- First Hull Layer: The initial purpose of the first layer is to slow down, deform, blunt, and otherwise deflect the incoming round. Therefore, the very first layer is organized in a way that would do such a thing. It is a honeycombed pattern, much like that of Chobham armor. The layer is made up of highly compressed titanium that is reinforced with both neo-crystalline tungsten (Tungsten-carbide and Titanium-carbide). Aluminum oxide is used to coat the entire layer, throughout its entirety and ceramic foam is injected into the honeycombing.
- Second Hull Layer: The second hull layer is meant more to absorb the impact of the round whilst still acting to slow and deform it. For this purpose, the entire layer is webbed with scales of highly compressed and very dense ceramic and porcelains, all encased with RHA and coated with aluminum oxide. The scales are overlapped and used in layers, which act as a sort of net for incoming rounds, slowing them down and distributing the impact evenly throughout the layer. The RHA helps to slow down the rounds as well and the layer contains ceramic foam for cushioning against the natural brittleness of the harder materials.
- Third Hull Layer: The third hull layer is meant to provide the most protection against the incoming rounds. Like Chobham armor, it is made up of highly compressed and extremely dense Depleted Uranium, at least 30% more effective than standard DU. This layer, like Chobham used rods made up of tungsten and this highly compressed Depleted Uranium, using ceramic foam cushioning. The rods are arranged perpendicular to one another and work to deform and deflect the incoming projectiles. Aluminum oxide is used again to coat all rods and is used in all alloys.
- Fourth Hull Layer: The fourth hull layer provides the first of two "back up" layers, incase the projectiles get past the third layer. Like the Leopard 2A6, it is a perforated layer, using RHA with ceramic foam injected into the perforations. The layer provides initial protection against radiation and fragments by using polycarbonates, which are used in "bullet-proof" glass applications. In addition, further aluminum oxide coating is used to stop as many fragments as possible and to prevent chipping. Kevlar, Aramid, and Dyneema back this layer.
- Fifth Hull Layer: The fifth hull layer is a relatively thin layer, which is the last "back up" layer and separates the inside of the hull to the outside. It is made up of similar materials as the fourth layer and uses a specific alloy made from Depleted Uranium, Aluminum Oxide, Titanium, Tungsten, Carbides, and several other composites and alloys to make a very sturdy, dense, and non-reactive wall that provides excellent ballistic protection and prevents radiation from entering the inside of the hull. Kevlar, Aramid, and Dyneema back this layer. NOMEX is used to keep any external fire from reaching the inside of the hull.
- Add-Ons: Rear armor levels are required to be low because of the significant heat generated by the engine of a tank. Unfortunately, this makes for a weak spot. Often tanks and IFVs will have a difficult time maneuvering to the rear of a tank, which should never be exposed during a tank fight. However, in urban environments, simple weapons such as the RPG-7/29 can be extremely effective at disabling tanks by hitting the tank in the rear hull or in the cupola joining the turret to the hull. In order to solve this, special add-ons can be used to deflect RPGs and other projectiles.
- ERA Availabilities
- Integrated Advanced Explosive Reactor Armor (IAERA): ERA in its most traditional form is simply blocks of explosives placed on the hull of a tank. However, certain limitations were shown in KE penetrators that were longer than the actual blocks. The Kontakt-5 armor proved to help this a little but was only defeated by newer KE penetrators. Kaktus ERA, on the other hand, boosted effectiveness against APFSDS rounds by 160% and against HEAT rounds by 200%. Nonetheless, the development of an even better ERA was put to work within the Empire. What was developed was Integrated Advanced Explosive Reactive Armor (IAERA), which used all the capabilities of the Kaktus ERA except with a different form of plastic explosive, called Arckell, which was inherently more stable but had a much faster detonation velocity (9,420 m/s @ 2.05 g/cubic cm). Kontakt-5 ERA was estimated to be like adding 600mm of RHA against HEAT and 250mm against KE. Kaktus ERA increased those numbers to between 794 and 856mm against HEAT and 404 to 436mm against KE. IAERA added an additional 10% effectiveness over Kaktus ERA because of the increased detonation velocity of the Arckell explosive. Therefore, IAERA adds approximately 480mm of protection against KE rounds and 925mm of protection against HEAT rounds. In addition, like Kontakt-5 ERA, the detonation of IAERA is contained within its metal plates, allowing some applique protection. Each brick is 4.13 inches wide, 9.05 inches long, and 3.75 inches thick and each brick weighs 48.50 pounds.
- Non-Explosive Reactive Armor (NxRA): NERA or NxRA operate similarly to explosive reactive armor, but without the explosive liner. Two metal plates sandwich an inert liner, such as rubber. When struck by a shaped charge's metal jet, some of the impact energy is dissipated into the inert liner layer, and the resulting high pressure causes a localized bending or bulging of the plates in the area of the impact. As the plates bulge, the point of jet impact shifts with the plate bulging, increasing the effective thickness of the armor. This is almost the same mechanism as the second mechanism that explosive reactive armor uses, but it uses energy from the shaped charge jet rather than an explosive. Since the inner liner is not explosive itself, the bulging is less energetic than on explosive reactive armor. However, NERA and NxRA are lighter and completely safe to handle (and safe for nearby infantry), and can be packaged in multiple spaced-out layers if necessary. The NxRA used is basically a very scaled down segment of armor used on the tank. The scales of porcelain and ceramic are far smaller and woven in a different pattern with ceramic foam injected between them and their layers, all of which are coated with aluminum oxide. A very high density rubber is used to protect the layers as well. The rubber is derived from anti-fatigue mats. This allows NxRA to have a resistance rating of up to 450mm against HEAT rounds and 300mm against KE rounds. Each brick is 8.50 inches wide, 13.57 inches long, and 6.00 inches thick and each brick weighs 69.28 pounds.
