Hemvaernet IR-85 Luftvaernsrobotsystem m/32 team on a Gallan Motors Rymdig 248-88
Lvrbs m/32 missile team, operating within the limits of the system, as it is designed.
The motorization of the Gallan Home Guard has always relied extensively on Galla's own domestic automobile industry, exclusively operating domestic equivalents ("clones") of foreign made designs when possible, but preferentially edging towards fully indigenous design. One of these is the rather unusual RM248 scooter, stripped of its commercial ABS plastic, and fitted with a new aluminum body. Although not as capable as the regular Army's AK800-derived motor bike, the RM248 is substantially cheaper, and more importantly very familiar with most civil drivers. It is one of the most common motorbikes for intra-city commuting, giving drivers of the Home Guard's infantry regiments a lot of "baked in" experience in using it both on- and off-road. While the ordinary RM248 is often used for commuter travel or light load carrying, the engine is relatively unstressed, and this makes it an excellent and reliable basis for a military transporter. The depicted '88 series features stainless steel tires, which were replaced by aluminum alloy tires in the '96 series. More modern versions of the bike, such as the '18 series, incorporate advanced "fog vision" modes on the electronic speedometer, giving an approximated view of the road with a W-band inclement weather radar for detection of obstacles in low visibility conditions. Early models, such as the '88 and '96, only had the speed, miles, fuel gauge, and temperature listed.
The 248 cc 1-cy SOHC outputs 20 HP at 7400 RPM, giving the RM248 a top speed of about 65-70 mph light loaded, more than sufficient to keep up with the rest of the missile platoon vehicles, and maintains a maximum speed of around 40-45 mph when fully loaded with crew and ammo. Ordinary movement speed in convoys is rarely greater than 30 miles per hour, however, meaning that the RM248 is rarely stressed significantly, despite the large mass loads placed on it by two fully kitted Guardsmen (~420 lbs) and missile system (~75 lbs). Unlike the civil model of the RM248, part of the military modifications included stronger shock springs, giving the RM248-88 a more extensive ability to carry the mass without damaging the frame, although it remains somewhat underpowered for the task in general. Taking this into account, the later IR-85M Regiment, first equipped in 1994, included a second bike for the missile teams, carrying the TADS display computer and VRC FM radio pack, while the missile system and gunner were transported on the first bike. Additionally, the heavy aluminum body would be replaced by lighter CF reinforced GRP, itself stronger than typical ABS plastic and lighter than aluminum, on the '96 model.
Military modifications of the '88 series include the replacement of ABS plastic with aluminum hard shell, the addition of grab handles on the back for the passenger, a rear trunk with a storage tray for a VRC-type field radio and upper area for storage of the IFF interrogator and gripstock. Finally, the TADDS (plan position indicating alert computer), which connects to the VRC and the tactical alerting radar (TAR) in the battery headquarters which allows the missile team to orient themselves to incoming targets picked up by the TAR (20-km range), is stored on the rear trunk, below the VRC. A whip antenna is often mounted on the left side. Spare battery-cooling units are stored immediately behind the rear position on the bike. As the RM248 is a two seat scooter, the gunner and NCO, the latter typically a Lance Corporal (
lanskorpral) and the former typically a Guardsman in rank, both ride together, forming a full team. Two missile rounds are carried on the left and right sides of the scooter, immediately below the handrails. Code input computers, used for programming the EEPROM of the IFF interrogator are carried in the section headquarters.
The basic load for a missile team is one IFF interrogator-computer, one gripstock/IFF antenna, one VRC manpack radio (5 W), four battery-cooling units, and two missile all-up-rounds (AUR). Further spare and support equipment (including additional missiles) is stored in the section headquarters, including a single IFF code computer and cryptographic programming equipment.
Similar modes of transport are used for the Pansarskott m/98 (PS98) 5" (127-mm) anti-tank rocket launcher, intended for light infantry company use as an intermediate between the light 84-mm grenade and longer range 5" or 6" anti-tank missile. Both crewmen carry Ak58K carbines, smaller .223" Short (5.56x33mm) caliber rifles intended for vehicle crewmen (aviators, truck drivers, and the like), either on their back (for the team leader) or in a holster on the right side of the bike. Like most motorcycle crewmen in Galla, the guardsmen wear standard Army three-quarter helmets with a face shield, but they can be allowed to wear their own helmets provided they meet or exceed the Army standard, as the NCO depicted wears his personal modular-type helmet.
