SA-20 Ermine-R

Dimensions

1. Weight: 55,000kg
   
2. Length: 7.24m
   
3. Length gun extended: 10.12m
   
4. Width: 3.8m
   
5. Height: 2.26m
   
6. Ground clearance: 38cm
   
7. Crew: Commander, gunner, driver

Miscellaneous equipment:

1. Two SARICA carbines 9mm, one Auto 36 pistol 9mm
   
2. Four carbine magazines, three pistol magazines
   
3. Two fire extinguishers
   
4. Three iPod docks
   
5. One Model 30 tea-machine station
   
6. One USB speaker plug for externally attachable speakers
   
7. Eight containers for external bustle rack
   
8. One large Mk 11 sapper shovel
   
9. A self-removal log attached to the back of the bustle
   
10. Attachments for J6Y self-entrenchment plough

Fire Control Systems & Crew

1. F7V Laser Rangefinder
   
2. F3R Passive WLIR
   
3. F4KZ EO Day sight
   
4. VIR4A Ballistic Computer
   
5. FK7V Digital periscopes
   
6. N1J Battlefield Management Network
   
7. N2F Tactical Command System
   
8. N11E Satellite Network System
   
9. J7CA Principal Display Sighting & Networking System

Gunner
The gunner sits on the right hand side of the gun. The gunner has his own (small) air condition unit. He is also equipped with a fire extinguisher. The gunner's fire control system consists of a 4hz laser rangefinder F7V, a F3R passive thermal imagery long-wavelength infrared sight, a modern VIR4A ballistic computer for fire solutions, and a joystick for control of the system. Secondary controls are mounted on the screens themselves. The F3R sight is also fed through a WVGA 854x480 px screen with x4, x8 and x12 magnifications. Furthermore the gunner is issued with the J7CA Principal Sighting Display & Networking System (PSDS), an HD 1080p 1920x1080px colour screen on a cathode ray tube display monitor. This screen is fed by the F4KZ high-magnification electro-optical 3-CMOS active-pixel day sight. It can also be switched to view the F3R. The gunner's PSD&NS is connected to the commander's control system so that both crew members can share information with one another and so that the commander can select targets for the gunner or relay tactical information to him. Ballistics data from the fire control system H7K is overlaid on the screen.

The gunner's fire control system consists of a 4hz laser rangefinder F7V, a F3R passive thermal imagery long-wavelength infrared sight, a F4KZ high-magnification electro-optical 3-CMOS colour active-pixel day sight, a modern ballistic computer for fire solutions, and a joystick for control of the system. Two WVGA 854x480px liquid crystal display screens are located on the gunner's screen bank that permanently display information from the F3R WLIR and the F4KZ EO sight. Additionally the gunner is equipped with the J7CA Principal Sighting Display & Networking System, an HD 1080p 1920x1080px colour screen on a cathode ray tube display monitor. This screen is controlled by the joystick and can be switched between either WLIR or EO mode, or both, on a reduced resolution. The commander's PSD&NS is networked to the gunner's can the two crewmen can highlight or relay information to one another. The V1R4A ballistics computer also displays ballistics data on the PSDS. Other information such as outside temperature, time, date etc is displayed. The PSDS can not be used for updating your facebook status.

To aim the main gun the gunner uses the gunsight F1G, also controlled by the joystick, which is a direct view from the IR sight F3R or the EO sight F4KZ. Magnification is rated at x4, x 12 and x16. The ballistic computer incorporates user-input data, pre-known data and situational data. It controls a crosswind sensor, the laser rangefinder (with a range of 200m-10km) ammunition and air temperature, barometric pressure, gun trunnion axis, tank speed and direction and target speed and heading. The gunsight displays range to the target (in metres, 0000 to 9999), type of ammunition selected (and whether that ammunition is ready to fire), sight mode (1 for EO, 2 for LWIR), magnification (0, 4, 8, 12) and a crosshair. Ammunition markers are A for APERS, K for APSFDS, H for HEAT, T for training, S for smoke. The joystick has a trigger, operated by the index finger, and three switches, in triangular order, operated by the thumb: one on the top for magnification, and two on the bottom, left for ammunition type and right for sight mode. A button on the side of the joystick switches to the coaxial HMG. The iPod charger is located below and to the left of the joystick.

