Deviation Actions
Description
"A Next Generation Main Battle Tank designed to quickly fortify an area, blunt an enemy assault, and then follow up with rapid and decisive fire power"
In short, the Copperhead is designed to dig in, defend an area, and once the attack has been stopped, immediately take the fight back to the enemy. The tank itself weighs a moderate 52tons fresh out of the factory. However, up-armor packs, improvements to the internal protection, and even additional equipment can easily push the tanks weight well over 60 tons.
The tank was designed and built by the Allison Automotive Companies Land Combat Vehicle division, and was part of a competition to replace the ISAs M60 Main Battle Tank. The three-company competition was over-seen by then-General Creigton Abrams, and saw three nearly equal tanks in terms of firepower and mobility. However, where the Copperhead really shined was in protection, with its "Sandwiched Composite Armor Package" developed by Londonian born David Chobham. The "Chobham Armor System" as it was later re-named, was designed to use a variety of materials at varying thicknesses to improve the protection of an armored vehicle. He theorized, that while it was impossible to develop a tank with thick enough steel armor to protect a tank against future projectiles, it was possible to use a combination of materials to do the same job. His work was initially rejected in his home country of South Auroria, but was later accepted by the ISA Ground Forces to trials, and was given a grant to prove his theory. Once the tests were complete, the writing was on the wall for Rolled Steel Armor.
At first, as an interim plan, the ISA built deployed the armor not as part of a tank, but as an upgrade package for their existing M60 tanks while a new tank was designed and tested. When the Next Generation Tank Program launched, AACLCV designed the tank to not only meet the Ground Forces requirements, but like their previous designs, exceed them. As the ISA Military did not see itself as a purely offensive force, AAC designed the tank to have strong frontal hull and turret armor with moderate side armor. The tank was first tested with a variation of the M256 120mmX44Cal smoothbore cannon, but later tests with a new M390 120mmX50cal Smoothbore cannon proved to have far better performance. The new gun was able to penetrate the equivalent of 550mm of Rolled Steel with a 40° slope at roughly 1500m, or 410mm at 2500m using the 'Silver Bullet' APFSDS round. The gun has an effective range against point targets of 4,000 meters, and can be used against area targets at ranges of about 7,000 meters.
The gun itself is designed to use 2-Piece ammunition. This was done to meet the minimum ammo load of 48rnds, which the M256, and its single-piece ammunition could not meet. The tank carries 52 charges, and 24 'explosive' rounds in the turret bustle, with a further 36 'inert' rounds stored in one of two armored chutes under the turret ring. Each round is loaded into the tank with the rear of the shell facing the loader. Color coding allows for quick, and easy identification of the round type, and is as follows:
- Black: Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot (30 shots std, chute 1)
- Silver: Canister (6 shots std chute 2)
- Red: High Energy, Anti-Tank (16 shots std)
- Orange: High Explosive, Fragmentation (6 shots std)
- Yellow: High Explosive, Duel Purpose (optional)
- Grey: High Explosive Squashed Head (optional)
- White: Smoke (2 shots std)
- Blue: Training round (none carried in combat)
The tank utilizes what is known as a Semi-Automatic, Assisted Loading System (SAALS) to speed up the loading of the main gun, while still retaining the loader. The system works by allowing the loader to select, and load the projectile, and once he is out of the way, and presses the 'all clear' button, SAALS will then load the propellant charge, and close the breach. If required, the loader can disengage the SAALS, and load the gun normally him/herself, or, they can set the SAALS to 'sustained' mode, allowing the system to take over their duties while they are free to perform other tasks (such as repairs, or using the 7.62mm Machine Gun by their hatch). As well as the 'all clear' button, there is a pressure plate in the 'danger area' that prevents the gunner from firing the gun, or SAALS from loading if the gunner is not either in his safe zone, or on the hatch step.
