Cuirassier I tank of 1st Squadron, 8th Royal Dragoons, New East London, January 774

Universal Mk. I, Cuirassier (A4501)

The Universal tank mark I, Cuirassier holds the honour of the first main battle tank to be manufactured since the 25th century CE. It was developed during the 770 Border crisis to address the limitation of existing Cavalier and Caracal cruiser tanks to counter Carrenian heavy tanks later in the war. Early Cuirassier I variant was plagued with teething technical problem rooted from hasty development and inadequate training. The Cuirassier II and later variants however, entirely eliminated these issues and became the primary Imperial Land Army main battle tank of the post-war era.

Background

Design philosophy of the new 'Universal tank' was affected by major shift in Nordenfeld military doctrine following a string of major defeat during the opening year of the Border crisis. The Imperial Armoured Corps (IAC) had originally emphasized on using sluggish but heavily armed and armoured heavy tanks to fight head-to-head with any armoured opposition in support of line infantry, while the nimble and lighter cruiser tanks performed independently to provide flank and rear guard to the main formation. This doctrine however, was proved ineffective in the face of manoeuverable and well-armed M-7 Medium tanks of the Carrenian armoured force, which able to quickly neutralize the light cruiser tanks and outmanoeuver the heavy tanks, swiftly breaking through Nordenfeld defensive lines in concert with highly mobile mechanized infantry.

In light of this development, the IAC put more emphasis on mobility and efficient application of firepower through greater accuracy and higher rate of fire rather than sheer protection and firepower in its next tank design, resulting in well-balanced Cruiser tank Mk.XIII, Caracal which saw extensive service since summer of 772 and become the mainstay IAC general purpose cruiser tank throughout the war.

As the war progressed, IAC continually upgunned and uparmoured its tanks to keep up with Carrenian armour development. The Caracal tank became heavier and heavier, with the latest Caracal VIII variant armed with 90mm gun and protected with 100mm thick glacis weighed in excess of 45 tons. This caused significant decrease in performance and gave rise to reliability and maintenace issues as their engines and transmission were not designed to cope with additional stress.

Development

To anticipate this problem, Newham arsenal under supervision of IAC had started development for an entirely new class of tank as early as March 773. The prototype, designated A4500, was revolutionary compared to its predecessor. The new tank has low profile for its size and the glacis is highly sloped with driver sitting in almost supine position. The archaic sponsons, bow machine gun and radio operator position were eliminated, further contributing to height and weight reduction. The v-shaped hull was welded together and provide excellent protection against mines, while the single-cast hemispherical turret has highly sloped sides which gave better protection than earlier cylindrical turret designs. However, it still retains the drivetrain of Caracal with six rubberized roadwheel equipped with Horstmann suspension and frontal drive sprocket.

The A4500 benefited from two major development in the fields of armour and armament, these were layered composite armour and the G173 90 mm High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) round. These advancements enabled the A4500 to posess superior protection and firepower while still being lighter than its contemporaries, again shifting focus of armour development to mobility and fire control rather than raw armour and larger calibre. The new 820 HP Imperial Motors ACV1800.73 CI engine coupled with CD850 Cross-drive automatic transmission and horstmann suspension promised further increase in manoeuverability and off-road mobility. The cross-drive transmission, which was downscaled and modified from CD155 model fitted to Mammoth emplacement destroyer, had five forward and two reverse gears and allows the tank to be pivoted in its length.

Newham arsenal originally planned the A4500 to be armed with newly developed 90mm L/54 G9 smoothbore gun to make best use of the new HEAT rounds. The IAC high command however, insisted that the A4500 retains the capability of shooting HESH and APDS round, then staple of IAC tank munition, and the 90mm L/50 G7A3 rifled gun was choosen instead. This decision proved to be the fatal flaw in A4500 design, as the rifled gun greatly reduces accuracy and efficiency of the HEAT round that was supposed to be the strongpoint of the A4500 design, giving the new tank marginally better if not equal firepower than its predecessor the Caracal VIII.

By the time of the A4500 introduction, Imperial Armament Research Establishment had commenced development of 105mm L/53 smoothbore gun using the 90mm G9 gun as basis. It was designed to replace the G9 gun as the ultimate armament of the A4500 tank and had identical turret mounting with G9 gun that would enable the A4500 fleet to be upgunned with minimum modifications. IAC decision to mount G7A3 rifled gun consequently halted the development of the new gun.
On 10 September 773 the new tank gave demonstration of its capability on Newham proving ground after only seven month of development. It exhibited exceptional mobility over rough terrain and tackled various obstacle without a hitch. The performance of the G7A3 gun was well known for its use in Caracal VII-VIII tanks and the new G173 HEAT round has proven itself in earlier trials using then experimental XG9 smoothbore gun. However, gunnery trials were not carried out and the performance of modified G173 HEAT round fired from G7A3 rifled gun remained untested. Nevertheless, the revolutionary Vertical Gyrostabilizer performed beyond expectation and enabled the Cuirassier tank to accurately shoot on the move even over rough terrain.

