Kerch vehicle family

Kerch
Kerch
Role	Cavalry tank/Main battle tank
National Origin	Sahr
Production History
Designer	Alkan tractor company
Unit Cost	33,624(√)
Number Built	250
Service History
	In Service
	2133* - Present
Used By	Sahr
Wars	War of the Egercias, Sahren Civil war, Zokesian Civil War, Reclaimation War

The Kerch is a series of armoured vehicles originating from Sahrland. They have served in every conflict the country has fought and more. Despite spontaneous design and production they proved reliable and comparable to other armoured vehicles of their era.

Railcar conversions

The first Kerch tanks were not known as Kerch, but AV-06 (Avtocïsterna-2106). AV-06 were the result of government subsidization of railway cars under the condition that they can be easily converted to tanks and seized by the military. In preparation of the War of the Egercias (Under the excuse of political unrest in Aontas), they began conversion in 2108. They had at most 75mm of armour and were armed with 23mm cannons and 40mm mortar launchers. two turrets on the port front and starboard rear wings were armed with mortar launchers with three turrets on the starboard front, port rear, and centre holding 23mm cannons. Suspension and steering systems were added and railway wheels were replaced with all terrain tires. Specifics vary from vehicle to vehicle with some having only 50 calibre machineguns, to at least one surviving specimen including 76mm anti tank cannons.

A rare surviving AV-06 on display in southern bastia

In the war of the Egercias the initial 2111 offensive caused panic and complete route as the Kravsmad royal army believed Sahrland had no armoured forces. Their poor quality remained secretive due to the quick retreat until Medrarian armed forces resisted the advance. Panic brought on by the AV-06s completely dissolved as they were shown to be slow, fragile, and clumsy. By the time of Phoenian intervention, even the Sahren royal army viewed AV-06's as outdated with some even refusing to participate in the 2116 counteroffensives.

These later became a laughing stock among west kolus as a Zokesian journalist misidentified the tanks as tractor converts in a study on steppe peoples.

Kerch-A

Even before the war had ended attempts were made to modernize the vehicles. In 2133 these were standardized into Kerch-A (named after chief of army Kake Kerch). The vehicle was entirely reworked with thicker armour, stronger engine, five roadwheels and a reduction in turrets. 102mm autoloaded howitzers imported from Phoenia replaced the main turret with a 50 calibre anti-infantry turret mounted further in the hull, both hydraulically rotated. Crew was reduced from six to three, two turret operators and a driver. The Kerch-A was much a much more agile and capable vehicle, far from the railway car roots. The Kerch-A were mockingly nicknamed by Tekkians as "Steppe Rhodies" due to their cooincidental design similarities.

These have served the longest and been produced the most of all Kerch models, serving from 2133 to 2163. In their 20 years of service they participated in Operation Kerosene, Zokesian Civil War, Sahren Civil war, and the imperial reclaimation. Throughout all of these conflicts Sahren tank crews were resourceful and unpredictable with how they utilized the Kerch-A. In operation Kerosene they flanked rebel forces by paddling across lake Khogildir and into Khosa as if the tanks were boats. In the Sahren Civil war further (unsuccessful) incidents of amphibious assault occured, along with parachute experiments and self propelled artillery. In the Imperial Reclaimation the first coalition forces to cross into Salvacion were Kerch-As in the joint-Aonta brigade, completely contrasting the far more modern vehicles surrounding them. There was at least one confirmed kill of an Arcadian bomber with the 102mm howitzer.

Kerch-B

The Kerch-B was an attempt to replace the 102mm howitzer with an improved 125mm howitzer. The difference in effectiveness was not considered worth the extra cost, loading time, and mass.

Kerch-IFV

Kerch-As were experimented with as Infantry Fighting Vehicles by replacing the 102mm howitzer with a 30mm autocannon. Very few were created and were assigned to lower priority units for their lack of anti-tank ability.

2163 retrofit

By the late 2150s it was apparent of the outdated shambles the Sahren Republican Guard had become after the civil war. The drawn out design process of the AV-type-48 Meteor proved the need to work with outdated Kerch models, finally finishing the Kerch-A refit in early 2163. Armour, suspension, and machinery were improved as they now had to operate in Kolusion desert heat and dust. Phoenian "Checkerboard" ERA addon armour was added to the sides to somewhat allieviate lack of wheel protection. Capabilities to mount anti-tank missiles were also implemented.