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Colosseum
Post subject: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 5th, 2019, 1:12 am
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This month's challenge has arrived after a small hiatus. The challenge material this time is to design an FD Scale Main Battle Tank, of any era. Thanks go to Miklania for the suggestion for this one.

Requirements (all dates below are guidelines, not rigid requirements):

- Main battle tank
- Any date range
- Any army (AU or otherwise)

This contest is open-ended in the same style as all our most successful challenges. "Main battle tank" in this context means a tracked, armored vehicle with a gun as its main armament (or gun launcher). See wikipedia for a good description of what constitutes a "main battle tank": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_battle_tank

There are no limitations on the size, weight, gun size, speed, track size, engine horsepower, gun rifling twist rate, turret size/shape/existence, or fuel economy of your tank. :) There is no specified date range. Feel free to show your tank in as many variants as you'd like, and with multiple paint schemes for different units/operators/etc. Submit your entry with or without a text block accompanying it.

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Length of challenge & judging categories:

This challenge will run until 23:59:59 UTC September 1st. Entries submitted after 23:59:59 UTC on September 1st will be disqualified.

Drawings will be scored via Google Forms poll, based on the below categories to decide a winner. The poll will close 23:59:59 UTC on September 5th. Categories are as follows, with 10 points available in each:

1. Drawing quality (1-10): quality of the drawing; this would include detailing, shading, accuracy, etc.
2. Design realism (1-10): how realistic the design feels with or without the associated backstory.
3. Originality (1-10): did the artist just copy an existing design and add a new paint scheme, or did they design something new from the ground up?
4. Suitability (1-10): is the design presented actually suitable for the challenge? Does it fulfill the requirements posed?
5. Kitbash factor (1-5): heavily kitbashed work gets a 1, all-original work gets a 5.

The poll will not allow commentary. Reviewers are encouraged to leave a post in this thread once polling begins with their commentary for each drawing.

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Challenge rules:

- One entry per person.
- Multiple versions of your entry are allowed, provided they show the same tank's evolution over time or different paint schemes of the tank.
- Multiple views of your drawing are encouraged but not required.
- Text blocks with stats, history, etc are allowed but not required.
- Posts that are off topic in this thread will be deleted.

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Good luck everyone and happy drawing!

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)


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SCRandall
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 9th, 2019, 3:30 am
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Here is my quick entry, the Kleinkolmuskeljaatkat. It was developed in South Africa in the mid-1970s for use in muddy and hilly areas. It is also equipped with an Mg-151/20 for use in COIN operations. This vehicle was very adept at ambushes, but couldn't handle getting ambushed as well, hence why it was not as popular in service as was hoped. It uses an auto-loading mechanism installed in between the rear elevation arms. The odd rear suspension was designed to help with reversing over steep terrain and for stabilizing on an incline. Its armor was similar to that of the early leopards Is. The design never faced another tank except at Cuito Cuanavale, where it did its job with mild success. Overall, the design was not considered a major success.
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Blackbuck
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 9th, 2019, 11:31 am
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History

The FA.90 Liopard (Feithicil Armúrtha 90 Leopard) is a main battle tank (MBT) designed and manufactured by Byrne Heavy Industries (BHI) as a replacement for the FA.79 Leon and FA.83 Tíogar. It entered service with the Glasic Army in 1990. It itself has begun to be supplemented with the FA.15 Pantar.

With the adoption of the Tíogar the Glasic defence procurement agency was already looking to the future with an eye on replacing the FA.79 entirely, as a result prototypes for replacement vehicles were produced between 1978 and 1983. Some were based on the FA.79 with complete with the wedge shaped upper and lower glacis whilst others featured a three-part glacis.

Major contract work was undertaken by Timoney Automotive, Timoney Technology and Brennan Brown alongside the Defence Research and Technology Exploitation Institute (RTEI). After the desired vehicle layout had become frozen a further series of prototypes were constructed, completed in 1981. A second series of prototypes were constructed in 1986/87 incorporating improvements for issues identified during trials. These were the first in the series to be equipped with a 120mm gun, derived from the Rh-120. The second and third series of trials between 1986 and 1988 further refined the vehicle's design with low rate initial production beginning in 1989. Troop trials prior to mass-production rectified several small issues brought up by troops which were incorporated into the final production design. Mass production commenced in 1990 and has continued to the current day.

