Mercenary “Jaguar” Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Grav):

Originally manufactured by a weapon company known as “Iron Forges” which also manufacture the Lion hover tank. Now defunct, the company was located on a fringe world. The facilities were wrecked in a war between the Kingdom and its neighbors. Still, a number of engineers managed to escape the wreckage. These engineers started their own companies and the designs have been copied widely. Companies which produce these designs are spread out throughout the Three Galaxies. Huge numbers of these armored vehicles are sold on Phase World.

These designs are quite popular with mercenaries, self defense forces, and small military forces. While surplus Human Alliance Kramer Hover tanks limits sales of the Lion hover tank within Consortium, there is no hover type Infantry Fighting Vehicle which is a direct competitor. Some Independent Self Defense Forces (IDF) prefer hover designs over wheeled designs because of greater speed. Interestingly, far more of these Infantry Fighting Vehicles have be manufactured than were before the company went defunct. These vehicles continue to manufactured in large numbers. In some cases these designs are modified greatly from the original Jaguar design.

In addition to no company able to enforce restriction on manufacture of the design, the infantry fighting vehicle is a quite effective combat design. The design is comparatively inexpensive to produce because the design uses relatively low technology compared to many other combat vehicle designs. In some cases civilian components are used in the design to reduce manufacturing costs.

It has a smaller troop compliment that the Human Alliance Lynx class armored personal carrier although is much heavier armed. Troop complement is sixteen in body armor or up to twelve troops in light power armor. The vehicle has a rear hatch for troops to disembark. Crew compliment is three with a commander, gunner, and driver. Both the crew and troop compartment have full life support. This is useful both on moons and planets with no atmosphere and bodies with toxic atmospheres.

Main gun is a 20 mm electromagnetic automatic cannon. The weapon is identical to the secondary weapon carried on the Lion although the weapon carried six thousand rounds (twice the payload of the battle tank design.) Compared to gravity based rail guns, the technology is extremely mature. This makes the main gun far easier to maintain then a gravity based weapon system. Vehicle has a powerful fire control computer similar to the Lion gravity hover tank design.

The vehicle also has two 6 mm pulse lasers powered directly from the infantry fighting vehicle's fusion reactor. One is mounted coaxial to the main 20 mm cannon with the other mounted above the vehicle. The coaxial laser is used against targets which the main gun is considered overkill against. The above turret mount is remote controlled within the turret and is extremely useful against incoming missiles.

The Infantry Fighting Vehicle carries both medium range and mini-missile launchers. On each side of the turret are medium range missile launchers. Four missiles are ready to fire with each launcher having three reloads for twelve missiles total. On each side of the hull are mini-missile batteries. Each launcher has ten mini-missiles read to fire with two reloads for a total of sixty mini-missiles compared to one hundred mini-missiles carried on the Lion hover tank. Mini-Missiles are usually self guided within the Three Galaxies and the weapon system is often operated as missile defense for the armored vehicle.

The Jaguar is 20 metric tons unloaded and 32 metric tons when fully loaded. It is well armored although slightly less well armored than the Human Alliance Lynx design. In addition, the Jaguar fighting vehicle is protected by a forward force field to withstand greater damage. Many of these vehicles are upgraded with a variable force field generator similar to the generator mounted on most starfighter.

As far as the main reactor, the Jaguar uses a fusion reactor derived from a civilian design although safety systems and power regulators are modified. The reactor requires refueling approximately every twelve years. As a gravity based design, the Jaguar has many advantages over air cushion based designs. The Wolfen Maniple infantry fighting vehicle combines both but still cannot operate in planetary bodies which lack an atmosphere. These mercenary vehicles can also be dropped from orbit although are extremely vulnerable before they reach the surface of the planet. Can fly at two hundred and fifty kilometers per hour at high altitude but is limited to two hundred kilometer per hour when skimming the surface.

This Infantry Fighting Vehicle uses modified starship rules for its weaponry. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies for more details.

(Note: The power system is fusion not anti-matter because the author’s opinion is that anti-matter is to dangerous to be used in vehicles that may be used in an atmosphere. If a craft powered by anti-matter was to detonate in an atmosphere it would cause huge planetary damage. At GM option, this can also be applied to all vehicles or this MBT can be changed to anti-matter.)

Model Type: MGI-10
Vehicle Type: Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Grav)
Crew: Three, one driver, one commander, one gunner.
Troops: 16 soldiers in full gear / 12 light power armors.

M.D.C. By Location:

	[1] 20 mm Electromagnetic Rail Gun (Turret):	60
	[1] 6 mm Coaxial Pulse Laser (Turret):	40
	6 mm Pulse Laser Cupola / Mini-Turret (Turret):	80
	Medium Range Missile Launchers (2, Turret)	120 each
	[1] Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	100 each
	[2] Turret:	225
	[3] Main Body:	500
	[4] Non-Variable Force Field (Protects front 1/3 of the tank only):	200
	Reinforced Driver Compartment:	125
	Reinforced Gunner / Commander Compartment	100
	Reinforced Troop Compartment:	125
	Rear Hatches (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] The Weapons turret is unmanned by the crew, and contains the main weapons; Destroying it will knock the weapons out action but the crew will survive.
[3] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and is unsalvageable; The crew can survive unharmed in the reinforced crew compartment.
[4] Shields is non variable and only protects the forward aspect of the hover vehicle. Shield regenerates at the rate of 5% (10 M.D.C.) per melee round.

