Ratmil MLVM AR Mountaineers’ Fire Support Vehicle
Notes:
This vehicle is an MLVM Mountaineer’s Combat Vehicle with a turntable
mounting a 120mm mortar in the rear instead of troop seats.
The vehicle also carries a baseplate and bipod for firing the mortar away
from the vehicle, along with aiming stakes.
The roof of the MLVM is slightly raised to allow the rear deck hatches to
be closed over the mortar barrel, as the MLVM is small, with low sidewalls and
the mortar could be closed completely over the top of the mortar unless the
vehicle was raised. The roof was
raised only about 100mm, though the raised section is obvious, as are the
enlarged roof hatches. MLVM ARs are
built both in early and upgraded forms.
As the MLVM itself was rare, the MLVM AR was exceedingly rare – of the 73
MLVMs still in service in 2005, only six are MLVM ARs.
It appears that they will be replaced by RN-94-based vehicles and
possibly Patria or Saab-based NONA-carrying vehicles.
Construction is
largely of steel, but armor is relatively light.
The hull layout is almost like a scaled-down BMP-1, having the same
general shape, though the MLVM AR is not related to the BMP series and has no
turret. The driver is on the front
left and has three vision blocks to the front, the center of which can be
replaced by a
night vision block. To his rear is
the commander’s hatch; he commander has a hatch two wide-angle vision blocks to
his sides and a periscope/vision block which can be raised and rotated to allow
the commander to view the area around the vehicle from under armor.
The MLVM AR has a cupola instead of the turret of the MLVM, with a
pintle-mounted weapon. The rather cramped passenger compartment has three firing
ports in each side and two in the rear door. The
passenger compartment is accessible by a pair of rectangular roof hatches and a
large door in the rear. Like the
BMP series, the rear doors carry some of the vehicle’s fuel supply. The MLVM is
powered by a 154-horsepower Model 798-05M2 supercharged diesel engine. The MLVM
is amphibious with a minimum of preparation; a trim vane must be erected at the
front and bilge pumps turned on, taking no more than 5 minutes. An additional
long-range radio is fitted.
In the same way
that the MLVM was upgraded for the modern battlefield, an upgrade program was
begun for the MLVM AR.
In addition, the upgraded MLVM AR was fitted with a laser warning system,
linked to the smoke grenade launchers on the lower glacis of the vehicle.
The system also
provides target information (distance, range, and estimated time of weapon
impact if applicable). The
MLVM AR has clusters of five smoke grenades on the upper front hull. The
commander’s periscope is fitted with an image intensifier.
A major upgrade is in the powerpack – the MLVM AR received a giant power
upgrade by installation of a compact 340-horsepower Mercedes-Benz supercharged
diesel engine coupled to an automatic transmission, as well as an associated
suspension upgrade. The vehicle
will be further protected by an automatic fire detection and suppression system,
one for the crew/passenger compartment and one for the engine.
Radios are to be upgraded with up-to-date British-made Thales
frequency-hopping types that are NATO-compatible.
The easy amphibious operation is retained; water speed is actually
increased due to the increase in engine power.
The extra radio as mentioned above is data-capable, the vehicle has a
mortar ballistic computer, and a mapping computer is fitted. It should be noted
that on an MVLM AR, the mortar fires over the rear of the vehicle; on the
Upgraded model, the mortar fires over the front of the vehicle. A package of
appliqué armor has been devised for the MLVM AR, consisting of bolt-on spaced
steel plates. The extra weight is a
problem for the basic MLVM AR, but for the upgraded model, the extra engine
power makes the appliqué armor package less detrimental to performance.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The Upgraded MVLM AR is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
MLVM |
$134,071 |
D, A |
480 kg |
12.26 tons |
4 |
9 |
Passive IR (D) |
Enclosed |
MLVM w/Appliqué |
$136,219 |
D, A |
453 kg |
12.99 tons |
4 |
9 |
Passive IR (D) |
Enclosed |
MLVM (Upgraded) |
$366,016 |
D, A |
480 kg |
12.65 tons |
4 |
13 |
Passive IR (D),
Image Intensifier (C) |
Shielded |
MLVM (Upgraded,
Appliqué) |
$371,010 |
D, A |
418 kg |
13.38 tons |
4 |
13 |
Passive IR (D),
Image Intensifier (C) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
MLVM |
112/79 |
31/22/4 |
480 |
57 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF7
HS3 HR3 |
MLVM w/Appliqué |
108/76 |
30/21/4 |
480 |
60 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF11Sp
HS5Sp HR3 |
MLVM (Upgraded) |
181/127 |
50/35/6 |
480 |
119 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF7
HS3 HR3 |
MLVM (Upgraded,
Appliqué) |
174/122 |
48/34/6 |
480 |
126 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF11Sp
HS5Sp HR3 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
MLVM /
w/Appliqué |
None |
None |
120mm M-1982
Mortar, PKT (C) |
56x120mm, 2500x7.62mm |
MLVM (Upgraded) |
None |
None |
120mm M-1982
Mortar, PKT (C) |
56x120mm, 2500x7.62mm |
RATMIL TAB-71AR
Notes:
Sometimes referred to as the TAB-73, this is a mortar carrier version of
the standard TAB-71 armored personnel carrier.
