FCS tank design

Antares · Post by **Antares** » 2005-07-23 08:08pm

This work was inspired by the Future Combat System (FCS):
http://www.army.mil/fcs/

and especially by these two documents:
http://www.thirdwave.de/tech/concepts/fcs.pdf
http://www.army.mil/fcs/resources/FCS%2 ... 0Paper.pdf

The design I made is highly modular, that is the back part of the
tank can be replaced by several modules, including:
APC module
Missile module (light artillery or AA)
C&C
First aid (main turret removed)
Laser (2x + 2x2MJ pulse power pack)

The turret is also modular and it can be one of the following:
30mm ETC gatling + 7.62 coaxial
105mm ETC cannon + 7.62 coaxial
120mm motar + 7.62 coaxial
Laser (10MJ pulse power pack)
AA
ECM/Sensor
None (for first aid cargo module)

The laser and ETC are powered by Pulse-Power packs. For more information about that read:
http://www.thirdwave.de/tech/power/puls ... citors.pdf
http://www.thirdwave.de/tech/weapons/etc-goodell.pdf

Note that this thing should NOT be a MBT !!

(all images are previews)

APC:
30mm ETC gatling + 8 soldiers

Indirect fire support:
120mm mortar + 150x1900mm missiles (16x)

Direct fire support:
2xLaser + 105mm ETC + Additional armor

Without cargo:

Next I want to do the interior and some text about the performance.
Any help with the latter would be much appreciated

Perhaps somebody has input on the ideas i had for this design.

Some initial details:
1.The crew consist of 2 persons, driver and gunner
2.The engine, a 1500kW (1800kW peak) fuel cell, is in the front of the tank. I have extrapolated today available fuel cell to get this value.
(e.g. see http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2001 ... 29803.html)
3.The main drive is a 1000kW electro motor with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears
4.The weight should be between 30 (APC) and 50 (direct fire support) tons
5.The range should be something about 1000km on street and 300-400km in field (again extrapolated)
6.Height is 260cm, Width is 360cm, length of main hull is 770cm, Ground clearance is 50cm
7.Ammunition for 30mm: 2x500 (AP) + 2x200 (low speed HE grenades like that of OCSW)
8.Ammunition for 105mm: 35 rounds
9.Ammunition for mortar: 100 rounds
10.All ammunition is stowed inside the turret and loaded with a sophisticated auto-loader system
11.2 or 4 sensor domes in the back of the main turret, 2 small sensor domes for the driver in the front, 1 coaxial sensor
12.Side armor is 10cm + Track Protectors 5cm
13.Top armor is 5-10cm
14.Front armor is 20-40cm, with additional armor raised to 48-130cm respectively
15.Turret armor is 30-40cm front, 20cm side, with additional armor raised to max 100cm front and 25cm side respectively
16.Laser turrets should be able to shoot down missiles and aircrafts (1MJ per pulse max)
17.Basic pulse power pack below turret can provide 5MJ

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2005-07-23 10:06pm

Damn Antares, those are some excellent designs. I especially like the missile launchers.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-07-24 12:37am

I see no coxial machine guns, for shame!
No side or rear MG's either for the APC version.

SPOOFE · Post by **SPOOFE** » 2005-07-24 04:04am

What? No kitchen sink?

Good shit, dude. I can see those tearing ass and leaving a wake of destruction...

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-07-24 04:43am

Should have the provision for applique armor. Extra protection for the direct fire support.

Antares · Post by **Antares** » 2005-07-24 06:07am

Mr Bean wrote:I see no coxial machine guns, for shame!
No side or rear MG's either for the APC version.

I made the images from the wrong angle.
The coaxial is on the other side. I also added some rear MG's...
But those can be mounted on every hatch, anyway, so which is a must for APCs, i know that

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-07-24 06:17am

Ahh from that angle I can see the front much better.

BTW firing ports not mounted MG's are a must for APC's. The grunts like being able to shoot outside and giving them little remote MG's is good to.

OAN The front buldge is were the engine is correct? Prehaps lengthing that another foot not just for astetics but so you can slap some reactionary armor on the front of that thing without it getting the way of the turret traverse.

Antares · Post by **Antares** » 2005-07-24 06:23am

you mean something like this for the front?

it's already there

about the rear MGs.
old version of the german "Marder" APC also had a rear machine gun and i have seen some other pictures i dont remember of which tank. that one also had guns in the back.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-07-24 08:18am

Antares wrote: about the rear MGs.
old version of the german "Marder" APC also had a rear machine gun and i have seen some other pictures i dont remember of which tank. that one also had guns in the back.

IS2's, Ch-Ha's and a few other WWII tanks which slip my mind employed rear MG's

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2005-07-24 10:36am

Personally, I'd recommend possible addition of an Mk-19 Grenade Launcher or small Automatic Mortar on the turret, as well as a top-mounted, computer-controlled .50.

Also, the "no cargo" version looks distinctly vulnerable. Enemies in an urban setting would just target the very back of the exposed turret compartment after the tank had passed their nest.

Antares · Post by **Antares** » 2005-07-24 10:45am

Axis Kast wrote: Also, the "no cargo" version looks distinctly vulnerable.

Thats just for you folks to get an idea about the module and the tank without it. The tank will *always* have a modul.
Otherwise thanx for your comments

Axis Kast · Post by **Axis Kast** » 2005-07-24 01:16pm

Ah. Cool.

It's a very good design, otherwise.