Post by Giovanni Facilli on Aug 26, 2010 23:45:16 GMT -5
The Tank Hall of the Italian Empire.
Currently undergoing Testing, Not available on Battlefield Yet.
Cited for Completion in 2020
Giovanni Facilli “Pug” Mark I Main Battle Tank
"DAMN! Will you look at the SIZE of that gun! Are you sure it won’t keel over when we fire it?"
- Unknown tanker, upon seeing a Pug for the first time.
Although the Leopard II is a magnificent tank, it is still based upon old technology, and is by all accounts a huge tank. Even with its wide tracks it simply can not go everywhere that it is needed to go, and at the end of 2012 Italian Scientists finally realized that they could no longer look to foreign countries to produce a tank that they would need. So, they began to design a tank, and in 2022, it was finally finished, and dubbed the “Pug”
The PrincipaleBattagliaSerbatoio II or "Pug" as it quickly became known was a remarkable machine. Although it weighs twenty tons less than the Leopard II, it still has the same level of armor protection, and boasted improved weaponry.
To improve serviceability and to reduce cost a simplified autoloader was used, which could handle only a single type of ammunition. Originally this was meant to be APSFDS, because the main target to use the smoothbore on were other tanks. Later on loads of HEAT and even Napalm were sometimes carried. But although the tactical flexibility of the cannon had been reduced, this mattered little. For instead of mounting a coaxial Machinegun, the Pug haw an independently elevated 40 mm auto cannon. This weapon fired both AP and HE munitions, and was meant to be used on targets for which the smoothbore would be overkill, like personnel, unarmored, and lightly armored vehicles.
The engine of the Pug is highly classified, though it is believed to be a hybrid Diesel tank that can run off of both Petrol and the Fumes it makes. Both the hull and the turret featured modular armor, which could be quickly repaired or replaced. This would also make upgrading the tank much easier. Electronics featured were essentially those of the Leopard II, including the radar and the ECM system. A cooling system reduces the Pug’s Infrared signature.
Ultimately the Pug has replaced the Leopard II, Bumped the Jackson down to Support, and can defeat any other foreign main battle tanks.
Model Type: Giovanni Facilli “Pug” PBS II
Vehicle Type: Main Battle Tank
Crew: Three (Driver, Gunner, Commander)
Speed
Ground: 60MPH maximum road speed; 50 mph (80 kph) maximum off-road speed
Maximum Range: Classified.
Statistical Data
Height: 9.33 feet (2.8 meters) to top of turret.
Width: 12 feet (3.6 meters)
Length: 22.9 feet(6.88 meters) (hull only)
Weight: 61 tons (55 metric tons) fully loaded
Power Source: Classified
Cargo Capacity: Minimal, enough for equipment with crew. Extra storage rack on back of turret, seldom used in combat.
Availability to Foreign Countries: Non-Existant.
Jackson I/II
"They say the best way to see France is through the Turret of a Jackson"
- Unknown tanker, During Invasion of France.
This tank was named for Colonel Latisha Jackson. The Colonel was unusual in many ways. She was the commanding officer of one of the tank brigades during the war between France and the Italian Empire and was cited multiple times for bravery. She was knighted in absentia, and awarded the highest Italian Military award during the war. She came from an incredibly poor background yet succeeded remarkably. Her family had been poor share croppers in Georgia, and had moved to Northern Italy a year before the Civil war in 1995. She joined the Italian Armed Forces and graduated from a prestigious military academy first in her class and many military historians consider her to be one of the best Italian Army tactician of the Twenty-First Century.
The Italian Army said an almost tearful goodbye to their beloved Leopard II’s. The Leopard had been upgraded continuously and had become virtually a new tank but still the design was seeing its age. The first Jackson class main battle tanks entered service just before the interest by the Italian Government went to the “Pug”. Production of the Jackson was reduced for greater funding of the Pug but funding was continued. A few of the old Leopards had been converted to test the new alloys but even these were quickly put into storage or scrapped. Within a few years, the tank crews of the Italian Empire’s Army fell in love with the Jackson main battle tank. While many government leaders pressed for continued Pug designs, the seniors officers who had fought in the field worked for increased production of the Jackson main battle tank. While the Jackson is considered inferior by some to the later Pug tank, it is still an excellent design are a very dangerous opponent. As well, the Jackson is slightly faster than the Pug and is less expensive to manufacture.
