M113A1 (GIAT TS90)
Tested By Norway in 1988
ARMAMENT
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GIAT TS90 Modular Turret
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Main weapon: 1x 90mm CN90F4 Smoothbore cannon
-Caliber: 90 mm
-Ammunition Capacity: 20-50 rounds
-Overall length: 5.74 m
-Barrel length: 4.68 m
-Overall weight (with armored gun shield): 602 kg
-Recoiling gun mass: 422 kg
-Maximum recoil length: 550 mm
-Maximum service chamber pressure: 210 MPa
-Barrel Details
-Rifling length: 4.022 m
-Rifling twist: 25°
-Number of grooves: 60
-Muzzle brake: Single baffle -
Secondary Coaxial weapon: 1x 7.62 mm coaxial General Purpose machine gun
-Ammunition Capacity: 2200 rounds -
Smoke grenade launchers: 2x2 of unknown caliber
-Placements: 2x launchers on each rear side of the turret
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Ammunition
-APFSDS (OFL 90 F1)
-HE (OE 90 F1)
-HEAT-FS (OCC 90 F2)
-Canister: Ammunition designed for use against massed infantry at close ranges.
-Smoke: Rounds used to create smoke screens for cover or obscuration
TECHNICAL DATA
Spoiler
Curb Weight: 9740.44 Kg
Combat Weight: 11155.65kg
Height over MG: 249.6cm
Length: 486.4cm
Width over track shrouds: 268.61cm
Tread: 216cm
Ground clearance: 40.9cm
Top Speed: 59.6 Km/h
Eigne: Chrysler 75M; 8 cylinder, 4 cycle, vee gasoline
Power: 215hp@4,000rpm
Torque 332 ft-lb@2,800rpm
HP/Ton: 17.2
Acceleration (0-20 mph) sec: 10.5 sec
Braking Distance: 12.1 Meter
Turning Radius: 426.7 Meter
Ground Pressure (psi): 7.8
Cruising Range: 482.80 kilometer
HISTORY
The M113A1 (GIAT TS90) prototype tank destroyer was developed through a mid-1980s collaboration between French company GIAT Industries (Which is now named Nexter) and the American firm FMC Corporation (Which was the original manufacturer of the M113 chassis). This featured an M113A1 chassis with an French GIAT TS90 Turret featuring the 90mm CN90-F4 cannon. This modular cannon was first shown to the public in 1977. The cannon is able to fire APFSDS, HEAT-FS, HE, Smoke and canister rounds. The prototype was first unveiled at the 1985 Satory arms exhibition in France as a low cost fire anti tank upgrade for nations already operating M113s, among those Norway.
Norway’s interest in the M113 with the GIAT TS90 turret in the 1980’s stemmed from its ongoing Cold War era modernization of the M113 fleet to bolster mechanized brigades defending the northern flank against a potential Soviet invasion from the Kola Peninsula. Around the same time as this was tested, the construction and upgrades of 97 M113’s to the NM142 TOW were just being finished. This vehicle was evaluated and tested by the Norwegian army at hjerkinn shooting range on Dovrefjell (Central Norway) which has been used for exercises and extensively testing vehicles and artillery throughout the years. It was used from 1923 to 1999, where it was closed and the whole area was restored. Among many others, they did the trials for the 5033 IFV programme some years later in 1991 and onward with the cv90, Ascod and others. This was likely a consideration of an cheaper alternative by upgrading existing M113 as these were plentiful, with over 400 wagons, instead of buying new and much more expensive infantry fighting vehicles. The M113A1 GIAT TS90 was never bought or adopted by neither Norway or any nation, and remains a protoype.
IN GAME
In the game this would be a great tank destroyer or light tank, either as a part of the Swedish techtree in a future Norwegian subtree or in a potential Norwegian/Danish independent techtree. It would suit perfectly at a battle rating of 7.3 to 7.7, and with a guesstimated reload speed of 8.7 to 6.7 and HEAT-FS ammunition with 350mm of penetration, and APFSDS with approx. 230mm of RHA penertaion at 2km, it would be a powerful vehicle capable of penetrating and quickly destroying most of the vehicles it faces. It also has a small profile, making it hard to spot.
SOURCES
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Den Sorte lue medlemsblad for kameratforeningen Norske Dragoner hvori opptatt Hedmarks Dragonforening. august 2017 Vol. 14 Nr. 3
Nasjonalbiblioteket
Army Guide
『Ｍ113ベースの世界の改造戦車』
Off The Mark: US Revamp: M113 90V
Redirecting...
Book: Motoriserte Militærkjøretøy i Norge
Copyright 2005 by Forsvarsmuseet/HMK All rights reserved
Billedbehandling/Grafisk produksjon: Mikro Marketing, Asker
Press: Gan Grafisk, Oslo
Motoriserte Militærkjøretøy i Norge Bind 1
ISBN 82-91218-43-9
The book is printed in 3,000 copies, 100 of which are leatherbound
front cover/back cover: The wheel rider squadron at Trandum 1953
Defense publications No. 3 Oslo 2005
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