Badger
***Posted with permission from the person who made this deaign***
Badger Bridging Vehicle
Overview
The Badger was designed to meet the needs of Libertarian Governance Defense Forces for an efficient system to cross waterways. Experience in several conflicts that resulted in high levels of infrastructure destruction to enemy forces saw the LGDF using a decent but all together inefficient system of deploying pontoon bridges by trucks. While the LGDF were able to cross waterways the time lag in engineering groups manually building long stretches of pontoon bridge was deemed unacceptably high.
The Badger is designed to allow for the deployment of a 100m (328 ft) section of bridge in 15 minutes with a three person crew. The vehicle could also immediately ferry a 90 ton MBT across a stretch of waterway. Other features seen as important were a high degree of mobility, the ability to deploy bridges under fire and a high level of crew survivability. In short the LGDF wanted the world’s most modern, most efficient and fastest Amphibious Bridging and Ferrying System.
Design
The Badger is designed to operate as a six-wheeled vehicle with a six speed automatic gearbox on roads and propels itself in water using two large aluminum pontoons that create buoyancy. When the vehicles are linked together, these pontoons form a bridge capable of supporting heavy battle tanks.
The design uses an aluminum alloy armored body incorporating ALON for the front and side windows. The composite aluminum armor is supported by NERA tiles around the crew cab and is capable of stopping 14.75mm rounds. The remainder of the vehicle is protected against 7.62 x 51mm. The crew compartment also includes an anti-spalling liner of kevlar. The armor further provides protection against mines consistent with a category two MRAP vehicle.
The crew compartment is sealed and further includes a NBC system that pressurizes the crew cabin with filtered air. The NBC system is integrated with chemical and radiation detectors at five points around the vehicle and are designed to provide for external and internal detection. The system will provide both visual and audio alarms upon positive detection. There is also an automated activation of the system upon positive detection.
The integrated pontoon system operates hydraulically. It includes two large pontoons that are normally stored on the top of the vehicles bed. The pontoons can be deployed on the move, in or out of the water, and without the need for on-site preparation. During bridging or ferrying operations hydraulics lower the pontoons into position along the side of the vehicle.
The vehicle includes a hydraulically-powered articulated arm that is fitted to move roadway sections into position. Each vehicle carries two sections of roadway which are attached to the vehicle by extending them port and starboard. This arm is highly automated and is able to unload or stow itself without an operator's instruction. The vehicle carries these roadway sections to be used during bridging operations.These sections are each stowed under the pontoons.
Additionally, the vehicle features a MRE oven with a hot-water tap and small sink, full climate control, computer-based training, maintainer and diagnostic systems. The system is network capable. There is a multiband software- defined combat-net radio with a frequency range of 30 to 512 MHz using both 5 and 6.25 kHz step size with an output of 20 watts. The radio allows for encrypted communication while using a frequency hopping mode. It opens up a broad range of secure and anti-jamming voice and data applications and can use a number of waveforms such as satcom, VHF/UHF, AM/FM, HPW and ANDVT. Each crewman has an encrypted wireless headset that functions up to range of 20 meters (60 ft) from the vehicle.
A crystal clear view of the back of the vehicle is provided by a backup camera system with integrated infra-red. To further enhance mobility the system uses differential and longitudinal locks, retractable axles and a tire pressure adjusting system. Finally, there is an automated fire suppression system using non-toxic Novec 1230. The fire suppression system is activated within 2 milliseconds of a fire outbreak and extinguishes a fire within 250 milliseconds
Main Armament
The vehicle is armed with a single remotely operated turret on the front center of the vehicle. The turret houses a 12.7 mm HMG with 1200 rounds available in the vehicle and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher with 250 rounds available in the vehicle. The turret is operated by the gunner from an area in the rear of the cabin using a joystick and LCD monitor. The gun has sighting equipment that includes a camera with 10X zoom and FLIR.
