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Americans and British during World War II designed composite armor. One of the first tanks tested with composite armor was M4 Sherman tank for which was designed, probably the first modular armor package codenamed HCR2.
Well "composite armour" is a very wide term. "Composite armour" has been designed and patented in numerous countries already prior the Second World War. Then there are various field modifications - sometimes done following orders from the government/military leaders - using other materials than steel or different type of construction (logs, sand bags, bed-spring armour or mesh armour, spaced armour, armour combining different types of steel) which were actually used in combat.
"Composite armour" is not used to describe any of these early armour arrays, despite probably being a valid term. HCR2 is not any different. It was - like all types of early non-homogenous steel armour - very inefficient regarding weight and space.
In my opinion it was not the first modular armour package. First of all it is a retro-fit package - there wouldn't be any option to mount the armour in any other way than it has been mounted. But the way the armour is mounted - fixed by steel bars to the vehicle - is identical with the way how the spaced skirts were mounted on the Panzerkampfwagen III and IV (around the turret and at the hull sides, which is exactly the same location were HCR2 was used).
Armor was tested, and it was very promising
It was not. It had low multi-hit capability (due to the modules falling of the tank after being hit, the same problem had the German spaced armour) and most importantly weighed multiple tons per tank - weight which wasn't supported by any Allied chassis used during WW2.[/quote]
More or less LOARA-PZA have proven abilities to hit 122mm GRAD MLRS rockets during fly from 1,6km... using FAPTS/APFSD ammo not AHAD (Air Burst)!
More or less means what? How often did that happen? Once, twice or a relevant amount of times to judge it's capabilities?
In Germany the Gerpard SPAAG was praised after some were presented to the Brazilian army - due to the shortage of money, the Brazilian army used commercial remote-controlled aircraft models as targets; the wind was 12 knots which made the model aircraft "move like yo-yos" (according to a report wirtten by one of the Germans who were sent to Brazil). All model aircraft were defeated by direct hits with FAPDS ammunition while the 40 mm Bofors used by the Brazilian army didn't shot down any with time-fuzed HE ammunition.
But in general I don't think that it is some wonder to shot down a 122 mm GRAD missile. In Germany the Geprard used 12 rounds per gun for defeating air-targets and twice the amount if the target was a low-flying fast-moving target. With 48 rounds and a distance of 1.6 km (which means a very low disperson) hitting such a missile shouldn't be something special (at least not if the missile is not engaged frontally). For example the disperson of 25 mm SAPHEI is 0.43 mils at 2,000 m - at 1,600 m it should theoretically be 0.344 mils. Put 48 rounds in a circle with 34 cm diameter and try not to hit a 122 mm wide tube...
Propably now is the most accuracy gun sytem on the world.
I'd be careful with such statements. The weakest part of a system limits it's usefullness - in the case of the Loara the twin 35 mm guns are limiting it's effectiveness. The mount (and configuration) of the guns is essentially the same as used on the Gepard, Type 87 SPAAG, Marksman SPAAG etc.
The Loara has some very nice and modern radar dishes - but it doesn't matter if you can see the target 28 km away or only 15 km away, when the range of the gun is limited to 5 km on both vehicles. Last time Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands upgraded their Gepard SPAAGs (they used the same upgrade) during 1997-2001, they didn't exchange the radars because it wasn't making sense.
The Skyranger is probably better. The 35/1000 gun is replacing the older twin 35 mm Oerlikon gun in several countries and the sensor units are top-notch. However the Skyranger system mounted on a Boxer is even larger (higher) than a PAZ Loara!
