Key Data
Bär APC
Crew: 3 (Commander, driver, gunner) + 14 troops.
Bär IFV
Crew: 3 (Commander, driver, gunner) + 9 troops.
Bär TD
Crew: 3 (Commander, driver, gunner).
Cost: 7 million NSD. 10 million NSD for TD.
DPR: $110 Billion NSD.
Dimensions
Length: 8.89 m (Hull).
Height: 2.19 m.
Width: 3.70 m.
Weight: 43.02 t.
Performance
Maximum Speed: 83.69 km/h.
Cross country speed: 52 km/h (offroad).
Operational Range: 520 km.
Ground Clearance: 0.41 m.
Armament
Bär APC
Main Armament: Gunring mount for variable weapon systems (WA 14.5 mm Heavy machine Gun pictured). (8,000 rounds HMG, double for smaller rounds, about 4,200 grenades).
Secondary: 'Speer' ATGM System, mounted boxes deployed on rear slant or sides, two missiles per box with one reload each (12 missiles total).
Commander's weapon: Gunring mount for variable weapon systems (Medium machine gun, grenade launcher, etc.).
Bär IFV
Main Armament: 40 mm WA Mk-103 Automatic Cannon (3,200 rounds).
Secondary: 'Speer' ATGM System, mounted boxes deployed on rear slant or sides, two missiles per box with one reload each (12 missiles total).
Commander's weapon: Gunring mount for variable weapon systems (Medium machine gun, grenade launcher, etc.).
Bär TD
Main Armament: WA Mk. 42D 140 mm 80 caliber smoothbore cannon (40 rounds).
Secondary: 'Speer' ATGM System, mounted boxes deployed on rear slant or sides, two missiles per box with one reload each (12 missiles total).
Commander's weapon: Gunring mount for variable weapon systems (Medium machine gun, grenade launcher, etc.).
Protection
Non-active: 4th Generation WA-STEEL Composite Alloy Armor: 1st lvl: ERA blocks or other slat attachments; 2nd lvl: Metal-composite matrix outer layer, composite ARMOX ADVANCE alloy tiles; 3rd lvl: Ceramic SiC armor layer; 4th lvl: fibreglass/rubber internal liner.
Active: 'Shield' Active Protection system. 16 multipurpose 80 mm grenade launchers, 4 'shotgun' pellet dispensers, and two RMS missile launchers (6 missiles total, 3 per launcher).
Crew Protection: NBC protection (main + auxiliary), pentafluoroethane crew compartment fire extinguishing, Halon 1301 + foam fuel tank extinguishing and self-sealing suite.
Electronics
Eisen-Schloss Combat Networking.
'Flare' FCS.
Frauns FCS.
Power
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).
Background and Design
The Bär Heavy Armored Personnel Carrier is a heavy armored personnel carrier and fighting vehicle that first stormed onto the battlefield in early 2012. Commanders in the TECT Armed Forces were in need of new armored personnel carrier that could take a beating, be swift like other armored units, and can carry as many troops as possible. The main purpose of these new durable vehicles were to supplement weaker APCs in armored divisions and other significant armored units; they would transport troops with superior protection and engage enemy hostiles in support of their occupants. Designers at Wolf Armaments were happy to answer the call, though they at first didn't know what design to do. In 2009, a chassis from an earlier APC design was used and this prototype made it to testing; the model however failed expectations and was scrapped for new ideas. The following year, another APC design that had been scrapped was configured and a prototype made for testing. This prototype failed miserably; it failed survivability tests along with not being near as agile as most Commoner armored vehicles. After years of failures, designers had finally come up with the concept of using a tank chassis as the base model for the vehicle rather then standard sized armored vehicles. Within a year, 2011, a prototype had been constructed and underwent testing. The impressive results showed the vehicle outmatched its prior prototypes; it could keep up to main battle tank speeds, travel through almost all terrain, and there was no question it could survive a number of attacks. After passing initial tests the vehicle underwent more internal construction and other improvement modifications. It would be presented to commanders in 2012 and go into production a month later. It was named Bär, or Bear in english, for its rough and 'Don't mess with me!' attitude.
As stated before - the Bär is constructed around the chassis of a main battle tank, the concept being to reuse a popular tank design that can honestly be referred to as a variant but still be its own vehicle. The Feurig 2 MBT chassis was chosen as the starting point - it is the main building block of the Bär, from which the rest of the vehicle is constructed. The Bär borrows its swift speed and agility from the Feurig 2's design - utilizing its treads and engine to give it high mobility, speed, and traverse capability. The engine, which used to be in the rear of the vehicle, was moved and installed in the bottom front of the vehicle. The idea is that it will provide additional protection for crew and occupants inside from frontal attacks; it is protected by another layer of composite armor and utilizes its distance from the rest of the vehicle to disbursed exhaust heat through liquid cooled exhaust pipes, which provide better exhaust handling and significant signature reduction. The last notable alteration to the chassis is its hatch opening in the center rear of the vehicle; utilizing a folding armored door that doubles as a ramp (nicknamed the 'Claw' for it's bottom to top folding mechanism), the opening is spacious as can be without sacrificing protection. The Bär can carry up to fourteen fully armed soldiers comfortably.