Armament

The Liopard currently mounts a 120mm smooth-bore gun of either 44 or 55 calibres in length but was designed from the outset with a larger weapon in mind, this only now becoming relevant with the prototyping of a 130mm weapon in 2015.

The gun is fed by a 30 round bustle-mounted autoloader (continuous conveyor-belt type) developed by Timoney Technology. As with other autoloader-equipped tanks, the FA.90 has smaller crew of three. The ability to operate without a loader allows for the the use of a smaller turret than otherwise be possible. The autoloader has a cycle time of around two seconds, with the practical loading and firing cycle for a single target being between 4–6 seconds.
Other than the autoloader there is the possibility to stow a further 12 rounds in the fighting compartment in space gained through the introduction of the removable power-pack.

Mounted to the gun's immediate left is the 7mm coaxial machine gun which is of the chain type whilst in front of the gunner's hatch is a spigot for another 7mm weapon, some 4,200 rounds being carried for the two weapons. In recent years the latter has tended to be supplanted by a 7mm or 13.2mm remote weapon station on the turret's centreline.

Protection
The Liopard like many contemporary tank designs utilises composite armour, the exact composition of which has not been disclosed. The hull of the Liopard is of all-welded construction whilst the turret is of mixed construction with a cast front and welded rear.

Crew safety was paramount during the design phase which lead to the use of a solid state electric drive for the turret and gun's movement as well as the decision to use a chain gun for the coaxial weapon. These decisions removed both the traditional risk of hydraulic fires in the crew compartment when hit as well as the build-up of gun gasses during prolonged firing of the coaxial gun. Furthermore the lower profile afforded by both the vehicle itself and its suspension compared to its contemporaries further enhances its survivability on the battlefield.

Newer production vehicles, that have slowly started to replace older vehicles on a one for one basis introduce have introduced further improvements to protection, including but not limited to the introduction of newer steel alloys as well as a more extensive use of titanium alloys to save weight (the net gain of which being somewhere in the region of 500kg) as well as increasing protection in some areas.

Mobility
The FA.90 in its current form utilises a wholly removable power-pack consisting of a 12-cylinder four-stroke engine of 1,210kW coupled to a ten speed transmission, giving a power to weight ratio in excess of 19kW/tonne comparing favourably with many of its contemporaries. The hydro-pneumatic suspension units, which are mounted on all road wheels, can be adjusted on-the-move to deal with uneven terrain as well as lowering the vehicle's profile in hull down positions.

During testing, the FA.90's acceleration has been measured accelerating from a standing start to 35kmh in 5.5 seconds albeit in its basic form without appliqué armour.

Crew-Amenities

The Liopard features a heavily reclined driver's position similar to that found on the Abrams with the driver being flanked on either side by self-sealing fuel cells. The fighting compartment itself is split into two zones, bifurcated by the stroke of the autoloader. The commander has duplicate gunner controls, being able to gun the tank when required whilst the gunner is able to view the commander's panoramic sight picture albeit not operate the sight itself. Like all post-PSW Glasic tanks, the Liopard features a boiling vessel for making hot beverages and heating ration packs.

Upgrades

The Liopard has been progressively updated since its introduction, now being on the F and G variants.

Liopard Enhancement and Augmentation Program (LEAP)
LEAP was the first major upgrade to the Liopard consisting of the introduction of a removable power-pack, L55 main gun and fully digital fire-control system. This is the basis from which all further upgrades have been carried out and is the default export standard for the Liopard.

Liopard Improvement and Advancement Review (LIAR)
The LIAR initiative, spurred by experience in the Jedorian civil war that showed just how vulnerable tanks were in an urban setting. The resulting upgrades focussed on remedying the situation with most Liopards receiving appliqué belly and roof armour packages to deal primarily with mine and top-attack threats whilst also receiving bar armour around the engine compartment and thicker side-skirts over a greater length of the vehicle.

Liopard Technology Insertion and Capability Upgrade Program (TICUP)
The TICUP series of upgrades are the current standard to which the forward Liopard fleet are held. Vehicles have been comprehensively re-wired, fitted with new fire-control and situational awareness systems as well as the introduction of hard and soft-kill countermeasures. Further appliqué armour has been added covering the front two thirds of the vehicle as well as the entire turret, with bar armour remaining over the engine compartment. TICUP also introduced a new power-pack and transmission, freeing up further space within the hull as well as lowering the weight of the vehicle.

