Niops Militia Scorpion Vehicle Family

[glitterboy2098]

as part fo the general "what if niops started rebuilding its industry" thinking going on ([Main thread here]), and as an adjunct to the primitive Wasp, Shadow Hawk, and Archer in the battlemech thread [here], i whipped up this idea for a cheap support tank using the Scoprion Light tank hull (which is nearly as common as hydrogen and stupidity so shouldn't be hard for them to copy.)

the engine gets replaced with a fuel cell system, freeing up some tonnage. the two of the MML5's also used on my proposed Shadow Hawk and Archer refits get placed into a redesigned turret, with a ton each of ammunition split between LRM and SRM. the glacis mounted MG remains in place. and to top it all off, the vehicle has been given full enviromental sealing, making it a viable combatant on not just the main niopian worlds but also all the dwarf planets and asteroids in the system.

the twin MML turret gives it good all round firepower, as well as enabling the use of indirect fire as a way of offsetting the tank's overall fragility. it also makes it a nasty customer if the enemy gets in close.

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Scorpion Support Tank (Niops)

Mass: 25 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 100 Fuel Cell
Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
     2 MML 5
     1 Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3150
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-D
Cost: 725,260 C-bills

Type: Scorpion Light Tank
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 25
Battle Value: 353

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                  2.5
Engine                        100 Fuel Cell           4
Cruising MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks:                   1                       0
Control Equipment:                                  1.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             1.0
Armor Factor                  64                      4

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   3         16   
     R/L Side               3/3      11/11   
     Rear                    3         10   
     Turret                  3         16   


Weapons
and Ammo                      Location    Tonnage   
Machine Gun                    Front        0.5     
Combat Vehicle Chassis Mod      Body        2.5     
MML 5 SRM Ammo (20)             Body        1.0     
Half Machine Gun Ammo (100)     Body        0.5     
CASE                            Body        0.5     
MML 5 LRM Ammo (24)             Body        1.0     
2 MML 5s                       Turret       6.0     




[glitterboy2098]

and an APC for Niopian PAL suit teams using the same chassis.. the weapons being swapped out for a turreted ERML, 4 ton infantry bay*, and a remote sensor system.

in the field these would work in tandem with the support tanks, dropping remote sensors to improve battlefield coverage and using the APC and the PAL teams to spot for indirect fire.

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Scorpion Infantry Transport (NIOPS 2)

Mass: 25 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 100 Fuel Cell
Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
     1 ER Medium Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3150
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-D
Cost: 544,010 C-bills

Type: Scorpion Infantry Transport
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 25
Battle Value: 302

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                  2.5
Engine                        100 Fuel Cell           4
Cruising MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks:                   5                       4
Control Equipment:                                  1.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.5
Turret:                                             0.5
Armor Factor                  64                      4

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   3         16   
     R/L Side               3/3      11/11   
     Rear                    3         10   
     Turret                  3         16   


Weapons
and Ammo                     Location    Tonnage   
Remote Sensors/Dispenser       Rear        0.5     
Combat Vehicle Chassis Mod     Body        2.5     
ER Medium Laser               Turret       1.0     
Infantry                       Body        4.0     

*while PAL suits technically should be only about 2 tons for a full squad, the default rules force them to take up a full 4 ton bay, so i used this for compatibility. if using the variable BA bay rule, just assume that the APC would normally carry two squads, or was also designed to carry a platoon of standard or EVA suited infantry in cramped quarters.

[glitterboy2098]

and an actual tank variant, which adds one extra weapon to the mix of items niops is using (beyond the ERML, MML5, and LPPC) but one that Niops should be able to produce in house easily enough:
uses the same hull as the support tank, but increases the armor by and extra ton and a half. and mounts a Light AC5 with two tons of ammunition into the turret.

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Scorpion Light Tank (NIOPS 3)

Mass: 25 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 100 Fuel Cell
Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
     1 Light AC/5
     1 Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3150
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-D
Cost: 671,354 C-bills

Type: Scorpion Light Tank
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 25
Battle Value: 399

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                  2.5
Engine                        100 Fuel Cell           4
Cruising MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks:                   1                       0
Control Equipment:                                  1.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             0.5
Armor Factor                  88                    5.5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   3         20   
     R/L Side               3/3      17/17   
     Rear                    3         14   
     Turret                  3         20   


Weapons
and Ammo                      Location    Tonnage   
Machine Gun                    Front        0.5     
Combat Vehicle Chassis Mod      Body        2.5     
Half Machine Gun Ammo (100)     Body        0.5     
LAC/5 Ammo (40)                 Body        2.0     
CASE                            Body        0.5     
Light AC/5                     Turret       5.0     



[Giovanni Blasini]

Very neat!  I've been looking at a fusion Scorpion based on the 150-rating engine, which is the same engine Niops used to use for the Burke, but this is probably a lot better idea.

[glitterboy2098]

fuel cell engines would be easier to make i think.. better to save the fusion engine production for mech and fighter use. and since they all use the same hydrogen as fuel, the logistical burden will work out similar. (fuelcells would use a bit more than fusion.. but still way less than aerospace fuel use.)

i wish i could have figured out an artillery platform but even a Thumper is way too heavy for Scorpion hull. and mech mortars don't quite do the same thing.

[Sharpnel]

Very neat!  I've been looking at a fusion Scorpion based on the 150-rating engine, which is the same engine Niops used to use for the Burke, but this is probably a lot better idea.

Here's my upsized version with 150 SFE

Warrior Light Tank