Beginning with the chassis up - the Bär utilizes a unique sloped design that encompasses the vehicle from all sides on what used to be the tank's turret level half. This unique slope design is a stark reminder to earlier tank designs that focused on sloped armor for protection; these earlier tanks revolutionized tank designs by adding the sloped factor to them, increasing the total density of thickness in the armor when projectile strike the vehicle. Utilizing this sloped design - the layers of armor are approximately the same as the main battle tank that the Bär was born from; the addition of armor plates and reactive armor, and its weight ratio, make the Bär comparable to most main battle tanks around the world in terms of armor, rather then the infantry fighting vehicle it really is. On its flat roof, the Bär mounts two gunring turrets for the standard weapon and commander weapon; the standard weapon can be anything from Wolf Armaments' 14.5 mm heavy machine Gun series to 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (grenade launchers, missile launchers, RWS automatic cannons, and many other types of weapon systems).
Armaments
The Bär's main armament can be a variety of weapon systems, like the 14.5 mm heavy machine Gun series or 12.7 mm heavy machine guns to other mounted weapon systems like grenade launchers automatic cannons. The WA 14.5 is popular to use however because the weapon system is light and its bullets are dense and powerful enough to destroy cover and rip infantry to shreds, also causing major damage to lightly armored vehicles; the weapon system also fires other types of ammunition like High Explosive, High Explosive Incendiary, full metal jacked incendiary, and armor piercing explosive. Along with this first gunring mount, which is interchangeable - the Bär mounts an additional gunring mount for the commander's weapon, which too can mount a large variety of weapon systems. Later variants encompass a turret that uses a selective amount of armaments. The infantry fighting variant uses the Mk-103 Automatic Cannon while the tank destroyer variant uses a one-hundred and forty millimeter WA Mk. 42D sixty caliber smoothbore cannon.
Additionally. The Bär can use 'Speer'-VLATGM ATGM, or other anti-tank missiles, that can be mounted in boxes on each side of the vehicle, and also the rear portion of the hull. A single vehicle carriers two missiles per box with one reload on-board or twelve missiles.
Propulsion and Mobility
The primary area of concern for the Bär was its mobility. Designers were concerned of the issues of making a heavier armored personnel carrier due to it losing the weight and speed of a conventional APC; weight and size were primarily the subject of these concerns. That is why cutting weight wherever possible was the ideal goal; focusing on a sloped design also cut down on its weight and size. Designers in the end decided to use the same V-12 engine used by Commoner main battle tanks. This engine provides the Bär with the same power as its main battle tank relatives and allowed it to keep up with them and other faster armored vehicles on today's modern battlefield. Although you'd think the Bär would be slow, you'd be mistaken because the Bär packs its powerful V-12 engine which gives it over 1,400 HP, allowing swift attacks and quick retreats.
The Bär is powered by a CVE Type 975 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V-12 Twin-turbo multifuel engine. It was designed by Commoner Volkswagen Engineering originally for heavy duty trucks and machinery. It was used to power the Feurig 1 and Feurig 2 with great results and designers decided to keep the engine for the Bär. 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 strategically placed in the front of the vehicle where it is protected and has in place protection systems to protect the crew from engine failures; its location also adds additional layering protection for its crew and passengers. The Bär's Feurig 2 chassis also boasts more high mobility and agility which utilizes its engine power and agile engineering to keep up with other armored units. Traveling at top speed; the Bär can reach 83.69 km/h on even surfaces, like roads, while traveling at moderately slower speed of 52 km/h while traversing rougher terrain. The gas capacity is 1,200 litres (264 imperial gallons; 317 US gallons).
In an attempt to counter its 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 deep water almost submerged to cross bodies of water is also still possible; 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. Its fuel system can also dispense a smokescreen using a fuel mix injection for a quick get away.
Networking/Electronics
As with all TECT designed vehicles, the Bär 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.
The Eisen-Schloss Combat Network utilizes this information to compute a firing solution for the gunner, based upon analysis of the target beneath the reticle. This is achieved in less time than it would take the gunner to depress the firing stud. The firing solution that Eisen-Schloss generates ensures a near-perfect hit percent at standard ranges, across all conditions. It is even programmed with special firing solutions for special ammunition uses. While the standard variants of the Bär utilize the 'Flare' FCS, which coincides with machine gun and autocannon functions - Bär tank destroyer variants utilize Frauns, which is used with heavy cannons, like main battle tanks, to provide accurate solutions for long range firing, among many other functions.