Speed:
Driving on the Ground: 124.3 mph (200 kph) maximum. The vehicle can make sharp turns and float over any obstacle. Note: The maximum top speed can be actually higher than this, but that is under ideal conditions, like straight roads and flat terrain. The low level terrain avoidance systems cannot operate properly at speeds faster than this.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum cruise speed is 155.3 mph (250 kph), due to being a low powered Contra-Grav system, altitude is limited to 1640 feet (500 meters.) Contra-Grav system can also control descent speed so that the vehicle can be dropped from orbit.
Underwater: The Jaguar can use its thrusters to travel up to a maximum speed of 37.3 mph (60 kph).
Maximum Ocean Depth: 1 mile (1.6 km)
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for crew for two weeks.

Statistical Data:
Length: 27.07 feet (8.25 meters) not including gun barrel and 31.33 feet (9.55 meters) with barrel forward
Height: 10.50 feet (3.20 meters) including top pulse laser.
Width: 11.81 feet (3.60 meters)
Weight: 22.05 tons (20.0 metric tons) empty and 35.27 (32.0 metric tons) fully loaded
Power System: Advanced Fusion with 12 year life span.
Cargo: Without troops, can carry up to 9.09 tons (8.25 metric tons). Minimal storage space in pilots compartment; about three feet (0.9 m) in side dimensions for extra clothing, weapons, and personal items. Three carbines and one hand-held missile launcher with four loads each are stored in a compartment in the crew compartment.
Market Cost: 37.5 million credits. Often costs double that on the Black Market. Various upgrade packages are also available.

Weapon Systems:
Note: Space ranges are given for when the vehicle is used on airless moons and other similar locations.

One (1) 20 mm Electromagnetic Rail Gun: Unlike rail-guns mounted on most phase world tanks and armored vehicle designs, the rail guns work through the use of electromagnets instead of gravity. The rail gun still fires projectiles at incredible velocities compared to rail guns on Rifts Earth. Mounted with the cannon is a powerful fire control system. Main gun is usually controlled by the Gunner although both the commander have emergency controls.
Maximum Effective Range: 26,300 feet (8,000 meters) in an atmosphere and 497.1 miles (800 km) in space.
Mega Damage: 30 round burst inflicts3D6x10 M.D.C., one round does 3D6 M.D.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the Gunner's combined hand to hand (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 6,000 Rounds (200 Bursts)
Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +4 to strike with rail gun and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when vehicle is moving.
One (1) Coaxial 6 mm Pulse Laser: Mounted beside the main 20 mm electromagnetic rail gun. Basically weapon is a squad support weapon and is controlled by the gunner. Like the rail gun mounts, the driver and commander have auxiliary controls. Designed to deal with targets which do not require the man gun or 20 mm rail gun
Maximum Effective Range: 4,921.2 feet (1,500 meters) in an atmosphere and 93.21 miles (150 km) in space.
Mega Damage: 4D6+2 per single shot, 1D6x10+20 for a rapid fire three shot burst, or use machine gun burst rules for higher burst setting.
Rate of Fire: Equal the Gunner's number of hand to hand attacks - Single Shot, Three Round Burst, and Extended Bursts (Use Machine Gun burst rules).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the pulse laser. Gives +4 to strike with the pulse laser and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when tank is moving.
One (1) Mini-Turret 6 mm Pulse Laser: Basically weapon is a squad support weapon mounted in the turret which is remotely controlled by the vehicle's commander. Weapon is very effective for shooting down missiles and is useful against ground targets as well. Turret can rotate 360 degrees in less than a second and can elevate up to 90 degrees vertical.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,921.2 feet (1,500 meters) in an atmosphere and 93.21 miles (150 km) in space.
Mega Damage: 4D6+2 per single shot, 1D6x10+20 for a rapid fire three shot burst, or use machine gun burst rules for higher burst setting.
Rate of Fire: Equal the Commander's number of hand to hand attacks - Single Shot, Three Round Burst, and Extended Bursts (Use Machine Gun burst rules).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
Two (2) Medium Range Missile Launchers: Mounted on the sides of the turret. Each of these launchers can fire of up to two missiles and the launcher has two reloads for each launchers for a total of twelve medium range missiles. Weapon system is used for hitting enemy robots, fighters, and missiles. Weapon system is also used for anti-cruise missile defense. Missile has a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Launchers can launch on multiple targets at the same time.
Maximum Effective Range: Medium Range Missile range is 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000 miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds) in space.
Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) medium ranges missiles between both launchers.
Payload: Six (6) medium range missiles per launcher for twelve (12) medium range missiles total.
Two (2) Mini-missile Launchers: One of these are mounted on the left and the other on the right side of the tank’s body, and are fitted flush with the armor. These are standard mini missile launchers, usually used for close in defense purposes. The reloads are fed to the launchers from a magazine in the main body. Missile has a top speed of Mach 10 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 2% of light per turn (slightly faster than any starship except if it is exceeding it maximum safe acceleration). Mini-Missile in the Phase World / Three Galaxies setting are normally smart missiles.
Maximum Effective Range: Mini-Missile range is 2 miles (3.2 km) in an atmosphere and 100 miles (161 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: Varies with mini missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in a volley of two (2), four (4), five (5), ten (10), or twenty (20).
Payload: 10 mini-missile per launcher, with 2 reloads per launcher, for a total of 60 mini-missiles.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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