TR22 Dreyden Light Tank
General characteristics
Crew	2
Length	6.5 metres
Width	2.7 metres
Height	2.4 m
Weight	53t
Armour and armament
Armour	1100mm vs. KE and 1450 mm vs. CE
Main armament	SM44 105mm ETC or HARP 35mm Auto Cannon or 200mm Recoilless Rifle
Secondary armament	50.cal MG on Drummer Boy II servo mount,
Mobility
Power plant	Turbo Diesel 1700bhp
Suspension	Tortion Bar
Road speed	68 km/h
Power/weight	32.07 hp/h
Range	230 km

Overview

The TR22 is a light virtually turretless tank designed to not only be below 60 tons, para dropapable, also retaining ZMDF crew survivability standards and the speed necessary to keep up with the paradrop units rapid mobility and armament capable of taking on standard main battle tanks.

The survivability issue being paramount the decision was made to use a remotely operated automated turret design using what amounted to an armoured cowling over the autoloader, the main gun and optics package. This left the question of where to mount the counter infantry weapon, in the end the decision was made to use the external drummer boy II mount. While not as well armoured as a co axial weapon the drummer boy II allows high accuracy pin point rapid targeting and traverse in a truly vast field of fire.

The saving in mass gained from the design allowed an increase in primary hull armour, giving the TR22 comparable values to its heavier brethren It has also been known that TR22s upon deployment have been covered with anything up to 10 tons of extra Selective Reactive Armour, especially around there primary weapon giving them a somewhat ludicrous hedge hog like outline.

Paradrop System (click to enlarge).

The decision to make it autoloading entirely was due to the short estimated duration’s of combat for this unit which was specifically designed to be used in tandem with the parashock division requirements, the impracticality of manual loading given the design, and the relative reliability of the auto loading system used with stoppages estimated at every 8,400 rounds.

The TR22s Paradrop rig is a relatively expensive device at 830 thousand Rungs, it contains one set of ribbon chutes and solid booster rockets used for initial slowing, a 140 metre wide parasail used for circle slow decent and its back up which oddly allows the TR22 to engage in a self contained controlled glide for some considerable distance, and finally four standard stabilising parachutes. On touch down four “gas gun” style explosive single use shock absorbers are used to take the brunt of the impact. These devices are remarkably simple with the primary piston depressed by contact with the ground into an explosive medium which when detonated by the piston forces it back down countering the shock. Secondary spring based absorbers, rubberised matting and bursting “gel packs” are also built into the platform floor. The unit has integral counter measure dispensers and the enclosed TR22 can fire its grenade launchers to provide additional decoys.

Their are 2 SCAPA standard 5 Cell 60mm capable grenade launcher brackets are usually fitted with a variety of decoys, flares, and smoke grenades with usually one short range directed fragmentary counter munitions round per bracket. The directed Fragmentary counter munitions are deployed within 5 to 10 metres of the hull and are linked to the FCS suite.

The TR22 holds the ominous dual records for being the fastest and smallest tank in present ZMDF service. The TR22 costs a total of 4.6 million rungs per unit.

Primary Armement

The Hopeworthy (SM-44) is a 105mm smoothbore Electro thermally ignited cannon developed by the Sorrenson, Caprelli, Amiere, Prestwick and Anderson Heavy Industries Combine. (SCAPA) together with the main sub-contractor Tactical Weapons (a sub section of TIW) for the ZMDF primarily for the TR22 light parashock tank project.

The electrical detonator system is supplied by Megacity Aerospace Systems (MAS) comprises of a ring electrode sparking system linked to a 3 kw capacitor.

The SM-44 is equipped with an automatic MAS elevating and traversing drive with manual back-ups operable by one crewman, with electrical instrument control and manual control.

The Hopeworthy 105mm gun of the TR22 was developed by the Rockford Development Systems Labs of SCAPA. The gun has a chromium-plated barrel and semiautomatic lifting breech block with integrated 5 round revolver quick fire clip magazine mounted in the rear of the remotely operated turret. Gun parameters such as chamber temperature and distortion are monitored automatically but fouling of in barrel sensors has been a repeated fault. The Hopeworthy is equipped with a full automatic shell loading system with ammunition management system.

