Author Topic: Patton-Omni  (Read 1902 times)

Valles

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 271
Patton-Omni
« on: 16 April 2019, 08:18:05 »
I've been putting off dealing with a stuck scene in the Battletech fic I have ongoing over on Spacebattles and Sufficient Velocity by posting TRO writeups of unique mech configurations for the subsetting.

In connection with that AU, though, the Dragoons got made (ma-HOO-sive oversimplification) in 3017 or so, which threw a great screaming stop in the way of the canon Patton-Rommel project, and turned it in a Badger-wards direction.

But if I make all the configurations I see room for in a polity trying to do Omnitech properly, then I'm worried they'll end up seeming... same-y.

Hence, coming here. Let me see your configurations for the base chassis to canonize!

Relevant details:
Besides what's in the fluff text, I've been using an HBS-inspired reevaluation of autocannons - an AC2 actually does 5 damage, an AC5 does 9, and an AC10 does 12 (which yes, is a headcapper), so keep that in mind for deciding how much dakka you need. The LCAF has Helm, but has been working on broad-spectrum rollouts of critical techs rather than scattering shiny toys; DHS (not relevant here...) and Arrow IV are plentiful, TAG and matching Homing and Semi-Guided rounds are promised Soon(tm), and almost everything else is subtle logistical/behind-the-scenes stuff like getting production rates back up.


Patton

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked OmniVehicle
Rules Level: Advanced Rules
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A
Production Year: 3025
Cost: 3,322,500 C-Bills
Battle Value: 758

Power Plant: Avanti 320 Fuel Cell Engine
Cruise Speed: 43.2 km/h
Flanking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Armor: Durallex Varia Standard Armor
Armament:
    24.0 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Defiance Industries, TharHes Industries, Trellshire Heavy Industries,
ARCORI, Blackwell Industries
    Primary Factory: Hesperus II, Tharkad, Twycross, Finmark, New Valencia
Communications System: TharHes Thalia 6-24L
Targeting and Tracking System: TharHes Ares1

Overview:
The Patton was one of the earliest, and very possibly the most ambitious, of
the military technology collaborations between the Lyran Commonwealth and the
Federated Suns - to a degree that the two nations involved would successfully
conceal from outsiders until many years later.


With TharHes Industries - and the Steiner family who were their primary
stakeholders - as the project's financial backers, Defiance as primary
development and design warehouse, and Blackwell Industries' access to
existing omnitechnology production in the form of their Badger light combat
vehicles, Trellshire Heavy Industries and the Armaments Corporation of the
Rift were brought into partnership to meet production goals, and within only
a few years the Patton was well on course to becoming the primary heavy
combat vehicle of the LCAF.


Capabilities:
With the relatively low profile of the Badger Tracked Transport Blackwell had
produced for Wolf's Dragoons before their incorporation into the Lyran Foreign
Legion, it was the Patton that introduced the Inner Sphere to omni-technology.
Quicker to repair and almost impossibly easier to refit than a standard combat
vehicle, damaged Pattons could be brought back to service in hours rather than
days, or switched to different configurations for the good of the service in
days rather than weeks.



Additional:
To ease the preparation of configurations for LCAF omni-units, the General
Staff prepared a listing of standard configurations, with classifications
shared across all types of omni-unit, what would come to be known as the Config
Matrix.


A - All-Purpose; A variety of weapons suitable for answering any foreseeable
threat.

B - Brawler; A weapon battery consisting of mid-ranged weapons

C - Juggernaut; Weaponry selected for maximum concentration of damage

D - Missile Support; Long-Range missiles and other tactical indirect-fire
systems

E - Skirmisher; A bracket-fire setup, a combination of long and short range

F - Striker; A short-range weapon array

G - Sniper; Long-range direct-fire weapons

H - Air Defense; Primary weapons selected for AA purposes; LBX, Flak Ammo ACs,
etc

I - Melee; Melee weapons, otherwise as Skirmisher

J - Artillery; Carrying an artillery weapon and 25+ units of fire

K - Electronic Warfare; Sensor, ECM, Command Console, TAG, according to chassis
aptitudes

L - Hostile Environment (Planetary)

M - Hostile Environment (Submarine)

N - Hostile Environment (Orbital)

O - A, but Jump Capable

P - B, but Jump Capable

Q - C, but Jump Capable

R - D, but Jump Capable

S - E, but Jump Capable

T - F, but Jump Capable

U - G, but Jump Capable

V - H, but Jump Capable

W - I, but Jump Capable

X - J, but Jump Capable

Y - K, but Jump Capable

Z - L, but Jump Capable


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      40 points                8.00
Engine:             Fuel-Cell Engine             320                      27.00
    Cruise MP:  4
    Flank MP:   6
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             1                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         4.00
Lift Equipment:                                                            0.00
Turret:                                                                    2.00
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 240                 15.00

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     56       
                                          Left/Right   46/46       
                                              Turret     52       
                                                Rear     40       

David CGB

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 800
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #1 on: 16 April 2019, 15:23:41 »
Great idea
much better with stats
« Last Edit: 18 April 2019, 07:36:50 by David CGB »
Federated Suns fan forever, Ghost Bear Fan since 1992, and as a Ghost Bear David Bekker star captain (in an Alt TL Loremaster)

Valles

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 271
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #2 on: 17 April 2019, 22:17:25 »
Surprisingly silent in this thread.