Gunsight of an Ermine-R pwning MCA-7Gs. Sorry Sumer, jk, jk.

Commander
The commander sits on the left hand side of the gun. The commander has his own (small) air condition unit. He is issued with three FK7V periscopes (two frontal left/right 90° arcs, one rear 180° arc), digitally accessed from a cathode ray tube monitor sporting an HD 1080p 1280x1080px resolution. These periscopes allow the commander to visualise the battlefield from three perspectives. Furthermore they can be accessed from the commander's J7CA Principal Sighting Display & Networking System (PSD&NS). The PSD&NS also gives the commander access to both the F3R WLIR sight and the F4KZ EO 3-CMOS sight. The commander can use the PSD&NS to signal targets to the gunner. The commander manipulates the PSD&NS with his own joystick. The iPod charger is located below and to the right of the joystick. The commander's tea-making machine is located in the corner of his desk. This is essentially a water boiler. For safety reasons it does not maintain water at a very hot temperature. Sachets of sugar and creamer are included with rations and not with the tank.

The N1J Battlefield Management Network displays to the commander all tactical information, including positions of friendly and (speculatively) enemy positions, orders, movements, so on and so forth. Via satellite uplink the N1J connects to other formations and shares intelligence and orders. In this way, all tanks are networked from the individual unit to the Company level. Company commander's tanks have different communications equipment. The N2F Tactical Command System incorporates internal radio communications between the crew members of the tank and also direct radio access on the platoon level. These systems are manipulated by the commander's joystick and headset. N11E Satellite Network System allows satellite uplink and download and also global positioning devices for the commander and for the driver. Using all his Battlefield Management Systems the tank commander is capable of incorporating from and adding information to the overall intelligence of the Tank Company and receiving and sending orders digitally in a network centric environment (do you want me to carry on with this babble?) A backup pull-down centrally mounted periscope is included.

The commander also controls the vehicles 48 60mm smoke launchers, mounted on the top of the turret, from a control station.

Driver -- not done this part but wanted to post anyway

Armaments

1. F30 137/47 - 137mm main gun,
   
2. FN115C - 14.5*115mm coaxial HMG, 800 rounds
   
3. FN115RG - 14.5*115mm commanders HMG, 1200 rounds

F30 137/47
The main armament of the Ermine-R is the F30 137mm, 47 calibre autoloading cannon. The F30 is the largest gun in use in the Questarian tank fleet and is used over the 125mm F18 because the Ermine-R was designed to be fully capable of destroying and engaging the strongest tanks in use in the world today. The 137mm main cannon, mounted on the 57 ton chassis, is capable of going toe-to-toe with the 140mm guns mounted on larger, 70-80 ton chassis employed in the service of other armies. The use of a high calibre gun like the 137mm was considered to be extremely important and a keystone design feature of the Ermine-R.

The total length of the gun is 6.54m. Total ammunition carried is thirty six (36 rounds) of APERS, APSFDS, HEAT, GLATGM smoke and training types. The muzzle velocity of the F30 is approximately 1850MJ. Rate of fire is between four to nine rounds per minute. Effective range using KE ammunition is around four kilometres. Gun launched rockets can shoot up to eight kilometres. Penetration on K108M1 APSDFS, L65M1 HEAT and R77M1 ATGM ammunition is capable of engaging a 70-80 ton tanks. Penetration on K97M3 APSDFS, L44M4 and L49M2 HEAT and R60M1 ATGM ammunition is capable of engaging 50-70 ton tanks. Maximum elevation is 18° and maximum depression is -6°.

The autoloader is of a type designed specifically for crew safety and to avoid catastrophic cookoffs. Twenty rounds of ammunition are stored in the bustle on a rotating belt and are taken out by the autoloader and then immediately re-sealed back in their blow-out compartment in the turret bustle. The ammunition belt is aided by a microprocessor that allows ammunition types to be selected. A further sixteen rounds of ammunition are stored in the combat compartment beneath the gun. These are protected on the left and right sides by a degree of extra, internal armour plating. They can be taken out of their protected casing by either the commander or gunner and loaded into the bustle. Obviously one would not want to carry this out while under fire unless the idea of dying appeals to you. Otherwise, the positioning of the bustle ammunition - at the rear of the semi-panhandle turret, means that to hit the bustle from the front or from a wide side arc, an engaging round would have to go through the strongest armour in the tank and then through the crew, too. This would be fatal anyway.

