Key Data
Cost: $10 Million NSD per unit
DPR: $400 Billion NSD
Crew
4 crew members (driver, commander, gunner, 2nd gunner etc.).
Dimensions
Length (with gun forward): 9.68 m.
Height: 2.42 m.
Width: 3.70 m.
Weight: 56.08 tons.
Ground Clearance: 0.49 m.
Performance
Maximum Speed: 83.69 kph.
Range 620 km.
Torsion bar suspension.
Propulsion: CVE Type 975 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V-12 Twin-turbo multi-fuel engine
1,500 PS (1,479 hp, 1,103 kW) at 2,600 rpm.
Transmission: Renk Auto HSWL 354.
Gas Capacity: 1,200 litres (264 imperial gallons; 317 US gallons).
Electronics
Eisen-Schloss Combat Networking.
Frauns FCS.
Armament
Main Armament: WA Type 12 120 mm 46 caliber smoothbore cannon (45 rounds).
Secondary Weapon (Coaxial): Optional slot for various machine guns (Commoner use of 7.58×54mm WA CTA LSW MareV2 is standard). Such options include machine guns and grenade launchers (13,500 rounds or 3,200 grenades).
Commander Weapon Station: Armored bubble for HMG use (14.5 mm pictured, 4,500 rounds). Optional slot for other machine guns.
Other: Dual Mounted ATGM launch points (2 per unit, 8 reloads stored).
Armour and Protection
Non-active: 'Eisen Wand' 4th Generation Composite 'T4' Armor: 1st lvl: ERA blocks or other slat attachments; 2nd lvl: Metal-composite matrix outer layer, composite four layer thick titanium alloy tiles (Ti-6A1-4V); 3rd lvl: WA-51A DU Mesh; 4th lvl: Ceramic SiC armor layer; 5th lvl: fibreglass/rubber internal liner.
Active: 'Shield' Active Protection system.
NBC protection (main + auxiliary).
Pentafluoroethane crew compartment fire extinguishing, Self sealed fuel tank + foam extinguishing.
Background
The Feurig 2A1 Main Battle Tank is a modernized and improved upon tank design based on the original Feurig 1 main battle tank; it was a renovated project between vehicle manufacturing companies and Wolf Armaments to create a new line of Feurig tanks that would see use in future wars. Its new design and new concepts were originally intended to replace the Feurig 1 Series for use in the TECT Armed Forces; in the 90's, commanders and political leaders were in search of additional options to not only improve the country's military but also steam up some economic activity. Between '90 and '95, the Feurig 2A1 project became a top priority and was the first domestic tank to be so massively manufactured ever before; commanders hoped it would bring in a new age of armored superiority while the country's leaders hoped the additional manufacturing jobs and activity would help the ever growing economy.
Designers took great strives to modify and enhance the tank's design into a more modern main battle tank; one that took experiences of the past and brought the tank to the modern age with brand new electronics. First prototypes were delivered for testing in 1992 with the hope that tests would give much needed input. Too heavy, a weak turret, and better interior design were among the 'drastic needs' for improvement. After many trials, modifications, and total rehauls - the project's final prototype batch was delivered to military commanders for testing purposes. Any later and the project mite have been canceled. Commanders took interest in the newer and less heavy vehicle - a much smarter operational tank was even more impressive with the addition of advanced interfaces, sensors, and all new electronic operating systems. After some minor tweaks, the TECT Government purchased vast fleets of the vehicle in order to overhaul the manufacturing process - and to begin the hunt for foreign buyers interested in the new tank design.
