the EPR will help create a localized bulge rather than a full-on penetration of the armour. In recent years, resilin has been a popular choice for this inert layer in international designs. While resilin possesses excellent characteristics when used in this role, the production of synthetic resilin is expensive. SJV designers sought to create a similar benefit but at a much lower cost. Inspired by the protective qualities of ballistic foam in aircraft design, the HPEPR is laced with fiberglass. Upon penetration by a KEP or HEAT round, the fiberglass strands help to slow and disrupt the path of the munition, reducing the energy and decreasing the likelihood of full penetration.
The primary ceramics used in the design are titanium diboride and inserts of nano-crystalline carbon. Titanium diboride has a number of characteristics which made it a desirable armor ceramic. It demonstrates extremely high fracture toughness, up to 12.5 MPa m0.5, and possesses ablative properties which wear down kinetic penetrators. The nano-carbon inserts, while expensive, are roughly 100 times stronger than steel while only a sixth as heavy. These nanotube inserts are placed strategically in locations primarily along the frontal glacis of the tank, particularly in areas where it was not possible to slope the armour to a great extent, maximizing their effectiveness while keeping total costs down. The sheer tensile strength of the combined materials gives this layer of the PkW.102's armour multi-hit capability. The structure of the ceramic matrix is laid out in a honeycomb pattern designed to continually disrupt the penetrating jet of a HEAT warhead. This structural pattern ideally disperses the energy of the penetrating jet to the point where it fails to defeat the armour by imparting shearing and transverse forces on the jet, reducing its concentrated effectiveness. Owing to the honeycomb construction of the matrix, a degree of these forces are applied to kinetic energy penetrators as well, reducing their penetrating power. The ceramic layer is backed up by an additional layer of KYR-22 ceramic foam.
The body of the tank is divided into three isolated parts by sealed compartments mounted along the longitudinal axis armored sheets, with the compartmentalization improving survivability in the event of armor penetration. The sides of the fuel compartments’ hull plates are covered with slabs of anti-radiation material, and the driver's compartment and crew compartment are covered with slabs of splinter-proof material. Finally, the 102 incorporates a layer of spaced armor backed by a fibreglass spall liner in order to protect the crew from spalling effects.
The Grabjorn also makes use of the Pladepost NERA applique to further increase its defensive capabilities. Pladepost is a type of non-energetic reactive armour developed originally for use on the Svartbjorn MBT, designed to provide adequate applique protection at a highly economical cost while granting greater tactical flexibility to the vehicle compared to ERA modules. Although NERA did not offer as much protection as explosive reactive armour, it had numerous characteristics which appealed to the design team. It was far lighter than an ERA kit, and possessed more modularity as it could be placed on any part of the vehicle and in multiple spaced layers as the situation demanded. NERA modules were also particularly effective against tandem-charge HEAT warheads as the system could not be defeated simply via the primary charge. Finally, it was far safer for nearby infantry, making it an ideal choice for a Leutish doctrine that emphasized extremely close cooperation between armour and infantry. Pladepost comprises the same two metallic alloys found in the 102's primary armour, but incorporate synthetic resilin instead of EPR as their 'filler' layer. Resilin is an extremely durable compound and is capable of storing vast amounts of kinetic energy. Its presence in the Pladepost NERA kit allows for the PkW.102 to be 'up-armoured' as the situation demands, while keeping production and maintenance costs lower.
The final layer on top of the Grabjorn’s considerable physical defences is the Skjoldmø Active Protection System. Skjoldmø, which translates as ‘Shieldmaid’, consists of a millimeter-wave fire-control radar and six rotating projectile launchers installed at the base of the turret. The radar uses four flat-panel antennae to provide a full 360 degrees of coverage around the vehicle. Upon detecting an incoming projectile, the system’s computer creates an optimal firing solution for intercepting the projectile based on approach vector. As this is occurring, Skjoldmø will attempt to jam the target's active radar guidance via concentrated radar beams. The launchers then fire a concentrated blast of smaller projectiles at the incoming projectile.
