IDW007: Airborne Tank, 20 person crew

[davi]

http://davivsjapan.com/IDW.jpg

Topic: Airborne Tank, 20 person crew

Description: In 1988, The USSR commissioned their top Russian engineers to create two tanks that could take out a capital city's of france and poland. The tank was a behemoth of metal and firepower. The tank would be flown over a city and dropped within city limits-- The lone tank would have no back up and the sole mission of destroying all major political structures.

These tanks were never put into practice due to the fall of the USSR, but remain under control of Mother Russia to this day.


Your Job: Develop a tank that is possible to hold over 20 crewmen. The tank must be able to withstand a fall of at least 3km(1.9miles). The tank must have enough firepower to cause mass destruction.

Deadline: March 25th Midnightish

[ohjay]

Yay, I got to an activity before the polls started! Maybe I can submit something now...

All I can say is, I pity the poor people inside. I think my tank is going to be made out of...unobtainium. Off to the drawing board! ;)

[Friso]

Does "tank" imply caterpillars?

Edit: I think tracks is the word for what i meant.

[Kei-th]

Sorry I read the wrong date :)

Damm I can't think of anny thing nice..

[ambidextros]

can it be a hovering tank?

[Legato]

can it be a hovering tank?
i assume it can if you can convince the viewer that the technology was in place back than to do it :/

[Orion9282]

Found this while searching tank stuff... a really great resource:

http://212.84.179.117/afv.htm

[Main Loop]

so this tank doesnt fly? it just drops? what would be large enough to carry a 20-person crew tank 2 miles above ground?

also, is the briefing fictional? it seems like there's a lot of things that dont make a whole lot of sense functionally once you really start to think about it... a tank that large, with no back-up would need extremely heavy back-up, loads of weaponry and ammunition, yet be light enough to be carried AND have some sort of way to not completely fall apart from a mile-high drop.. not to mention this is set in 1988, so the technology has to be already existent... eesh thats one hell of an assignment

[Nexus]

Ok, I think some people are confused. The tank itself doesnt fly or hover. It is dropped from an aircraft. Therefore it has to have a few things. The first is some kind of cushioning system to reduce the impact of it hitting the earth from hundreds of feet up. The second is really dense and impregnable armor, this thing is a lone fighter and it has no support, plus its expensive to produce so it cant be lost. The third is some kind of really powerful weaponry. The tank can hold 20 crewmen so its obviously large enough to hold multiple missle batteries, tank turrets, mounted gatling guns, etc. Also it has to be able to topple major structures. So I would concentrate on any weaponry good for razing buildings. Keep in mind that normal tank treads wont do for this thing, if its as large as it would have to be then it will need massive supporting treads. In addition it will need a huge engine, tons and tons of unstoppable tank doesnt just move itself. Thats about all I would make sure to worry about,.

[Main Loop]

well im trying to think of it as something that can hold up to scrutiny in the real world.. there's a lot you have to think about, maybe too much for it to be able to pull off realistically.. i'd really like to give it a go, but thats a hell of a lot to cover

[Kei-th]

I found a huge sorce of reference!

http://www.tanxheaven.com/referencepictures.htm

I know they are old but I think they could help!

[Legato]

here are communist russia era tanks. broken up into catagories to at least aid with visual style

http://www.battlefield.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=5&id=34&Itemid=50&lang=en

[MEP]

Assuming that the soviets actually did ask for something like this from their engineers at one time (I doubt it was ever built since 1988 was very very close to the end for the USSR), are you sure that the 20 people were crewmembers or was this a tank/apc and some of those people were demolitions/occupation personnel? I can't imagine needing 20 crewmembers for any non-naval military vehicle built after the 60s, no matter how many weapons and systems it has onboard.

