Raccoon (armoured vehicle)

Raccoon
Tracked Raccoon variant
Type	Armoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Banbha
Service history
In service	2014–present
Wars	Invasion of Vyzhva (2019) Invasion of Era (2021)
Production history
Designed	1994-2012
Manufacturer	Byrne Heavy Industries
Produced	2013 onwards, production as-required
Specifications
Weight	Empty: 11.6 tonnes Payload: 18.4 tonnes GVW: 30 tonnes
Length	6m - baseline
Width	2.92m - baseline
Height	1.9m - baseline
Crew	3 (Driver, Co-Driver) - baseline
Engine	2x Inline 4-cylinder 4-stroke multi-fuel engines 600 to 800kW (805 - 1,072hp)
Power/weight	26.6kW/Tonne max.
Suspension	Active electro-hydropneumatic
Ground clearance	450mm
Fuel capacity	1,040 litres
Operational range	~>600km On-road
Speed	>120 km/h (75 mph) On-road (wheeled) 90 km/h (56 mph) On-road (tracked)

The FAT.14 Racoon (Banbhan: Feithicil armúrtha troda 14 Racún) is the catch all designation for a family of armoured fighting vehicles manufactured by Byrne Heavy Industries (BHI) as a replacement for several legacy platforms operated by the Banbhan Defence Force. For the first time in a military setting a hybrid diesel-electric powerplant was specified, brought about by a request from the Banbhan Ministry of Defence for a highly modular and future proof base vehicle to replace a variety of legacy platforms, including: Marten IFV in some roles, Otter, tracked APC and its derivatives Weasel, reconnaissance vehicle family Mongoose 6x6 platform and Condor 4x4 APC.

In a bid to lower individual development costs, the governments of Crainn and Fóla were invited to join the programme, the former joining in 2001 and the latter in 2005 allowing for distributed development toward a common goal thereafter the programme became a trilateral affair with a 40:30:30 workload share under the overall control of Byrne Heavy Industries.

Development

Initial development began in 1994 with work beginning on the fundamental core components such as the electric transmission, composite material development for the chassis and development of continuous band tracks.

This then progressed to iterative concept design studies, the result of which being the decision to proceed with 6x6, 8x8 and tracked variants of the core platform.

By 1999 the final concepts had been arrived at the basic concept was ready for testing, three prototype vehicles were manufactured, one for each different type of locomotion. Each of these three vehicles differed slightly from one and other such as in the layout of the crew compartment or their vision systems, primarily as a way to continue to improve the design during the prototype trials.

By 2006 the electric-drive system had been matured to the point where serial production of the power units could be considered and by 2008 the traction control system had been developed to the same standard.

Between 2010 and 2012 a series of mobility enhancing improvements were incorporated to the design including a new fully-independent active electro-hydropneumatic suspension system which would go on to be retrofitted to the Ermin.

Series production began in 2013 after final type approval was obtained by the respective member states with an initial entry to service in 2014.

Design

Hybrid-Drive

The first outstanding feature of the Raccoon is its hybrid electric drivetrain (HED) The prototype systems for both the wheeled and tracked vehicles were designed and manufactured by McGrath Automotive and Magnetic Systems Technologies (MASTEC). The wheeled vehicles were equipped with in-wheel hub-mounted electric drive (HMED) units rated at 100 kW and producing 20,000Nm of torque each whilst in low range. These motors gave the wheeled vehicles individual wheel speed, positional and torque control, as well as an electronic limited-slip differential, torque-vectoring, and most importantly importantly on-demand skid-steering. The system fitted to the tracked vehicles was simpler in terms of motors, featuring two 400kW motors in a cross-drive layout rather than the six or eight individual 100kW motors of the wheeled vehicles, these being either forward or rear mounted depending on the requirements.

Load scheduling of a type more usually found in marine applications and operating points for the generator sets meant that fuel usage could be optimised and performance enhanced, thus reducing the requirement to refuel in the field. The advanced design of these electric drivetrains in both vehicle variants permitted a novel vehicle architecture, optimising crew and payload space and capacity, without compromising on suspension or transmission design.

Construction

The second outstanding feature of the Raccoon are the relatively exotic materials from which it is constructed. Instead of a being constructed from the more usual welded steel or aluminium the Racoon is constructed as a carbon-fibre reinforced polymer monocoque allowing for a reduction in weight of some 30% over a comparable steel-bodied vehicle, additionally it allows for a layer of radar-absorbent material to be incorporated into the base structure to lower the vehicle's EM signature. In places were the use of metals are more favourable than composites, titanium is used in lieu of steel, again to save weight.

Modularity

The third outstanding feature of the Raccoon is the inbuilt modularity with which the platform is designed around. Ostensibly, the vehicles, regardless of method of locomotion consist of three major sub groups, these are: The Base Module, the Crew Module and the Role Module.

The Base Module consists of the lower hull and running gear, this is the only really non-modular part of the vehicle with the bases for 6x6, 8x8 and tracked vehicles all being unique.

