VotW: Hanse MBT

[Dragon Cat]

I literally just thought of this.

The Hanse as we've all pretty much agreed on works better with a team around it each with their own skill set.

To me that screams Classic AFFS the work together big move RCT philosiphy of Melissa Davion and executed perfectly by Hanse Davion in the Fourth.

The AFFS maybe need the idea behind the Hanse more than they need the tank but the idea fits

[Colt Ward]

Yes, and unlike some of the other 'Tank Destroyers' which would better be described as 'Mech Destroyers' the Hanse's Plasma Rifles are better against armor than mechs.

Scotty, I think you mistake my criticisms . . . most of which were made from a in universe design point.  I look forward in using it as part of the beating handed out to Capellan conventional forces when Julian kicks back off on the offensive.  I wish we had a few variants as these could easily be the new 3145 fire support design.

 . . . or replace the Plasma Rifles with RAC/5s . . . hmmm.

[Ghost_msl]

Nah, keep the PR's and pop in a LRM rack for the LAC - minefields and indirect fire are more useful than the 5 point hit from the LAC.

[Colt Ward]

Dropping the Plasma Rifles gives a lot more tonnage letting you do something besides the LAC . . .

[Taurevanime]

Sadly not enough available tonnage for a Heavy Gauss Rifle, the one weapon that you can't put in a turret so would have been well suited for the Hanse MBT. You got to strip out the LAC as well and even then you aren't going to get many shots.

[JadeHellbringer]

Dropping the Plasma Rifles gives a lot more tonnage letting you do something besides the LAC . . .

True enough, but it kind of loses its flavor if you get rid of them, too.  :-[

[Savage Coyote]

JHB can meld the topics in on the Po II vs Hanse, but my thoughts, just on the outside having not tested the Gauss variants myself either lol

I think the Gauss refit will struggle a bit as the Hanse can take several rifle rounds, enough that it can get it's plasma cannon's into range and do their thing.  The Po II isn't as fast over all as a bursting Hanse and so I think the upper hand has to go to the Hanse.

Against the Stealth variant, I think it balances out a little as the Po II gets an extra turn or two of higher modifiers to keep the cannons from being a true threat.  It can still get overwhelmed in a one-on-one engagement.  I feel it can hang out in terrain for more numbers and keep the Hanse from hitting as reliably, but if and when the Hanse closes it is in trouble.

And I actually like the Po II standard in terrain other than the standard battle tech maps of open long range engagements.  While it's doesn't have as much armor as later designs, it has a BFG and knows how to use it.  Well, when/if it gets in range :D

[Colt Ward]

Should the Po II have gotten a turbocharger rather than a TC IIRC my variants?

[Savage Coyote]

Nope, no TC or turbocharger or any other speed booster unfortunately.  Both variants roll with a Gauss and some short range stuff (SRM's and MG's.)  Non-Stealth has two I-OS SSRM-2's in the turrnet while the Stealth has an Angel ECM instead.  Of course the next sheet has the RAC-5 Kinnol which has more armor and speed  :D

[oldfart3025]

The Hanse is a cool vehicle, and very useful. But I dispute the "MBT" designation.


The Hanse is more of a MBT killer than an actual main battle tank.


This unit is an excellent ambush vehicle, especially hidden in an area blanketed by friendly ECM. Pretty much SOP with tank destroyers and mech hunters on my end. Break the platoon up into two "loose duce platoons", and lay 'em low in good bushwhacking positions on a given map. Wait for a sucker to stumble his/her playing piece into the kill zone, spring 'em, and BAM! Shiny new kill marker on the platoon's mounts.

The positioning and idea behind the machine guns on the Hanse makes sense. You never know if light motorized infantry (scouts on dirt bikes) or light BA is going to stumble on your hidden vehicles. The machine guns will help keep them honest, for the most part. Just pray they don't have TAG or man portable LRMs.

The LAC/5 is a nice "rounding out" of the tank's armament. The two tons in the magazine allows for the flexibility of specialized munitions, without seriously gimping the gun's round count. I personally prefer precision or AP rounds myself. But it depends on the scenario and venue.

