ZTL 115 (Pz.Kpfw VII Ausf. Panther 5)
Role: Main Battle tank (MBT)
Crew: 3
Auto loader: Yes
Estimated combat weight: ~70 T
Aporx Speed:
- Road: 70–75 km/h
- Off-road: 45–50 km/h
- Reverse: 42-45 km/h
Acceleration
- 0–32 km/h: ~6–7 seconds
Range
- Road: ~450–500 km
- Off-road: ~350 km
ZTL 115 – Dimensions
Overall Dimensions
- Length (gun forward): 10.9–11.2 m
- Hull length: 7.8–8.0 m
- Width (without ERA): 3.7 m
- Width (with ERA & side armor): 3.9–4.0 m
- Height (to turret roof): 2.35 m
- Height (to commander’s sight): 2.75–2.85 m
- Ground clearance: 0.45 m
Turret Dimensions
- Turret width: 3.3–3.5 m
- Turret length: 3.6–3.8 m
- Turret ring diameter: 2.25–2.35 m
- Turret roof thickness: 100 mm RHAe (as specified)
Hull Dimensions
- Hull width: 3.5–3.6 m
- Hull height: 1.45–1.55 m
- Hull roof height (internal): optimized for autoloader & crew safety
- Rear engine compartment length: ~2.0 m
Track & Suspension
- Track width: 633 mm
- Track ground contact length: 4.4–4.6 m
- Road wheels: 6 per side
- Suspension: torsion bar + active piston assist
Weight Distribution (Approx.)
- Hull: ~42–44 tons
- Turret: ~26–28 tons
- Total combat weight: ~70 tons
ZTL 115
The ZTL 115 is a FAKE, SELF CREATED TANK, let me tell you about it!
The ZTL 115 or “Pz.Kpw VII Ausf. Panther 5” is a imaginary MBT tank that I have created, it is a 4th
generation tank, wich obviously is equipped with autoloader, thermal imaging and other features that I added.
CHASSIS
Mobility and armor
Mobility
The chassis is equipped with the traditional track and wheels formation, the transmision is located in the rear of the tank and the tank has in total of: 2 drive sprokets, 6 road wheels (total 12) , 2 return rollers (4 in total), 1 Idler (2 in total), the tracks are ~199mm of height, 633 mm+ of width, and the steel thickness is around 20-31 mm.
The suspension system is the torsion bar suspension and with a piston system wich works as springs for extra suspension, this suspension is centered in agility and all terrain mobility of the tank, is equipped with active suspension for high mobility and stability.
Armor
The forntal part of the tank is equipped with a forntal 791 mm Rolled Homogeneous Armor equivalent (RHAe) armor with a 40º incination, the frontal side armor is of a 70 mm RHA but with a internal 10 mm Composite Armor, the lower frontal armor have a 799 mm RHAe with a internal 13mm Composite Armor on a 30º inclination.
The upper side armor is of a 20mm of RHAe and the side armor of a 11mm of RHA and a internal 31mm of composite.
The rear part of the tank is the most vunerable in this tank, for a rear armor with a 70º of inclination and a 120mm of RHAe, the side rear armor is of a 210mm of RHA and the lower rear armor is of a 33mm, the upper rear armor is of a 31mm of RHA with 9mm of composite armor, the upper part of the tank has a perfect 110mm of RHAe with a 11mm of composite.
All the low part of the tank is composed with a vurnerable 50mm RHA.
Fire power and defensive fetures
Fire power
The main fire power of the tank is the main gun, with a 121 mm caliber smooth and rifled cannon of 9.9m of long, the cannon has muzzle brake, the elevation of the gun is of +19º and the depression is of -7º
The cannon produces a recoil stroke of approximately 380–420 mm, depending on ammunition type. The 121 mm main gun is equipped with a modern hydropneumatic recoil management system, incorporating a hydraulic recoil brake and a pneumatic recuperator. The system limits nominal recoil travel to approximately 400 mm, while a muzzle brake further reduces recoil impulse and structural stress on the turret and gun mount.
