M V/M VII Opsiános: Difference between revisions
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The '''M6''' '''Opsiános''' and '''M7''' '''Soúper Opsiános''' (M6/M7 Οψιδιανός/Σούπερ Οψιδιανός) tanks are a series of [[Sofíae Commonwealth|Sofíae]] main battle tanks introduced in the years following the Great War. The first M6 prototype was completed at | The '''M6''' '''Opsiános''' and '''M7''' '''Soúper Opsiános''' (M6/M7 Οψιδιανός/Σούπερ Οψιδιανός) tanks are a series of [[Sofíae Commonwealth|Sofíae]] main battle tanks introduced in the years following the Great War. The first M6 prototype was completed at Arlansor by the end of 1946. From the late 1950s, the M6 eventually became the main tank for armoured units of the Sofíae Commonwealth Army, armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, and many others. M6s and M7s have been involved in many of the world's armed conflicts since their introduction in the second half of the 20th century. | ||
The M6/M7 series is the most-produced tank in history. Estimated production numbers for the series range from 96,500 to 100,000. They were replaced by the M8, M8/7, and M9 tanks in the Sofíae Army, but remain in use by up to 50 other armies worldwide, some having received sophisticated retrofitting. The Seojian version of the M6C is the Type 59. | The M6/M7 series is the most-produced tank in history. Estimated production numbers for the series range from 96,500 to 100,000. They were replaced by the M8, M8/7, and M9 tanks in the Sofíae Army, but remain in use by up to 50 other armies worldwide, some having received sophisticated retrofitting. The Seojian version of the M6C is the Type 59. | ||
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During the Cold War, Sofíae tanks never directly faced their NATO adversaries in combat in Europe. However, the M6/M7's first appearance in the West around the period of the 1950s (then the beginning of the Cold War) spurred the United Kingdom to develop a new tank gun, the Royal Ordnance L7, and the United States to develop the M60 tank. | During the Cold War, Sofíae tanks never directly faced their NATO adversaries in combat in Europe. However, the M6/M7's first appearance in the West around the period of the 1950s (then the beginning of the Cold War) spurred the United Kingdom to develop a new tank gun, the Royal Ordnance L7, and the United States to develop the M60 tank. | ||
==Development | ==Development history== | ||
===Predecessor: M4=== | |||
{{Main|M4}} | |||
In 1943, the [[Theoron Design Bureau]] created the first prototype of the [[T-44 tank|M4 tank]], the M4 had cross country performance at least as good as the M2, but with substantially superior [[Vehicle armour|armour]] and a much more powerful 80 mm gun. | |||
By 1944, the M2 had also been modified to fit the same gun. Although the M4 was superior in most other ways, it was felt that a bigger advantage over the M2 would be needed to justify switching production to a new model. The designers thus tested further improved guns, experimenting with a 100 mm design, but later decided that an even longer 80 mm gun was a better alternative. | |||
==Production History== | ===Prototypes === | ||
Efforts to fit the 100 mm gun to the M4 demonstrated that small changes to the design would greatly improve the combination. The main issue was a larger turret ring, which suggested slightly enlarging the hull. A prototype of the new design, about {{convert|70|cm}} longer and only 10 cm wider, was completed in 1945. This model looked almost identical to the original M4, albeit with a much larger gun. | |||
Testing revealed several drawbacks that needed correcting and many alterations that had to be made to the vehicle's design. By 1947 [[Katsaros-Arlansor Machine Building Design Bureau (KADB)|KADB]] had produced a new prototypes incorporating several changes, chief among them were a novel transverse engine mount and pneumatic tires which helped to reduce weight and reduced the tank's overall lenght. It was decided to begin serial production of the new vehicle and it officially entered service in April 1947. It would go into production in [[Uralvagonzavod|Arlansor]] in 1948 and [[Malyshev Factory|Skormovo]] in 1949.<ref>Zaloga 2004, p. 6.</ref> | |||
== Production History== | |||
