Jagdpanzer Heavy Tank Steiner

[KaiserDunk]

I was reading a book on WWII armor, and got inspiration from the Jagdpanther.   One thing led to another, and...

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Jagdpanzer Heavy Tank

Mass: 65 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: Defiance 260 Light
Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Armor: Durallex Super
Armament:
     1 Defiance P5S Small Pulse Laser
     1 Defiance Thunderfist Heavy Gauss Rifle
Manufacturer: Defiance Industries
     Primary Factory: Hesperus II
Communication System: TharHes Muse 54-58K
Targeting & Tracking System: TharHes Mars5
Introduction Year: 3070
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-E-D
Cost: 7,253,400 C-bills

Overview
   The Jagdpanzer Heavy Tank was designed with a simple mandate:
to combine the heaviest weapon available with the thickest armor
possible to produce a superior defensive platform.   The result of
this effort was not without difficulties, not the least of which was
the decision mid-way through the design process to make use of
still experimental technology that extended the developmental
process as the bugs were being worked out.   The Jagdpanzer
project was so delayed that it missed being available for the
FedCom Civil War.   The resulting platform, though, was found
to be a simple yet rugged combat vehicle.

Capabilities
   The Jagdpanzer Heavy Tank was initially developed from the
shared chassis of the Rommel and Patton Tanks in an effort to
keep the costs as low as possible.   The new design was intended
to do away with the turret in order to concentrate more armor
around the nose of the tank, as well as wrap it around the main
gun.   While initially intended to mount the excellent Defiance
'Mech Hunter autocannon, the main gun was switched several
times as better weapon systems became available.

Deployment
   The high cost of the advanced technologies in the Jagdpanzer
has kept the production slow, though Lyran armored unit commanders
 have been requesting that production be sped up as they have
found it to be an excellent combat vehicle.   One change that
commanders have requested involves the main weapon.   The
change involves replacing the Hammerfist heavy gauss rifle with
the smaller Poland Main Model A gauss rifle and the new TharHes
Tell targeting computer.   While not as destructive at short range,
 it would turn the Jagdpanzer into a long-range sniper.   The
massive size of the Hammerfist provided enough space for the two
systems that Defiance Industries introduced it as the Jagdpanzer-a.

Type: Jagdpanzer
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 65
Battle Value: 1,444

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                  6.5
Engine                        260 Light              16
Cruising MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks:                   10                      0
Control Equipment:                                  3.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Armor Factor (Ferro)          267                    15

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   7         82   
     R/L Side               7/7      66/66   
     Rear                    7         53   


Weapons
and Ammo                      Location    Tonnage   
Trailer Hitch                   Rear        0.0     
Small Pulse Laser              Front        1.0     
Heavy Gauss Rifle              Front        18.0   
Heavy Gauss Rifle Ammo (20)     Body        5.0     


For those who wanted it, here's the Jagdpanzer-a:

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Jagdpanzer-A Tank

Mass: 65 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: Defiance 260 Light
Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Armor: Durallex Super
Armament:
     1 Defiance P5S Small Pulse Laser
     1 Poland Main Model A Gauss Rifle
Manufacturer: Defiance Industries
     Primary Factory: Hesperus II
Communication System: TharHes Muse 54-58K
Targeting & Tracking System: TharHes Mars5
     with Defiance Tell Targeting Computer
Introduction Year: 3070
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-E-D
Cost: 6,956,400 C-bills



Type: Jagdpanzer-A
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 65
Battle Value: 1,447

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                  6.5
Engine                        260 Light              16
Cruising MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks:                   10                      0
Control Equipment:                                  3.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Armor Factor (Ferro)          267                    15

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   7         82   
     R/L Side               7/7      66/66   
     Rear                    7         53   


Weapons
and Ammo                Location    Tonnage   
Trailer Hitch             Rear        0.0     
Small Pulse Laser        Front        1.0     
Gauss Rifle              Front        15.0   
Gauss Rifle Ammo (32)     Body        4.0     
Targeting Computer         BD         4.0     



[Simon Landmine]

From head-on at a distance, occasionally mistaken for a Hetzer by those with faulty rangefinders? Although that would not often be a mistake that is repeated. Or repeatable.

[kaliban]

Tracked instead of Wheeled makes much more sense for this type of turretless design. At least you move to a Light Woods hex for protection.

Probably you can make it cheaper and lighter with Fuel Cells instead of Fusion Engines.

Higher speed is probably not much of use and the best you can do is to find a good spot and stay there.

[Retry]

Probably you can make it cheaper and lighter with Fuel Cells instead of Fusion Engines.

The Heavy and Improved Heavy Gauss rifles are required to mount fusion/fission engines, due to their energy consumption requirement.

[KaiserDunk]

Fuel cells would be cheaper, but a couple of points:   First, the HGC requires a fusion power plant; second, the chassis the Jagdpanzer is based on used a fusion power plant; and third, since when has House Steiner and Defiance Industries ever cared about the cost of anything?   Also, using a regular fusion power plant would take an additional 5 tons of weight from the ammo and/or the armor.

