| LKPz-50 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 4 |
| Engine | DM-10-5, 555 kW (755 PS) |
| Pwr/Wgt | 13,9 kW/t; 18,9 PS/t |
| Suspension | torsion bars |
| Length (overall/hull) | 9 m; 6,1 m |
| Width | 3,27 m |
| Heigth | 2,4 m |
| Max. Speed | 65 km/h |
| Range | 650 km street, 450 km light terrain, 350 km heavy terrain |
| Armament | PG-100-51 100 mm rifled gun, 60 rounds, up to 10 rpm; 7,5 mm sMG RP, 2500 rounds; 12,7 mm MG, 500 rounds |
LKPz-50
The LKPz-50 is a further development of the famous MP-43. It's development began in 1944 and took about 6 years, the serial production of the first batch started in 1952. It was heavily influenced by the experience gained by the Laywenranian troops during the third Cataclysm and has a welded steel hull and a cast turret. The glacis is inclined at 60° from the vertical and proved to be capable of stopping basically all anti-tank rounds at the introduction of the tank. Later upgrades gradually improved firepower and armour and the tank stayed the workhorse of the tank forces for over 3 centuries. It proved to be a very reliable, rugged and powerful vehicle.
Armament
The main armament of the LKPz-50 is the M50A3 100 mm rifled gun (which is based on the 100 mm naval gun) with bore evacuator, which reaches a practical rate of fire up to 10 rounds per minute. The modernised LKPz-50BM introduced a thermal sleeve. A manual loader is used.
The LKPz-50 has two machine guns: a co-axial 7,5 mm MG and later a 12,7 mm anti-aircraft MG. The first batches had no stabilised gun, but starting with the LKPz-50A, introduced during 1954, a one-axis stabilisation was introduced, which was upgraded two years later to a way improved two-axis stabilisation.
During the 50s the main anti-tank asset was the full-bore ABCBC-HE PB-100-47, which allowed it to engage all contemporary MBTs. Later these rounds got first supplemented and later replaced with APDS rounds. Additional anti-tank power was provided by the KP-100-51 HEAT shell and it's later variants, with it's penetration beeing 390 mm RHA. About 50% of the tanks usual loadout consisted of the EP-100-44 HE shell. The LKPz-50BA introduced the SP-100-60 subcalibre APDS rounds, which got later replaced by the FSP-100-70 APFSDS-T (introduced 1970) and FSP-100-80 (introduced 1980) rounds.
The FSP-100-80 projectile can penetrate 444 mm of RHAe at 90° at 500 meters, 425 mm at 1000 meters and 328 mm at 4000 meters.
Protection
First models had 100 mm glacis armour and 260 mm turret armour. The armour of the LKPz-50BM has a maximum thickness of 200 mm (multilayered) for the hull and 320 + 20 mm add-on armour on the turret, which increased weight to 46 tons. The 20 mm add-on armour on the front of the turret has a modular appearance with a triangular profile. Although it might look like bricks of explosive reactive armour, the add-on composite armour is designed this way for easy replacement after combat damage. The tank also has side skirts as a protection against shaped charges. The metal side skirts have three holes each that form steps for the crew to reach the roof hatches. On the sides of the turret there are ammunition boxes for the heavy antiaircraft machine gun. The upper glacis plate has two track segments, while the lower glacis plate can be fitted with steel screens or a mine roller. The modernized version adds an additional mine protection plate and a bar for the driver, which increases protection against mines and improvised explosive devices. Also, the older LKPz-50 tanks have a conventional driver's seat bolted on the floor of the tank, wherereas the LKPz-50BM version has a parachute-harness like arrangement. In this way, the driver does not have any contact with the hull except on the pedals and is out of the shockwave area of exploding land mines or IEDs.
Mobility and Equipment
The LKPz-50 has a cabin layout shared with many tanks, with the fighting compartment in the front, engine compartment in the rear, and a dome-shaped turret in the centre of the hull. The driver's hatch is on the front left of the hull roof. The commander is seated on the left, with the gunner to his front and the loader on the right. The tank's suspension has the drive sprocket at the rear, and dead track.
The original LKPz-50 was powered by the 550 kW PDM-10-5, 4 stroke, 10-cylinder, liquid-cooled, turbo charged direct injection diesel engine, and a six speed (four forward, two reverse) THM-5800 hydromechanic transmission (engaging under load, one power flow in straight run and two power flows in turns with planetary final transmission), giving it a governed top speed of 65 km/h on paved roads. The LKPz-50BA has an improved version of the original engine. The new PDM-10-6 provides 605 kW, the PDM-10-6M of the LKPz-50BM provides 630 kW (through the increased weight of the armour, the power-to-weight ratio stayed roughly the same).
