==Overview:==
The story of the Volkspanzer is a convoluted tale of politics getting in the
way of an honestly
good design. Originally the brainchild of Archon Alessandro Steiner, the
Volkspanzer was conceived as one of the critical elements of Operation:
Concentrated Weakness. This plan which involved of moving garrisons from the
interior of the Commonwealth to its exterior lead is what led to the series of
brutal raids that were instrumental to the Archon's downfall. What is not
commonly known is that the plan was for the garrisons to be replaced by units
of simple, low cost armored vehicles that could be produced locally in great
numbers with only a minimum of imported components. To achieve this objective,
the Archon contracted a crack team of engineers, drawing on the experience of
major corporations such as Defiance Industries, TharHes Industries, the
Quickscell Company, and the New Earth Trading Company.
Unfortunately, while the quality of the design staff was impeccable,
conflicting egos and corporate rivalry lead to major delays in the development
cycle, which forced Archon Alessandro to implement his plan without the
vehicle on hand, and instead place them under production at a later date. It
wasn't until four years past date, and well over 100 million L-Bills over
budget, that the program was to deliver. The end produce proved to be
everything that they were hoping for. Unfortunately it was too little too late
to prevent Alessandro's downfall, and the politics of the era and the tanks
part in the Concentrated Weakness debacle prevented the Volkspanzer from
entering production.
The design was to remain in limbo for almost years, nothing more than a
footnote in history, if it was not for the Clan Invasion. It was almost by
accident that a low level clerk working in the Triad literally stumbled across
the specifications while organizing the Royal Archives. Being a former militia
tanker, he immediately recognized the value of what he found and was quick to
forward it to Asgard for review. With the massive losses of the Clan Invasion
being felt across entire Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, there was a
need for a tank like the Volkspanzer and the design specifications were
distributed almost immediately. The clerk for his part was rewarded with a
monetary reward and minor noble title by Archon Melissa for services rendered
to the state. Ironically it was one of her final acts prior to her
assassination.
==Capabilities:==
The Volkspanzer from its inception was conceived as tank designed that
would be built in a tractor factory and operated by illiterate farm boys on
worlds with barely anything resembling a local industry, and using a bare
minimum of imported parts. As such the design template contain basic designs
for all the core components. That said, these designs are painfully
rudimentary at their best, and vast allowances are made for adapting the
design to fit wide variety alternate system.
In construction the Volkspanzer is built in three major sections: the turret,
the armored chassis, and the suspension. This allows the vehicle to be
deployed in one of three major configurations. All three stock models mount
six and a half tons of standard armor, and a Class Ten Autocannon. The
Volkspanzer Eins is the wheeled variant, and mounts a coaxial machine gun and
a modular five rack LRM in addition to the main gun. The Zwei model is mounted
on tracks, and eliminates the LRM modual. The Drei model is designed around a
hover based chassis and mounts the LRM but removes the coaxial machine gun.
==Variants:==
There are virtually countless variants of the Volkspanzer across the Inner
Sphere. Discounting even the three main configurations, there are numerous
minor and major modifications found across the Inner Sphere and Periphery.
These vary from the minor differences introduced by using different brands and
models of core systems, to more substantial modifications. One common
modification is to replace the modular LRM with a four-rack Short Range
Missile launcher. Another more elaborate modification replaces the turret with
one mounting a Thumper Artillery piece and sixty rounds of ammunition.
==Deployment==
The in the decades since its introduction, the Volkspanzer has become one of
the more common tanks in the Inner Sphere. Originally distributed to only the
members of the Federated Commonwealth, the design spread like wildfire in the
aftermath of Operation Guerrero, where it was captured by both Houses Liao and
Marik. The creation of the Chaos March further encouraged spread the design,
as the ease of manufacture lead to mass proliferation, while the need for
liquid capitol lead those worlds to offer the specs to just about everyone who
was even marginally interested.
BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Type/Model: Volkspanzer Eins VP01
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3055
Config: Wheeled Vehicle
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Mass: 50 tons
Power Plant: 180 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 Autocannon/10
1 LRM 5
1 Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Various
Location: Various
Communications System: Various
Targeting & Tracking System: Various
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
The story of the Volkspanzer is a convoluted tale of politics getting in the
way of an honestly
good design. Originally the brainchild of Archon Alessandro Steiner, the
Volkspanzer was conceived as one of the critical elements of Operation:
Concentrated Weakness. This plan which involved of moving garrisons from the
interior of the Commonwealth to its exterior lead is what led to the series of
brutal raids that were instrumental to the Archon's downfall. What is not
commonly known is that the plan was for the garrisons to be replaced by units
of simple, low cost armored vehicles that could be produced locally in great
numbers with only a minimum of imported components. To achieve this objective,
the Archon contracted a crack team of engineers, drawing on the experience of
major corporations such as Defiance Industries, TharHes Industries, the
Quickscell Company, and the New Earth Trading Company.
Unfortunately, while the quality of the design staff was impeccable,
conflicting egos and corporate rivalry lead to major delays in the development
cycle, which forced Archon Alessandro to implement his plan without the
vehicle on hand, and instead place them under production at a later date. It
wasn't until four years past date, and well over 100 million L-Bills over
budget, that the program was to deliver. The end produce proved to be
everything that they were hoping for. Unfortunately it was too little too late
to prevent Alessandro's downfall, and the politics of the era and the tanks
part in the Concentrated Weakness debacle prevented the Volkspanzer from
entering production.
The design was to remain in limbo for almost years, nothing more than a
footnote in history, if it was not for the Clan Invasion. It was almost by
accident that a low level clerk working in the Triad literally stumbled across
the specifications while organizing the Royal Archives. Being a former militia
tanker, he immediately recognized the value of what he found and was quick to
forward it to Asgard for review. With the massive losses of the Clan Invasion
being felt across entire Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, there was a
need for a tank like the Volkspanzer and the design specifications were
distributed almost immediately. The clerk for his part was rewarded with a
monetary reward and minor noble title by Archon Melissa for services rendered
to the state. Ironically it was one of her final acts prior to her
assassination.
==Capabilities:==
The Volkspanzer from its inception was conceived as tank designed that
would be built in a tractor factory and operated by illiterate farm boys on
worlds with barely anything resembling a local industry, and using a bare
minimum of imported parts. As such the design template contain basic designs
for all the core components. That said, these designs are painfully
rudimentary at their best, and vast allowances are made for adapting the
design to fit wide variety alternate system.
In construction the Volkspanzer is built in three major sections: the turret,
the armored chassis, and the suspension. This allows the vehicle to be
deployed in one of three major configurations. All three stock models mount
six and a half tons of standard armor, and a Class Ten Autocannon. The
Volkspanzer Eins is the wheeled variant, and mounts a coaxial machine gun and
a modular five rack LRM in addition to the main gun. The Zwei model is mounted
on tracks, and eliminates the LRM modual. The Drei model is designed around a
hover based chassis and mounts the LRM but removes the coaxial machine gun.
==Variants:==
There are virtually countless variants of the Volkspanzer across the Inner
Sphere. Discounting even the three main configurations, there are numerous
minor and major modifications found across the Inner Sphere and Periphery.
These vary from the minor differences introduced by using different brands and
models of core systems, to more substantial modifications. One common
modification is to replace the modular LRM with a four-rack Short Range
Missile launcher. Another more elaborate modification replaces the turret with
one mounting a Thumper Artillery piece and sixty rounds of ammunition.
==Deployment==
The in the decades since its introduction, the Volkspanzer has become one of
the more common tanks in the Inner Sphere. Originally distributed to only the
members of the Federated Commonwealth, the design spread like wildfire in the
aftermath of Operation Guerrero, where it was captured by both Houses Liao and
Marik. The creation of the Chaos March further encouraged spread the design,
as the ease of manufacture lead to mass proliferation, while the need for
liquid capitol lead those worlds to offer the specs to just about everyone who
was even marginally interested.