Still named appropriately after the Commoner god of war's primary spear weapon, the 'Feurig' or Fiery in german was used by the Commoner god of war to set entire cities ablaze and pierce any defenses it encountered. Like its namesake and prior design, the Feurig 2A1 was designed to bring both heavy firepower and high mobility to the battlefield. It presented the same 120 mm smoothbore cannon but replaced the auto reloading system with a crew position - it allowed a slightly faster reload speed and another crew hand for operation. The Feurig 2A1, starting from the ground up, featured new tracks with strong thick gripping pads for better traction - a strong center bar also improving their strength. These tracks are propelled by a Type 975 Ka-501multi-fuel engine, which can propel the tank to a top speed of almost eighty-four kilometers-an-hour - a considerably faster then the previous Feurig 1 Series. A new upgraded suspension vastly improved the Feurig 2A1's handling of various rough terrains, road or off-road the Feurig 2A1 can travel at lightning speeds. Like its previous design; the Feurig 2A1 can maneuver easily through most trenches and treacherous terrain; it can handle 1.2 meters (3 ft 11 in) water crossings without a snorkel or 4 meters (13 ft) deep with a snorkel, and it can handle most irregular terrain. The body is now made with a better system of layering material with an all new depleted uranium layer that increases the tanks protection even further; this new body design shrunk the tank height and width wise. This all new construction made the vehicle lighter then the Feurig 1 Series - an innovation in both protection and construction. Feurig 2A1's brand new turret is a lengthened slope like design intended to make its profile sleeker, therefore harder to hit. The turret is home to many of the Feurig 2A1's various innovations - these include new sensors mounted to the rear, new APS designs, home to new electronics and interfaces, and a new age in turret design. An armored bubble mounting a machine gun emplacement is still in place for maximum protection of the gun's operator.
Propulsion/Mobility
The Feurig 2A1 is powered by a CVE Type 975 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V-12 Twin-turbo multi-fuel engine. It was designed by Commoner Volkswagen Engineering originally for heavy duty trucks and machinery. It was used to power the Feurig 1 Series with great results and designers decided to keep the engine for the Feurig 2A1. The Type 975 is known for its high compression and very high power to displacement ratio; allowing it to pour out vast amounts of power even for its smaller size. It was placed in the rear half of the vehicle where it is protected with additional armor and has in place protection systems to protect the crew from engine failures; in case of a direct hit and/or explosion to the engine and gas tank, the explosion is directed up and out of emergency hatches rather then to the crew department or ammo storage. The Feurig 2A1 boasts a more nimble and speedy platform that is lighter and smaller compared to the Feurig 1 Series, thanks to its improved tracks and padding as well. Traveling at top speed, the Feurig 2A1 can reach about eighty-four kilometers-per-hour, especially on roads while traveling at moderately slower speeds while traversing rough terrain. The gas capacity is 1,200 litres (264 imperial gallons; 317 US gallons).
In an attempt to counter inferred signature; exhaust pipes are water cooled and angled off to the sides of the vehicle to create more surface area and disbursement of heat. Travel through water, it can handle 1.2 meters (3 ft 11 in) water crossings without a snorkel or 4 meters (13 ft) deep with a snorkel. Pads on the bottoms of tracks improve traction while traversing in various environments.
Armaments
The primary armament of the Feurig 2A1 is the WA Type 12 120 mm smoothbore cannon, which is capable of firing many ordinances many ordinances at four to eight thousand meters accurately. The barrel features a chrome lined metal mesh design and a bore evacuator, all of which improve the barrel's strength and longevity for use and long term battle use. The Feurig 2A1 also comes with a top mounted portal system for heavy machine guns and grenade launcher systems; the wide selection of heavy and light armaments make it a fearsome secondary weapon system. Mounted on both sides are ATGM mounts for two launch units, the Commoner standard being the 'Speer' ATGM, which has a range of eight hundred meters to twenty-five thousand meters and allows for custom pathing to engage targets; a gun launched variant also exists for tank cannon use (two missiles per unit, eight reloads or four full reloads).
The updated Frauns Fire Control System uses user and system-supplied data from a variety of sources, to compute, display, and incorporate the three components of a ballistic solution -- lead angle, ammunition type, and range to the target -- to accurately fire the tank and defeat hostile forces. The Frauns FCS determines these three components by using a laser rangefinder, crosswind sensor, a pendulum static cant sensor, data concerning performance and flight characteristics of each specific type of round, tank-specific boresight alignment data, ammunition temperature, air temperature, barometric pressure, a muzzle reference system that determines and compensates for barrel drop at the muzzle due to gravitational pull and barrel heating due to firing or sunlight, and target speed determined by tracking rate tachometers in the gunner's or commander's controls handles. This information is gathered by equipment on the tank's turret and from the tank's internal computers. All this information is computed in the ballistic solution and displayed to crew members inside, updating over twenty-eight times a second. The gunner then manipulates the turret with the guidance and assistance of the ballistic computer; essentially making the job a point and shoot fire system, greatly simplifying the job of the gunner. The newer systems have improved the tank's accuracy and overall operation.