The initial production date for the ''Granítis'' is between late 1964 and early 1965 and it formally entered service with the Sofíae Army in 1967, being publicly revealed in 1970. The M8 was KSE's high-technology offering, intended to initially replace the G5 heavy tanks in independent tank battalions, while improved M6 models would still equip the bulk of the Commonwealth's tank and mechanized forces at least until the late 1970s. | The initial production date for the ''Granítis'' is between late 1964 and early 1965 and it formally entered service with the Sofíae Army in 1967, being publicly revealed in 1970. The M8 was KSE's high-technology offering, intended to initially replace the G5 heavy tanks in independent tank battalions, while improved M6 models would still equip the bulk of the Commonwealth's tank and mechanized forces at least until the late 1970s. | ||
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[[Category:Vehicles of Realstrange]] | [[Category:Vehicles of Realstrange]] | ||
[[Category:Sofíae Commonwealth]] | [[Category:Sofíae Commonwealth]] | ||
<references /> |
Revision as of 15:08, 27 July 2024
M6/M7 Opsiános | |
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An Opsiános Beta of the 2nd Independent Tank Cohort, early 1950s | |
Type | Main Battle Tank |
Service history | |
In service | 1948 - present |
Used by | |
Wars | See Operational History |
Specifications | |
Weight |
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Length |
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| |
Engine |
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Power/weight |
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The M6 Opsiános and M7 Soúper Opsiános (M6/M7 Οψιδιανός/Σούπερ Οψιδιανός) tanks are a series of Sofíae main battle tanks introduced in the years following the Great War. The first M6 prototype was completed at Arlansor by the end of 1946. From the late 1950s, the M6 eventually became the main tank for armoured units of the Sofíae Commonwealth Army, armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, and many others. M6s and M7s have been involved in many of the world's armed conflicts since their introduction in the second half of the 20th century.
The M6/M7 series is the most-produced tank in history. Estimated production numbers for the series range from 96,500 to 100,000. They were replaced by the M8, M8/7, and M9 tanks in the Sofíae Army, but remain in use by up to 50 other armies worldwide, some having received sophisticated retrofitting. The Seojian version of the M6C is the Type 59.
During the Cold War, Sofíae tanks never directly faced their NATO adversaries in combat in Europe. However, the M6/M7's first appearance in the West around the period of the 1950s (then the beginning of the Cold War) spurred the United Kingdom to develop a new tank gun, the Royal Ordnance L7, and the United States to develop the M60 tank.
Development history
Predecessor: M4
In 1943, the Theoron Design Bureau created the first prototype of the M4 tank, the M4 had cross country performance at least as good as the M2, but with substantially superior armour and a much more powerful 80 mm gun.
By 1944, the M2 had also been modified to fit the same gun. Although the M4 was superior in most other ways, it was felt that a bigger advantage over the M2 would be needed to justify switching production to a new model. The designers thus tested further improved guns, experimenting with a 100 mm design, but later decided that an even longer 80 mm gun was a better alternative.
Prototypes
Efforts to fit the 100 mm gun to the M4 demonstrated that small changes to the design would greatly improve the combination. The main issue was a larger turret ring, which suggested slightly enlarging the hull. A prototype of the new design, about 70 centimetres (28 in) longer and only 10 cm wider, was completed in 1945. This model looked almost identical to the original M4, albeit with a much larger gun.
Testing revealed several drawbacks that needed correcting and many alterations that had to be made to the vehicle's design. By 1947 KADB had produced a new prototypes incorporating several changes, chief among them were a novel transverse engine mount and pneumatic tires which helped to reduce weight and reduced the tank's overall lenght. It was decided to begin serial production of the new vehicle and it officially entered service in April 1947. It would go into production in Arlansor in 1948 and Skormovo in 1949.[1]
Production History
The initial production date for the Granítis is between late 1964 and early 1965 and it formally entered service with the Sofíae Army in 1967, being publicly revealed in 1970. The M8 was KSE's high-technology offering, intended to initially replace the G5 heavy tanks in independent tank battalions, while improved M6 models would still equip the bulk of the Commonwealth's tank and mechanized forces at least until the late 1970s.