The whole engine package could be changed in about 25 minutes . Before the engine fumes leave the exhaust pipe, they get cooled by coolant air, to reduce the thermal signature. The tank is equipped with a NBC-protection system, a fire-fighting system using non-toxic agents and provisions for underwater fording of rivers.
The LKPz-50 tanks have a torsion bar suspension. The modernized versions also has eight telescopic hydro-gas shock-absorbers to increase the overall speed.The running gear consists of six dual rubber-tyred road wheels and four return rollers per side, with the idler wheel at the front and drive sprocket at the rear. The first two road wheels have characteristic, prominent gaps between them and the rest of the road wheels. The tank has two bolt tracks with metal-rubber articulations. The BA version has aluminum alloy road wheels. The braking system has been improved on the LKPz-50BA by replacing the old wet multi-disc brakes with dry multi-disc brakes and the old hydraulic system with a new servomechanism.
Fire control
The commander could use multiple periscopes in his commander cupola and the PzKBG for surveillance, targeting and distance-measuring. He can use an turret-control override to either guide the gunner to a target or to shoot by himself.
The gunner is equipped with a scope which provides a 4x and a 12x magnification, allowing the tank to engage tank-sized targets at about 2,5 km. The LKPz-50A introduced an IR-searchlight, which enabled it to engage enemies at about 1,5 km distance during night time. In the LKPz-50BM the gunner's day sight telescopic periscope features an integrated laser rangefinder (200 m to 5'000 m measurement distance) and an electronic reticle.
Later versions introduced laser range finders and the domestic automated "Patta" FCS. According to the manual of the Patta fire control system, the ballistic solution generated ensures a hit percentage greater than 95% for a target under 2'000 meters and greater than 75% for a target between 2000 and 3000 meters. Also, the FCS can be used to aim a target located at up to 6 km away with the high explosive round, up to 5 km away for the APFSDS-T round and up to 3 km for the HEAT projectiles. The coaxial machine gun can be aimed at a maximum distance of 2 km using the FCS of the tank.
Variants
LKPz-50 - basic model
LKPz-50A - introduced one-axis stabilisation of the main gun, improved night vision equipment, 1954
LKPz-50B - introduced two-axis stabilisation of the main gun, NBC protection, a better turret drive, protection against Napalm, 1956
LKPz-50BA - new engine PDM-10-6 with 605 kW, new fording equipment, enlarged fuel reservoirs, introduction of new subcalibre ammunition as primary ammunition, better NBC-equipment, new radio, added anti-radiation lining, 1964
LKPz-50BM - improved suspension, better engine with 630 kW, automated FCS with laser range finder, ability to fire ATGM, reactive armour KLADNA, better subcalibre ammunition, improved armour (addition of passive armour to turret and glacis, protection against mines), new radio, addition of smoke launchers, thermal sleeve for gun barrel, better night-vision equipment, 1971
LKPz-50P - prototype, armed with a 120 mm smooth-bore gun, "Wolniza" FCS and composite armour, didn't entered production as the LKPz-82 was planned to enter service, 1974
DMTL-50 - Armoured engineer vehicle based on the LKPz-50 chassis with a new, fixed superstructure, a 6,5t crane and a mine clearing plough. The commander has a cupola with a 12,7mm MG. With the widespread introduction of the LKPz-82, many LKPz-50s were retrofitted to DMTL-50s.
