In October 3016 Enyinnaya Isingoma, owner of Isingoma ArgiEquipment on the Draconis Combine world of Togura, elected to diversify his business' portfolio by producing their first armored combat vehicle. By retooling some of their large industrial agricultural vehicle production lines, attracting a moderately skilled engineering team with generous compensation packages, and negotiating several beneficial equipment sourcing deals, his new child company, Isingoma Defense, was able to quickly produce their first offering for the DCMS: the M-34 Cougar Armored Car.
While not a revolutionary design by any means, the Cougar is a solid 4x4 armored vehicle intended to serve in internal security and militia roles. The main class 10 autocannon provides a decent medium range punch that can severely damage other combat vehicles and even BattleMechs with just a few bursts. The coaxial mounted machine gun provides anti-infantry capability. Both are set in a turret designed with a high maximum elevation in mind, improving performance in tight urban spaces. Nearly ten tons of armor provide good protection from small arms and light anti-vehicle weaponry and will even allow the vehicle to survive one or two hits from heavier BattleMech mounted weapons. It's large run-flat wheels and moderate weight allow it to easily traverse most modern transportation infrastructure without causing the wear caused by heavier tracked vehicles. At 46 tons, strategic transport by air or boat is also very feasible.
The design has proven popular with planetary defense commanders, and Isingoma Defense quickly found itself unable to keep up with demand with its ad-hoc facilities. After several months of negotiations (along with some well placed bribes), Isigoma was able to secure permission to license the Cougar to other manufactures both within the Combine and in other Successor States. Isingoma itself still produces about two dozen Cougars a month, with plans to expand facilities, while other manufactures churn out hundreds, spreading the design throughout the Inner Sphere.
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Cougar Armored Car M-34
IS TW non-box set
46 tons
BV: 604
Cost: 638,985 C-bills
Movement: 4/6 (Wheeled)
Engine: 165 ICE
Internal: 25
Armor: 152
Internal Armor
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Front 5 38
Right 5 30
Left 5 30
Rear 5 24
Turret 5 30
Weapon Loc Heat
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AC/10 TU 3
Machine Gun TU 0
Ammo Loc Shots
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AC/10 Ammo BD 10
AC/10 Ammo BD 10
Half Machine Gun Ammo BD 100
Equipment Loc
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Searchlight (Mounted) TU
