Yeah, all those guns and ammo eat up a lot of weight. Not that the Super Tucano is unarmed; it's got a pair of M3Ms in the wings with 200rpg, but it's not the kind of heavy armament that a Spitfire might have for example. Then again the Spit's only 60% the weight of a Super Tucano, so its warload is impressive for its weight.
It does depend on the variant. The last Griffon-engined Spitfires aren't far off a Super Tucano in empty weight, and the P-51D is actually very close for both empty and max weights as well as engine power.
Speaking of, I dug up a Novo MBT (not adjusted for timeline changes)
BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
* CUSTOM WEAPONS
Type/Model: T-97bis
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3003
Config: Tracked Vehicle
Rules: Level 3, Standard design
Mass: 55 tons
Power Plant: 165 Izhevsk ZV-31 multifuel I.C.E. Supercharger
Cruise Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 [64.8] km/h
Armor Type: "Iron Glass" composite w/Kontakt-9 ERA Reactive Reactive
Armament:
1 2A46M 125mm Standard Cannon/12*
1 PKT 7.62mm APW/M*
1 NSVT 12.7mm APW/H*
1 9M311 Kornet Guided Missile/Med.*
Manufacturer: Kirov Heavy Automotive Works
Location: Novosibirk
Communications System: Strela-192 encrypted
Targeting & Tracking System: LIO-Vb Ballistic Computer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
The current Novosibirsk main battle tank, the T-97 was dogged by trouble in
its early years. In an attempt to provide their ever-heavier MBTs with
additional mobility, this successor to the T-76 was equipped with an
experimental supercharger unit in order to allow it to keep pace. Prone to
failure, the original powerpack went through several revisions before an
acceptable compromise between performance and reliability was struck. Even
then, the superchargers on most tanks are disabled, to be activated only when
in actual combat in an attempt to reduce wear and tear on the engine.
Looking much like a larger T-76, the original T-97 sported thick armour
reinforced with ERA and held exceptional ammunition and fuel reserves in lieu
of the T-77's shortcomings. In an attempt to further improve its ability to
conduct independent operations, the designers included an integral spare parts
bay on the T-97.
While crews used to other AFVs tend to find the crew areas of the T-97 series
to be a bit snug, Novosibirsk crews used to the compact T-75, T-76, and barely
tolerable T-77 will find the T-97 palatial in comparison. This is not the
result of 'crew comfort' increasing in importance as a design consideration,
but is a side effect on the emphasis on 'combat endurance' which required the
crews not be reduced to quivering masses of nerves after an extended road
march.
==Capabilities:==
The T-97 series is a fast-moving, reasonably well-armed MBT with deep fuel and
ammunition reserves. The 125mm cannon's lack of power compared to larger
140mm weapons is partly offset by the use of through-tube ATGMs to give the
smoothbore cannon additional long-range punch.
Basic smoke dischargers and a rudimentary anti-missile system are both used on
basic T-97's along with a refined but basic T&T system carried over from the
T-76. The definitive bis model of the T-97 was introduced after the fight for
Flanders and is somewhat heavier, but mounts a compact Cherkasian-designed
powerpack, a newer supercharger unit, and upgrades both the passive and active
defensive suites as well and introduces a new T&T system.
While moving to an advanced hypervelocity cannon was considered in order to
improve ammunition endurance even further, the loss in flexibility has
forestalled that move. The designers were also stymied by the lack of a gas
gun that could offer greater performance at less weight than the venerable
125mm cannon.
==Battle History:==
The T-97 has seen combat on Flanders and against Sapporan forces. While its
actual performance has been about what would be expected, the T-97's superior
strategic and tactical endurance has made it very effective at outmanuevering
and outlasting opposing forces.
==Variants:==
New as it is, there are few official variants in service, although the chassis
has proved popular for derivatives such as the BMP-T and BTMP-11 heavy IFVs.
Other worlds have been experimenting with their own dervivatives of the T-97,
aided by the modular nature of the design, although the Novosibirsk Soviet is
less than enthused at having subsidized the R&D for products that compete with
its own designs on the export market.
The T-97UB is the basic export model, while the T-97bis is the heavier and
current HPK production standard.
==Notable Vehicles & Crew:==
Sgt. Antonia Petrova: One of the first female aces on Flanders, Sgt. Petrova's
T-97UB section managed to surprise a dispersal airfield, and with the aid of
newly developed proximity shells, shot down and captured a squadron of
Consortium fighter-bombers as they attempted to land, fuel and ammunition
spent after a sortie. Her comrades in the Air Arm were more than a little
chagrined to discover than a tank commander had become the first Coalition
serviceperson to down 5 aircraft.
==Deployment==
The T-97bis has not been as widely exported as the previous T-75 and T-76's.
Greater expense and greater competition from other designs is one reason.
