Terran Armor at Baedecker in 2678

"Are we ready boys and girls?"  

A dozen hover-tanks and piles of troops were gathered there...

General T.J. Wood, Baedecker-4, 2678
Empire's Rift, Chpt. 19
by Steve Rzasa




TERRAN ARMORED VEHICLES
2678



The vehicles below made up the bulk of the Terran fighting vehicles at Baedecker-4



M28 Cheetah Main Battle Tank (MBT)



   The Cheetah was the only type of MBT on Baedecker-4 during the Naplian invasion. They were rated for terrestrial operation. Most of the Terran tanks at Baedecker were part of the 65th Armored Division, the 'Texans.' They were not as nimble as Naplian walkers, but they were faster. They performed adequately in short to medium range encounters, but the 90mm railgun at long range could knock out a Naplian walker before it could get into killing range. Four variants were present on Baedecker-4. A company of M28R recovery vehicles as attached to the 65th General Wood's HQ. Two anti-aircraft companies of M28As were on Baedecker-4. One assigned to Vossberg Flats and another assigned to the Deep space communication facility on the Holvin Plateau in the southern hemisphere. M28C command and communication models were assigned to commanders from platoon level and on up the chain. An assault gun company of M28Gs was attached to the Third Brigade of the 65th Armored Division.



Specifications
M28 
Manufacturer Walla Armaments (Vehicle Division)
Crew 4
Weight 72 Tons
Naplian Codename 'Gil' (Floater)
Nickname 'Shirgil' or 'Sgil' (Dung Float)
Length  412 inches
Height 115 inches
Width 152 inches
Ground Clearance 48 inches
Ground Pressure NA
Obstacle Crossing 106 inches
Vertical Trench 14 Feet
Power plant Le Zhwan Mfg. D12 fusion engine
Power Rating 2200 HP
Antigrav Transmission variable Speed Forward
Variable Speed Reverse
Speed - Maximum 53 mph 
Speed - Cross Country 35 mph
Speed - 10% Slope 33 mph
Speed - 60% Slope 7 mph
Acceleration (0 to 20 mph)  5.2 Seconds
Main Gun Railgun 1 x 90mm
Coaxial Weapon Rail-minigun 10mm
Cupola Weapon Rail-chaingun 20mm
Basic Load Main Gun 360 rounds 
Smoke Grenades 20 rounds
NBC System Duvan Interstellar Ind. Two Chamber Circulation System




M7 Gazelle Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)



   There were twice as many IFVs on Baedecker-4 as MBTs. Gazelles were used in many roles such as troop carriers, ambulances and command vehicles. They had a crew of two and could carry eleven troopers and their gear or eight stretches in the ambulance configuration. Thier cupola minigun could provide infantry support when necessary.






Specifications

M7
Manufacturer Walla Armaments (Vehicle Division)
Crew 2
Weight 56 Tons
Length  417 inches
Height 131 inches
Naplian Codename 'Ka' (Hauler)
Nickname 'Shirka' or 'Ska' (Dung Hauler)
Width 150 inches
Ground Clearance 48 inches
Ground Pressure NA
Obstacle Crossing 106 inches
Vertical Trench 14 Feet
Power plant Le Zhwan Mfg. D5 fusion engine
Power Rating 1900 HP
Antigrav Transmission variable Speed Forward
Variable Speed Reverse
Speed - Maximum 43 mph 
Speed - Cross Country 30 mph
Speed - 10% Slope 30 mph
Speed - 60% Slope 5 mph
Acceleration (0 to 20 mph)  7.1 Seconds
Main gun NA
Coaxial Weapon NA
Cupola Weapon Rail-chaingun 20mm
Basic Load 8600 rounds 
Smoke Grenades 20 rounds

NBC System

Duvan Interstellar Ind. Two Chamber Circulation System




J-5 Orbital Jump Mech



   Orbital jump troops were deployed during the withdrawal from Baedecker. Twenty J5 orbital jump mechs accompanied them. The J5 was an infantry support platform that also operated in an assault role. When massed in squads of three, they were formidable shock troops. J5s were slow but carried two 90mm railguns, each with its own ammo box and feeder. A shoulder mounted, laser-guided 'Gullwing' missile rack (2 missiles) gave it a limited anti-tank capability. They performed well. Naplian commanders were surprised to see mechs deployed by orbital jump. The J5s were mistakenly called devastators (Naplian name for Truppen.)



Specifications
J5
Manufacturer Brashat Arms Mfg. 
Crew 1 Weight 54 Tons
Length (Gun Forward) 64 inches
Naplian Codename 'Tul'Vos' (Hopper)
Nickname 'Grena' (Stomper)

Height 130 inches
Width 169 inches
Ground Clearance 40 inches
Ground Pressure 19.9 PSI
Obstacle Crossing 79 inches
Vertical Trench 9 Feet
Power plant Caldi Mfg. DL8 twin electrical rotary engines
Power Rating 1500 HP
Hydro Kinetic Transmission 4-Speed Forward
2-speed Reverse
Speed - Maximum 18 mph 
Speed - Cross Country 12 mph
Speed - 10% Slope 12 mph
Speed - 60% Slope 4 mph
Acceleration (0 to 18 mph)  26 Seconds
Armature Railgun 2 x 90mm
Basic Load   200 rounds per gun
Smoke Rounds 4
NBC System Hindustan Biochem Ind.  B45 twin chamber system







Next Time...The Tanks of the Second Consular War


END TRANSMISSION



Artwork by Julian Schlottman and Max Bagdasarov




Copyright 2018 Kgruppe LLC






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