Signature reduction
The Grabjorn makes use of a sophisticated signature reduction system called Skygge, or ‘Shade’, comprised of a layered countermeasures system. Laser warning receivers are positioned around the Grabjorn. Once these receivers detect that the tank has been painted by a laser, a pair of infra-red and optical dazzlers, located on the front of the tank's turret, are slewed in the direction that the laser energy originated from automatically. In addition to this automatic defence, the tank commander may manually make use of the Grabjorn’s 60mm mortar to deploy IR-concealing smoke grenades in order to further stymy enemy targeting systems.
The Skygge system also incorporates a magnetic mine detection system that uses an electromagnetic pulse to disable mines before the tank runs them over. Finally, the most extensive part of the Skygge system is its usage of physical signature reduction via the use of radar absorbent paints and materials, infra-red reducing paint and insulation to mask the vehicle's internal heat signatures. Visually, Skygge may be applied in a variety of multi-spectral disruptive patterns in order to effectively obscure visual detection at range. By masking both infrared and radar detection capabilities, the Krigshylster offers considerable protection even against modern multi-spectrum detection methods.
Armament
The 102’s primary armament consists of the SJV-manufactured L-17 130mm gun, a 12.7mm coaxial gun, a 7mm LMG mounted on the commander's hatch and two optional 2-bank ATGM launchers. The L-17 is a smoothbore, chrome-lined gun developed specifically for the 102 in response to the increasing defensive capabilities of international designs. The 120mm gun of the PkW. 92 was deemed inadequate to deal with these more modern threats, and several calibre options were put forth for the 102. These were 125mm, 130mm, and 140mm. SJV found that the increase from 120mm to 130mm, while representing only a miniscule increase in calibre and the total weight of the gun system, offered a whopping 50% more kinetic energy. The designers found 130mm to strike an ideal balance between cost, weight, power, and ammunition capacity; thus, the L-17 was born. The 102 is capable of carrying 42 rounds of ammunition, with 25 stored in the autoloader. The autoloader itself utilises a continuous belt mechanism and is mounted in the turret, outside the crew compartment, in order to reduce the likelihood of an ammunition cook-off and also to improve the reliability of the system. In the event of a potential ammunition cook-off, the autoloader incorporates a blow-out ammunition compartment in order to protect both the crew and the interior of the tank. When triggered, armored panels expel the module from its niche in order to protect the vehicle.
The autoloader in the L-17 utilises a ‘rifle clip’ concept. Upon depletion, the entire autoloader module can be replaced by a new one by means of a dedicated transloader vehicle, facilitating extremely fast replenishment of ammunition in the field and the sustainment of rapid tactical operations. This also allows any malfunctioning autoloader to be rapidly replaced in the field. The autoloader may also be replenished one round at a time by the crew, in case of malfunction. The autoloader system itself boasts an approximately 4 second cycle time. The high ammunition capacity and the potential speed of replacement meant that the PkW.102 could perform effectively at the operational level for extended periods of time, making it an ideal fit for Leutish doctrine.
Of primary concern to the designers was the gun’s ‘first shot’ accuracy and its capacity to recover from recoil. To that end, the PkW.102 boasts the most advanced recoil compensation system ever utilised on a Leutish tank. Like many modern tank designs, the recoil system is hydro-pneumatic based. The L-17, however, incorporates the same hydraulic servomechanisms utilised in the 102’s suspension system. These servos are optimised for usage in the gun but are directly connected to the tank’s onboard electronics suite. Upon firing the weapon, the sensors transmit data such as the gun’s initial elevation and azimuth upon firing the first round. The tank’s fire control system makes a series of rapid calculations and the gun servos automatically adjust themselves to get back on target as soon as possible.
The gun was designed to fire standard KEP and HEAT munitions, as well as three ‘specialty munitions’: the DIS munition, the LYN-EFP munition, and the Kampøkse ATGM. These three munitions give the 102 very broad combat flexibility: the first providing it with the ability to provide effective infantry support, and the latter two giving it impressive long-range engagement capability.
DIS
The DIS is a 130mm time-delay HE shell developed specifically for the L-17 gun. After the shell is loaded, a subroutine in the L-17’s fire control suite programs the time-delay fuse to detonate at a specific point in the projectile's flight path, depending on the gunner’s manual input. The round can be timed to explode for maximum effect either above, in front or inside of a target-for instance, after penetrating the skin of a transport vehicle or the wall of a house. The DIS represents a significant upgrade in the tactical flexibility of conventional HE shells, being able to perform tasks as diverse as supporting an infantry assault in a variety of environments or engaging light-to-medium armored vehicles.
