Military Ground Vehicles of Your Nation [NO MECHS] Mk.V

[Arkandros]

Might have to spam telegrams at RB for that.

As long as we don't get some big debate about a topic we're still quite a ways off from page 500.

How about tank gun design ?

I got one.
When building armored vehicles, surface area to volume ratio is usually a major concern. Basically, you want a lot of space with a little bit of surface area. To this end, a sphere is the most logical geometric structure. Because of the high profile of a full sphere, let's use a hemisphere. It still has a higher volume per surface area ratio than a box (which is basically all most modern tanks are), so let me ask a 3-part question.
One: why do we not see hemispherical or ovoid (technically oblate spheroid) tanks?
Two: what practical engineering problems does this style present? (I can think of at least one)
Three: how could these engineering problems be overcome?

[The Kievan People]

It's only logical if you start from the nonsensical premise that the ratio of surface area to volume is the most important parameter. It's not.

[DnalweN acilbupeR]

How about tank gun design ?

I got one.
When building armored vehicles, surface area to volume ratio is usually a major concern. Basically, you want a lot of space with a little bit of surface area. To this end, a sphere is the most logical geometric structure. Because of the high profile of a full sphere, let's use a hemisphere. It still has a higher volume per surface area ratio than a box (which is basically all most modern tanks are), so let me ask a 3-part question.
One: why do we not see hemispherical or ovoid (technically oblate spheroid) tanks?
Two: what practical engineering problems does this style present? (I can think of at least one)
Three: how could these engineering problems be overcome?

Here's one for you: modern tank turrets do not present curved surfaces for a reason, and that is the complexity of having to armor such a shape. Correct me if I am wrong, NS.

Another reason is shaped armor: you want angles as sharp as you can get if you want to deflect anything . . .

And then there's the fact that the volume gained would probably be marginally useful as most stuff that goes into AFVs such as crew, guns, ammo, electronics etc. don't really fit well into spheroids/ovoids/hemispheres/whatever . . . Perhaps you would get more fuel capacity, but other than that, I think it's pretty hard to efficiently use the volume that you gain given the awkward shape . . .

[Sevvania]

Halftrackers were like:
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ gib tank gun for fight tanks

So I put this together:

M2 Halftrack fitted with a pair of 7.62x54mmR M1919 machine guns and a rear-facing ~88mm cannon for anti-tank purposes. I'd like to know whether this is a practical approach, how effective such a vehicle might be when faced with enemy armor, and what other applications it might also be suited for.

[Vorkova]

Halftrackers were like:
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ gib tank gun for fight tanks

So I put this together:
(Image)
M2 Halftrack fitted with a pair of 7.62x54mmR M1919 machine guns and a rear-facing ~88mm cannon for anti-tank purposes. I'd like to know whether this is a practical approach, how effective such a vehicle might be when faced with enemy armor, and what other applications it might also be suited for.

Looks like a good ambush vehicle. Hide some in a forest and let loose when a tank group rolls by.

[Registug]

Halftrackers were like:
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ gib tank gun for fight tanks

So I put this together:
(Image)
M2 Halftrack fitted with a pair of 7.62x54mmR M1919 machine guns and a rear-facing ~88mm cannon for anti-tank purposes. I'd like to know whether this is a practical approach, how effective such a vehicle might be when faced with enemy armor, and what other applications it might also be suited for.

Sevv you make good shit

I need to work on the Sentinel that RB drew for me


It does not deserve inadequate 2pdr, it deserves glorious 17pdr!

[Purpelia]

You need to make a Hetzer variant.

[Registug]

You need to make a Hetzer variant.

That would be a waste of the hilariously large turret ring (for its time and size).

I should make a version with an 8.8cm KwK 43. I've read rumours that they managed to stick a captured one from a Tiger I in Africa into a Sentinel.

[Purpelia]

You need to make a Hetzer variant.

That would be a waste of the hilariously large turret ring (for its time and size).

I should make a version with an 8.8cm KwK 43. I've read rumours that they managed to stick a captured one from a Tiger I in Africa into a Sentinel.

Kwk 44 Hetzer or bust.

[Registug]

That would be a waste of the hilariously large turret ring (for its time and size).

I should make a version with an 8.8cm KwK 43. I've read rumours that they managed to stick a captured one from a Tiger I in Africa into a Sentinel.

Kwk 44 Hetzer or bust.

I was thinking of the KwK 36 actually

And what's with you and hetzers? Jagdtigers exist too.

[The Soodean Imperium]

Halftrackers were like:
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ gib tank gun for fight tanks

So I put this together:
(Image)
M2 Halftrack fitted with a pair of 7.62x54mmR M1919 machine guns and a rear-facing ~88mm cannon for anti-tank purposes. I'd like to know whether this is a practical approach, how effective such a vehicle might be when faced with enemy armor, and what other applications it might also be suited for.

Sounds like a similar concept to the Archer Tank Destroyer used in WWII: set up in ambush, fire off a few rounds, then drive away before the enemy can get reorganized. Because the gun is facing rearward, you can retreat at full speed with a clear view for the driver, and possibly fire off a few parthian shots as you flee. Though remember, with a non-stabilized anti-tank gun your accuracy will be nil while doing this.

