Expeditionary tank
| Expeditionary Tank / Armored Gun System | |
|---|---|
| General properties | |
| crew | 3 |
| length | ≈ 7 m |
| width | ≈ 3.6 m |
| height | ≈ 2.8 m |
| Dimensions | Max. 25 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | Protection against: RPG , TOW , 30 mm MK , üMGs |
| Main armament | Royal Ordnance L7 |
| Secondary armament | M240 ( coaxial ) |
| agility | |
| drive | Cummins VTA-903T 8-cylinder diesel engine 440 kW (600 PS) |
| suspension | hydropneumatic |
| Top speed | 66 km / h |
| Power / weight | 17.6 kW / t (24 HP / t) |
| Range | N / A |
The Expeditionary Tank is a 1990s prototype tank made by Teledyne Vehicle Systems (now General Dynamics Land Systems ) for a future light tank that should be air transportable.
development
In the late 1970s, Teledyne Vehicle Systems conducted several studies on a lightweight, highly mobile tracked vehicle that could be used for a variety of tasks. The in-house studies lasted from 1980 to 1981. In 1982 a detailed design was examined and it was decided to build it. Since it was a gun carrier, it was called the Armored Gun System (AGS) . The first hull was ready in December 1983, the external 105 mm cannon in mid-1984. In October of that year, mobility and reliability tests of the hull took place at the Nevada test center, and in April 1985 the hull and gun were combined. One month later, in May, the entire system was presented for the first time at the US Army Armor Conference in Fort Knox . In 1986, gunfire tests took place, both manned and unmanned, standing or moving. After the program proved to be a complete success, it was discontinued.
technology
Tub
The tank should be able to be transported with C-130 or C-141 transport aircraft, which meant a limitation in terms of size and weight during development. In order to ensure a high level of protection despite its low weight, the front end of the vehicle consists of an armored nose box, followed by the drive block, followed by the crew. The vehicle is operated by a three-man crew, everyone is sitting in the tub. The driver sits in front on the left, behind the first roller. The tank is equipped with a double floor to increase the crew's chances of survival in a mine explosion under the vehicle.
drive
The engine is the same as on the M2 / M3 Bradley , as is the HMPT-500 hydromechanical transmission. As a special feature, the engine, gearbox and fuel tank are combined into one unit and are lifted out of or into the engine compartment together. The unit can also be used outside of the vehicle, for example to drive a generator or a pump.
Armament
In order to reduce the weight, a 105-mm drawbar cannon was chosen as the apex mount as armament. It is supplied with ammunition via a car loader, which is housed in the rear of the tank. The top mount also contains an M240 machine gun as a coaxial weapon .
Comparable systems
The concept and the crown mount can be found in the M1128 Stryker MGS , which is also manufactured by General Dynamics . The then incumbent Chief of Staff of the Army , Eric K. Shinseki , favored a wheeled armored vehicle. A variant of the Mowag Piranha was then chosen for cost reasons . Compared to the Expeditionary Tank , the terrain mobility and the level of protection (especially against mines) of the Stryker are lower, points that were heavily criticized in retrospect (see section Criticism of the Stryker ).
The Manned Ground Vehicles of the Future Combat System follow the same concept, but much more futuristic.