TRO: Lords of War

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Shadrak
05/06/16 01:18 AM
98.101.165.116

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Dear Readers,

It is with great excitement that I introduce our new publication Lords of War. This publication follows our highly successful The Ancients, and provides an historical context for military hardware developed and employed from the early 2400's into the Age of War. By the year 2400, humanity had effectively spread across the stars and small, independent planets and interplanetary alliances began to consolidate into the interstellar states that would dominate then next six centuries. Even so, humanity was entering the Age of War and the Battlemech would soon be unleashed by the Terran Hegemony on the unsuspecting militaries to the Successor States. While the interstellar nations consolidated their military production capacity in a few, large military corporations, independent worlds, local militias and national guard forces needed equipment that could be constructed by the local industries on whatever planet that they were stationed. Some home-made designs of previous centuries would continue to be produced (see The Ancients), but, in order for modern military vehicles to effectively compete with the combat vehicles and battlemechs rolling off of the production-lines of the major states, military vehicle designs needed to be carefully tailored to the construction capabilities of the industries producing the vehicles. While these military vehicles would never be able to compete one on one with the most advanced creations of the large, interstellar militaries, they could be produced in significant numbers by a local industrial base that they could form an effective defense force against pirates and could even serve to blunt the attack of more organized, well-equipped, and powerful armies. Unlike the preceding century, where military vehicles of various planets seemed to mirror the capabilities of past centuries, military vehicles of the 25th century would become ever-more specialized and advanced. In order to produce these vehicles, most local military forces needed to contract with an outside agent to provide, at the very least, design expertise. For many customers, these outside agents would manage the entire production of the vehicles. The systems described below represent the designs of three of the premier defense contractors operating during the Age of War. With few exceptions, nearly every reasonably advanced planet contracted with at least one of these companies that provided support that varied from design consulting to management of the entire production process. Even seven centuries later these designs show up on the battlefield (albeit heavily modified) because even standard industrial capacity is capable of producing these designs. In fact, after the Jihad, these designs experienced an explosion in popularity as humanity entered a new, dark age. The final part of this publication features the last designs fielded by CSC and BYE prior to their merger in 3075. Both companies survived the formation of the Star League largely on maintenance contracts and were able to support themselves through the upheaval of the Succession Wars. Their new designs represented their attempts to take advantage of the desperation of the Clan Wars, and these designs were fairly successful before the creation of the new Star League and the Word of Blake Jihad that followed prompted BYE and CSC to merge in 3075 and restructure their business completely. These highly advanced designs will be reviewed in our future publication that will profile this successful companies rise to becoming one of the leaders in the defense industry. I would, again, like to thank our staff of writers, researchers, and analysts that have made this work possible, as well as United Free Press Professionals, the Tyrsis McNeil Museum, Terran and Terra Firma branches of the Carnegie-Gale Libraries, and John Dwelick, the SYCE's staff historian. We trust this publication will expand your knowledge of our shared history.

Jerry Wiley
Editor-in-Chief and CEO
Thomas Information Group
New Foundation, New Earth
Shadrak
05/06/16 01:22 AM
98.101.165.116

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Rothstein Defense Solutions actually dates back to the 22nd century and was the first large interstellar defense contractor to target small, independent worlds and militias. Recognizing that the larger, professional militaries could not be equipped and stationed to deter all bandit activity, and that large contractors could never produce war matierials in the volumes or at the cost necessary to develop the robust military forces necessary to defend hundreds of planets, Rathstein Defense Solutions consolidated several design teams and purchased licenses to many of the backwater military designs that were showing up in local militaries since the early 2200s. Unlike its competitors RDS focused on developing designs that were adaptable to a broad range of industrial bases. Rothstein's designs were more simplistic than competitors and were much more common. Unfortunately for Rothstein, the slim profit margins, the high overhead, the fact that RDS designs were replicated by non-licensed manufacturers, and the relative peace of the Star League era resulted in an environment where the company withered and died. The last of the company's assets were sold or transferred to new owners by 2713 but the company had ceased to be a significant player in the defense industry several decades before.