The Feurig 2A1 utilizes both thermal, night, and reflective mirror viewpoints to spot targets; targets are usually spotted immediately and targets are arranged from the most imminent threat to the lowest by the ballistic computer. These sights are the tank's frontal face, peering wherever the gunner looks; this unit contains a HD camera feed, thermal camera, night vision camera, and a rangefinder among other visual targeting components. In the event that systems fail or are damaged, the turret and gun can be manually moved by crew inside; aiming is then conducted using a boresight telescoping sight and quick calculations. Its other systems, the machine gun mounts, either aim using its iron sights, scopes, or when the primary machine gun is controlled by a Remote Control System, it uses varying optics (night, thermal, and HD vision cameras) to spot targets.
Networking/Electronics
As with all TECT designed vehicles, the Feurig 2A1 is designed to integrate seamlessly and easily into the most sophisticated of military forces. The vehicle is fitted with a highly extensive sensor suite so as to enable the transmission of as much information as possible into any extant battlenet, while possessing internal computational facilities so as to handle required downloads from it.
While designed to slot into any existing battlespace architecture, the Eisen-Schloss Combat Networking is the primary combat networking suit for TECT designed vehicles. Eisen-Schloss is an integrated and adaptive battlespace network that maximizes combat lethality, performance, and output and enables command and control on an unprecedented scale in any vehicle, unit, and device that uses. Information is sourced not only from multiple sources on the individual platform, but from every Eisen-Schloss equipped friendly vehicle within the battlespace, which provides constant informational updates across a broad spectrum of sources, both known to the operators, and operating below their awareness. At the most basic level, the Eisen-Schloss Combat System aims to accelerate engagement cycles and increase operational tempo at all levels of the battlefield and warfare. This acceleration is achieved by providing a mechanism to rapidly gather and distribute targeting information, and rapidly issue directives. Eisen-Schloss' ultra-high speed networking permits error-free, high integrity transmission in a bare fraction of the time required for voice-based transmission, and permits transfer of a wide range of data formats, from a multitude of compatible sources.
The WA Interface system that is placed in military vehicles from TECT utilize a far more advanced and adaptive control interface than standard, by displaying sensor data from the vehicle's external sensors directly onto the HUD inside the crew's headset-visor. As the crewman turns his head, the view pans, and either physical or voice activated controls are then used as required. By way of example, the crew commander may look left, with the weapon mounted on the commander's weapon station following his movement (if the function is activated). As required, the commander simply has to look at the target, and press the firing stud.
Exterior sensors mounted around the vehicle body and turret gather environmental data, input into both the battlespace network and combat systems, and is computed into real-time solutions for crew; these sensors include temperature, humidity, and various other environmental based sensors.The Frauns Fire Control System utilizes this gathered information to compute a firing solution for the gunner, based upon analysis of the target beneath the reticle in a telescopic style scope - there are 3x, 6x, and 12x zoom capability for this feature. This is achieved in less time than it would take the gunner to depress the firing stud. The firing solution assisted by Eisen-Schloss generates ensures a near-perfect hit percent at standard ranges, across all conditions, and increases odds for extended range operation. It is even programmed with special firing solutions for special ammunition use, such as missile based cannon rounds.
These systems, including the Eisen-Schloss Combat System and interaction systems, render the vehicle proof against electromagnetic interference or EMP-based attack using encryption and anti-electromagnetic technology, although these systems are a highly expensive addition. It was quickly reasoned, however, that when operating in an environment which may include anti-strategic platforms such as the nuclear arms and EMP weapons, the chances of the platform encountering high levels of electromagnetic interference goes up dramatically, and the dangers this presents far outweigh the relatively modest (though expensive in absolute terms) cost of the implementation of these countermeasure components.
Armor and Protection
The Feurig 2A1 utilizes a unique sloped armor design unique to the new generation of main battle tanks; the turret is especially unique in design due to its slope saucer like shape. Feurig 2A1 armor is constructed of the 'Eisen Wand' 4th Generation 'T4' Composite Armor variant; it is named after the weapon used by the Commoner god of war as a shield for protection and for his brutal assaults.
