Golden Age Weaponsmiths PBR III Riverine Patrol Boat:

While Golden Age mostly refits old Pre-Rifts designs, they do manufacture a number of new designs. These are mostly relatively small designs. Mostly this is trucks and jeeps although they do produce a modified version of the LAV Combat Vehicle. There are some plans to also expanding production into aircraft including the C-130 Transport plane and possibly a light fighter design as well.

One of the other areas where they produce new vehicles are small boats. There is a ready market for such designs. With the destruction of much of the road infrastructure, water is often the best way to travel. In their expeditions, Golden Age has managed to find designs for a number of patrol craft including this one. The designs seem to have come from an ancient naval library. The original design appears to have been known as a PBR II. Golden Age made various improvements to the design and the vessel became the PBR III design. The design is surprisingly popular, partially owing to its extremely low price compared to many other designs. A number of mercenary companies operate the boat as well as some small government. The vessel is so popular that it has found its way to South and Central America.

Various groups have come up with upgrades for the vessel including replacing out the main battery with a variety of different weapon systems. This vastly increases the vessel's firepower. Sensor systems are often upgraded and in some cases the control systems are upgraded as well. Not many owners replace the engines with a fusion power plant although replacement with a pure electrical propulsion system is popular. A number of techno-wizards have gone a step further and converted that to run on magical energy.

The dimensions on the PBR III class is slightly larger than the original designs which is based on. As well, the boat uses high strength composites and alloys which make the vessel far tougher than the original design. The original vessel was made mostly from fiberglass which aluminum reinforcement. The boat lacks any kind of environmental systems although most crews wear body armor which give that protection.

Golden Age did not try to copy the original engines but instead used a basic engine type which they already manufactured. While actually weighing less, the engines each produce almost twice as much horsepower. This gives a top speed of thirty-two knots compared to around twenty-eight knots for the original boat. The vessel retains the water jets of the original design. The new engines are also far more fuel efficient giving a range of around three hundred nautical miles when running at an economical speed, about double the original range of the patrol boat.

These vessels are primitive as far as electronics. Their controls are rather basic in design although quite capable of controlling the boat. As well, the PBR III is surprisingly maneuverable. Sensors are limited as well. These is a short range radar system and night vision optics only. There is no sonar although there is a depth finder mounted on most boats. This is so that the boat does not run aground even though it has an extremely shallow draft. Standard crew is four or five and only rarely will an officer be in command of one of these boats. The boats really are not designed for long range deployments with no real messing or berthing facilities. They can carry a small number of passengers although the vessels are extremely cramped already.

The boats are surprisingly well armed even though the weaponry is basically Pre-Rifts in origin. A number of crews have also refitted the boats with different weaponry to increase the firepower although mounts are limited to relatively light weaponry. In addition, many crews carry small arms although there is no provision for recharging e-clips for laser and other energy weaponry.

In the front, there is a mount for twin of .50 caliber machine guns which fire together. In the fantail there is a mount for a single .50 caliber machine gun. Ramjet ammunition allows there weapons to inflict surprising damage although payload consumption limits their effectiveness. Heavy rail guns are one of the most common replacements. On either side, there is a provision to mount a 7.62 medium machine gun although are rarely mounted with energy weapons generally preferred. These mounts are manned usually by passengers / troops instead of the crew. A number of operators also mount a pair of four shot Wellington Mini-Missile launchers in these positions.

There is a midships weapon position which is reinforced. This allows for a number of different weapon systems to be mounted easily. The most common is an automatic grenade launcher. This does not have the payload of the Wellington model but is still quite effective. Another potential weapon is a 20 mm cannon mount. This weapon is quite powerful and long ranged, able to shred most targets. Like the .50 caliber machine guns, ammunition consumption is prodigious. A light 60 mm mortar can be mounted which is useful for indirect fire in support roles. Finally, a sixteen shot mini-missile launcher can be mounted in this position. Unlike the other mounts, this mount is designed to fire forward. A heavy rail is sometimes substituted and the Wellington grenade launcher with a much larger payload is also popular.

