Designation: M-23 Highlander Light Battle Tank

VERY Rough Draft

I. Dimensions.

• Length: [5.4] meters
• Width: [3.0] meters
• Height: [2.4] meters
• Weight: [28] metric tons.

II. Type.

• Armored light battle tank
• 3 Crew: driver, gunner, commander

III. Service History

• M-23: Adopted by the UNDF in 2005 to replace aging M-60 tanks, this tank was used by the ASC as well, though in later years it was eclipsed by its larger veritech cousins. Procurement stopped in 2010, except to remote communities with sufficient resources to purchase such a weapon, with the phased implementation of the Centaur tank. The Army of the Southern Cross assumed all of the UNDF units when it was dissolved. The REF never adopted this vehicle, as they relied on the more advanced veritech hovertanks and destroids.

IV. Propulsion.

• Engine: 1 [] diesel 4-stroke 12-cylinder multifuel, turbocharged, liquid cooled engine providing 1350 hp at 3500 rpm
• Transmission: Automatic transmission providing 6 forward and 2 reverse gears.
• Power-source: 1 x Turbomeca auxiliary power unit supporting the engines alternator for power when the engine is off.
• Fuel Capacity: [1000] liter diesel or petrol fuel.

V. Performance.

• Power-Weight Ratio : [48.2] hp / ton
• Maximum road speed : [120] kph
• Maximum cross-country speed : [70] kph
• Maximum water speed : [12] kph
• Maximum range, diesel : [550] km
• Maximum range, petrol : [480] km
• Fording depth : [1.5] m
• Fording depth with snorkel : [4] m

VI. Electronics Suite.

Radar tracking:

• Westinghouse APG-144 X-band pulse-doppler phased array radar (Logan short range derivative with battlefield surveillance mode)

Optical tracking:

• Philips AllView I multi-band motion-stabilized digital spherical camera system, for medium range 360 degree infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking.
• Thomson LT-4 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Selenia Gladiator active/passive sensor jammers.

VII. Armament.

• 1 x 80mm liquid-propelled motion-stabilized smoothbore cannon. Feed is automatic via an autoloader, firing at a sustained rate of 30 rounds/minute, faster for short periods. The turret stores up to [60] rounds without resupply. Enough liquid propellant is carried for a full load, at direct-fire velocities.
• 2 x [Stinger II] surface-to-air missile for air defense located on the right side the main turret under the smoke discharger.
• 1 x coaxially-mounted 7.62mm machinegun in the main turret. The machinegun has an ammunition capacity for 2000 rounds.
• 1 x 12.7mm machinegun in the commander's cupola turret. The machinegun has an ammunition capacity for 500 rounds.
• 2x12 Smoke dischargers capable of firing a smoke grenade up to 50m mounted on the sides of the main turret.

VIII. Armor.

The armor on the front of the Highlander is composed of a standard Chobam laminar developed in the late 20th century and improved with the materials science advances made during the Robotech era. This armor was mainly designed to defeat projectiles and other kinetic weapons. The armor stops all small arms, heavy infantry weapons fire, and light mecha-mounted weaponry, and provides excellent resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Valkyrie's 55mm APFSDS round, and fair resistance to heavy mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Centaur's 120mm smoothbore shells.

The armor on the rest of the M-23 is weaker. It stops all small arms, and heavy infantry weapons fire, provides excellent resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, and fair to good resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Valkyrie's 55mm APFSDS round.

The Highlander provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for one week maximum.

IX. Development.

The Highlander was designed to be a light battle tank to complement the Anaconda. This tank managed to significantly reduce its weight by using the advances in materials technology to significantly improve its field maneuverability over previous generation tanks.

During the invid invasion, the remainder of these vehicles still operating were brought to the front lines to replace the decimated ranks of the battloids and were mostly destroyed.

See additional design notes.

Return to RDF Vehicles Index

Go to Robotech Reference Guide Home Page.

Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Copyright © 1997 Robert Morgenstern, Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen
Last Updated: Sunday, December 14, 1997 6:29AM