Dust Devil Off-Road Train

[AlphaMirage]

Was looking for a Mad Max/Australia Style Road Train that can service the Federated Suns Outback or similar underdeveloped worlds. Thus the Dust Devil was born.

Dust Devil Off-Road Train
Mass: 120 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant: ICE
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: BAR 7
Cost: 728,080 C-bills

Background - Meant to operate in the rugged roadless badlands of less developed worlds the Dust Devil is a lifeline to remote communities and industrial sites not quite developed or 'official' enough to warrant the development of a railroad, landing strip, or starport landing pad. As such the arrival of this monstrous truck and its trailers is often the cause for celebration as requested or needed goods arrive and products can finally be picked up to be delivered to markets.
   

Code: [Select]

Type: Dust Devil
Chassis Type: Wheeled (Large)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 120 tons
Battle Value: 522

Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   45.0
Engine/Trans.                                      47.0
    Cruise MP:3
Flank MP:5
Heat Sinks                    0                     0.0
Fuel                                               17.0
Armor Factor (BAR 7)          244                  11.0

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   6         52   
     Front R/L Side         6/6      40/40   
     Rear R/L Side          6/6      40/40   
     Rear                    6         32   

Notes:
Features Tractor, Off-Road Chassis and Controls Modifications
Trailer Hitch
Dust Devil Module A Tank Trailer
Mass: 60 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Armor: BAR 5
Cost: 74,360 C-bills

Background - One of the Dust Devil's more common uses is as a tanker carrying either fuel or water into or out of remote regions. Obviously they don't use the same tanks for water and petrol (probably) and they definably would never carry any untaxed alcohol. The tank module can carry 39.5 tons of liquid or slightly more than twice the tank capacity of the prime mover.
    

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Type: Dust Devil Module A
Chassis Type: Wheeled (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 60 tons
Battle Value: 190

Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   12.5
Engine/Trans.                                       0.0
    Cruise MP:3
Flank MP:5
Heat Sinks                    0                     0.0
Fuel                                                0.0
Armor Factor (BAR 5)          124                   4.0

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   2         38   
     R/L Side               2/2      31/31   
     Rear                    2         24   

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Cargo (Liquid) (39.5 tons)1 Door   

Notes:
Features Trailer, Off-Road Chassis and Controls Modifications
Trailer Hitch (2)
Dust Devil Module B Bulk Cargo
Mass: 60 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Armor: BAR 5
Cost: 68,640 C-bills

Background - The Basic or Bulk Cargo Module is an enclosed cargo truck capable of loading 42.5 tons of bulk cargo, containerized shipping is not really viable at this level so shippers have to unpack any cargo containers and fit it wherever it can go. Ratchet straps are non-negotiable.

Code: [Select]

Type: Dust Devil Module B
Chassis Type: Wheeled (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 60 tons
Battle Value: 169

Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   12.5
Engine/Trans.                                       0.0
    Cruise MP:0
Flank MP:0
Heat Sinks                    0                     0.0
Fuel                                                0.0
Armor Factor (BAR 5)          124                   5.0

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   6         38   
     R/L Side               6/6      31/31   
     Rear                    6         24   

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Cargo (42.5 tons)       1 Door   

Notes:
Features Off-Road, Trailer Chassis and Controls Modifications
Trailer Hitch(2)
Dust Devil Module C Cold Chain
Mass: 60 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Armor: BAR 5
Cost: 80,080 C-bills

Background - Another common cargo for the Dust Devil is meat, fish, or other agricultural products either to or from its destination. To this end the Cold Chain module can ensure that those goods can make it to markets with the minimal amount of spoilage and command the best prices for their producers. This ability has dramatically improved the margins of some communities that were on the edge of ruin and given isolated industrial sites a massive morale boost for having access to superior food.
 

Code: [Select]

Type: Dust Devil Module C
Chassis Type: Wheeled (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 60 tons
Battle Value: 190

Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   12.5
Armor Factor (BAR 5)          124                   4.0

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   2         38   
     R/L Side               2/2      31/31   
     Rear                    2         24   

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Cargo (Refrigerated) (37.5 tons)1 Door   

Notes:
Features Trailer, Off-Road Chassis and Controls Modifications
Trailer Hitch (2)
Dust Devil Module D Livestock
Mass: 60 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Armor: BAR 5
Cost: 211,640 C-bills

Background - While it is preferable to butcher and process livestock prior to transporting them, sometimes you want the live animal. An average cow weighs slightly more than 500kg so a Dust Devil trailer can carry 50 or so of them although doing so is stressful for the animal. To keep them alive there is almost 9 tons of water available for them and trips should be relatively short as keeping animals at this stocking level will result in casualties.
   