Though there a number of differences between the TAB-71AR and the TAB-71,
the primary differences arise from the installation of the 82mm mortar and the
internal and external design modifications necessary for that installation.
The TAB-71AR was never upgraded; the only work that was done was that
needed to keep the vehicle functioning until something new came along. The
TAB-71 is no longer marketed, nor are any upgrades (by the Romanians);
production stopped in the 1980s.
However, they will probably be updated more in the future and soldier on.
Internally, what
is normally the rear troop area is largely occupied by the mortar (at roughly
the center of the vehicle), ammunition, and fuzes.
Unusually for such a vehicle, the TAB-71AR retains it’s turret.
The front of the vehicle has a boat-shaped nose, and the driver on the left and
commander on the right have bullet-resistant windshields to their front and
small windows to either side. The windshields have armored shutters which may be
closed over the windshields with vision slits in them.
The commander has a hatch overhead which opens forwards, but no sort of
weapon mount. The driver does have
hatch on the TAB-71AR hatch, and retains the head for a night vision block in
the hatch. At the rear corners of the TAB-71AR are small hatches, and each of
these have a pintle mount with a machinegun mounted. There are no firing ports
and no special provisions for fire other than manual fire extinguishers.
The crew and troops have a collective NBC system to plug into.
A front-mounted winch is mounted for self-recovery; this has a capacity
of 5.5 tons and 60 meters of cable. The “suicide hatches” of the TAB-71 remain,
but due to the mortar and associated equipment, are even more difficult to use
than on the TAB-71 APC.
The mortar used
on the TAB-71AR is based on a positively ancient Soviet design. The TAB-71AR
uses old-style “fire control,” consisting of maps and markers, a plotting board,
aiming stakes, and the standard mortar sight.
(TAB-71ARs were never equipped with an MBC or a navigation system; they
rely on fire coordinates from an FDC).
The effective width of fire from the mortar is 135 degrees on either side
of the vehicle; unusually, the mortar fires over the front of the TAB-71AR.
Atop the TAB-71AR is a pair of hatches comprising a large circular
hatchway; this roughly in the center of the vehicle, and replaces the TAB-71’s
normal roof hatches. Upon a fire mission, the crew becomes the mortar crew.
Like the TAB-71,
the TAB-71AR is powered by twin Saviem SR-225 gasoline engines each developing
140 horsepower. The vehicle is very
difficult to drive, as transmission is manual with the driver having to shift
each engine individually in gear simultaneously in order for the vehicle to
continue to operate smoothly. The vehicle is amphibious with minimal preparation
(a trim vane must be erected from the driver’s compartment and bilge pumps
turned on), requiring 4 minutes. Once in the water, the TAB-71AR is propelled by
the motion of its wheels. Suspension is 8x8 and of the off-road-type, with
central tire pressure regulation.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$248,213 |
G, A |
350 kg |
11.86 tons |
5 |
7 |
Passive IR (D) |
Shielded |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
180/91 |
45/32/5 |
290 |
161 |
Stnd |
W(4) |
HF3 HS3
HR2 |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
None |
None |
M-1938 82mm mortar, 2xPK (Rear) |
110x82mm, 2000x7.62mm |
RATMIL TAB-79AR
Notes:
The TABC-79AR is the mortar-carrier version of the ABC-79M Family of
Vehicles. The member of the family
that looks closest to the TABC-79AR is the TABC-79M turretless APC variant.