The recoil system features variable damping, automatically adjusting recuperator pressure and recoil braking characteristics based on the loaded ammunition type. This allows optimized recoil control for high‑energy APFSDS rounds as well as reduced‑impulse munitions such as HEAT, ensuring sustained accuracy, reduced mechanical stress, and effective stabilization during high‑speed movement.
The gunner has night vision sight equipped and for sure the thermal detector is on the gunner sight too. I wanted to mention that for the gunner I added a joystick instead of a traditional gun controller. The joystick has a button on the back that is the fire controller once pushed fires the ammo.
The available ammunition’s for this tank is:
APFSDS, HEAT, APDS and a small amount of imagination my own ammo the SHEAP check on another post
The turret has a automated Type 59 12.7mm anti-air machine gun mounted on the commander hatch, a 5,51x42mm machine gun is placed on the gunner sight, the same one is placed in the co-driver seat for close range fire, it has a effective range of 300–800 meters.
The turret machine gun has a night vision installed (wich needs to be investigated in modifications), the gun is remote contolled, wich can decrease the risk of death of the commander, but the gun can be man contorlled too.
Defensive fetures
The ZTL 115 is equipped with 5 granade laugers each side that can arriave up to 40º of elevation, the smoke can cover up to 100-200m of radius, the ERA can be installed around the tank, this ERA armor is modified with “Teeth” the “Teeth” has a 30º inclination.
The tank has another defensive feature, I call it as the EWD (Early Warning Drone), the tank is equipped with 2 drones, 1 reusable attack bommer drone and 1 EWD drone.
TURRET
Mobility and armor
Mobility
The ZTL 115 turret has a electrically powered turret drive with hydraulic backup for emergency operation, the turret has rotation of 45.3º/s the turret ring has a auto lubricator system, the ring has a 232.1mm of RHAe as a base plate.
The gun has a stabilizator (needs to be investigated in modifications)
The main gun is fully stabilized on two axes, with digital fire‑control integration, allowing accurate fire while moving at high speed over rough terrain.
The vertical gun laying speed is of 25º/s (Joystick)
Armor
The ZTL 115 turret features 120 mm RHAe frontal armor sloped at 45°, 101 mm RHAe side armor, and 100 mm RHAe rear armor sloped at 40°. The interior of the turret is fully lined with 23 mm of composite armor for spall mitigation and crew protection. The turret is compatible with externally mounted ERA modules, the turret roof armor is of a 100mm RHAe, the commander hatch is of a 12mm RHAe.
Engine and mobility
Foward: 70km/h on road, 45-50km/h off road
Reverse: 42-45km/h
Maneuverability: 360º in ~8 sec
(Full load)
The ZTL-X16A 1,600 hp engine is fully capable of moving the ZTL 115 easily and fast, even with full ammunition load, full fuel, ERA installed, and combat equipment.
With a combat weight of approximately 70 tons, the tank achieves a power-to-weight ratio of 22.8 hp/ton, which places it on the same level as modern top-tier MBTs. This allows high acceleration, strong off-road mobility, and sustained high speed without overloading the engine.
The high torque output (~5,200 Nm) combined with the advanced cross-drive transmission ensures smooth movement from a standstill, efficient climbing on steep terrain, and stable maneuvering in mud, sand, or snow. The engine operates with sufficient power reserve, meaning the tank does not suffer noticeable performance loss when fully loaded.
Even at maximum combat load, the ZTL 115 maintains:
- High forward acceleration
- Very fast reverse speed (up to 42–45 km/h)
- Reliable off-road speed
- Stable neutral turns
The engine is not operating at its limits during normal combat use, improving reliability, reducing mechanical stress, and increasing overall operational endurance.
Ammunition Storage and Compatibility
The ZTL 115 features an automatic loader situated below the turret, providing a compact and protected ammunition handling system.
- Autoloader capacity: 22–25 rounds
Stored in the primary autoloading mechanism for immediate use. - Hull ammunition storage: 12–14 rounds
Stored in armored compartments, one storage rack on each side of the hull. - Total ammunition capacity: 36–40 rounds (121 mm)
Compatible Ammunition Types
The ZTL 115 is compatible with the following 121 mm ammunition:
- APFSDS-T — Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (Tracer)
- HEAT-MP-T — High-Explosive Anti-Tank, Multi-Purpose (Tracer)
- APDS-T — Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot (Tracer)
- SHEAP-T — Specialized High-Energy Armor-Piercing (Tracer) (custom design)
- HE-AB-T — High-Explosive Air-Burst (Tracer)
- TP-T / TP-AB — Target Practice / Target Practice Air-Burst (training ammunition)
Crew Protection and Layout
As stated, the ZTL 115 is a three-crew vehicle, consisting of the Commander, Gunner, and Driver. The crew layout is designed to maximize combat efficiency, situational awareness, and survivability.
