ERCWS-M
ERCWS-M (electronic remote-controlled weapon station - medium) is a remote weapon station of Israli origin, employed by the Austrian Army (Bundesheer). In Steel Beasts, it can be mounted on top of the Iveco LMV truck and Pandur I (RWS) APC.
As opposed to the Lemur, it can be controlled from multiple crew stations (if so equipped), and it can, in a pinch, also be controlled manually (of course the gunner will have to expose himself to enemy fire).
Dual-axis stabilization of the gun is optional; armament options are a 7.62mm MG, a 12.7 HMG, or a 40mm grenade launcher.
Mission Editor
As mentioned above, the ERCWSM has a number of optional components:
- TC station: this will allow the TC to watch (and, if required, override) the Gunner.
- Stabilization: if equipped, the weapon station is stabilized in two axis; if not, only power steering is available. Note that the auto target tracking feature requires stabilization!
Both these options are independent of the armament chosen, which can be
- a 7.62mg MG
- a 12.7mm HMG, the M2
- a 40mm grenade launcher
Gunner's station
Inside
The gunner's station is comprised of the ERCWS-M panel, the smoke grenade control box and a number of switches controlling various aspects.
The smoke grenade control box is to the left of the ERCWS-M panel and allows the gunner to fire two salvoes (if the panel has power).
Above the ERCWS-M panel are two toggle switches; the left one allows the gunner to override the safety loop (which ordinarily puts the gun into SAFE if any of the vehicle's doors or hatches open), the right onw acts as a safety switch (for the gunner station only). Finally, to the right of the panel is the switch enabling power steering. Note that if this switch is not enabled, the safety switch will automatically drop.
And finally, the panel. Around its frame are a number of buttons (6 on the left and right side, 7 on the bottom). The commands mapped to these buttons change with the menu mode the gun is in.
Outside
The gunner has a hatch which allows him to access the weapon station in order to unload or, in emergencies, to decouple it from its servoes in order to slew and fire manually. Note that the hatch is part of the vehicle's security loop so opening it will (if not overriden) make the gun stop any movement.
One the back of the gun mount are two latches; click either of them to uncouple the gun's servos (yes this is simplified). Once this is done, use the Alt-1 hotkey to enter a viewmode looking through the gun's sights, which allows you to manually slew the gun using mouse/keyboard as well as to fire it. Note that, if the weapon station is functional and equipped with a TC station, the TC is actually able to monitor where you are shooting via the gun's sights (by manually entering a range he could even give you fire correction commands..).
Commander's station
Regardless if the weapon station is equipped with a weapon's station, the TC is in charge of powering up the weapon station. This is done via a small control box located between the TC's and the driver's seats. Oversimplifying (but accurate enough), all the covered switches are wired in series, so all have to be enabled in order for the weapon station to work. Note that the AI TC will always power up the weapon station.
In case of the vehicle being equipped with a TC's station, you will find an identical duplicate of the gunner's panel mounted in the front of the cabin. To its left is a small covered switch which acts as a safety switch for the TC station only. The only way for the TC to hinder the GNR from firing is either by overriding him or by cutting the power to the weapon station altogether via the power control box discussed above.