As well as the 120mm gun, the Copperhead also uses a .50cal Heavy Machine Gun that is coaxially mounted. This HMG can be used both as a way to suppress enemy infantry, or, to fire spotting rounds should the main laser range finder fail or become damaged in combat. Meanwhile the Commanders Coppola mounts a 20mm automatic cannon for use against light armored vehicles, low-flying helicopters, and even exposed enemy infantry. Both of these weapons have fixed ammunition counts of 600, and 250 rounds respectively. While it is possible to reload both weapons, due to the lack of space inside the tank, there is not enough room to carry spare ammunition for either weapon.
The tank is powered by an Allison Mark 10 12x Cylinder Multi-fuel engine capable of pushing out 1500hp, which itself is part of a power pack that includes all of the fuel filters, transmission, and all of the critical engine equipment. The power pack is stated to be able to be removed in just 15 minutes, with a new one installed in half that time. Completely loaded, the tank has a 25hp/t power to weight ratio, and will reach its top speed of 72.5KPH (road speed) from a standing start in just 18 seconds.
The tank uses a Hydropneumatic Gas Bogey Suspension system that is rated to handle up to 70 tons. While some previous ISA Tanks used a Torsion Bar Suspension System, mechanics and crews preffered the idea of using bogeys as it allowed for fast replacement with minimal tools. Previous tanks that used the system could be repaired within a couple hours, while torsion bar equipped tanks could be out of action for days while the crews work to remove many of the internal and external components. The HGBS used by the Copperhead and other Armored Vehicles in ISA service is designed to be a self contained unit, with all parts designed to be interchangeable, and serviceable whether mounted, or dismounted.
Despite being exposed to enemy fire, the system also allows for the tank to have maximum possible protection on the sides of the tank. The bogeys themselves are protected from shrapnel or other debris by the tanks 60mm skirts. However, recent developments have led to the addition of a series of steel/ceramic composite plates being added to the skits to provide additional protection.
The turret itself is normally protected by up to 600mm of effective armor on the front, with an additional "Hollow Chobham Wedge" added to the front as an up armor kit. This makes the tank virtually impervious to direct enemy fire from the front when hull down. However even when fully exposed, the front Glaces plate has an Effective Armor Thickness equivalent to 520mm of rolled steel due to the composition. The sides of both the hull and turret, without the additional armor packs both have an EAT equivalent of 310mm of rolled steel, while the rear and top armor is only rated to be equivalent of 100mm of steel, and in places, are nothing but steel (namely around the engine and hatches). The Commanders Coppola, although difficult to hit from a distance, is protected with an EAT equal to 200mm of steel from the front, but only 75mm from the sides and rear.
Beyond the armor, the tank is protected with a number of systems designed to warn the crew, or cover the tank. Chief among them is the 'lurch system' on the A3 model. Due the addition of a electrical motor in place of the transmission, the tank can store electrical power generated by the engine to use as a 'creep' mode, or, in a pinch, to be lurch the tank should it come under sudden fire and the crew is asleep. The system works by scanning the tank for any active laser targeting devices, such as those used by ATGMs. Once one is detected, and the source identified, the tank will then move 25m in any safe direction while simultaneously deploying smoke to mask the movement. This movement, coupled with several alarms inside the tank is designed to lurch the crew awake, and give them a chance to respond to the threat. Other defensive systems include a series of flare launchers to divert IR Guided Missiles away from the tank, and the option to mount a hard-kill Active Protection System to the rear of the turret.
Internally, the tank has a crew of four. Driver, Commander, Gunner, and Loader. The Fighting Compartment is lined with a 25mm thick Kevlar/steel bi-weave spall liner that is designed prevent the bouncing of fragments and shells inside the tank. Outside of the fighting compartment, and separated by a 40mm thick firewall, are the fuel tanks. Two tanks are on either side of the divers position, while a third is directly behind the turret. Two smaller fuel tanks flank the engine and are normally used as reserve tanks. The fuel system has three main fuel pumps that can top off other tanks while one is being filled, speeding up the fueling process. Additionally, two armored extended range tanks can be mounted on the back of the hull, and are normally used for extended operations in desert or snowy conditions. They can be bolted onto the tank withing a few minutes, and hooked into the fuel system through access ports in the rear of the tank. With all five internal tanks filled, the Copperhead can have a cruising range of approximately 550km, while the ERFT can extend that distance by a further 120km. The A3s use of an electric motor as its transmission further extends the range of the tank by 200km. The Fuel tanks, and power-pack are also equipped with an automatic fire detection and suppression system, while the crew is protected from Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Attacks through the use of an over-pressurization system, combined with air and water filtration systems. Each tank can, and often is, equipped with a 30gallon potable water tank, with a boiling vessel below and behind the commanders cupola on the right side of the turret.