Gunner
The gunner is positioned behind the driver, seated within the turret section. He is responsible for weapon operation and fire engagement.
Tasks:
- Control of the main gun
- Operation and supervision of the autoloading system
- Control of the coaxial and turret-mounted machine gun
- Additional duties (field repairs and fire extinguishing)
Commander
The commander is the command element of the tank, responsible for crew coordination and battlefield awareness. He is positioned opposite the gunner, with his station partially in the turret and partially in the hull.
The commander has 360º panoramic visibility through independent thermal and optical sights, with the option of head-out observation in low-threat environments.
Tasks:
- Lead and coordinate the crew
- Search for, identify, and prioritize targets
- Control the remote or man-operated machine gun
- Additional duties (field repairs)
Driver
The driver is located in the front left section of the hull, directly below the gunner’s position. His station is optimized for vehicle control and survivability.
Tasks:
- Drive and maneuver the vehicle
- Monitor engine systems and perform basic vehicle maintenance
- Additional duties (field repairs)
Protection
The crew is protected by a multi-layer internal protection system designed to reduce injuries from armor penetration, spall, and overpressure.
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The interior of the vehicle is fully lined with spall liners, with priority coverage around crew compartments.
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Behind the composite armor layers, a continuous 10 mm spall liner is installed.
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Integrated into the spall liner system is a 5 mm aramid-fiber shock-absorbing layer, designed to:
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Reduce secondary fragmentation
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Absorb kinetic energy
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Mitigate internal overpressure effects
This protection system significantly improves crew survivability in the event of armor penetration or near-miss impacts.
Fire protection
The ZTL 115 is equipped with a dual‑layer fire‑protection system, combining manual extinguishers and a fully automatic fire‑suppression system.
The tank features automatic fire‑extinguishing systems located in:
- The engine compartment
- The turret ammunition storage
- The crew compartment
These systems use fast‑acting fire‑suppressant agents (halon‑replacement / inert gas based), capable of detecting and suppressing fire in less than 150 milliseconds, preventing ammunition cook‑off and reducing engine fire damage.
In addition, the crew has access to manual fire extinguishers inside the hull and turret for secondary or localized fires.
The tank also carries 2 liters of water (1 liter per side), intended for emergency cooling, minor equipment fires, or crew use, not as the primary firefighting method.
This layered approach significantly increases crew survivability and vehicle endurance in combat.
Safety features
APS
The ZTL 115 is equipped with a custom Active Protection System (APS) Q991, a hard‑kill defensive system designed to intercept incoming anti‑tank threats before impact.
The APS detection system is integrated internally within the turret, utilizing a combination of radar and electro‑optical sensors to detect and track incoming projectiles such as RPGs, ATGMs, and HEAT munitions. Once a threat is detected, the system automatically calculates the interception point within milliseconds.
Upon engagement, the APS fires a high‑speed interceptor that destroys or destabilizes the incoming projectile in mid‑air by breaking it into fragments, significantly reducing penetration capability and protecting the vehicle.
The interceptors are mounted externally adjacent to the smoke grenade launchers, with a total of 8 ready‑to‑fire interceptors, 4 on each side of the turret, providing frontal and lateral protection, the APS can move up aand down, thanks to the rails intalled on the turret
The APS Q991 is optimized for:
- RPGs
- ATGMs
- HEAT‑based munitions
The system can be manually disabled when operating near friendly infantry and is integrated with the
tank’s fire‑control and defensive management systems for rapid response.
Ammo safety
At the sides of the hull, the ZTL 115 is equipped with blow‑out panels integrated into the ammunition storage compartments. These panels are designed to vent the explosive force outward in the event of ammunition detonation, preventing catastrophic damage to the crew compartment.
