Welcome to Gaia! ::

Information

The M-32 Ripsaw is based off of the Ripsaw tank design. Additions to the tank include the addition of armaments, guidance systems, enhanced radio communication systems, ammo containers and armor.

Exploiting the advantage of low weight missile systems, the tank often forgoes traditional tank cannons, although this can increase cost considerably. The Tank is capable however of using mortars, machine guns, cannons, chain guns, grenade launchers and a variety of other weapons.

The armor of the tank is relatively strong and capable of deflecting the majority of small arms rounds, including .50 caliber rounds. However, with weight limitations considered the strength of the armor is slightly under that of an MRAP, although it is significantly lighter being smaller.

The Tank has the capability of providing the armored skirt around the treads of the vehicle, although this increases weight somewhat by nearly 400 pounds. This removable skirt is roughly as capable as MRAP armor. All together the armor is some 1000 pounds, or half a ton.

In addition to the similarity of the MRAP vehicle, the tank has a sloped armor addition beneath it, shaped like a V, which fits along well with the raised platform, allowing for the blast and shrapnel of explosives such as mines to be deflected.

The vehicles range from the radio operator is roughly 500 miles, for the best connections.


Engine

The engine is a heavily modified CAT- C15 2007 "King of the Hill" 600 Horsepower Diesel Engine delivering around the same power, but substantially more torque, over the current 650 horsepower tactical U.S. RIPSAW EV-1 unmanned vehicle engine, and shares commonality with various other vehicles. Despite being slower and carrying a substantially higher payload, the engine performs well with the vehicle, and despite it's somewhat lower horsepower, matches it with torque which then goes on to the power the hybrid electric engine, reducing constraints on the engine, and promoting fuel efficiency.

Hybrid

The Engine essentially powers an electric hybrid unit, which then goes on to power the vehicle, making the vehicle technically electrically powered, but uses a gasoline powered engine. These designs often result in higher fuel efficiency, due to the ability to maximize engine designs and adjust for acceleration without directly or immediately altering the engine or it's RPM.

The vehicle also sports a fuel injector, and a number of improvements, including turbochargers, over the 375 horsepower duramax engine.

The Hybrid design is fairly similar to the FED BRAVO. The design allows the vehicle to consume 70% less fuel, and as a result reduces the logistical supply and range of the vehicle. This translates to roughly 3 times the range the vehicle would have without. With this design, the vehicle gets around 8.2 mpg city and 14.1 mpg highway, and some 8 MPG off-road.


Armor

The vehicle utilizes the Advaced Modular Armor Protection stuff, which is a successor to the MEXAS.

The armor is similar in strength to the MRAP, with the MEXAS, and should theoretically be stronger at the same weight or lighter weight with the Advanced Modular Armor Protection armor.

The armor is similar to the M117, in that it is sloped on both sides; it is additionally, sloped underneath the vehicle, as to deflect the blast of land mines away from the vehicle, as similar to the RG-33, or MRAP "cougar", and is a monocoque v-hull design. In addition to this, the armor uses the "FRAG-KIT 6" and caged "Slat" armor in order to better help protect from RPG rounds.

As a result of the design, shape, and material, it should provide substantial protection against RPG's, light arms, heavy arms, and mines.

M198 Howitzer and M119 howitzer

The M198 Howitzer weighs roughly 16,000 pounds, while the M119 howitzer weights roughly 4,000 pounds. While the M119 is capable of being outfitted to the tank, very little ammo could be carried at maximum horsepower outage.

As a result the design of the vehicle can only sport the barrel and operating mechanism. This is 1300 pounds for the M119 105mm Howitzer, and only about 4200 pounds in the M198 Howitzer [1], allowing for just the firing mechanism to be outfitted to the tank, since towing is essentially done by the UGV.

As a result the M198 sports the 6,000 payload version at substantially reduced speeds and can carry roughly 16 M795 100 pound rounds. The M119 howitzer rounds are roughly 40 pounds, as a result the max load is 42 rounds, although this typically only 20.

As a result of the enormous weight, the M198 variant does not carry any additional support weapons, although the 105mm is capable of carrying two M60 mortars, with 20 rounds each, two Javelins, and a single .50 caliber CAWS machine gun and M240 machine gun weapon variant.


Ammunition and Fuel Carrier

The ammunition and fuel carrier is a 4000 pound variant with a limited 80 mph speed. It can carry up to 500-540 gallons of JP8, or around 3400-3672 pounds of fuel, or the equivalent of 3 MRAP's, 3 UGV's, or a single M90 Scorpion or M3A2. The remaining 300-600 pounds of space is utilized to carry ammunition, such as in the .50 caliber or M240 machine gun. 100 round of .50 caliber ammunition is roughly 30 pounds, while 500 rounds of 7.62mm x 51mm ammunition is roughly 30 pounds. As a result the vehicle can carry between 1500 and 7500 .50 caliber and 7.62mm x 51mm NATO ammunition respectively, or double this for 500 gallon carriage.

The vehicle sports only the M240 and two javelins in defense.

In the ammunition carrier role for the M198, it can carry roughly 40 rounds, or 100 rounds for the 120mm cannon or 105mm howitzer. It can also carry 100 120mm mortar rounds, or 300 81mm mortar rounds or 600 M60 mortar rounds. In addition, it can only carry rifle and machine gun ammunition, if desired, or an array of combat weaponry.