Ok, that's downright hilarious, and a perfect dirt bag militia IFV.
I like Cipher's write up, very nice! O0
And Sharpnel's variant is interesting too...
I'm surprised I didn't link my own PPC version already... What was I thinking?
Thank you.
I had intended it to basically be a disposable tracked clown car with guns.
Albeit one filled with angry clowns toting SRMs.
Not something you want to blunder into, at the very least.
And yeah, Shrapnel's version outguns lot of things, like the Goblin.
A pocket medium tank. :D
Your's is a Scorpion 2.0. Twice the firepower and less reliance of fuel.
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Scorpion Light Tank: Scorpion Transport Tank I-A
IS Introductory Box Set
25 tons
BV: 361
Cost: 353,333 C-bills
Movement: 4/6 (Tracked)
Engine: 100 ICE
Internal: 15
Armor: 80
Internal Armor
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Front 3 20
Right 3 15
Left 3 15
Rear 3 10
Turret 3 20
Weapon Loc Heat
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Machine Gun TU 0
Medium Laser TU 3
SRM 4 TU 3
Ammo Loc Shots
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Half Machine Gun Ammo BD 100
SRM 4 Ammo BD 25
Carrying Capacity:
Troops - 1.0 tons
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It wasn't long until Quickscell's competitors began to produce their own takes on the idea, many of the unlicensed copies better built and more reliable than their parent design. Thus Quickscell found itself facing stiff competition in the already saturated Scorpion market, forcing additional sales to less savory and discerning customers.
One of the more thoughtful takes on the idea came from Hellesspont Industrials, the largest manufacturer of combat vehicles in the Capellan Confederation at the time. It too produced Scorpion Light Tanks, and rather than attempting to fit an entire platoon of men inside a small, cramped chassis, they scaled back the concept and applied thought and consideration. Based on the already existing Medium Laser armed Scorpion, the Scorpion Transport Tank is slightly redesigned model with a modified turret. The design work was finished within few months and in 2943, the STT-IA was presented to Capellan Confederation Armed Forces.
In effect, the I-A is intended to serve as a budget Goblin, tank capable of carrying a squad of infantry to support it, rather than a tank supporting infantry. A light tank company can carry a company of infantry to protect it, freeing transports for other tasks. This would give less wealthy but more discerning militia and cash strapped mercenary units more flexibility while allowing high degree of parts communality with the abundant and plentiful Scorpions.
Field tests of the design proved that the four test vehicles could easily transport a platoon of infantry between them and still fight, arguably better than the baseline model. Additionally, the troop compartment was comfortable and reasonably spacious. This lowered the fatigue of the soldiers inside it during transport. The compartment could also easily carry a tonne of supplies or other equipment instead, thanks to intelligently designed seating that could be compacted and repurposed to secure crates of materiel. As fit and finish was good to acceptable, CCAF purchased these vehicles to partially compliment existing Medium Laser Scorpions. The improved armor and more flexible weapons array meant that it could perform better as a slow scout and a tank while carrying a squad of infantry, or even as a light courier in a pinch.
As Hellesspont Industrials already produced all the components needed, production was mostly a matter of setting aside space for final assembly and modification, though low rate initial production would not begin until 2946, owing to shortage of supplies and existing orders.
Quickscell quickly copied the 'new' design, producing knock-offs themselves. They in return, were copied and the various variants of both 292 and STT I-A would spread far and wide by the time Fourth Succesion War would wind down.
The Scorpion Transport Tank I-A is protected by a five tonnes of standard plate, giving it a sufficient protection for its weight class. Armed with a medium laser and an SRM-4 fed by a single tonne of ammunition in the turret, the design is capable of defending itself in close to medium ranges. The machine gun is retained for anti-infantry work and remains unchanged. This results in a light tank best suited for urban combat.
The I-B mounts a LRM-5 instead of the SRM-4, but is otherwise identical.
I-C relies on the machine gun and the infantry dismounts for close range protection, as it only carries a single LRM-10 launcher and two tonnes of ammunition, alongside the standard machine gun. This transforms the vehicle into a cheap fire-support design.
I-E, as the D was skipped for patriotic reasons, mounts an SRM-4 and an SRM-6 in the turret, both fed by a single tonne of ammo, retaining the machine gun. Usually, the I-C and I-E are paired, as the designs cover for their individual weaknesses.
I-G, sacrifices a tonne of armor and the machine gun, dropping the protection to the same level and layout as the standard Scorpion. Mounting a Medium Laser, an SRM-2 and an LRM-5 in the turret, both fed by a single tonne of ammunition, the I-G is a generalist design capable of filling all roles but lacking protection.
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Something bit more practical that can fill the role of a Goblin when you're really on a budget and dont want to give your troops claustrophobia. Less flavor, bit more cheese.
I could see less important House units using these even when they aren't desperate.
For optional flavor, I usually allow the infantry bay to be converted into two half a tonne cargo bays and back with some time.