As open warfare once again spreads throughout the Inner Sphere in wake of Gray Monday, many firms are jumping at the chance to take advantage of the sudden demand for more fighting platforms. One such case is Adamant Combat Solutions on the former Free Worlds League world of Cap Rouge. ACS is a partnership between several small civilian and agriculture vehicle manufacturers that has managed to snag experienced combat vehicle engineers and weapon trade agreements in a manner that has allowed them to enter the combat vehicle market with minimal expenditure.
The first platform ACS has put into production is a family of three combat vehicles intended to be sold to both governments and mercenary units. Named the Bradshaw, the fighting vehicle family is intended to provide robust support and transportation for conventional forces without being cost prohibitive. All three vehicles are designed around a 63-ton, tracked body, with an engine powerful enough for the vehicle to cruise at a respectable 54 kph. 8.5 tons of reactive armor provides the crew and carried personnel with ample protection from all but the most powerful weaponry, particularly the weaponry most commonly equipped by other conventional forces. All variants employ CASE to protect crews and troops from ammunition explosions.
The primary variant of the family is the Bradshaw IFV. Equipped with enough troop space to carry most conventional platoons or a squad of battle armor, the IFV is designed to deliver its troops and then lay down supporting fire as they advance. A UAC-5 autocannon and a powerful Thunderbolt-15 missile launcher provide ample anti-armor and anti-Mech weapons capability, while a single machine gun mounted coaxially with the autocannon provides extra anti-personnel firepower. The IFV also mounts two vehicular grenade launchers on its sides, which can be used to lay down smoke screens for dismounted troops.
The second variant, which ACS has dubbed as a Cavalry Fighting Vehicle, fills a recon and spotting role for conventional forces. The vehicles troop space was reduced significantly, as it is designed to only carry a squad of scouts or a forward observation team. Weapon load remains the same as the IFV, though total ammunition load has been reduced to make room for other equipment. A suite of scouting and observation gear (including a remote sensor dispenser, active probe, search light, and a targeting laser) has been added to the vehicle to allow it to observe enemy movements and spot for indirect fire. The CFV variant also includes a mine dispenser, which allows it to booby trap observation points once it vacates them. Communication equipment allows the CFV to maintain communication with the rest of the force, even when deployed far forward. VGL load has been reduced to a single unit, and its placement changed to maintain symmetrical body shape.
The final variant is the most extreme deviation from the primary design. The Bradshaw Linebacker is intended to provide anti-aircraft support for other vehicles in the family. To facilitate this, the primary weapons have been switched to a LB-5X autocannon capable to firing both slug and cluster munitions and a 15 tube long range missile system. The LB-5X is tied into an advanced targeting computer while the LRM-15 has an integrated Artemis IV fire control system. An anti-missile system replaces the machine gun, allowing the Linebacker to provide missile cover for the rest of the platoon. Infantry space is the same as on the IFC, but ACS intended for the Linebacker to carry troops equipped with MANPADS. A Guardian ECM suite rounds out this variant, allowing it to provide electronic warfare support. (Treat this design as having the Anti-Air Targeting Quirk.)
ACS is currently producing all three designs in high numbers for the mercenary market and the reformed Free Worlds League, and they have recently licensed the vehicle family to manufactures in both the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns. Negotiations to open up production in Capellan Confederation are continuing as well.
Bradshaw Infantry Fighting Vehicle
IS advanced
63 tons
BV: 1,102
Cost: 3,067,660 C-bills
Movement: 3/5 (Tracked)
Engine: 190
Internal: 35
Armor: 136 (Reactive)
Internal Armor
Front 7 30
Right 7 26
Left 7 26
Rear 7 24
Turret 7 30
Weapons Loc Heat
Vehicular Grenade Launcher (F) RS 1
Vehicular Grenade Launcher (F) LS 1
Ultra AC/5 TU 1
Thunderbolt 15 TU 7
Machine Gun TU 0
Ammo Loc Shots
Half Machine Gun Ammo BD 100
Thunderbolt 15 Ammo BD 4
Thunderbolt 15 Ammo BD 4
Ultra AC/5 Ammo BD 20
Ultra AC/5 Ammo BD 20
Equipment Loc
CASE BD
Carrying Capacity:
Troops - 4.0 tons
Bradshaw Cavalry Fighting Vehicle
IS advanced
63 tons
BV: 1,062
Cost: 3,481,680 C-bills
Movement: 3/5 (Tracked)
Engine: 190
Internal: 35
Armor: 136 (Reactive)
Internal Armor
Front 7 30
Right 7 26
Left 7 26
Rear 7 24
Turret 7 30
Weapons Loc Heat
Vehicular Grenade Launcher (F) RR 1
Thunderbolt 15 TU 7
Machine Gun TU 0
Ultra AC/5 TU 1
TAG TU 0
Ammo Loc Shots
Half Machine Gun Ammo BD 100
Thunderbolt 15 Ammo BD 4
Ultra AC/5 Ammo BD 20
Equipment Loc
Beagle Active Probe FR
Communications Equipment (1 ton) FR
Remote Sensor Dispenser RR
Conventional Mine RR
Mounted Searchlight TU
CASE BD
Carrying Capacity:
Troops - 1.0 tons
Bradshaw Linebacker
IS advanced
63 tons
BV: 1,099
Cost: 3,511,020 C-bills
Movement: 3/5 (Tracked)
Engine: 190
Internal: 35
Armor: 136 (Reactive)
Internal Armor
Front 7 30
Right 7 26
Left 7 26
Rear 7 24
Turret 7 30
Weapons Loc Heat
Vehicular Grenade Launcher (F) FR 1
LB 5-X AC TU 1
LRM 15 TU 5
AMS TU 1
Ammo Loc Shots
LB 5-X AC Ammo BD 20
LB 5-X Cluster Ammo BD 20
LRM 15 Ammo BD 8
LRM 15 Ammo BD 8
AMS Ammo BD 12
AMS Ammo BD 12
Equipment Loc
Guardian ECM Suite FR
Targeting Computer RR
Artemis IV FCS TU
CASE BD
Carrying Capacity:
Troops - 4.0 tons
Built using MegaMekLab, inspiration should be pretty obvious.