LYN-EFP
The LYN, or ‘Thunderbolt’, Explosively Formed Penetrator is a 130mm round design, consisting of an 87 lb shell containing two autonomous, sensor-fused, fire-and-forget submunitions. The submunitions each contain a depleted uranium-based high-penetration explosively formed warhead for use primarily against enemy main battle tanks.
The LYN-EFP is first fired in a ballistic arc, and after a certain distance a timer fuse ignites a small ejector rocket in the nose, which drags the two submunitions out of the shell casin. After the submunitions are released, they open up a parachute. While slowly descending, the submunitions rotate, scanning the area below with an infra-red sensor and a millimeter wave radar in order to determine the ideal angle of attack. Once a target vehicle has been identified beneath the submunition, it detonates, creating an explosively formed penetrator directed against the weak top armor of the vehicle. Simultaneously, the radar in the submunition casing attempts to jam any similar millimeter-wave radar on the target vehicle, in order to inhibit any active protection systems. The flammable properties of the DU liner assist in causing ammunition or fuel cook-offs within the targeted vehicle. The LYN-EFP gives the PkW.102 an impressive degree of standoff capability, allowing it to effectively engage enemy armor at ranges of up to 12km and also to strike targets which would otherwise be concealed behind terrain,
Kampøkse ATGM
The Kampøkse anti-tank guided missile is the primary ATGM in service with the Leutish armed forces. The increasing amount and sophistication of armour being applied to modern tanks led to the Ministry of Defence concluding that the R28 'Sledgehammer' ATGMs in its arsenal were fast becoming outdated. The fact that the R28s were incapable of engaging targets without line-of-sight was another red flag for the Ministry, which insisted that the Leutish armed forces be given an ATGM which was capable of attacking targets with speed and precision, even if line of sight was not available from the launch platform in question.
It was out of this necessity for a new missile system that the Kampøkse was developed. Weighing in at a total of thirteen kilograms, the Kampøkse was initially designed as a conventional tandem-charge HEAT missile that could defeat up to 1,400mm of rolled homogenous armour equivalent. Eventually, though, a conventional HEAT charge would be substituted for a HESZATT charge.
The Kampøkse has two primary forms of guidance. The first is a semi-active laser guidance system, capable of both direct and indirect laser designation - the target in question can be laser-designated by the launching platform or another platform, such as a helicopter or a reconaissance team, which requires minimal exposure for the launch platform in the firing position. The second is the missile's own onboard millimeter-wave radar. With a low launch signature, the missile’s trajectory can be set to match either top attack or direct attack engagements. Upon terminal approach to the target, the missile uses its own onboard radar in order to jam any millimeter-wave based APS on the target vehicle. The warhead, which weighs a total of 10kg, has a triple charge. The first charge, the one intended to defeat explosive reactive armour, is lined with a simple layer of copper. The second charge, however-the one designed for actual penetration of the armour-is lined with gold, a metal whose density and malleability make it ideal for use in a HEAT charge. The third and final charge is made up of sponge zirconium, a highly flammable substance which is capable showering nearby areas with flaming metal fragments and increasing the likelihood of magazine cookoffs within the tank it has struck. This charge is known within Leutish service as a HESZATT charge, which stands for High Explosive Sponge Zirconium, Anti-Tank, Tandem.
If needed, however, the missile can also be outfitted with a TOW-like guidance system. In the TOW system, the launch platorm is capable of guiding the trajectory of the missile by passing electrical signals down two wires which are physically attached to the missile. The result of this is that the missile's guidance is practically impossible to jam-but the missile does suffer a reduction in range.
The missile was designed to be versatile in terms of its launch platform. Anything from tanks to LUVs to helicopters to simple infantrymen can carry and launch the Kampøkse ATGM, with the appropriate systems. For infantry, a Command Launch Unit (CLU) with four different forms of view was created. The first was a 4x day-and-night view, while the second was a Wide Field of View infrared view. The WFOV shares the same 4x magnification as the day-and-night view, but it is used to pick up targets on thermal at a distance with-as the name implies-a wider field of view than a more magnified view could offer. The third view is a 9x thermal magnification view, known as the Narrow Field of View. Its purpose was to be able to better identify targets at long ranges before launching. Finally, the fourth and final view offered by the Kampøkse’s CLU is a TOW-compatible view that is only utilised for guiding missiles with that configuration.