Official reluctance to export cutting-edge weapons is another. It is,
however, widely used by HPK member states, several of which have managed to
negotiate production licenses.
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: T-97bis
Mass: 55 tons
Construction Options: Fractional Accounting
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 36 pts Standard 0 5.50
Engine: 165 I.C.E. 0 12.00
Engine Supercharger: 1 1.20
Cruise MP: 3
Flank MP: 5 [6]
Heat Sinks: 0 Single 0 .00
Cockpit & Controls: 0 2.75
Crew: 4 Members 0 .00
Turret Equipment: 0 .68
Armor Factor: 320 pts Reactive 2 20.00
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 6 92
Left / Right Sides: 6 53/53
Rear: 6 31
Turret: 6 91
Turret #2: 6 0
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Standard Cannon/12* Turret 0 45 2 8.50
1 APW/M* Turret 0 375 2 .85
1 APW/H* Turret2 0 298 2 1.19
1 Guided Missile/Med.* Turret 0 10 2 .98
1 Trailer Hitch Rear 1 .00
Superior FCS Body 1 .50
ADS/P Body 1 .25
ADS/A Body 1 .50
Spare Parts Body 1 .10
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 0 16 55.00
Items & Tons Left: 0 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 4,524,879 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,097
Cost per BV: 4,124.78
Weapon Value: 1,589 / 1,589 (Ratio = 1.45 / 1.45)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 26; MRDmg = 20; LRDmg = 12
BattleForce2: MP: 3T, Armor/Structure: 0 / 12
Damage PB/M/L: 4/5/4, Overheat: 0
Class: GM; Point Value: 11
BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
* CUSTOM WEAPONS
Type/Model: T-77
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2477
Config: Tracked Vehicle
Rules: Level 3, Standard design
Mass: 77 tons
Power Plant: 235 Izhevsk ZV-62 multifuel I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Armor Type: 'Stone Onion' layered composite with Kontakt-6 ERA Patchwork
Armament:
1 Kubinka Forge 152mm L/51 Standard Cannon/14*
1 DPM 7.62mm AP Weapon/Med*
1 AT-11 'Striker' Guided Missile/Md.*
1 RPC-20 Mine Clearance Chrge*
1 KPV 14.5mm AP Weapon/Hvy*
1 AP Weapon/Med*
Manufacturer: Chelyabinsk Armour Works
Location: Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk
Communications System: Strela-4 Wireless
Targeting & Tracking System: Kaliningrad Elektro-Optical/Thermal Imaging
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
The T-77 is the physical embodiment of the Chelyabinsk design bureau's AFV
design ethos.
Ugly, crude, brutal and forboding, the T-77 is nevertheless an extremely
effective AFV in its own right. The military highlight of the second
Novosibirsk five-year plan, the first production copies of the 77 ton T-77
rolled off the assembly line in 2477 (Guess someone on the design team liked
the number 7).
Despite its considerable mass, the T-77 sits sleek and low to the ground.
Unlike the current trend of slab-sided turrets of composite plates and welded
steel, the T-77's sports a distinctive flattened hemispherical turret. This
'inverted frying pan' shape is created by casting the armour in layers,
starting with a ferro-ceramic outer shell, and finishing with a ballistic
nylon and asbestos spall liner on the inside.
Large cutouts are left for the main gun and rear bustle. While the opening
for the main gun is protected by an impressively thick mantlet, the rear
bustle is only guarded by a few centimeters of hardened steel plate.
On the negative side, this method of construction renders major repairs to the
turret impossible to make - damaged turrets must be removed from the hull and
returned to a specialized repair facility. Furthermore, to describe the crew
conditions as 'cramped' would be a severe understatement. Rumour has it that
many tanks are crewed by failed child gymnasts and malnourished orphans whose
stunted growth allow them to actually fit inside the armoured behemoths.
The long, low hull is equally well protected, with the distinctive 'pike'
shaped bow bow able to regularly withstand strikes by any conventional cannon
fielded in the Fringe. It is a brave or foolhardy MBT crew that tries to
trade blows toe-to-toe with a T-77 unit, regardless of how modern their ride.
The unofficial motto of the crews fielding T-77s against more technologically
advanced opponents on Flanders is "Size. Matters."
Chelyabinsk has produced various marks of the T-77 for over two decades, but
production has ended and plans for a replacement heavy breakthrough tank drawn
up. A slowly diminishing number of T-77's continue to soldier on, almost
exclusively in Novosibirsk service, their crude armament and primitive
electronics being made up for by sheer brute force. Even the most advanced
opponents find the T-77s to be formidable foes.
In set-piece actions, the T-77 is at its best. All the electronic wizadry
money can buy pales in comparison to staring down the gaping muzzle of a 152mm
cannon protected by over a third of a meter of ERA-sheathed hardened steel.