[United States of PA]

^ That. Would be good on the defensive if you ask me. Useless more or less offensively to a extent.

[DnalweN acilbupeR]

Low profile unmanned turret
crew in hull configuration, 2 man crew
longitudinally mounted engine

here's a doodle



the point is to decrease frontal area as much as possible

viable y/y

EDIT: It's supposed to have a carousel autoloader with a bustle magazine turned 90 degrees and placed in the hull . . .

[Purpelia]

Kwk 44 Hetzer or bust.

I was thinking of the KwK 36 actually

And what's with you and hetzers? Jagdtigers exist too.

One is light, fast and has a bigger gun than should be permissible for such a cute little thing. The other is a lumbering behemoth that looks and like works as good as a concrete pillbox pretending to be a tank.

[Registug]

I was thinking of the KwK 36 actually

And what's with you and hetzers? Jagdtigers exist too.

One is light, fast and has a bigger gun than should be permissible for such a cute little thing. The other is a lumbering behemoth that looks and like works as good as a concrete pillbox pretending to be a tank.

I don't think you're putting an 8.8cm in a hetzer. The 7.5cm is a good enough gun.

[Purpelia]

One is light, fast and has a bigger gun than should be permissible for such a cute little thing. The other is a lumbering behemoth that looks and like works as good as a concrete pillbox pretending to be a tank.

I don't think you're putting an 8.8cm in a hetzer. The 7.5cm is a good enough gun.

No, but I would be putting a 12.8mm on a sentinel...

[Vorkova]

That would be a waste of the hilariously large turret ring (for its time and size).

I should make a version with an 8.8cm KwK 43. I've read rumours that they managed to stick a captured one from a Tiger I in Africa into a Sentinel.

Kwk 44 Hetzer or bust.

The Hetzer is one of the better vehicles the Germans came up with. You think it's a cute little bug until it opens fire.

[Lydenburg]

Halftrackers were like:
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ gib tank gun for fight tanks

So I put this together:
(Image)
M2 Halftrack fitted with a pair of 7.62x54mmR M1919 machine guns and a rear-facing ~88mm cannon for anti-tank purposes. I'd like to know whether this is a practical approach, how effective such a vehicle might be when faced with enemy armor, and what other applications it might also be suited for.

Why is it a rear-facing gun? The Israelis put a 90mm turret from an AML armoured car on one of their old halftracks and it worked just fine.

[Registug]

I don't think you're putting an 8.8cm in a hetzer. The 7.5cm is a good enough gun.

No, but I would be putting a 12.8mm on a sentinel...

The biggest I'd think of is a shortened 105mm similar to the M-51 Super Sherman made by the Israelis.

[Registug]

Halftrackers were like:
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ gib tank gun for fight tanks

So I put this together:
(Image)
M2 Halftrack fitted with a pair of 7.62x54mmR M1919 machine guns and a rear-facing ~88mm cannon for anti-tank purposes. I'd like to know whether this is a practical approach, how effective such a vehicle might be when faced with enemy armor, and what other applications it might also be suited for.

Why is it a rear-facing gun? The Israelis put a 90mm turret from an AML armoured car on one of their old halftracks and it worked just fine.

That's how they rocked it in WWII, Lyde.

[Purpelia]

No, but I would be putting a 12.8mm on a sentinel...

The biggest I'd think of is a shortened 105mm similar to the M-51 Super Sherman made by the Israelis.

Unless you hetzerise it by removing the turret and moding the hull to accept a gun at which point the sky is the limit.

[Lydenburg]

Why is it a rear-facing gun? The Israelis put a 90mm turret from an AML armoured car on one of their old halftracks and it worked just fine.

That's how they rocked it in WWII, Lyde.

Flawed.

[Registug]

The biggest I'd think of is a shortened 105mm similar to the M-51 Super Sherman made by the Israelis.

Unless you hetzerise it by removing the turret and moding the hull to accept a gun at which point the sky is the limit.

Casemates are super lame

That's how they rocked it in WWII, Lyde.

Flawed.

How much traverse does that get?

[Sevvania]

Halftrackers were like:
༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ gib tank gun for fight tanks

So I put this together:
(Image)
M2 Halftrack fitted with a pair of 7.62x54mmR M1919 machine guns and a rear-facing ~88mm cannon for anti-tank purposes. I'd like to know whether this is a practical approach, how effective such a vehicle might be when faced with enemy armor, and what other applications it might also be suited for.

Why is it a rear-facing gun? The Israelis put a 90mm turret from an AML armoured car on one of their old halftracks and it worked just fine.

It was inspired by one of Novorden's designs.

Perhaps, also, a rear-facing gun would be better-suited to hit-and-run ambushes as a way of compensating for the halftrack's inadequate armor (at least in regards to taking fire from enemy tanks); take the shot, drive as fast as possible in the other direction.

[Purpelia]

Casemates are super lame

I am done talking to you now.