Technology Test Bed (TTB)
In 2014 a pair of technology demonstrators were created from developmental vehicles to work out future development paths for the type. TTB-1 encompassed the majority of upgrades that would later be undertaken as part of TICUP whilst TTB-2 went a step further by introducing a hybrid-electric drive and more comprehensive appliqué armour kit. TTB-2 also received one of the prototype 130mm guns under development by RTEI as well as a 13.2mm coaxial weapon and completely new combat system including a "see-through-armour" system and Li-ion batteries for engine-less operation whilst stationary.

Exports
The Liopard is in widespread service in Vinya with the armies of the Vinyan Defence Collective (VDC) having agreed to standardise on the type in the early 2000s. Further afield the Liopard has seen stiff competition from the Hallian Type 94 and Eisenmatian Leopard 2, both of which are of similar size, appearance and design. Byrne Heavy Industries have in recent years partnered with Brennan Brown to market the Liopard abroad with sales tours and expo appearances in Akeniran and Shijuku. Byrne-Brennan-Brown (BBB) are confident on the future outlook for the Liopard citing its proven track record and being combat proven in the recent invasion of Vyzhva.

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Specifications - FA.90F/G

Type: Third-generation Main-Battle-Tank
Origin: Tír Glas
Manufacturer: Byrne Heavy Industries, shadow production by Timoney Automotive
In Service: 1990-onwards
Unit-cost: $6.25m (2015)
No. Built: >2,000
Weight: 61.4 tonnes (FA.90G)
Length: 10.32m
Width: 3.85m
Height: 2.8m (turret-roof) 3.1m (commander's panoramic sight)
Crew: 3
Armour: Undisclosed arrangement of composite armour, thought to include a mix of heavy metals and ceramics as well as hard and soft-kill countermeasures.
Main Armament:
-1x 120mm Smooth-bore gun either 44 or 55 calibres in length
-30rd Bustle-mounted autoloader
-Up-to twelve further stowed rounds in the hull

Secondary Armament:
-1x 7mm Coaxial machine gun (4,200rds)
-1x 13.2mm Heavy machine gun (900rds)

Powerplant: 1,210kW Twelve-cylinder four-stroke multi-fuel engine
Power/Weight: 19.7kW/tonne
Transmission: Ten-speed (5+5) hydrostatic transmission
Suspension: Horstman active in-arm suspension units
Ground clearance: Nominally 0.49m
Operational Range: 550km
Speed:
>70km/h On-road
>50km/h Off-road
0-32km/h in 7.5 seconds

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Last edited by Blackbuck on August 20th, 2019, 12:53 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Toxic Loki
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 9th, 2019, 12:02 pm
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Nice job!!


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pegasus206
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 9th, 2019, 12:53 pm
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Great job so far !!!

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Aart.

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Themax
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 10th, 2019, 1:54 pm
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History
in the beginning of the 2000s, the lack of modern MBT designed for export convinced the kingdom to design a new MBT , after several years, the TC-52 was unveiled . This MBT is among the fastest in the world, and while it lack significant protection, it's firepower and speed allow it to stay competent , the TC-52 needed a update, and shortly after, the TC-52A1 would be unveiled, with improved ERA protections, new engine and an improved unmanned turret, however, this tank would ultimately be a disaster and it would only be exported to 3 countries, it was too expensive yet efficient . anyway, many countries bought something else and there wouldn't be any update after the TC-52A1

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Ato
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 10th, 2019, 7:43 pm
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The D2 Rhino series was introduced to the Armed Forces of the Federated States in 1962, initially intended as a wholesale replacement for the early D1 Cobra series it was at first poorly received by the Jade Guard, the AFFS's primary combat arm. An under powered engine, and an alarmingly poor reliability record meant that the D2 has a short production run and was confined to only a few trials units. The introspection of the improved D2A1 Rhino-B in 1966 resolved many of these issues as well as introducing early IR night fighting capbility, and the tank found an enthusiastic following in the Jade Guard Cavalry Command who valued the tremendous punch of it's massive 120mm main gun, which at the time gave it the ability to engage any AFV from neighboring powers in favorable conditions. Mechanized Command however still viewed its slow combat speed and large size, contributing to overall poor strategic mobility, as too much of a drawback and elected to instead procure an upgraded Cobra that better fit their doctrine.
The D2A1 Rhino-B and later D2A2 Rhino-B2, which had improved NBC and radio systems served in JG Cavalry Command's heavy Lancer and Dragoon Brigades well into he next decade, the example here is painted in the scheme commonly employed by X Corps during the 1965-1969 intervention in support of Socialist Revolutionary Front in Angyika.

