REEF-APT-2 Tank Carrier:

Initially, the REEF purchased a number of Iron Maiden APC-10 from Iron Heart Armaments for the transport and support of troops in the combat zone. It was decided by the leadership of the REEF to replace the vehicles with their own design. There were concerns about not being able to get logistic support of the Iron Heart Armament designs if something happened to the company. At the same time, they retired the Iron Heart Armament tanks that they had been operating.

The Southern Cross Armies used a vehicle filling a similar role, the APT Tank Carrier, and it was decided to use that design as a basis instead of adapting a Rifts Earth vehicle design or simply copying the Iron Maiden. Still, it is vastly changed from the original design with modifications to the design including improving the power systems, weaponry, armor, and even secondary systems.

As with several other designs produced by Southern Cross Manufacturing, the vehicle is sold to outside interests. Initially, sales were slow with many purchasers more interested in comparatively cheaper conventionally powered models. Southern Cross manufacturing only produces a fusion powered model. With the Coalition taking over the Iron Heart Armaments, sales of the APT-2 Tank Carrier have increased although still more of a sideline designed to defray costs of the facility. There are also other companies manufacturing vehicles filling similar roles so the APT-2 still has competition.

The APT-2 is a larger vehicle than the Iron Maiden with a weight of almost fifty tons loaded compared to twenty tons for the Iron Heart Armament design. Might be better consider a troop transport than a fighting vehicle and it is designed to carry twenty personnel normally compared to ten for the Iron Maiden. It is also operated by a crew of three instead of two. Fully environmental, both the crew and troop compartments are well protected and the troop compartment includes recharging equipment for energy weapons.

For the REEF, the fusion plant is considered of great benefit compared to a conventionally powered model. This removes the need to keep fuel to support the vehicles and greatly reduces logistically requirements. It is expected that the APT-2 Tank Carrier will have to operate under conditions of minimal logistical support. Originally the APT was gas turbine powered. Speed is unchanged from the original model with a top speed of around 120 kilometers per hour.

Using the more advanced composites and alloys available on Rifts Earth, the vehicle’s armor has been vastly improved and it can take far more damage and general abuse than the original Southern Cross model. Virtually all locations have been strengthened including the armored vehicle’s treads. The new armor allows the it to withstand more damage than the Iron Maiden that the APC-2 Tank Carrier replaced in REEF service. Part of this is a virtue simply of the larger size of the APT-2.

Originally it was planned that a Shemerrian Rail Gun would be mounted where the auto cannon was originally mounted but the rail gun is expensive to manufacture and produced in relatively low numbers and this idea was dropped. Instead, the weapon planned for the export model was adopted for all models. This is a modified version of the NG-202 known as the REEF-2000. This weapon is carried on several other REEF designs including the Sabertooth fighter. Using discarding sabot rounds, the weapon is very effective, almost making up for the discrepancy between it and the Shemerrian rail gun. A total of forty-five hundred rounds are carried for the rail gun.

The original grenade launcher is replaced by the WI-GL21 automatic grenade launcher. Even though firing a much smaller round, it is far more effective. Burst fire from the Wellington grenade launcher can be extremely devastating to troops and other vehicles alike although range is relatively short. The grenade launcher has two feed mechanism with 400 rounds each where usually one is loaded with fragmentation grenades while the other is loaded with armor piercing rounds.

Originally the Southern Cross design did not have any missile launchers but it was decided that a pair would be fitted to the APT-2 design. Mounted on the sides, these are more or less externally mounted and designed to be ejected when empty or damaged. Each launcher has twelve missiles for a total of twenty-four mini-missiles. The launchers use a special cassette for reloading. Each contains four mini-missiles and can be reloaded in fifteen seconds each cassette. They give an extremely devastating short range punch and are effective as well in bunker busting. Usually armor piercing or plasma rounds are carried. Some consideration has been given towards mounting launchers for short range or medium range missiles but so far this has been rejected by the senior officers in the REEF. Such a role is not really part of the APT-2 mission and other vehicles already fill those roles.

The vehicle has a full sensor suite similar to most robot vehicles although does not mount any truly long range radar systems. To be able to look over obstacles while still under cover, the armored vehicle mounts a periscope that can be raised up to 25 feet (7.6 meters) above ground level.

Model Type: REEF-APT-02

Vehicle Type: Military Combat Transport

Crew: Three (Driver, Gunner, and Commander) with room for two others in the crew compartment.

Troop Carrying Capacity: 20 soldiers in full gear (Two squads), can carry 32 people in emergency conditions although extremely cramped and not suitable for long periods.