Each hull ammunition storage area is separated from the crew by an internal armored safety door, which automatically seals during a blow‑out event. This system ensures that the explosive pressure, heat, and fragments are redirected away from the crew, significantly increasing survivability.
The combination of armored compartmentalization, blow‑out panels, and automatic fire‑suppression systems allows the ZTL 115 to safely store hull‑mounted ammunition while maintaining a high level of crew protection.
The ZTL 115 features a turret blow out panel situated above the autoloader, that prevents turret blow out.
NBC
The ZTL‑115 is equipped with a full NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection system, designed to ensure crew survivability during contamination events.
Nuclear protection includes:
- Fully sealed crew compartment
- Positive overpressure system preventing radioactive dust from entering
- Multi‑stage CBRN filtration unit (HEPA + activated carbon)
- Radiation‑hardened electronics
- Radiation detection sensors for early warning
- Internal spall liners and composite armor providing limited radiation attenuation
Instead of heavy radiation shielding, the ZTL‑115 relies on:
- Rapid area transit
- Crew isolation
- Filtered breathable air
- Operational time limits in contaminated zones
EWD (Early Warnig Drone)
The ZTL 115 is equipped with two integrated unmanned aerial systems housed inside the turret:
- EWD (Early Warning Drone) – used for reconnaissance, target detection, and threat early warning
- LDBD (Long-Distance Bomber Drone) – reusable attack drone for engaging targets and enemy positions beyond line-of-sight
The dornes are stored behind the turret .
Both drones are stored in armored launch compartments inside the turret and are controlled by the commander via the battle management system.
The tank is equipped with an internal high-capacity battery station (~2.5 kWh), allowing drone operation without running the main engine. The battery system can be recharged by the engine or APU.
The EWD drone provides:
- 360º aerial surveillance
- Early detection of ATGMs, vehicles, infantry, and drones
- Target designation for the main gun and APS
The LDBD drone provides:
- Precision strike capability against light vehicles and infantry
- Reusable return-to-tank capability
- Operation beyond direct line-of-sight
Drones protection
Electronic Warfare Resistance
The EWD (Early Warning Drone) and LDBD (Long-Distance Bomber Drone) of the ZTL-115 are equipped with hardened electronic warfare countermeasures, ensuring reliable operation in contested electromagnetic environments.
The drone control link uses:
- Encrypted digital datalink (AES-256 or equivalent)
- Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) to reduce jamming vulnerability
- Low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) transmission modes
FOR KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DORNES I WILL CREATE ANOTHER POST
APU
The ZTL-115 is equipped with a dedicated Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) designed to supply electrical power to onboard systems without running the main engine.
The APU is a compact diesel-powered unit installed in the rear hull compartment, isolated from the crew and protected by armor and fire-suppression systems.
Specifications
- Power output: ~20 kW
- Fuel type: Diesel (shared with main engine)
- Cooling: Independent liquid-cooling system
- Noise level: Low acoustic signature
- Thermal signature: Reduced IR output
Functions
The APU allows the ZTL-115 to operate in silent watch mode, powering:
- Fire-control systems
- Thermal sights and optics
- APS (Active Protection System)
- EWD & LDBD drone systems
- Battle Management System (BMS)
- Internal communications
- Climate control (limited)
Advantages
- Enables long-duration observation without engine use
- Reduces engine wear
- Improves survivability in ambush and defensive positions
- Allows drone operations without revealing tank position
Protection & Safety
- Automatically shuts down in case of fire or damage
- Integrated with fire-suppression system
- Armored compartment with blast isolation
- EMP-hardened electronics
Crew Optics & Targeting Systems
- Gunner: Equipped with independent thermal and night vision cameras, allowing full engagement at day or night. Has access to Hunter-Killer sight (research required in modifications) for improved target prioritization.
- Commander: Controls his own panoramic thermal & optical cameras, allowing independent target search. Can select ammunition type while monitoring threats and guiding the gunner.
- Driver: Equipped with a night vision camera for low-light navigation and situational awareness.
- Hunter-Killer System: Enables rapid handover between commander and gunner, allowing the commander to spot and assign targets while the gunner engages simultaneously.