Just a little something I worked up :)
Vehicle: Peltast PLT-1C
Tech Base: Inner Sphere - Level 2
Chassis Design: Hovercraft
Vehicle Mass: 35 tons
Engine: 140 InterComBust I.C.E
Vehicle Movement:
Cruise Speed: 97.2 km/h
Flank Speed: 151.2 km/h
Armour Type: Star Slab/3 Standard
Armament:
1x ZeusBolt Autocannon/2
4x Death Blossom 10 Pack RL/10
Manufacturer: Pinard Protectorates Limited
Location: Perdition
Communications System: Neil 6000-x
Targeting & Tracking System: TracTex Alpha-1
OVERVIEW:
Designed by the Taurian Concordat using principles gathered both
from recovered Star League technology and recent changes in
manufacturing undergone in the Marian Hegemony, the Peltast is an
odd combination of advanced systems and primitive technology.
However, the Taurians seem happy with the design, and have sought
to ramp up the production and deployment of the Peltast.
This faith has, to date, been justified. The Peltast has been
successfully deployed as a harasser and screener for heavier forces,
and many modifications are in the works.
CAPABILITITES:
The primary use of the Peltast is a light, fast and hard hitting screener
that can step in, inflict crippling damage, and remove itself. This is
done through the use of the Death Blossom 10 Pack Rocket
Launcher Pods mounted on the Peltast's turret. Although only able to
be fired once, enough Peltasts' can overwhelm a target's defenses
with a well timed and coordinated attack. This is the old, ancinet
rockets being used on the modern battlefield.
The new comes in the form of communication and coordination. Using
state of the art Star League era communications and tracking
equipment, the Peltast electronics suite is able to coordinate up to a
company of rocket equipped machinery as they make their high speed
approach. The full capabilities of the machinery have been proven in
the heat of battle on numerous occasions, allowing Taurian
commanders to fully coordinate their screens to maximum combat
effectiveness.
Finally, the back up weapon for the Peltast is the ZeusBolt AC/2. With
this weapon, after the discharge of rockets and initial screening, the
Peltast's can hover around the battle field, taking pot shots at enemy
units as they expose themselves, and help keep the enemy hemmed
in.
DEPLOYMENT:
Currently the Taurian Concordat is the heaviest deployer of the unit,
with well over a regiment of Peltast's in use. Second place comes the
Magistry of Canopus, who have purchased at least two battalions
worth and have them deployed along their border with the Hegemony.
In an odd twist, the third largest purchaser has been the
Confederation and House Liao, where it is known as the She Shu Yi
Wo, due to the nature of the machine and it's intended uses. House
Liao hopes that the purchases will help to build good relations with the
Concordat, and further, allow them domestic production rights as they
see a place for the She as a compliment to the Po.
A number of mercenary units have also bought the machine, or are at
least expressing interest.
VARIANTS:
There are three official variants of the Peltast. The PLT-2C, the PLT-
3C, and the PLT-1L.
The 2C drops the AC/2 and the RL/10s in favor of two LRM-5s with
Artemis IV and more armor. This version still fulfills the roll of harasser,
but with a more traditional approach. Although the LRM barrages are
not necessarily overwhelmingly powerful, the high speed and ease of
access to the ammo bins allow for the unit to provide a multitude of
mission supports at the drop of a hat: smoke, thunder munitions,
antipersonal, flares, etc.
The 3C drops the AC/2 and RL/10s, and replaces them with an ER
Medium Laser and more armor. This variant is actually built only half
way, with finishing and armament added at Sterope by Diverse Optics
engineers. This variant only has half the range, but heavier damage
potential and no ammunition limits making it popular as a light raider.
The final variant is the PLT-1L which is a Liao variant that mounts an
LB-2X AC, the Mydron Excel. The RL/10's are dropped for more
ammunition mixing cluster and solid slug ammunition. This variant
also mounts ferro fiberous armor for increased protection. The layering
of the armor around the low slung frame actually does create the
image of scales that flex and shimmer as the tank comes up to speed.
NOTABLE CREW/VEHICLE:
Known for their reckless disregard for safety, the Krazy Komets are a
lance of mercenary tankers who were recently gifted three PLT-1C
and one PLT-3C tanks for their long and distinquished career with the
Taurian Concordat. In 2986, the unit was hired with their one
Plainsman. They had since expanded out to a Lance in hovertank
strength, and had lost all four to a pirate raid though their sacrifice had
allowed them to safe their planet. In honor of this sacrifice, the
commander of the unit, Kaptain Kent was given a PLT-3C Peltast, on
which his unit painted a red K for each kill he had racked up in the
defense of the Concordat.
Now, as he patrols the flat farmland and rolling plains of Orkney,
usually at high speed, many can only see a red blur racing across the
landscape, exhaust from his overdriven engine, fuel mixed with a
touch of home brew, mixing with red paint chips to make for a crimson
tail.
Type/Model: Peltast PLT-1C
Mass: 35 tons
Vehicle Details: Crits Mass
Internal Structure: 20 0 3.5
Engine: 140 I.C.E 0 10
Cruise: 9 MP
Flank: 14 MP
Heat Sinks: 0 0 0
Cockpit and Controls: 0 2
Vehicle Crew: 3 0 0
Turret Equipment: 0 1
Armor: 96 Pnts Stn 0 6
I.S Armor
Front: 4 27
Left / Right: 4 / 4 17 / 17
Rear: 4 15
Turret 4 20
Weapons and Equipment: Loc Heat Shots Slots Mass
1 Autocannon/2 Turret 0 45 2 7
4 ROCKET LAUNCHER 10 - OS Turret 0 N/A 4 2
Crits Left: 6
Tons Left: 0
Vehicle Cost: 616,533 C-Bills
Battle Value: 335