Counter Measures
Chainmail II includes an F/G band fire-control radar with four flat-panel antennas mounted on the vehicle, with a 360-degree field of view. They are enhanced by 8 infra-red/ultraviolet sensors around the vehicle. When a weapon is fired at the vehicle, the internal computer uses the signal from the incoming weapon and calculates an approach vector. Once the incoming weapon is classified, the computers calculate the optimal time and angle to fire the neutralizers to intercept the threat at a distance of 5 to 30 meters from the protected vehicle.
The response comes from two rotating launchers installed on the sides of the vehicle. The launchers are normally stowed behind armored plating and only deploy when a threat is detected.The launchers fire the neutralizing agents, which explode in front of a threat forming a dense curtain of reactive nano-thermite fragments within one millisecond. The system is designed to have a very small kill zone, so as not to endanger troops adjacent to the protected vehicle. Additionally, the system can track and defend against 8 simultaneous threats from different directions. Each of the two re-loadable magazine holds 24 rounds.
Protection against electromagnetic interference and EMP attack is provided by the use of fiber optic cabling and circuitry composed of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) where possible. Additional protections are provided by utilization of antennas and power connections with surge protectors designed specifically to defend against EMP attack, the crew area is coated with a conductive coating, and all doors and wiring/tubing pathways through protective shielding is sealed with conductive gaskets as is the vehicle itself. A grounding chain is connected to the rear of the vehicle.
Water Operations
The Badger is able to enter water without any preparation. It can move its two pontoons to a position along the sides of the vehicle either before or after entering the water and can further deploy the pontoons when moving or stationary. Once in the water the vehicle has several configurations available. The two pontoons should measure 45 feet in length, a combined 17 feet across and 10 feet in height. This is sufficient buoyancy for a maximum load of a 90 ton vehicle.
Once in the water the Badger can operate as a ferry carrying the equivalent of one 90 ton vehicle. It can also link with a second badger to form a 2 bay ferry. This will allow a total of 180 tons to be carried by both vehicle. Vehicles can form together using both closed and open coupling. Two vehicles can be coupled together in just 3 minutes time. Additional vehicles can be coupled together to carry larger loads.
Bridging operations are also designed to be very fast. Eight Badger vehicles can be coupled together in just 15 minutes to form a 100m (328 ft) section of bridge. Bridging operations also support the open and closed coupling methods.
Key Data
Crew: 3
Dimensions
Length : 14.78 m (48 ft 6 in)
Height : 4.57 m (15 ft)
Width : 5.18 m/ 8.69 m (17 ft /28 ft 6 in)
Weight : 30 tonnes
Ground Clearance: 0.7m (2 ft 4 in)
Performance
Maximum Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
Water Travel Speed: 14 km/h (9 mph)
Maximum Climbing Capability: 60% = 31°
Maximum Ditch Crossing: 1 m (3 ft)
Vertical Step Capability: 0.70 m (2 ft 4 in)
Turning Circle: 30 m (90 ft )
Range: 750 km (466 miles)
Endurance in Ferry Configuration: 7 hours
Ferry Operations
Payload (Single vehicle): 90 tons
Payload (Multi-vehicle): 180 tons
Time to join two vehicles together: 3 minutes
Usable roadway width: 4.72 m (15 ft 6 inches)
Armament
Main Armament: 12.7 mm HMG (1200 rounds)
Auxilliaryl: 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (250 rounds)
Power
Propulsion: Diesel 597 Kw (800 BHP)
Transmission: Hydropneumatic automatic transmission, 6 fwd + 1 reverse gears
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 19.9 Kw/ton (26.66hp/ton)
Suspension: hydropneumatic
Maneuverability:
Laden Speed: 9km/h (5.6 mph)
Unladen Speed: 14km/h (9 mph)
Marine Propulsion: 360° turn water pump jets
Maneuver depth : up to 1.05m (3.3 ft)
Operational Water Currents : 3.5m/s (11.5ft/s)
Armour and Protection
Armour: Aluminum-composite blend, NERA
Anti-spalling: Kevlar lining
NBC Protection: Overpressure system
Missile Countermeasures: Chainmail II
Price: NS $4,500,000
DPR: NS $4,500,000,000
Badger Bridging Vehicle
Overview
The Badger was designed to meet the needs of Libertarian Governance Defense Forces for an efficient system to cross waterways. Experience in several conflicts that resulted in high levels of infrastructure destruction to enemy forces saw the LGDF using a decent but all together inefficient system of deploying pontoon bridges by trucks. While the LGDF were able to cross waterways the time lag in engineering groups manually building long stretches of pontoon bridge was deemed unacceptably high.
