United States Military Vehicle General: Guns, G*vins, and Gas Turbines

[Cheburashka]

So what is meant by the autoloader part? 

So the APS launcher is reloading itself? How does this work,how many reloads are there? 

All of this is really puzzling to me.

[SH_MM]

9 minutes ago, Cheburashka said:

So what is meant by the autoloader part? 

So the APS launcher is reloading itself? How does this work,how many reloads are there? 

 

It is an autoloader. As detonating the MEFP warhead would damage other countermeasures, only one can be in a ready-to-fire state at a time. The autoader hence is required to reload the system, so that it can engage the next threat. Each launcher has its own autoloader with space for three countermeasures inside the mechanism (in case of the Trophy-HV variant as fitted to Merkava and Abrams).

 

 

[Cheburashka]

4 hours ago, SH_MM said:

 

It is an autoloader. As detonating the MEFP warhead would damage other countermeasures, only one can be in a ready-to-fire state at a time. The autoader hence is required to reload the system, so that it can engage the next threat. Each launcher has its own autoloader with space for three countermeasures inside the mechanism (in case of the Trophy-HV variant as fitted to Merkava and Abrams).

 

Thank you for such a quick answer! I'm a bit new to the APS scene, so please have patient with me.

1. Is APSs effective against stuff like RPG 30 which uses a smaller diameter precursor round?

2. Having learned just before that detonating the MEFP warhead would damage other countermeasures, does a two barreled setup have one or two shots? (does it shot both charges against a single projectile, or do you have 2 separete shots for two separate threats?)

 

 

4 hours ago, SH_MM said:

 

 

 

 

[SH_MM]

17 hours ago, Cheburashka said:

1. Is APSs effective against stuff like RPG 30 which uses a smaller diameter precursor round?

 

That depends on the exact type of APS. Some can be likely fooled by double-firing (with either a single RPG-30 or multiple rounds from the same or different angles), others cannot.

 

17 hours ago, Cheburashka said:

2. Having learned just before that detonating the MEFP warhead would damage other countermeasures, does a two barreled setup have one or two shots? (does it shot both charges against a single projectile, or do you have 2 separete shots for two separate threats?)

 

Trophy uses a MEFP (multiple explosively formed penetrator) countermeasure, i.e. a small explosive charge turning a specifically formed metal plate into multiple EFPs. Other active protection systems such as Iron Fist (as pictured by you) utilize other countermeasures. Iron Fist fire small HE blast grenades, which contain a time fuze that is set by the APS before firing. Trophy is a much simpler system - and thus less likely of a technical failure - but its design has other drawbacks (such as requiring protective shields and having only one countermeasure ready-to-fire, as the detonation of the MEFP creates lots of nasty metal fragments).

 

[Cheburashka]

9 hours ago, SH_MM said:

 

That depends on the exact type of APS. Some can be likely fooled by double-firing (with either a single RPG-30 or multiple rounds from the same or different angles), others cannot.

 

 

Trophy uses a MEFP (multiple explosively formed penetrator) countermeasure, i.e. a small explosive charge turning a specifically formed metal plate into multiple EFPs. Other active protection systems such as Iron Fist (as pictured by you) utilize other countermeasures. Iron Fist fire small HE blast grenades, which contain a time fuze that is set by the APS before firing. Trophy is a much simpler system - and thus less likely of a technical failure - but its design has other drawbacks (such as requiring protective shields and having only one countermeasure ready-to-fire, as the detonation of the MEFP creates lots of nasty metal fragments).

 

Thank you very much, I'm going to read the article on your blog!

[Ramlaen]

https://www.army.mil/article/251632

 

"The Army is currently testing a fleet of Next Generation Combat Vehicles (NGCVs) at Project Convergence 2021 (PC21), a large-scale modernization experiment and cornerstone effort of U.S. Army Futures Command.

As part of the experiment, which is taking place at Army installations in Arizona and New Mexico, teams of Soldiers, civilians, contractors and industry experts are testing the newest advances in modern warfare, including in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled ground combat vehicles.

The new vehicles undergoing testing include the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle, Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle and Next Generation Tank."

[Scout]

 

[Scout]

 

[Ramlaen]

 

[Collimatrix]

Mid 1980s experiment with using exhaust from the gas turbine to decontaminate vehicles in an NBC environment:

 

[Scout]

15 minutes ago, Collimatrix said:

Mid 1980s experiment with using exhaust from the gas turbine to decontaminate vehicles in an NBC environment:

 

What book is this from?

[Collimatrix]

1 minute ago, Scout said:

What book is this from?