Unlike Rothstein, BYE Military Industries (Bomb Your Enemies according to some BYE-o-philes but actually based on the name of the original founder Hugh Bye) attempted to develop designs that could compete with more advanced combat vehicles and Battlemechs. Almost exclusively relying on fuel cell power sources and modern weapon systems, the true advantage of BYE's designs were that they could be produced, for a price, by societies that did not have advanced manufacturing capabilities. BYE might import advanced electronics, advanced weapons, or advanced armor, but, for the most part, production was managed by the procuring products from the serviced government's existing manufacturing base. In fact, BYE contracted with more than 100 different production facilities to produce the more advanced parts for their vehicles. This insulated many BYE designs from the ravages of the Succession Wars enabled them to live well into the 31st century. As the Age of War closed and conflict sputttered out under the Star League, BYE shifted to logistical and maintenance support for military systems and also contracted to provide training to mercenaries and house troops. BYE also shifted to use dozens of project and contact teams operating from specialized production/assembly dropships to mobilize to a customer's site and rapidly complete orders. This service allowed the company's designs to spread continuously despite the increased cost and Star League regulation, but it would eventually result in the loss of hundreds of personnel and dozens of dropships when many of them were engaged, killed, or captured during the Amaris Civil War and the Early Succession Wars. By the Second Succession War, most customers were importing BYE parts and assembling the designs themselves. By 3025, BYE existed as a small 25-man operation on Galatea servicing mercenary groups that needed to modify combat vehicles.

CSC is an interesting company. Unlike Rothstein and BYE, CSCs designs were intended to be marketed to interstellar nations since many of their designs were exceptionally large and designed as strategic assets. Despite this, the majority of CSC's customers were independent worlds and planetary militias. With a focus on naval vessels and with a product line that almost exclusively utilized fission powerplants, CSC targeted a very narrow market and consisted of a very lean staff. As the landscape for military contractors changed, CSC slowly shifted to maintenance and support as the Star League began to restrict parochial military forces, and the CSC team opened up space for the company in large vehicle and fission powerplant design and maintenance for civilian applications. Because of this, CSC was able to last until the discovery of the Helm Memory Core gave them an opportunity to move back into the defense contracting market and the Clan Invasion created the demand for their products.

NGS was spun off from the heavy industrial equipment manufacturer Leveigh Heavy Industrial (previously Leveigh Brothers) in 2459. While initially very successful, NGS would find itself outclassed by other manufacturers as the Inner Sphere entered a golden age of military vehicle production in the 2500's. Outclassed and losing profitability, LHI sold NGS to Defiance Industries in 2513. Defiance continued to produce and support NGS designs under their own brand for 17 years before finally discontinuing all former NGS designs in 2530. The two most well-known and popular NGS designs, the Anton and the Alliestar, continued to be produced by several small, independent manufacturers including several noble lords for their private military forces.
Shadrak
05/06/16 01:27 AM
98.101.165.116

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Kritis Fast Attack Vehicle


Overview

RDS introduced the Fast Attack Vehicle in 2387 to fill the requirements of a contract to provide a fast, wheeled scout vehicle as part of a defense contract to overhaul the local military forces on Pliska. The development process resulted in a very advanced design for the time, and Marshal Travis Neigh, the Pliskan Defense Forces commander, was very happy with the outcome.

Seeking to increase profits as well as offset the cost of developing such an advanced design, and recognizing that the XXX FAV could compete very well against the Dulmen Light Utility Vehicle in certain roles, Rothstein coordinated with several manufacturers to build thousands of these vehicles in within the first five years of its introduction. Rothstein manufactured a demand for the vehicle through the publication of the book Rapid Assault Doctrine authored by Marshal Neigh and endorsed by General Arleigh Roberts. The book articulated a doctrine of lighter motor forces deployed from small dropships to overwhelm a defending force. In time this doctrine would fall out of favor, but many of the initial failures of the doctrine were credited to an improper force structure. Even so, the doctrine and the effectiveness of the Kritis FAV in its designated role resulted in the rapid spread of the vehicle throughout the Inner Sphere.

