NationStates

Specifications

Specifications
Type: Main Battle Tank

Dimensions:
Crew: 3(TC, gunner, driver)
Weight: 59 metric tons combat ready
Length: 9.91 meters gun forward (hull length 7.5m)
Width: 3.5 meters (with skirts)
Height: 2.52 meters (TC hatch)
Ground Clearance: 0.25-0.4 meters


Armament:
Main Gun: 120mm/L55 smoothbore gun
Main Gun ammunition storage: 24 ready to fire, 18 more in hull storage
Coaxial:7.62mm machine gun
TC armament: 12.7mm in remote operated weapon system
Close Range Armament: 2 6-tube 80mm close range grenade launchers.
4 Shrakrak drone launchers.

Protection:
Rhinoskin II composite armor (DU/Titanium/SLERA)
Active Protection: “Iron Tide M” Hard/Soft Kill APS

Power:
Engine: NMC AVM1500 22L Horizontally Opposed, Twin Turbocharged V12 Diesel
Power Output: 1,500HP (~1100kW) at 2,600 RPM
Power to weight ratio: ~27.7hp/ton
Auxiliary Power: 1 under armor 20kW APUs
Batteries: 14 LFP Li-Ion Batteries

Maneuverability:
Suspension: InArm Fluidic Springs
Maximum Road Speed (governed): 75km/h
Trench Crossing: 2.3 meters
Vertical Obstacle Crossing: 1.1 meters
Fording: 1.9 meters
Fuel Capacity: 1300 liters
Operational range: ~550 kilometers

Cost:
Vehicle - 8,250,000 USD
DPR - 550,000,000 USD





Background and layout

The MBT-121A2 “Parash Shachor'' (Black Rider) is the latest itteration of the MBT-121 used by Nachmerean mountain troops and marines. These units require a lighter vehicle capable of using mountain roads and being transported easily by landing ships.

While less heavily armed and armored in comparison to the MBT-131, Parash Shachor is a fully fledged MBT, and not a light tank. In the A2 variant Schwerpunkt incorporated the latest advances in networking, protection and force multipliers.

The result is a conventionally laid out tank with a crew of three and front mounted power pack. The driver is seated in the front of the hull, with the commander and gunner in the turret (commander on the right and gunner left). Combining excellent mobility with firepower and protection, the MBT-121A2 is ideal for fast maneuver warfare and rapid deployments.

Armament

The main armament consists of a 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun. The gun is fed by an automatic continuous link autoloader located in the bustle and holding 24 rounds. A further 18 rounds are held in stowage in two compartments either side of the driver and can be used to top off the autoloader. Each round is held in a fire resistant polymer canister, and each stowage area has its own blow out panel. The autoloader uses barcode to identify the type of ammo loaded in each canister, moving it to position when the gunner or commander presses a button. The breech automatically indexes, an armored door opens between the ammunition and the turret, and a rammer pushes the round out of its canister and into the breach.

The 6.6 meter long smoothbore barrel has a bore gas evacuator and a combined thermal sleeve and vibration absorber. This unique system uses a spring system to attach at the muzzle end of the gun. The energy of barrel vibrations is therefore absorbed and partially dissipated in the system, improving both accuracy and barrel lifespan. In addition and to absorb the recoil of the massive gun, a muzzle break is installed. Thanks to advanced metallurgy and the means described above, the 130mm has a lifespan of 1500-2000 rounds depending on ammo used. Available ammo types include APFSDS, HEAT and APAM.
In addition to the main gun, the MBT-121A2 is armed with a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a commander's remote operated 12.7mm machine gun. The latter can be either operated from within the tank or manually when the TC is “unbuttoned”.

For close range defense against infantry and screening purposes, the tank is equipped with a 12 tube grenade launching system. This system can fire White Phosphorus, HE-Fragmentation, IR-screening smoke, IR-Decoy, Less than lethal tear gas and less than lethal “flash-bang”.

In the top rearmost part of the bustle, two on each side, are fixed angle launchers for Shrakrak loitering munitions/drones. After launch these can be controlled by any member of the crew via their LCD displays. Shrakrak can be used as a weapon or for reconnaissance.

Fire control and Observation

MBT-121A2 has a state of the art solid state fire control system. The turret is fully electrically controlled, with the gun stabilized in both axes. The fire control computer automatically corrects for lead, bend of the gun, barrel wear, wind, cant, barometric pressure and temperature. The system is capable of both automatic lead and pixel lock for moving targets.

Both gunner and commander have full access to the system, including the sights and laser range finder. The main sight (typically used by the gunner) has a third generation thermal sensor for night vision and a HDTV camera for day use. It is connected digitally to the gun, and stabilized in 2 axes. The image is displayed on a 10 inch LCD screen with X1-X10 magnification.

The independent thermal viewer (typically used by the commander) acts as a separate, fully stabilized day and night sight for the main and coaxial weapons, allowing the commander to “slave” the gunner controls to identify targets or fire. In this mode the CITV allows the commander to identify, select, and range targets before even the top of the turret is exposed, and while remaining buttoned. The CITV has X1.5 and X8 magnification as options. The TCs 12.7mm machine gun has its own thermal sight and fire control system.
For use in case of loss of the main fire control computer, a basic mechanical system is available, including a X2/X8 sight with range markings for Sabot and HEAT rounds. This sight is available only to the gunner and is not stabilized.

