SturmFeur

SturmFeur RGilClan v28.jpg
SturmFeur Heavy Tank
Production information
Manufacturer Trellshire Heavy Industries[1]

Defiance Industries[2]

Production Year 3018[3]
Mission Fire Support
Type Tracked
Cost 2,395,288 C-bills[4]
Technical specifications
Mass 85 Tons
Armor ProtecTech 6
Engine 255 InterComBust ICE
Speed 54 km/h
Crew 6
Communications System Angst 2100-b
Targeting Tracking System SturmFeur Highlight with BlindFire Radar
Heat Sinks None
Armament
BV (1.0) 763[5][6]
BV (2.0) 1,400[7]


Description[edit]

The SturmFeur debuted in 3018. At that time, it was the largest combat vehicle dedicated to providing missile support in the Inner Sphere. True to the philosophy of the LCAF that commissioned it, the SturmFeur is slow and can withstand a determined counterassault before needing to withdraw, thanks to its copious armor protection.[1][8]

The name appears to be a misspelling of the German translation of "Assault Fire": fire would translate as "Feuer" while Feur is not a German word.

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The primary armament on the SturmFeur was a pair of SturmFeur LRM-20s. These allowed the tank to provide withering support fire, both directly and indirectly. This allowed it to stay out of range and even out of sight of most enemy units. Difficulties with targeting technology during the Third Succession War necessitated splitting up the launchers so that they didn't accidentally damage friendly units. Because of this, one LRM was mounted in a turret, and the other was mounted behind but only fires forward, over the turret in an arc. The only secondary weapons were a pair of MiniGuns attached to the turret. They provided effective anti-infantry defense, but little else.[1][8]

Variants[edit]

  • Heavy Gauss 
    A newer variant was more radical. This "Heavy Gauss" variant replaced the turret-mounted LRM-20 and Machine Guns with an Artemis IV assisted LRM-10 and an ER Medium Laser. Even more radical is the removal of the fixed missile rack and mounting a Heavy Gauss Rifle in the front of the tank. These also radically change the SturmFeur's mission from a fire support role to more of a close up brawler. Considering the SturmFeur's speed, it is unclear how well it would do in such a role.[9] Cost = 5,133,750 C-bills[10] BV (1.0) = 1,067[6] BV (2.0) = 1,711
  • SRM 
    A variant introduced in 3023 offered by Trellshire, the "SRM" replaced the turret-mounted LRM with four SRM-4s and an additional Machine Gun. This gave the SturmFeur increased ability to defend itself at short range and was sometimes used as a bodyguard for standard SturmFeurs.[8] Cost = 2,481,313 C-bills, BV (2.0) = 1,390[11]
  • Kalki Cruise Missile Launcher 
    Using a SturmFeur chassis, the Kalki was designed by Kallon Industries to provide missile artillery support to ground units. Unfortunately, even expanding the chassis to a staggering 125 tons and downsizing the engine only allowed the designers to incorporate a single Cruise Missile 50 launcher. Also problematic was the greatly reduced top speed. To reduce costs and make more room for the Cruise Missile launcher, the top speed was reduced to approximately 32 km/h. Though it carried a decent amount of armor protection, the increased size of the vehicle resulted in the armor being considerably thinner in all locations. The largest problem, however, was the sheer size of the missiles. The Kalki only had enough room to carry a single missile for the launcher, meaning it had to be reloaded from an external source after every shot. Considering the missiles weigh as much as a Commando, this was a deadly shortcoming. Kallon shelved the project in the 3070s. BV (2.0) = 803[13]
  • Kalki Cruise Missile Launcher (Production) 
    The production version of the Kalki is a complete redesign of the experimental version. Many components from the SturmFeur are reused, but the chassis has been updated to 150 tons. The Kalki is now powered by a fuel cell-powered motor, which reduces cost. It also mounts a pair of Magshots for protection. The Cruise Missile 50 launcher still only has one reload, but engineers were able to upgrade the armor protection to seven tons. BV (2.0) = 1,036[14]
  • Cell 
    The 3149 update to the SturmFeur occurred as a result of the Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf raids on Hesperus II in conjunction with the study of salvaged Clan Hell's Horses vehicles[15]. This new variant hearkens back to the 3018 original replacing the fusion power with a fuel cell, reducing cost while increasing speed and tactical endurance. Defensively, Defiance opted to continue utilizing heavy ferro-fibrous armor while also installing CASE ammunition bins. The classic LRM20 pairs were upgraded to Clan variants with an Artemis IV FCS added to further improve performance. The twin machine guns remain with a single ton of ammunition allotted while the LRMs receive 8 tons. BV (2.0) = 1,822[16]
  • House Steiner
    An adaption of the Blakist variant, this version replaces all B-Pods with M-Pod upgrades and removes the Improved C3 to install an ECM[15]. BV (2.0) = 1,685 [17]
  • Gilmore
    A specialized fire support variant of the SturmFeur mounting an Arrow IV with two tons of standard munitions and one ton of homing missiles. It additionally carries 5 Thunderbolt 5 launchers with 4 tons of ammunition, a TAG, and an ER Small Laser. BV (2.0) = 1,670[18]
  • Assault
    Introduced along side the Cell variant, the Assault utilizes a light fusion powered engine[15] alongside downgrading one of the turret mounted LRM20s found on the Cell. In its place the Assault introduces an Improved Heavy Gauss Rifle with 4 tons of ammunition. It additionally mounts one ClanTech LRM20 (with 2 tons of ammunition), a Clan LRM 10 (w/ 2 tons of ammunition), a Clan ER Medium Laser, an ECM suite, and an Artemis IV FCS. BV (2.0) =2,199 [19]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Kalki Cruise Missile Launcher (Production) variant is subject of the following Design Quirks:[14]

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was altered to SturmFeuer.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 80
  2. ↑ Objectives: Lyran Alliance, p. 29
  3. ↑ MUL online date for the SturmFeur
  4. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 53
  5. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 81
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Combat Operations, p. 131
  7. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 93
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 92
  9. ↑ Record Sheets: Upgrades, p. 23
  10. ↑ Record Sheets: Upgrades Errata 1.0
  11. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 54
  12. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II, p. 19
  13. ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Corporations, p. 8
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. 65
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 28, p. 8
  16. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 28, p. 9
  17. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 28, p. 29
  18. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 28, p. 31
  19. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol 28, p. 30

Bibliography[edit]

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