Spartan Infantry Fighting Vehicle

A Spartan Mk.I with 4-Colour Woodland Pattern
Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Spartan Mk.I
General characteristics
Crew	2 (Driver, Commander/Gunner) + 12 Passengers
Length	6.7m
Width	3.0m
Height	2.64m
Weight	23,000kg
Armour and armament
Armour	25mm, Titanium/Carbon-60 Composite and 45mm, Bisplate Steel
Main armament	1x 35mm M125 Automatic Cannon (100 ready rounds, 400 stored)
Secondary armament	2x BGM-71D TOW2 Launchers (2 ready rounds) 1x 7.62mm MG76 coaxial machinegun (500 ready rounds, 1,500 stored)
Mobility
Power plant	Aequatian Automotive Industries (Propulsion Division) V-6 Turbocharged Diesel {{{engine_power}}}
Suspension	Torsion bar
Road speed	72km/h
Power/weight	{{{pw_ratio}}}
Range	600km

The Spartan Infantry Fighting Vehicle is an ongoing development series of Aequatian armoured fighting vehicles in service with the Aequatian Republic Army.

Production History

The Spartan IFV Project was initiated to develop a vehicle that would replace both the Legionnaire IFVs and Centaur APCs in service with the Aequatian Army. Outlines for the development included the firepower of the Legionnaire with the carrying capacity of the Centaur.

Overview

The first production models, the Spartan Mark I, was well-recieved by the mechanized and armoured divisions and performed well in every campaign they took part in. They were seen as excellent partners to the main battle tanks in service throughout their lifetime and were well-suited to modifications for different field conditions, including desert and arctic environments. The vehicle is also amphibious, being able to propel itself through the water using waterjets mounted on the sides.

Armament

The primary armament was the Aequatian-built M125 35mm automatic cannon which was designed to fire both high-explosive and armour-peircing discarding sabot rounds up to ranges of 3,000m. It was also given two BGM-71D TOW2 anti-tank missile launchers for an increased anti-tank capability. A coaxial 7.62mm MG76 machinegun was also mounted alongside the M125 cannon for added anti-personnel duties.

Armour

The vehicle's armour was born out of the lessons learned in the aluminium armour used on the Centaur APC and Legionnaire IFV, which suffered terribly in combat when hit with enemy HEAT rounds. So it was decided that the Spartan vehicles would have armour similar to that of a main battle tank, using composites layered with strengthened Bisplate steel. The titanium multilayer was reinforced with carbon-60 ceramics and proved to be formidable, especially against traditional armour-peircing ammunition.

Combat Systems

The Spartan Mark I was a simple vehicle compared to contemporaries released by other nations, but it did have a number of systems to support it in the field. The first includes a central processor and an uplink to the Battlefield Information Control System for increased integration in the field and increased IFF signatures (A lesson taken from the 1991 Operation Desert Storm where U.S. M2 Bradleys suffered more casualties to fratricide incidents than enemy fire (17 vs. 3). The vehicle was also equipped with a 200 SCFM CleanCool NBC Protection System for the crew and infantry squad mounted inside. As well, the commander, acting as gunner as well, was given access to a Forward Looking InfraRed Sighting System in order to determine targets in night or bad weather conditions.

Mark II - "Improved Spartan"

A Spartan Mk.II with 3-Colour Woodland Pattern
Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Spartan Mk.II
General characteristics
Crew	3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver) + 12 Passengers
Length	7.0m
Width	3.4m
Height	2.7m
Weight	24,250kg
Armour and armament
Armour	25mm, Titanium/Carbon-60 Composite and 45mm, Bisplate Steel with additional Titanium Appliqué Armour Level III
Main armament	1x 35mm M125 Automatic Cannon (100 ready rounds, 400 stored)
Secondary armament	2x BGM-71D TOW2 Launchers (2 ready rounds) 1x 7.62mm MG76 coaxial machinegun (2000 Rounds) 4x 5.56mm MG55 Port-Mounted Machineguns (2000 Rounds)
Mobility
Power plant	Aequatian Automotive Industries (Propulsion Division) V-6 Turbocharged Diesel {{{engine_power}}}
Suspension	Torsion bar
Road speed	74km/h
Power/weight	{{{pw_ratio}}}
Range	500km

Although successful in its own right, the Spartan Mark I proved that some improvements were required. Increased power of infantry anti-tank weapons and other directed explosive weapons showed that infantry vehicles would need additional protection to stand up to the punishment of frontline operations alongside main battle tanks.

It's design is nothing more than the Spartan IFV hull mounted on an improved suspension and chassis, larger road wheels allow for much better cross-country mobility and decreased chance of mud and snow to accumulate between the wheels and tracks, causing mechanical problems in the field. As well, a larger, two-man turret has replaced the earlier one-man turret which now allows for a separate gunner for the main 35mm gun. The addition of Level III Titanium Appliqué Armour provides additional protection to the Spartan's Bisplate/Carbon-60 armour. An improved bow design allows for better movement in water and a greater amphibious ability, increasing the vehicle's water speed by 50%.

