Combat Tank

(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 09/03/2004)

Although the combat rover served the needs of most of the Human factions, the Spartan Federation was not satisfied. They knew that while the rover was fast and maneuverable, sometimes a powerful tank was needed to smash through the defenses of a fortified position. To that end, the Spartan Federation went through a series of heavily armored rovers to take up the role of a tank, but the results were never satisfactory. The rovers were either too slow because of the armor or they did not have sufficient resources to power their heavier armaments. By 79 AL, Corazon Santiago, the leader of the Spartan Federation had grown so frustrated by the failures that she ordered a completely new vehicle be designed to serve as a tank.

When the Lord's Believers launched their surprise attack against the Spartan Federation in 86 AL, only a few prototype tanks had been built, but their location deep inside of the Spartan Federation placed them on the front lines against the Lord's Believers assault. Although badly outnumbered, the prototype tanks were able to hold off a large number of combat rovers while the Spartan Federation organized a retreat from the region. Unprepared to face such heavily armed and armored opponents, the invading army of the Lord's Believers hesitated whenever they encountered the prototype tanks. After the first battles, the invading army believed that the Spartan Federation had a large number of these tanks, so they slowed their assault while they developed strategies to face a large tank assault that never came, giving the Spartan Federation valuable time. By the middle of the war, the tank had entered full production and was pivotal in pushing the Lord's Believers out of the Spartan Federation and in assaulting the faction directly. Since that time, the tank, referred to as the Colonial Tank, has been improved and modified, although it has retained the same basic design.

The Colonial Tank was built to take advantage of the perceived weaknesses in the design of the combat rover, namely its armor and armament. Although the rovers were fast, they could hold only so much armor and the main turret on the vehicle was necessarily small. The Colonial Tank suffers from neither of these penalties, but the tank was designed to fight in a world of combat rovers, so it was built to move fast, sacrificing some armor to increase its speed. For its main turret, the Spartan Federation decided to use a powerful Impact Beam cannon and use the gatling laser technology for the secondary turrets. In addition, the tank would have to be able to defend itself against needlejets, so it was built with a small number of missiles, which were also useful against rovers and fortifications. The design of the Colonial Tank was based primarily off of the M1 Abrams tank developed for the military of the United Stated, however, newer technology changed much of the interior of the tank. A powerful fusion reactor was put in place of the old engine and a central computer was developed for the tank to handle many of the tasks performed by the old tank's crew.

Vehicle Information:

• Vehicle Type: Assault Tank
• Crew: 3, driver, gunner, and commander
• Troops: Up to two people in full combat armor can fit in crew compartment of the vehicle.

S.D.C. by location:

• Weapon Turret - 360
• Impact Beam Cannon - 200
• Small Gatling Gun - 50
• Large Gatling Gun - 80
• Missile Launcher - 100
• Smoke Dispenser (4) - 15 each
• Airlock Access Hatch - 40
• Tractor Treads (2) - 150 each *
• Main Body - 860 **

Armor Rating: 13
Notes:

*	Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the tank until it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x10 minutes by a trained crew (two replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by an inexperienced crew. Changing the tread is only advisable when the vehicle is not under attack.
**	Depleting the S.D.C. of the main body will shut down the vehicle, including life support, communications, weapons, and engine.

Speed:

• Drive: 75 mph (120.7 km/h)
• Maximum Range: Effectively unlimited by drive system, but the vehicle generally carries supplies for only two weeks for the regular crew.

Statistical Data:

• Height: 9.5' (2.7 m)
• Width: 11' (3.4 m)
• Length: 27' (8.2 m) and 35' (10.7 m) with the gun forward
• Weight: 68.5 tons (62.1 metric tons)
• Reactor System: Micro-Fusion Reactor with a life span of 10 years.
• Cargo: Minimal storage space in pilots compartment; about three feet (0.9 m) in side dimensions for extra clothing, weapons, and personal items. Three gatling rifles and twelve rifle clips are stored in a compartment in the crew compartment.
• Market Cost: Not for sale on the open market.

Weapon Systems:

1. Impact Beam Cannon
   The primary weapon on the Combat Tank is a powerful Impact Beam Cannon. Although the cannon is limited to direct fire, it is powerful enough that it can destroy even a rover with Silksteel Armor with only a few hits. The cannon is mounted on the main turret of the tank, so it can rotate 360 degrees and has an arc of fire of 45 degrees.
   • Range: 5 miles (8 km)
   • Damage: 5D6x10 per shot
   • Rate of Fire: The turret can fire four times per melee.
   • Payload: Effectively unlimited
   • Bonuses: +2 to strike
2. Large Gatling Gun
   Mounted on the main turret where the commander sits, the Large Gatling Gun provides the commander with a good offensive option while the main cannon is used on other targets.
   • Range: 2000' (610 m)
   • Damage: 5D4 per shot or 1D6x10 per volley of three shots.
   • Rate of Fire: The turret can fire twelve single blasts or four volleys per melee.
   • Payload: Effectively unlimited
3. Small Gatling Gun
   The Small Gatling Gun is located at the front of the tank and is controlled by the driver of the tank. It is often used on small, isolated targets and only when the commander and the main gunner are preoccupied with other targets, otherwise the driver does not use his gun at all.
   • Range: 1000' (305 m)
   • Damage: 2D6 per shot or 5D6 per volley of three shots.
   • Rate of Fire: The turret can fire twelve single blasts or four volleys per melee.
   • Payload: Effectively unlimited
4. Missile Launcher
   The Combat Tank has a small missile launcher built into the rear of the ship. The tank is capable of firing four medium range missiles and this amounts to the tank's only real defense against airborne attackers, although it is a very good defense, especially when a group of tanks fires their missiles simultaneously. The missiles also provide a good offensive option against a fortified position.
   • Missile Design: General Purpose Missile
   • Missile Type: Multipurpose
   • Missile Guidance Systems: Select two guidance systems.
   • Missile Warhead: Armor Piercing, Fragmentation, High Explosive, and Plasma / Napalm only.
   • Range: 80 miles (128.7 km)
   • Speed: 1800 mph (2897 km/h)
   • Damage and Blast Radius: Varies with type of missile warhead.
   • Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 3, or 4 missiles.
   • Payload: 4 medium range missiles

Standard Systems:

1. Short Range Radar
   The vehicle is equipped with a short range radar. Radar system has a range of 50 miles (80.5 km) and can identify and track up to 64 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 +1 to strike using long range weapons but must have line of sight. As well, most mini-missiles are designed to follow the laser beam to the target.
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
   System is designed to passively detect other radars being operated. System give 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.
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.