Class Name: PBR-III
Class: River &; Waterway, Light Patrol Vessel.
Crew: Four (5) to Five (5) - Pilot, Engineer, 2 to 3 Gunners.
Passengers: Maximum of four (4) - Extremely cramped

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Spotlight (2):	20 each
	M2HB 12.7 mm (.50 cal) Twin turret (Forward):	60
	M2HB 12.7 mm (.50 cal) single mount (Aft):	25
	M240 7.62 mm MG Pintle Mounts (Optional - 2, Sides):	10 each
	Mk 19 40 mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (Optional - 1, Midships):	30
	M61 20 mm Vulcan Cannons (Optional - 1, Midships):	20
	60 mm Mortar Mount (Optional - 1, Midships):	30
	Mini-Missile Launchers (Optional - 1, Midships):	50
	Bridge / Pilot House:	65
	[2] Short Range Radar Array:	25
	[3] "Jacuzzi" Water Jets (2):	30 each
	[4] Main Body:	150

Notes:
[1] 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.
[2] If radar is destroyed, all long range tracking ability is lost. There is no backup tracking system on the weapon mount themselves.
[3] These pumps are under the hull and cannot be targeted unless the person attempting to target them is submerged under the vessel or nearby it underwater. They require a called shot with -3 to strike. Destroying one pump takes out the maneuverability bonus and reduces piloting rolls to 50%, and speed to 15 knots. Taking out two will disable the I-PBR-III.
[4] Destroying the main body causes the boat to lose structural integrity, causing the boat to sink. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the boat.

Speed:
Surface: Maximum speed of 32 knots (36.85 mph / 59.30 kph)
Range: 345.47 miles (300 nautical miles / 555.97 kilometers) Boat carries a maximum of one week of supplies on board.

Statistical Data:
Draft: 2.5 feet (0.76 meters) fully loaded.
Width: 13.2 feet (4 meters)
Length: 36.3 feet (11 meters)
Displacement: 10 tons.
Cargo: Can carry a maximum of 1000 lbs (455 kilograms) of cargo in various stowage spaces and on the deck. Most of the craft is taken up with ammo supplies and rations; There are no lockers for any of the crew, who sleep at their stations, or on hammocks or the deck.
Power System: Conventional, Twin Diesel (400 hp each).
Black Market Price: 450,000 credits including weapon systems. Unarmed versions can be purchased for 50,000 Credits. Excellent availability in North America, Fair in Central and South America.

Weapon Systems:

Forward Twin M2HB 12.7 millimeter Machine Guns (1 Mount): On the front part of the vessel are a pair of machine guns which are linked together. There is also a shield to give protection to the gunner controlling the weapon system. Weapon fires Wellington WI-20 Heavy Ramjet ammunition for greater damage and penetration. Many crews replace this with a heavy rail gun for greater damage.
Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914.4 meters)
Mega Damage: Single shot inflicts 1D4 and 40 round burst inflicts 5D6. Both barrels can be fire linked together to fire both weapons to inflict 1D6x10 (40 round burst from each)
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 2000 rounds total, 1000 rounds per gun (25 bursts each)
After Single M2HB 12.7 millimeter Machine Gun (1 Mount): On the after part of the vessel is a mount for a single .50 Caliber Machine Gun. These is a light shield to help protect the gunner of the weapon system. Weapon fires Wellington WI-20 Heavy Ramjet ammunition for greater damage and penetration. Many crews replace this with a heavy rail gun for greater damage.
Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914.4 meters)
Mega Damage: Single shot inflicts 1D4 and 40 round burst inflicts 5D6.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 1000 rounds total (25 bursts)
Side Mounted M240 7.62 mm Medium Machine Guns (2 - Optional): Each one is mounted on a pintle on either side. Uses WI-10 Ramjet rounds to increase the weapons damage. These mounts are not generally manned by the crew but instead by additional personnel carried onboard. Often these weapons are omitted due to limited effectiveness with common replacements being the L20 energy rifle or a pair of WI-25 Four Tube Mini-Missile Launchers often fixed forward and controlled by the pilot.
Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (609.6 meters)
Mega Damage: One round does 1 M.D.C. to M.D.C. targets or 3D6x10 S.D.C. to soft targets. Twenty round bursts do 2D4 M.D.C.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 4,000 rounds per mount (200 bursts each)
Midships Weapon Mount (1 Mount): This mount is designed to carry a variety of different weapon systems depending on the user of the vessel. Much weapons include an Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher, a 20 mm Vulcan cannon, a 60 mm mortar, and a sixteen shot mini-missile launcher. All mounts except the mini-missile launcher is designed to rotate to either side. Popular replacements include the Wellington WI-GL21 automatic grenade launcher and a heavy rail gun.
1. 40 millimeter Mk 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher: Not as advanced as the later grenade launcher designs including the Wellington weapon system. Weapon can fire single shot or short burst of ten rounds. Ammunition cans of 32 or 48 rounds can be used for weapon mount. More modern replacements usually use longer belts for a greater effective payload.
  Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
  Mega-Damage: 3D6 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 12 ft and 5D6 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 3 ft, burst of 10 rounds does 2D4x10 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 40 ft and 2D6x10 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 8 ft. Other special rounds are available.
  Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner - Single Shot or Ten round bursts.
  Payload: Usually uses a 48 round magazine (has ten magazines standard ready to use) but can use 32 round magazines as well.
2. 20 mm M61 Vulcan Cannon: Instead of conventional ammunition, the weapon uses special Ram-Jet ammunition for greater damage and penetration. With this ammunition, the weapons are the equal of most rail guns although ammunition consumption is far greater than most rail guns.
  Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
  Mega Damage: 1D6x10 for a burst of 30 round, 2D4 for each round.
  Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
  Payload: 600 rounds (20 bursts).
3. 60 mm Mortar: Light mortar although still effective. Can be operated by a crew of one effectively unlike most larger mortars although it hand / barrel loaded. It is extremely useful in the short range indirect fire roll. Range is less that true artillery but is still extremely effective in indirect fire rolls. There are special guided rounds available although rare. See Battlefield Mortars for Rifts for more details.
  Maximum Effective Range: 1,310 feet (400 meters) to 11,550 feet (3,500 meters) depending on number of charges used. Minimum range is 230 feet (70 meters) to 2,125 feet (650 meters) depending on charges used.
  Mega-Damage: By mortar round type (See mortar table for details: Fragmentation 1D4x10, High Explosive 1D4x10, Armor Piercing 1D6x10, Plasma 2D4x10, and has a vast number of other type of rounds as well).
  Rate of Fire: 20 to 30 rounds per minute depending on number of charges (5 to 7.5 per melee) for two minutes, 10 to 20 rounds per minute after two minutes of fire depending on number of charges (2.5 to 5 per melee)
  Payload: 96 rounds total (48 ready rounds.)
4. Mini-Missile Launcher: Weapon mount is designed to fire directly forward although has some ability to fire slightly to either side of the bow. It can also fire up to a forty-five degree angle. The weapon is controlled for the pilot house. Weapon mount is effective against other vessels as well as a bombardment weapon. Normal missiles used are armor piercing, plasma, or fragmentation mini-missiles.
  Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, mini-missiles only (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Damage: Varies with mini-missile types (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Rate of Fire: Missiles can be fired one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), or sixteen (16 - All)
  Payload: Launcher carries sixteen (16) mini-missiles.

Sensory Equipment:

Nightvision Optics: Range: 2,000 ft (609 meters). Uses light amplification to make a picture. Emits no light but will not work in absolute darkness. System can be dazzled by sudden bright lights but does not physically blind the pilot.
Thermo-Imager: Range: 2,000 feet (609 meters). Finds the infra-red radiations of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness.
Short Range Radar: Power Armor is equipped with a short range radar. Radar system has a range of 10 miles (16 km) and can identify and track up to 24 targets.

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Initial Writeup by Marina O'Leary (LusankyaN@aol.com ).

Reformatting and Revisions by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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