Since the bustle is larger than the combat compartment, the K108A1 APSDFS and the L65A1 HEAT ammunition types can only be stored in the bustle. All other rounds can be stored in the combat compartment or bustle. ATGM can be stored either in the bustle or combat compartment.

Types of ammunition that can be carried (total 36)

1. K108A1 APSDFS
   
2. K97A3 APSDFS
   
3. L65A1 HEAT
   
4. L44A4 HEAT
   
5. L49A2 HEAT
   
6. R77M1 ATGM
   
7. R60M1 ATGM
   
8. TCA-3 VIRSS SMOKE
   
9. Training ammunition, 125, 137mm
   
10. Training ATGM

Coaxial Armament
The coaxial armament of the tank is the FN115C 14.5*115mm heavy machine gun with a total barrel length of 1270mm. The 800 rounds of ammunition are stored in a compartment underneath the gunner's feet. The weapon is operated by the gunner. Total rate of fire is 600 rounds per minute, with a muzzle velocity of 1000m/s and an effective range of 3 kilometres.

Remote Weapons Station
The remote weapons station is operated by the commander who uses a second, pull-out (smaller) joystick to manipulate the weapon. The RWS HMG is the same as the coaxial, the FN115 14.5*115mm, except slightly modified for use as an exterior weapon. It can be handled manually if necessary. Total rounds of ammunition are 1200, stored in 100 round boxes. The boxes are kept below the commander's feet. The remote weapons station is also equipped with eight 60mm smoke launchers, capable of firing opaque anti-thermal smoke and VIRSS smoke. They are operated from the joystick. A camera on the RWS is linked to the a liquid crystal display in the commander's screen bank. The RWS camera can also be viewed from the commander's PSD&NS.

Protection

1. HALIFAX Armour pattern
   
2. A7R4 CASTLE Armour pattern
   
3. B5T1 EXCELSIOR Active protection system

Defence inc. ERA:

1. KE Protection:
   Turret: 950-1250mm
   Glacis: 680-900mm
   Lower front hull: 325-410mm
   
   
2. CE Protection
   Turret: 1350-1650mm
   Glacis: 950-1250mm
   Lower front hull: 475mm

HALIFAX Armour pattern
The armour system of the Ermine-R is fairly straightforward and consists of two elements, integral, and ERA. The classification for the integral armour system is HALIFAX. HALIFAX consists of an outer layer of rolled homogenous steel alloy, with a density of 7900kg/cu.m and a brinell hardness of 235. Next is a rubber layer, then a ceramics layer, then a layer of tungsten alloy, density 13,500kg/cu.m, brinell hardness 295. Then there is a spalling layer. The tanks armour plating is strongest on the turret front. The semi-panhandle design of the turret means that the frontal arc is much more likely to be hit than the sides, which have much less armour. Protection levels for HALIFAX are above.

CASTLE Armour pattern
The turret reactive armour, in the shape of a semicircle around the front turret, is known as A7R4 140 'Castle' explosive-reactive armour. The CASTLE system features a series of small shaped charges, angled at the appropriate level to receive an incoming charge. When these shaped charges are penetrated they are designed to explode and propel towards the penetrator, essentially incinerating it and preventing damage to the vehicle. CASTLE moduels are also fitted on the glacis and the side armour of the tank and vastly increase the protection rated for the vehicle. The CASTLE ERA protects the Ermine-R from armoured fighting vehicles in a higher weight range.

B5T1 Excelsior APS
The Excelsior pattern active protection system (APS) protects the tank from guided weapons. The B5T1 Excelsior is a hardkill system equipped with an F band scanning radar that looks for incoming targets. Four flat-panel arrays are arranged around the turret and provide a 360 degree azimuth. Once an incoming rocket has been detected, the Excelsior fires buckshot from one of four launchers located on the side of the turret to destroy the incoming rocket. Additionally the Excelsior pattern system possess an optronic softkill system. Fancy, amirite? Infrared sensors are used to jam an incoming ATGM or launch anti-infrared opaque smoke from launchers attached to the side of the turret. The tank is therefore well protected by the Excelsior system, which goes to all measures to protect from anti-tank missiles, which alongside mines, are believed to be the principal threat to tanks.

