US AFV Concepts NO.6: The other American S-tank

CONCEPT NO.6 COMBAT VEHICLE, CANNON/MISSILE/ROCKET

Concept Description and Design Rationale

(C) In considering the role of armor in future warfare, the assertion has occasionally been made, with understandable conviction, that armored forces must be equally prepared for all forms of combat, both nuclear and non-nuclear. This precept may have military-political and other value, but as a guideline for concept design, it is not very helpful.

(C) Ideally, the proper trade-offs or mix of capabilities would be determined by the fraction of future combat situations which would involve nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, this type of information is not available.

(C) So the designer has three choices. The first two choices involve optimizing the concept in favor of one of the two options at the expense of the other. Or, he can try to give equal consideration to each capability, and try to avoid the constraints and penalties that usually occur in this type of design.

(C) This design study is an attempt to judiciously integrate the conflicting requirements of both nuclear and non-nuclear warfare. One of the objectives of the study was to determine the type of vehicle design that would be most compatible with the weight, dimensional, and fabrication problems of high attenuation radiological shielding. The next objective was to determine the type of weapon system that would be most adaptable to the design constraints imposed by the radiological requirements, without an undue degradation in weapon effectiveness. It was then necessary to blend these two considerations tinto the total design.

(C) This concept is one of the designs possible when both survivability and fightability are considered. The vehicle has a two-man crew in a thick walled compartment, isolated from the outside environment. The cannon is mounted fixed to the hull over the crew. The automatic loader is outside the compartment, and is similar to one previously described. The concept also has a missile-rocket launcher that can be elevated. In the travel position, the launcher and weapons are protected against nuclear effects. Overhead doors are opened to permit elevation of the unarmored launcher.

(C) Fire control for the cannon and missiles for this type of system were previously described. The Rapid Fire Weapons System is remotely located, and can be operated from within the compartment.

 

(C) Characteristics and Outstanding Features

 

a. Weight: 55 ton

b. Width: 138 inches

c. Height (top of hull): 91 inches

d. Height (overall): 97 inches

e. Length (overall): 316 inches

f. Ground pressure: 14.7 psi

g. Variable ground clearance: 6-24 inches

h. Primary armament – Cannon, Missiles, Rockets

i. The vehicle provides a high degree of protection from nuclear effects, but retains the capabilities of a fighting vehicle.

j. Other features relating to fabrication, performance, and weapons previously described would be applicable to this concept

 

Attatched drawing: