Waverider IFV/profile

## Overview

凌波步兵战车(Líng Bō)

(Allies:IFV Ling bo / Waverider IFV)

Designation: Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Designer: Northwest Ji Military Vehicle Research Institute

Mass-Produced at: Vehicle Workshop

Key Features:

>>Remote control weapon station.

>>Extra large passenger cabin.

>> Waterjet propulsor.

>>Explosion-proof fence.

>>Steel-steel-aluminum alloy armor

## Background

After the war forced the armored vehicles equipped with boiler steel, cannon and machine gun into the bloody European War battlefield prematurely, the eastern strategist soon noticed these new toys of western barbarians. They were keenly aware that the once obsolete heavy armored cavalry seemed to return in a new form in the new era.

Combined with the technical level of the Celestial at that time, the Celestial strategists who stay behind the battlefield soon realized that these vehicles, which were called "tanks" in Europe, could have more powerful firepower, better observation and aiming system, and better mobility.

The strategists have fully demonstrated the future development and operation mode of these combat vehicles. Finally, through a series of deduction led by the general staff, the strategists came to the conclusion that the new type of combat vehicles can be used intensively to break the front and quickly enter into depth to divide and encircle the enemy, but they can't do anything by themselves. It's better for infantry to speed up to keep up with them.

In order to achieve this goal, the Celestial first provided horses to infantry cooperated with trench breaker vehicle (vehicle similar to the male "tank" in Europe), which was almost the last glory of cavalry (the standard of cavalry has been relaxed to all soldiers on horseback). At that time, the infantry were using horses to follow the vehicles. When the enemy appears on the horizon, they dismount outside the battlefield, wait for the formation to form, and attack along with the roaring steel beasts.

At a later stage, horses were eventually replaced by vehicles, initially unprotected transport vehicles and then they gradually put on armor, machine guns, and tracks for cross-country. Finally, when they replaced machine guns with cannon, they were renamed infantry fighting vehicles by the Celestial department of military.

This is also a part of the mechanization process of Celestial army.

After a few years, the infantry fighting vehicles of the Celestial have new development needs.

As early as the "Mozhe" integrated mechanical maintenance system was still under development, some Celestial strategist had predicted that the infantry fighting vehicle would need to redesign the cabin to carry those "future soldiers". A consensus has been reached within the Celestial general staff: although there were still many difficulties in the development of mechanical exoskeletons at that time, the technical difficulties will eventually be overcome. the Celeistal Army should be ready for tomorrow.

In order to meet the existing demand, the Northwest Ji Military Vehicle Research Institute from Celestial Fenghou group designed a tracked vehicle for the Military Engineers using "Mozhe", and tried to install some weapons such as grenade launchers and heavy machine guns on the vehicle. Its biggest feature is that its passenger cabin is larger than other IFVs, and its protection is better, but it has no amphibious function, so it has not been put into active service in large quantities.

Through this project, the engineers of the Institute have accumulated some experience. When the bidding announcement of the individual exoskeleton of the forbidden army was sent to the barracks, the engineers knew that a new generation of infantry fighting vehicle was coming.

Almost at the same time when the "Longyan" system began to be developed, the major ordnance departments received project information about the new infantry fighting vehicle from the Celestial military department. The plan of Northwest Ji Military Vehicle Research Institute team beat other competitors without any doubt, and the project code 1A-31 was launched immediately.

Considering that the increase of the passenger cabin will increase the size of the whole vehicle from front projection, in order to ensure the viability of the vehicle, the engineers of the institute decided to install thicker armor for the vehicle, and the firepower was also increased accordingly. A fierce 40mm machine gun and an anti armor missile launcher were installed on the turret, and the supporting new thermal imager, low light level night vision device, fire control system and other equipment can greatly improve the effectiveness of these weapons. In addition to these, in order to achieve amphibious function, a set of very mature waterjet propulsor is installed in the rear.

But engineers found a problem in the actual test: the weight of the whole vehicle is too large and the center of gravity is too high. When crossing a river or amphibious operations, once the weather or water condition is bad, the whole vehicle is easy to overturn.

The engineers of the institute originally had other solutions for this without sacrificing performance, but the research and development work of "Longyan" is coming to an end, and the pressure from the military department makes them have to compromise. When the second prototype vehicle is built, compared with the first one, the missile launcher is removed and the armor is reduced. However, this is enough, but the vehicle can only perform the task of suppressing enemy infantry and light vehicles.

This change is only a temporary compromise for amphibious needs, the engineers have reserved enough upgrade space for the upcoming unmanned turret and new lightweight materials.

Notwithstanding, when it was put into production, the progress of the other two engineering teams was still stagnant, and the semi-finished product, after being given the name of "凌波(Waverider)", began the assembly line production in such a hurry.

After a period of time, the team of the remote control weapon station first completed the development, so the Waverider, which was produced in the fifth and sixth batch, was equiped with it. The weight of the whole vehicle dropped sharply, and the originally scheduled additional armor and anti armor missile systems could also be produced. Finally, the Waverider reached the original design target.

On the battlefield, commanders can form all kinds of battle groups according to actual needs, while mechanized battle groups formed based on infantry fighting vehicles and infantries are the key of the main attack of Celestial army. With the support of long-range firepower and other armored vehicles, these battle groups can break a gap in the enemy's defense line. But the role of Waverider in the battle group is another story.

### Notes from the Field

Battlefield reconnaissance has revealed at least these facts about the Waverider IFV.

**From Sea to Land** - Waverider IFV has amphibious function, which can overcome some obstacles that other armored vehicles are difficult to cross. At the same time, Waverider's excellent stability system allows it to fire on water.

**Tracked Sedan Chair** - Although the space is not spacious, the Celestial infantry can get into the "big sedan" and cross mountains and rivers, just like the guerrilla generals on the edge of Heilongjiang in modern times, and then get off to fight on the designated land.

**Upgrade on Frontline** - Many Waverider IFVs only installed remote control weapon stations with 40mm machine guns when thay are deployed. Commanders can obtain temporary deficit of anti-armor missile system and additional armor quota by applying to their superiors.

**"Thin skin and big stuffing"** - Although in fact the frontal projection of Waverider is not so big as that of tanks, it is still a "giant" among similar vehicles, and its armor is not enough to effectively resist the attack of heavier anti-armor weapons. When using this kind of vehicle, Celestial commanders generally avoid exposing it to heavy fire for no reason, although it is enough to resist the attack of bullets and small and medium caliber machine guns.

## Notes

**This article is an unofficial translated article and may be rewritten in the future.**

## Refenance

1. ↑ The Chinese text is "破阵战车", equivalent of tank in corona timeline. Literal translation here.
2. ↑ 1A11 "Longyan" Individual Comb System.
3. ↑ Maybe because the version is too old, upgrade here doesn't contain Wupeng sonar upgrade.