Oh, well, I'll take a hack anyway.

Patton

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked OmniVehicle
Rules Level: Advanced Rules
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A
Production Year: 3025
Cost: 3,322,500 C-Bills
Battle Value: 758

Power Plant: Avanti 320 Fuel Cell Engine
Cruise Speed: 43.2 km/h
Flanking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Armor: Durallex Varia Standard Armor
Armament:
    24.0 tons of pod space.
Manufacturer: Defiance Industries, TharHes Industries, Trellshire Heavy Industries, ARCORI, Blackwell Industries
    Primary Factory: Hesperus II, Tharkad, Twycross, Finmark, New Valencia
Communications System: TharHes Thalia 6-24L
Targeting and Tracking System: TharHes Ares1

Overview:
The Patton was one of the earliest, and very possibly the most ambitious, of
the military technology collaborations between the Lyran Commonwealth and the
Federated Suns - to a degree that the two nations involved would successfully
conceal from outsiders until many years later.


With TharHes Industries - and the Steiner family who were their primary
stakeholders - as the project's financial backers, Defiance as primary
development and design warehouse, and Blackwell Industries' access to existing
omnitechnology production in the form of their Badger light combat vehicles,
Trellshire Heavy Industries and the Armaments Corporation of the Rift were
brought into partnership to meet production goals, and within only a few years
the Patton was well on course to becoming the primary heavy combat vehicle of
the LCAF.


Capabilities:
With the relatively low profile of the Badger Tracked Transport Blackwell had
produced for Wolf's Dragoons before their incorporation into the Lyran Foreign
Legion, it was the Patton that introduced the Inner Sphere to omni-technology.
Quicker to repair and almost impossibly easier to refit than a standard combat
vehicle, damaged Pattons could be brought back to service in hours rather than
days, or switched to different configurations for the good of the service in
days rather than weeks.


Additional:
To ease the preparation of configurations for LCAF omni-units, the General
Staff prepared a listing of standard configurations, with classifications
shared across all types of omni-unit, what would come to be known as the Config
Matrix.


A - All-Purpose; A variety of weapons suitable for answering any foreseeable
threat.
B - Brawler; A weapon battery consisting of mid-ranged weapons
C - Juggernaut; Weaponry selected for maximum concentration of damage
D - Missile Support; Long-Range missiles and other tactical indirect-fire
systems
E - Skirmisher; A bracket-fire setup, a combination of long and short range
F - Striker; A short-range weapon array
G - Sniper; Long-range direct-fire weapons
H - Air Defense; Primary weapons selected for AA purposes; LBX, Flak Ammo ACs,
etc
I - Melee; Melee weapons, otherwise as Skirmisher
J - Artillery; Carrying an artillery weapon and 25+ units of fire
K - Electronic Warfare; Sensor, ECM, Command Console, TAG, according to chassis
aptitudes
L - Hostile Environment (Planetary)
M - Hostile Environment (Submarine)
N - Hostile Environment (Orbital)
O - A, but Jump Capable
P - B, but Jump Capable
Q - C, but Jump Capable
R - D, but Jump Capable
S - E, but Jump Capable
T - F, but Jump Capable
U - G, but Jump Capable
V - H, but Jump Capable
W - I, but Jump Capable
X - J, but Jump Capable
Y - K, but Jump Capable
Z - L, but Jump Capable


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      40 points                8.00
Engine:             Fuel-Cell Engine             320                      27.00
    Cruise MP:  4
    Flank MP:   6
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             1                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         4.00
Lift Equipment:                                                            0.00
Turret:                                                                    2.00
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 240                 15.00

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     56       
                                          Left/Right   46/46       
                                              Turret     52       
                                                Rear     40       



================================================================================
Loadout Name: A                                              Cost: 4,211,250
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 1,128

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun                                  FR        0         1         0.50
Autocannon/5                                 T         1         1         8.00
LRM-15                                       T         5         1         7.00
SRM-6                                        T         4         1         3.00
2 Machine Guns                               T         0         2         1.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0.50
@AC/5 (20)                                   BD        -         0         1.00
@LRM-15 (16)                                 BD        -         0         2.00
@SRM-6 (15)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 11
4t         3       3       2       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(3/3/2), IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: B                                              Cost: 4,177,500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 1,116