Target acquisition and fire control
Target acquisition was deemed to be possibly the most important aspect of cost effectiveness by SJV. The designers reasoned that in modern tank warfare between similar platforms, the vehicle which landed the first hit was far more likely to get the first kill. The PkW. 102’s fire control and target acquisition systems are, as a consequence, by far the most advanced ever seen on a Leutish tank. The fire control system itself is linked to the tank’s central electronic suite, through which it receives input data from both the gun and suspension servos in order to provide accurate firing solutions. This data covers everything from the tank’s current speed, the height of both the front and the rear of the tank, the tank’s current rate of turning, the speed of suspension travel, the movement of the accelerator throttle, as well as the bearing and azimuth of the gun. The FCS also makes use of a laser-based trigger delay system to improve firing accuracy in adverse terrain. This system consists of a laser emitter at the top of the barrel and a sensor at the base. In the event of travel over rough terrain, the oscillation of the gun barrel will interrupt the laser’s connection with the sensor. If an attempt is made to fire the weapon at this time, the FCS will automatically delay activation until the beam is re-aligned, providing much greater accuracy for long-ranged fire over rough terrain. This system can be manually disabled if necessary.
The 102’s sensors consist of a millimeter-wave frequency radar system located on the front of the turret, a laser rangefinder, dual-band thermographic camera and a crosswind sensor. The thermographic camera was a particular focal point in the design phase. Aware that more and more tanks were incorporating infrared-concealing technology in their designs, SJV opted to endow the PkW.102 with a powerful thermal detection system to assist in the long-range identification of concealed targets. The Halogi Thermal Detection System (HTDS) is a digital image processed sensor array capable of both forward-looking infrared and infrared search-and-track capability. HTDS can use search-and-track in conjunction with the tank’s laser rangefinder in order to calculate a firing solution both for conventional munitions and gun-launched missiles. All of the onboard sensors make use of target profiles stored in the tank’s electronics suite, allowing the rapid and automatic identification, tracking, and target acquisition of vehicles matching a thermal or radar profile in the data banks. Via the RAGNAROK battlenet system, these profiles can be compared with data transmitted from other friendly vehicles to prevent redundant engagement of targets, improving combat efficiency.
PRICE:8 million NSD/unit
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight: 35 tonnes
Length: 8m
Width: 3.5m
Height: 3.3m
Crew: 3 crew + 9 troopers
Armor: Composite, additional NxRA, ERA and slat protection
Main armament: 40mm L-13 gun with 600 round capacity
Secondary armament: 1x12.7mm machine gun, 1x6.8mm LMG, 3x ATGM launchers
Engine:Liquid-cooled twin turbo V10 diesel, electric-diesel hybrid
1,400hp, 200hp
Transmission:12-speed Hydromechanical Continuously Variable Transmission (HCVT)
Suspension:Servo-assicted Hydropneumatic
Ground clearance:0.3m
Fuel capacity:1,200l (without external fuel tanks)
Operational range:600km
Maximum speed: 75kph
Conceptualisation
During the May Day War, Leutish mechanised forces were involved in often heavy commitments to urban warzones. These battles exposed the vulnerability of unsupported armor in an urban setting, with many tanks, APCs and IFVs being destroyed with man-portable heavy weaponry or prepared defences. In particular, the destruction of the latter two types with their troopers still mounted within proved to be a tremendously costly reality for the Army. As the Confederate People's Army progressed into the 21st century, it set out criteria for an IFV design with a much higher degree of survivability than previous models. Additionally, the new IFV had to be capable of performing an effective supporting role in armoured conflicts, with the capabilities to engage and potentially destroy enemy main battle tanks and engage in close cooperation with Leutish tanks. Finally, the design had to stick to the broad design philosophy of ‘50% cost, 80% effectiveness’; where possible, the most advanced and consequently the most expensive systems would be eschewed in favour of a simpler, cost-effective compromise. It was out of these requirements that the ‘’Wisent’’ was born.