The Badger is designed to allow for the deployment of a 100m (328 ft) section of bridge in 15 minutes with a three person crew. The vehicle could also immediately ferry a 90 ton MBT across a stretch of waterway. Other features seen as important were a high degree of mobility, the ability to deploy bridges under fire and a high level of crew survivability. In short the LGDF wanted the world’s most modern, most efficient and fastest Amphibious Bridging and Ferrying System.
Design
The Badger is designed to operate as a six-wheeled vehicle with a six speed automatic gearbox on roads and propels itself in water using two large aluminum pontoons that create buoyancy. When the vehicles are linked together, these pontoons form a bridge capable of supporting heavy battle tanks.
The design uses an aluminum alloy armored body incorporating ALON for the front and side windows. The composite aluminum armor is supported by NERA tiles around the crew cab and is capable of stopping 14.75mm rounds. The remainder of the vehicle is protected against 7.62 x 51mm. The crew compartment also includes an anti-spalling liner of kevlar. The armor further provides protection against mines consistent with a category two MRAP vehicle.
The crew compartment is sealed and further includes a NBC system that pressurizes the crew cabin with filtered air. The NBC system is integrated with chemical and radiation detectors at five points around the vehicle and are designed to provide for external and internal detection. The system will provide both visual and audio alarms upon positive detection. There is also an automated activation of the system upon positive detection.
The integrated pontoon system operates hydraulically. It includes two large pontoons that are normally stored on the top of the vehicles bed. The pontoons can be deployed on the move, in or out of the water, and without the need for on-site preparation. During bridging or ferrying operations hydraulics lower the pontoons into position along the side of the vehicle.
The vehicle includes a hydraulically-powered articulated arm that is fitted to move roadway sections into position. Each vehicle carries two sections of roadway which are attached to the vehicle by extending them port and starboard. This arm is highly automated and is able to unload or stow itself without an operator's instruction. The vehicle carries these roadway sections to be used during bridging operations.These sections are each stowed under the pontoons.
Additionally, the vehicle features a MRE oven with a hot-water tap and small sink, full climate control, computer-based training, maintainer and diagnostic systems. The system is network capable. There is a multiband software- defined combat-net radio with a frequency range of 30 to 512 MHz using both 5 and 6.25 kHz step size with an output of 20 watts. The radio allows for encrypted communication while using a frequency hopping mode. It opens up a broad range of secure and anti-jamming voice and data applications and can use a number of waveforms such as satcom, VHF/UHF, AM/FM, HPW and ANDVT. Each crewman has an encrypted wireless headset that functions up to range of 20 meters (60 ft) from the vehicle.
A crystal clear view of the back of the vehicle is provided by a backup camera system with integrated infra-red. To further enhance mobility the system uses differential and longitudinal locks, retractable axles and a tire pressure adjusting system. Finally, there is an automated fire suppression system using non-toxic Novec 1230. The fire suppression system is activated within 2 milliseconds of a fire outbreak and extinguishes a fire within 250 milliseconds
Main Armament
The vehicle is armed with a single remotely operated turret on the front center of the vehicle. The turret houses a 12.7 mm HMG with 1200 rounds available in the vehicle and a 40mm automatic grenade launcher with 250 rounds available in the vehicle. The turret is operated by the gunner from an area in the rear of the cabin using a joystick and LCD monitor. The gun has sighting equipment that includes a camera with 10X zoom and FLIR.