[Dose206]

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/Dose206/m1a1-line.gif

M1A1 Abrams main battle tank. B.A

(j/k, this isn't a real entry)

[Legato]

this experimental tank had a crew of 12 and exhisted... so this isn't that far off guys... just work with it

http://www.battlefield.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=54&Itemid=50&lang=en

[staylor]

Crazy Gliding Tanks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_A-40)

Gotta love the Russians, they actually tried this before. Granted it only worked sometimes but still, flying tanks!

As far as drop mechanisms go, actual large vehicles tend to be pushed out of an aircraft flying very low above the ground. They then skid to a stop with the aid of parachutes. This eases the stress on the vehicle (usually people aren't in it at the time though). Then it can be picked up and used. I'm not sure how well this would work with a city-destroying tank though, but it might be better than parachutes.

[setmonkey]

If you follow the BMD air drop thread and search google you'll find a ton of reference, and a lot of comment on why we don't have air drop tanks (seems we're stupid)

this pic shows a russian bmd under single canopy with retro rockets firing to cushion landing
http://homepage.mac.com/jlapsley/images/bmdretroland.jpg

[Lingmerth]

Man this topic is so awsome I might just have to try it myself :D Oh the mass destruction, the carnage :^^:

Command & Conquer anyone?

I can't imagine needing 20 crewmembers

Heh, russian thinking; 1 person to drive it, 19 to make sure he does his jobb (apologies to any russians)

[cesaraguilar]

Well that´s my contri , I think in a multi -gun, my airborne tank is a two towers a mobile ans static, termonuclear missils, and lot of guns, is for destroy all.
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/4120/tanqueaerotransportadocopy4in.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[davi]

http://davivsjapan.com/06/idw007x1.jpg

[Legato]

i don't quite understand the 'cone' and how it helps deal with the forces involved, but the rendering is great!

[setmonkey]

cesaraguilar/davi - great start to the thread

i've got some wips for this in my sketchbook - will post them here if i dont get a chance to render them up

[Nexus]

Legato, I think I know how this works. Davi will correct me if Im wrong. Ok now if he had something that was flat to break the tanks fall the force of hitting the ground would distribute evenly across the surface but it wouldnt cushion the landing at all, it would just travel up through the tank and probably ruin less substantial components. However Davi put a cone shaped landing system on his tank. This way it will split the earth once it hits. Now since its a conical shape then it will take more and more force to push the progressively larger in diameter cone further into the ground. But of course there is only the original force of the impact so the tank uses the cone to grind itself to a halt slowly. Its fairly simple and ingenious really. Take anything that tapers to a point with a wide base and try to push it into the ground. Initially it will enter the soil smoothly but it gets harder and harder to push it in as you move toward the base. Same basic principle. Good idea Davi.

[Main Loop]

...so once it's stuck in the ground like that, how does it move?

[Nexus]

Main Loop, no the cone is detachable. The tank detaches from the cone after its done landing and then drives right off it. On the main picture of the tank there are large holes in the housing of the treads, then in the pic of the tank attached to its cone you can see what look like clasps attaching the tank to the cone. The holes are where the clasps insert into Im assuming, then they unhook on arrival.

[imp_pixel]

Already some cool looking tanks appearing! Not sure if I'll have the time to give it a shot this week since I'm midway through the CHOW and COW, but I'm definitely going to be watching this to see what everyone comes up with.

[Main Loop]

ahh ok.. i dont know if im the only one who that was unclear for.. its really hard to tell what's going on with that little thumbnail.. maybe some sort of markings/decals to tell each segment apart?

[Shambacca]

Let’s see.... Lone, city obliterating tank with a twenty man crew that can survive a huge fall built with late eighties tech... An M1 Abrams(designed in 1980) has a four man crew(captain,driver,gunner,loader) and has an operational time of maybe a few days. The 500 gallon-ish fuel tanks let the Abrams travel nearly 300 miles without refueling. It’s ammunition magazines hold a hundred something rounds.

