AV-14 Rhinoceros
| AV-12 Rhinoceros | |
|---|---|
 AV-12 Rhinoceros Infantry Fighting Vehicle | |
| Basic Information | |
| Type | Armored Fighting Vehicle |
| Origin | Free Pacific States |
| Service History | |
| Service | 2011-Present |
| Used by | Free Pacific States |
| Wars | None |
| Production History | |
| Design Date | 2007-2014 |
| Production Date | 2015 |
| Designer | Osman Industries |
| Manufacturer | West Malaysia Tank Plant |
| Unit Cost | FD$8 Million |
| Number | 160 |
| Variants | Multiple |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 116.1 tonnes (128 US tons) |
| Length | 7.86m (25.8 ft) |
| Width | 4.32m (14.2 ft) |
| Height | 3.58m (11.7 ft) |
| Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
| Passengers | 9 |
| Armor | Depleted uranium mesh-reinforced composite armor |
| Primary Armament | 35 mm autocannon (340 rounds) |
| Secondary Armament | 1 x .50-caliber M2HB heavy machine gun with 900 rounds |
| Engine | 2.3 MW (3,150 hp) at 900 RPM |
| Engine Power | 19.2 kW/t |
| Transmission | Unique |
| Fuel Capacity | 2,400 liters (528 imperial gallons; 634 US gallons) |
| Suspension | High-hardness-steel torsion bars with rotary shock absorbers |
| Clearance | 45.72 centimeters meters (1.5 ft) |
| Vehicle Range | 550 km (340 mi) (internal fuel) |
| Speed |
Road: 65kph (40mp) Off-Road: 40kph (25 mph) |
The AV-14 Rhinoceros is a family of armored fighting vehicles produced and used by the Federated Alliance of Free Pacific States. Designed for sustained combat against Pax drones, the AV-14 carries 75 tons of composite armor, stores ammunition in a separate blow-out compartment for crew safety, and has an escape hatch on its underside that is accessible to the entire six-person crew. The infantry fighting vehicle variant, the only one of ten planned variants to be manufactured to date, features a 35mm autocannon and a 50-caliber M2HB heavy machine gun. The vehicle's sizable V-16 diesel engine can propel it to on-road speeds of 65kph (40mph), and off-road speeds of 40kph (25mph). The vehicle is named for the Free Pacifican Rhinoceros; its designation is short for Armored Vehicle 2014.
The Free Pacifican Defense Department ordered the development of a class of heavily armored, tracked fighting vehicles in 2006, following the Drone Insurrection. The Defense Department sought a vehicle capable of effectively combating heavily armed Pax forces along the Pax border. Several companies submitted competing designs for the project, but Osmand Industries ultimately succeeded with the AV-14 design. Osmand completed its design process in 2014, and delivered the first operable Rhinoceros vehicle in 2015. The Federated Alliance has placed an initial order for 500 AV-10s, but is expected to order as many as 2500. The AV-14 is complemented by the HT-10 Tiger super heavy tank; the two share numerous interchangeable parts and use the same fuel and ammunition.
Seven variants of the AV-14 are ultimately planned. The AV-14IFV is the infantry fighting vehicle currently in production, and is expected to be the most plentiful in the class. The AV-14T will be a medium tank featuring a 120mm cannon instead of the AV-14IFV's 35mm autocannon. The AV-14RSV will be a reconnaissance and surveillance vehicle featuring the same weapons as the AV-14IFV, but sporting an extensive sensory package in place, and thus being able to carry only three passengers. The AV-14CCV will be a command and control vehicle featuring an extensive communications network, and armed with only a M2HB machine gun. The AV-14FRMV will be a field recovery and maintenance vehicle, which will be armed with only a M2HB machine gun. The AV-14AV will be a medical vehicle capable of acting either as an ambulance or a forward aid station; it will be armed with only a M2HB machine gun. The AV-14BV will be a mobile bridge capable of creating in 2 minutes a 26 meter bridge capable of holding 2 AV-14s at a time. Osmand Industries is also expected to pitch a self-propelled artillery variant and a mortar variant.