The Lvrbs m/32 missile was designed to replace the 1960's-era Lvrbs m/22 MPADS, a 2" diameter missile based on the Navy Type 2-53 2" aerial rocket motor, with a simple radio guidance package installed. The Lvrbs m/22 was considered somewhat of an improvement over the platoon machine gun, which was the primary anti-helicopter weapon until the m/22's introduction in 1962, and not considered a serious threat to fixed-wing aircraft, instead being designed to be carried and fired rapidly with a unique two-shot design. Guidance was achieved via radio command line of sight using a small thumbstick mounted on the gripstock, with the intention being the engagement of low altitude, propeller driven aircraft and attack helicopters on the approach. Unusual for its time, this game the m/22 a full all-aspect engagement capability and rapid-follow up, although the 2" motor's short range made tail engagements difficult. The m/22 had a maximum range of about a mile.
This system was abandoned rapidly with the adoption of the Lvrbs m/32, a 3" diameter rocket body but similar guidance package, in 1974, with a range approximately thrice the m/22. However, the m/22 was exported to Ynglia, where it inspired the development of a 3" diameter missile using the m/32 motor body and domestic radio guidance kit, the Bristol
Bellows, which was received about as warmly. Nonetheless, Ynglisc missile designs diverged significantly from Gallan, until the 2010's with the adoption of the Morris
Marten, a 3" diameter super-accelerating IR guided missile unusually similar in design to the m/32, albeit incorporating laser beamriding. Conversely, the Gallan Lvrbs m/56, adopted in 1997, resembles the Bristol
Bantam, a 4" diameter missile adopted in 1977 by the Ynglisc Army.
The Lvrbs m/32 was improved in 1978, and again in 1985, with new guidance systems: initially a combined IR/UV seeker and then again with a digital EEPROM computer as opposed to discrete components. Modern Lvrbs m/32s have been upgraded to kill low altitude artillery spotting drones with new proximity fuses, imaging infrared guidance seekers, and improved rocket motors for faster/longer-ranged target engagement and can engage targets out to nearly 5 miles. It is likely that the Lvrbs m/32 will be replaced by the Lvrbs m/56, a 4" diameter rocket that has been procured in limited quantities for the Army since 1997, but has yet to fully displace the m/32 (primarily used by airfield defense units of the Royal Army Air Defense Command), or by the Lvrbs m/67, a 5" diameter rocket based on the RBS 148
Pansarknackare (yng. "Tank Breaker"/"Armour Cracker") and shares the same CLU design.
Home Guard m/32 missile teams are organized into regimental air defense platoons comprising a 4-man platoon headquarters, mounted in a pair of extended cab ¾-ton 4x4 trucks, typically a Gallan Motors Kyu-7 or an Alarian Motors 720 pickup truck, painted in Army green, and equipped with a communications shelter. Each platoon has four section headquarters, each with five teams, and each section headquarters has a single extended cab ¾-ton 4x4 truck, transport trailer, four men, TAR radar, VRC radio, a motorbike and wire spools for establishing communication with the platoon HQ or section teams by field telephone. Each missile team is 2-men, mounted on the RM248 scooter, and accompanies the section's truck into action, typically establishing themselves 3 to 5 miles out from the section HQ, itself 5 to 10 miles out from the platoon HQ. This gives the m/32 platoon sufficient frontage (~30-40 miles) to cover the rear area of a Home Guard regiment in combat in an ideal terrain, although in practice this is generally more constricted by radio LOS limits. Total manpower of the platoon is 54 men.
The Home Guard IR-85 Regiment organization was first adopted in 1982 and saw first fielding in 1991, as part of the "Flower" (B-series) TO&E, where the IR-85 Regiment is referred to as "Bellflower".
tl;dr I enjoy the feeling which occurs in the pleasure center of the cortices of my orbitofrontal region of my brain lobes when a scheme finds itself executed in a satisfactorily excellent manner.