The Copperhead series was made in three main variations, with several vehicles based on the chassis also being produced.
- XM1: Prototype of the tank, fitted with the M256 120mm cannon. Five produced with the fourth and fifth fitted with the M390 120mm cannon. All on display at various museums throughout the ISA.
- M1A1: First Operational model of the tank. Fifty units were built by the time the Second World War began. During the war, a further 780 were produced. 80 tanks were destroyed by enemy fire, with 8 destroyed by friendly fire, and a further 120 damaged beyond repair.
- M1A2: Second Operation model. First units were built three years after the war, modifications were made to fix newly discovered weak spots in the armor and protection systems. New fuel management system designed and installed. New Fire Control system installed. New suspension system and tracks developed and installed. Improvements made to the commanders cupola, 20mm cannon, and other systems. 600 Tanks converted from the A1, with another 1100 tanks being produced.
- Hailstorm Self-Propelled Anti Aircraft Gun: Turret switched out with a lighter, and faster anti-aircraft turret. 30mm Gau-8AA Avenger installed in place of the 120mm main gun, along with a Pulse Doppler Radar for searching and tracking enemy low-flying aircraft. 300 Copperheads were converted, with another 200 Hailstorms produced.
- Hedgehog Surface to Air Missile Launcher: Experimented design only. 1 Copperhead was converted to use the Angarian Hedgehog Surface to Air Missile Battery. Testing halted when tests showed the system to be no more effective than existing systems. The converted tank was turned over to a museum for display.
- Grizzly Armored Combat Engineering Vehicle: An ACEV variant of the Copperhead. Turret removed, and replaced with earth moving equipment. 40 tanks converted
- Wolverine Armored Bridge Layer: Turret removed and replaced with a folding bridge designed to cross rivers, trenches, or any obstacle that could slow, or halt an ISAGF advance. 60 tanks converted.
- Bangalore Mine Remover: Engineering variant designed to clear a path through mine fields. Equipped with two rocket launchers designed to pull a 600m length of detcord each. Also equipped with a mine flail to chew up active mine fields. 30 tanks converted, with 10 being sold to humanitarian groups looking to remove minefields from other former conflict zones.
- M1A3: Current production model. New Electric Transmission installed, increasing the tanks maximum range. New fire control installed, with improvements to the main gun. New version of the SAALS installed, improving safety for the crew, and reliability. Introduction of Soft, and Hard Kill Active Protection Systems. New Thermal Sights installs. New potable water tank installed. Improved fuel management system installed, along with new 'hot swap' fuel filters. New Armor Kits developed, allowing for easy install and removal of applique armor packs. Other smaller improvements installed. 800 A2 models converted, with an additional 700 new builds, and a further 1300 planned.
Pictured: M1A3 fitted with a mine plow, and applique armor packs.
OK, THAT was a lot to get through, but, I figured that you guys would like additional proof I'm still alive here.
This is a model I've tinkered with for a couple years now, and some of you even got to see the thing being worked on during livestreams. Yes, I am working on commissions, I have a few coming down the pipe that should be done any day now assuming all goes well.
So, what do you think of this tank? You guys like it? Despise it? Want to jack it and run over innocent civilians with it (you monsters)? More importantly, what did you guys think of the description? And do you want to see me model the variants sometime in the future? Shout it all out in the comments below, and be sure to check out my Square Site if you'd like me to model something like this for you sometime.