In 1974 design improvements and information gained from front line units resulted in a new vehicle based on the Type 044 hull. The new Type 051 entered service in 1974 as the D2A3 Rhino-C. A new higher horsepower engine devised from the study of captured foreign examples was paired with an improved turret design that gave enhanced, protection, ammunition stowage, whilst still increasing top speed. This new version was even grudgingly accepted by Mechanized Command who finally reco0ngised the Rhino as having matured to the point where it's disadvantages did not outweigh the benefits the heavier platform brought. With the D1s and older model D2s now being transferred to State SDF units the Rhino-C was poised to become the standard issue battle tank in the AFFS, however the completion of the D14 Silverback program under the auspices of Mechanized Command in 1978 prevented this as they instead switched most of their line brigades over to the lighter more mobile vehicle, relegating to the Rhino to reserve units. This was somewhat offset by the adoption of a modified D2A4 Rhino-C2 two ears earlier by the Federated Naval infantry to replace their old Cobras.
In 1980 the Naval Infantry's version was built upon to create the D2A4M Rhino-C3 which featured an improved main gun, Fire controls system, and second generation infrared night fighting gear. This variant was quickly put into mass production, and due to the policy of military expansion in the 80s quickly became the most numerous version of the Rhino produced to date, with over 3,800 hulls constructed, including 1,200 for export to various fraternal allies. The example shown here is in the Operational Concealment Pattern Type 3S 'Alligator' which was first introduced during the suppression of Sovreigntist insurgent forces in Geran.

The shock of encountering modern opposition armored vehicles in that theater and by Volunteer External Force units deployed the Southern Triangle spurred further updates to the platform. The Type 051-1 and 052-2 hull upgrades were revisions that were both newly built and applied to previously constructed vehicles that sort to counter foreign superiority in armour piercing weapons worth remedial updates. Formalized as the D2A5 Rhino-C5 they were applied to most of the Jade Guard's Rhino fleet in the late 80s whilst the development bureaus worked on more bespoke engineering solutions. The most significant part of these modifications was the introduction of Type 86 'Granite' explosive reactive armour blocks. It was not uncommon for AFFS vehicles in the latter part of the decade to be liberally covered in these applique armour tiles, with some crews going to great lengths to procure more through 'unauthorized channels to better protect their vehicles, despite the increased weight.

In 1993 the efforts in developed were reaped with the introduction of the D2A6 Rhino-D, still based on the Type 051-2 hull it now had a completely engineered turret that saw the first introduction of composite materials into the armour systems of AFFS vehicles. Combined with further advances in fire control systems and the introduction of passive IR nightfighting equipment, this new tank put Songian AFVs back on an equal footing with their counterparts. Joined with the updated Silverback-B which features similar advances, it formed part the formidable heavy and light combination that engaged Coalition forces during the 1996 Three Rivers War. The vehicle depicted here took part in the conflict on the Northern Steppe front as part of the 11th Lancer Brigade. Though the Federation was forced to withdraw from its most advanced positioned following the settlement, the performance of the Rhino-Ds had been deemed acceptable and the necessity of a a heavy tank breakthrough tank validated in the face of voices that called for standardization on the lighter and cheaper Silverback platform. This strengthened the initiative to develop a true replacement for the Rhino platform for the 21st century, and resulted in the start of the Mongoose program.

The Federation's economic downturn in the early 2000s put significant pressure on resources and resulted in inevitable cuts to military expenditure. At the same some the development of the new Mongoose Assault Tank hit complications, that were exacerbated by the new funding realities and a lack of resources. This also meant that the program of replacing the vast stocks of Rhino-C tanks with newer Rhino-D models was also halted. Unwilling to allow the AFFS to fall behind it's peers in armoured vehicle development, and still facing pressure on it's frontiers, now more than ever that Songia's neighbors sensed weakness, new lower cost solutions were sought to these issues. The first was the creation of a composite armour upgrade package in 2008 of the existing Rhino-C tanks, along with updates to their fire control and communications gear. Codenamed 'Gladiator' this package resulted in the creation of the D2A5MX standard, also refereed to as Rhino-C8. By 2015 all Rhino-C's in Jade Guard units were now equipped with these upgrades.

