M-32

The M-32 a family of armoured fighting vehicles (AFV)s in service with the Armed Forces of the Imperial Republic of Drahen They are small, highly mobile, air-transportable armoured vehicles designed to replace armoured cars previously in service.

Designed in Drahen in the 1510s, the M-32 family includes light reconnaissance tanks, a armoured personnel carriers (APC), a command and control vehicle, a armoured ambulance, a anti–tank guided missile vehicle and a armoured recovery vehicle. All members of the M-32 family were designed to share common automotive components and suspension; aluminium Armour was selected to keep the weight down.

Design

In the early 1510s, a proposal was put out by the Ministry of Defense for AFV that could provide fire support with an anti-armour capability and be light enough to be airportable. The vehicles at the time were deemed either two heavy or unwieldy for operations in the Drah jungles and a reconsoldiation of the military was being enacted.

In 1507, work began on what was called the Armoured Vehicle Reconnaissance. The vehicle would mount a 76 or 105 mm main gun in a limited-traverse turret, which also housed the three-man crew; namely: driver, gunner and commander. The anti–armour capability would be met by a ATGM mounted at the rear. The design would come in both tracked and wheeled versions and share the same engine and transmission as the M-21 armoured personnel carrier. The final weight of the prototype, however, was over 13 tons, which exceeded the weight limit if it was to be transported by air.

As a result the vehicle was redesigned and the project transitioned into a family of vehicles. Several signification changes were incorporated into the new design, such as aluminium-alloy armor to further reduce the weight and changed requirements. The new vehicle's height had to be less than 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in), its width had to be less than 2.102 m (6 ft 10.8 in). To meet the ground pressure requirement of five psi, the tracks had to be 0.45 m (18 in) wide. The width also dictated the engine used - it had to fit next to a driver in full winter clothing. The engine compartment could only be 0.60 m (24 in) wide. No tank engines in production or development at the time were suitable, so a 4.2-litre petrol engine, modified for military grade fuel, was used.

By early 1515, the redesign of the vehicle was complete and had finished the prototyping and trial stage. The M-32 was accepted into Drah service by the end of 1515.

See Also

• List of modern armored fighting vehicles