Armored Vehicles at Baedecker


"And then the mechs trundled out..."

Naplian Assault on Baedecker-4, 2678
Empire's Rift, Chpt. 9
by Steve Rzasa

Naplian 'Baskera' Self-Propelled Particle Cannon



TWO WARS

   When discussing the details of armored vehicles which saw action in the Baedecker starsystem,  remember that there were two important campaigns in two very different wars that occurred in the solar system just five years apart. The Terran and Reittian assault in 2673 was the final engagement of the Second Consular War and culminated with the destruction of the Northern Alliance Army in the battles of the Luran Plains and the Iwa Valley on Baedecker-4. It was also the last stand of the Northern Alliance cyborgs, the Truppen. 

    The second campaign happened in 2678 when a Naplian Fleet invaded the Baedecker starsystem, encountering the combined forces of the Terrans, Reittians, Briddarri and a contingent of Truppen survivors from the Consular Wars. 

The Naplian Invasion, 2678

   After a voyage lasting nearly three years, the Third Corps of the Naplian Fleet, commanded by Admiral Daviont, entered Baedeker starsystem. The Third Corps split into a number of formations and invaded every planet. The main force assaulted Baedecker-4,  the provincial capital of the Terran starcluster. Resistance to the initial landings was minimal. The Terrans were taken by surprise and decimated. The only Terran formation to maintain cohesion was the 65th Armored Division, the 'Texans,' commanded by General T.J. Wood. On paper, the 65th had 378 main battle tanks and 752 armored personnel carriers. Estimates of Naplian main battle tanks present in the solar system was 27,000 and infantry fighting vehicles were estimated at over 50,000. 



NAPLIAN VEHICLES


Three Naplian vehicles below made up the bulk of the fighting vehicles at Baedecker-4


Callista CL56 Main Battle Tank (MBT)


   The Callista saw action on all of the Baedecker worlds during the Naplian invasion. They were rated for zero atmosphere operation and could run underwater for a limited time.  On Baedecker-4 the CL56 twin cannons outmatched Terran tanks in short to medium range encounters but they had thin armor, and this gave the Terran railgun tanks the advantage at long range. Two additional variants were present. A brigade of CL56H MBTs with eight legs and a single 310mm particle cannon supported the assault on Vossberg.  Another brigade of CL56R models (six legs and two lighter 96 mm Ion cannons ) were attached to the Naplian southern hemisphere task force.

Specifications
CL56 
Terran Codename 'Crab'
Nickname 'Crab'
Manufacturer Dylamiat Armaments (Walker Systems Division)
Crew 2
Weight 49 Tons
Length 388 inches
Height 107.5 inches
Width 144 inches
Ground Clearance 39 inches
Ground Pressure 15.4 PSI
Obstacle Crossing 89 inches
Vertical Trench 9 Feet
Power plant MT-15 fusion turbine engine
Power Rating 1700 HP
Hydro Kinetic Transmission 8-Speed Forward
4-Speed Reverse
Speed - Maximum 38 mph 
Speed - Cross Country 30 mph
Speed - 10% Slope 28 mph
Speed - 60% Slope 4.5 mph
Acceleration (0 to 20 mph)  7.4 Seconds
Ion Cannon 2 x 140mm
Coaxial Weapon Particle Machinegun
Basic Load Main Guns 240 Ion rounds 
Smoke Grenades 30 rounds
NBC System Covarnet3 Three Chamber Circulation System




HI478 Infantry Support Drone


   Zipperhead, Zipper, or just plain Zip are the names that Terran troops had for the HI478 Infantry Support Drone. It was equally loved by the Naplians and hated by the Terrans. Zips were fast and accurate and operated as an autonomous heavy infantry weapon attached to the equivalent of an infantry platoon - usually one per platoon.

Terran Codename 'Beetle'
Nickname 'Zipper' or 'Zip'
Specifications
HI478
Manufacturer Herifle Equipment Mfg. 
Crew 1 x AI control unit
Weight 37 Tons
Length (Gun Forward) 384.5 inches 387 inches
Height 110.5 inches
Width 124 inches
Ground Clearance 29 inches
Ground Pressure 13.3 PSI
Obstacle Crossing 92 inches
Vertical Trench 9.35 Feet
Power plant Gribbal fusion engine
Power Rating 2300 HP
Hydro Kinetic Transmission 8-Speed Forward
3-Speed Reverse
Speed - Maximum 46 mph 
Speed - Cross Country 33 mph
Speed - 10% Slope 29 mph
Speed - 60% Slope 6 mph
Acceleration (0 to 20 mph)  6.7 Seconds
Particle minigun 8 x 24mm
Basic Load   5,630 particle rounds
Smoke Grenades 30 rounds
NBC System None 




MFR-45 Self-Propelled Artillery Drone


Reittians called it the Toad. Terrans named it Mofo. It was a slow, lumbering, squat hulk with a 465mm particle projector. It was mainly an anti-personnel weapon, The particle rounds could be launched in salvos of six in 3 seconds. The damage done to structures was minimal, but the radiation from the airburst detonation of the particle munitions was lethal.

Terran codename 'Rhino'
Nickname 'Toad'
Specifications
MFR-45
Manufacturer Herifle Equipment Mfg. 
Crew 1 x AI control unit
Weight 54 Tons
Length (Gun Forward) 164 inches
Height 130 inches
Width 95 inches
Ground Clearance 26 inches
Ground Pressure 15.9 PSI
Obstacle Crossing 79 inches
Vertical Trench 6 Feet
Power plant Dunker twin fusion engine
Power Rating 2000 HP
Hydro Kinetic Transmission 5-Speed Forward
2-speed Reverse
Speed - Maximum 28 mph 
Speed - Cross Country 16 mph
Speed - 10% Slope 10 mph
Speed - 60% Slope 3.6 mph
Acceleration (0 to 20 mph)  12.7 Seconds
Plasma Cannon 1 x 465mm
Basic Load   450 particle rounds
Smoke Rounds 60
NBC System None










Next Time...Terran Vehicles in the Naplian Invasion


END TRANSMISSION



Artwork by Spark Warrgon




Copyright 2018 Kgruppe LLC


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