In the end, the tank was produced in huge numbers in its various configurations and was also produced for the Giovanni Guard. The missile launchers, which were not changed through the career of the tank, included four medium range missiles and two mini-missiles. The tank carries heavy armor which is about twice that of most converted tanks. The Jackson I is faster than the Pug and has been and was powered by an unknown engine.
The second large production model (Jackson II) of the tank had many improvements. It never replaced the older tanks but instead supplemented them. As well, the main weapon systems were not upgraded on the original Jackson main battle tanks although armor and secondary weapon systems were upgraded on many of them. The armor was upgraded and used a similar formula as the Napalm resistant armor carried on light tanks. This was later upgraded to use the same material as introduced for the Pug Tank.
Model Type: Jackson PBS “France Smasher” I/ Jackson PBS “France Smasher” II
Vehicle Type: Main Battle Tank/ Support Tank
Crew: Three (Driver, Gunner, Commander)
Speed
Ground: 60MPH maximum road speed; 50 mph maximum off-road speed
Maximum Range: Classified.
Statistical Data
Height: 12.5 feet (3.8 meters)
Width: 13.5 feet (4.1 meters)
Length: 38 feet (11.6 meters)
Power Source: Classified
Weight: 78 tons (70.7 metric tons) fully loaded
Cargo: Minimal storage space; about four feet (1.2 m) for extra clothing, weapons, and personal items. Four Rifles and two crates of grenades with Ten grenades each are stored in a compartment behind the driver's seat.
Availability to Foreign Countries: Upon Request, and Purchase Production Rights.
PBS Merovingian I Amphibious Tank
Currently undergoing Testing, Not available on Battlefield Yet.
Cited for Completion in 2022
"This damn thing goes faster on the water than the fish do!"
- Unknown Giovanni Guardsman, upon testing of Merovingian on the Water.
The Merovingian Amphibious Tank was initially adopted by the Italian Royal Navy / Giovanni Guard due to the fact that the Tank had the highest speed on the surface of any tank design ever built.. This was considered an overriding concern even though it was less heavily armed and armored than the Jackson main battle tank. The six wheels were considered about as effective as treads in most ground travel but some personnel would have preferred an eight wheel or even a ten wheel design. The amphibious tank was a copy of a French design and retained most of the same weapon systems as the original design even when they were inferior to Italian tank weapons manufactured at the same time. Due to the breakneck speed of manufacture, the design was manufactured as is even though it was little more than a prototype.
While the prototype version of the Merovingian was being manufactured and entered Giovanni Guard Combat, engineers were working on an upgraded version of the amphibious tank. It featured the same hull and propulsion of the original design but featured a virtually new weapons array. One of the main advantages not including gains in firepower was the fact that the new weapons would be more compatible with other Navy weapon systems and would reduce logistics. The main guns are both replaced with new weapons. The redesigned turret is much lower while both weapons are considered more effective. The lower turret allows for concealment in more conditions. The same gun is carried on later versions of the Jackson main battle tank. To back up the main gun, the amphibious tank carries a heavy 40mm Anti-Infantry Machine Gun mounted over the heavy gun. The long range missile launcher was replaced with two medium range missile launchers. There were few times that the longer range missiles would be considered that much useful than medium range missiles and the payload could be doubled using the smaller missiles. The Mini-Missile launcher was the only weapon system to be retained unmodified. It was considered useful in many roles. The design has two smoke grenade launchers added to the design. In addition to smoke grenades, prismatic aerosol grenades were often used. The armor of the amphibious tank is also improved with the armor being replaced by the same armor as is used on the Jackson main battle tank. This armor is also both Mine and Napalm resistant. The other addition is that of an external armored package. This increases the armor of the tank even more but reduces the vehicles top speed both on land and in the water slightly.
Model Type: PrincipaleBattagliaSerbatoio Merovingian I
Vehicle Type: Amphibious Tank
Crew: Three: One driver, one gunner, and one commander. No room for passengers, although two extra human sized passengers could probably be squeezed in an emergency.