Propulsion

In some respects, the Ermine-R exchanges armour for mobility. The vehicle's armour is rated similarly to tanks in a 10t lower weight range, and although it does come equipped with a larger main gun, the Ermine-R also has an incredibly large powerpack.The RVO Williams A9 V12 4-stroke 12-cylinder turbo&super charged diesel engine, soon to appear on Top Gear, rates at 1600 brake horsepower with a maximum speed of 3200 revolutions. The extremely large engine has a total displacement of 42 litres. This modification of the Ermine design restores the original high maneuvrability of the vehicle's initial design and the enormous engine assists the vehicle in moving easily and rapidly through the worst types of terrain and over all forms of elevations.

The clutchless manual transmission is easier to operate and train than a fully manual system and is easier to maintain and produce than an automatic transmission, a trade-off accepted by the Army. The transmission is sequential and allows the driver to shift from any gear in the range with the gearstick (i.e. from sixth to second reverse.) The tank's snorkel allows it to ford water obstacles up to 1.8 metres deep. The torsion bar suspension consists of one large rubber-laid bearing roll per road wheel with supporting absorbers for every other wheel.

The tank can swim. It takes between twenty and thirty minutes to prepare and the tank can ford depths of up to 4 metres using a snorkel. Maximum travelling speed while moving through water is 7 kilometres per hour. (Michael Phelps, amirite?) The tank can also free itself from obstructions using the self-removal log.

Powerpack

1. Engine: RVO Williams A9 V12 4-stroke 12-cylinder twincharged diesel engine rated at 1600bhp @ 3200 RPM
   
2. Displacement: 42L
   
3. Torque: 1600 lb-ft
   
4. Suspension: Torsion bar
   
5. Transmission: Clutchless manual transmission with Scott & Hardy Defence gearbox, seven forward gears and two reverse
   
6. Fuel capacity: 1200L internal, 200L external
   
7. Power/weight ratio: 28.57hp/t

Performance

1. Maximum speed on paved road: 80km/h
   
2. Maximum speed dirt road: 60km/h
   
3. Maximum speed cross country: 50km/h
   
4. Speed when swimming: 7km/h
   
5. Acceleration 0-35km: 7 seconds
   
6. Maximum range: 500km

You appear to have your left and right mixed up in the second image.
Asides, looks excellent.

Worst Overall Designer (all years)

No; the commander sits on the left hand side. The image faces right so you can see the computer displays.

Probably would be better to call it a USB charger.

Looks good.
edit:

Also, having small personal air conditioning units have problems: your extremely advanced fire control system needs to be cooled as well.

I see you've incorporated the suggestions I've had for Ermine-H-AL.

I still would like to know more about the self-entrenchment plough. Why does it not just come inherently with the tank, like they do with T-80?

How does it function? Is it like the plough on Russian howitzers, where it just digs in by moving itself back and forth?

I need to do more research on this matter first. And yes I have incorporated lots of HAL things do you have linx on how t-80s works?

Probably would be better to call it a USB charger.

Looks good.
edit:

Also, having small personal air conditioning units have problems: your extremely advanced fire control system needs to be cooled as well.

yep but the power of air conditioning units isnt too much

True but to my memory modern air conditioning for AFVs can bring the temperature of digital equipment to the touch to 120 F in a 100 F environment.

You can't operate in desert warfare.

Edit: How does the driver exit the tank? And RL tanks have more optics.

Apparently I am wrong. It's just a folding dozer blade controlled from the driver's seat.

Then this happens (except I have read that in modern tanks the blade can unfold remotely, with no need of crew getting out):


http://youtu.be/PiqllJrTSOc?t=1m34s

why does air conditioning make the tank gun hotter? obviously it doesnt make it colder, but...

Digital equipment? I know the tank gun can be touched by a person's digits...

It doesn't make it hotter but look... the electronics will be hotter then the exterior environment which would be the interior of the tank. A tank is cramp and not ideally ventilated, so if the interior is 100 F, the electronics would be a bit hotter.

edit: keep in mind the Leopard 2 reaches temperatures of 120 F in Saudi Arabia with the NBC system on.

so what are you recommending rly

I'm not recommending anything, just providing information to aid you in designing.

Where's the exit hatch for the driver?

The driver can leave through the turret (when turret is at certain degrees) or its above his head, you just can't see it on the drawing (its not rly appropriate to place it here; I might try put it on though.)