Alamo Armory T-113-MSV Missile Support Vehicle:


"A second hand Iron Bolt Missile Vehicle will run you four million credits. Think about the simple fact that you can buy six of our T-113-MSV Missile Support Vehicles for the cost of a single one of them. Which would you rather have?"


"Many companies have lost sight of the objective with their designs. Often they produce a dozen different designs, all based on different chassis, for various roles. Just think about the logistics nightmare. On another level, when drivers switch between vehicles, they will need to familiarize themselves with that vehicle. Wouldn't it be just easier to operate a whole family of vehicles based on the same Chassis?"


"With Alamo Armory's designs, you get high quality but you don't pay for what you don't need."


- Sales Pitch by Lausanne Rose - Company Executive



Alamo Armory is one of the most recent companies to join in the production of military vehicles. They are a relatively small company who restored a pre-rifts automobile factory in the southern part of what had once been called Texas. Their products are extremely affordable and the company cannot keep up with demand for them. As a result, there is pressure to expand production by perhaps joining with another, larger, company. Golden Age Weaponsmiths is one of the most likely but no one has moved on this possibility yet.


As it turns out, some of the founders of Alamo Armory originally started out as engineers for Golden Age. There has been rumors that Alamo Armory is in reality just a wing of Golden Age although this has been vehemently denied by both parties. It is possible that some of the engineers have a grudge against their former employer which could poison any agreement between the two companies. One of the engineers did bring plans for the old United States Army M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers which is used as the basis for all of Alamo Armory's designs.


Many of the other founding members once were a part of Iron Heart Armament. Some were on assignment with mercenary companies and small military forces giving logistical support and training. Others escaped from the city. These technicians later joined together with the engineers from Golden Age to form a new company. There are some escapees from the Coalition's destruction who are driven by revenge. That is not the case with these individuals. Many of them do hate the Coalition but their main plan is simply to maintain a profitable company which slips below the Coalition's radar.


The original M-113 was actually developed during the Nineteen Fifties although stayed in service for many decades and many other militaries adopted the vehicle. Over a hundred thousand were produced while the design was in production and a huge number of variants were developed. The design was both simple and robust. Due to this, in many ways the vehicle was the perfect platform for Alamo Armory to develop a host of different variants. There present variants include a standard Armored Personal Carried version, a heavier armed Infantry Fighting Vehicle version, a Self Propelled Mortar version, and a pair of different missile versions. One is armed with short range missiles while the other is armed with medium range missiles. As far as known, there are no addition designs although it is possible that they are working to develop additional versions. Possible future variants might include command vehicles and electronic warfare versions.


There are several advantages of all designs using the same basic chassis. It means that logistics, primarily in the form of repair parts, are more easy to maintain that they likely would with a whole host of different designs. All of the variants also have the basic top speed and terrain ability. It also means that one driver trained to drive an Armored Personnel Carrier version can easily drive a missile armed variant.


Golden Age primarily refits Pre-Rifts vehicles. Even though often even cheaper than Alamo Armory designs, there are a few glaring disadvantages of these designs. The first is that even when refitted with new armor, they will never really be the equal of a new build armored vehicle using more modern composites and alloys. Second, because the vehicles are often extremely old, they have gone through a huge amount of wear and tear and can often be maintenance nightmares. Corrosion often has hit these vehicles quite hard as well.


Alamo Armory's designs are not old refitted pre-rifts vehicles. They also are not the cheap designs produced by Chipwell Armaments. The designs do not use the latest in alloys and composites but they do use average or better than average quality materials in their designs. The use of these alloys and composites mean that the vehicles no longer suffer from wear and tear as bad as originally. It also means that corrosion is no longer as much of a factor. Otherwise, the T-113 basic chassis is virtually identical to the Pre-Rifts M-113 design.


One major change in the vehicle is in the basic power plant. Instead a hybrid diesel and electric system is carried on the vehicle. This virtually doubles the vehicle's range compared to the original M-113. Often the most pure versions of diesel fuel are not available and bio-diesel fuel is extremely common. Even it is often not of the best quality. As a result, the engine is designed to operate with a variety of fuels without the problem which many other diesel engines suffer from. Advanced Fuel Cell, Pure Electrical, and Nuclear were all rejected due to cost. Some of the engineers originally from Iron Heart Armament suggested gas turbines as was mounted in many designs. This was rejected due to the engines' heavy fuel consumption. Top speed is slightly faster than the original M-113 with a top speed right around forty-five miles per hour and retains the ability to travel amphibiously using the tracks as a form of water propulsion. The vehicle is slower than the combat vehicles produced by many other companies but is still far faster than any man walking.


