AR-90 Arantino IFV

[PeripheryExplorer]

AR-90 Arantino IFV

Mass: 20 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant: Magna Magna 40
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: Taurus Majoris Mining StarFlex/1
Armament:

• 1 Pinard Select MML 5
• 1 Voelkers 200 Machine Gun

Manufacturer: Taurus Majoris Mining

• Primary Factory: Pinard

Communication System: Pinard-Dicolais Electronics Neil 6000-x
Targeting & Tracking System: Pinard-Dicolais Electronics TracTex Alpha-1
Introduction Year: 3090
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-E-D
Cost: 291,317 C-bills

Overview
Losses to the Taurian Concordat have resulted in significant degradation of manufacturing capability, potentially leading to a national crisis. While key manufacturing centers in New Vandenberg, Taurus, and Ilushion remain active, other major centers were either destroyed or taken over by invaders. This has left the Taurian Concordat greatly weakened.

In an attempt to adjust to the new reality facing the realm, in 3090, Taurus Majoris Mining out of Laconis opened new facilities and factories on Pinard dedicated to diversifying their operations for the production of the robust and well liked StarSlab armor, and also start production of a new line of Ferro Fibrous armor to be branded as StarFlex. To highlight this change, they worked closely with the TDF to develop a new infantry fighting vehicle that would mount the new weapons and armor, the test bed was called the TMM-IFV-1X or Taurus Majoris Mining Infantry Fighting Vehicle No. 1 Experimental.

Initial field trials were very successful. TMM focused primarily on testing the Pinard Select MML system, and demonstrating it's accuracy and ability to switch between ammo loads. Pinard Protectorates Limited was closely involved in the initial testing, working with TMM to handle jamming, selection failure, and problems with use of the TracTex Alpha-1 system properly reading information provided by infantry spotters. These tests and iterations resulted in the TMM-IFV-15X being eventually sent to Taurus for demonstration and hopefully a green light for larger production.

Under the Protectorship of Tharn, the Taurian Concordat was attempting to build support for a Protectorship without a Calderon in place. The administration saw an opportunity with this new light tank, and approached TMM about naming it the Arantino - after Rayna Arantino, a popular Protector who had served after Calderon paranoia and corruption had led the realm to ruin. A lot of publicity was put into the development of the tank, and that it was entirely built with Taurian pride, and was a representation of a new era of Taurian leadership and growth.

Capabilities
The Arantino is built to transport and support a full platoon of foot infantry in urban and built up environments. While engagement in such terrain is often the area where infantry shine, their weakness is when they have to move between locations or reposition during battle. The Arantino is meant to support that movement and improve the tactical responsiveness of TDF infantry in urban areas. This is made possible by the Pinard Select MML-5 gives the unit mission flexibility at greatly reduced cost, however the most common load out is presented here: smoke to cover drop and pickup locations, with infernos to deny areas, burn out enemy infantry, and threaten even the most powerful BattleMechs.

Additional load outs with mines or fragmentation missiles have been seen as well, and the TDF has greatly appreciated the flexibility the MML system gives to this unit to allow it to support multiple types of mission needs. This is backed up by a single Voelkers 200 machine gun that has stood the test of time with the TDF and provides for direct anti-infantry support.

All of this works thanks to the use of the Neil 6000-x communications system. Built by Pinard-Dicolais Electronics, the Neil system was built to work with the communication systems used by Taurian infantry units. It has been used on heavy tracked APCs to great effect for centuries within the TDF, and as a result, the Arantino is able to coordinate very well with assigned infantry forces, and commanders have not required new training or updating all of a units equipment.

Deployment
The AR-90 is primarily deployed by the Taurian Defense Force, but has also been sold to Filtvelt, and to the Raven Alliance. Incomplete AR-90s were captured by the Capellan Confederation during their invasion of Laconis, and they are using them to garrison those worlds. No other powers currently field the Arantino in large numbers.   

