TG-80 Ursid: Difference between revisions

The '''''TG-80 Ursid''''', offically designated as ''Traegan Garlac, Mionsamhail 1980'' is a third-generation Mirhaimian main battle tank designed, and manufactured by Potza Heavy Industries for use by the uniformed services of the Mirhaime Realm Defence Forces. Originally envisioned as a direct replacement for the TG-57, and a heavier supplement for the fleet of TG-67 Main Battle Tanks in service with the Realm Guards at that time, the TG-80 (and subsequent models) was conceived for modern armored ground warfare.

 

== Background ==

Several years following the adoption of the TG-67, and the subsequent soft-upgrade package, the TG-67A, Mirhaimian High Command was faced with the appearances of a new generation of main battle tanks featuring superior firepower, and protection over all Mirhaimian vehicles in service on the regional stage. As a result, the immediate replacement for a new main battle tank was prioritized, with the development of a prototype, the TAK-X officially beginning on September of 1975 as a joint development by Potza Heavy Industries and the Department of Defense's Technology Research and Development Institute (TRDI). Several major subcontractors included Reingiker Heavy Ordnance, Putz Electronics, Zaram Industries and DMA.

With proper budget secured from the Saekari, a total of two prototypes were developed before the official adoption in 1980, both armed with the same 120mm smoothbore gun which was designed, and produced by Reingiker Heavy Ordnance along with the ammunitions. Work began on the first prototype around December of 1975, and was finished in late 1977. Trials, and tests were conducted in the subsequent months before a final conclusion was made, and the development of a second prototype authorized. Thus, the development of the second prototype (TAK-X-2) began in early 1978 until it was completed later that same year. Testing and design modifications such as improvements to the turret and half modular type ceramic composite armor were also conducted starting in October 1978, and continued until April of 1979 when a final model was reviewed and officially adopted by the Realm Defence Forces in October, awaiting its first manufacturing run in Q1 of 1980.

 

== Design ==

 

=== Armanent ===

 

The vehicle carries 52 rounds, 20 ready rounds are stored vertically on the left side of the main gun breech. The 32 other are stowed in a hull rack to the left of the driver's station. The gun barrel has a thermal insulating sleeve and a fume extractor; it is fully stabilized in both azimuth and elevation by an electro-hydraulic drive system.

A variety of ammunition has been developed for use by the vehicle by Reingiker. This includes a series of kinetic energy penetrators, such as the M235 series, and high explosive anti-tank warheads. These also extend to the new M9000 series of depleted uranium munitions, however these are still in experimental stage and have yet to be stabilized enough for service upon the tank's introduction.

 

 

The tank's advanced fire-control system, a result of a Putz-Mitek collaboration efforts, is designated FC-71-MT TURMS (Tank Universal Reconfigurable Modular System), and includes day and night panoramic capability for the commander's SP-T-694 primary sight (developed collaboratively by Putz/Mitek), a stabilized platform including a thermal gunner's sight and a laser rangefinder to increase accuracy and expedite target detection and targeting, and a digital fire-control computer, which is capable of measuring wind speed, humidity, and exterior weather conditions, combining them with the turret's angle of elevation, attitude, and the barrel's physical wear to increase accuracy. Since its introduction there have been several upgrades to the fire-control system, including the addition of a Yttrium-Aluminium-Garnet laser rangefinder with a range of 300 to 5,000 meters, a 32-bit ballistics analysis computer, improved thermal imaging and Automated-tracking systems, and improved gun stabilization. The FCS also has an automated tracking system, and is capable of engaging moving or stationary targets while moving in day or night. The automatic target tracking system uses a thermal image display which can be controlled by either the tank gunner or commander. It is capable of tracking soldiers, vehicles and helicopters. The targeting computer can also calculate lead on moving targets.

At a combat weight of 54 tons, the Urisd ranks itself as one of the lighter main battle tanks in the world, though still considerably heavier than light tank design. This gives it the Ursid a good power-to-weight ratio, and thus making it one of the fastest MBTs of its generation (0 to 32 km/h in 5 seconds).