MBT-18 Williams Main Battle Tank

MBT-18A Williams Main Battle Tank

A MBT-18A Williams tank patrolling

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Type: Main Battle Tank

Place of origin: Bendicion (Australia)
Manufactured by: ACHEUS-Military Service Provider
Unit cost: $6,823,000

Specifications

Weight: 64.23 tonnes
Length: 8.85 m (29.04 ft), 15.45 m (50.69 ft) with gun forward
Width: 3.50 m (11.48 ft)
Height: 2.42 m (7.94 ft)
Crew: 4 (commander, gunner, loader/operator, driver)
Armour: Chobham armour
Main armament: 120 mm L30 rifled gun (49 rounds)
Secondary armament:
- 1 x Coaxial 7.62 mm L94A1 chain gun EX-34
- 1 x 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun
Engine: 1,200 hp (890 kW) diesel engine
Power/weight: 13.86 kW/t
Transmission: Quentin AX-12
Suspension: Hydropneumatic suspension
Operational range: 562 km (349 mi)
Speed: 79 km/h on road, 40 km/h off road

MBT-18A Williams Main Battle Tank

The main battle tank (MBT) is a third generation tank produced in Australia by ACHEUS - Military Service Provider (AMSP). It was designed to ensure superiority over the battlefield as a powerful yet agile tank. It is also considered to be one of the most protected tanks in service today with second generation Chobham armour on the hull and turret. It's namesake comes from the legendary World War 1 Major General William Throsby Bridges, who heroically died in Gallipoli leading the Australian assaults.

It was designed in the mid 2000's to replace the depleted Australian armory of post-Cold War equipment. The government tasked ACHEUS with designing a new main battle tank which would fight among some of the best tanks in the region. The army contracted ACHEUS - Military Service Provider within ACHEUS which began the prototyping and designing process. The AMSP looked for new design ideas, using the M1A-Abrams for transmission, and Hydropneumatic Suspension. This was to ensure the crew's safety and to make accuracy easier when firing the L-30 gun.

Production of the MBT-18 started as of November 15,2018.

Design

Armour

The 'Williams' is one of the most heavily armoured and best protected tanks in the region. The hull and turret are armoured with second generation Chobham armour, the design and production of which are classified but the material is rumoured to be twice as strong as steel. Crew safety was the primary concern in the design. To ensure the safety of the crew, the tank uses a solid state controlled electric drive for its turret thus completely removing the risk of hydraulic rupture in the crew compartment. Explosive reactive armour kits have also been added around the tank. To ensure that the tank is not spotted by enemy radar, it's shape is fitted with stealth technology to reduce the radar signature.

The tank is also fitted with an classified ACHEUS Weapons system.

Drive system

The tank's drive system comprises of:

• Engine: 1,200 hp (890 kW) diesel engine

• Gearbox: Quentin AX-12 transmission

• Suspension: Hydropneumatic suspension

• Track: Hydraulically adjustable double-pin

• Speed: 79 km/h on road, 55 km/h off-road

• Range: 562 km (349 mi)

Armament

The 'Williams' is equipped with a 120-millimetre, 55-calibre long L30 tank gun. The gun is made from high strength Electro Slag Remelting (ESR) steel with a chromium alloy lining and it is insulated by a thermal layer. It is controlled by an all-electric control and stabilisation system. The turret has a rotation time of 10 seconds through 360 degrees.

The barrel is rifled because of the transitioning of the Australian Army to the use of high explosive squash head (HESH) rounds. HESH rounds have a range of up to 8 kilometres and are more effective against buildings and armoured vehicles. They have a longer range than APFSDS rounds. The main gun is more than capable of firing other rounds.

The 'Williams' is also equipped with a 7.62 mm L94A1 EX-34 chain gun coaxially to the left of the main gun. There is also a 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun mounted on a pintle on the loader's hatch ring. 4,200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition are carried. The MBT-18 can also mount a remote weapons system; either a 12.7mm heavy machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.