Capabilities

The Kritis FAV was designed to be exceptionally fast and it is. Its super-charged ICE engine and lightweight frame enable it to speed across a battlefield in excess of 160 kph. The small size of the Kritis FAV enables it to be deployable by air and RDS developed a custom drop chute for this purpose. The FAV was often used by airborne infantry throughout the Inner Sphere to provide anti-armor capability and high-speed response when an initial breach was made in an enemy force. The off-road capability of the FAV and its low ground pressure allows it to traverse sandy and swampy terrain more easily than vehicles that are not designed for those kinds of terrain. This makes the FAV a favored design to keep in reserve even if the vehicle is not needed in a motor infantry or scout role. Even today there are many frontline units that have an FAV or two stored on their dropships for instances where operations in sandy terrain seem likely. While the FAV is designed as a 2700 kg vehicle,nearly 1/4 of its weight is dedicated to cargo and the vehicle almost never carries cargo. While the unburdened vehicle is still only capable of 160 kph using the supercharger, many crews have discovered that even without the supercharger the unburdened FAV can travel at speeds in excess of 140 kph. The standard model carries a heavy support machinegun, but it isn't permanently mounted in a pintle.


Deployment

During the Kritis FAV's production run, RDS produced more than 1.1 million of the original model through licensees and intermediaries. Eventually, RDS would sell a civilianized version of the vehicle throughout the Inner Sphere and, in the Succession Wars Era, the descendants of this design would be re-militarized to assist militia forces on hundreds of different planets when they patrolled for raiders

Variants

Shortly after the introduction of the FAV, RDS released a variant that was intended to more-effectively engage armored targets. In addition to the Heavy Support Machinegun that the original model mounted, the Kritis FAV also mounted a heavy SRM launcher and two light support machineguns. This model also installed a pillion seat for the gunner. These design changes came at the expense of a large portion of the cargo hold. The civilian version mounted BAR 2 armor and included an additional two pillion seats.


Kritis Fast Attack Vehicle

Tonnage: 2700 kg
Tech Base: Inner Sphere (Tech LevelD)
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Experimental
Era: Exodus/Pre-Age of War
Tech Rating/Era Availability:D/X-X-D-A
Production Year: 2387
Crew: 3, Commander, Driver, Gunner
Cost: ? C-Bills
Battle Value: ?

Power Plant: ICE
Cruise Speed: 86.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 173.0 km/h
Armor: BAR 5
Armament:
1 x Support Machinegun
Manufacturer: Rothstein Defense Solutions
Primary Factory: Various
Communications System: AN/XLT 1129 Team Radio
Targeting and Tracking System: None

================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Tech D; 4 pts 886
UltraLight
OffRoad
Amphibious
Engine: ICE 16
Cruise MP: 8
Flank MP: 12 (16)
Supercharger 69
Fuel: Range: 217 km 15
Heat Sinks: 0.00
Control Equipment: None 0
Turret: 0.00
Armor: BAR 5 AV - 8 256

Armor
Factor
Front 3
Left/Right 2
Rear 1


================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seating (2) Body 150
Support Heavy Machinegun Pintle 44
Pintle (up to 300 kg) Pintle 15
Ammo ( Spt Heavy MG) Body 20
Cargo Body 556


Quirk:


Edited by Shadrak (05/06/16 01:38 AM)
Shadrak
07/18/16 01:44 AM
98.101.165.111

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Kritis (Now Lapis Lapin):
Shadrak
07/21/16 12:54 AM
98.101.165.111

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Barnes Long Range Reconnaissance Vehicle

Mass: 4740 kg
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant: DuraMax 90 Fuel Cell
Cruising Speed: 64 kph
Flank Speed: 96 kph
Armor: Plasan 10
Armament:
1 x Heavy Support MG
1 x Heavy Automatic Grenade Launcher
Manufacturer: BYE Industries
Primary Factory: Various
Communications System: Harrison 120-234
Targeting and Tracking System: LPX 20-20


Overview:
BYE introduced the Barnes Long Range Recon Vehicle in 2456 with the intent that the vehicle be capable of frontline use in addition to serving as a recon vehicle. While the Barnes is more effective than many of its predecessors in serveing a direct combat role, it was never effective against the combat vehicles of its day. Still, against the designs of previous generations it could easily engage and destroy even light tanks with limited risk to its own crew. Despite its relative ineffectiveness as a combat vehicle, it has not been unusual for the Barnes to be pressed into this role, especially when other alternatives are limited.