M.D.C. by Location:

	Weapon Turret:	150
	REEF-2000 Rail Gun (In Turret):	100
	WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher (In Turret):	50
	Mini-Missile Launchers (2 Detachable):	75 each
	[1] Searchlight:	20
	[1] Headlight:	10
	Main Hatch (Rear):	200
	Small Hatches (6, sides and top):	125 each
	Reinforced Crew Compartment:	100
	Reinforced Personnel Bay:	100
	[2] Main Body:	450
	[3] Tractor Treads (2):	80 each

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 all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and unsalvageable, but crew and troops may survive in their reinforced compartments.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the armored vehicle 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.

Speed:

Ground: Cruising speed on land is 50 mph (80 kph), 75 mph ( 121 kph) maximum. 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 30%.

On water: 10 mph (16 kph) on water. No special maneuver are possible in the water

Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited (Nuclear Fusion power supply with 20 year duration)

Statistical Data:

Height: 10 feet (3.05 meters)

Width: 16 feet (4.9 meters) without mini missile launchers. 18 feet (5.5 meters) with mini-missile launchers.

Length: 34 feet (10.4 meters)

Weight: 49 tons (44.5 metric tons)

Power Source: Nuclear, Should have an average lifespan of 20 years.

Cargo Capacity: Up to 30 tons (27.2 metric tons.) This can be carried internally in place of the troops (within space limitations) or towed.

Black Market Cost: Standard sells for 18 million credits with mini-missile launchers. Special discarding sabot ammunition is not available on export models.

Weapon Systems

One (1) REEF-2000 Rail Guns: In the main turret, the vehicle mounts a copy of the NG-202 rail gun replacing the original snub-nose auto cannon. Controlled by the gunner, the weapon is set up as the NG-202 on the Samson power armor with a greater rate of fire. Armored vehicles serving in the REEF Defense Forces uses APFSDS (Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot) ammo that increases damage. The turret can angle 45 degrees up and down and has 360 degree rotation.

Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)

Mega Damage: Normal Ammo; 1D6x10 M.D.C. per burst of 60 rounds (Does not fire single shot) for rail gun. APFSDS Ammo; 2D4x10 M.D.C. per burst of 60 rounds (Does not fire single shot) for one rail gun or 4D4x10 M.D.C. for rail gun.

Rate of fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner.

Payload: 4,500 rounds (75 Burst)
One (1) Automatic Grenade Launcher: Replaces the 180 mm Grenade Launcher and like the original is built into the weapon turret next to the main gun. It has two ammunition feeds with 400 rounds each with one often loaded with fragmentation and one loaded with armor piercing ammunition. The turret has 360 degree rotation of the turret is possible, but the arc of fire for the grenade launcher is limited a 30 degree angle. Weapon is WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher mounted in the turret.

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: 800 Rounds (Two 400 round feeds - often one loaded with fragmentation and other loaded with armor piercing.)
Two (2) Side Mounted Mini-Missiles Pods: In each missile pod the vehicle can carry twelve mini-missiles for a total of twenty-four (24) mini-missiles. Special rapid reloading cassettes are available for the launchers and the launchers can be ejected if damaged. Most common loads are armor piercing and plasma rounds and mini-missiles are usually used for short range punch attacks and bunker busting.

Maximum Effective Range: As per mini-missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

Mega Damage: As per mini-missile type revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) mini-missiles.

Payload: Each pod has twelve (12) mini-missiles for a total of twenty-four (24) mini-missiles. Special rapid reloading mini-missile packs can be used to reload launcher. Replacing a pack takes fifteen seconds per cassette and all of the launchers can be loaded in just one and a half minutes. Mini-missile packs have to be reloaded from the ourside.

Sensory Equipment:

The armored vehicle carries all standard equipment of a robot vehicle plus this special equipment:

Radio/ Video Communications: Long range, directional, has a range of 500 miles (800 kilometers) with short range directional radio of 5 miles (8 km).
Laser Targeting System: Range is 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) and gives +1 to strike with long range weapons.
Combat Computer/ Targeting Computer: Assist in the tracking of targets.
Radar: 50 miles (80 kilometers), can identify 96 targets and track 48 as low as 500 feet (152.4 meters). Same as robot’s Maxi-Radar.
Full Life Support: Protects crew, troops, and vehicle from heat and radiation and gives a breathable atmosphere inside the tank for up 48 hours in vacuum and three weeks with scrubbers.
Thermo-Imager: Range: 2,000 feet (609 meters). Finds the infrared radiations of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness.
Nightvision Optics: Range: 2,000 feet (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.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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