MAS-12

MAS-12
MAS-12
	A Yonderian soldier firing a MAS-12 missile, 2017
Type	Anti-tank guided missile
Place of origin	Yonderre
Service history
In service	2012–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	The Deluge
Production history
Designer	FS
Designed	2004–2012
Manufacturer	FS
Unit cost	$26,000 per missile (2019, export cost)
Produced	2012–present
Specifications (MAS-12)
Mass	27 kg (60 lb) (29 kg (64 lb) with launch tube) / 63.7 kg (140 lb) (weight with tripod/firing unit)
Length	1200mm
Diameter	152mm
Wingspan	460mm
Warhead	1,300mm RHA penetration after ERA with Tandem HEAT or Thermobaric
Warhead weight	4.6 kg (10 lb) HEAT
Detonation; mechanism	Impact fuze
Propellant	Solid-fuel rocket
Operational; range	8,000m (anti-tank), 10,000m (thermobaric)
Guidance; system	laser beam riding
Steering; system	Two control surfaces
Accuracy	<5m at 8,000m
Launch; platform	Tripod or vehicle-mounted

The MAS-12, short for the Burgoignesc Missile Antichar System modèle 12, literally "Missile Anti-Tank System model 12", is a Yonderian anti-tank guided missile designed and produced by Fabrique de Sainte-Catherine. Introduced in 2012, it is the primary ATGM of the Yonderian Defence Force, superceding the previous generation MAS-72. The MAS-12 is a laser beam guided 152mm ATGM with an effective range out to 8,000 meters firing a tandem high explosive anti-tank warhead or 10,000 meters when firing a thermobaric high explosive warhead.

Due to its long range and armour penetrative capabilities, the MAS-12 is considered by experts to be among the most effective ATGM systems in the world. MAS-12 can be guided onto target either from a laser guidance beam built into the launch unit or from external laser guidance units with friendly forces such as handheld laser designators. With a flight time of 250 meters per second, the missile will spend 40 seconds airborne to reach its maximum range of 10,000 meters.

In the field, the MAS-12 supplements the handheld RAS-16 RPG as the Yonderian Defence Force's long range infantry-borne anti-tank system. MAS-12s are also fitted to various vehicles of the YDF including pickup trucks, armoured personnel carriers, combat helicopters and even fixed wing aircraft.

Design

Development history

The design process of the MAS-12 began in 2004 when it became obvious in light of recent armour developments that the current ATGM of the Yonderian Defence Force, the MAS-72, was reaching obsolescence. While an upgrade package was designed to extend the MAS-72's lifespan, designers at Fabrique de Sainte-Catherine set about designing a replacement for the old system. An initial concept to make the new system a 125mm diameter warhead to make it usable with the 125mm FNC mle 1980 tank cannon was abandoned in favour of the larger 152mm warhead which would be able to carry a larger payload for better post-armoured interface effectiveness. To defeat explosive reactive armour plating, armour piercing ammunition for the MAS-12 was designed from the ground up as tandem high-explosive anti tank warheads in the interest of causing a significant emotional event on its target. The first warhead will thus detonate the explosive reactive armour on the target, allowing the second punch through the armour plating underneath.

The launch module for the MAS-12 was designed over a two and a half year period from 2004-2007, constructed to be cross-compatible with the MAS-72 ATGM system as an interim modernization while designing the MAS-12. Funding was secured from the Yonderian Defence Force via AMY in 2008 - it had previously been entirely funded through FS' own budget, slowing down the process due to budgetary limitations. With YDF funding secured, development continued with renewed speed. Working prototypes were assembled in 2010 for testing but because of unreliable links to external laser guidance (meaning not guided by the laser beam of the launch module), engineers returned to the drawing board. A quirk of the redesign of the launch module was the addition of an automatic target tracker developed by AMS, recently released to the market.

Design features

The launch module of the MAS-12 is the same as the one used in the upgraded MAS-72, purpose built to function with both missiles. It is fitted with a thermal-capable optic that ties into the guidance system. The launch module is equipped with an automatic target tracker in lieu of a proper fire-and-forget capability; instead of manually placing the crosshairs on target throughout the missile's flight, the operator designates a target once and the computer tracks the target as the missile travels towards it until impact. New beam coding also allows a vehicle equipped with twin launchers to attack two different targets at once, increasing its rate of fire, decreases the number of vehicles needed for a mission, and can defeat vehicles equipped with an active protection system through salvo fire at one target. The system's use of an autotracker can make it effective against low-flying aerial threats like helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Operational history

The Yonderian Defence Force began taking delivery of MAS-12s in early 2012 which began the process of replacing the present MAS-72s. MAS-12s are deployed with the YDF on several different platforms including the infantry tripod, quad-stacked for vehicular or remote controlled mounts and a special aircraft mount using the pseudo-fire and forget capabillity of the automatic target tracker, allowing it to be fitted to fixed wing and rotary aircraft.

The Deluge

MAS-12 missile systems have seen extensive use in the the Deluge, particularly during the Final War of the Deluge. MAS-12s have been given as lethal aid to the the Royal and Confederate Army of New Harren alongside the previous generation MAS-72 to provide long range anti-tank capabilities. MAS-12s were also used extensively by Intrepid Enterprises throughout the Final War, with IE equipping countless vehicles of all types capable of carrying MAS-12s with the ATGM to level armour gap against the Varshani as well as employing them on tripods.