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Volkspanzer Eins VP01
Mass: 50 tons
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 25 pts Standard 0 5.00
Engine: 180 I.C.E. 0 14.00
Cruise MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks: 0 Single 0 .00
Cockpit & Controls: 0 2.50
Crew: 4 Members 0 .00
Turret Equipment: 0 1.50
Armor Factor: 144 pts Standard 0 9.00
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 5 36
Left / Right Sides: 5 26/26
Rear: 5 20
Turret: 5 36
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Autocannon/10 Turret 0 20 2 14.00
1 LRM 5 Turret 0 24 2 3.00
1 Machine Gun Turret 0 100 2 1.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 0 6 50.00
Items & Tons Left: 9 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 750,000 C-Bills
Battle Value 2: 644 (old BV = 366)
Cost per BV: 1,164.6
Weapon Value: 307 / 307 (Ratio = .48 / .48)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 11; MRDmg = 8; LRDmg = 2
BattleForce2: MP: 4W, Armor/Structure: 0 / 6
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: GM; Point Value: 6
BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Type/Model: Volkspanzer Zwei VP02
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3055
Config: Tracked Vehicle
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Mass: 50 tons
Power Plant: 200 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 Autocannon/10
1 Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Various
Location: Various
Communications System: Various
Targeting & Tracking System: Various
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Volkspanzer Zwei VP02
Mass: 50 tons
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 25 pts Standard 0 5.00
Engine: 200 I.C.E. 0 17.00
Cruise MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks: 0 Single 0 .00
Cockpit & Controls: 0 2.50
Crew: 4 Members 0 .00
Turret Equipment: 0 1.50
Armor Factor: 144 pts Standard 0 9.00
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 5 36
Left / Right Sides: 5 26/26
Rear: 5 20
Turret: 5 36
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Autocannon/10 Turret 0 20 2 14.00
1 Machine Gun Turret 0 100 2 1.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 0 4 50.00
Items & Tons Left: 11 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 835,000 C-Bills
Battle Value 2: 635 (old BV = 328)
Cost per BV: 1,314.96
Weapon Value: 232 / 232 (Ratio = .37 / .37)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 9; MRDmg = 5; LRDmg = 1
BattleForce2: MP: 4T, Armor/Structure: 0 / 6
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: GM; Point Value: 6
BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Type/Model: Volkspanzer Drei VP03
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3055
Config: Hovercraft
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Mass: 50 tons
Power Plant: 115 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 75.6 km/h
Maximum Speed: 118.8 km/h
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 Autocannon/10
1 LRM 5
Manufacturer: Various
Location: Various
Communications System: Various
Targeting & Tracking System: Various
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Volkspanzer Drei VP03
Mass: 50 tons
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 25 pts Standard 0 5.00
Engine: 115 I.C.E. 0 10.00
Cruise MP: 7
Flank MP: 11
Heat Sinks: 0 Single 0 .00
Cockpit & Controls: 0 2.50
Crew: 4 Members 0 .00
Lift Equipment: 0 5.00
Turret Equipment: 0 1.50
Armor Factor: 144 pts Standard 0 9.00
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 5 36
Left / Right Sides: 5 26/26
Rear: 5 20
Turret: 5 36
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Autocannon/10 Turret 0 20 2 14.00
1 LRM 5 Turret 0 24 2 3.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 0 4 50.00
Items & Tons Left: 11 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 1,280,667 C-Bills
Battle Value 2: 793 (old BV = 491)
Cost per BV: 1,614.96
Weapon Value: 346 / 346 (Ratio = .44 / .44)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 10; MRDmg = 8; LRDmg = 2
BattleForce2: MP: 7H, Armor/Structure: 0 / 6
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: GM; Point Value: 8
