WesWorld

[SIZE=3]Irish tank requirements:[/SIZE]
Overview
The Irish Army is seeking a tank to reequip the Armoured Regiment in the aftermath of the Afghanistan League of Nations deployment. During this deployment, the Armoured Regiment used British-built Crusader cruiser tanks with 57mm guns, as well as a single Matilda II and several Valentine infantry tanks. These tanks all served well, although the Crusaders, due to their speed and mobility, had the highest success rate. However, the current batch of tanks have reached the end of their effective service life and require replacement. The Army Study Group has composed an Irish Armoured Doctrine that places continued emphasis on a mix of tanks and armoured cars, particularly in support of League of Nations peacekeeping operations. It is assumed that Irish forces will not be employed in tactical situations facing heavy enemy armoured units, but rather secondary forces such as well-armed rebels, possibly equipped with reserve tanks or secondhand equipment.

As a result, the Army Study Group has placed high emphasis on a mixture of mobility, firepower, and field maintainability in hostile environments. The desired tank shall be capable of serving as Ireland's main armoured vehicle, with infantry support and antitank roles.

An estimated thirty-six (36) vehicles will be ordered plus a full stockpile of parts.

Vehicle Submissions
Paper specifications shall be accepted until the end of June, 1942. The Irish Army will consider development vehicles so long as those vehicles can be delivered by the end of 1943. The Army Study Group will select at least three vehicles for further inspection and testing.

Physical Parameters
The Irish Army desires a loaded weight of approximately twenty-five tonnes, with a maximum weight of thirty-five tonnes. Tanks in excess of thirty-five tonnes shall not be considered and shall be summarily rejected. Maximum hull width shall be 10 feet (3m), and maximum height shall be 10 feet (3m).

Mobility
Road speed shall be 30mph (50kph) at a minimum, although higher speeds are preferred. Range at road speeds shall be no less than 100 miles (161km) and 200 mile (322km) range is highly preferred. Fuel economy of 1gal/mile is also strongly desired. Fording depth shall be 4 feet (1.2m) minimum; trench-crossing distance shall be 7 feet (2.1m) minimum. Slope-climbing ability shall be at least 30°. Desired ground clearance shall be 2 feet (0.6m). Due to desired ride quality at speed on rough terrain, torsion bar suspension is highly preferred. Tanks with other suspension types shall be considered but are disfavored. High track life is desirable and shall be evaluated prior to purchase.

Armament
A main gun of 75mm/L40 or larger is desired. The gun shall be housed in a turret with powered 360° rotation and a rotating turret floor, with the turret capable of housing the gunner, loader, and vehicle commander. The gun must be capable of penetrating 3 inches (76mm) of tank armour at a range of 1000 yards, and shall be capable of firing a variety of high explosive and armour-piercing ammunition. A pintle for a cupola mounted machine gun is desired. No hull machine-gun is deemed necessary.

Protection
Armour in the forward arc (turret face, mantlet, and glacis) shall be capable of defeating/deflecting a British 6-pounder (57mm) antitank shell at 500 yards; a minimum thickness of 75mm is suggested. Side armour shall be capable of defeating/deflecting a British 2-pounder antitank shell at 500 yards; a minimum thickness of 50mm is suggested. Floor armour shall be capable of deflecting blasts from antipersonnel mines; 10mm is suggested.

Engine
Both diesel and petrol engines shall be considered on equal basis. A power-to-weight ratio of 18hp/ton or higher is highly desirable.

Miscellaneous Requirements
The availability of spare parts for vital equipment (engines, transmission, tracks, etc) shall be factored into the final determination.

Radios shall be fitted to all vehicles for communication between unit commanders and their individual tanks. Command vehicles shall receive a more capable sets. Radios shall be installed by the Irish Army.

Any tank named after that *@)$*!)!%* Cromwell shall be summarily rejected!

Self-propelled artillery, armoured engineering and armoured recovery vehicle variants on the same chassis shall be considered for possible future purchase, but no firm commitments are made.