The vehicle normally operates with a crew of three. One is the driver while the other two operate the missile and sensor systems. The vehicle is outfitted with basic optics and is designed to protect the crew from chemical and other attacks. Still, most crews prefer the protection of environmental body armor. The vehicle is available with a long range radar with a range of around 100 miles. If the vehicle mounts the sensor systems, it is far more useful in the air defense roles than versions which don't mount the radar system. Most of them are used for the ground bombardment role. These radar systems come from a variety of different sources due to the fact that Alamo Armory does not produce its own radar systems. The radar array can be folded down but not completely retracted.


Many missile vehicles carry long range missiles but for the battlefield you usually don't need a missile with around a thousand mile range. Such missiles are also extremely expensive. This is why the Missile Support Vehicle is armed with medium range missiles. For ground bombardment roles, it is very unlikely that they will need to target outside of eighty or so miles. For defense and anti-aircraft situations, the same is also true. The vehicle carries a total of twenty-four medium range missiles. There are four rail type launchers which reload from inside of the vehicle. They mount on a single pivot point which can rotate 360 degrees and the weapon system can fire at up to 90 degrees. The rail system is produced by Wellington Industries Reloading takes only moments and like the radar system, if carried, it cannot be fully retracted. Some mercenary companies and other units operate the Missile Support Vehicle version with the Air Defense Vehicle variant. The medium range missiles are used to engage targets are comparatively long range while the short range missiles engage targets at closer range when they leak through with its greater payload.


The vehicle does carry a Wellington automatic grenade launcher for close range defense. Four hundred rounds of ammunition are carried for this mount. Normally, one of the missile control personnel operate the grenade launcher. In addition, the vehicle can be fitted optionally with "Super Claymore Mines" to deal with troops at extremely close ranges. The vehicle also mounts a pair of smoke grenade launchers. These can also fire tear gas, prismatic aerosol, or missile decoy grenades.


Model Type: Alamo Armory T-113-MSV
Vehicle Type: Armored Missile Support Vehicle
Crew: Three (Driver and two Missile / Fire Control Operators)


M. D. C. by Location:

[1] Tractor Treads (2):50 each
[2] Medium Range Radar Array:80
WI WI-65M Medium Range Missile Rail Launchers (4):20 each
WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher:40
WI-CL3 “Super Claymore” Mine - Optional (6, sides and front):20 each
[3] Smoke / Gas Dispensers (2):20 each
[3] Headlights (2):10 each
Rear Hatch:80
Reinforced Crew Compartment:80
Reinforced Missile Bay:80
[4] Main Body:280


Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the platform until it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x10 minutes by a trained crew (2 replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by the inexperienced. Changing the tread is only advisable when the vehicle is not under attack.
[2] Missiles mount targeting systems but system can no longer track and target multiple incoming missiles simultaneously.
[3] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot,” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[4] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and is unsalvageable.


Speed:
Ground: Maximum speed on land is 45 mph (72.4 kph.) The vehicle is designed to traverse virtually all terrain and can climb at up to a 60% grade although at a much slower speed (About 10% of maximum road speed). It can also climb barriers and ford trenches. The vehicle can also handle side slopes of up to 40%.
Water Capabilities: The T-113-MSV Missile Support Vehicle is designed to be amphibious and can cross small bodies of water. It is not designed for deep water use. The T-113-MSV can travel in this manner at 4.0 mph (6.4 kph/3.5 knots).
Maximum Range: 620 miles (997.8 km)


Statistical Data:
Height: 8.05 feet (2.455 meters) with radar and missile systems folded down and 9.58 feet (2.92 meters) when radar and missile system fully extended
Width: 8.81 feet (2.866 meter)
Length: 15.95 feet (4.863 meters)
Weight: 24,691.8 pounds (11,200 kg) empty, 27,557.8 pounds (12,500 kg) combat loaded, and 30,423.8 pounds (13,800 kg) maximum load.
Power Source: Conventional, Diesel / Electric Hybrid developing 300 hp
Cargo Capacity: Without missiles, can carry up to 2.0 tons (1.81 metric tons)
Black Market Cost: 575,000 Credits for standard model without radar system. 675,000 Credits with radar system. Super Claymore Mines cost 30,000 Credits (for six.)


