AAV-5 Arclite Siege Tank

(Version 1.01 - Last Modified: 11/10/2005)

The heavily armored AAV-5 Arclite Siege Tanks are renowned throughout the Terran Confederacy for their unrelenting barrages of cannon fire that can reduce any position or fortification to ruins within a matter of minutes. The Arclite tank was developed to fill two needs in the Confederations' armed forces. The first need was for a battle tank that could easily engage enemy power armor and tanks, but the second need was for a powerful artillery cannon that could attack fixed enemy positions and provide cover for advancing troops. These needs became dire during the last war between the Terran Confederacy and the Kel-Morian Combine. The combine's positions and anti-missile defenses proved too much for the Confederacy's limited air power and its armed combat walkers were decimating the basic models that the Confederacy fielded at the time. Not wanting to waste time designing and building both types of vehicles, the Terran Confederacy military decided to fulfill both requirements with a single chassis, so the Arclite Siege Tank was born.

The first version of the tank had different turrets for the tank version and the artillery version and allowed for the turrets to be switched out with minimal effort. The rapid deployment of the AAV-1 version of the tank allowed the Terran Confederacy to push back the Combine's military with the tank version and then within a few days, the tank army had switched to the artillery version and provided artillery support for the infantry assaults. The Confederacy was victorious, and the Arclite Siege Tank was a proven success. As the decades passed, many improvements were made on the Arclite tank, including more powerful cannons, some emergency weapons, and a computer upgrade, but it was not until the AAV-4 version was the decision made to combine the two turret designs into a single turret to allow the tank to switch between battle-mode and artillery-mode at a moment's notice. The first versions of the turret built on the AAV-4 tank were very unbalanced, the designers found it difficult to make both the artillery cannon and the regular tank cannon powerful at the same time. This imperfections led to a short shelf life for the AAV-4 tank; only ten years after the AAV-4 was first introduced, it was replaced with the AAV-5 version.

The newest and latest version of the Arclite Siege Tank, AAV-5, had a significant improvement over the previous versions: it packed the Mjolnir Artillery Cannon. This cannon fires incredibly powerful plasma charges that can lay anything to waste with just a few shots. These cannons brought back the true terror of an artillery barrage as no one wanted to face an army of AAV-5 Arclite Siege Tanks alternating between devastating artillery barrages and quick tank advances. Unfortunately, the cannon is too powerful of the tank to fire while moving. Even worse, the tank has to brace itself before it fires the cannon, rendering it immobile while the Mjolnir cannon is deployed. However, the artillery-mode is only really used when the tank is far enough away from the enemy so that its immobility is not dangerous for its crew.

Vehicle Information:

• Vehicle Type: Main Battle Tank / Heavy Artillery Support
• Crew: 3 (Pilot, Gunner, and Commander / Navigator)

M.D.C. by location:

• 120mm Auto-Cannon - 300
• Mjolnir Artillery Cannon - 500
• 30mm Auto-Cannon - 150
• Artillery Bracing Supports (4) - 150 each
• Tracks (4) - 200 each *
• Sensor System - 150 **
• Main Body - 1200 ***
• Reinforced Crew Compartment - 300


M.D.C. Armor Rating: 9
Notes:

*	Destroying one track will reduce the speed of the tank by 50%, destroying two tracks will reduce the speed of the tank by 95%, and destroying three or more of the tracks will render the tank completely immobile.
**	The Sensor System is a small target and protected by the main body, making it difficult to strike; an attacker is required to make a "called shot" and receives a penalty of -4 to strike.
***	Depleting the M.D.C. of the Main Body will put the combat walker out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, except for life support. If the reinforced crew compartment is destroyed, the crew will be killed.

Speed:

• Driving: 90 mph (144.8 km/h)
• Maximum Range: Effectively unlimited by drive system.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 15' (4.6 m) or 20' (6.1 m) with the Mjolnir Artillery Cannon deployed.
• Width: 10' (3 m) or 15' (4.6 m) with the artillery bracing supports deployed.
• Length: 18' (5.5 m)
• Weight: 110.5 tons (100.2 metric tons)
• Reactor System: Micro-Fusion Reactor with a life span of 15 years.
• Market Cost: 240 million credits for a fully loaded and armed Goliath Combat Walker.

Weapon Systems:

1. 120mm Auto-Cannon
   While the Mjolnire Artillery Cannon is the main weapon for the artillery version of the siege tank, the 120mm Auto-Cannon is the main weaon of the tank version. The powerful cannon is useful against other tanks and fortified targets when the siege tank requires mobility.
   • Range: 4 miles (6.4 m) through an atmosphere.
   • Damage: 6D6x10 M.D. per single blast.
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 11
   • Rate of Fire: The cannon can fire four times per melee.
   • Payload: 200 rounds
2. Mjolnir Artillery Cannon
   The main artillery cannon of the Terran Confederacy is the poewrful, plasma based Mjolnir Artillery Cannon. The cannon does not reqiure line of sight to its target enabling it to hit targets that are beyond obstacles and walls, helping to protect the siege tanks from danger.
   • Range: 20 miles (32.2 km) through an atmosphere.
   • Damage: 1D4x100+200 M.D. per single blast.
   • Blast Radius: 20' (6.1 m)
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 10
   • Rate of Fire: The cannon can fire once per melee round.
   • Payload: Effectively unlimited
3. 20mm Auto-Cannon
   The 20mm Auto-Cannon is a support weapon that allows the commander to fire at targets that are too small for the main cannons. The primary uses for the cannon is anti-personnel and covering fire for supporting ground troops.
   • Range: 2000' (610 m) through an atmosphere.
   • Damage: 2D4x10 M.D. per single blast.
   • M.D.C. Weapon Rating: 11
   • Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand-to-hand attacks (usually 4 to 6).
   • Payload: 100 bursts

Standard Systems:

1. Short Range Radar
   The vehicle is equipped with a short range radar. Radar system has a range of 80 miles (128.7 km) and can identify and track up to 96 targets.
2. Combat / Targeting Computer
   System calculates, stores, and transmits data onto view screens in the vehicle's cockpit. The computer assists in the tracking of targets. The system also has a data base of targets and has the ability to identify most common targets. Vehicles operated by the same faction are designed to share data automatically and act as fire control for other vehicles as well. As a final feature, the computer creates a map of the area based on sensor data.
3. Laser Targeting System
   The system is designed to assist in the selection and focusing on a specific target. The system gives a bonus of +2 to strike using long range weapons but must have line of sight.
4. Spotlight
   The vehicle is equipped with two normal spotlights in addition to regular headlights. Range: 600 feet (182.9 meters).
5. Visual Magnification
   This system allows magnification of x2 to x16 and it displays on a view screen in the cockpit. The vehicle also has data recording equipment for 48 hours at the highest resolution and 144 hours at lowest resolution.
6. Thermo-Imager
   Range: 2000' (610 m). Finds the infrared radiations of things that are warm. Also enables the pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness. System has the disadvantage of being able to be detected.
7. Nightvision Optics
   Range: 2000' (610 m). Uses light amplification to make a picture. Emits no light but will not work in absolute darkness. System can be dazzled by sudden bright lights but does not physically blind the pilot.
8. Infra-Red / Laser Detector
   The system is designed to detect any infrared or laser beams which paint or target the vehicle. The vehicle has special sensors built into the exterior every few inches. Sensors gives the strength of the signal and the computer can often determine if they have been detected from the signal strength.
9. Radar Detector
   The system is designed to passively detect other radars being operated. The system gives information such as relative strength and number of signals. Sensors gives strength of the signal and the computer can often determine if the vehicle has been detected from the strength of the signal.
10. Internal Active Jamming Gear
    Causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that they are being jammed, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to strike to all radar guided weapons.
11. Compass and Clock Calendar
    In addition to other features, the vehicles is fitted with a compass, high quality digital maps, and a clock calendar. The vehicles has an inertial navigation system where the computer plots the location of the vehicle based on last recorded location and speed and course of travel. The computer will attempt to use recorded data from other sensors to refine the location. The computer also can use star positions for navigation purposes. location.
12. Radio Communication
    The vehicle is equipped with a long range directional communication system. The system has an effective range of 500 miles (804.7 km). The vehicle is also outfitted with a short range directional radio. Short range radio has a range of 20 miles (32 km). The Vehicles is also fitted with a radio scrambler to prevent others from easily listening in on communications. The vehicle is equipped with a loudspeaker with an output of 80 decibels and an external audio pickup. The vehicle also has a satellite communication system that can also boost the range of its radio.
13. Advanced Life Support
    The crew compartments in the vehicle is reinforced to protected the crew from attacks. The compartment is air tight and is suitable for use in most hostile environments including underwater, with a maximum depth of 500' (152.4 m). The vehicle has a computer controlled life support system with artificial air circulation, gas filtration, and humidifier. The system is designed to be able to recycle the air to keep a breathable atmosphere for up to four weeks. The vehicle also has an independent oxygen supply which automatically engages and purges the interior in conditions of contaminated air environment inside of vehicle. The vehicle carries a twelve hour emergency oxygen supply. The vehicle displays present atmospheric conditions including toxins in the air and amount of oxygen back to wearer. The vehicle has an internal cooling system and temperature control and it can be set for wearer preferences. The system displays temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure.
14. High Temperature Insulation
    The vehicles is made from high temperature materials that are designed to resist temperatures up to 400 degrees centigrade. Normal fires inflict no damage but extremely high temperature fire, such as plasma and magic fire, inflict full damage.
15. Radiation Shielding
    The vehicles has radiation shielding which is far more effective than what is found on body armor. As well, the vehicle's armor is equipped with sensors to monitor the amount of radiation that the vehicle is exposed to. This is displayed to the pilot of the vehicle.
16. Protective Optics
    The vehicle is designed with optics which are designed to protect the crew against blinding. All pilot compartment windows are polarized to quickly darken and the crew can also look through video displays.
17. Ejection System
    The vehicle is equipped with an ejection system that allows the crew to eject to safety in case of emergency. The ejection system is designed to launch the crew about 1000' (305 m) in the air and a parachute is deployed so that they travel to the ground safely.