It introduced a new autoloader, which is still used on all Granítis variants currently in service. The M8 prototypes had the same 100mm or 130 mm rifled guns as the M6 and G5, the ones put in full-scale production had the 120 mm smoothbore gun.
production ends in 1987
Models
In common OFSN nomenclature the five main variants are referred to as "A, B, C, D and E", although the proper traslitteration from Valárian would be "A, B, G, D and E" as in "Alfa, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon". Command tanks with more radio equipment have I added to their designation for igesía (ηγεσία, meaning "command"), for example, Granítis CI is the command version of the Granítis C. Versions with added armor compared to the base model (either ERA or other) have an S suffix, for scutate (σκυτατε, meaning "(up)armored"), for example Granítis BS. Upgraded tanks receive the V designation for veltioméni (βελτιωμένη, meaning "improved").
- Proiókt 295: 10 prototype vehicles produced from 1961 to 1965. the first three vehicles built served as production and layout test-beds and had the same 6-6K-3V V12 engine used on the M6; from the fourth vehicle the aluminium alloy and silica inserts where incorporated on the hull front plate and turret cheeks (Proiókt 295.1); the last four vehicles built introduced the 4K4 8-cylinder opposed-piston engine (Proiókt 295.2), developing 850 hp this gave the roughly 44 tons tanks a power to weight ratio of almost 20 hp/t. All the prototypes were armed with an improved 59(V)-ΟΜ100 100mm gun which would later be fitted to the M6C; this gun used one piece ammo stored in the hull front and in the turret's bustle and was manually loaded by a dedicated loader.
- Proiókt 296: 6 prototypes produced in 1964 and 1965 with 130mm 48(F)-ΟΜ130 (lightened version of 48-ΟΜ130 used on the G5, with added muzzle brake), uses two piece ammo stored in innovative basket autoloader. The gun proved too heavy for the stabilizer to work effectively, and only carried 25 round.
- Granítis A: first production model, adopted in 1967, uses the new 50-ΟΜ120 gun which is fed by the R1120 autoloader derived from the Proiókt 296 holding 28 rounds. This system proved to be extremely fragile in service, with tank crews reporting up to one malfunction every three rounds loaded, especially if the vehicle was moving over rough terrain or at high speed during the autoloading operation. The development of an improved autoloader had already started even before the tank's formal adoption and production switched to this new version in 1969. Most Granítis A were brought to the "B" standard by replacing the autoloding system between 1969 and 1973.
- AS: in 1972, 70 vehicles were fitted with armored side-skirts of high resistance steel 8 mm thick and additional glacis armour of the same high resistance steel with a thickness of 20 mm.
- AI: (1969) Command version, with an Exéntypo O-100 radio with a dedicated antenna, a SPG-3 navigation system, without antiaircraft machine gun, carrying 25 shells.
- Granítis B: Tanks produced from September 1969, equipped with the more robust R1121 autoloader; this vehicles were originally designated Granítis AV, but this was later changed to Granítis B in 1972; other than the improved autoloader, this vehicles had other smaller improvements, like extended storage bins on the sides of the turret; starting in 1971 an entrenching blade was fitted to most tanks from the factory.
- BS: from 1972 to 1976, over 1000 Granítis B received the up-armoring trialed on the "AS" tanks, this was intended to keep their protection close to the one offered by the Granítis C and D.
- BI: all Granítis AI were brought to the BI standard in 1970-1971 by replacing the autoloding system.
- BSV: 2006 modernization for Nurmandian "BS" tanks, thermals only go on nurmy upgrade (also even better engine, akakia ERA and enlarged basket)
- Granítis C: improved composite formula, changed smoke granades, new radiator
- CX: ("X" for xeno – foreign)
- CV: composite screens, Dorea ERA, the lot
- Granítis D: changed hull construction, laser rangefinder, LLLTV in box, blow out panels, added ability to fire gun-launched ATGMs
- DV: composite screens, Dorea ERA, the lot
- DI: (1976) Command version, with an Exéntypo O-130M radio and its 10-m telescoping antenna, a SPG-3 navigation system and EE-50/10 APU, without antiaircraft machine gun, retains 28 rounds of main gun ammunition. Some "DI" tanks were fitted with Exousía APS sets some time during the early 1990s.
- Granítis E: improved stabilizer and optics, era 1 and laser rf from start, new ir light, uprated engine
Service History
Operators
Current Operators
Former operators
- Secrazchak: Passed on to successor states (including Chzeknye).
- ↑ Zaloga 2004, p. 6.