Such an IFV had the potential to fill a number of tactical roles for the Confederate Army. Several variants of the vehicle would be created in order to take advantage of its rugged survivability. Variants for the vehicle included its designated status as a heavy infantry fighting vehicle, but also a mobile command and control vehicle, a combat engineering vehicle, and an armoured recovery vehicle.
DESIGN
Chassis and survivability
SJV designers had previously mulled over the idea of using a tank hull as a basis for a heavier IFV platform on the basis of improved survivability and crew/ammunition capacity. The Wisent was based around a redesign of the contemporaneously designed PkV.102 Grabjorn’s hull, with the engine moved to the front of the vehicle in order to provide space for the crew compartment in the rear. The repurposed hull provided several advantages. First, it meant that there would be a far greater number of interchangeable parts between the two vehicles, greatly easing the logistical strain of repairing damage. Secondly, the weight saved by removing the turret and its associated systems could be ‘invested’ back into armaments and physical protection.
As a result, considerable effort was put into expanding the physical defences of the Wisent chassis. The armor, comprised of the same SLS-200 and MAT7720 matrix as the Grabjorn, benefits from increased thickness and sloping on top of the hull in order to protect against top-attack munitions. This was complemented by the addition of a V-hull protrusion in order to improve the vehicle’s resistance to mines or other explosive devices. Pladepost NERA, slat armor, and conventional ERA may be added to the vehicle as operational demands require. The Wisent also incorporates a variant of the Skjoldmo active protection system, incorporating its launch tubes on top of the hull.
Armament
The Wisent’s primary armament consists of the remotely controlled 40mm L-13 autocannon, a coaxial 12.7mm gun and a bank of three Kampokse ATGMs on either side of the main turret. The L-13 system is designed to carry up to 600 rounds of ammunition and is capable of firing either armor-piercing ammunition or high-explosive autocannon ammunition. The L-13’s high ammunition capacity for its calibre size is possible due to the usage of cased telescoping ammunition. Cased telescoping ammunition is both lighter and requires less storage space than conventional ammunition, while not being prone to cook-offs like true caseless ammunition. Onboard fire control systems allow the gunner to switch seamlessly between the two types of ammo, facilitating rapid response to changing tactical situations. The barrel of the weapon is chrome-lined for improved durability characteristics, and in the event of a malfunction the entire module can be removed and replaced by means of a dedicated transloader vehicle. This also permits for rapid replenishment of ammunition to sustain maneuvers at the operational level.
Mobility
The Wisent utilises the same servo-assisted hydropneumatic suspension system first pioneered in the Grabjorn. This system allows for the servos to adjust the suspension in response to the environment, allowing for vastly improved performance characteristics in difficult terrain. Furthermore, the suspension can be manually ‘tilted’ in a variety of directions by the driver in order to take advantage of terrain, or to respond to tactical situations. For instance, the suspension can be manually depressed in order to reduce the Wisent’s profile, allowing it to ‘take cover’ behind terrain more effectively.
The engine’s position at the front of the vehicle, while also acting as a sort of ‘shield’ against full penetration of the crew and infantry compartments, also meant that any penetration of the front armour had a strong chance of knocking out the vehicle. In order to combat this, the Wisent incorporates two power sources: the E2-IVT a, 1,400hp version of the PkV.102’s E1-IVT engine and the E60 200hp electric-diesel engine. The main engine operates on the same principles as the 1600, incorporating both an IVT and a variable compression ratio for improved fuel efficiency. The smaller engine is located behind the main one and effectively acts as a form of redundancy in the event of a main engine failure. However, the E60 can also be run independent of main engine failure. This provides two main utilities. First, it allows for increased power production if necessary; secondly, the E60 produces a much lower thermal signature than the E2. As a result, a Wisent seeking to maneuver while preserving low thermal visibility could feasibly use the E60 to get around, albeit at the cost of drastically reduced power.
Networking and fire control
The Wisent was designed to work in extremely close cooperation with the PkV.102 MBT, ideally forming one half of a deadly ‘hunter-killer’ tandem on the battlefield. The Wisent is equipped with sophisticated sensory and battle networking systems, which fall under the broad categorisation of the RAGNAROK battlenet system.