Data
| LKPz-50 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 4 |
| Engine | DM-10-5, 555 kW (755 PS) |
| Pwr/Wgt | 13,9 kW/t; 18,9 PS/t |
| Suspension | torsion bars |
| Length (overall/hull) | 9 m; 6,1 m |
| Width | 3,27 m |
| Heigth | 2,4 m |
| Ground clearance | 400 mm |
| Fording | 2,05 m; 4 m with fording equipment |
| Trench | 3 m |
| Vertical step | 1,15 m |
| Side slope | 40% |
| Gradient | 60% |
| Max. Speed | 65 km/h |
| Range | 650 km street, 450 km light terrain, 350 km heavy terrain |
| Armament | PG-100-51 100 mm rifled gun, 60 rounds, up to 10 rpm; 7,5 mm sMG RP, 2500 rounds; 12,7 mm MG, 500 rounds |
| Elevation | -9° to +20° |
| Turret rotation | 22 °/s |
LKPz-82
| LKPz-82 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
| Engine | PDM-12-8, 805 kW |
| Pwr/Wgt | 18,3 kW/t; 24,9 PS/t |
| Suspension | torsion bars |
| Length (overall/hull) | 9,31 m; 6,8 m |
| Width | 3,17 m |
| Heigth | 2,1 m |
| Max. Speed | 80 km/h on road |
| Range | 700 km street, 475 km light terrain, 375 km heavy terrain |
| Armament | PG-125-74 125 mm smoothbore gun, 42 rounds, up to 14 rpm; 7,5 mm sMG K, 2000 rounds; 12,7 mm MG, 500 rounds |
prototype version
History
The tank was developed as a replacement for the LKPz-50 in the 70s. It put emphasis on crew safety and a low profile. It had a very long design phase, especially because of the autoloader and the turret. In 1978, the first prototype was tested in the tank proving grounds and showed to have a very good mobility. In later tests, problems with the turret mechanism were revealed, which were solved in later prototypes. These prototypes proved to be very satisfactory and serial production was ordered, starting in 1982.
Armour
The LKPz-82 uses modular composite (ceramic and steel composite) armour at the frontal arrays of the tank. While the sides are only enough armoured to withstand the impact of autocannons and most handheld AT-launchers, the front was and is capable to withstand hits from all contemporary AT weapons. The glacis and side skirts were equipped with ERA, later version featured ERA on the frontal turret hemisphere and top. The sides are protected by steel-reinforced rubber-skirts, which are supplemented by ERA at the frontal third. The crew is also protected against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) threats, as the LKPz-82 is equipped with a 'Winter' NBC overpressurization system, which provides up to 4 millibars over-pressure inside the vehicle.
The turret is fitted with two six-barreled 81mm smoke grenade launchers and two four-barreled flare launchers. The system can create a thick smoke that blocks both vision and thermal imaging. The tank is also equipped with a smoke screen generator that is triggered by the driver. When activated, diesel fuel is injected into the hot exhaust, creating the thick smoke. The tank is equipped with a passive protection LURWS EOCMDAS system. This system effectively protects an MBT against the two most common ATGW types: wire-guided SACLOS systems (e.g. TOW, HOT) and laser-guided ATGMs (e.g. Hellfire, Copperhead). LURWS consists of a specialized computer/control panel, two electro-optical interference emitters located on each side of the gun, four laser sensors located on top of the turret, and racks of dedicated anti-laser smoke grenades. The LURWS has two combat roles. In the first role, it works against IR guided ATGMs, by aligning the turret front to the incoming ATGM and using IR emitters to send false signals which scramble the ATGM guidance system. The second part of the system defeats laser guided weapons. When a laser beam is detected the LURWS informs the crew with light and sound; it then launches laser defeating smoke grenades, which enshroud the tank and break or degrade the lock. The tank commander can also press a button that will turn the turret front to the laser to meet incoming ATGM with the best protected section and to engage the laser beam source with the maingun. The LURWS system weights about 300kg and overviews a total 360° field.
The tank is additionally equipped with an active protection system APSS. The active protection system consists out of a radar, focused instant effect protection ammunition and the control equipment.
Ammunition and fuel are seperated from the crew by armoured bulkheads and the ammunition section posesses blow-out panels. Four 9 kg Halon fire extinguisher bottles are installed on the right behind the driver's station. The bottles are connected to pipes and hoses and are activated automatically by the fire detection system, when temperatures rise above 82 °C inside the fighting compartment, or manually via a control panel in the driver's compartment. An extra 2,5 kg Halon fire extinguisher is stored on the floor beneath the main gun.
Mobility
The LKPz-82 is propelled with the PDM-12-8 Diesel engine, which provides 805 kW. The PDM-12-8 is a four-stroke, V-type, 12 cylinder multifuel, exhaust turbo-charged, liquid-cooled diesel engine. It's specific fuel consumption is rated at 220 l/100 km and is coupled to an automatic transmission, which has five forward and two reverse gears and a torque converter. The LKPz-82 has three fuel tanks, which have a total capacity of 1'590 l. 705 l are under armour, 495 over the right track and 390 l in external fuel drums. The top speed of the tank is about 80 km/h, top reverse is 35 km/h. The power pack can be changed in field in about 20 minutes.
