Takoba Infantry Support Tank

[Lanceman]

Takoba (Standard)

Mass: 50 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant: 230 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
     1 Machine Gun
     2 Vehicular Grenade Launcher
     1 Light Gauss Rifle
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3145
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-E
Cost: 1,714,583 C-bills

Overview
Commissioned in the early 3090s by the Republic of the Sphere, the Takoba is a wheeled gun platform designed to provide accurate long-range direct fires for infantry formations. The vehicle is built around a single light gauss rifle, enhanced with a targeting computer. This allows platoons of Takobas attached to motorized or mechanized infantry companies to bombard enemy vehicles and BattleMechs from a distance, pinning them in place, and allowing the infantry to move in where their own weapons will be more effective. While not as powerful as its larger cousins, the light gauss rifle deals respectable damage at long range, and easily outperforms the lighter autocannons commonly found on similarly sized vehicles. A coaxially mounted machine gun provides close in defense from enemy infantry, and a pair of vehicular grenade launchers on each side allows for the generation of smoke screens or additional anti-infantry ordnance.

Comparisons may be drawn between the Takoba and the Republic's Bolla Stealth Tank, and while the Bolla's Alpha configuration has similar capabilities, the Takoba is nearly ten times cheaper to produce as it lacks the Bola's expensive advanced armor, communication, and engine systems.



Deployment
While the Bolla supports Republic battle armor formations, the Takoba is better suited to supporting the numerous conventional infantry formations found on every Republic world. Relatively easy to produce, the platform has spread far and wide.

Additionally, since it lacks any sensitive technology, the Takoba has been cleared for general export. It has become popular with planetary militias all over the Inner Sphere, particularly in the former Free Worlds League, where many units are already familiar, and fond of, the light gauss rifle.


Type: Takoba
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Wheeled
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 680

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                    5
Engine                        230 Fusion             16
   Cruising MP: 5
   Flank MP: 8
Heat Sinks:                   10                      0
Control Equipment:                                  2.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             1.5
Armor Factor (Ferro)          89                      5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   5         24   
     R/L Side               5/5      17/17   
     Rear                    5         14   
     Turret                  5         17   


Weapons
and Ammo                      Location    Tonnage      
Vehicular Grenade Launcher      Left        0.5     
Searchlight                    Front        0.5     
Vehicular Grenade Launcher     Right        0.5     
Machine Gun                    Turret       0.5     
Light Gauss Rifle              Turret       12.0   
CASE                            Body        0.5     
Half Machine Gun Ammo (100)     Body        0.5     
Light Gauss Rifle Ammo (32)     Body        2.0     
Targeting Computer               BD         3.0     
   
 
   

[Lanceman]

Takoba (Uparmored)

Mass: 50 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant: 180 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
     1 Machine Gun
     2 Vehicular Grenade Launcher
     1 Light Gauss Rifle
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3145
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-E
Cost: 1,643,750 C-bills

Overview
Responding to concerns that the original Takoba was thin skinned against `Mech grade weapons, an additional variant of the Takoba was introduced. While the weapon systems remain the same, a reduction in powerplant size allowed for doubling the amount of armor the vehicle mounted with only a small sacrifice in overall speed. This was seen as a fair tradeoff, as it can still outpace the infantry formations it is meant to support. Now the vehicle is able to withstand two direct hits from gauss rifles or heavy particle cannons onto any facing.

Type: Takoba
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Wheeled
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 822

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                    5
Engine                        180 Fusion           10.5
   Cruising MP: 4
   Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks:                   10                      0
Control Equipment:                                  2.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             1.5
Armor Factor (Ferro)          188                  10.5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   5         47   
     R/L Side               5/5      37/37   
     Rear                    5         30   
     Turret                  5         37   


Weapons
and Ammo                      Location    Tonnage      
Vehicular Grenade Launcher      Left        0.5     
Searchlight                    Front        0.5     
Vehicular Grenade Launcher     Right        0.5     
Machine Gun                    Turret       0.5     
Light Gauss Rifle              Turret       12.0   
CASE                            Body        0.5     
Half Machine Gun Ammo (100)     Body        0.5     
Light Gauss Rifle Ammo (32)     Body        2.0     
Targeting Computer               BD         3.0     
   

[Sabelkatten]

Why not use a FCE? This looks like a perfect case for it. Saves a couple of tons and a fair bit of cash.

[Lanceman]

I personally tend not to like fuel cells from an RP or strategic perspective because of their shorter operating ranges, so I tend to overlook them for combat vees, and I was mistakenly operating on the assumption that gauss rifles needed power amps. So, good point! I'm definitely open to a variant.

Takoba (Fuel Cell)

Mass: 50 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant: 230 Fuel Cell
Cruising Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
     1 Machine Gun
     2 Vehicular Grenade Launcher
     1 Light Gauss Rifle
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3145
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-E
Cost: 1,502,083 C-bills

Type: Takoba
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Wheeled
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 821

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                    5
Engine                        230 Fuel Cell          13
   Cruising MP: 5
   Flank MP: 8
Heat Sinks:                   1                       0
Control Equipment:                                  2.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             1.5
Armor Factor (Ferro)          143                     8

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   5         37   
     R/L Side               5/5      28/28   
     Rear                    5         22   
     Turret                  5         28   


Weapons
and Ammo                      Location    Tonnage      
Vehicular Grenade Launcher      Left        0.5     
Searchlight                    Front        0.5     
Vehicular Grenade Launcher     Right        0.5     
Machine Gun                    Turret       0.5     
Light Gauss Rifle              Turret       12.0   
CASE                            Body        0.5     
Half Machine Gun Ammo (100)     Body        0.5     
Light Gauss Rifle Ammo (32)     Body        2.0     
Targeting Computer               BD         3.0