M-5 Hellstorm Tactical Bombardment Vehicle

M-5 Hellstorm Tactical Bombardment vehicle

Weight    22 tons
Length 6.4 meters
Width 3.1 m  Hull, 4.0 Launcher
Height 3.2 meters to top of launcher
Engine: Diesel Electric Hybrid, High  Density Electric Drive/Brakes on Front drive wheels.
Speed 56 km/h (35 mph)
Operational range  400 km (250 mi)
Crew:
Driver: Front of vehicle
Commander: Front of Vehicle
Gunner: Rear compartment
Assistant Gunner/loader Rear compartment

Armor:
Front: 50mm RHA equivalent Steel, Carbon fiber, Ballistic fabric/Foam.
Sides: 30mm RHA equivalent Steel Carbon fiber, Ballistic fabric/Foam
Crew Compartments: additional 75mm ( effectively 140mm RHA from front due to airspaces and equipment between outer hull and compartment)

Weapons: ( mounted in remote operated turret)
Main: Hellstorm System: 96x4 75m HE-Frag projectiles. one full reload carried
Secondary: stabilized 35mm Auto cannon, .50  MG coaxial gun

Optics: Day/night, Thermal imaging gun sight and commanders sight, low light vision in drivers vision blocks.

Electronics
Encrypted voice data network capable radios
Information sharing and command/control network receivers
high precision GPS locator
Land Navigation system
Ballistic Fire control computer

NBC Protection
Forced filtered air positive pressure ventilation system
Central Filtered air Breathing  system for crew
Hydrocarbon/Boron Aero gel radiation protective liner
Microclimate connections for crew.

Advanced Fire suppression System in engine compartment.
Blast resistant Ammunition storage cell

Cost: 3.7 Million NsD
Overview
The M-5 is  modified M-3 Infantry Fighting vehicle equipped with the Hellstorm system. It is designed to support assaults, or neutralize entrenched opposition with area saturation fire.
The vehicle can advance to within firing range using cover and concealment stop, load its position accurately calculate the firing solution to its target and fire within thirty seconds, afterward it can immediately advance or retreat to avoid counter battery fire or Keep pace with advancing forces.

A battery of these vehicles can unleash the concentrate fire of multiple mortar batteries the high mobility of the system and its devastating impact on lightly armored forces makes the M-5 a powerful asset to infantry forces and compensates for the short range of the weapons mounted on the vehicle.

The combination of Armor, firepower, and mobility allow the vehicle to perform as a fire support vehicle with the same effectiveness as any other Light IFV, it can hold its own against infantry, light vehicles and rapidly evade heavier armor without the need for protective escort, or additional forces beyond those  of the unit it is assigned to accompany and support

Mobility
The vehicle is designed to maintain speeds common to most armored forces, going anywhere an AFV, or IFV might be required to travel. It is light enough to be easily transported by air, or sea, and can fit into any aircraft an APC might be carried aboard.

the Hybrid Diesel electric drive allows it to operate efficiently over ranges similar to conventional Diesel drive with a smaller fuel tank, and increasing room for weapons ammunition and crew. In addition the battery pack allows it to operate for short periods without the heat and noise a diesel motor would generate allowing it to move with greater stealth than conventional diesel or turbine powered vehicles.

The unit when fully loaded is top heavy limiting its cross country mobility, requiring great care to avoid tipping the vehicle to the side across rough terrain. However slightly but a skillful drive can negotiate most terrain without difficulty and can keep pace with armored formations.

Rrotection
The vehicle is armored to protect from small arms and infantry weapons and  can resist up to a 14.5mm AP round on its front slope, and reliably protect from .50 caliber AP from the sides. In addition to the External armor the vehicles crew compartment, ammunition and fuel are layered with ballistic Foam, ballistic  fabric and other protective  measures allowing  those areas to resist up to a 35mm cannon firing armor piercing sabot ammunition.

Fire suppression systems, ammunition storage cells, and an isolated fuel cell, battery pack with no direct passage to the crew area for flames or fumes from a fuel or battery fire add tot he crew survivability of the vehicle.

Weapons
The turret of the vehicle is unmanned with all crew seated in the lower hull this allows the turret to be more lightly armored cutting down on the vehicles overall weight.   a penetrating round may damage or  disable combat systems resulting in a soft kill but the vehicle can retreat and be replaced or repaired more easily than experienced crew can be  replaced.

The vehicle Is armed for direct combat as well as fire support, a .50 caliber machine gun for infantry suppression and a fast firing 3mm auto cannon allow it to engage other IFV, APC's, And thin skinned vehicles as well as suppress enemy heavy weapons and destroy isolated fighting positions with highly accurate fire in addition to its Hellstorm system.

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