Ishtar (Combat Vehicle)

This article is about the heavy fire support tank. For the planetary system, see Ishtar (system).
Ishtar.PNG
Ishtar heavy fire support tank
Production information
Manufacturer various
Production Year 2976[1]
Mission Fire Support
Type Wheeled
Cost 2,961,817 C-Bills
Technical specifications
Tech Base Clan
Mass 65
Armor Compound E91 Ferro-Fibrous
Engine Fusion 110
Speed 54 km/h
Crew 5
Communications System Build 1685/3 Tacticom
Targeting Tracking System Series XXVI IWS w/Artemis IV FCS
Heat Sinks 10 single
Armament
BV (1.0) 1,128[2]
BV (2.0) 1,404[3]


Description[edit]

The Ishtar Heavy Fire Support Tank is less popular than smaller, more maneuverable combat vehicles, but its heavy firepower has made it a staple of heavy garrison units. Though the original design was faster, over the years the tank has become slower and better armored. It is only capable of moving up to 54 km/h, but it can rely on seven and a half tons of ferro-fibrous armor to keep it safe. The armor does little to protect the wheels from shrapnel, however, so it can quickly become immobilized. Something of an oddity on a vehicle, a "Goalkeeper" anti-missile system would shoot down missiles before they can become a threat, though it was only effective against incoming missiles from in front of the tank.[4]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Ishtar features two heavy autocannons, the Type 9 Ultra Autocannon/10 that can double its rate of fire and the Type KOV LB-X Autocannon/10 that can switch between slug and cluster munitions. Mounting these two autocannons in the vehicle's turret gives them the maximum possible flexibility in acquiring targets. For long range it carries a Type XV "Crossbow" LRM-15 that is augmented by an Artemis IV Fire Control System except when firing indirectly. Augmenting the Ishtar's firepower at medium range is a pair of Series 2b ER Medium Lasers.[4]

Variants[edit]

  • Original 
    The original version of the Ishtar was introduced earlier in the Succession Wars era. It lacked the modern Ishtar's lasers and anti-missile system, and the weapons loadout consisted of only the ultra and LB-X autocannons, and an Artemis IV-guided LRM-10 instead of the LRM-15. This version also had slightly less armor, which was made up for by using a larger engine, bringing its top speed up to 64 km/h. BV (2.0) = 1,072[5]
  • Gauss 
    This is a Jihad era variant of the Ishtar, which replaces the modern version's LB-X & Ultra Autocannons with a Gauss rifle and a Class 20 Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle in the turret. Each of these weapons was fed by two tons of ammunition and the vehicle's anti-missile system was removed. BV (2.0) = 1,616[6]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Ishtar (Combat Vehicle)
  2. Combat Operations, p. 108
  3. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 91
  4. 4.0 4.1 Technical Readout: 3060, pp. 62–63: "Ishtar"
  5. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged p. 93: "Original version of the Ishtar"
  6. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged p. 92: "Ishtar (Gauss) variant with stats & BV2"

Bibliography[edit]