- Projectile Attachment Cage (PAC): The PAC is an add-on kit extremely similar to the RPU except that instead of simply protecting the engine compartment, it protects the entire hull of the tank. It is spaced out effectively to protect the skids and the turret cupola but is engineered and shaped to not get the way of the skid mounted LOSAT launchers and the turret itself. It is made of the same alloy as the RPU and is laid out in exactly the same way. It weighs 10,285 pounds.
- Rear Protection Unit (RPU): The RPU is an add-on kit made of parallel bars of "slat armor" made of an alloy consisting of Tungsten Carbide, Aluminum Oxide, and hardened ceramics. It is usually spaced approximately 12 to 20 inches from the hull of the tank and effectively detonates HEAT warheads before they rear the hull of the tank, rendering them useless. It has been shown, in combat applications, to provide significant protection to the engine compartment. It weighs a mere 3,425 pounds.
- RPG Protection Panels (RPP): The RPP is another add-on kit that is made specifically for urban warfare. They are panels made of a mixture of Depleted Uranium, highly compressed ceramics and porcelains, aluminum oxide, and tungsten carbide. The interior of the panels are arranged in a criss cross pattern in the center with a web of scales of both ceramics and porcelains. Ceramic foam is injected into the open spaces and aluminum oxide is used to coat all scales and layers. Tungsten carbide and Depleted Uranium make up the rods. Lastly, they are encased in RHA and attachable to the side skits of the tank. They are far heavier than the PAC and each skid can hold up to 4 of these panels, each weighing 4,250 pounds. They would add a total of 34,000 pounds to the tank, making it extremely heavy. However, they add 300% effectiveness to the skids against HEAT warheads. Against KE warheads, they add an additional 150%.
- RPG Protection Panel-Light (RPP-L): The RPP-L is a scaled down and lighter version of the RPP. The RPP, deemed too heavy for actual use needed to be redesigned so that it could be used more effectively and more often. The main problem with the RPP was it's weight. It's protection was beyond adequate but, in many cases, excessively unneeded. The RPP-L, therefore, sought to, rather than quadruple the effectiveness of a side skid against RPGs and other objects, simply double it, reducing the weight to just 1,062.50 pounds per panel. The total system of 8 panels adds a total of 8,500 pounds versus 34,000. This allows the system to be carried by light and medium battle tanks as well. Whereas the standard RPP added 300% against HEAT and 150% against KE, the figures were reduced to 100% against HEAT and 75% against KE.
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M2032 Sabertooth
The M2032 Sabertooth prototype was armored well against KE and HEAT threats with this armor basis but at 68 tons, it was light enough that it could handle much more armor. Combat experience showed that whilst the prototype was extremely armored against incoming projectiles, both HEAT and KE, it could go further. |
M2032A1A/A1B Sabertooth
The M2032A1A/B Sabertooth production model was further armored. Combat experience from the prototype revealed that an extra four tons of armor could increase the effectiveness of the armor by as much as 5%, nearly 3,000mm RHA levels in the most vulnerable parts. Combat experience also showed that top-diving attacks were extremely capable and top armor was, unfortunately, too thin, leading to further armoring on the turret and hull top against KE projectiles. Still, the Sabertooth maintains a weak spot to its extreme rear engine compartment, to which little can be done due to heat. The M2032A1A/B Sabertooth carries the Rear Protection Unit by default and can mount all forms of other add-on kits. |
M2032A1E Sabertooth
The M2032A1E Sabertooth model was very similar to the M2032A1 variant. The A1E is an export model for only approved countries. It features the same armor scheme as the A1 variant but does not feature a standard RPU nor is it equipped with the same reactive armor as the A1 is. The A1E is slightly downgraded but is still a formidible foe. |
M2032A2 Sabertooth
The M2032A2 Sabertooth is an improved model that not only adds improvements to the Sabertooth but standarizes many of the features between the A1A and A1B. An additional 4 tons of armor and construction have been added to the A2 over the A1. This, in turn, adds more improved resistance to both HEAT and KE rounds in three main areas, where the A1 was considered most vulnerable: the front, the roof, and the rear. The addition of an engine protection cage inside of the rear hull allows for significantly improved protection against HEAT rounds while adding minimal weight. |
M2040 Wolverine II
The M2040 Wolverine II utilizes the same armor as the M2032A1A/B Sabertooth but omits the turret in favor of a deployable bridge. The Wolverine II can mount the same add-on kits to its hull that any Sabertooth can mount. |
M2060 Buzzsaw
The M2060 Buzzsaw is a modification on the M2032A1 in a specialized urban combat role. It features the same armor as the M2032A1A/B. |
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