The second of a true replacement for the now aged Rhino platform, was compounded by further delays to the Mongoose that by 2016 was long overdue. To remedy this gap and with the funding situation improving slightly, the Guard commissioned Bantoi Armaments to design a new generation of Rhino tanks with existing off the shelf technology. This resulted in the Rhino-E, which featured an entirely new hull and suspension design , albeit based on the Type 051-2, the Rhino-D turret was also substantially redesigned to have improved frontal armour and the capability of mounting the new longer L56 120mm gun, this was chosen instead of attempting to mount the 140mm high velocity gun-launcher developed for Mongoose due to difficulties in creating the required space for the loading mechanism and time constraints on the program. The version show here, the D2A7V Rhino-E3 has been further upgraded with the active and passive protection systems developed for the Silverback-F.

By 2019 with the D44 Mongoose finally entering service with operational conversion units it seems like the that venerable Rhino's long term of service in the Jade Guard is finally coming to an end. However vast stocks are still maintained in the Federation's storage depots, and it is likely to to remain in use by State Self Defence Forces, and a multitude of foreign export customers for many years to come.

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The Raider is a derivative of the Rhino developed for the Federated Naval Infantry in parallel to the Rhino-E to repalce their ageing Rhino-C2s and C4s. This vehicle uses a similar though divergent hull paired with the turret from the Silverback-F which mounts the high velocity 114mm auto loading gun and it's modular ammunition stowage system. This apparent reduction in firepower was done out of a desire buy the Naval Infantry to access the simplified logistics that the Silverback-F program offered, whilst at the same time retaining the Rhino's heavy frontal armour package, which was now enhanced with the latest composite material configurations.

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The Rampart and Rook systems were developed to allow Jade Guard armored formation integrated and interoperable self propelled support systems. The D3 Rook was developed in concert with the original D2 to provide local defense against close air support aircraft and the emerging threat of rocket armed attack helicopters with its twin 50mm autocannon. It was later replaced by an updated platform with radar guidance based on the Type-051 hull that was referred to as Rook-B. The D30 Rampart is based on the same Type 053 hull and carries a 152mm howitzer inside a splinterproof turret housing.
These vehicles were all replaced in the later 80s by new systems such as the Slingshot, Sandstorm and Siren based on modified variants of the Silverback chassis, but still serve on in reserve units and State SDF stocks.


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Thesketchydude13
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 11th, 2019, 9:42 pm
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Starting out originally as an attempt to make a Lightweight and cheaper alternative to the Venerable IS-2 Heavy tank with the same devastating power In Albania, the "Shqiponja" or "Eagle" series of tanks quickly evolved, going from IS-2 based to entirely locally designed! (though most of its features were heavily inspired by soviet and wartime Italian designs, such as the Suspension originally, which started on early types as an upscaled version of the type found on the L3/38 Tankette, and the turret which was effectively a clone of the T-54 in layout) though by the time full production began it was nothing more than a Glorified Stretched T-54 with the tracks and transmission from an IS-2 (though near the end they tried to make it fully locally built, though by that time Albania was on the verge of total economic collapse...but they did make a pretty good 107mm gun and later a surprisingly effective set of Turret Applique armor)

in total, counting all variants there were about 3,554 built, despite being rather good at first, it became entirely inadequate by the late 1960s, even with constant help from China and later Romania, all were retired by 2001 due to a lack of spare parts

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of note: in 1956 a 21 year old engineering student submitted a set of plans that he drew up for a proposed "Concrete Defense Vehicle" which consisted of a 105mm Howitzer in the hull, and a locally designed 60mm Low velocity gun in a small turret (based on a mortar), in fact there were two prototypes built and tested, though they kind of...blew themselves apart due to the recoil of the howitzer causing the concrete to literally collapse in on itself, later rebar was added but that first incident sealed the fate of this project understandably, there is one remaining hull in Durres on a plinth, though its just the hull and some of the concrete as the internals, turret, and suspension have all been stripped away

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Current Projects:

MV Sewol (1994-2014)
MV Sea Venture (1985-2004)
KMP Windu Karsa (1980-2011)
KMP Jatra I and II (1980-2021, 1980-)
MV Cassiopea (1972)

