Strv 124
| Stridsvagn 124 Pantera | |
|---|---|
 An Acrean Strv 124M4 in 2011 | |
| Type | Main Battle Tank |
| Place of origin |  Acrea |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1982-Present |
| Used by | Acrea Ruvelka ShalumMansuriyyah |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Landrut ASA Rjukan Industrier ASA Kobalt-Zeiss ASA Thyssen AB |
| Designed | 1965-1982 |
| Manufacturer | Landrut AB |
| Produced | 1978-Present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 60 tonnes (Strv 124M) 64 tonnes (Strv 124C2) |
| Length | 7.7 metres (hull) |
| Width | 3.7 metres (Strv 124A/M) 4.0 metres (Strv 124C) |
| Height | 2.55 metres (Hull) |
| Crew | 4 |
Main armament | KvK M171 120mm smoothbore gun KvK M161 120mm smoothbore gun |
Secondary armament | 7.62mm MG59 Various Top-Mounted 7.62mm and 20mm guns |
| Engine | Thyssen-Maybach MTU K1-80B V12 Turbocharged Diesel 1193,12kw (1600 hp) |
| Power/weight | 19,89kw per tonne |
| Transmission | Thyssen ML652 Automatic Transmission (Strv 124M) Thyssen CV-12TC Continuously Variable Transmission (Strv 124C) |
| Suspension | Hydropneumatic |
Operational range | 500 km |
| Speed | 75 km/h (Road) ~50 km/h (Cross-Country) |
The Stridsvagn 124 Pantera, also known by its MoD designation CV76120, is a main battle tank developed by Landrut ASA in the 1970s for the Acrean Armed Forces. The Strv 124 is one of the most prolific main battle tanks in Tyran with several thousand produced in service of four nations.
Development=
The Strv 124 was first conceptualised in 1961 when the Acrean Army set out a list of general requirements for a "hunter/killer" main battle tank armed with a 120mm main gun. The first vehicles produced under the requirements were tested in 1964. The design was familiar, using a heavily modified Strv 104 chassis mounted with a new, expanded, boxier turret also utilising newly developed composite armour. Despite working, for the most part, the prototype designated T-11 proved unsatisfactory in several ways. The turret was more cramped, as the use of Strv 104's chassis meant that despite the physically larger turret, the turret ring had not been increased in size, resulting in a relatively small increase in space for the area within the turret that the larger gun and larger ammunition now took up. The gun also had less depression and elevation than the 105mm equipped Strv 104, and was slower to load. Ammunition capacity was substantially reduced, and safety concerns regarding the ammunition's stowage were carried over from Strv 104. Ultimately, despite these numerous flaws, new developments from Azurlavaj and other countries meant that T-11 was accepted for limited production as Strv 121 in 1964 while further research and development continued.
Development quickly diverged between Acrea's two primary armoured vehicle manufacturers, as interest in replacing current-service main battle tanks with 120mm-armed models expanded to include a replacement for the Strv 105. Thus, Landrut and Landsverk collaborated on standardising a main armament and ammunition types, with the Landsverk project first producing a prototype in 1967 with the designation T-21.
Using lessons learned from field use of Strv 121, several major changes were made. Rather than using the same chassis as Strv 104, the same effective layout was kept whilst increasing the proportions, granting a larger hull that could accommodate a larger turret. A new turret design was implemented, which adopted the relatively boxy form of its predecessor but was not constrained by being based on the turret of Strv 104. This new prototype was given the name T-14, and tests of the vehicle were very promising. T-14 fixed several of the flaws present in T-11. Ammunition stowage was rearranged, allowing for a more adequate 41 rounds of ammunition to be stowed in the tank. The bottom of the hull was fitted with blowout-panels for hull ammunition stowage, a feature that was retrofitted to existing Strv 104s and 121s. The hull was better armoured for little effective loss in mobility thanks to a more powerful engine and lighter composite armour in both the hull and turret, and the crew ergonomics were much improved.
Design
Armament
The Strv 124 was initially produced with the M161 120mm smoothbore cannon. Entering production in the early 1970s, the gun was very well-received for its excellent performance with a wide range of ammunition types, as well as its longevity; treatments and coatings of the barrel helped it attain a higher average lifespan than other contemporary tank guns. In addition to the existing variety of 120mm ammunition in service, new types were developed for the M161 including a prototype gun-launched missile which never entered Acrean service. The M161 was replaced in the mid-1990s by the M171, which possessed the same breech and barrel geometry as the M161 with a longer barrel, newly designed thermal shroud and bore evacuator, and improved recoil system.