The Wisent’s sensors consist of a millimeter-wave frequency radar system, a laser rangefinder, a dual-band thermographic camera and a crosswind sensor. The thermographic camera is the same Halogi Thermal Detection System (HTDS) installed on the PkV.102. The HTDS is a digital image processed sensor array capable of both forward-looking infrared and infrared search-and-track capability. HTDS can use search-and-track in conjunction with the IFV’s laser rangefinder in order to calculate a variety of firing solutions for the StW.15’s numerous weapons systems. All of the onboard sensors make use of target profiles stored in the HIFV’s electronics suite, allowing the rapid and automatic identification, tracking, and target acquisition of vehicles matching a thermal or radar profile in the data banks.
Via the RAGNAROK battlenet system, these profiles can be transmitted and compared with data transmitted from other friendly vehicles. This serves to prevent redundant engagement of targets and also share targeting data with friendly weapons platforms, drastically improving combat efficiency. The Wisent’s heavy armament of anti-tank guided missiles is meant to take advantage of this networking system, engaging as much enemy armour beyond visual range as possible.
Variants
StW.15B Dragehest
The most widespread sub-variant of the StW.15 is the 15B, a dedicated combat engineering vehicle. The 15B mounts a hydraulically operated dozer blade and an engineering arm which can mount a variety of engineering tools, such as an excavator scoop or a crane hook. This allows it to function in a variety of engineering roles, from earth-mover to armoured vehicle recovery. The Dragehest can also deploy a mine-clearing line charge system. This system works by firing a rocket carrying a ‘line’ of explosive charges across a minefield or some other obstacle. Once the ‘line’ has been deployed, it is detonated, ideally clearing a path for advance. The system on the Dragehest is capable of clearing a path 200m long and 7m wide through a hostile minefield.
StW.15C
The StW.15’s high level of survivability, mobility and power for a vehicle of its size were qualities that lent themselves well to the creation of a mobile command & control vehicle. The StW.15C variant is up-armoured from the base model and is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun. The weight saved from the removal of the 40mm cannon and its associated parts has been rededicated to an extremely powerful sensor array within the vehicle, designed to give commanders a high-quality interface and immediate access to relevant data within the battlespace. The sensor suite in the 15C can handle a far greater number of inputs than the base model, allowing for data inputs from a multitude of sources.
StW.15D
The 15D is the casualty recovery variant of the Wisent. The vehicle is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun but has otherwise been mostly gutted in order to make room for an expanded troop bay. Space formerly allocated to munitions storage is repurposed in order to effectively make room for several stretchers and a quantity of medical supplies, as well as space for medics to work effectively in.
StW.15E Panserjager
The 15E is the dedicated 'tank destroyer' variant of the Wisent. This variant forgoes the inclusion of a cannon and instead mounts four Kampokse ATGMs on launch rails atop the vehicle, with an additional 32 missiles within the vehicle in place of autocannon rounds. The rails and the targeting radar are stowed during transit in order to reduce the vehicle's profile. The missiles are reloaded automatically from the internal magazine upon firing. This impressive complement of anti-tank missiles gives the 15E excellent anti-armour capabilities. Owing to the fire-and-forget nature of the missiles and the advanced datalink systems incorporated in the vehicle, a single Panserjager can theoretically engage up to four enemy tanks at once at a variety of distances using data obtained either through its own sensors or via friendly systems. In Leutish service, the 15E is frequently paired with the PkW.102 tank to form a 'hunter-killer' team capable of taking on comparatively large numbers of enemy armour.
Weight: 35 tonnes
Length: 8m
Width: 3.5m
Height: 3.3m
Crew: 3 crew + 9 troopers
Armor: Composite, additional NxRA, ERA and slat protection
Main armament: 40mm L-13 gun with 600 round capacity
Secondary armament: 1x12.7mm machine gun, 1x6.8mm LMG, 3x ATGM launchers
Engine:Liquid-cooled twin turbo V10 diesel, electric-diesel hybrid
1,400hp, 200hp
Transmission:12-speed Hydromechanical Continuously Variable Transmission (HCVT)
Suspension:Servo-assicted Hydropneumatic
Ground clearance:0.3m
Fuel capacity:1,200l (without external fuel tanks)
Operational range:600km
Maximum speed: 75kph
Conceptualisation
During the May Day War, Leutish mechanised forces were involved in often heavy commitments to urban warzones. These battles exposed the vulnerability of unsupported armor in an urban setting, with many tanks, APCs and IFVs being destroyed with man-portable heavy weaponry or prepared defences. In particular, the destruction of the latter two types with their troopers still mounted within proved to be a tremendously costly reality for the Army. As the Confederate People's Army progressed into the 21st century, it set out criteria for an IFV design with a much higher degree of survivability than previous models. Additionally, the new IFV had to be capable of performing an effective supporting role in armoured conflicts, with the capabilities to engage and potentially destroy enemy main battle tanks and engage in close cooperation with Leutish tanks. Finally, the design had to stick to the broad design philosophy of ‘50% cost, 80% effectiveness’; where possible, the most advanced and consequently the most expensive systems would be eschewed in favour of a simpler, cost-effective compromise. It was out of these requirements that the ‘’Wisent’’ was born.