Future Projects:
Ferry Nankai No.1 (1972-)
Hayabusa No.1 and No.2 (1972)
MV Regent Sky (1989-2011)
MV Pride of al-Salam 95 (1996-2005)
MS Willem Ruys (1947-1965)
MS Royal Pacific (1992)
MV Sunflower 11 (1974-1998)
Awaji Ferry Classes (1968, 1970, 1974, and 1989 series)
MV Chrissi Avgi (1970-1983)


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Kattsun
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 12th, 2019, 4:43 pm
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Codenamed "Kraken" by the Solar League Concordiat (SLC) and the World Unified Government Military Council, this crab-like breed of biorobot is employed by the Biological, Existential, Contra-Terrene Aggressor (BECTA) can be considered a BECTA equivalent of the various main battle tanks of the world's armies, and is primarily utilized as a mining machine, boring out underground tunnels with its powerful bioorganic laser, which can slag large quantities of rock into glass walled caverns in sufficient numbers, but is mostly used for blasting apart ore veins into manageable chunks. When it has been seen on the frontlines, it uses its cannon as a high power ranged weapon, especially in urban terrains where concrete and glass is used extensively, and in combats against armored vehicles, where multiple Kraken can destroy an armored vehicle with focused light energy. In cities it can most often be found in underground constructions such as subways or large structures, destroying concrete and steel structures and consuming the inhabitants for transport to the Mound to be recycled. The Kraken can reach a ground speed of about 25 miles per hour on flat terrain, slowing down to climb, has a maximum speed of about 40 mph over short distances, and can walk across the bottom of freshwater lakes and rivers, but it cannot swim, and its crush depth is generally well above that of the Abyssal Plain that divides the continents.

The iridescent carapace is its most distinguishing feature, produced by its crystalline structure, which itself is a composite of iridium and carbon lattice, and capable of resisting many tons of impact force without fracturing, likely a specific trait gengineered into the being to allow it to perform the deep tunnel bore mining role of the BECTA. Because of its extreme toughness, the carapace is usually only penetrable by anti-tank weapons, such as hypervelocity ammunition or chemical energy warheads carried by guided missiles. While gaps exist in the armor of the Kraken, which are able to exploited by infantry caliber weapons, it is very unlikely that any soldier would be able to get close enough to a Kraken in order to attack it in such a manner without being killed or seriously injured. Of note is that iridium has been found to be more common in extraterrestrial meteorites than in Earth's crust, which raises the question of whether the BECTA were engineered to survive in deep space off resources in situ, or perhaps that iridium may be utilized for its resistance to silicates, acids, oxygen, and high temperature solvents such as molten rock and iron which may be encountered miles below the crust of planets being mined. Finally, from direct observation by high altitude aircraft and foot infantry reconnaissance troops in Northern Gallia and the Alarian Mountains, it is known that the Kraken is capable of closing its shell around itself, forming an airtight seal, and that this is its principal means of traversing both deep water and magma flows (artificially or naturally induced, the former in the case of Operation Vaagg-En, where nuclear weapons were employed to produce a "magma moat", which ended in failure). The natural protection of the shell allows the Kraken somewhat unprecedented terrain mobility and an effective natural defense against chemical-biological weapons.

Its use of Vaska's complex as the oxygen carrier, an iridium based oxygenating compound once thought to be a potential candidate for hypothetical (now known to be horrifyingly real) contra-terrestrial life, suggests that it is also expected to survive in a wide range of oxygenated environments, such as deep underground or at atmospheric partial pressures (and above, as BECTA "blood" has been shown to be superior in performance of oxygen binding to haemoglobin in reconstructed environments of the Carboniferous period, approximately 65 mya). Because of these two otherwise coincidental events, it is now believed that the K-Pg extinction event was caused by a BECTA Mound or Packet impact event. It is unknown why a BECTA Mound would impact deep water, where the Controller/Battery would be crushed by many dozens of atmospheres of water pressure of upon Mound opening, instead of dry land where it would be able to take root.