History
During the heavy fighting on Laconis, the AR-90s served remarkably well, laying down smoke and fire throughout the TMM complex allowing the local militia to hold off much stronger CCAF forces and delayed their capture of the facilities enough that a lot of the most important equipment was able to be successfully evacuated or destroyed. The 175th Infantry Regiment of the TDF inflicted significant damage to Capellan Confederation BattleMech units sent to secure the facility. Using smoke and infernos to trap and isolate the enemy force, the 175th was able to bring the CCAF units into knife fighting range, leading to many of them losing leg actuators from swarm attacks or being destroyed outright. Their determined and tenacious defense was critical in halting the Capellan Confederation advance into the Taurian Concordat, and putting them on the defense while denying them the value of the mining facilities.

Code: [Select]

Type: AR-90 Arantino
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Movement Type: Wheeled
Tonnage: 20
Battle Value: 322

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                    2
Engine                        40 ICE                  2
Cruising MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Control Equipment:                                  1.0
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             0.5
Armor Factor (Ferro)          98                    5.5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   2         22   
     R/L Side               2/2      20/20   
     Rear                    2         16   
     Turret                  2         20   


Weapons
and Ammo                      Location    Tonnage   
Machine Gun                    Front        0.5     
MML 5                          Turret       3.0     
MML 5 LRM Smoke Ammo (24)       Body        1.0     
MML 5 SRM Inferno Ammo (20)     Body        1.0     
Half Machine Gun Ammo (100)     Body        0.5     
Infantry                        Body        3.0

Variants:
AR-90-DF Arantino IFV: Replaces all weapons with a LAC/2 and two tons of armor piercing ammo (BV: 298, Cost: 299,017)

AR-90-M Arantino MASH: Replaces all weapons with a MASH suite (3.5 tons), and drops the turret. Has a Guardian ECM and AMS (1 ton ammo). Armor is 31 to front, 24 to each side, and 19 to rear. (BV: 357, Cost: 539,367)

AR-90-C Arantino: Replaces all weapons and turret with cargo space (6.5 tons). (BV: 257, Cost: 169,767).

[Sir Chaos]

Excellent design.

Though I´m not sure how necessary the machine gun is, given you can carry inferno SRM. If you drop the MG and its ammo, you can carry a third ton of MML ammo for increased flexibility.

And if you do keep the MG, I would move it to the turret instead of the front for maximum field of fire.

[PeripheryExplorer]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

I did think about that, but I decided to go with the forward firing machine gun as it allows the tank to engage with units in front of it while still providing longer range support where needed. I also should have remembered to add to the fluff that the Pinard Select system has an unreliable feed, and sometimes in rougher terrain or under fire, it "locks" into one ammo type, thus the machine gun provides a reliable and time tested alternative that crews appreciate. Something like that!

I do agree it would be more ideal with an additional ton of ammo for the MML, but sometimes I like to make vehicles that aren't necessarily "perfect". Still, a perfectly valid critique!

Thank you!

[Daryk]

It only takes one more ton of engine to get it up to 4/6... 3/5 is a bit slower than I'd like for a platoon hauler.

[PeripheryExplorer]

Thought of that too! But decided the heavier weapons load out is worth the slower speed - the tank, as envisioned, would never leave dense urban or industrial areas. Deploying it in the open would be suicidal even at 4/6, and it can use smoke to increase to hit modifiers rather than movement!

[Daryk]

In a city, 3/5 may or may not make it around the next corner fast enough...

[PeripheryExplorer]

But it keeps you at pace with your mechanized allies, Battle Armor etc. This absolutely a combined arms unit. It can't - and shouldn't - be used in isolation. If you're using these to fill gaps in the lines alone, you've already lost your city. However, if these, two platoons of mechanized infantry, and your foot infantry are advancing up a city block - you'll probably emerge victorious over other enemies.

[Daryk]

That's a fair point.

[General308]

Excellent design.

Though I´m not sure how necessary the machine gun is, given you can carry inferno SRM. If you drop the MG and its ammo, you can carry a third ton of MML ammo for increased flexibility.

And if you do keep the MG, I would move it to the turret instead of the front for maximum field of fire.

I would go with the LMG.  Yea it is going to do less damage against infantry but the extra range helps in my opinion.  I would put it in the Turret as well