Such an IFV had the potential to fill a number of tactical roles for the Confederate Army. Several variants of the vehicle would be created in order to take advantage of its rugged survivability. Variants for the vehicle included its designated status as a heavy infantry fighting vehicle, but also a mobile command and control vehicle, a combat engineering vehicle, and an armoured recovery vehicle.
DESIGN
Chassis and survivability
SJV designers had previously mulled over the idea of using a tank hull as a basis for a heavier IFV platform on the basis of improved survivability and crew/ammunition capacity. The Wisent was based around a redesign of the contemporaneously designed PkV.102 Grabjorn’s hull, with the engine moved to the front of the vehicle in order to provide space for the crew compartment in the rear. The repurposed hull provided several advantages. First, it meant that there would be a far greater number of interchangeable parts between the two vehicles, greatly easing the logistical strain of repairing damage. Secondly, the weight saved by removing the turret and its associated systems could be ‘invested’ back into armaments and physical protection.
As a result, considerable effort was put into expanding the physical defences of the Wisent chassis. The armor, comprised of the same SLS-200 and MAT7720 matrix as the Grabjorn, benefits from increased thickness and sloping on top of the hull in order to protect against top-attack munitions. This was complemented by the addition of a V-hull protrusion in order to improve the vehicle’s resistance to mines or other explosive devices. Pladepost NERA, slat armor, and conventional ERA may be added to the vehicle as operational demands require. The Wisent also incorporates a variant of the Skjoldmo active protection system, incorporating its launch tubes on top of the hull.
Armament
The Wisent’s primary armament consists of the remotely controlled 40mm L-13 autocannon, a coaxial 12.7mm gun and a bank of three Kampokse ATGMs on either side of the main turret. The L-13 system is designed to carry up to 600 rounds of ammunition and is capable of firing either armor-piercing ammunition or high-explosive autocannon ammunition. The L-13’s high ammunition capacity for its calibre size is possible due to the usage of cased telescoping ammunition. Cased telescoping ammunition is both lighter and requires less storage space than conventional ammunition, while not being prone to cook-offs like true caseless ammunition. Onboard fire control systems allow the gunner to switch seamlessly between the two types of ammo, facilitating rapid response to changing tactical situations. The barrel of the weapon is chrome-lined for improved durability characteristics, and in the event of a malfunction the entire module can be removed and replaced by means of a dedicated transloader vehicle. This also permits for rapid replenishment of ammunition to sustain maneuvers at the operational level.
Mobility
The Wisent utilises the same servo-assisted hydropneumatic suspension system first pioneered in the Grabjorn. This system allows for the servos to adjust the suspension in response to the environment, allowing for vastly improved performance characteristics in difficult terrain. Furthermore, the suspension can be manually ‘tilted’ in a variety of directions by the driver in order to take advantage of terrain, or to respond to tactical situations. For instance, the suspension can be manually depressed in order to reduce the Wisent’s profile, allowing it to ‘take cover’ behind terrain more effectively.
The engine’s position at the front of the vehicle, while also acting as a sort of ‘shield’ against full penetration of the crew and infantry compartments, also meant that any penetration of the front armour had a strong chance of knocking out the vehicle. In order to combat this, the Wisent incorporates two power sources: the E2-IVT a, 1,400hp version of the PkV.102’s E1-IVT engine and the E60 200hp electric-diesel engine. The main engine operates on the same principles as the 1600, incorporating both an IVT and a variable compression ratio for improved fuel efficiency. The smaller engine is located behind the main one and effectively acts as a form of redundancy in the event of a main engine failure. However, the E60 can also be run independent of main engine failure. This provides two main utilities. First, it allows for increased power production if necessary; secondly, the E60 produces a much lower thermal signature than the E2. As a result, a Wisent seeking to maneuver while preserving low thermal visibility could feasibly use the E60 to get around, albeit at the cost of drastically reduced power.
