Type 197 Main Battle Tank
 | This article is incomplete because it is pending further input from participants, or it is a work-in-progress by one author. Please comment on this article's talk page to share your input, comments and questions. Note: To contribute to this article, you may need to seek help from the author(s) of this page. |
| Type 197 Main Battle Tank | |
|---|---|
 The Type 197 variants | |
| Type | Main Battle Tank |
| Place of origin | Gristol-Serkonos |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1990-present |
| Used by | See operators |
| Wars | Second Osawanon War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Office of Defence Research Henley Land Systems |
| Designed | 1981-1988 |
| Manufacturer | HLS Factory 6, Ossernenon Production Plant |
| Unit cost | $6.21 million |
| Produced | 1990-1997 (Type 197-A1 and E variants) 2008-present (Type 197-A2 variant) |
| No. built | Type 197-A1: 240 Type 197-A1E: 100 Type 197-A2: 90 Type 197-A3: 50. |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 71.2 tonnes |
| Length | Gun forward: 9.97 m (32.7 ft) |
| Width | 3.75 m (12.3 ft) |
| Height | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Crew | 4 (Commander, gunner, loader/operator, driver) |
| Armor | Type 197-A1: Depleted uranium armour components with graphite coating and modular explosive reactive armour Type 197-A2: Composite armour and modular explosive reactive armour Type 197-A3: 3rd generation composite; including high-hardness steel, tungsten and plastic filler with ceramic component. |
Main armament | Royal Armouries MT700 125 mm smoothbore gun (42 rounds) |
Secondary armament | MMG613/A4 7.62x51mm coaxial medium machine gun HMG713 12.7×99mm Rotary Gun mounted on a remote weapon station |
| Engine | A1/A2 Variant: Marklin-Ashton MA/V12-T2 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel 33.9 litre A3 Variant: Marklin-Ashton MA/V12-T3 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel 33.9 litre A1/A2 Variant: 1,479 hp, 1,103 kW A3 Variant: 1,500 hp (1,119 kW) |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Suspension | Hydropneumatic |
| Ground clearance | 0.43 m (1 ft 5 in) |
Operational range | 600 kilometres (370 mi)–650 kilometres (400 mi) |
| Speed | Road: 76 kilometres per hour (47 mph) Off-road: 54 kilometres per hour (34 mph) |
The Type 197 is the Gristo-Serkonan third generation main battle tank. The Type 197 is the first mass-produced main battle tank developed and manufactured in Gristol-Serkonos. The vehicle was a replacement to the Arthuristan Endurance MBT (known by its Type 195 designation) introduced in the late 1960's. While praised by Gristo-Serkonan tank crews, the Endurance's recurring reliability issues frustrated army's maintenance corps and development for an indigenous tank design was brought forward to the government.
Development of the MBT-197 Program lasted between 1981 to 1988 as a development program between the Office of Defence Research, a government research and development agency, and special projects division of Henley Land Systems. The tank first entered service in 1990 to the Armoured Corps of the Gristo-Serkonan Army. Export versions of the Type 197 are also in use with Rökkurlynd Armed Forces.
Development
Development of Gristol-Serkonos' first domestically-produced main battle tank begun in 1987 with the Office of Defence Research providing the initial research and development. The National Office of Defence announced the MBT-197 program in 1981 with Henley Land Systems received a contract to collaborate with the Office of Defence Research. Development of the MBT-197 program lasted seven years, with the first prototype, X-00197, being unveiled in late 1989. Engine manufacturer Marklin-Ashton was contracted to develop the power-plant, designing a V12 twin-turbo diesel engine for the tank.
Royal Armouries was brought in to provide the main gun and secondary armaments. The tank was fitted with a MT700 125mm gun as its primary armament capable of firing APFSDS-T, HEAT, Frag-HE-T, and gun-launched anti-tank missiles (ATGM). Secondary armaments were the MMG613/A4 7.62x51mm coaxial medium machine gun and HMG713 12.7×99mm Rotary Gun mounted on the commander's hatch. The Type 197 entered service in 1990 with the first batches being deployed to the 7 Armoured Brigade Group of the 2nd Army Division. By the end of the production run of the A1 variant, over 240 tanks were produced.
Production was reactivated in 2008 to bring all of the A1 variants to the newer A2 variants as well as to replace losses to the tank fleet. Endurance MBTs were gradually decommissioned and were mothballed, with a small number being retained in ready reserve for the Armoured Reserve Corps of the National Defence Volunteer Reserve.
Design
Type 197-A1
The first variant of the Type 197 tank featured depleted uranium armour and tandem-charge defeating ERA, 125 mm smoothbore gun with ATGM-capability, high mobility, digital systems and optics. The tank features a wedge-shaped turret and applique ERA armor panels on turret front and sides, second generation thermal sight, and an automatic transmission.
Type 197-A2
The second variant features improvements to crew survivability, replacing the graphite-coated depleted uranium armour with composite armour and 3rd generation explosive reactive armour. The A2 variant has a new larger arrow shaped turret design with applique ERA armour. A Warrior Remote Weapon Station was also fitted to the HMG713 machine gun. The variant also features multiple countermeasures systems for additional protection including a laser warning receiver system, twelve 81-mm smoke grenade launchers, and smoke screen generated by injecting fuel into the engines. An active laser self-defense weapon (LSDW) is installed on the rotating platform behind the tank commander hatch.
Type 197-A3
Type 197-A1E
Export variant of the A1 platform, the A1E variant is currently in use with the armoured combat units of Rökkurlynd Armed Forces. The A1E variants are also upgraded to A2 and eventually the A3 variant.