Into Service

On 17 September, Ordnance Department placed an initial order for 560 machines, which were now officially designated as Universal tank Mk. I, Cuirassier (A4501). The order was split between Newham arsenal and Harold and sons heavy industries with armaments supplied by Imperial Arms Manufacturing of Norchester and mechanical parts by Reims Precision Manufacturing division of Imperial Motors company, also based in Norchester. The first production vehicle rolled off assembly line in December 773 and introduced to active service with the 1st and 5th Armoured division on the Southern front.

Due to critical war situation, production begun with inadequate testing. This resulted in various technical problem which were exarcebated by hasty production schedule. It is quickly discovered that the hastily designed slipband obturator of G173 HEAT rounds, fitted to reduce spin imparted by barrel rifling on the projectile, increased the rate of barrel wear and and caused unacceptable reduction in accuracy, so bad that the projectile cannot hit a 5m wide target at 1,000m. Issues with the G173 rounds forced Cuirassier crews to switch back to older HESH and APDS rounds which gave no significant improvement in firepower over Caracal VIII tanks that use the same munition. Moreover, The vertical gyrostabilizer and analog ballistic computer, while performed well, were maintenance intensive. They were prone to be abused by inadequately trained crews and mechanics, and many were inoperational by the first three months in service, nullifying Cuirassier's advantage in mobility.

Despite the shortcomings of first production tanks, a number Cuirassiers were successfully deployed in the Liberation of New East London In January 774. The Cuirassiers were organized into 13th Armoured Regiment and 8th Royal Dragoons with 48 Cuirassier and 8 Caracal tanks each, supported by 12 Cavalier tanks of 17th lancers and elements of 3rd Line Infantry Division. The vast farmland of the Eastern provinces allowed the Cuirassiers to swiftly flank the opposition and fierce tank battle ensued on the rural and wooded area south of New East London where both sides fought at point-blank range. Cuirassiers of 8th Royal Dragoons, Who spearheaded the attack, were able to use their HEAT rounds in the close quarter battle and scored at least 36 enemy vehicles destroyed including 9 heavy tanks. On the other hand, Cuirassiers of 13th Armoured Regiment were forced to use their APDS and HE rounds at long range and only able to score 18 vehicle destroyed, mostly medium tanks and lightly armored self-propelled guns. During the engagement two Cuirassiers were destroyed by enemy fire and further five suffered light damage, all of which were recovered and soon returned to service.

Improved Firepower

By February 774, Carrenian forces in Nordenfeld had been forced into general retreat to the pre-war demiliterized zone. War Ministry directed Imperial General Staff to authorize pursuit of the retreating Carrenian force, and by March the retreating Carrenian forces had been split into two pocket around Lawrence Pass on the south and Mackenzie Pass on the north.
With the shortcomings of early Cuirassier tanks, the IAC was still left with the need for a new tank to counter Carrenian heavy tanks. This need became increasingly important with the preparation of Spring Offensive, plan to launch major invasion against Carrenian territorry, is nearing completion.

Brigadier William E.C. Rotherbeast, the head of Newham Arsenal, feared that the failure of Cuirassier tanks would hinder future contract with the Imperial Land Army after the conclusion of the war. He directed his research and development division to continue the development of Improved Cuirassier in collaboration with Imperial Armament Research Establishment then developing a new 105mm Smoothbore gun and its ammunitions. Development work started on 9 December 773 and the first three improved Cuirassier, armed with 105mm L/53 G11 Smoothbore guns, were ready by 15 February 774 as a private venture between Newham Arsenal and Imperial Armament Research Establishment. On that very night Brigadier Rotherbeast made an appointment with Ordnance department officials and lobbied for a new trial to be arranged for the new tanks, At this point IAC was under pressure to get a replacement for its Caracal tanks and arrangement was promptly made for trial at Newham proving ground.

The gunnery trial was conducted using stationary 105mm armed Cuirassier, testing hit probability against a 2.5m target with the aid of stereoscopic coincidence rangefinder. The results were promising, the 105mm G11 could achieve 45% hit probability at 2,000m using G56 APDS rounds, 30% using G54 HESH rounds and 31% using G273 HEAT rounds. Static penetration trials against vertical RHA also yielded good results; G56 APDS rounds achieved 270mm penetration at 1,000m and 205mm at 2,000m, while G273 HEAT rounds achieved 320mm penetration regardless of range. Moreover, despite being 110kg heavier than 90mm G9 gun, the 105mm G11 gun did not cause any significant reduction to Cuirassier's performance, as demonstrated on subsequent trial in manoeuverability and cross-country capability.

