Folks,
Was just working out some figures for a custom vee, using the TechManual rules from P101 of TechManual, v1.2 (CAT35001):
Tractor/Trailer Vehicles: Combat Vehicles with a Tracked or Wheeled motive type may be built as Trailers. Trailers do not require an engine, control systems, or crew, unless they are also expected to operate without a suitable Tractor unit or are expected to employ heavy weapons and equipment while operating independently of a unit with an engine (in which case, a minimum Engine Rating of 10 applies).
The MPs of a combined Tractor/Trailer unit may vary during gameplay. The Cruise MP of a combined Tractor/Trailer unit is equal to the Engine Rating of the primary Tractor unit (the one doing all the towing/pushing), divided by the combined weight of the Tractor and its Trailer(s), after subtracting the lowest Suspension Factor of the combined units (rounded down). The Flank MP is then computed normally by multiplying the Cruise MP by 1.5, and rounding up to the nearest whole number. Thus, a 65-ton Tracked Tractor with an Engine Rating of 260 (Suspension Factor 0), towing a 20-ton Wheeled Trailer (Suspension Factor 20), would have a combined Tractor/Trailer MP of 3 Cruise, and 5 Flank MP (Engine Rating 260 / [65 Tractor tons + 20 Trailer tons - 0 Tractor's Suspension Factor] = 3.06, round down to 3MP; 3 Cruise MP x 1.5 = 4.5MP; round up to 5 Flank MP).
So let's take that equation:
Engine Rating / [mass of tractor + mass of trailer - worst suspension factor]Now let's apply this to a 15-ton wheeled tractor and a 5-ton wheeled trailer. Suspension factor for both is 20, the standard for wheeled. The tractor moves at 5/8, which means an engine rating of (15x5 -20), or 55.
So when our 15 ton truck hooks on a 10-ton trailer, the new speed is ... according to the formula ...
Engine Rating / [mass of tractor + mass of trailer - worst suspension factor]55 / [15 + 10 - 20]
55 / [25 - 20]
...
11? ???
Not sure what's in that trailer, but can my recon units have some? :D And if I'd hooked on a 5-ton trailer, would I have invented a new form of superluminal travel?
Yes, the example works, but only because suspension factor is 0.
Recommended fix: formula needs to be
[Engine Rating + lowest Suspension Factor] / [Tractor weight + Trailer weight]So in the above example it's
[260 + 0] / [65 + 20]
260 / 85
3.06 = 3
Or for my example, it's
[55 + 20] / [15 + 10]
75 / 25
3.00 = 3
So ... am I in error, or the book? Was not able to find a previous report, using the forum's search function.
W.