Type 972

The Type 972 is a Main Battle Tank of the Union Guards put into service in Year 859.

Overview
The Type 972 was designed to be an expensive but powerful counterpart to the well-built but otherwise unexceptional Type 759 Main Battle Tank already in service in the Union Guards.

Design
The Type 972's design is simultaneously angular and rounded, drawing inspiration for different portions of it from many historical tank designs.

Unlike nearly all other tanks in the past or present, all of whom feature a pair of tracks, the Type 972 features four running tracks that occupy the entire space underneath the tank. A hydro-pneumatic suspension and specially designed gearbox, combined with the quad tracks, allow the Type 972 to achieve an exceptionally low ground pressure. This provides increased performance on loose terrain and against inert anti-tank obstacles, as well as a small amount of additional protection against anti-tank mines. A powerful turbine engine allows the Type 972 to achieve a max speed of 60 kilometers per hour.

The combination of its elliptical shields (see below), CBRN-E protective equipment (including an installable internal air supply), and an automatic fire suppression system allows the Type 972 to comfortably fight in extreme scenarios (such as battlefields involving the use of tactical nuclear weapons) that the Type 759 may not be fully adequate to handle.

Armor
One of the most visually striking features of the Type 972 is the elliptical composite shield that covers over and partially intersects with the main body armor of the vehicle. This elliptical shield, placed at a significant angle relative to the horizontal, wraps around the side of the vehicle but terminates near the boxy rear of the vehicle. This shield provides protection against pressure waves, shaped charges, and some long-rod penetrators.

The main body of the Type 972 is constructed out of rolled homogeneous armor with additional layers of composite, ceramic, and non-explosive reactive armor overlaid on top, with options for additional explosive reactive armor to be attached. The Type 972U, an upgraded version of the Type 972, replaces parts of its ceramic armor with meta-material armor.

The turret of the Type 972, similar to the rounded shield body, combines rounded and angular designs. The front of the turret carries a second elliptical composite shield that, unlike the main body shield, only extends halfway down the sides of the turret before abruptly ending. The rear bustle of the turret, containing ammunition stores in blow-out panels and an autoloader, is of a boxy design similar to that of the rear of the Type 972 main body.

Armament
The Type 972 is armed with a stabilized 120mm smoothbore cannon, a coaxial 20mm gyro-gun, and a roof mounted 12.7mm general purpose machine gun. The tank carries 40 rounds for its main cannon and 1000 rounds for its gyro-gun.

The main cannon is designed to fire kinetic penetrator, shaped charge, scatter, and high explosive munitions.

The roof mounted gun is part of a Crew Remote Operated Weapons System and can be fired by crew within the vehicle.

Service Status
An unspecified number of Type 972s have been produced by Martian Heavy Industries, acquired by the Union Guards, and issued to select armored units.