Networking and fire control
The Wisent was designed to work in extremely close cooperation with the PkV.102 MBT, ideally forming one half of a deadly ‘hunter-killer’ tandem on the battlefield. The Wisent is equipped with sophisticated sensory and battle networking systems, which fall under the broad categorisation of the RAGNAROK battlenet system.
The Wisent’s sensors consist of a millimeter-wave frequency radar system, a laser rangefinder, a dual-band thermographic camera and a crosswind sensor. The thermographic camera is the same Halogi Thermal Detection System (HTDS) installed on the PkV.102. The HTDS is a digital image processed sensor array capable of both forward-looking infrared and infrared search-and-track capability. HTDS can use search-and-track in conjunction with the IFV’s laser rangefinder in order to calculate a variety of firing solutions for the StW.15’s numerous weapons systems. All of the onboard sensors make use of target profiles stored in the HIFV’s electronics suite, allowing the rapid and automatic identification, tracking, and target acquisition of vehicles matching a thermal or radar profile in the data banks.
Via the RAGNAROK battlenet system, these profiles can be transmitted and compared with data transmitted from other friendly vehicles. This serves to prevent redundant engagement of targets and also share targeting data with friendly weapons platforms, drastically improving combat efficiency. The Wisent’s heavy armament of anti-tank guided missiles is meant to take advantage of this networking system, engaging as much enemy armour beyond visual range as possible.
Variants
StW.15B Dragehest
The most widespread sub-variant of the StW.15 is the 15B, a dedicated combat engineering vehicle. The 15B mounts a hydraulically operated dozer blade and an engineering arm which can mount a variety of engineering tools, such as an excavator scoop or a crane hook. This allows it to function in a variety of engineering roles, from earth-mover to armoured vehicle recovery. The Dragehest can also deploy a mine-clearing line charge system. This system works by firing a rocket carrying a ‘line’ of explosive charges across a minefield or some other obstacle. Once the ‘line’ has been deployed, it is detonated, ideally clearing a path for advance. The system on the Dragehest is capable of clearing a path 200m long and 7m wide through a hostile minefield.
StW.15C
The StW.15’s high level of survivability, mobility and power for a vehicle of its size were qualities that lent themselves well to the creation of a mobile command & control vehicle. The StW.15C variant is up-armoured from the base model and is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun. The weight saved from the removal of the 40mm cannon and its associated parts has been rededicated to an extremely powerful sensor array within the vehicle, designed to give commanders a high-quality interface and immediate access to relevant data within the battlespace. The sensor suite in the 15C can handle a far greater number of inputs than the base model, allowing for data inputs from a multitude of sources.
StW.15D
The 15D is the casualty recovery variant of the Wisent. The vehicle is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun but has otherwise been mostly gutted in order to make room for an expanded troop bay. Space formerly allocated to munitions storage is repurposed in order to effectively make room for several stretchers and a quantity of medical supplies, as well as space for medics to work effectively in.
StW.15E Panserjager
The 15E is the dedicated 'tank destroyer' variant of the Wisent. This variant forgoes the inclusion of a cannon and instead mounts four Kampokse ATGMs on launch rails atop the vehicle, with an additional 32 missiles within the vehicle in place of autocannon rounds. The rails and the targeting radar are stowed during transit in order to reduce the vehicle's profile. The missiles are reloaded automatically from the internal magazine upon firing. This impressive complement of anti-tank missiles gives the 15E excellent anti-armour capabilities. Owing to the fire-and-forget nature of the missiles and the advanced datalink systems incorporated in the vehicle, a single Panserjager can theoretically engage up to four enemy tanks at once at a variety of distances using data obtained either through its own sensors or via friendly systems. In Leutish service, the 15E is frequently paired with the PkW.102 tank to form a 'hunter-killer' team capable of taking on comparatively large numbers of enemy armour.
PRICE: 3 million NSD/unit
NAVAL WORKS
AIRCRAFT[/blocktext]