Capabilities:
The Barnes utilizes an independent suspension that can be adjusted to provide a ground clearance of between 40 and 75 centimeters of ground clearance and up to 50 centimeters of wheel travel. The DuraMax 90 Fuel Cell powerplant, coupled with the DonCo transmission system, provided, at the time, unparalleled fuel economy and power output. The Plasan 10 Armor offered a protection level comperable to armored personnel carriers three or four times heavier than the Barnes, and enabled the Barnes to, on occassion, engage IFVs and light tanks with some chance of winning the engagement.The Barnes is light enough to traverse most terrain that it can expect to encounter while on recon, and its motive system is very robust. BYE, in its attempt to lead the defense market in high-tech offerings, initially offered the Barnes with a remote-controlled sponson system mounting its primary weapon systems. This model would utilize a two man crew, but BYE would find the expense of the advanced targeting system as well as the complexity of the remote control system made the Barnes less appealing to potential customers so the vehicle was instead offered with seating for a third crewman that could run the weapons manually on a pintle mount. The prototype Barnes also featured a bolt-on modular armor system to allow the vehicle additional flexibility, but BYE determined that the effectiveness of the modular armor's effectiveness was so severely limited that this aspect of the vehicle was abandoned in favor of a heavier, permanent armor system.

Deployment:
The Barnes was relatively popular but was much more expensive than many comperable recon vehicles on the market at the same time. Because of this, the Barnes was purchased by more than a few military organizations, but it did not experience the same popularity as the Fast Attack Vehicle. BYE records indicate that at least 320,000 Barnes LRRVs were purchased by military organizations throughout the Inner Sphere through 3060; the vast majority were produced prior to the Reunification War, but the line was reactivated in 3025 and 45,000 were produced between 3025 and the time BYE and CSC merged operations.
Today, at least 80,000 Barnes are still operational in more than 1000 different militia organizations with at least 1500 Barnes serving in frontline units.
While the Barnes has been prized for its capabilities, it has never been a design that has been at risk of being counterfeited because more advanced designs are readily available and less advanced designs are far cheaper to produce and purchase.

Variants:
The Barnes did not experience a great deal of variation until after its re-introduction in the 31st century. As new technologies emerged and the Clan threat evolved, a readily available armored vehicle capable of engaging infantry and battle armor was very desirable especially at a technology level readily available to most industrialized planets. Users re-assessed the remote turret system of the Barnes prototype from nearly 600 years before. The added cost of the remote sponson and targeting system was considered to be a good investment given the design's increased combat effectiveness. This design included a heavy support laser with an advanced fire control system in place of one crewmember seat and the original weapons package.

Tonnage: 4740 kg
Tech Base: Inner Sphere (Tech LevelD)
Motive Type: TWheeled
Rules Level: Experimental
Era: Exodus/Pre-Age of War
Tech Rating/Era Availability:D/X-X-D-A
Production Year: 2456
Crew: 3, Commander, Driver, Gunner
Cost: ? C-Bills
Battle Value: ?

Power Plant: ICE
Cruise Speed: 64 km/h
Flanking Speed: 96 km/h
Armor: BAR 10
Armament:
1 x Support Machinegun
1 x Heavy Automatic Grenade Launcher
Manufacturer: BYE Industries
Primary Factory: Various
Communications System: Harrison 120-234
Targeting and Tracking System: LPX 20-20

================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Tech D; 5 pts 2240
Off-Road, Armored, Amphibious
Engine: Fuel Cell 569
Cruise MP: 6
Flank MP: 9
Fuel: Range: 1171 km 100
Heat Sinks:
Control Equipment: None 0
Turret: Pintle 20
Armor: BAR 10 Armor Value: 13 819

Armor
Factor
Front 5
Left/Right 3
Rear 2


================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seating (3) Body 225
Support Machinegun Pintle 44
Ammo (Support MG) 400 shots Body 20
Heavy Automatic Grenade Lchr Pintle 20
Ammunition (HAGL)


Quirk:
Shadrak
07/21/16 10:52 PM
98.101.165.111

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Barnes Image Attachment (229 downloads)


