Defense Engineering Collage

Department of Motor Vehicle Technology

Course Syllabus

1. Instructor Information
Name James K Varkey
Office Location Room No 48, Administrative Building
Phone Number 0945828294
E-mail Jamesv52@gmail.com
Consultancy
Working Hours with prior appointment
Hours

2. Course Information
Course Name Combat Vehicle Technology
Course Code MV 6122
Credit Hours 3-3-0

3. Course Aim & Description

Aim: The course is devoted to design and layout of modern AFV and their peculiar systems
Description:

Introduction to combat vehicles and their role in futuristic wars; Design philosophies of AFVs in various
countries; Vehicle mounted weapon systems; General configuration of combat vehicles; Design parameters
of combat vehicles; Design of hull and fighting compartment, arrangement and dimension; Design
considerations of turret; Armour materials and protection; Tank guns and ammunition; Errors and biases
and chance of hit theory; Design for nuclear, biological and chemical protection; Emerging trends in combat
vehicle design.
4. Method of Instruction
3 fifty minutes lecture hours every week
 Active learning (involves the full participation of students)
class lectures  Teach inductively and to be followed by deductive assertions
 Use power point and internet facilities for discussion

 Work in groups in not more than 4-5 member

Assignment  Tangible contribution from every member is mandatory
or  Evaluation of work in terms of presentation and documentation
Project
 Apply scientific methods

5. Learning Outcomes
After the completion of the course the student will have the following attributes:
5.1 Knowledge
5.1.1 Students must get an in-depth knowledge on critical design parameters of MBTs and other weapon platforms.
Students must understand the strategic, tactical and battle field requirements and analyse them to specify the technical requirements
5.1.2 and specifications for the design of combat vehicles.
Students must acquire sufficient knowledge on general configuration and design considerations of fighting compartment and turret of
5.1.3 tanks.
5.1.4 Students must understand the concept tank guns and ammunition including errors and biases and armour materials for adequate
 protection.

5.1.5 Students should be able to apply the concept of Whittaker’s probability theory for armour layout and its implications in hull design.

5.1.6 Students must understand the NBC threats to combat vehicles and protection methods

5.1.7 Students must understand the emerging trends in design of MBTs and other combat vehicles

5.2 Intellectual and practical skills

5.2.1 Identify design problems of tanks and combat vehicles and assist in defect investigations

5.2.2 Should be able to analyse and select the suitable state – of – art combat vehicle as per advancement in technology.

5.2.3 Should be able to assist in formulating the specifications of combat vehicles a per the requirements of defence forces

5.2.4 Perform critical analysis of modern MBTs as per the strategic and tactical environment of the country

5.3 Attitudes and behavior

Students should have an understanding and appreciation for the implications of combat vehicles design as a whole (in scientific, technological
and commercial contexts) and achieve firm foundation for further application in the area of design and advanced studies of combat vehicles.

6. Course Outline
Learning Assignments/
Chapter Week Topics to be covered (Lecture hours)
Outcomes Activity

 Introduction to combat vehicles

 Development of Tanks
 Tank Warfare
5.1.1, 5.1.2,
Chapter: 1  Family of Combat Vehicles
Introduction to 1st 5.2.1
 Threat Perception faced by Tanks
Combat Vehicles  Technology Umbrella Encompassing AFV
 Role of Tanks in Future Wars
 Comparison of World MBTs on fire power,
protection and mobility
 Strategic Considerations Vs Design Philosophy
 Lessons Learned from 1st World War
 Lessons Learned from 2nd World War
Chapter: 2  Russian Design Philosophy 5.1.1, 5.1.2,
Design Philosophy  NATO Design Philosophy
of Various 2nd 5.2.2
Countries  German Design Philosophy
 Israel design Philosophy
 US Design Philosophy
 Design Considerations for Ethiopia
 Vehicle Requirements for weapon
platforms and Types of Weapons
 Infantry Weapons
 Artillery weapons
Chapter: 3  Self-propelled and towed
Vehicle mounted platforms 5.1.1, 5.2.2
3rd
weapons and  Anti-aircraft guns and
Platforms platforms
 Logistic Vehicles
 High Mobility Armoured Vehicles
 Latest Developments
Chapter: 4 4 th
 Critical Design Parameters 5.1.2, 5.2.1
Design  Power to Weight Ratio
  Nominal Ground Pressure (NGP)
 Mean Maximum Pressure (MMP)
Parameters of
Combat Vehicles  Steerability Ratio
 Pitch Ratio
 Ditch Crossing Capability
 Obstacle Crossing Capability
 Gun Elevation and Depression Parameters
 Evolution of Convectional
Configuration
 Rear Versus Front Engine
Installation
 Oscillating or Trunnion Mounted
Chapter: 5 Turrets 5.1.3, 5.2.1,
General Individual
5th  Low Frontal Area Turrets 5.2.3
Configuration of  Tanks with Driver in the Turret Assignment
Tanks  Turretless Tanks
 Externally Mounted Guns
 Crew Pod Concept
 Crew Arrangements
 Cleft Turret
 Functions of Hull
 Main Requirements of Hull
 Classification of Hull
 Arrangement and dimension of fighting
compartment
Chapter: 6  Estimation of height of the fighting 5.1.3, 5.2.1,
Armour layout and 6th compartment. 5.2.3
Hull Design
 Estimation of height of turret
 Location of turret trunnion
 Estimation of diameter of fighting
compartment.