Code: [Select]

Type: Dust Devil Module D
Chassis Type: Wheeled (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 60 tons
Battle Value: 190

Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   12.5
Armor Factor (BAR 5)          124                   4.0

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   2         38   
     R/L Side               2/2      31/31   
     Rear                    2         24   

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Cargo, Livestock (28.0 tons) 1 Door   
    Bay 2: Cargo, Liquid (8.91 tons) 1 Door

Notes:
Features Trailer, Off-Road Chassis and Controls Modifications
Trailer Hitch (2)
Dust Devil Module E War Wagon
Mass:60 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Armor: BAR 7
Armament:
2 AC/5
Cost: 664,430 C-bills

Background - It was only a matter of time before the AFFS took an interest in a civilian heavy lift vehicle and developed a combat support vehicle out of it. The War Wagon Module sees use against pirates and bandits in the Outback with its pair of AC/5s in sponson turrets and a mobile field base capable of repairing and servicing Battle or MilitiaMechs located in the rear cargo bay.
 

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Type: Dust Devil Module E
Chassis Type: Wheeled (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 60 tons
Battle Value: 446

Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   14.5
Engine/Trans.                                       0.0
    Cruise MP:3
Flank MP:5
Heat Sinks                    0                     0.0
Fuel                                                0.0
Armor Factor (BAR 7)          122                   5.5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   6         38   
     R/L Side               6/6      30/30   
     Rear                    6         24   


Weapons
and Ammo                   Location    Tonnage   
AC/5                         Left        8.0     
AC/5                        Right        8.0     
AC/5 Ammo (40)               Body        2.0     
Flechette AC/5 Ammo (40)     Body        2.0     

Notes:
Features Trailer, Off-Road Chassis and Controls Modifications
Trailer Hitch
Advanced Fire Control(2 tons)
Mobile Field Base(20 tons)
Vehicular Sponson Turret(2)
Dust Devil Module F
Mass: 60 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant:  Battery
Cruising Speed: 21.6 kph
Maximum Speed: 32.4 kph
Armor: BAR 7
Armament:
1 Sniper
Cost: 671,905 C-bills

Background - As the AFFS continued to implement its ORT program Module F(ire Support) was developed, a semi-self propelled artillery piece that had its own battery backup allowing it to get closer to a target area without endangering the long range tractor it would normally be attached to. A single Sniper and 40 rounds of ammo was sufficient and in rare cases 2 units could be attached to a AFFS unit when necessary.
 

Code: [Select]

Type: Dust Devil Module F
Chassis Type: Wheeled (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Mass: 60 tons
Battle Value: 350

Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   21.0
Engine/Trans.                                       5.5
    Cruise MP:2
Flank MP:3
Heat Sinks                    0                     0.0
Fuel                                                2.0
Turret                                              2.0
Armor Factor (BAR 7)          122                   5.5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   6         31   
     R/L Side               6/6      24/24   
     Rear                    6         19   
     Turret                  6         24   


Weapons
and Ammo              Location    Tonnage   
Sniper                 Turret       20.0   
Sniper Ammo (40)        Body        4.0     

Notes:
Features Off-Road, Armored Chassis, Trailer Chassis and Controls Modifications
Trailer Hitch(2)
Advanced Fire Control(2 tons)

[Daryk]

Interesting!   But given pirate raiding in the Outback, I think I would have sprung for BAR 10 armor (requiring the Armored Chassis mod, I know).

[AlphaMirage]

You are working with supporting forces so odds are the only thing that might hit the Dust Devil would be LRMs so BAR7 was deemed acceptable in order to preserve more combat load.

[Daryk]

Stray PPCs are everyone's worry, but I see your point.

[idea weenie]

For the model B Bulk carrier with its 42.5 ton cargo bay, how about if it carried a pair of Standard Shipping Containers that were 20 tons each with another 2.5 tons to represent 'other stuff' ?

But this does look like a nice setup, and you made sure that the cars were a multiple of the pulling cab.

I could see an extra version that is based on the Bulk carrier but featuring a Lift Hoist, that is then partnered with the War Wagon or Sniper, effectively serving as an additional source of ammo.  Too bad you can't put the War Wagon's paired AC/5 on a Turret, as that would need 1.6 tons plus armor mass.

[RifleMech]

I like it. Dust Devil Module B says 5 tons of armor but shows only 4 tons.

Shipping containers are a good idea. Bulk items could still be carried in them but they'd make for faster loading and unloading of the train car. Let the shipping office deal with loading and unloading the containers. It'd keep the customers off the train's loading area. And if you go with 4 tons of armor,  it could carry 4 shipping containers and a Lift Hoist to load and unload them.

I want to like the War Wagon's AC/5s in Sponson turrets but Flechette ammo? They're good against infantry but everything else takes half damage. I'd have at least 1 ton of standard ammo for anything heavier than infantry.

With the train being the lifeline of communities I would think they'd be a passenger car. Otherwise how would people get from one place to another?

A mobile HQ/troop carrier might also be useful. Maybe carrying mechanized/motorized scouts and engineers to look for and clear trouble spots before the train arrives?