The driver has either three observation periscopes or two periscopes on both sides and a Driver’s Thermal Viewer. The periscopes provide a 120°field of view. The driver also has a rear view camera with thermal imaging for night operations.

As noted, 4 Shrakrak launchers allow the crew to immediately launch and receive vision from the drones.

Protection

MBT-121 has a sharply angled clacies plate and slight V shaped bottom. The base turret is a trapezoid steel structure, with an elongated sharply angled composite armor suite around it.
The tank is protected by “Rhinoskin II” composite armor modules. “Rhinoskin II” combines depleted uranium, titanium alloy, and silicon carbide with integrated layers of SLERA (self limiting reactive armor). This formidable protection, in varying thickness, covers the entire front and sides of the turret, as well as the upper front plate (with a very thick module on the very “nose” of the hull). It also covers much of the turret roof, hull sides and the removable side skirts. This integrated and heavy armor protects the MBT-121 against all but the heaviest KE and CE threats against the frontal aspect at contact ranges, as well as many threats against the turret sides and hull sides.

To further protect the tank, specifically against top and side attacks by ATGMs, the MBT-12A2 is equipped with the “Iron Tide M” Active Protection system, controlled by the TC from his LCD display.. “Iron Tide” is a modular soft and hard kill system designed to operate with the BASTION II battle management system and take full advantage of the systems of each specific vehicle it is mounted on.

The MBT-121 uses an overpressure system combined with individual CBRN protection for its crew. Individual protection is in the form of 4 air filtering systems running directly to the masks and NBC overalls of the crew. The air is not only filtered but also cooled. If this system fails the tank can use the overpressure system along with standard gas masks.

Crew and vehicle survivability

To further crew survivability the internal compartment is lined with an anti spalling layer, and all 3 seats are of a suspended type to reduce the energy transfer of an underbelly IED or mine. In addition to the slight V shape of the hull floor, an extra mine protection titanium alloy plate is available for the MBT-121. This plate reduces ground clearance and performance but dramatically improves the survivability of the tank and crew in case of a large explosion under the hull.

An automatic fire suppression system is installed in the crew compartments, engine bay and ammo stowage. This is automatically activated by visual or thermal sensors, or can be manually activated. Diesel is stored in 5 self sealing tanks, with cutoff valves to allow separate use of the forward or rear tanks. The ammo is stored in individual shrapnel and fire retardant polymer cases, with armor protection for each of the 3 stowage areas, and blowout panels to direct a cook off away from the crew.

Mobility

Weighing 59 metric tons combat ready and with a powerful 1,500 horsepower diesel engine, the MBT-121A2 maintains high mobility in all terrain. The 22 liter twin turbocharged engine utilizes a pressurized closed circuit cooling system, and is multi fuel capable. The power pack integrates a semi-automatic hydromechanical 7 gear transmission, with pivot and neutral steering.
To give the tank good cross country comfort and mobility, as well as allow proper depression of the main gun, Parash Shachor utilizes the Horstman InArm suspension. The system integrates dual piston compressible struts into each individual suspension arm. These hydraulic units act as both springs and dampers, and using a centralized control system allow the driver to adjust the ride height or “kneal” the vehicle. The latter feature is critical because without it the tank only has 9 degrees of gun depression. When in defensive hull down positions, the suspension can be used to add another 10 degrees of depression. 2 track return rollers are used above the 6 road wheels, carrying all steel 580mm wide tracks.

Communications and Networking

The MBT-121A2 has a combined internal/external communications system, consisting of a main control panel and 3 individual panels. Each crew member uses a headset integrated into his ballistic helmet. The TC has control over the channel selection and crew member access to external radio and intercom. The system has a separate tank commander/driver channel using the most protected battery for power to ensure commander-driver communications. The system also has a wireless ability, which switches on automatically when a helmet is disconnected. This prevents crew members from accidently disconnecting and allows for quick dismount.
The tank can accommodate 2-3 transmitter-receivers and 2-3 receivers. The antenna bases are integral and allow lowering the antennas forwards and backwards from inside the tank. A storage compartment for a man portable radio is located near the gunners hatch on top of the turret. .A tank/infantry telephone is located at the rear of the vehicle and connected to the commander’s internal communications, as well as external communications to allow infantry to use the tank to communicate.

Like all Schwerpunkt AFVs, MBT-121A2 is set up to use BASTION II as its standard networking system, including augmented reality over the sight pictures, automatic update of logistics crew info, automatic sharing and receiving of sensor data etc.

Each crewmember has access to BASTION II networking, with the TC also being able to use Telepat goggles synced in with the tank.

Crew Comfort

The MBT-121A2 is equipped to support its crew in long term operations during fighting and when buttoned. A specially designed sun and rain plastic canopy can be raised above the gunner and commander hatches to ease waiting periods in harsh weather. An air-conditioning system is connected to the CBRN protection system and can flow warm or cool air into the overalls and NBC masks of the crew. A 50 liter NBC protected water tank located in the hull is connected to a heating/cooling unit and supplies hot or cold water through a tap in the driver's compartment. Rations are kept in water tight compartments in the fighting compartments. 5 days worth of rations can be carried in this way. The tank has a special storage compartment holding an electric cooking pen, an electric cigarette lighter, plates and utensils.


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