The Crew Module consists of the upper front hull section, power-packs and primary vehicle crew positions. This module can be swapped between any of the three variants as required and comes in two variants, low-profile and standard height. The Crew Module can either have access to the role module via an open rear or be fitted with an armoured bulkhead depending on what the role module to be fitted is.

Finally, there is the Role Module, the most important aspect of the modularity in the design. Each role module is fixed to the rest of the vehicle by four points of contact and a service connector which facilitates timely and easy removal and fitment. The Role module has four basic footprints, these being: low-profile, standard height, expanded height and high roof. Additional bespoke modules can be created at the request of a customer whilst still using the basic four plus one point module floor.

Protection

The basic production standard Racoon regardless of additional operator specific packages is proofed against 14.5mm KE threats around the entire vehicle and AT mines up-to 8kg under any wheel / track or the centreline of the vehicle. Additional armour to protect against threats up to 30mm KE over a frontal 30 degree arc, 25mm KE over the sides and rear and 10kg AT mine blasts without substantially degrading vehicle performance have been offered. Additional protection against CE threats and IEDs can be incorporated as required as can hard and soft-kill active protection systems such as the Gauntlet and Veil systems used by the Banbhan Defence Force.

Armament

With such an inherently modular vehicle, a wide variety of possible armament fits can be be incorporated onto the vehicle without requiring major structural changes.

Most Raccoons in service are equipped with a remote weapon station for self-defence rather than a manned turret. Banbhan vehicles are fitted with the R400S RWS from EOS fitted with a 13.2 mm chain gun. Crainnic vehicles are usually fitted with the Midgard from Valhalla, which can be fitted with either a 7mm machine gun, a 13.2mm HMG or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Fólan vehicles tend to be equipped with a Protector RS4 or RS2 from Kongsberg.

For vehicles fitted with larger weapons manned and unmanned turrets can be fitted such as the T2000 from EOS or Protector RT60 from Kongsberg or the E30/40 from BHI, the largest weapons fitted to the Raccoon thus far have been 120mm gun-mortars and 120mm smoothbore guns in bespoke turrets.

Service History

Since entering service in 2014 the Raccoon has been used on operations in the major deployments undertaken by the three partner nations including the Invasion of Vyzhva and 2021 humanitarian crisis in Era. It has acquitted itself well in both instances, being popular with troops for its comfortable ride and spacious interior compared to over vehicles.

Vyzhva

Battle for the Blackwater
In the early hours of February 14th 2019, elements of The Grey Leopard whilst crossing the River Blackwater into Vyzhva made contact with what was initially thought to be a reinforced motor rifle regiment with attached armoured support, this later turned out to be a motor rifle brigade (believed to be from the 103rd Guards Armoured Division). During the ensuing battle, the force of 56 tanks supported by Raccoons from the Royal Blacks fought doggedly to secure the Vyzhvan side of the Blackwater destroying 41 armoured vehicles and numerous soft-skinned vehicles without loss of life among the Werewolves. Two Werewolves were disabled by anti-tank mines and three Raccoons were lost, two to ATGM fire and another to a mine.

Battle for Targan
By March 3rd 2019 the composite Triple Entente army group known as Army Group Carman were approaching the outskirts of the Vyzhvan exclave of Targan. After preliminary air and artillery bombardment a four pronged attack commenced with the Banbhan Guards Armoured Division supported by a Crainnic mechanised brigade attacking from the west whilst the Crainnic 3rd and 4th Infantry Divisions acted as a blocking force to the east of the city. Fierce street fighting was commonplace over the following weeks resulting in a number of Raccoons being destroyed or disabled by Vyzhvan combatants firing from multi-story structures or basements. By the time that the city had fallen the majority of the Royal Black's Raccoons had been either damaged or disabled, amounting to some 70 vehicles. Whilst it had been accepted that losses in urban fighting would be common it was not foreseen just how prevalent AT teams firing from murder holes or from tower blocks would be and as such an urgent up-armouring programme was started to improve the survivability of vehicles operating within the city.

Stability Operations
Since the drawdown of combat operations and the start of humanitarian / stability operations in Vyzhva the Raccoon, especially in its wheeled forms have become popular vehicles for all manner of task due to their modularity allowing for them to be tasked as required for certain jobs from a common pool between the three West Vinyan nations of Banbha, Crainn and Fóla.

Era

Operations by the 2ú Cavalry Brigade
The 2ú Cavalry Brigade alongside a composite battle group of special forces and Woodkerne were involved in a series of breakthrough operations to open and link corridors between evacuation zones for Shirvani secessionists and refugees. These operations culminated in the Brigade being used to link up with naval fusiliers at the port of Blæcberie, crossing the Mǣres and engaging in a series of vicious but brief skirmishes with Eran regular and partisan forces along the way.

Operators

Current Operators

• Banbha - The Banbhan Defence Force operates...
• Crainn - The Crainnic Army operates...
• Fóla - The Fólan Army operates...