Armament

The Mark II maintained the original 35mm M125 automatic cannon with a coaxial 7.62mm MG76 light machinegun. The vehicle's anti-tank capability was improved with the installation of a launcher for the BGM-71E/F TOW-2A/B. As well, there is the addition of four port-mounted 5.56mm MG55 light machineguns.

Armour

The Mark II has the same armour suite as the Mark I, however, there is also additional Level III Titanium Appliqué Armour, improving the vehicle's protection against HEAT weapons.

Combat Systems

The Mark II variant carried a much larger load of electronic equipment, as it was seen as a necessary upgrade to keep Aequatio's force on par with foreign militaries. It had the same systems as the Mark I with the addition of numerous advanced systems to improve the vehicle's combat record. The addition of the WillTell, Mark I Computerized Fire Control System (FCS) helped the gunner in maintaining tight firing patterns. The gunner is also given double sights for both daytime and night with thermal imaging. The commander's viewer has remained, but is now independent of the main gun. The K-10 Environmental Conditioning and NBC Protection System is an advanced filtering system along with air conditioning. There is also the addition of a Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder.

Mark III - "Super Spartan"

A Spartan Mk.III with Woodland Digitized Pattern
Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Spartan Mk.III
General characteristics
Crew	3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver) + 11 Passengers
Length	7.0m
Width	3.2m
Height	2.9m
Weight	21,100kg
Armour and armament
Armour	80mm, Carbon-60/Tungsten Composite with additional Titanium Appliqué Armour Level III
Main armament	1x 35mm M125 Automatic Cannon (100 ready rounds, 400 stored)
Secondary armament	2x BGM-71D TOW2 Launchers (2 ready rounds) 1x 7.62mm MG76 coaxial machinegun (2000 Rounds) 4x 5.56mm MG55 Port-Mounted Machineguns (2000 Rounds)
Mobility
Power plant	Aequatian Automotive Industries (Propulsion Division) V-8 Naturally-Assisted Diesel {{{engine_power}}}
Suspension	Torsion bar
Road speed	72km/h
Power/weight	{{{pw_ratio}}}
Range	480km

After a period of isolationist policy, the Aequatian Republic Army put out a requirement for an improvement over the Mark II vehicle. What spawned was the Mark III, dubbed "Super Spartan" for its systems and armour.

Armament

The Mark III maintained the original 35mm M125 automatic cannon with a coaxial 7.62mm MG76 light machinegun. The vehicle's anti-tank capability remained the same with the twin launchers for the BGM-71E/F TOW-2A/B. The four port-mounted 5.56mm MG55 light machineguns were also maintained in the design.

Armour

The armour suite was replaced entirely with a full composite armour manufactuered from Carbon-60 ceramic reinforced with Titanium Carbide. This armoured pattern proved to be effective against rounds fired from all vehicles the Spartan would encounter short of main battle tanks.

Combat Systems

The Mark III variant carried the same electronic equipment as the Mark II. It had the same systems as the Mark I with the addition of numerous advanced systems to improve the vehicle's combat record. The addition of the WillTell, Mark I Computerized Fire Control System (FCS) helped the gunner in maintaining tight firing patterns. The gunner is also given double sights for both daytime and night with thermal imaging. The commander's viewer has remained, but is now independent of the main gun. The K-10 Environmental Conditioning and NBC Protection System is an advanced filtering system along with air conditioning. There is also the addition of a Carbon Dioxide Laser Rangefinder.

Mark IV - "M4 Spartan"

An M4 Spartan with Universal Woodland Pattern
Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Mark IV, M4 Spartan
General characteristics
Crew	3 (Commander, Gunner, Driver) + 11 Passengers
Length	7.0m
Width	3.2m
Height	2.9m
Weight	21,100kg
Armour and armament
Armour	80mm, Carbon-60/Tungsten Composite with additional Titanium Appliqué Armour Level III
Main armament	1x 35mm M125A2 Automatic Cannon (100 ready rounds, 400 stored)
Secondary armament	2x BGM-88A Mace Kinetic-Energy Missile Launchers (2 ready rounds) 1x 7.62mm MG76 coaxial machinegun (2000 Rounds) 4x 5.56mm MG55 Port-Mounted Machineguns (2000 Rounds)
Mobility
Power plant	Aequatian Automotive Industries (Propulsion Division) V-8 Naturally-Assisted Diesel {{{engine_power}}}
Suspension	Torsion bar
Road speed	72km/h
Power/weight	{{{pw_ratio}}}
Range	480km