The chromium-plated barrel is 4.9 metres long and is fitted with a slotted muzzle brake which gives increased muzzle velocity and reduces the level of muzzle flash. The wedge type breech block is integrated with the clip magazine and the Hopeworthy auto loader fitted with an endless conveyer for automatic shell transportation, loading and unloading from the main body.

The gun positioning and laying system is produced by GDT and mounted with the gun cradle. The system automatically determines gun direction, position and elevation above sea level. The integrated Deep Sky Positioning System (DSPS) receiver and the vehicle's motor sensors form the hybrid navigation system of the TR22.

Shell Loading System

Dredyen Variants (click to enlarge).

The Hopeworthy automatic shell loading system can handle 32 rounds of 105mm ammunition. The shells are picked up from the modular armoured storage unit in the hull and automatically stowed in the rear clip magazine or directly loaded into the breech.

The shell loading system is driven by brushless electric servo motors supplied by MAS. The automatic shell loading system has pneumatically driven flick rammer and automatic digital control, ammunition supply management and inductive fuze setting. This provides rates of fire of 3 rounds in less than 10 seconds and loading of 35 shells within 12 minutes, including the collation of ammunition data. The firing rate of the Hopeworthy was 8 rounds in 28.29 seconds, and 18 rounds in 2 minute 23 seconds, during live firing tests with an improved autoloader. The muzzle velocity is determined automatically by means of a hybrid GDT Optronic/RADAR/LADAR sensors package and is used in the fire control computation.

35mm HARP auto cannon

The 35mm HARP gun is a dual feed hybird gas/electrically operated chain gun with a rate of fire of 590 rounds per minute and four chromed air cooled barrels. Loading is gas operated while rotary motion is provided by a MAS 2 HP brushless electric servo motor accessible and replaceable to the crew internally. The dual feed means at the flick of a switch the crew could switch between a HESH/AP mix to a Thermobaric / Smart Fragmentary mix.

The HARP gun system was designed around the suite of rocket assisted hybrid 35mm TIW fin stabilised rounds and in specific the hyper velocity rocket assisted armour penetrating round. These rounds have a “conventional” pizo electrically fired propellant stage and then a second solid rocket booster assisted fin stabilised stage. There are multiple versions but only the armour penetrating variant can claim to be “hyper velocity” with if it is allowed full burn a staggering 2830 m/s. This rocket assisted burn means oddly the TR22s AP rounds are most effective at range. This munitions has a fixed venturi given the intensity of its rocket burn and no in flight guidance system or ability.

HARP Gun ammunition types(click to enlarge).

The Smart Fragmentary round is meant for both counter munitions and anti personnel work, with a vectorable venturi allowing it to change course mid flight up to 30 degrees of its original firing arc and a targeting package with both laser guiding and LADAR based detonator with a back up contact detonator. The unit is known to be programmable to detonate just as it passes over cover infantry are known to be hiding in or just as its within a metre or so of the wall of a room. The smart fragmentary round can also be programmed to only detonate one “face” of its fragments allowing it to be used effectively against vectored targets in close proximity to friendly forces or assets. The smart fragmentary round is highly capable of intercepting inbound missile based munitions and was originally developed for the naval all electric CIWS HARP variant. The unit suffers a relatively slow maximum speed of 680 m/s.

The “thermobaric” and high explosive squash head variants both use simple contact fuses and both travel at maximum of 1300 m/s.

The HARP is known to suffer stoppages every 18,000 rounds on average. The HARP gun is known for its relative high reliability. However given its relative rate of fire the stoppage figure is somewhat misguiding. The TR22s maximum ammunition load for HARP is 760 rounds. HARP gun equipped TR22 units have been highly successful in virtual field trials in protecting LZ's from close fire from helicopter units and successfully engaging and destroying light armour while the 105mm ETC armed units engage any main combatants.

200mm Recoilless Rifle

The 200mm Recoilless Rifle option also known as the “Baby K” replaces the turret with the SCAPA “Calf” system with a single 200mm clip fed recoiless rifle in a bullet proof Kevlar titanium mesh cowling with two rotary 4 round clips and an optics package.