This complex armor design is created using layers of protection meant to counter potential hostile fire. The first layer is made up of 'hard defenses'. This includes the right and left panel insert section along the tank's sides; these tiles in question are inserts that, in Commoner use, are made from similar hardened titanium plates. ERA and/or NERA (or even NxRA) plates can also be placed above the aforementioned tiles to combat shaped charge attacks that the tank may encounter, or as additional armoring against various threats. The turret also features a vast array of sloped attachment slots that increase survivability. The turret's highly dual slopped design brings additional protection for crew with its new thickened layout; the high angles increases the true-measurement in depth when incoming projectiles strike said surface; new outer construction to the vehicle additionally adds similar angle affect to portions of the vehicle. The next layer is the tank's metal mesh outer layer that makes the surface grainy and hard; under that matrix are tiles of the earlier mentioned 'T4' (or to be specific, Ti-6A1-4V) armor. This armor is constructed in thick plates welded together in rows of four; instead of a single large heavy plate, a system of partially thick plates with minor spacing between the next plate - this is done with four plates and small gaps left between them. The idea of this formation of a 'super plate' creates layers of hard plates that resist penetration and spall, the bare pockets working to stop spall and shaped charges from achieving their mission, and each plate stopping or slowing penetrating projectiles. Rather then hardening and absorbing, T4 armor aims to achieve a system of multiple hardening and maximum resistance to projectiles/spall/shaped charges. The thick armoring plates are connected and act as the vehicle's primary armor and protection against hostile action; Its monocoque hull is then constructed with the same material for additional support.
The next layer in the process is a layer of thick depleted uranium plates that reinforce the tank's armor and act as the last stand against full penetration. The final layers are a mixture of SiC ceramic armor, rubber, and fiberglass lining in order to protect from certain threats (shaped charges and spall spreading like weapons) and add additional comfort to the crew inside. An anti-shaped charge cage around the turret and body can also be fitted if requested. An NBC system protects the crew from nuclear and biological threats outside the comfort of the thick armor; axillary systems and countermeasures are also in place in the instance the main NBC system malfunctions or fails. Fire protection is also important for crews inside; that is why the Feurig 2A1 uses a Pentafluoroethane crew compartment to combat fire threats and have present fire extinguishing capabilities on board to counteract fires. The tank's engine and gas compartment are located to the rear of the tank behind additional armoring; there is also a thick shield between the crew and the self sealed fuel tank/engine. In the case of a direct hit that damages or destroys the fuel tank/engine, the flames and explosion are directed up and away from the crew through reactive escape points.
The 'Shield' Active Protection system works to protect the tank from active ground, aircraft, and other threats, replacing the 'Eisenschild' Active Protection System; more notably missile, incoming AT rounds, and ground forces are particularly targeted threats. The full system for tanks uses a Missile Countermeasure Device (MCD) that emits a massive, condensed infrared signal to confuse the seeker of an anti-tank guided missile. A semi-active control line-of-sight (SACLOS) system acts as countermeasures for wire and radio guided anti-tank missiles, and thermally and infrared guided missiles are also combated. The 'Shield' Active Protection system utilizes its radar sensor to quickly detect incoming threats from a 360 degree point of view. Its quick speed allows for immediate action in identifying and tracking the threat; this system uses a munitions launcher to launch munitions to explode before hitting the vehicle, which will either destroy or greatly affect the threat of the projectile. The system is primarily set up to protect against guided anti-tank missiles and shaped charge attacks, which are usually used by infantry or other ground units to attack vehicles. This system also works against incoming tank rounds and ASM missiles. The two launcher systems, along with the smoke launchers, mount a shield around the vehicle against incoming threats. An impressive suite of active ECM as a means of defeating incoming radar guided missiles, and the suite is usually activated if detection equipment determines that multiple radar signatures are illuminating the vehicle in question.
The primary means of signature reduction is focused on the engine and drive systems of the vehicle. While already alluded to above in the analysis of the platform's propulsion and mobility, relevant points will be reiterated here for ease of reference. As with a number of earlier marks of AFV, the Feurig 2A1's decoupled suspension is separated from the hull, and similarly separated from the final section which turns the drive wheels, a factor which considerably lowers audibility in itself. By utilizing the Eisen-Schloss Combat System to actively monitor the engine and propulsion systems, the crew are able to remain constantly aware of the amount of noise being generated, and also the amount of heat being radiated. Furthermore, as indicated in the propulsion and mobility section, the Feurig 2A1, as with both its main battle tank ancestors and the original model, utilizes active cooling of its own exhaust - a further means of suppressing thermal and infrared signature to enemy forces.
Export
The Feurig 2A1 is available for sale on the Wolf Armaments storefront page for $10 million NSD. Domestic Production Rights are sold at $400 billion NSD.