Armor magazine, January/February 1986 edition

[Ramlaen]

https://www.qinetiq.com/en/news/qq-and-amg-humvee

Quote

 

QinetiQ has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with automotive manufacturer AM General to accelerate the development of electrification technologies for military vehicles. 

The partnership has begun with the development of a hybrid concept of the globally iconic HMMWV (High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle often referred to as ‘HUMVEE’) – demonstrating the viability of electrifying military land vehicles to deliver enhanced performance while decarbonising military operations. The collaboration was initiated and its development facilitated by the JV & Partnering (JV&P) Advisory team at Lincoln International, a global investment bank.

The HUMVEE vehicle concept is the first step of a highly ambitious programme in which QinetiQ and AM General are exploring how electrification can transform competitive advantage in the land domain. This collaboration will lay the foundation for further research into electrification capabilities for land vehicles, for example autonomous systems, increased situational awareness through enhanced sensor capability and optical communications.

 

[Toxn]

 

[Ramlaen]

Well now.

 

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-amphibious-assault-vehicle-ban/

[Serge]

AMPV very first delivery :

 

[Ramlaen]

https://insidedefense.com/insider/bradley-a4-passes-conditional-materiel-release

 

The Army approved the newest upgrade to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle for a conditional materiel release on Dec. 13, an Army spokeswoman told Inside Defense this week.

Fielding of the Bradley A4 has begun to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Ashley John wrote in an email. The brigade, based at Ft. Stewart, GA, will begin field maintenance and new equipment training in January, and the final vehicle will be delivered in March.

The service plans to field the Bradley A4 to four armored brigades, as well as one pre-positioned stock, John wrote. Fielding to the pre-positioned stock will take place in FY-23.

A full materiel release for the A4 is planned for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, according to the spokeswoman.

The A4 upgrade brings improved powertrain and electrical systems to the Bradley, according to Army budget documents. The Army plans to award a follow-on contract for A4 production in FY-22 to BAE Systems, the prime contractor on the Bradley program.

[Atokara]

Is the Bradley upgrade shown by BAE back in 2016 the one to become the M2A4?

https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/article/bae-systems-debuting-next-generation-bradley-prototype

[Serge]

No. 
The A4 is simpler. 

[Ramlaen]

On 12/19/2021 at 6:12 PM, Atokara said:

Is the Bradley upgrade shown by BAE back in 2016 the one to become the M2A4?

https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/article/bae-systems-debuting-next-generation-bradley-prototype

 

This vehicle was essentially an AMPV with a Bradley turret. BAE offered to the US Army a hull swap upgrade in a similar fashion to how flat bottom Strykers are converted into double V hull, disassembling the vehicles and reassembling them with the new base hull + other upgraded parts. Yes a 'turretless Bradley' being given a turret as Bradley upgrade is quite funny.

 

The A4 upgrade for Bradleys are M2A3 with both the ECP (engineering change proposal) upgrades.

-MOD 6 (BFVS Track and Suspension Modification) - Provides funding to support procurement and fielding of the Track and Suspension Engineering Change Proposals (ECP) to the Bradley Vehicle fleet. The Track and Suspension field modifications include track and suspension system upgrades that help to alleviate mobility, force protection, and system survivability deficiencies. Costs associated with kit installations are included in the funding for the prime hardware contracts.
-MOD 7 (BFVS Mobility Modifications) - Provides funding to support procurement and fielding of Bradley A4 variant vehicles. In addition to vehicles, funding supports the procurement of government furnished material, engineering support related to production, and fielding. The M2A4/M7A4 Bradley regain lost capability due to added weight by upgrading the powerpack and drivetrain systems. The A4 improves the electrical system to enable hosting of inbound technologies from other Army Programs of Record.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

Visually it is very hard to tell an A4 from an A3 since many A3 have the first ECP upgrade and the new double pin tracks.

[Ramlaen]

The Army does not plan to upgrade all of its M1A2 Abrams tanks to the SEPv3 standard before it begins production of the SEPv4, Brig. Gen. Glenn Dean, the program executive officer for ground combat systems, said in a Dec. 9 interview. But all the service’s older M1A1 Situational Awareness models will be upgraded to the SEPv3 standard before SEPv4 production begins, he said.

[Scout]

 

[ZloyKrolik]

I received this for x-mas this year:

[Lord_James]

2 hours ago, ZloyKrolik said:

I received this for x-mas this year:

Did you make sure it’s not radioactive? 

[ZloyKrolik]

I licked it to make sure.