Flat sonnova B

History

The FV Corp. 68(Hull)-0, or [T68(F) GMC] was a prototype vehicle used to mount and test the 77mm HVT/T-77 anti tank gun, and its derivatives, as well as to ‘field’ test with new tank technologies on a non-combat vehicle. The 68-0 can be seen as the pinnacle of FV Corp. casemate design during WW2, featuring a gas-electric transmission, (which naturally led to a few reliability issues) good mobility as a result when it worked, a fully sloped and low frontal profile with weighted plates (used to balance out the tank) serving as even more extra protection, and of course, the gun.

D1P, D2P, and D3P during initial trials. D2P's barrel has been removed for maintenance

D2P, D1P as seen from D3P

Based on the British 17 Pounder, The HVT/T-77 (High Velocity anti Tank, Tank mount, 77mm M1), or just [77mm M1], was the most powerful dedicated anti tank gun produced by FV Corp. by late 1944, (penetration wise) and was able to punch through around 239mm of armor flat at point blank with its dedicated APCBC round. (G77M/44A) An APDS round, (G77M/44C) the first produced for FV, was also developed and test fired on multiple occasions, with an impressive penetration value of slightly over 290mm of armor.

D1P test firing G77M/44C during trials against a German Panther tank at 500 meters

The tanks themselves didn’t see anything in the way of combat, but due to constant relocating, trials, modifications, and especially repairs, the 3 68-0s produced pretty much looked as if they had just come from a war zone by the end of their service life, with ‘field’ mods and crew necessities galore strapped onto the vehicles anywhere they could fit, and there being many definitive features between each individual tank. Their test crews affectionately nicknamed the tank "Flattop-77," in reference to the aircraft carriers of the time, due to its long and flat profile. As the 68(H)-0 had no real name besides “TD-77,” The name stuck, and is now the tank's "official" name, most commonly brought up when referencing it.

D3P in 1946. The coaxial M1919A4 had been switched out for a LNM-1U1, and the AA LNM-1T to a LNM-1U.

Data gained from the 68-0 trials would be used to improve on the HVT/T-77, which would go on to be used on some of the first FV Corp. MBTs. As for the casemates, they would be scrapped, and represent the final casemate design developed by FV Corp. during the war, as the 60(H)-2 [T60(F) GMC] and the HVT/T-75 [75mm M4] already proved to be more than sufficient for requirements by the army, not to mention the 76mm M1 and 90mm M3 cannons already in service as well.

A newly arrived 60(H)-2, still in factory colors, during a short notice defensive fire support mission on the Western front

Armament

• Main gun - 77mm HVT/T-77 Anti tank gun
  G77M/44A APCBC, 48 rounds
  G77M/44B HE, 17 rounds
  G77M/44C APDS, 5 rounds

• MGs
  1x LNM-1U 9.5mm, (AA MG) 250 rounds
  1x LNM-1U1 9.5mm, (Coax) 300 rounds

Controls

Ag1 - Headlight
Ag2 - Parking brake
Ag8 - crew hatches
Commander's MG activated through button on the back of it

Main gun/Coax - camera aim (through gun sight)
Roof Mg - camera aim (through commander's view)

Movement - Pitch + Roll

Notes

• This creature is a remake of my Type Z3 "Flattop" Tank destroyer, And in extension, the "My weird looking tank destroyer"

(Well, at the very least, loosely inspired..?)

• Not really too much to say about this, it may take a few shots to destroy an enemy tank unless you're using HE due to how SP basic shells work, and turning is a bit scuffed in it, but other than that, it just does tank things

• More remakes like this will be coming soon, all apart of my “Random Rebuilds” mini series that I’m doing for fun

• Anyways,

Enjoy!