M8 Armored Gun System
| M8 Armored Gun System | |
|---|---|
M8 on test site |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 3 |
| length | 8.9 m |
| width | 2.69 m |
| height | 2.55 m |
| Dimensions | 19.25 t (Level I) 22.25 t (Level II) 24.75 t (Level III) |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor |
Aluminum alloy (Level I + II + III) Titanium alloy (Level II + III) Spaced armor (Level III) |
| Main armament | Rheinmetall M35 105 mm drawbar cannon |
| Secondary armament |
M240 (coaxial) Diverse (air defense) |
| agility | |
| drive |
Detroit Diesel Corporation DDC 6V 92TIA 426 kW (580 PS) at 2400 rpm |
| suspension | Hydropneumatic |
| Top speed | 72 km / h |
| Power / weight | 22.1 kW / t (Level I) 19.1 kW / t (Level II) 17.2 kW / t (Level III) |
| Range | 451 km |
The M8 Armored Gun System (AGS) ( ger .: M8 armored weapon system ) is a light tank , which as a replacement for the M551 Sheridan in the 82nd Airborne Division was designed. It was also intended to replace the TOW- armed HMMMV M966 in the 2nd US Cavalry Regiment .
The system was developed by United Defense . Series production was not started in 1996 due to budget problems.
history
In the 1980s, the United States Army began looking for a replacement for the M551 Sheridan. The system should also be able to replace TOW -based weapon systems.
In 1980 the Army's 9th Light Infantry Division was selected as a test unit for a High Technology Light Division (HTLD) (English, light division with high technology ). The division should be able to withstand tank battles in desert areas, and the equipment should be air-transportable. Due to budget problems, the Army never got the necessary equipment, only a few prototypes were built.
1985 won CCV-L of FMC Corporation the Armored Gun System comparison test of the US Army against the Stingray Tank Company Cadillac Cage , and the Army approved the construction of six AGS prototypes. In 1995 the vehicle was classified as an M8 by the Army and production was targeted for 1996; however, production was never started in 1996 for reasons of budget.
After the Army had not placed an order, the vehicle was also offered abroad. But no orders were placed. In 2003 United Defense presented a prototype with an automatically loading 120 mm cannon, which has also not found any interested parties to this day.
design
The vehicle is made of a welded aluminum alloy. The driver sits in the center of the front of the tub, the rifleman and the commander on the right side of the tower. The armor has a modular structure and can be equipped and changed as required. All versions are air transportable in C-5 Galaxy , C-141 Starlifter and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft (5, 2 or 3 pieces per aircraft). Proven systems were used to keep the life cycle costs low. The engine is a modified unit of the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck ; the gearbox, the gunner's and commander's consoles were taken over from the M2 Bradley , the laser range finder and cross wind sensor from the M1 Abrams , the on-board computer from the Challenger 2 and the weapon stabilization system from the K1 Type 88 . Thermal imaging devices are therefore available.
protection
Level I armor is the basic armor (aluminum structure of the vehicle) that protects against splinters and handguns. The level I armor is so light that the tank can still be dropped from the Lockheed C-130 with the help of parachutes .
Even with Level II armor, the vehicle can be transported with the C-130, but can only be dropped off normally. Level II armor protects against machine guns and 40 mm grenades . For this purpose, titanium plates are attached to the tub and tower.
The level III armor makes the system so heavy that it can no longer be transported with a C-130. It protects against antitank hand weapons and 30 mm machine guns . In addition, the Level II armor is supplemented by spaced armor .
The vehicle has a smoke throw system with 16 cups.
Firepower
The main armament of the vehicle is a fully stabilized Rheinmetall M35 105mm cannon with autoloader, which claims the left side of the turret. In addition, a coaxial M240 7.62mm MG was installed with 1000 rounds of ready-to-use ammunition, another 3500 are stored in the hull. The automatic loading system of the cannon allowed the crew to be limited to three people (tank commander, gunner, driver). The weapon has a rate of fire of 12 rounds per minute, 21 rounds are stored in the turret rear, 9 in the tub. The tower roof has blow-out panels. All types of 105 mm NATO ammunition can be fired. A hydraulic system rotates the turret and stabilizes the weapon.
Other weapons that can be operated externally by the commander, such as the Browning M2 , another M240 , an M249 or a 40 mm Mk 19 machine grenade launcher, can be attached to the turret .
agility
The engine consists of a Detroit Diesel 6V-92TIA diesel engine with 580 hp. The engine, gearbox and radiator are mounted on a kind of "drawer" and can be pulled out through the tailgate to be serviced or changed. The change process takes less than five minutes.
The maximum fording depth is limited to 1.2 meters, the ground clearance to 410 mm and the climbing ability to 812 mm.
variants
Thunderbolt Armored Gun System (Block II)
This technology demonstrator was presented to participate in the Future Combat Systems program. This vehicle was equipped with hybrid propulsion , composite armor , 2nd generation FLIR night vision equipment and the light 120mm XM291 cannon .
Despite the innovations, the demonstrator could still be transported with the C-130.
See also
literature
- Miller, D. (2000). The Illustrated Directory of Tanks of the World . Pp. 478-480. Osceola, MI: MBI Publishing, 2000
- Plummer, A. Inside the Army. Army To Transfer Four Armored Gun Systems To 82nd Airborne Division , 2004
Web links
- M8 Armored Gun System (eng), GlobalSecurity.org
- M8 LAV (eng), Jane's
- army guide (eng)