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autocannon/10                                T         3         1        12.00
SRM-6                                        T         4         1         3.00
LRM-10                                       T         4         1         5.00
@AC/10 (20)                                  BD        -         0         2.00
@LRM-10 (12)                                 BD        -         0         1.00
@SRM-6 (15)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 11
4t         3       3       1       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(3/3/1, AC 1/1/0), AC 1/1/0, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: C                                              Cost: 4,211,250
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 1,143

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autocannon/20                                T         7         1        14.00
SRM-4                                        T         3         1         2.00
LRM-5                                        T         2         1         2.00
Machine Gun                                  T         0         1         0.50
@AC/20 (15)                                  BD        -         0         3.00
@SRM-4 (25)                                  BD        -         0         1.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  BD        -         0         1.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0.50

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 11
4t         3       3       1       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(3/3/1, AC 2/2/0), AC 2/2/0


================================================================================
Loadout Name: D                                              Cost: 4,290,000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 1,250

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 LRM-15s                                    T         10        2        14.00
SRM-6                                        T         4         1         3.00
@LRM-15 (48)                                 BD        -         0         6.00
@SRM-6 (15)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 13
4t         2       3       2       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(2/3/2, LRM 1/2/2, IF 1/2/2), LRM 1/2/2, IF 2


================================================================================
Loadout Name: E                                              Cost: 4,278,750
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 1,229

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun                                  FR        0         1         0.50
Machine Gun                                  LS        0         1         0.50
Machine Gun                                  RS        0         1         0.50
LRM-20                                       T         6         1        10.00
2 SRM-6s                                     T         8         2         6.00
@LRM-20 (24)                                 BD        -         0         4.00
@SRM-6 (30)                                  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:      8    Points: 12
4t         3       3       2       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(3/3/2, SRM 2/2/0, LRM 1/1/1, IF 1/1/1), SRM 2/2/0, LRM 1/1/1, IF 1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: F                                              Cost: 4,402,500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 1,201

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 SRM-6s                                     T         24        6        18.00
@SRM-6 (90)                                  BD        -         0         6.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 12
4t         5       5       0       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(5/5/0, SRM 5/5/0), SRM 5/5/0


================================================================================
Loadout Name: G                                              Cost: 4,026,750
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 1,002

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        9.00
Power Amplifiers:                                                          1.00

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PPC                                          T         10        1         7.00
Autocannon/2                                 T         1         1         6.00
@AC/2 (45)                                   BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 10
4t         1       2       2       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(1/2/2)


================================================================================
Loadout Name: H                                              Cost: 3,963,750
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-F-F-A                       BV2: 1,018

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Autocannon/5s                              T         2         2        16.00
LRM-5                                        T         2         1         2.00
Machine Gun                                  T         0         1         0.50
@AC/5 (40)                                   BD        -         0         2.00
@AC/5 (Flak) (40)                            BD        -         0         2.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  BD        -         0         1.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0.50

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 10
4t         2       2       2       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(2/2/2, AC 1/1/1), AC 1/1/1


================================================================================
Loadout Name: J                                              Cost: 4,470,000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-F-E-A                       BV2: 1,277

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arrow IV Missile                             T         10        1        15.00
SRM-4                                        T         3         1         2.00
@Arrow IV (Non-Home) (15)                    BD        -         0         3.00
@Arrow IV (Smoke) (5)                        BD        -         0         1.00
@Arrow IV (Illum) (5)                        BD        -         0         1.00
@Arrow IV (Cluster) (5)                      BD        -         0         1.00
@SRM-4 (25)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 13
4t         3       1       0       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, ARTAIS, EE, TUR(3/1/0)


================================================================================
Loadout Name: K                                              Cost: 4,087,500
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 1,039

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun                                  FR        0         1         0.50
Communications Equipment (1.0 tons) (7.0 tons) T         0         1         7.00
LRM-15                                       T         5         1         7.00
SRM-6                                        T         4         1         3.00
2 Machine Guns                               T         0         2         1.00
Infantry Compartment (2.0 tons)              BD        0         1         2.00
@LRM-15 (16)                                 BD        -         0         2.00
@SRM-6 (15)                                  BD        -         0         1.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0.50

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 10
4t         2       2       1       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(2/2/1), IF 1


Vehrec

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1198
  • Mr. Flibble is Very Cross
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #3 on: 18 April 2019, 12:58:37 »
On the C, I'd swap out the 'tickler' LRM for another SRM4 and ammo for same, just really hammer down on the specialty.  Of course, that might be an 'unoffical' mod.

