Toro Main Battle Tank
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| T-50 Main Battle Tank | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin |  Temuair |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1950 - Present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Armachd |
| Designed | 1944 - 1949 |
| Manufacturer | Armachd |
| Produced | 1949 - Present |
| Variants | See variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 47.2 tonnes |
| Length | 7.8 m (hull) 10.3 m (including gun) |
| Width | 3.4 m 3.91 m (applique armor) |
| Height | 3.1 m |
| Passengers | 4 |
| Armor | Glass-reinforced plastic sandwiched between layers of steel Third generation composite armor (Steel composite blend), modular armor packages |
Main armament | Original design: Brais Roi Arsenal CT-90/47 90 mm cannon T-50B and forward: Brais Roi Arsenal CT-105/59 mm cannon |
Secondary armament | 2 x Brais Roi Arsenal AP-1944C coaxial 7.65×53 mm machine gun with 2,000, second AP-1944 pintle-mounted machine gun on the commanders station. T-50C and forward: 1 x AU-71C 7.65×53 mm machine gun with 2,000 rounds, second AU-71 pintle-mounted machine gun on the commanders station |
| Engine | AEM E-75 V-12 turbocharged multi-fuel diesel engine 630 hp |
| Transmission | Automatic (4 forward, 2 reverse) |
| Ground clearance | 0.4 m |
| Fuel capacity | 850 L |
Operational range | 350 km |
| Speed | On-road: 55 km/h Off-road: 32 km/h |
The T-50 Main Battle Tank, or T-50 MBT is a a second generation main battle tank developed by Armachd of Temuair and fielded by the Imperial Army of Temuair, the Aisling Home Guard, and [maybe others]. It replaced the older TM-38, TL-39 and TP-44 vehicles in service, falling under the newly developed "main battle tank" doctrine which called for a single vehicle to preform all roles previously filled by the vehicles it replaced, namely infantry support, anti-structure and anti-armor engagement. The T-50 has received numerous service life extensions and upgrade packages throughout its existence, receiving an auto loading system and new cannon in 1959. Subsequent upgrades have seen the vehicles armor, electronics, and other components enhanced.
History and design
The design for the T-50 began in 1944, and was at that time classified as a medium tank.
The drive unit of the T-50 was compact and modular and allowed for easy field installment. It consisted of the motor, auxiliary motor, drive and steering gear, power transmission and radiator. The auxiliary power supply was a four cylinder diesel engine and was used to drive the main generator and the power supply to allow the tanks main systems to function without the use of the main engine. In case of a problem with the main engine, the tank could be driven with the auxiliary engine via the auxiliary transmission but only for very short distances, and not at great speed.
Only 30 T-50 tanks were produced, and given to the 4th Imperial Lancers Brigade, before the design of the T-50A was completed. All 30 of the vehicle were subsequently retrofitted and brought to the T-50A standard.
The basic crew layout of the T-50 has not changed through its variants, consisting of four positions, diver, gunner, loader and commander.
Variants
- T-50: Original production version of the T-50, equipped with a 90 mm Brais Roi Arsenal CT-90/47 90 mm cannon.
- T-50A: T-50 model with the AP-1944C coaxial 7.65×53 mm machine gun replaced by a Srad CR.20/38 20 mm cannon. These were converted back to machine guns on the T-50C, using the AU-71 general purpose machine gun over the older AP-1944 design.
- T-50B: 1959 upgrade which saw the 90 mm CT-90/47 replaced with a heavier Brais Roi Arsenal CT-105/59 mm cannon.
- T-50C: 1972 upgrade for the T-50 replacing the existing engine with a new AEM E-75 V-12 turbocharged multi-fuel diesel engine. In addition, the 20 mm Srad 20/38 20 mm cannons were removed and replaced with the 7.65 mm AU-71 general purpose machine guns.
- T-50D: 1980 upgrades featuring a redesigned turret, integration of new electronics and control systems and increased armor protection for the vehicle.
- T-50E: 1990's upgrade replacing the 105 mm cannon o the T-50D with the newer Brais Roi Arsenal Brais Roi Arsenal CT-120/86 cannon. Was initially rejected by the Imperial Army, but later accepted to keep the T-50 in service.