Protection
Mobility
List of variants and upgrades
- Strv 124: Initial production variant. Production began in January 1978, and first deliveries were received in April.
- Strv 124A: Featured substantial improvement to armour with a new, stronger turret face which included new tungsten construction. Systems improvements included an improved thermal gunner's sight, CITV, digital radio system, and improved NBC protection. Production and deliveries began in 1980.
- Strv 124A2: Incorporated new turret construction, retaining the titanium-tungsten facing but introducing first generation depleted uranium armour inserts. Introduced an improved pressurised NBC system and a redesigned automated fire and explosion suppression system. Production and deliveries began in early 1981.
- Strv 124A3: Introduced brand new digital fire and control system, as well as new digital system for the commander. The fire control system received improvements including a new laser rangefinder, all-digital controls, and new gunner's sight which incorporated a better electro-optical thermal gunsight as well as two-axis stablisation for the sight as opposed to the previous single-axis. The commander received new digital controls, and received the same improvements to the CITV's thermal capabilities.
- Strv 124A2(MAN): An export variant of the Strv 124A2 modified specifically for operation in arid environments as part of a Mansuriyyan contract. Exported to Mansuriyyah to equip elite armoured brigades.
- Strv 124M
- Strv 124M2
- Strv 124M3
- Strv 124M4: Earlier M3 and M2 variant hulls updated during the Zemplen War to the C standard and fitted with a C2 turret.
- Strv 124MV: Variant of the M modified and fitted with an autoloader, first tested in 2006.
- Strv 124M1S: Version produced for the Shalumite Army, retaining depleted uranium armour in the turret and augmenting it with ceramic alloy inserts, as well as featuring adjustments for the fire control system. Radios and other communications systems were removed to be replaced with the relevant Shalumite systems.
- Strv 124M2S: Second version produced for the Shalumite Army incorporating system's improvements and arrowhead turret armour.
- Strv 124M1S(SE): Survivability and capability upgrade for older Shalumite M1S-series tanks, incorporating add-on advanced composite armour and systems upgrades.
- Strv 124M1R: Version produced for Ruvelkan Army, originally modified from stored Acrean surplus Strv 124Ms and delivered throughout 2009. Production models retained depleted uranium armour, and included integrated ERA panels along the hull and front turret for increased protection from guided missiles and other chemical munitions. Being constructed from Acrean surplus stock, these models did not include arrowhead armour and retained the older 44 calibre gun. The Strv 124MR was fitted specifically for Ruvelkan requirements by using redesigned Ruvelkan produced tracks, modified transmission, and modified suspension for use in rocky, mountainous terrain.
- Strv 124M1R2: Later new production models of the Strv 124MR to Ruvelka which began delivery in early 2010, and included both the arrowhead armour and new 55 calibre guns. Both variants subsequently renamed to Strv 124MR1 and Strv 124MR2.
- Strv 124C: Originally and erroneously called the Strv 126 by media and observers, this was a heavily upgraded and modified series of the Strv 124 which began deliveries in 2004. The 124C-series tanks introduced a number of improvements and included some redesigns. In addition to utilising the longer guns which began service on the 124M3 variant, the 124C was produced new armour composition that improved all-around protection. Major redesign was done to the interior of the vehicle. The main front hull stowage was drastically decreased in size, with systems behind the commander relocated in a redesigned and slightly enlarged turret and some system components moved lower into the hull. The majority of main gun ammunition was now moved to an enlarged turret bustle, which featured an automated ammunition casette developed from the Landsverk autoloader which manipulated the position of the ammunition within the bustle. This allowed for a reduction of size in the access door, and allowed for substantially increased ready ammunition stowage and improved rate of fire at the cost of a reduction in ammunition capacity from 42 rounds overall to 40. The 124C served as the basis from which the actual Strv 126 was developed.
- Strv 124C2
- Strv 124C1V: Variant of the C1 modified and fitted with a Landsverk casette autoloader.
- Strv 124CA/CM: An massive upgrade and modernisation package for late model Strv 124A/Ms intended to provide the Acrean Army with a modern, competent reserve of tanks. Older tanks were refitted and upgraded to add the fire control, C2, and sensor systems of the Strv 124C and received add-on armour packages made of the same composite as the Strv 124C's base armour.