[Simon Landmine]

and third, since when has House Steiner and Defiance Industries ever cared about the cost of anything?

Entirely valid point.

[Hptm. Streiger]

The Heavy and Improved Heavy Gauss rifles are required to mount fusion/fission engines, due to their energy consumption requirement.

there is always the option to go LongTom - (when i understand the rules correctly) not that great in killing well-armored targets but adequate vs lightly armored targets.

Could this vehicle be a "super-heavy" hovercraft as well?

[Daryk]

You mean Long Tom Artillery Cannon?  A full up Long Tom won't fit at that speed without stripping the armor too much...

[Hptm. Streiger]

You mean Long Tom Artillery Cannon?  A full up Long Tom won't fit at that speed without stripping the armor too much...

Yes the LTAC at least its a "common" mod from the XTROs to the TRO Prototypes to replace the Heavy Gauss with the LTAC.

[Daryk]

Cool... LTACs are scary on the battlefield.  They just don't care how fast you move.

[Rockjock]

Not the most versatile design, but neither were old school tank destroyers.   For my games it would need to be much, much cheaper, more of a modern Hertzer.   Say the chassis of the original Rommel/Patton, but slower due to a smaller SFE.  I haven't built it out, but the idea of a arty cannon and ICE engine could fit as the cheap answer to a tank destroyer. 

I'm assuming you are meaning these as basically ambush vehicles, so why not something with a shorter range gun?

[Hptm. Streiger]

Well when you really want to push the concept to the maximum - you really need to create a VT1-2.
65tons and two SACs (Sniper Artillery Cannons) - not as much damage as an LTAC but still rocking. (maybe)

Ok just tested it in MegaMek - the VT1-1 is a cheap 50t  vehicle with only 2tons for the LTAC, the VT1-2  uses two SACs and lacks range but the lighter ammunition allows for different ammunition types -> FASCAM.

Facing a lance of light mechs the Artillery Cannons wreck, but an AssaultMech can shrug off the damage you throw at it - when shooting the big badies you really should keep the Heavy Gauss

[Daryk]

Range is really the only advantage the LTAC has over the SnAC, since they both do damage in five-point groups.

[Sabelkatten]

LTAC does splah damage?

[Daryk]

All Artillery Cannons do Area of Effect damage.  At 10 tons (and 20 shots per ton of ammo), the Thumper Artillery Cannon is a bargain for scout (or BA/Infantry/VTOL) hunters.

[KaiserDunk]

The HGC dishes out it’s heaviest damage at short range, so I think it is perfectly made for close-quarters ambushes.   The fact that it can still do damage at longer ranges is just a bonus.

As to an arty cannon in place of the HGC, that would be better suited for a FCE power plant.   Kind of like a Thor or Marksman arty vehicle redesigned for a slight lower tech environment and used as a bore-sighted direct fire support vehicle.   In my opinion, an interesting idea but not a Jagdpanzer.

[Daryk]

The heat advantages of vehicles are certainly in favor of Artillery Cannons (especially the LTAC... 20 heat!).

[Hptm. Streiger]

In my opinion, an interesting idea but not a Jagdpanzer.

But when you want an "ambush killer"... you don't need that much speed. Sure it might be useful to reposition your vehicle (in this case a rear-facing heavy weapon might be useful) similar to the chaparral. (as "kind" of joke you could mount the HGR in the rear. that allows your crew to flea with full speed.

But when you really want to have that Heavy Gauss...go full Heavy and install the iHGr with an C3 system. when you use it as a stationary tank in the second line - speed is not necessary so you can have a heavy armored target with SFE and only 50tons. 

[Retry]

But when you want an "ambush killer"... you don't need that much speed. Sure it might be useful to reposition your vehicle (in this case a rear-facing heavy weapon might be useful) similar to the chaparral. (as "kind" of joke you could mount the HGR in the rear. that allows your crew to flea with full speed.

But when you really want to have that Heavy Gauss...go full Heavy and install the iHGr with an C3 system. when you use it as a stationary tank in the second line - speed is not necessary so you can have a heavy armored target with SFE and only 50tons.

Not a bad idea.  Also not a Jagdpanzer V.  That sounds something more akin to a Jagdpanzer IV or something.

[Simon Landmine]

(in this case a rear-facing heavy weapon might be useful)

And now I'm reminded of the 'Self Propelled 17pdr, Valentine, Mk I, Archer' from WWII ...

[gunner]

IF you want to stay close to the WW II version you need to up your speed to 5/8. the Jdg Papnther was just as Fast as as the Panther and they were a hair slower then the T 34's. 

[Retry]

IF you want to stay close to the WW II version you need to up your speed to 5/8. the Jdg Papnther was just as Fast as as the Panther and they were a hair slower then the T 34's.

Of course "fast" is somewhat relative.  The Panther's top speed of 34 mph or about 15 m/s, would translate to 3/5 on the tabletop.