The Calfs clip is gravity fed, however if the clip jams its jammed till the unit can exit the combat zone to reload., however with such a simple mechanism this is statically so unlikely as to be a non factor. As for unloading a dud round, a shot of pressurised air that is also used to cool and de foul the tube and depressing it should easily remove the dud if its properly chambered. To reload her clip the “Baby K”s crew must exit the vehicle, acess the TR22s magazine and manually load the twin disc clips with there 200mm ammunition, a heavy and physically intensive job. The Baby K variant must be serviced by a tender unit as for all intents and purposes she is an artillery piece rather than a tank. The TR22 “Baby K” is not compatible with the TR22s paradrop rig, instead the gun is dropped separately and mounted on the ground.

Secondary Weapons

The TR22’s usual secondary weapon is a TIW MGSV (Machine Gun Standard Vehicle) .50 cal air cooled machine gun with a “smart” autonomous capable targeting Multi channel optics and LADAR rangefinder fire control package on a armoured servo operated telerobotic GDT "Drummer Boy II" mount linked to the FCS.

The Drummer boy II is a second generation servo robotic mount and is the direct iteration after of the Drummer Boy mount used on the TR29 Samson. Also mounted on the Drummer boy II are the TR22’s laser dazzler and laser target designator systems which allow it to pinpoint and network fire with other ZMDF units or its own TR22 squad, allowing if the unit is well drilled and has established a laser communications link a combined attack on one specific point on a target by multiple units.

The TR22 can also optionally use the TIW 40mm MGGL (Machine Gun Grenade Launcher) instead of the standard MG on the drummer boy II mount. This gas operated automatic grenade launcher has a 450 metre range and is belt fed and uses the same targeting package as the MGSV.

Fire Control and Observation

The TR-22 can use an automatic mode of operation including the data radio link, laser link, satellite com or ground based thumper with an external command and control system. The autonomous fire control functions are controlled by an on-board 320Hon computer supplied by GDT. Using the automatic mode, target engagements can be carried out by a crew of two. Using the fire control data provided by the ballistics computer, the gun is automatically laid and relayed during the mission.

Various backup modes are available which guarantee system sustainability in case of a component failure. As the lowest backup mode, an optical mechanical backup telescopic gunsight and gunlaying system is available. The commander/driver has a TIW panoramic periscope, which is used in under-armour operations and for target designation in direct laying engagements if the primary optics packages have been destroyed. The TIW unit has day and night vision channels with IR and UV capacity and a laser rangefinder.

Power Pack

LJ30 V8

1,700 Horsepower Turbo Diesel LJ80 V12 (Direct Injection) manufactured by SCAPA

In this system the injector and the pump are combined into one unit positioned over each cylinder. Each cylinder thus has its own pump, feeding its own injector, which prevents pressure fluctuations and allows more consistent injection to be achieved. With recent advancements, the pump pressure has been raised to 2,050 bar (205 MPa), allowing injection parameters similar to common rail systems.

The LJ80 system employs new injectors using stacked piezoelectric crystals in lieu of a solenoid, which gives finer control of the injection event. The LJ80 Variable geometry turbochargers have flexible vanes, which move and let more air into the engine depending on load. This technology increases both performance and fuel economy. Boost lag is reduced as turbo impeller inertia is compensated for. A technique called accelerometer pilot control (APC) uses a sensor called an accelerometer to provide feedback on the engine's level of noise and vibration and thus instruct the ECU to inject the minimum amount of fuel that will produce quiet combustion and still provide the required power (especially while idling.)

The LJ30 has a modular Halon dispenser for fire suppression and a high pressure LN2 cell for emergency use against thermite like agents (though the LN2 may in fact do collateral damage to the non metallic equipment).

Armour

(Armour Layers).

