M/96 Hulthas

The M/96 Hulthas (Anglic: Devil Spirit) is a main battle tank developed by Curt Ellac at Maccrauthan Oto for the Mero-Curgov Landsmahts in the 1980s. The tank succeeded the M/70 Buldac II as Mero-Curgovina's primary main battle tank in 1996 and remains in service to the present. The vehicle is armed with an Austrasian 140mm cannon and is powered by a V12 biturbo diesel engine.

As of 2016, all Hulthas vehicles in active service with Mero-Curgovina have been updated to the Hulthas HISP standard. HISP (High Intensity Survival Package) includes increased turret and hull armour, protective skirts, a remote weapons system complimenting the standard machine guns, and an enhanced optics suite. The HISP package reportedly protects the vehicle's turret with nearly 1,200mm of classified composite armour, making it one of the most well protected armoured fighting vehicles in Anterra. HISP vehicles can be identified by their box turrets that extend to the gun mantlet.

Armament
The main armament for the Hulthas is the 14 cm Pzk M-91 L/47, an Austrasian gun also found in service on the Panzer Valens main battle tank. The ammunition for the 140mm gun is kept in a bustle autoloader, with additional ammunition stored with the driver in the hull of the tank. The cannon's combustible case ammunition is separated from the crew in storage areas with blowout panels that ensure greater crew survivability. In addition to the native Austrasian rounds adopted by the Landsmahts, the Hulthas is also capable of firing a native Armadbricas gun launched anti-tank guided missile that extends the engagement range to up to 6,000 metres.

The vehicle is equipped with two machine guns; the 7.92mm M/77 infantry machine gun in a pintle mount and the 12.7mm M/49 machine gun in a coaxial mount. Although originally equipped with two M/49 machine guns that allowed for a common ammunition between the pintle and coaxial guns, the pintle gun was replaced after reviewing the complaints VFOR soldiers had put in regarding the lack of firing comfort and reliability of the M/49 infantry model that was issued as a pintle weapon on the M/70 Buldac II main battle tank.

With the HISP upgrade package, the M/96's fire control system is upgraded to fourth generation standards that render the tank capable of operating at range and in extreme weather conditions without a notable lack of performance. HISP also introduces a modular remote weapons system (RWS) which may be equipped with a variety of machine guns or a 20mm autocannon in addition to additional smoke grenade launchers. This RWS does not replace the pintle weapon system.

Protection
The M/96 uses a spaced multi-layered composite armour across the entire vehicle. Though classified, the tank's and later  armour is reported to consist of steel plates of varying thickness encasing ceramic and elastic layers that can reliably protect against both explosive and kinetic penetrators. This armour is estimated to have a maximum physical thickness of 900mm, with the HISP upgrade package extending that to approximately 1,200mm.

The vehicle's armour is concentrated towards the frontal arc, with the sides and rear only protected up to medium caliber cannon rounds and older tank projectiles. Additionally Hulthas is protected against mines and improvised explosives with a sloped and reinforced bottom hull. Due to the limitations of tank tracks, this mine protection is designed only to protect the crew and ammunition payload. Mines remain capable of disabling the tank's mobility which has resulted in limited deployment of mine clearing devices for Hulthas vehicles.

The Hulthas is designed to incorporate compartmentation, with the vehicle's fuel and ammunition stored separately for the protection of the crew in the event of armour penetration. In the case of the autoloader's ammunition detonating, the vehicle is designed with top-side blowout panels that direct the cook-off into the air away from the crew compartment and engine deck. Other safety measures include full nuclear, biological, and chemical protection and emergency automatic firefighting equipment.

Until 2008, the Hulthas came equipped with 24 Milhmwairthas XK smoke mortars mounted along the turret. These were electronically fired by the crew, either individually or in salvos. As of 2008, the Milhmwairthas XK system has been replaced with the larger caliber and more reliable Milhmwairthas 2000 multiple payload mortar. This new mortar may be also loaded with fragmentation grenades for anti-personnel purposes.

Development
Following the Veikan Civil War, the Landsmahts observed realities of modern tank combat that the aging Buldac main battle tank system would not be equipped to deal with. Studies of modern tank warfare culminated in the 1980 Buldac III program. Rather than an upgrade on that platform, Buldac III was to be an entirely original main battle tank capable of competing with both socialist and Concordant tanks on an evolving battlefield. After contracting out development to several companies, Landsmahts command settled on a proposal from Maccrauthan Oto's famed designer Curt Ellac in 1984.

As the Maccrauthan design evolved it went through a series of renditions- through Buldac III to the 152mm armed Doghead prototype, the remote turret Buldac X, and finally the compact Hulthas. The Hulthas prototype utilized an Austrasian 140mm gun with a bustle autoloader that allowed for high firepower in a relatively small turret. After investment of over $200 million (adjusted for inflation) and a ten year development period, the Landsmahts accepted the Hulthas in 1995 for final trials. After performing admirably it was put into production in 1996 as Main Battle Tank Hulthas, Make of 1996 (Govras: Armadcrigoto Hulthas, Mac ie 1996).

Combat History
Having been introduced as a response to potential tank battles that never occurred, the Hulthas has yet to see front line combat. Mero-Curgov soldiers report it as performing excellently during training situations and mock combat scenarios.

Operators

 * Mero-Curgovina: The Landsmahts maintained approximately 250 Hulthas tanks in combat service as of 2017, with an additional 30 held in storage or as training vehicles.