A twenty man crew would prolly be something like this:
-Captain
-driver
-co pilot
-navigator/map guy
-7gunners
-7loaders
-2 mechanics

The form is taking shape! Seven large guns, at least ten or so smaller guns, LOTS of AA guns/missiles, all kinds of radar domes and scopes, HUMUNGOUS FUEL TANKS and engine, and places for the crew to sleep. But since you want to keep complete operational strengh at all times, you’ll need more gunners and loaders.

For landing, how about a few spaceship-class rockets and parachutes?

Since this thing has to able to cause huge amounts of damage, it'll be larger than a regular tank by orders of magnitudes.

[setmonkey]

I'm not going to be able to finish this or render this up - my wife is taking me to new york for my birthday tommorrow, so gonna be a fair old distance from my drawing board!!

main idea, tank in flying wing shaped lifting body style vehicle (kinda x-33 next gen shuttle thingee) thats is carried by massive kick ass jet/assualt gunship. landing vehicle acts as missle launcher to assist tank when targeting + blowing the shit out of stuff. hope you like
http://homepage.mac.com/jlapsley/images/tankwip.jpg

[Sukhoi_Flagon]

hmm, for all that power, you need some hell of a powerplant. prehaps an atomic reactor? if they could fit one to a plane back in the 70s surely a giant tank could take one?

[Phaethon]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/Phaethon/idw_tank2.jpg

No one is really sure what happened in the late 1980s to save the rapidly failing USSR. Some attribute it to a massive decrease in military spending after the completion of a top-secret superweapon more fearsome than the atomic bomb, elminating the need for the bulk of traditional offensive weapondry. Called the "Airborne Mobile Bunker Tank" by American intelligence, the weapon was rumored to be an atomic-powered megatank, designed to be airlifted into urban centers via airship and deliver its deadly paylod: a fast-killing airborne pathogen. The Tank's defenses - from standard anti-infantry and anti-tank guns to guided anti-air missiles - would protect the moving fortress as it moved methodically through a city, spreading disease. The loss of life would be greater than an atomic blast, while at the same time leaving all infrastructure intact. It was intelligence on this weapon, nicknamed "Lenin's Revenge" that spawned the American "Titan" megatank project...

[ohjay]

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h40/ojkiel/idw007tank.jpg

Featuring a massive 8" / 70 cal main cannon mounted on a spherical battery giving excellent range, two 30 cal cannons on either side and an array of lighter machine guns, the G88 could deliver a severe beating - and with heavy duty Unobtainium armour plating it could take one, too.

Fortunately for France and Poland, internal strife in the CCCP tactical army division hampered the development for some time, and although it was continued by the Russian army for some time after the Soviet Union dissolved, the whole project eventually got shut down for (allegedly) diplomatic (but probably technical) reasons.

[Kei-th]

setmonkey and ohjay really nice!
setmonkey nice concept and also good you showed the airplane!
Good explanation! Sad you can't finish it and Happy Bday!
ohjay good tank! But I miss the landing. Hope you can render it!
Phaethon your tank would be need 500 man! the scale is really big! And how will it beable to land?

[Lingmerth]

Phaethon seeing how your lighsource is comming from above, shouldn't the top of the lower wing be brighter?

[ohjay]

Hehe, thanks Kei-th - I don't think there will be a landing, seeing as tonight is my birthday and I probably will be a bit exhausted tomorrow after the mandatory seance of partying and might not finish it off - I might also blame any errors in that sketch on this fact (...)

Seriously, I think that's it for this entry - even though I did have an idea for an action shot. My sketchbook might reveal more in a few days, who knows.

Anyway, my blood is already starting to contain abit of alcohol so I bid you all a fantastic night,

Shambacca - I whish I had read your post _before_ submitting - I now realise I forgot to put the (discarded) retro thrust rockets in. Oh, well.