Speed
Ground: Main vehicle: Cruising speed on land is 70 mph (112 kph) on roads and 65 mph (104 kph) off road maximum. With External Armor Package: Reduce Cruising speed to on land of 65 mph (104 kph) on roads and 60 mph (96.6 kph) off road maximum.
Water Capabilities: Main vehicle: Has two high powered ducted propellers that allows the vehicle to travel on the surface on the water like a boat. It is well designed for use in the water and is very fast. Using the propellers, the AMBT-12A1 can travel on the surface of water at 50 mph (80.5 kph / 43.4 knots). It is not designed for underwater use. With External Armor Package: Reduce speed on the surface of the water to 45 mph (72.4 kph / 39.1 knots)
Statistical Data
Height: 12.8 feet (3.9 meters) Original AMBT-12x height was 13.8 feet (4.22 meters)
Width:14 feet (4.3 meters)
Length: 32 feet (9.7 meters)
Weight: 67 tons (60.7 metric tons) fully loaded. Add 10 tons (9.1 metric tons) for external armor package.
Power Source: Classified
Cargo: Minimal storage space; about four feet (1.2 m) for extra clothing, weapons, and personal items. Three Rifles and six grenades are stored in a compartment behind the driver's seat.
Availability to Foreign Countries: Non-Existant
PBS Vittore Lazzore “Beast of the Battlefield” Heavy Tank Destroyer I
Currently undergoing Testing, Not available on Battlefield Yet.
Cited for Completion in 2020
"The simple mention of this Beast causes the Knees of even the most Battle Hardened tank Commander to quiver"
- Unknown Tank Commander
The Lazzore Heavy Tank Destroyer, Nicknamed “Beast of the Battlefield” was based off of a Mesh-Up of the best Tank Destroyers of the 20th Century, combined with Technology developed in the 21st century. Ordered by Giovanni Facilli himself, after witnessing the destruction that was caused by captured Austrian and Czech Tank Destroyers, This tank finished testing in March of 2024, and is considered the most powerful tank in the Italian Armory.
With a 152mm cannon that can fire through a foot of Solid Steel and a Brice wall back to back, this tank is classified as a Heavy Tank destroyer. Named after Brigadeer General Vittore Lazzore, one of the most honored Generals in the Italian Empire, this tank has proved itself in training numerous times, and, when put under testing against the main battle tanks of America, Germany, Poland, and even Russia, their tanks stood no chance against this Beast of The Battlefield.
The engine of the Lazzore is highly classified, though it is believed to be a hybrid Diesel tank that can run off of both Petrol and the Fumes it makes. Both the hull and the turret featured modular armor, which could be quickly repaired or replaced. This would also make upgrading the tank much easier. Electronics featured were essentially those of the Leopard II and the Pug, including gyroscopic stabilizers and Lazer Sights, so that the Tank can fire, and destroy, one tank, then immediately turn and fire upon another target. It is equipped with Nigh Vision optics, which makes Enemy Tank Movements at Night almost obsolete when one of these tanks is on the battlefield.
This tank’s low profile and extremely quite engine make it a stealthy tank on the battlefield. Within minutes it can be hidden by putting native foliage on-top, and it becomes the assassin of the battlefield, forcing entire tank columns to disperse and even the mention of this tank causes the most experienced Tank Commander to quiver in fear.
Model Type: PrincipaleBattagliaSerbatoio Lazzore “Beast of the Battlefield”
Vehicle Type: Heavy Tank Destroyer
Crew: Five: One driver, two Gunners, one Night Optics Operator, and One Commander. No room for passengers, though, as with normal tanks, men can ride on the top.
Speed
Ground: Forty miles Per hour on the Road, Thirty Miles per Hour on Terrain.
Statistical Data
Height: 8 Feet (2.45 meters)
Width: 10.66 Feet (3.25 meters)
Length: 29.36 feet (8.95 meters)
Weight: 70 tons (60.7 metric tons) fully loaded.
Power Source: Classified
Cargo: Minimum storage space; about Three feet (1 m) for extra clothing, weapons, and personal items. Five Rifles and six are stored in a compartment in the rearmost of the cabin.
Availability to Foreign Countries: Non-Existant