==Capabilities:==
The first thing to strike many who see the T-77 for the first time, is how
compact it is. With perhaps the lowest-profile crewed turret in the Fringe,
the T-77 presents opponents with a tiny profile relative to its mass. The
turret is mounted far forward, and the barrel of the main gun barely protrudes
over the rear deck when turned aft for transport.
With two sets of extra-wide tracks on its long hull, the T-77 is surprisingly
capable of crossing boggy terrain - even more so than the lighter T-75 in some
cases. Powered by a large conventional turbodiesel engine, the T-77 moves at
a completely unremarkable 54 km/h over clear terrain.
The turret's main gun is a long barreled 152mm cannon. Serviced by a compact,
if slow autoloader, the 6-inch gun offers maximum flexibility and reliability.
Eight through-tube laser-guided missiles are carried for anti-tank operations
at longer ranges. Unusually, the missiles are loaded by a second autoloader,
allowing a missile and a normal shell to be fired one after another in rapid
succession.
A 7.62mm machine gun is mounted co-axially, and another is pintle-mounted by
the gunner's hatch, while a massive 14.5mm heavy machine gun is provided for
the tank commander. Externally, the turret and hull are studded with smoke
grenade launchers. Additionally, the T-77 can lay its own smoke screen by
injecting diesel fuel into its exhaust. A trio of rocket-launched mine
clearance charges are affixed to the side of the turret to allow the crew to
breach obstacles that the standard bulldozer blade cannot clear. Crews have
also found the device handy for collapsing inconvenient houses in city
fighting.
Extremely thick layered castings of standard armour composites protect the
T-77, and ERA is integrated into the turret front and glacis plate. No T-77
is known to have been destroyed or disabled by a frontal hit by a shaped
charge weapon.
==Battle History:==
The assault on Flanders was almost definitely the last hurrah for this old
warhorse, unmodernized after nearly a quarter century of service when they
were grounded on Flanders aborad the third wave of transports.
Their moment of glory came when a full break-through company breached the
landing zone of the Consortium reinforcements, nearly throwing them
off-planet. Only the arrival of forces armed with the latest in advanced
anti-armour weapons prevented the LZ from being overrun and the reinforcements
routed from Flanders. Leaked memos reveal that several large corps are now
issuing all forces with greater allocations of anti-armour munitions.
==Variants:==
None of the tank itself- the cramped nature of the T-77's hull, and the method
of its construction greatly hinder efforts at modification. The only known variant
is a dedicated engineering vehicle that removes the turret in favour of a
fixed superstructure housing sappers and a 185mm demolition gun.
==Deployment==
The T-77 is deployed in standalone break-through companies in the elite Guards
regiments. More typically, a company of T-77s will be used to reinforce a
battalion of medium tanks or attached to a regiment of motorized or mechanized
infantry to provide direct fire support - a role at which the 152mm excels at,
especially when using the purpose-designed low velocity demolition rounds
intended for use against hardened strongpoints.
While several parties have expressed interest in the T-77 over the years, no
one else has been able to find crew able to squeeze into the existing T-77
hull, and the chief of the design bureau has been loathe to design a more...
user friendly model for such crassly capitalistic purposes.
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: T-77
Mass: 77 tons
Construction Options: Fractional Accounting
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 48 pts Standard 0 7.70
Engine: 235 I.C.E. 0 22.00
Cruise MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks: 0 Single 0 .00
Cockpit & Controls: 0 3.85
Crew: 4 Members 0 .00
Turret Equipment: 0 .70
Armor Factor: 470 pts Patchwork 2 29.38
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 8 155 Reactive
Left / Right Sides: 8 60/60 Standard
Rear: 8 40 Standard
Turret: 8 155 Reactive
Turret #2: 8 0 Standard
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Standard Cannon/14* Turret 0 64 2 6.78
1 AP Weapon/Med* Turret 0 185 2 .42
1 Guided Missile/Md.* Turret 0 8 2 .40
1 Mine Clearance Chrge* Turret 0 3 2 2.50
1 AP Weapon/Hvy* Turret2 0 150 2 .60
1 AP Weapon/Med* Turret2 0 185 1 .42
1 Bulldozer Front 1 2.00
1 Trailer Hitch Rear 1 .00
Basic FCS Body 1 .25
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 0 16 77.00
Items & Tons Left: 4 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 3,058,296 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,340
Cost per BV: 2,282.31
Weapon Value: 1,917 / 1,917 (Ratio = 1.43 / 1.43)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 29; MRDmg = 23; LRDmg = 17
BattleForce2: MP: 3T, Armor/Structure: 0 / 17
Damage PB/M/L: 4/4/4, Overheat: 0
Class: GH; Point Value: 13
Specials: eng
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