Triax XM-330-A2 “Phantom” Hover Tank:

The XM-330 “Phantom” Hover Tank is an outstanding tank in most respects but is very lightly armed for its size and could probably be defeated by the more primitive Iron Hammer tank built in North America due to firepower. Because of this, the engineers worked on an upgraded version of the tank that would be better armed. Several proposals were on the design boards including one that used the main gun of Glitter Boy but the engineers wanted the main weaponry to be energy weapons so that the main battery would have an unlimited payload. This meant that more powerful cannons had to be developed. The end result tanks is better armed and has longer range guns than the original while keeping the excellent features of the original “Phantom” hover tanks. NGR plans to upgrade all Phantoms presently in service to the new design.

The main battery still consists of two cannons. The particle beam was replaced by an ion cannon that is about a third more powerful and has almost three times additional range. The laser cannon was replaced by a cannon that was about twice as powerful but only has about a third better range. Like the original cannons, these cannons can be fired together. The short barrel ion cannon was removed because it was redundant and used power that could be used to power the main battery. The twin forward rail guns have been modified to fire at a greater rate of fire. The low profile laser turret has been replaced by a laser cannon that has the ability to fire bursts and is variable frequency for use against laser resistant armors. The mini missile launchers and smoke grenade launchers are unmodified from the original design. There has been some testing using prismatic aerosols instead of smoke to disperse lasers fired at the tank. The problem is that the aerosol can also effect the lasers on the tank.

The extra space in the tank is normally used for a unit commander and assistance when the tank is acting as a command tank.

Designation: XM-330-A2
Vehicle Type: Military Hover Tank
Crew: Three (Pilot, Gunner, and Communications Officer), tank can fit two additional passenger or four if they are squeezed in

M.D.C. by Location:

	Main Cannon:	350
	[1] Low Profile Laser Turret (top)	100
	[1] Mini-Missile Launchers (2; sides of turret)	50 each
	[1] Smoke Grenade Launchers (3):	10 each
	[1] Forward Headlight:	5
	[1] Main Sensor (front):	20
	[1] Top Access Hatch:	120
	[1] Belly Hatch:	100
	Reinforced Pilots Compartment:	100
	[2] Main Body:	700

Notes:
[1] All indicated hit locations are small and/or difficult targets to hit. An attacker must make a called shot and has a -3 penalty as well.
[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.

Speed:
Land: 80 mph (128 kph) maximum. The hover tank rides on a cushion of air as low as two feet (0.6 meters) or as high as six feet (1.8 meters).
Water: 15 mph (24 kph). The hover system is not as efficient over water as it is over land.
Flying: Flight is not possible.
Maximum Effective Range: Effectively Unlimited by propulsion system, system does not overheat

Statistical Data:
Length: 35.1 feet (10.7 meters) long for the hull and 44.3 feet (13.5 meters) including the cannon barrel [Standard XM-330 tank is 35.1 feet (10.7 meters) long for the hull and 41 feet (12.5 meters) including the cannon barrel]
Width: 20 feet (6 meters)
Height: 9 feet (2.7 meters)
Weight: 48 tons (43.5 metric tons) empty and 52 tons (47.2 metric tons) fully loaded
Power Source: Nuclear Fusion, Should have an average lifespan of 20 years.
Cargo: Minimal (Storage for small equipment). Tank has space for three backpacks, canteens, and rifles
Black Market Cost: Not Available, a black market knock off of the original Phantom hover tank cost around 40 million credits and would normally not have the same weapon systems.