For G maybe 2xAC/5s instead of the PPC and AC/2?  Not that there's anything wrong with the AC/2 in this setting, hell, you could put three of them in a turret and really annoy some fools who used the hated Flying Things.
*Insert support for fashionable faction of the week here*

Valles

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 271
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #4 on: 18 April 2019, 19:01:24 »
Config Heinrich already has dual AC5s; didn't want to repeat that. But believe it or not, I didn't think of the 3xAC2(5) option. Despite mostly internalizing the AC5(9) result, the lighter ones still drop between the mental cushions. Good catch, thanks.

================================================================================
Loadout Name: G                                              Cost: 3,975,000
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 949

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Autocannon/2s                              T         3         3        18.00
SRM-4                                        T         3         1         2.00
Machine Gun                                  T         0         1         0.50
@AC/2 (90)                                   BD        -         0         2.00
@SRM-4 (25)                                  BD        -         0         1.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0.50

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 9
4t         2       2       1       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(2/2/1)



Also, somebody on another forum pointed out a lack, leading to an addition to the I portfolio, such that infantry bays count as melee weapons.

================================================================================
Loadout Name: I                                              Cost: 3,806,250
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-E-E-A                       BV2: 952

Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autocannon/5                                 T         1         1         8.00
SRM-4                                        T         3         1         2.00
LRM-5                                        T         2         1         2.00
Infantry Compartment (9.0 tons)              BD        0         1         9.00
@AC/5 (20)                                   BD        -         0         1.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  BD        -         0         1.00
@SRM-4 (25)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      8    Points: 10
4t         2       2       1       0      4     0   Structure:  4
Special Abilities: OMNI, EE, TUR(2/2/1)

« Last Edit: 18 April 2019, 20:30:07 by Valles »

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #5 on: 20 April 2019, 15:34:18 »
On my phone, so I don't have a vehicle designer handy, but what about a Thumper variant? Throw on the gun, two tons of ammo, and you have enough mass left for an LRM-5, SRM-4 and machine gun for backup weapons. Or you can go all in with range with an LRM-10 paired with the Thumper.
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Valles

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 271
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #6 on: 21 April 2019, 20:14:12 »
Thumper model would be eminently functional, or possibly an Artillery Cannon take, but the LCAF I'm aiming at has been taking measures to cut down on the pain they put their quartermaster's corps through, which led to trying to keep only Arrow IV and Long Toms in inventory for artillery purposes. And while I considered the Long Tom in the phase before freezing the chassis, 30 tons of gun plus five tons of ammo wasn't going to happen sanely.

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #7 on: 21 April 2019, 23:18:08 »
Makes sense. And, yeah, trying to cram a Long Tom in there would probably have been a bit too much effort.

Our of curiosity, what was the impetus behind fuel cells, rather than fusion engines? I looked through the accompanying fluff text, but found no mention.
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

KaiserDunk

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 255
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #8 on: 21 April 2019, 23:30:50 »
Fuel cells take up less weight than ICE powerplants, but have a lower range.   They form a kind of middle-ground between ICE and fusion in terms of weight savings.

If you're going to use paired AC/5s in an armored vehicle, why not paired LAC/5s?   They take up less weight than a regular or rotary AC/5 and still have a longer range than a single AC/10.

Giovanni Blasini

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7103
  • And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #9 on: 22 April 2019, 14:35:22 »
Fuel cells take up less weight than ICE powerplants, but have a lower range.   They form a kind of middle-ground between ICE and fusion in terms of weight savings.

Well, yeah, but one of the distinctive features of the Rommel/Patton tanks were in the Canon were their fusion engines. Yes, fuel cells definitely offer advantages over ICE engines, but in Valles' story, the Lyrans are enjoying a bit of a technological renaissance, so I was surprised not to see the fusion engines maintained.
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes / When the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
-- Gordon Lightfoot, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

Valles

  • Master Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 271
Re: Patton-Omni
« Reply #10 on: 23 April 2019, 15:03:42 »
Well, yeah, but one of the distinctive features of the Rommel/Patton tanks were in the Canon were their fusion engines. Yes, fuel cells definitely offer advantages over ICE engines, but in Valles' story, the Lyrans are enjoying a bit of a technological renaissance, so I was surprised not to see the fusion engines maintained.

Basically, the choice was made to go for primarily fuel-cell engines, for both performance and logistical reasons, with a smaller admixture of fusion vehicles on hand to carry such energy weapons as were thought needful. The slightly simpler nature of a fuel cell plant led to the choice to go with that for the first omni, preempting the name 'Patton' from whatever the fusion tank project had been known as before getting its formal LCAF name. The next omnitank to see service probably will be fusion powered.

As for the LACs, they have exactly the same range as an AC10(12). Going with full scale AC5(9)s gave a bit more of that, and seemed appropriate for AA duty.