Vanguard missile
| Vanguard ATGM | |
|---|---|
| File:Vanguard missile Saclos.png Vanguard ATGM | |
| Type | Anti-tank missile |
| Place of origin | Arthurista |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1977-present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Arthuristan Dynamics |
| Variants | see text |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 14kg |
| Diameter | 150mm |
| Warhead | 2x explosive-formed penetrators |
Detonation mechanism | laser/magnetic sensors |
| Engine | solid-fuel rocket |
Operational range | 2.5km |
Guidance system | wire-guided SACLOS |
Launch platform | Infantry, vehicles, helicopter, fixed-wing aircrafts |
The Vanguard is a model of wire-guided anti-tank guided missiles which was introduced in the mid-70s in the Commonwealth Army, replacing Vigilant ATGM and L6 Wombat as the main anti-tank weapon of the Arthuristan infantry battalion. It is a relatively economical weapon which remains in service in large numbers. Plans have been made to replace the Vanguard with a man-portable Vesper missile. However, due to the high cost of such a munition, the process is gradual at best and significant stocks of Vanguard missiles remain in service.
The first generation of the weapon, Vanguard Mk 1, was introduced in 1975 as a straightforward wire-guided SACLOS missile. It is equipped with a nose-probe to optimise detonation distance and can penetrate some 570mm of rolled-homogenous steel. The missile is guided by the operator keeping the crosshair of his firing post's sight on the target, which will then cause the firing post to steer the missile towards it. Accordingly, it is much simpler and easier to operate compared to previous generation manually-guided weapons. The Mk 1A features a thermal sight to identify and engage targets at night and has enhanced penetration at 650mm RHA.
The Vanguard Mk 2 was developed in the mid-80s in response to the proliferation of explosive reactive armour and new generations of composite armour used to protect the latest main battle tanks. Reasoning that no tank designer can afford to provide for all-round protection while keeping the tank within acceptable weight, Arthuristan designers reconfigured the missile as a 'top-attack' weapon. The missile is designed to overfly the enemy tank. As it approaches the target, the missile's on-board laser-rangefinder and magnetic sensor will measure the optimum height and distance from the target and determine when to fire a pair of explosively formed penetrator at the roof of the target tank's turret. The two projectiles are fired sequentially within milliseconds of one another - the first is intended to detonate any light explosive-reactive armour upon the target's roof, allowing the second to attack the thin top armour itself. To prevent the missile being directed off-course if the operator comes under fire, or the target being concealed by thermal smoke, the firing post is equipped with a simple course-memory system which would keep the missile on its initial projected track even if the operator cannot maintain steady control of the system, or if the target disappears from view. The system also has a 'direct-attack' mode, which disables the overfly mechanism and is used against 'soft targets' such as infantry strongpoints. Finally, it replaces the missile's thermal flare, which is used by the firing post to track the missile along its flight path, with a backward-directed coded laser beacon, which in combination with improved signals-processing renders it very difficult to jam by most soft-kill active countermeasures. The Mk 2 was introduced in 1988.
The current Vanguard Mk 3, introduced in the mid-2000s, features a number of minor enhancements. It has an enhanced un-cooled third generation thermal imaging sight for improved night engagement capabilities.
Many Arthuristan combat vehicles, such as the Claymore IFV, feature the Vanguard missile as a pintle mount. As an infantry weapon, the firing post is normally mounted on a low-profile tripod, although in an emergency it may be shoulder-launched. A 'pop' motor pushes the missile forward and the launch tube to the rear before the rocket motor is ignited. A missile, sealed inside its waterproof launch tube, is counted as a unit of ammunition. A remote-controlled mount which features two detachable Vesper missiles and a machine gun is slowly replacing the Vanguard.
In light infantry deployment, an individual soldier may routinely manhandle up to two rounds and supply ammunition to the gunner operating the firing post.