Overall, the Hanse gets good marks on my AFV report card.

[gyedid]

Y'know, a well-run FedSuns armored force must be a true beauty to behold. Use Ziblers as scouts and bushwhackers to flush out enemy units, Krugers for skirmishing duties and guarding flanks(or harassing enemy flanks), Hanses as the main punch of the force...all to push or pull the bulk of the enemy force into that ravine where the Destriers are waiting. }:)

Clearly, the AFFS of 3145 needs more armor commanders like you... ;)

cheers,

Gabe

[Weirdo]

I'm a Leaguer born and bred, but I gotta say that 3145 has made me SERIOUSLY want to spend some time riding with the Fox...and fighting like the Desert Fox. }:)

[Nightsong]

Now I don't know about tank classifications, but I do kinda like this thing. Load up one ton of precision and one ton of APs for the popgun and you'd be in fairly decent shape. With 2 ammo bins, unless you're playing an extended campaign, this thing's begging for specialist ammo. I'd maybe pair these with something like Streak Drillsons to flank your targets and maybe immobilize them by peppering them with SRMs to the sides.

[SCC]

This tank isn't meant to be used by militia, who normally have to defend stuff, it's designed to be used on the offense. First there's the supercharger, that should be a hint, then there's the weapon placement, militia's normally have to defend stuff, which means prepared positions, something the Hanse doesn't far too well in. Hull down tanks can't fire forward weapons.

Now I can understand putting MGs in sponsons, it's pretty useful, but why do you need more then one per side? And removing two of the MGs would allow you to put the PRs in the sponsons with the extra weight it free's up

[A. Lurker]

Now I can understand putting MGs in sponsons, it's pretty useful, but why do you need more then one per side? And removing two of the MGs would allow you to put the PRs in the sponsons with the extra weight it free's up

Putting your main guns into sponsons means effectively losing half the all-important forward firing arc. Even sponson-mounted, a weapon on the right side of your vehicle can't engage a target that's even a tiny bit to the left of "dead ahead" -- a forward-mounted one can.

So if I did put one PR each into one of the tank's sponsons? Great, I'd now be able to bring one to bear against any target I had LOS to -- but only combine both against something in the single line of hexes straight ahead or astern anymore. I've tried that experiment once (picture, if you will, a tank with sponson-mounted AC/20s...) and concluded that while sponson turrets make side-mounted weapons decidedly more useful than they'd be otherwise, they're nonetheless mainly for secondary and defensive stuff while the "real" guns logically still go into the forward arc or main turret as usual.

And obviously I need more than one MG per side because each can still only fire once per turn. Machine guns are great against conventional infantry they can catch, but they still fall somewhat short of "anything PBI that moves into range instantly dies, muahahaha" levels -- especially the light models as mounted on the Hanse.

[SCC]

You know while this is an OK anti-tank unit I see the beginnings of a truly terrifying anti-'Mech one, simply pull the LAC-5 for a Centurion Weapon System (You'l have to find two more tons somewhere else, likely the MG's) and your done. Now while most people will prefer the TSEMP because of the CWS' range issue unlike the TSEMP the CWS can be fired every turn and suffer no ill-effects, and as the CWS forces shutdown rolls, it being mounted with a pair of heat-causing weapons is just gravy, put one on the field and 'Mechs won't dare go anywhere near their max heat for doing so is a death sentence. Oh and that range issue? Not a problem with IndustrialMechs, which the early Dark Age is infamous for.

[mbear]

Well, okay, just MAIN turrets. Two side-sponsons give us the concession to sanity on the Hanse's full-frontal design, with a pair of light MGs in each. Half a ton of ammo feeds all four guns, plenty enough for a battle. This is plenty to cause infantry to go away and not bother the Hanse, but little more than humorous to battle armor or flanking vehicles or Mechs. Being on sponsons though, their arcs are very good, at least.

I wonder if A-/B-/M-pods might make a good replacement for the light MG's.