M20 Dobermann

M20 Dobermann
A M20 Dobermann near Palomar, Maldoria in July 2013
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Shalum
Service history
In service	1950 - Present
Used by	Imperial Shalumite Army
Production history
Designer	Askvig Defense Services AG
Designed	1947 - 1950
Manufacturer	Dresden Arsenal Tank Plant
Unit cost	$41,000 (1955) $1,202,800 (2020)
Produced	1950 - 1967
No. built	10,000~
Specifications
Weight	52 tons
Length	9.9 meters (32.8 feet)
Width	3.56 meters (11.7 feet)
Height	3.2 meters (10.5 feet)
Crew	4 (Driver, Gunner, Loader, Commander)
Armor	110mm - 205mm
Main armament	DA-10 105mm rifled gun
Secondary armament	1x 7.62mm coaxial machinegun 1 x 12.7mm AA machine gun
Engine	V12 water-cooled (38.88L) 650-800 hp
Power/weight	16.96
Transmission	5-speed Thoroughbred gearbox
Suspension	Torsion bar suspension
Ground clearance	0.425 m
Fuel capacity	580 liters (Internal) 400 liters (Jettisonable)
Operational range	520 km (323 mi) 730 km (453 mi) with external tanks
Speed	51 km/h (32 mph)

Development and Production

The Imperial Army Department of Tank Development, under commander the administration of Lord Jochen Behr, was issued the directive in late 1947 to design a new mainstay main battle tank capable of competing with those fielded by other Eraucran militaries. At the onset of the Great War, the Shalumite military had primarily fielded a fleet of light and medium tanks meant to act as cavalry support for mechanized and motorized units. While capable against opposing infantry groups, they lacked the necessary staying power to combat the more numerous and capable Æsthurlavaj vehicles. The Imperial Army, in an attempt to create a solution to the issue, pressed a heavier tank into service after reviewing several competing designs from manufacturers across the country. While equipped with much heavier firepower and armor, they greatly lacked in mobility and suffered from numerous reliability and maintenance issues. This forced the Imperial Army to rely more on foreign imports such as the Acrean Strv 72 and Strv 81 until the end of the conflict.

Lord Behr, who had worked alongside allied engineers throughout the war, wanted to avoid the poor performance that past models fielded by the army had experienced. To do this, he sought to replicate the emphasis placed on reliability by their Acrean counterparts. After observing several blueprints and designs, which generally fell within the specifications outlined by his department, it was decided that the production contract would be rewarded to Askvig Defense Services AG based out of Dresden. Their prototypes featured thicker armor capable of withstanding direct hits from the Acrean 88mm guns, improved firepower in the form of a 105mm rifled cannon, telescopic gunner sights that allowed for more accurate engagement while on the move, a more reliable powertrain, and a periscope instead of viewing slits. It was renamed from Armored Project 87, a placeholder which had been assigned by its designers, to the M20 Dobermann.

Manufacturing was slated to take place at the Dresden Arsenal Tank Plant, a production center owned by the government and staffed with outside contractors. This decision was made due to the fact that many of Askvig AG's own facilities had been rendered inoperable during the course of the war and were still in the process of being repaired. Production of the initial series was sluggish due to issues with quality control, especially in regards to the engine and turret rotation systems. In 1950, the Shalumite government contacted the Republic of Syara in order to acquire assistance in manufacturing the M20. Production would increase steadily over the next few years, and additional lines were brought online to handle new variants. While general production of the model by the military ended in 1967, Askvig AG continues to produce upgrade packages and spare parts in limited quantities to sustain Dobermanns fielded by state guard troops as well as foreign operators.