The suspension of the LKPz-82 consists out of a torsion bar suspension and has advanced friction dampers. The running gear consists out of seven dual rubber-tyred road wheels and five return rollers per side. The drive sprocket is situated at the rear.
Armament
The Tank is armed with a fully stabilised 125 mm smoothbore cannon PGM-82, which is loaded by an autoloader. The autoloader holds total 42 rounds. 10 of these are in the primary ammo rack, which is located to the right of the gun and is responsible for loading the gun. The secondary ammo rack holds 32 rounds and replenishes the primary ammo rack. The Rate of Fire reaches up to 14 rounds per minute.
The cannon can fire the following types of ammunition:
- APFSDS (FSP-125-81 APz)
- shaped charge (KP-125-79)
- high explosive fragmentation (EP-125)
- target practice (ÜP-125)
- ATGM 'PALR Sturm' (range up to 5 km, 17 seconds flight time to maximum range, can engage low flying targets)
Usual combat loadout consists out of:
- 15 rounds APFSDS (about 600 mm penetration RHAe at 2km)
- 6 rounds HEAT (about 750 mm penetration RHAe)
- 18 rounds HE
- 3 ATGM (about 720 mm penetration RHAe)
The tank is also equipped with a co-axial 7,5 mm MG with 200 rounds.
Fire Control
The tank is equipped with the 'Kobra' FCS, which is linked to a ballistic computer. The gunner is equipped with a dual magnification stabilized primary sight (2,5x and 12x), which incorporates a langer rasefinder, the laser guidance system and a thermographic camera, both are linked to the FCS computer. The commander has an independent sight, the TNS-1. The TNS-1 is a stabilised panoramic sight designed for day/night observation and target identification; it provides an all round view with a traverse of 360°. The images from the multi-channel sights (TV, Thermal Imager and radar) are collected by the computer, generating a picture displayed to the crew. This gives a very good performance in bad weather, smoke, dust and prevents active jamming from the enemy. The FCS is able to locate and remember positions of enemy targets, showing them to the crew in an easy-to-read image. The computer can display informations of the location of the tank and the status of different systems.
The fire control suite is capable of providing up to three range values in five seconds. The range data is transmitted to the fire control computer and is used to calculate the firing solution. Also, because the laser rangefinder is integrated into the gunner's primary sight, the gunner is able to read the digital range measurement directly. The maximum range of the laser rangefinder is just less than 10,000 m with a measuring accuracy to within 20 m at this range. The combined system allows the tank to engage moving targets at ranges of up to 4,000 meters whilst itself being on the move over rough terrain.
production version
Data
| LKPz-82 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
| Engine | PDM-12-8, 805 kW |
| Pwr/Wgt | 18,3 kW/t; 24,9 PS/t |
| Suspension | torsion bars |
| Length (overall/hull) | 9,31 m; 6,8 m |
| Width | 3,17 m |
| Heigth | 2,1 m |
| Ground clearance | 450 mm |
| Fording | 1,65 m; 5m with fording equipment |
| Trench | 3 m |
| Vertical step | 1,25 m |
| Side slope | 40% |
| Gradient | 60% |
| Max. Speed | 80 km/h on road |
| Range | 700 km street, 475 km light terrain, 375 km heavy terrain |
| Armament | PG-125-74 125 mm smoothbore gun, 42 rounds, up to 14 rpm; 7,5 mm sMG K, 2000 rounds; 12,7 mm MG, 500 rounds |
| Elevation | -11° to +15° |
| Turret rotation | 26 °/s |
LLSpPz-76
| LLSpPz-76 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
| Engine | PDM-6-2, 152 kW |
| Pwr/Wgt | 15,5 kW/t; 21 PS/t |
| Suspension | torsion bars |
| Length | 7,1 m |
| Width | 3,5 m |
| Heigth | 1,9 m |
| Max. Speed | 70 km/h on road, 50 km/h in swamp area |
| Range | 700 km street, 475 km light terrain, 375 km heavy terrain |
| Armament | PGM-80-72 80 mm smoothbore gun, 40 rounds; 7,5 mm sMG K, 1500 rounds; |
prototype version
History
The LLSpPz-76 (translated "Laywenranian Hovercraft Recon Tank") was developed as a fully amphibious hovercraft tank, which should be capable of crossing rivers and swamps without preparation time. According to trials, it showed excellent performance in swampy, muddy and snow covered surfaces. As drawbacks the army mentioned the high noise creation and fuel consumption when the hovering vents were running. The LLSpPz-76 was deployed in limited numbers in recon elements of the army.
