Vedette

Vedette RGilClan v32.jpg
Vedette Medium Tank
Production information
Manufacturer New Earth Trading Company

Hellespont Industrials

Pinard Protectorates Limited

Quikscell Company

United Outworlders Corporation

Vandenberg Mechanized Industries

Arcturan Arms[1]

Production Year 2943[2]
Mission Dragoon/Cavalry
Type Tracked
Cost 725,750 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 50
Armor ProtecTech 6
Engine Locom-Pack 250 InterComBust ICE
Speed 86 km/h
Crew 4
Communications System ComStar Rover
Targeting Tracking System ComStar Test-2
Heat Sinks None
Armament
BV (1.0) ???
BV (2.0) 475[3]


Description[edit]

The yardstick against which all other tanks are judged, the Vedette medium tank is one of the most popular and common combat vehicles in the Inner Sphere. Carrying only one main and one secondary weapon, the selling point of the Vedette is its speed, fast for a medium tank. The combination of speed and its tightly focused armament ensure the tank works best in concert with other vehicle types or as a pack hunter with other Vedettes. Its high speed also sees it a mainstay of convoy defense and fast response operations.

Originally one of the few vehicles produced by the mammoth New Earth Trading Company, demand outstripped supply and the design was licensed to a variety of third-party manufacturers. The only notable difference between manufacturers is that NETC production runs use ComStar designed communication and targeting equipment.

The design of the Vedette is apparently based on that of the long-lost SLDF Cavalry tank of the same name, the last known examples of which were observed in 3028 as being included as part of the Helm Memory Core cache.[4]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

Unlike many thirtieth- and thirty-first-century military vehicles, the Vedette's armament consists of one main and one secondary weapon, a turret-mounted Armstrong J11 AutoCannon, identical to the one mounted on the SHD-2H Shadow Hawk, with a Scatter Gun Light Machine Gun mounted on the bow of the tank in a mini-ball turret. Carrying only one anti-vehicle weapon does not make it a less effective vehicle than a newer tank, but does reduce its ability to deal with a wide variety of targets. The Vedette uses its speed to great effect by moving into optimum autocannon range, opening fire, and then retreating as fast as possible to another fire position.

Variants[edit]

  • AC/2 
    A popular 2963 variant of the Vedette mounts an AC/2 in place of the AC/5, and adds an SRM-2 rack for short-range firepower. BV (1.0)= 211.[5] BV (2.0)= 458.
  • Ultra 
    One the earliest third-party licensees of the Vedette, Hellespont Industrials of Sian was also the first to produce a version using advanced technology in 3054. A relatively simple and cost-effective upgrade, the machine gun was removed in exchange for more armor and the standard plate replaced with locally-produced Hellespont Lite ferro-fibrous, boosting the tank's overall protection by 20%. With regards to armaments, the Armstrong J11 autocannon was swapped for an Imperator Ultra series gun. This improvement in firepower allows the crew to attack with an increased rate of fire and at greater ranges than previously possible. BV (2.0) = 590[7]
  • LB-X 
    Developed exclusively for sale to the Trinity Alliance, this 3069 variant restores the classic model's machine gun and carries an LB 5-X AC to offer some anti-aircraft capacity. BV (2.0) = 552[8]
  • NETC 
    Following Hellespont's lead, NETC also introduced a much more mundane upgrade, also using Ferro-Fibrous armor and an Ultra AC/5, but retaining the original's machine gun, resulting in only a slight increase in overall armor protection. BV (1.0)= 297[5] BV (2.0) = 545[9]
  • RAC 
    An advanced variant to lure sales from Hellespont, it removed the Ultra AC and machine gun for a Rotary AC/5, boasting even heavier damage capacity. BV (2.0) = 712[10]
  • Light Gauss 
    Another advanced variation, this version replaces all the weaponry with a Light Gauss Rifle, the increased weight of this weapon leading to a reduction in ferro-fibrous armor. BV (2.0) = 478[11]
  • Cell 
    The Vedette version used by the Word of Blake's Protectorate Militia uses a fuel cell engine instead of the traditional ICE. The standard weapons were removed and replaced with an LB 10-X AC and a pair of SRM-2 launchers, one mounted coaxially with the main gun, and the other covering the rear arc. The tank also carries a C3 slave, CASE, and an anti-missile system for additional protection. The HMG provide the vehicle with anti infantry capabilities.[12] BV (2.0) = 731[13]
  • Vedette V7 
    This version of the Vedette uses a fuel cell engine to provide speeds of up to 86 km/h. Protection is provided by five tons of Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor and CASE. A pair of forward firing Magshots deter infantry and light armor while the turret-mounted Bombast Laser inflicts heavy damage on larger vehicles and 'Mechs. Twelve heat sinks disperse the Bombast Laser's waste heat. BV (2.0) = 599[1]
  • Armor Vedette
    Based on the Blakist Cell variant this variant swaps out the ICE for a fuel cell[15]. This upgrade freed up enough weight to improve fire power by adding an Ultra AC/10 and double its protection by adding Heavy Ferro-fibrous armor, granting it the moniker of Armor Vedette[15]. The addition of a Heavy Machine Gun provides anti-infantry capability. The Heavy Machine Gun is fed by a 1/2 ton of ammunition while the UAC/10 is fed by 3 tons of ammunition with both bins protected by CASE[16]. BV(2.0) = 944[16]

Custom Variants[edit]

  • Doris' Delight 
    An XL engine allows Doris' Delight to travel at a maximum speed of 96 km/h while freeing up enough weight to mount a Gauss rifle and nine and a half tons of armor. It was destroyed during the Word of Blake's assault on New Avalon.[18] BV (2.0) = 1,219[19]
  • Harpoon variant 
    Designed by infantry cadets at Ritza Academy and first used in 3150, this variant uses the V7 as a foundation, replacing the bombast laser with a set of heavy harpoon guns. It was meant to work in conjunction with a custom bola-throwing Fox Armored Car to trap and knock down 'Mechs. No stats have been given for this variant.[20]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Vedette V7 variant is subject of the following Design Quirks:[1]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Technical Readout: Prototypes, pp. 50–51
  2. ↑ MUL online date for the Vedette
  3. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 37
  4. ↑ The Price of Glory, p. 255
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Combat Operations, p. 121
  6. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 38
  7. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 125
  8. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 127
  9. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 129
  10. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 130
  11. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 128
  12. ↑ Technical Readout: 3085, p. 190
  13. ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 40
  14. ↑ Record Sheets: 3145 New Tech, New Upgrades, p. 51
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Recognition Guide: iClan vol. 32, pp. 15
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 32, pp.29
  17. ↑ Experimental Technical Readout: Mercs, p. 9
  18. ↑ Technical Readout: 3058 Unabridged, p. 94
  19. ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 126
  20. ↑ Iron Dawn, chs. 3 (designers) and 25 (design)

Bibliography[edit]

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