Phaethon I dig your rendering style _and_ your concept and setmonkey I whish you could have finished that concept off - it is very promising. See you all later!

btw where is my intous3, I am sure I should be getting that for my birthday...anyone? ;)

[Orion9282]

Man, Friday deadlines are hard for me to hit... Wish I had the weekend to really finish this out (sense of scale,background, details.)... WIP, but if I don't update, this is my final:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/Orion9282/Orion9282AirborneTank.jpg

This is a massive tank which has cannons facing in multiple directions to allow for the "fights alone" portion of the brief. The "able to be air-dropped" is taken up by the independent tracks that significantly soften the blow with them taking up the impact after the parachutes give way. The cylinders shown near the tank treads act as one-time-use "impact absorbers" for the initial landing, and are no longer functional after impact.

[worxe]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/Fafnird/Kodiaksiegetankv5-paint1.png

Its a bit late and im not expecting it to be in any polls =], half an hour past midnight here in aus/vic.. but i tried, im kinda happy with the design itself but i hadnt got around to doing the airship that carried it (twin helium tank/baloon airship), and I have to work on painting, would love to hear any comments for improvement, because theres alot of room for it.

The description for it, though. A 20+ man tank that can be dropped from 3 miles above the ground, within its armor is expendable impact suspenders, designed to take the force as it smacks into the ground, but completely shot afterwards, but the tank can still move and turn with ease. The Kodiak as its been dubbed utilizes 4 top turret mounted twin 40mm Anti-aircraft batteries and directly below them 4 turret mounted 25mm anti-personel machine guns for defence against air or ground attack from all sides, this behemoth also sports 2 forward/back and 1 on either side built-in 80mm gun turrets for defence against armoured assaults.

Out of all the weapons, the main gun is a dual 160mm specially designed turret designed to deliver tactical nuclear payloads from a long range, the rounds themselves used a 2.kiloton yield and were detonated from 180m above ground to insure the destruction of the target below, the turret housed a small crane to lift these warheads into the loading bays of the cannons, so reload time would be limited, therefore 2 cannons were mounted on the one turret. Its rate of fire is 2 rounds per minute on average. Due to the recoil, the tank has 4 ground-stands that drop down from the chassis of the tank into the ground for added support.

The tank was never put into practice or even tested due to the fall of the USSR and lack of funding, few were manufactured, very few still exist and remain to be the unspoken gods of war.

-p.s - all in all i had fun experimenting =D

[Sukhoi_Flagon]

Well Heres my entry: T-3000 Behemoth

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/tankerkid/IDW007.jpg



Armament:
2x 30mm Automatic Gun
4x 7.62 PKT Machine Gun
2x SA-13 Antiaircraft Guided Missile Platforms
1x D90 120cm Artillery Howitzer
16x SS-21 SCARAB Tactical Ballistic Missiles

Powerplant:
85,000 hp C6 Atomic Reactor
8x Rybinsk TD-8 turbofan lift engines rated at 51,500kg

Range: 4,000 Miles

History & Additional Details:
Developed by Transmash during the 1980's, the T-3000 was developed as an air deployable mobile behemoth. This was achieved by transport by 4 An-225 transport aircraft, carrying the tank in an underslung cradle. once at the location, the tank is released from the cradle and free falls to 3km. at this point, parachutes are released. at 1km, retractible lift engines are engaged to reduce velocity. these have the added bonus that while retracted, if engaged, create an immense heated area 200ft around the tank chassis, severely hindering any attempts at sabotage (mines, explosives etc).

Unfortunatley, due to budget cuts and the fall of the soviet union, only 1 of these vehicles was produced, the second broken for spares. the location of the working T-3000 is unknown, but thought to be in deep storage somewhere in Siberia. Even today, the T-3000 would be a extremely potent adversary.

[Friso]

Very impressive work in here so far.

I fear i wont get to finnish mine, there were just too many ideas i tried to add in the last hour.
Ill keep editing this until the thread is closed or the vote is up.

http://psylo.no2000.de/files/idw007final.JPG