Aside from the shell and its shine, the other obvious feature is the large ocular organ on top of the Kraken. This allows it to project high intensity light energy across a tactically significant distance, with the notable ability to adjust for range, composition of target material, atmospheric effects, and relative motion rapidly and intuitively. Based on combat data and casualty reports, it appears that the Kraken is able to project energy from the near-ultraviolet range down to long-wave infrared, and detect motion and movement in these wavelengths, as well as spectral analysis of known threat and material signatures, which is hypothesized to be how the Kraken is able to adjust the amount of energy for blasting and melting particular deep cavern ore rocks without outright destroying them. Thus the most effective means of defeating the Kraken's laser weapon is to deploy large quantities of multispectral smoke and metallic flakes, rapidly and densely, in order to blind the creatures across as many wavelengths as possible. It is known from autopsy and observation that the Kraken has a bio-organic form of laser rangefinder, although substantially more sophisticated and capable than any artificial system, as it is capable of using single digit packets of photons and appears to be highly resistant to spoofing by most counter-lasing methods. Additionally it seems that the creature can determine, to some extent, the refractive indices of materials it is targeting and has, since the 1980s, selectively attacked recursive optics such as telescopic sights, electro-optical systems, and direct view periscopes, with preference towards the latter. It is believed that the Kraken can determine which optics are being viewed directly by humans by comparing the refractive indices to some internally stored amount, or that it has perhaps learned, through observation, the approximate refractive index of the human vitreous humour. Regardless, this behaviour was not observed prior to at least a decade after the first landing of BECTA mounds on Earth, indicating it is a learned observation in the face of sustained resistance by SLC Command and World Unified Government militaries, and that this behavior may require a Fifth Phase Mound to be established (prior to 1984 no recorded Mound had reached the Fifth Phase).

The large proboscis, over twelve feet long, is prehensile and capable of grasping and pulling with significant muscular force. The tooth-like tip is capable of punching through plastics, thin metals, most glass, and most forms of infantry body armor. The Kraken can inject a venom which is capable of liquefying most proteins, which are then consumed for energy, transport, or cooling purposes. When combined with its surprisingly powerful limbs, the Kraken is capable of dismembering and consuming an adult human in as little as a minute with its powerful claws that can easily cut an infantryman in half, width wise. Consumption of liquids and resources, such as environmental carbon from plants, debris, or water lakes and rivers, or both from fleeing humans, is the primary means by which the Kraken renews its energy stores and transports materials to the Mound to be recycled and used in production of replacement biorobots, in energy production, or in assembly of Packets to be propelled to escape velocity using the Mound's electromagnetic projector/Spire.

The Kraken was first observed during the initial Contact War in 1974, between the World Bank, which later became the World Unified Government, the Lunar Military Command, an alliance of the two largest World Bank members and several industrial states outside the World Bank political infrastructure, and the BECTA. Initial contact with the BECTA was made near the Mare Orientale by a small exploration team from the Hsingnu Republic, which was immediately recycled by several biorobots. Soldiers and scientists stationed in the Lunar bases, either on the surface or underground, would later utilize indigenous Lunar weapons systems, originally intended to defend against each other, to combat the BECTA threat. These included nuclear weapons, recoilless rifles, and eventually, Lunar fighting vehicles mounting rocket launchers and large caliber nuclear projectors, rocket guns, and jetpacks were shipped en masse to the Moon by 1976, with a stalemate being reached and a slow rollback of the enemy ensued. World Bank troops fought on the Moon until the Mare Orientale Mound fired two immature Spores at Earth in 1978 during a Libration period, resulting in much of the World Bank and LMC forces being withdrawn and the surrender of the Moon to the BECTA. Subsequent deployment of space-based nuclear missiles and radars put an end to further threats of Spore landing, with one object (believed to be a Spore, as the impact point would have placed it well behind the IMF Canal Defense Line and in the second largest [mostly untapped] uranium field in the world) originating from Mars being destroyed in 1992 by sustained nuclear and particle beam bombardment, before exploding in the upper atmosphere in a megaton yield airburst.

tldr

click clack
skitter skrat

he protecc
he attacc
but most importantly
he snap bacc

also his face is OwO be afeared

_________________
The Chinese people are not to be cowed by U.S. atomic blackmail. Our country has a population of 600 million and an area of 9.6 [million sq. km]. The United States cannot annihilate the Chinese nation with its small stack of atom bombs. Even if the U.S. atom bombs were so powerful that, when dropped on China, they would make a hole right through the earth, or even blow it up, that would hardly mean anything to the universe as a whole, though it might be a major event for the solar system.


Last edited by Kattsun on August 20th, 2019, 7:34 am, edited 12 times in total.

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reytuerto
Post subject: Re: Main battle tank challenge (August 2019)Posted: August 12th, 2019, 8:25 pm
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Wow! I know who is the winner in "originality" :shock: ! But I will not try with a BECTA bouillavese! :D


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