Weapon Systems:

  1. WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher: Replaces the .50 Machine Gun in the original M-113. It is mounted in a pintle mound which has a 360 degree rotation and can angle up to 60 degrees. Mostly designed for anti-personnel, the weapon is extremely powerful and can damage other armored vehicles as well. As a result, many crews use the armor piercing round even with a smaller blast radius. The gunner is outside the vehicle when he uses the weapon mount.
    Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
    Mega-Damage: 4D6 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 12 feet (3.6 meters) and 1D4x10 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 3 feet (0.9 meter), burst of 10 rounds does 2D6x10 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 40 feet (12 meters) and 3D6x10 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 8 feet (2.4 meters.)
    Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner.
    Payload: 400 Rounds.
  2. WI-65M Medium Range Missile Rail Launchers (4): Mounted in the rear of the vehicle are four missile rails on a central pivot. The launchers rotate together 360 degrees and have a 90 degree arc of fire. The missile launchers reload extremely rapidly and are ready to be fire on the next attack. The system is designed to be able to target multiple incoming missiles simultaneously. Without the medium range radar system, these missiles primarily serve in ground bombardment roles.
    Maximum Effective Range: Varies by medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
    Mega-Damage: Varies by medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
    Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) missiles simultaneously (All four launchers fire as one.) Launchers retract and are ready to fire for next melee attack.
    Payload: Four (4) medium range missile mounted ready to fire on rails. The vehicle carries twenty-four (24) missiles as reloads with six per launcher rail. If a launcher rail is damaged, those missiles cannot be accessed except manually.
  3. Six (6) WI-CL3 “Super Claymore” Mine (Optional): Two are positioned on either side with two in front. None are in the rear of the vehicle. Mounted on armored plates which prevent the mines from doing damage to the vehicle itself. Derived from the pre-Rifts claymore mine, this weapon is extremely effective. It is slightly larger than the original Claymore mine and has 1000 super dense alloy spheres instead of steel balls and is backed by two pounds (0.9 kg) of powerful advanced explosive instead of the original C4 plastic explosive. The “Super Claymore” operates in a similar fashion to the original mine and creates a fan of projectiles for a 328 foot (100 meter) cone with a 60 degree arc of danger. Generally the Super Claymore is activated by the crew when it looks like the vehicle will be overrun.
    Maximum Effective Range: 820 feet (250 meters)
    Mega Damage: Front 60-degree horizontal Cone of Mine: 2D6x10 MD for a 164 foot (50 meter) range, 1D4x10 MD for a 328 foot (100 meter) range, and 2D6 MD for a 820 foot (250 meter) range. Sides of Mine: 4D6 MD for a 66 foot (20 meter) range and 2D6 MD for a 328 foot (100 meter) range.
    Rate of Fire: Each mine single use only.
    Payload: Six Mines.
  4. Smoke Dispenser (2): Mounted on either side of the tank and launches smoke grenades. While other types of grenades can be used, they have been rarely carried. Recently, there has been consideration for the use of prismatic aerosol and decoy grenades to help protect the vehicle against lasers and other weaponry.
    Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke 40 ft (12 m) in diameter. Other special effects per grenade type
    Rate of Fire: Two per melee
    Range: 1,200 feet (365 m)
    Payload: Carries 12 smoke grenades per launcher.


Sensory Equipment:



[ Altarain TM, Bandito Arms TM, Brodkil TM, Chipwell Armaments TM, Coalition States TM, Cyber-Knight TM, Federation of Magic TM, Free Quebec TM, Golden Age Weaponsmiths TM, Horune TM, Iron Heart Armaments TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kydian TM, Larsen’s Brigade TM, M.D.C. TM, Mechanoids TM, Mega-Damage TM, Megaversal Legion TM, Millennium Tree TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Naut’Yll, New Navy TM, New Sovietskiy TM, NGR TM, Nog Heng TM, Northern Gun TM, Phase World TM, Psyscape TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Shemarrian TM, Splugorth TM, Stormspire TM, Sunaj TM, Tolkeen TM, Triax TM, Wellington Industries TM, Wilk’s Laser Technologies TM, Xiticix TM, and Zaayr TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]


Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2008, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


Return