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. Alternatively, he could look at a target, and designate it for engagement by the gunner by either voice command or toggle. Targets can be sequenced for engagement, and the gunner may target and fire in a similar manner using the vehicle's main gun. The gunner's station is identical to, and interchangeable with, the commander's, and either can take on additional roles if the situation requires. When used in conjunction with Eisen-Schloss, and the fast-traversing turret, the engagement speeds of the Bär are almost twice as fast as any previously designed TECT vehicles – a crucial element to AFV survivability, and fire support responsiveness.
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.
Protection and Armor
The Bär's primary focus is to transport and support its passengers in combat zones. With that in mind; the Bär utilizes both active and nonactive protection systems to protect the vehicle and its passengers. Its armor is very similar to shape and strength of the Feurig 2; sharing many features and design similarities to other highly protected armored vehicles, like the Feurig fleet of main battle tanks. Bär utilize a newer armor that is a special variant to the 'Eisen Wand' 4th Generation Composite Armor - a variant design incorporating a nano-crystal steel alloy by the name of "ARMOX ADVANCE" instead of the usual titanium alloy used in other Commoner vehicles. 'Eisen Wand' is named after shield used by the Commoner god of war, which is used for both protection and as a weapon.
The first layers of Eisen Wand 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 the same ARMOX ADVANCE composite material. 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 (if there) and top portions of the vehicle also feature many attachments for these plates as well. The turret's (again, if there) design brings additional protection for crew with its smaller and more angled layout; the high angle 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 vehicle's metal mesh outer layer that makes the surface grainy and hard; under that matrix are tiles of the earlier mentioned ARMOX ADVANCE armor. 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 in plates. 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 crews. This armor design is very similar to other Commoner tank designs; unlike the Soviet design that featured very basic and less impressive design. 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 Bär 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 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. The electric drive differs from conventional AFV drive system arrangements by utilizing a hybrid powerplant. This essentially means that the engine generates electric power which in turn powers the batteries which propel the vehicle. The electric drive has, importantly, implemented a suite of features designed to mitigate its detectability, both acoustically and thermally. Moreover, the presence of dual APUs and the primary and secondary battery banks allow the vehicle to be driven for several hours with the main engines off, which pushes the sound generated to below that of a conventional civilian motor vehicle. As with a number of earlier marks of AFV, the Bär'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 Bär, 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.
The Bär uses the 'Shield' Active Protection system to protect the vehicle from active ground, aircraft, and other threats, utilizing its sixteen multipurpose grenade launchers, 'shotgun' pellet dispensers, and Remote Missile Systems to maximum use; more notably missile, incoming AT rounds, and other various ground threats are the primary targets of this system. The newer full system for tanks and other armored vehicles uses a Missile Countermeasure Device (MCD, and RMS included) 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 either a munitions launchers to launch munitions to explode before hitting the vehicle or a short range missile launcher to intercept incoming threats - a pellet 'shotgun' like dispenser also acts as an integral part of the system. 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 when successful either destroys, knocks the projectile off target, or lessens the affect of the weapon's damage. This system has also shown good results in countering incoming tank shells and artillery rounds; aircraft borne munitions are included as a primary target for this system. The Bär's multilaunchers, 'shotguns', and RMS are the primary vehicles for the 'Shield' system on the Bär and erect an invisible 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.
Variants
Bär 30mm-IFV: The Bär 30mm Infantry Fighting Vehicle variant is a turreted variant that mounts the Mk-103 Automatic Cannon, a thirty millimeter automatic cannon used also on the Höllenhund IFV. The crew space is slashed to accommodate for larger ammunition storage.
Bär TD: The Bär Tank Destroyer is a modified IFV variant designed for anti-tank/armor duties - essentially a tank killer. Revolving back to its tank roots, the TD variant utilizes the same FCS as main battle tanks in the Wolf Armaments inventory; it also mounts the 140 mm WA Mk. 42D ETC smoothbore cannon, one of the largest cannons used with armored vehicles in the TECT Armed Forces. The other additions to the variant include better shock absorbers and a redesigned turret for better elevation and cannon operation. Designers envisioned TD variants to support armored forces with long range accurate anti-tank cannon fire - supporting flanks and infantry with heavy cannon fire for light artillery and heavy anti-tank cannon fire, essentially killing any armored vehicle it can shoot at range.
Export
The Bär is available for purchase for $10 Million NSD per unit, APC & IFV; TD variant costs an additional four million NSD at $14 million NSD. Domestic Production Rights can be acquired for $110 Billion NSD for variants. Purchase can be made on the Wolf Armaments main page.