M-32
Lua error: Internal error: The interpreter exited with status 127. The M-32 is a family of Armored Fighting Vehicles in service with the Armed Forces of Drahen They are small, highly mobile, air-transportable armored vehicles designed to replace armored cars previously in service.
Designed in Drahen in the 1510s, the M-32 family includes light reconnaissance tanks, a armored personnel carriers (APC), a command and control vehicle, a armored ambulance, a anti–tank guided missile vehicle and a armored recovery vehicle. All members of the M-32 family were designed to share common automotive components and suspension; aluminium armor was selected to keep the weight down.
Contents
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 air-portable. The vehicles at the time were deemed either two heavy or unwieldy for operations in the Drah jungles and a reconsolidating of the military was being enacted.
In 1507, work began on what was called the Armored Vehicle, Reconnaissance or ARV. The vehicle would mount a 76 or 105 mm main gun in a limited-traverse turret, which also housed the three-man crew: driver, gunner and commander. The anti–armor 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 armored 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.
Variants
- M-32 Gladius
- M-32 Spatha
- M-32 Pilum
- M-32 Ferros
- M-32 Asclepius
- M-32 Centurion
- M-32 Nero