 Races and lock of tank turret

o Requirements for turret race and principal
ways of meeting them
o Classification of turret races 5.1.3, 5.2.1,
Chapter: 7 7th 5.2.3 Quiz-1
o Analysis of designs and their comparative
estimates
Considerations for o Design approach of turret ball race
Turret Design
o Tank turret locks
 Turret traversing mechanism
o Requirements to be met by gun traversing
mechanism
o Classification of turret traversing 5.1.3, 5.2.1,
8th 5.2.3
mechanism
o Analysis of realized designs
o Design concept of turret traversing
mechanism
  Configuration of Armour
 Steel Armour
5.1.4, 5.2.1,
9th  Aluminium Armour
5.2.2, 5.2.3
 Non-Metallic. Composite and Spaced Armour
 Explosive Reactive Armour

 Principles of active and passive protection

Chapter: 8 systems.
Armour Materials o Indirect protection
and Protection o Direct protection, passive and active
5.1.4, 5.2.1,
10th o Protection against non-ballistic attack 5.2.2, 5.2.3 Group Assignment

 Active Protection Systems

 Analysis of Active protection systems
developed by various countries

 Evolution of Conventional Rifled Guns

 Low Pressure Guns 5.1.4, 5.2.2,
11th
 Smooth Bore Guns 5.2.3
 AP, APCR and APDS Ammunition
 APFSDS Ammunition
Chapter: 9  Chemical energy weapons
Tank Guns and  Shaped Charge Ammunition
Ammunition o HEAT
o HESH 5.1.4, 5.2.2,
12th 5.2.3
 Electromagnetic Rail Gun
 Electromagnetic Pulse gun
 Laser Gun.

 Errors and Biases

 Permanent biases 5.1.4, 5.2.2,
13th Submission of group
 Variable biases
5.2.3 assignment
Chapter: 10  Random errors
Errors and Biases  Procedure and evaluation of errors
and  Probability distribution of attack on the tank
Chance of hit- from all the sides – assumptions, probability
theory distribution 5.1.5, 5.2.2,
14th
 Whittaker’s directional probability variation 5.2.3
theory.
 Analysis of DPV theory
 NBC threat
Chapter: 11
 Different types of radiations
Design for  NBC systems in tanks Quiz-2
15th 5.1.6, 5.2.3
nuclear, biological  Sensors for nuclear radiation
and chemical  System of air filtration
protection  Anti-nuclear treatment
Chapter: 12 16th  Autonomous Ground Vehicles 5.1.7, 5.2.4
Emerging Trends  Stealth Technology
in Design of  Armour design for survivability
Combat Vehicles
  Future combat vehicle components
 Conceptual design by various countries
th
17 Final Examination period
7. Required Text and Reference
 RM Ogorkiwicz, Design and development of fighting vehicles,
Text Book 
Macdonald, 1998.

1. Tytler IFB, “Vehicle and bridging”, Brassey’s London, 1985,

1. 2. Rolf Hilmes, “Main battle Tank Development in Design since 1945”, Brassy’s
UK, 1987
3. Newton W Steed And T k Garret , “Motor Vehicles” , Iliffe Books,1972
Reference 2. 4. RM Ogorkiwicz, “Technology of Tanks”, Volume I and II, James information group,
Books 1991.
3. 5. H Cohan & GFC Rogers and HIH Saravan Muttoo, “Gas turbine theory”, Longman,
1996,
6. S.S Burov , “Tank design” Moscow Information Groups.

8. Assessment
Type Weight Due date Behavior and Criteria
Continuous 7th, 11th, 12th and 15th Assessment will be done to address learning outcomes 5.1.1,5.1.2,5.1.3 5.2.1
50%
Evaluation week and 5.2.2 and the criteria is assess the understanding of the outcome.
Examination will be set to address learning outcomes 5.1.4, 5.1.5,5.1.6, 5.1.7
Final semester 17th week of the
50% and 5.2.2, 5.2.3 and the criteria is to get all questions answered correctly
Exam semester

9. Academic Honesty
Copying from any outside sources (e.g. fellow students, and Internet, etc.) on any material to be graded is not permitted, and will be considered
cheating. Cheating will result in failure of the assignment, failure of the class and/or face possible disciplinary action. Each student is responsible
for securing his or her work from copying. Each student is expected to abide by college policies on academic conduct.

10. Due Date

All assignments must be turned in the class on the due date for full credit. No assignment will be accepted after class on the due date. Since the
assignment is due in week 12, papers for this presentation should be submitted by 11 th week. Failure of submission and presentation of the
assignment in week 12 will be awarded as zero out of 15 points.

12. classroom Behavior

Anything that disturbs your instructor or your colleagues during the class period is considered a troublesome behavior. Examples include: Using
mobiles, whispering, making offensive remarks, sleeping, working on assignments related to other courses, etc. troublesome behaviors are
completely prohibited.

13. Approval (Affidavit)

Name Signature Date
Instructor: Prof James K Varkey
Section Head:
Department Head