Counter Measures
Chainmail II includes an F/G band fire-control radar with four flat-panel antennas mounted on the vehicle, with a 360-degree field of view. They are enhanced by 8 infra-red/ultraviolet sensors around the vehicle. When a weapon is fired at the vehicle, the internal computer uses the signal from the incoming weapon and calculates an approach vector. Once the incoming weapon is classified, the computers calculate the optimal time and angle to fire the neutralizers to intercept the threat at a distance of 5 to 30 meters from the protected vehicle.
The response comes from two rotating launchers installed on the sides of the vehicle. The launchers are normally stowed behind armored plating and only deploy when a threat is detected.The launchers fire the neutralizing agents, which explode in front of a threat forming a dense curtain of reactive nano-thermite fragments within one millisecond. The system is designed to have a very small kill zone, so as not to endanger troops adjacent to the protected vehicle. Additionally, the system can track and defend against 8 simultaneous threats from different directions. Each of the two re-loadable magazine holds 24 rounds.
Protection against electromagnetic interference and EMP attack is provided by the use of fiber optic cabling and circuitry composed of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) where possible. Additional protections are provided by utilization of antennas and power connections with surge protectors designed specifically to defend against EMP attack, the crew area is coated with a conductive coating, and all doors and wiring/tubing pathways through protective shielding is sealed with conductive gaskets as is the vehicle itself. A grounding chain is connected to the rear of the vehicle.
Water Operations
The Badger is able to enter water without any preparation. It can move its two pontoons to a position along the sides of the vehicle either before or after entering the water and can further deploy the pontoons when moving or stationary. Once in the water the vehicle has several configurations available. The two pontoons should measure 45 feet in length, a combined 17 feet across and 10 feet in height. This is sufficient buoyancy for a maximum load of a 90 ton vehicle.
Once in the water the Badger can operate as a ferry carrying the equivalent of one 90 ton vehicle. It can also link with a second badger to form a 2 bay ferry. This will allow a total of 180 tons to be carried by both vehicle. Vehicles can form together using both closed and open coupling. Two vehicles can be coupled together in just 3 minutes time. Additional vehicles can be coupled together to carry larger loads.
Bridging operations are also designed to be very fast. Eight Badger vehicles can be coupled together in just 15 minutes to form a 100m (328 ft) section of bridge. Bridging operations also support the open and closed coupling methods.
Key Data
Crew: 3
Dimensions
Length : 14.78 m (48 ft 6 in)
Height : 4.57 m (15 ft)
Width : 5.18 m/ 8.69 m (17 ft /28 ft 6 in)
Weight : 30 tonnes
Ground Clearance: 0.7m (2 ft 4 in)
Performance
Maximum Speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
Water Travel Speed: 14 km/h (9 mph)
Maximum Climbing Capability: 60% = 31°
Maximum Ditch Crossing: 1 m (3 ft)
Vertical Step Capability: 0.70 m (2 ft 4 in)
Turning Circle: 30 m (90 ft )
Range: 750 km (466 miles)
Endurance in Ferry Configuration: 7 hours
Ferry Operations
Payload (Single vehicle): 90 tons
Payload (Multi-vehicle): 180 tons
Time to join two vehicles together: 3 minutes
Usable roadway width: 4.72 m (15 ft 6 inches)
Armament
Main Armament: 12.7 mm HMG (1200 rounds)
Auxilliaryl: 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (250 rounds)
Power
Propulsion: Diesel 597 Kw (800 BHP)
Transmission: Hydropneumatic automatic transmission, 6 fwd + 1 reverse gears
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 19.9 Kw/ton (26.66hp/ton)
Suspension: hydropneumatic
Maneuverability:
Laden Speed: 9km/h (5.6 mph)
Unladen Speed: 14km/h (9 mph)
Marine Propulsion: 360° turn water pump jets
Maneuver depth : up to 1.05m (3.3 ft)
Operational Water Currents : 3.5m/s (11.5ft/s)
Armour and Protection
Armour: Aluminum-composite blend, NERA
Anti-spalling: Kevlar lining
NBC Protection: Overpressure system
Missile Countermeasures: Chainmail II
Price: NS $4,500,000
DPR: NS $4,500,000,000