Armour
The chassis of the LLSpPz-76 is made out of welded steel, which ensures protection against 14,5 mm projectiles frontally and 7,62x54 mm projectiles all-around. The fighting room is divided in three compartments: Driver compartment in the front, fighting compartment in the middle, engine compartment in the rear. The hull contains the three crew-members (driver in the front, gunner and commander behind him).
The turret is made of cast steel and protected all-around against 12,7 mm projectiles and frontally against 14,5 mm projectiles. The turret and the ammunition is seperated from the crew by armoured bulkheads.
The tank features an integrated firefighting system using non-toxic agents. 6 81mm smoke grenade launchers are mounted at the turret.
Mobility
The LLSpPz-76 is propelled with the PDM-6-2 Diesel engine, which provides 152 kW. The PDM-6-3 is a four-stroke, W-type, 6 cylinder multifuel, exhaust turbo-charged, liquid-cooled diesel engine. It's coupled to an automatic transmission, which has five forward and two reverse gears and a torque converter. It has three fuel tanks. The power pack can be changed in field in about 20 minutes.
The suspension of the LKPz-82 consists out of a torsion bar suspension and has advanced friction dampers. The running gear consists out of five dual rubber-tyred road wheels and four return rollers per side. The drive sprocket is situated at the rear.
The Tank is equipped with multiple vents which provide lifting-power to the tank, two of them between engine and fighting compartment. They usually don't lift the tank completly in the air but only reduce the weight lasting on the tracks, reducing the ground pressure from 0,5 kg/cm² to 0,05 kg/cm². This greatly helps to cross p.e. swampy terrain and can be used to cross rivers and other calm water surfaces without preparation time.
Armament
The Tank is armed with a fully stabilised 80 mm smoothbore low-pressure cannon PGM-80-72, which is loaded by an autoloader. The autoloader holds total 40 rounds. The cyclic Rate of Fire is between 9 to 11 rounds per minute.
The cannon can fire the following types of ammunition:
- shaped charge (KP-80-71)
- high explosive fragmentation (EP-80-68)
- target practice (ÜP-80)
- ATGM 'PALR M57', later 'PALR M79'
Usual combat loadout consists out of:
- 22 rounds HEAT
- 18 rounds HE
- 2 ATGM M57 or 4 M79 (one mounted externally at the turret, the others stored internally, reloaded manually)
The tank is also equipped with a co-axial 7,5 mm MG with 1500 rounds.
Fire Control
The tank is equipped with the 'Uhu' ("Eurasian eagle-owl") FCS, which is linked to a ballistic computer. The gunner is equipped with a dual magnification stabilized primary sight (2x and 7x), which incorporates a langer rasefinder, the laser guidance system and a night vision channel, both are linked to the FCS computer. The commander has an independent sight, the TNS-1Sp. The TNS-1Sp is a stabilised panoramic sight designed for day/night observation and target identification; it provides an all round view with a traverse of 360°.
The fire control suite is capable of providing up to three range values in five seconds. The range data is transmitted to the fire control computer and is used to calculate the firing solution. Also, because the laser rangefinder is integrated into the gunner's primary sight, the gunner is able to read the digital range measurement directly. The maximum range of the laser rangefinder is just less than 10,000 m with a measuring accuracy to within 20 m at this range. The combined system allows the tank to engage moving targets at ranges of up to 4,000 meters whilst itself being on the move over rough terrain.
Data
| LKPz-82 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
| Engine | PDM-6-2, 152 kW |
| Pwr/Wgt | 15,5 kW/t; 21 PS/t |
| Suspension | torsion bars |
| Length (overall/hull) | 7,1 m |
| Width | 3,5 m |
| Heigth | 1,9 m |
| Ground clearance | 450 mm |
| Fording | 1,65 m; 5m with fording equipment |
| Trench | 3 m |
| Vertical step | 1,25 m |
| Side slope | 40% |
| Gradient | 60% |
| Max. Speed | 70 km/h on road, 50 km/h in swamp area |
| Range | 700 km street, 475 km light terrain, 375 km heavy terrain |
| Armament | PGM-80-72 80 mm smoothbore gun, 40 rounds; 7,5 mm sMG K, 1500 rounds; |
| Elevation | -10° to +14° |
| Turret rotation | 30 °/s |