Hmmm... something tells me that the Irish do not really like Mr. Cromwell.

Germany can offer its current medium tank, the Panzerkampfwagen IV for immediate delivery if required. The design meets most if not all of the parameters specified. The vehicle is currently in production and if necessary could be adapted to specific Irish requirements.

Quoted

As a result, the Army Study Group has placed high emphasis on a mixture of mobility, firepower, and field maintainability in hostile environments. The desired tank shall be capable of serving as Ireland's main armoured vehicle, with infantry support and antitank roles.

Mexico offers a variant of the new 20 ton AT-40-II which entered service in 1942. The AT-40 was designed with those specific characteristics in mind, as the Mexican Army wanted a reliable, mobile vehicle. If the Irish buy this tank it would be named the AT-41 O'Reilly in honor of Captain John O'Reilly of the St. Patrick's Battalion.



Specifications would be similar to the M-18 Hellcat with less speed and more armor. AA and self-propelled versions are available. Design is based on Atanatean tanks so technical support would also be available from Atlantis.

More information available here:
http://wesworld.jk-clan.de/thread.php?threadid=8843&sid=

Britain's Proposal

Cruiser Tank Mk VIII A20 Bull Moose
A15 Centaur fitted with the new 17pdr tank gun, thicker frontal armour with sloped glacis and powered by the new 600hp Orenda Ursa (based on RR Merlin) engine as the main production cruiser tank, designed 1941 by Leyland and CC&F. A crew of five is carried and two .303in MGs (bow and co-axial) complete the armament. Suspension is torsion bar. Production would be handled by Harland & Wolff, Belfast.
Armour: 76mm max (sloped glacis) 20mm min
Dimensions 20ft 10ins long, 10ft wide, 8ft 2ins high
Battle Weight: 28 tonnes
Maximum speed: 32mph road and 18mph cross-country
Road Radius: 173 miles
Fording Depth: 3ft (4ft prepared)
Vertical Obstacle: 3ft
Trench Crossing: 7ft 6ins
Engine: 600hp Orenda Ursa Minor
Power-to-weight: 21.4hp/tonne

The gun
Ordnance 17pdr QF Mk I
Calibre: 77mm
Weight of shot: 17lbs (AP, APC, APCBC, HE) 8.15lbs (APDS)
Muzzle velocity: 2,600fps
Penetration: 140mm at 500 yards/ 30 degrees and 131mm at 1,000 yards/ 30 degrees (APDS 208mm at 500 yards).


* The Cromwell is produced in Canada as the Bull Moose, given the sensitivity of that name in Ireland the Canadian label is used.

Uh, Canada submits the above. Or something. <_<

IRT-30 M1

Paintsheme will be added as desired...

Chassis is developed from M-18 Hellcat.




crew: 4 (Driver, gunner, loader, commander)
weight: 30,9 metric tons
armament: 7,5 cm L/48 MBK-5-1, 2x machine guns
engine: V-12 diesel-engine, 580 hp
speed: on-road= 52 Km/h
range: 400 Km
armor:
hull front = 75 mm
hull sides = 55 mm
hull rear = 20 mm
hull downside = 18 mm
hull topside = 15 mm
turret front = 100 mm
turret sides = 85 mm
turret rear = 60 mm
turret topside = 20 mm

T-40, which meet or exceed requirements of Irish specification.

MT-25 A (mod. 1941)
Manufacturer: Tung Meng



Of course modifications can be done to fit the requirements better.


more informations see:
http://www.jk-clan.de/wbblite/thread.php…1317#post111317

The Irish Army would like to evaluate the UK/Canadian Bull Moose, the German Panzer IV, and the Nordish-Chilean M41 medium type.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
The Irish Army would like to evaluate the UK/Canadian Bull Moose, the German Panzer IV, and the Nordish-Chilean M41 medium type.

A demonstration unit can be delivered as required for evaluation.

Excellent.

A demonstration tank(s) will be available whenever the Irish Army wishes. They will be heading south from Belfast on a flatbed in no time!