Weapon Systems:

Main Gun: Double Barrel cannon (1): The turret can rotate 360 degrees and the cannons has a 60 degree arc of fire upwards and 15 degree arc of fire down. This is improved from the original 45 degrees up. Cannon may be used against aircraft as well as ground targets. The Particle Beam has been replaced by a more powerful and longer ranged ion cannon and laser cannon is more powerful and longer ranged. When both cannons are within range, they can be combined for greater damage. The cannon is controlled by the gunner unless the gunner is injured.
Main Gun: Ion Cannon:
Main Gun: Laser Cannon:
Forward Rail Guns (2): Two rail guns are located in the front of the tank. Each can rotate up to 270 degrees and angle up to 45 degrees and down to a 15 degree angle. Each can be controlled individually or simultaneously and while normally controlled by the pilot, the weapons can be controlled by the gunner or communications officer as well. The cannons have an increased rate of fire for greater damage. The Rail Guns can use depleted uranium rounds for greater damage.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1200 meters)
Mega Damage: Normal Ammo; 1D6x10 M.D.C. per burst of 60 rounds (Does not fire single shot) for one rail gun or 2D6x10 M.D.C. for both cannons. Depleted Uranium 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 both cannons.
Rate of Fire: Equal to pilot’s hand to hand plus one
Payload: 12,000 rounds total with 6,000 rounds each gun, That is 200 Bursts for each rail gun. The rail guns are fed by a massive drum in the main body of the tank. Reloading the drum will take an experienced field mechanic 10 minutes.
Low Profile Variable Frequency High-Powered Turret: Located on the rear top area of the main turret and is a small and hard to hit target. The Turret can rotate 360 degrees. The original system has been replaced by a system that is derived from the Triax TX-41 Laser pulse rifle. The weapon has 12 different possible frequencies to counter laser resistant armor. Setting seven counters USA-10 Glitter Boy and all other setting are designed to counter other laser resistant materials. These laser cannons have the ability to be positioned up or down 30 degrees. High powered lasers are controlled by the pilot.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters).
Mega Damage: 3D6 for one shot and 1D6x10 for three round burst.
Rate of Fire:Equal to the pilots combined hand to hand (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Unlimited (Draws Power off the main engines).
Mini-Missile Launchers (2): On either side of the main turret are small mini missile launchers with three launchers on each side with one reload each. Normal missile used are armor piercing, plasma, or fragmentation mini-missiles. Mini Missiles are normally controlled by the gunner but can be controlled by the pilot or communications officer
Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, mini-missiles only (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega Damage: Varies with mini missile types (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire one at a time or in volleys of two or three.
Payload: 12 total (6 in each launcher)
Smoke Grenade Launchers (4): Mounted on either side of the turret and launches smoke grenades. Fragmentation and Stun flash grenades can be theoretically substituted. See Flanker Urban Defender for details. The dispenser can dispense prismatic aerosol for dispersing laser beams. This has the same effect as prismatic aerosol grenades.
Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke 40 ft (12 m) in diameter. Effects are obscures vision, Infrared sensors cannot penetrate smoke cloud, and those without environmental protection will have trouble breathing (-5 to strike parry, and dodge). Passive thermal equipment will work inside of smoke cloud.
Rate of Fire: Two per melee
Maximum Effective Range: 25 to 150 feet (7.6 to 46 meters)
Payload: Carries 8 smoke grenades per launcher.

Special Equipment:
The Tank has all the standard features of a standard robot (including long range communication, radar, and radar tracking) plus these special features listed.

Radio/ Video Communications: Long range, directional, has a range of 500 miles with short range directional radio of 5 miles.
Laser Targeting System: Range is 2 miles and gives +1 to strike with long range weapons.
Combat Computer/ Targeting Computer: Assist in the tracking of targets.
Radar: 50 miles, can identify 96 targets and track 48 as low as 500 ft. Same as robot's Maxi-Radar.
Full Life Support: Protects pilots and hovercraft from heat and radiation and gives a breathable atmosphere inside the hover tank for up 48 hours in vacuum and three weeks with scrubbers.
Spotlight: Range: 600 feet (182.9 meters)
Thermo-Imager: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). Finds the infrared radiations of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness.
Nightvision Optics: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). 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.
Silenced Engine and Propulsion System: No air cushion hover vehicle is truly silent but the Phantom is very quiet for its design. At ranges of 3.1 miles (16,400 feet / 5,000 meters) or greater, The Hover Tank is so quiet that it gets a prowl roll of 35% in daylight and 60% in darkness.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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