The Ordnance department officials were so impressed with the improvement that they immediately approved the new model for production as the Cuirassier II (A4502). 1,240 new Cuirassier II were ordered and 300 first production Cuirassiers were pulled back from the frontline to be retrofitted with the 105mm Gun. The rearmed Cuirassiers were now designated as Cuirassier IB (A4501B) with the remaining first production Cuirassiers retroactively called Cuirassier I and relegated to training duties.

Return to Action

It was not until the start of Spring offensive in March 774 that the first 120 converted Cuirassier IB were finally issued to 1st Armoured Division on Southern front. The 13th Armoured Regiment and 8th Royal Dragoon were chosen to be the first to receive the new Cuirassier IB. The crews and mechanics of both regiment were given ten days intensive training on the new 105mm gun and its fire control system then transported by train to Lawrence pass where they would rendezvous with their tanks. From there the tanks would travel the remaining 160 km trail to frontline under their own power.

The 8th Royal Dragoons first saw action in the Carrenian territory on April 21 near the town of Fresner. Three M-5 Heavy tanks were set up in ambush to cover retreating Carrenian 4th Brigade when they spotted a formation of 6 Cuirassiers and 4 Caracals belonging to 1st Squadron of 8th Royal Dragoons. The M-5s opened fire at the distance of 1.800 meters, knocking out two Caracal tank and grazed the turret of lead cuirassier. The formation was split to engage the concealed tanks from west and south, the Cuirassiers returned fire at 1.200 meters and were able to destroy two of the M-5s using their 105mm HEAT rounds.
The Cuirassiers saw further minor actions against routed Carrenian forces in the coming month. On May 6, Cuirassiers of 8th Royal Dragoons again engaged and destroyed 2 M-5 Heavy tanks on banks of Nair river, while on May 7, the 13th Armoured Regiment claimed 5 obsolescent M-7F Medium tanks and 1 M-5 Heavy tank. Last known engagement against enemy armour happened on September 32, when two Cuirassiers of 8th Royal Dragoons faced an experimental M-11 Medium tank in the forest of Musterberg.

A total of 712 Cuirassier II were eventually produced until December 774, 420 of which were issued to Nordenfeld invasion force in Carrenia before the end of hostilities . However, only the first 120 converted tanks engaged in combat.

Post War

Although the Cuirassier II and IB only saw limited action during the war, the long march to frontline highlighted its mechanical reliability and durability, with not a single Cuirassier lost to mechanical failure. Outside the optics and fire control, the tank also easy to produce and maintain, enabling damaged tanks to be repaired and returned to service quickly. These factors, combined with its superior protection and firepower, were enough to secure Cuirassier's place as post-war main battle tanks to replace obsolescent Cavalier and Caracal tanks. The last tank of the first 1,240 Cuirassier II order were delivered by February 775, and further 5,560 were ordered to replace all remaining Caracal tanks under Year 775 Rearmament Program.

By August 775, With the tension between Nordenfeld empire and the Union of Non-Aligned States (UNAS) following December 774 Armistice, Majority of the new Cuirassier II were stationed along Nordenfeld-UNAS border, with early Cuirassier II and IB of the former Invasion force were withdrawn to Nordenfeld-Carrenian demiliterized zone. Several Nordenfeld aligned states within the Western alliance also expressed interest in the Cuirassier II tanks and by January 776 received Cuirasier II tanks under Defence Assistance Program.

Specification (Cuirassier II)

Type : Main Battle Tank
Place of origin : Nordenfeld Empire
In service : 773 - Present
Manufacturer : Newham Arsenal, Imperial Motors
Produced : 773 - 795
Number built : Over 12,000 (All variants)
Weight : 51.7 short tons (46.90 t, 46.16 long tons)
Length : 6.5 meters (21 ft 3.9 in)(hull)
Width : 3.6 meters (11 ft 11.0 in)
Height : 3.0 meters (9 ft 10.1 in)
Crew : 4
Main Armament : 105mm L/53 G11 Smoothbore gun
Secondary Armament : 2× 15 mm Medium calibre machine gun
Engine : Imperial Motors ACV1800.73, 6 Cylinder, turbocharged CI engine, 820 bhp (611 kW)
Power/weight : 15.8 bhp/st (13.0 kW/tonne)
Transmission : Imperial Motors CD850, cross-drive with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears
Suspension : Horstmann, Damped coil spring
Operational range : 547.1 km (340 miles)
Speed : 50 km/h (31 mph)(road)