The TR22s armour consists of a thin 10mm layer of silicone plastic with kevlar weave, with a melting point of 23,700 C designed to resist local environmental conditions and attack by thermal weapons and small arms fire It also renders magnetic limpet devices or magnetically activated mines damaging the hull. This layer is fitted on its underside with a series of small self sealing electro mimetic water pipes and capillary style piping to assist in lowering the TR22s IR signature to approaching local ambient while idling or parked.. Many TR22 maintenance crew members have complained that a good period of their time is spent maintaining leaks or blockages in these capillaries it has also led to the TR22 having a “pulse”. The pipes have a 5 year operational lifetime after which there electromimetic properties begin to fade and there structural integrity begins to brake down via stress fractures. The layer directly under this is made up of 25mms of aerospace grade titanium boron alloy designed to stop light and medium weapons fire such as rocket propelled grenades, this layer also has a high thermal resistance. Directly under this is a layer of ultra dense counter plasma / kinetic shock absorbing gel with a mercury component. Under this is a more “conventional” ceramic / depleted uranium / carbon steel honey comb weave armour. This conventional layer makes up the greatest thickness of the armour and the majority of the tanks structure and with an equivalent Tensile Strength (MPa) of 3,450 a density (g/cm3) of 5.86 grams a Specific Strength (MPa-cm3/g) of 558 compared to standard RHAs value of 150 has proven comparable to other advanced armour presently fielded on other tanks. The third innermost layer is a woven titanium and kevlar fabric designed for counter spalling. The second innermost layer is made up of fire resistant “rubber” like synthetic, this layer is designed to absorb secondary impacts and stop internal ricochets and releases copious amounts of Halon gas when it reaches its admittedly high volatising point of 8,500 C. Crews have mentioned that this layer also increases crew comfort. The innermost layer is another of woven titanium and kevlar thread fabric.

(SRA).

The TR22s running gear armoured sections are 630mm thick and equipped with reactive armour explosive blocks. These blocks use a low powered plastic and contain 2mm steel ball bearings, they also contain 12 gauge rounds alternating between slug and “bird shot” in pizo electricly fired cartridges that can be used to engage low value targets that would not justify detonating the entire block or for engaging personnel without wasting the blocks capacity to engage high threat targets. These blocks can use there own internal control chip or link to the TR22s GDT HN30 fire control system. The 2mm ball bearing laden layers are made out of non volatile "wadding" designed to counter plasma. These blocks can use there own internal control chip or link to the TR22s GDT HN30 fire control system.

Data Systems

The TR22 features a GDT HON30 (hardened optic network) data sharing network with multiple redundant processing/storage units dispersed at 2 points in the hull. The TR22 also features a “Dalek” mode. In this mode is capable of limited autonomous combat and tactical “survival” action with a limited self drive capacity and a “follow” me mode. This mode is usually used in the unfortunate event where the crew compartment has been struck and gutted by a missile borne guided penetrating munitions and on immediate post drop. The TR22 can fitted with a remote operations system. OLED and analogue dial displays are both present.

Sensors

The TR22 features 4 2mm passive optic pick ups on the lower hull with limited LIDAR capacity and 3 high capacity Multi channel CCD based non telescopic optic pick ups on the turret. Their are two primary GDT Parsfel telescopic multi channel digital optics packages both mounted within the turret, one slaved as the primary guns sight and the second for use by the commander/gunner for spotting. Both packages have multi channel laser rangefinders and LADAR "pulse" snapshot systems. These packages are mounted in individual hardened casings which have a dual use as faraday cages and are linked to the HON30 FCS system. These offer full multi channel light amplification, wide angle view and IR / UV capabilities and are linked to the digital mission recorder. The TR22 has two multipurpose scanning masts that can be extended up to 6 metres and are used extensively in close terrain such as urban areas. These masts have non telescopic CCD multi channel optic pick ups, LADAR, magnetic sensors and directed narrow band radar.

NBC Systems

The TR22 features self healing seals and the ability for both semi sealed recycling and fully sealed operation.

The TR22 features standard ZMSF developed water recycling and air purification and emergency rations capable of keeping full self contained operations (save for refuelling and re-arming) for 1 standard week.

Dazzler System

The TR22 features one of the lighter cousins of the TR29s heavy UV dazzlers. This system rarely has the power output to permanently burn out systems but is effective enough to stop target acquisition and force targeted optics to use protective shutters, effectively blinding them for the short term. The dazzler unit is coaxial linked to the drummer boy II servo mount.