Author Topic: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank  (Read 2462 times)

kaliban

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StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« on: 01 December 2019, 23:57:53 »
One more design based on existing ones. This is a more extensive modification.

[ftp]StuG (Scorpion tank conversion)
Mass: 25 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 75 ICE
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:     1 AC/10
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 2880
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-D-D-D
Cost: 396,563 C-bills
Overview
Unhappy with the lack of firepower of the standard Scorpion Light Tank, a few users have converted their Scorpions to Assault Guns, equipped with a more powerful Autocannon class 10. It was renamed StuG after the assault guns used by the Germans in WWII.

Capabilities
Slightly slower and lacking a turret, the StuG is less mobile than the Scorpion and depends on finding a good spot to fire against enemy targets. The AC10 is about two times more destructive than an AC5 and the combined firepower of a lance of StuG presents a considerabel threat to any Battlemech.

Deployment
The StuG is usually deployed in combined armies units equipped with other vehicles and infantry that provide side and rear arcs cover.

History
The conversion consists on the removal of the turret and replacement of the front armor for a ticker one that incorporates the AC/10 for a much lower sillouette. Side skirts protect the tracks and improve side armor. In order to provide room and save weight a more compact engine is installed in the rear.

Type: StuG

Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)

Tonnage: 25

Battle Value: 343

Engine   75 ICE   
     
Cruising MP:   3   
     
Flanking MP:   5   


Armor Factor:   64   

Internal Structure   Armor Value

Front      30
R/L Side   12/12
Rear      10

Weapons and Ammo   

AC/10 (Front)
AC/10 Ammo (10)   
« Last Edit: 02 December 2019, 00:04:36 by kaliban »

Daryk

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #1 on: 02 December 2019, 04:33:41 »
Nice!  Once Fuel Cells are a thing, an AC/20 fits too!   :thumbsup:

Hptm. Streiger

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #2 on: 02 December 2019, 04:49:11 »
Unfortunately, the only advantage of a turret less design is that you have more armor for less weight, but otherwise it doesn't make much sense to have a design without turret.

Ok speed is not exactly necessary for a stug maybe you could even drop it further- it's just a better armored fieldgun?

kaliban

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #3 on: 02 December 2019, 11:16:48 »
Unfortunately, the only advantage of a turret less design is that you have more armor for less weight, but otherwise it doesn't make much sense to have a design without turret.

Ok speed is not exactly necessary for a stug maybe you could even drop it further- it's just a better armored fieldgun?

I don't disagree. This one only makes sense because it is based on an existing vehicle. Some people prefer to restrict the vehicles in use to canon units or variants of these ones.

One hint is to use the StuG with motorized infantry to cover the flanks in case enemy units gets closer (in fact, you want them to get close just near your infantry!).

You can have a much better tank with 30-35tons and the AC10 in a turret. It is even better if you place 2 AC10 in a 65tons tank (name it Sultan and posted it some time ago).

I consider 3/5 the minimum to guarantee mobility to a combat vehicle.

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #4 on: 02 December 2019, 13:11:26 »
One thing to consider in an assault gun design is adding a second ton of ammo for specialty ammo, if you play with that.

This way, a platoon of Stugs can be set up for a mission - eg. a ton of flechette rounds if you're facing infantry, a ton of AP rounds for city lurkers, and so on.

You don't make Stugs because you think they're the be-all and end-all; you make them so you have a cheap mobile heavy gun.  :thumbsup:
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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #5 on: 02 December 2019, 15:04:44 »
An Light Gauss Rifle refit would be a decent sniper upgrade. 
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Sabelkatten

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #6 on: 02 December 2019, 16:15:15 »
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's thought of putting an AC/10 on a Scorpion!

Assault guns.

AC/2 support gun

kaliban

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #7 on: 02 December 2019, 17:39:40 »
I'm glad I'm not the only one who's thought of putting an AC/10 on a Scorpion!

Assault guns.

AC/2 support gun

Remembering that Scorpion and Vedette were two tanks created when the games were still called Battledroids and the only autocannon available was the AC/5.

Khymerion

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #8 on: 29 February 2020, 08:01:37 »
You could always try to, instead of going for the adhoc route of the late model AT STuG, rewind time a bit and go for the models that they were intended for:  'Short ranged' assault gun support.

It would mean slipping a Thumper Cannon into the mount that the AC-10 current fills but it would free up 2 tons for additional armor or ammunition.  Plus, you get an indirect fire capability, scattering instead of full-on missing, and an AOE... only 5/2 but considering that the original Scorpion had only an AC-5, this is, in general, an upgrade in capability.  On a cheap, lightweight chassis, having something you can target a hex instead of targetting directly and that can be beneficial.

Just an option honestly for a Succession Wars era model (3012 being the introduction of the gun).  I came to conclusions very similar to this one a while ago and have come to enjoy using mass, cheap indirect fire from vehicles very similar to this to back up cheap foot infantry.
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Daryk

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #9 on: 29 February 2020, 08:18:40 »
I don't think that's exactly how Artillery Cannons work...

VhenRa

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #10 on: 29 February 2020, 21:23:01 »
I don't think that's exactly how Artillery Cannons work...

In what way?

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #11 on: 29 February 2020, 22:17:16 »
I don't think that's exactly how Artillery Cannons work...
pp.284 of TactOps seems to be the starting point for picking things up …
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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #12 on: 01 March 2020, 00:07:58 »
as someone who straps a pair of AC/20s on SRM carriers, i can get behind this refit

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Daryk

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #13 on: 01 March 2020, 00:27:09 »
Artillery Cannons can't fire indirectly.  Regular Artillery can.

assaultdoor

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #14 on: 01 March 2020, 12:01:16 »
According to my copy of TacOps with the retro cover, you can't use an artillery cannon to make an Indirect Artillery attack. However, the rules there also say it still works like indirect LRM fire.

However however, TacOps errata now says that you can use an artillery cannon to make a direct or indirect attack.

Daryk

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #15 on: 01 March 2020, 12:23:35 »
Ah, so it does.  Version 3.6 of the errata has the change on page 48 of 94, referencing TacOps page 285.  Hopefully the new printing will be even clearer.

Simon Landmine

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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #16 on: 01 March 2020, 12:52:38 »
I don't disagree. This one only makes sense because it is based on an existing vehicle. Some people prefer to restrict the vehicles in use to canon units or variants of these ones.
One hint is to use the StuG with motorized infantry to cover the flanks in case enemy units gets closer (in fact, you want them to get close just near your infantry!).
You can have a much better tank with 30-35tons and the AC10 in a turret. It is even better if you place 2 AC10 in a 65tons tank (name it Sultan and posted it some time ago).

Another advantage of the StuG-pion (as well as everyone liking StuG life) is that nice low weight - if you've got map makers with a tendency for medium bridges (40CF) on minor roads, the StuG can take the minor roads and small bridges, while the heavy monsters are restricted to the main roads with the big bridges. And the StuG can still cross the bridges after they've taken a hit.
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Re: StuG - Assault Gun based on the Scorpion Light Tank
« Reply #17 on: 24 April 2020, 17:27:48 »
Scorpions also make for fairly good chibi LRM Carriers:
Code: [Select]
Scorpion (LRM20)

Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Advanced Rules
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-C-C-A
Production Year: 3025
Dry Cost: 464,063 C-Bills
Total Cost: 524,063 C-Bills
Battle Value: 475

Power Plant:  75 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 32.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Armor: 5 tons Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  LRM-20 w/ 2 tons ammo
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