Bataís APC
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The Type 1951 FTA, colloquially the Bataís, is an armored personnel carrier produced by Faneria in the 1950s and early 1960s. Named for former Taesteach of the Republic Cillac Bataís, the Type 1951 was one of the first military systems produced at scale by Faneria after the Second Great War and subsequent economic downturn. As a result, the Type 1951 was used to fill a number of roles and saw an extended service life, continuing in a reserve role in the Fhainnin Army until as late as 2012. The system continues to be used in some foreign nations in its original configuration, both as an infantry transport and sometimes an armored police vehicle.
| Bataís Type 1951 FTA | |
|---|---|
 A 1962 Variant Model vehicle. | |
| Type | Armored Personnel Carrier |
| Place of origin | Faneria |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1941–present |
| Wars | Archipelago War, Vandarch Canal Crisis, |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1941-1951 |
| Produced | 1941-1981 |
| Variants | Type 1962 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 15.1 - 15.3 tons |
| Crew | 3 (Commander, gunner, driver) |
| Armor | 10-40 mm steel plate (composite on Type 1962) |
Main armament | GU-1949 .4" Machine Gun on pintle mount or CU-1948 .8" autocannon on attached turret |
Secondary armament | 2x smoke cannisters (1962 variant) |
| Engine | 250-400 hp depending on variant |
| Power/weight | 16.5 hp/t (later 25.6 hp/t) |
Operational range | 225 miles (later 250) |
| Maximum speed | 36 mph on road, 30 mph open offroad (1962-2/3), 55 mph on road, 50 mph open offroad (1962-4) |
Design and Production
Construction of the Type 1951 was delegated to the National Armor Foundry, which subcontracted the National Arms Foundry, Madrat Motors, General Lensing, and Werthyr Steelworks for various components.
Variants
Several variants of the basic chassis exist, including the Type 1951/86, a which is equipped with an onboard computer, spall lining, and modern optics and track mechanics; the 1951I engineering vehicle; the 1951M, which has an ATGM mount instead of a machine gun; the 1951G, a self-propelled gun variant; and the 1951/86M, which is modernized with an ATGM launcher system.
Teilgcheárta de Làmhachas Nàiseanta Fhainn (Fhainnin National Heavy Arms Foundry): Produced the machine gun and later cannon.
Werthwr Stàilinobaer: Produced the basic armor plates and frame, and later the blowout panels and later compartmentalization pieces.
Teilgcheárta de Armachd Nàiseanta Fhainn (Fhainnin National Armor Plant): Produced additional armor components, interior frame components, later turrets, and assembled the platforms.
Service History
The original variant of the vehicle was considered underpowered, even for its time, but budget issues and the general weak stance of the military socially made spending on upgrades and refits difficult. Later variants brought the Bataís to par with competing APCs in terms of speed and horsepower, however. The original armament was gradually replaced with a turret ring allowing for a .8" cannon to be installed, with the machine gun being optional as a commander's pintle weapon. - ood
Later variants of the Bataís became respected additions to the military's arsenal (in sharp contrast to the -2 Model), and in combat proved effective at their role as a dedicated transport and light support vehicle; still, the design was never meant to incorporate many of the systems later added, which made maintenance increasingly more complex.
See Also
The Bataís was replaced in its role as an APC by the Capall 2002-1 (eng. Horse/Steed) in 2004, but remains in service abroad and as a 'filler' transport vehicle for rear-line support staff. The Capall takes many of its design notes from the Bataís but is designed with the many later technological advances retrofitted into the 1962-2 in mind.