The TABC-79AR, however, has received heavy modification inside to
accommodate the mortar and its ammunition and fuzes, as well as ancillary
equipment. The TABC-79AR (and
indeed, the entire ABC-7M) family are used solely by Romania, and have recently
been used by the Romanian Army in Afghanistan. The TABC-79AR uses several common
components with the TAB-77 APC, though some have upgraded.
What is normally
the rear troop area has, of course, been given over primarily to the mortar and
its ammunition and gear. Actual
equipment room is on the short side, though there are positions for every
crewmember during a march. The
normal ABC-79M turret is removed; in its place is a large, round, two piece
hatch for use with the mortar. In
front of that hatch are two smaller hatches, one for the driver on the left and
for the commander on the right. The
commander and driver also have four vision blocks, three up front and one to the
left side (for the driver) and right side (for the commander).
Both can also remove the center front vision block and replace it with a
night vision block. The commander has a pintle mount outside his hatch for a
light weapon; on the roof behind his hatchway, he also has an IR searchlight.
The commander and driver have a windshield to the front that may be covered by
an armored shutter (they then use vision blocks); they also have hatches above
their positions. At the rear of the
vehicle is another small hatch; the gunner or ammo bearer mans this position
when the vehicle is not stopped for bombardment.
The TABC-79AR has hatches on either side of the vehicle between the
wheels, and another door on the rear; the side hatches are small, similar to the
“suicide hatches” of the TAB-71M; it has a rear door, but it is cramped and
narrow, and weapon racks mean that the rear hatch is not useful for much more
than mortar ammunition restocking. The TABC-79 has a collective NBC system for
the crew and troops. Protection also includes an automatic fire detection and
suppression system. The passengers have firing ports, two to a side and two in
the rear. The TABC-79 has a 5.5-ton
winch on the front with 50 meters of cable.
The mortar is
once again a Romanian development of an earlier Soviet design and fires over the
front of the vehicle. It has a muzzle device which prevents double-loading and
also acts as a muzzle brake, reducing the stress on the suspension.
Some ergonomic thought has been given to how mortar operations will have
to be conducted in the vehicle, meaning that it is not as hard work and that
work flows evenly in long bombardments. The TABC-79AR is powered by a single
Savia 798.05N2 154-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine, with an automatic
transmission. The driver has
conventional controls. The engine
is relatively compact, allowing for that small hatch in the rear, though it is
mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The TABC-79AR is amphibious without
preparation, requiring only that a waterjet be switched on when the vehicle
begins floating. Suspension is 4x4
and of the off-road-type. Armor is a little better than most mortar carriers of
this type, particularly from the front arc.
An upgraded
version, the TABC-79ARM, is in existence; it will not be long until Romania has
upgraded all of its TABC-79ARs to this standard.
The primary improvements are automotive and in the suspension; the entire
drive train is more reliable, and the now-unitary powerpack is much easier to
service or remove and replace if desired.
The engine has been replaced by a Diesel Euro Type 3 turbocharged engine
with 160 horsepower. This version
of the TABC-79AR is equipped with a second long-range radio; this one is
data-capable. The Upgrade includes
a mortar ballistic computer and a second computer to accept digital
transmissions from the second radio.
The TABC-79ARM has a mapping computer linked to the primary computer
(which is more of a small laptop, like a Toughbook), along with an inertial
navigation system. (The Romanian
Army is mulling over permanently mounting GPS or GLONASS and integrating it with
the TABC-79AR’s mapping computer, but no hard decisions have been made.)
Likewise, a variety of appliqué and ERA packages are being considered,
but no final decision has been made.
Twilight 2000
Notes: the Upgraded TABC-79 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
TABC-79AR |
$259,528 |
D, A |
318 kg |
10.35 tons |
4 |
8 |
Passive IR (D,
C), IR Searchlight (C) |
Enclosed |
TAC-79ARM |
$690,318 |
D, A |
268 kg |
11.5 tons |
4 |
10 |
Passive IR (D,
C), IR Searchlight (C) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr
Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
TABC-79AR |
140/70 |
39/19/4 |
200 |
57 |
Stnd |
W(3) |
HF7
HS3 HR3 |
TAC-79ARM |
133/68 |
37/18/4 |
200 |
63 |
Stnd |
W(3) |
HF7
HS3 HR3 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
TABC-79AR |
None |
None |
82mm M-1983
Mortar, 2xPKT (C, Rear) |
56x120mm, 2500x7.62mm |