Edited by Shadrak (07/21/16 10:52 PM)
Shadrak
07/21/16 11:24 PM
98.101.165.111

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Bad Axe Combat ATV

Mass: 3000 kg
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant: TRX 40E
Cruising Speed: 75 kph
Flank Speed: 117 kph
Armor: Vistan 800 Proof
Armament:
1 x 5 kg Pintle
1 x 10 kg Pintle
Manufacturer: NGS
Primary Factory: Various
Communications System: SINCMAX
Targeting and Tracking System: None


Overview:
The Bad Axe was NGS' attempt to push a vehicle into the field as quickly as possible to meet a requirement associated with a large defense contract to supply a scout vehicle, anti-armor system, and a full regiment's worth of main battle tanks to the XXXXXX military. Lacking an effective scout option, NGS was likely to lose the contract to RDS despite most of the contracting team's preference for the NGS tank. After receiving an option to modify their request for proposal, NGS proposed the purchase of 3,000 Hildago ATVs from the Purilov Outdoors company with the intent to militarize the vehicles. Gambling on NGS because of the proven excellence of their main battle tank, the contracting team accepted the proposal and NGS immediately delivered the tanks and tank killers and was able to deliver the modified ATVs. The ATVs were so successful that NGS pursued and obtained a license to develop a purpose built military ATV based on the Hildago.

Capabilities:
Able to traverse almost any terrain while traveling at near top speed, the Bad Axe's major drawback is that, while it can perform the scout role well, it is not REALLY a military vehicle and it lacks the interoperability of many military systems. Still, its low price and effectiveness in its role has led to massive sales.
An interesting effect of using the Hildago as the foundation for the Bad Axe has resulted in the Bad Axe being able to use many of the same aftermarket items originally marketed to Hildago owners including a small trailer capable of towing more than 500kgs across rough terrain.

Deployment:
The Bad Axe existed as a system for about 70 years in the NGS inventory before it was completely discarded. Despite this, the Hildago has continued to be produced by various manufacturers unimpeded to this day and the VX model currently available for purchase at most adventure outlets and outdoor retailers can be modified into the rough equivalent of the Bad Axe for a few thousand C-Bills.

Variants:
A modern variant, offered by a small company in the Free Worlds League, utilizes a battery-powered energy source and high tech armor (Tech Level E BAR 10). These changes come at the expense of the rear two seats (replaced with the 200kg of battery packs). A pillion seat is included for the primary gunner (limiting his effectiveness during longer missions that the solar supplied batteries enable) and a reduction in the vehicle's cargo capacity (also a detriment for the vehicle's long range capabilities).
To allow the batteries to operate far afield, the new system also carries a 100 kg solar plant capable of recharging the batteries fully in 24 hours under intense sunlight.


Tonnage: 3000 kg
Tech Base: Inner Sphere (Tech LevelD)
Motive Type: Wheeled
Rules Level: Experimental
Era: Exodus/Pre-Age of War
Tech Rating/Era Availability:D/X-X-D-A
Production Year: 2473
Crew: 3, Commander, Driver, Gunner
Cost: ? C-Bills
Battle Value: ?

Power Plant: ICE
Cruise Speed: 75 km/h
Flanking Speed: 117 km/h
Armor: BAR 8
Armament:
1 x 10 kg pintle
1 x 5 kg pintle
Manufacturer: NGS
Primary Factory: Various
Communications System: SINCMAX
Targeting and Tracking System: None

================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Off Road, Armored, Tractor 972kg
Engine: ICE 597kg
Cruise MP: 7
Flank MP: 11
Fuel: Range: 351 km 21 kg
Heat Sinks: None 0kg
Control Equipment: None 0kg
Turret: Pintle 15
Armor: BAR 8 Armor Value: 10 510 kg

Armor
Factor
Front 4
Left/Right 2
Rear 2


================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seating (4) Body 300kg
Pintle 1 10 kg
Pintle 2 5kg
Cargo 285 kg


Quirk:
Shadrak
07/21/16 11:25 PM
98.101.165.111

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Bad Axe image Attachment (231 downloads)


Edited by Shadrak (07/21/16 11:25 PM)
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