Faction in need of a Main Battle Tank.

[kashim12]

Hey Guys! I'm in need of a  Tracked Main Battle Tank for my faction.  Starting Tech is 3025 lvl, but I not sure if it should be fusion, ICE, or Fuel cell.  Also it is around 65 tons.  What is the best weapon for anti-mech  use?  Lasers? PPC? Missles?  Whats the best weapon for your buck?
Some anti-infantry is a must so small laser & machine guns.  I want to be a well thought out design, it will be the basis for countless variants. 

[Sabelkatten]

Well, there's always the Manticore...

Fusion wins big-time if you have it (save 10-15 tons effectively). Fuel cell isn't generally available ("advanced tech") but much better than ICE. So the big question is what you've got access to.

[kashim12]

 Star league tech with improvements to autocannons.  Also what is the best FE rating for that tonnage? ie will give good speed while have a good mix of weapons and armor?

[worktroll]

Kashim12,

For stock 3025 play, you've pretty much described the Bulldog. 60 tons, 4/6 movement, ICE with a tracked chassis.

The base format has a large laser for a reasonable hit, two SRM-4s for crit-seeking (or load them with infernos for firey fun!), and a hull-mounted MG to keep the PBI away.

It's got two stock variants. One's a specialised sniper/anti VTOL hunter, replacing the laser with a pair of Autocannon-2s. They don't hit hard, but outrange all other 3025 era vehicle weapons. The second replaces the laser with an LRM-20, which is gives a good-sized fire support hit at long ranges, in a well armoured shell, and still keeps the MG and SRMs in case someone tries to get close.

ICE designs don't need heat sinks or power amps for autocannon or missiles, so unless you want PPCs keep it cheap and simple. If you want to build your own design, something like a Bulldog, but with an AC-10. You'll have some tons left over to play with. And you can easily have a "tank hunter" mod which drops the turret for a hull-mounted AC-20 and more frontal armour.

W.

[Maingunnery]

Star league tech with improvements to autocannons.  Also what is the best FE rating for that tonnage? ie will give good speed while have a good mix of weapons and armor?

What about this?


Kashim MBT

Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/E-F-D-A
Production Year: 2750
Cost: 3.418.250 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1.061

Power Plant:  260 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 43,2 km/h
Flanking Speed: 64,8 km/h
Armor:  Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
    1  PPC
    1  LB 10-X AC
    1  Machine Gun
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      35 points                6,50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                260                      20,50
    Cruise MP:  4
    Flank MP:   6
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0,00
Control Equipment:                                                         3,50
Lift Equipment:                                                            0,00
Turret:                                                                    2,00
Armor:              Ferro-Fibrous                AV - 206                 11,50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     51       
                                          Left/Right   41/41       
                                              Turret     41       
                                                Rear     32       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LB 10-X AC                                   T         2         1        11,00
PPC                                          T         10        1         7,00
Machine Gun                                  T         0         1         0,50
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0,50
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (10)                      BD        -         0         1,00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (10)                         BD        -         0         1,00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 11
4t         2       2       2       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: TUR(2/2/2), FLK 1/1/1

[worktroll]

Kinda misses the 3025 tech restrictions, on two counts ...

[Maingunnery]

Kinda misses the 3025 tech restrictions, on two counts ...

The reason:

So the big question is what you've got access to.

Star league tech with improvements to autocannons.

[kashim12]

The reason:

While the faction has access to starleague tech they can't use it while in the innersphere due to the Houses & Comstar.  I need a basic Model A tank to show with later down the line "improvements" ;)

Edit: What is best bang for your buck weapon againist mechs in all ranges?

[Caedis Animus]

I'd say the PPC or AC/10. AC/10s is a lot cheaper, doesn't require a fusion engine, and a few other bonuses, however.

[Hptm. Streiger]

The number uno for anti mech work is the AC10.
you have adequate range, no minimal range

the mentioned Bulldog  is a good chassis with 60tons and 4/6 movement you don't get any better either by decreasing or increasing the weight. It does not have the kick as the manticore but you can have two bulldogs for the price of one Manticore.
If speed is not the issue - its the Zhukov

[Sabelkatten]

Well, if you want to show off...

Make a 60-ton 4/6 ICE tank. Then make a SFE version of the same tank. The new engine saves 5.5 tons - exactly what's needed for a LL (+turret). ;)

Also, you can look here for a couple of ICE MBTs (plus a bunch of other units).

[Maingunnery]

While the faction has access to starleague tech they can't use it while in the innersphere due to the Houses & Comstar.  I need a basic Model A tank to show with later down the line "improvements" ;)

Then consider the first version to be the B model, here is an A model:

It should work well with support from LRM carriers.


Kashim MBT (A)

Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-E-D-A
Production Year: 3025
Cost: 2.750.000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 948

Power Plant:  260 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 43,2 km/h
Flanking Speed: 64,8 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  Autocannon/10
    1  Large Laser
    1  Machine Gun
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      35 points                6,50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                260                      20,50
    Cruise MP:  4
    Flank MP:   6
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0,00
Control Equipment:                                                         3,50
Lift Equipment:                                                            0,00
Turret:                                                                    2,00
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 200                 12,50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     50       
                                          Left/Right   40/40       
                                              Turret     40       
                                                Rear     30       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autocannon/10                                T         3         1        12,00
Large Laser                                  T         8         1         5,00
Machine Gun                                  T         0         1         0,50
@AC/10 (20)                                  BD        -         0         2,00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0,50

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 9
4t         2       2       0       0      3     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: TUR(2/2/0, AC 1/1/0), AC 1/1/0

[kashim12]

Bit of a tank question.  When you have the letter designation after the tank number is the upgrade or change model A, B, C ect.  What do you put to designate a weapon change say going from the ac-10 and large laser to a PPC?  Also what designation do you use for a variant model like say an anti-air or self-propelled gun?   

[Maingunnery]

Bit of a tank question.  When you have the letter designation after the tank number is the upgrade or change model A, B, C ect.  What do you put to designate a weapon change say going from the ac-10 and large laser to a PPC?  Also what designation do you use for a variant model like say an anti-air or self-propelled gun?

Usually it is alphabetical, however some letters would fit very well with some variants: P for PPC, N for Anti-Air (ripped from Rifleman) or G for Big Gun.