Mercenary LMMV Hover Missile Vehicle (Grav):

The abbreviation standards for “Light Mobile Missile Vehicle” and most operators call the vehicles “Limvee.” The vehicle is operated by many different groups within the Three Galaxies including, as one might expect, mercenary companies, but also a fair number of self defense forces as well. Even ones one might not expect to operate converted civilian designs in some cases operated these vehicles. Much of this is because while the design is relatively inexpensive yet reasonably capable.

The vehicle is a medium class grav transport converted to a light missile launcher vehicle. Most commonly, the Tragun Corporation T-550 Medium Grav Transport is converted but a variety of other similar vehicle can be converted to missile vehicles with similar performance. In addition, several other groups convert contra-grav transport vehicles in a similar manner.

There are two basic models of this vehicle, one armed with four long range missiles and the other armed with eight medium range missiles. In either case, the role of the vehicle is that it is designed to act as a mobile defensive missile battery. When the missile launcher is not getting read to fire, it is folded down to make the vehicle more streamlined. When being readied to fire, the weapon system extends outwards.

Being mobile means that these batteries can be moved to where they are needed and their ability to be moved rapidly also makes them harder to kill. Fixed batteries, no matter how well protected, are extremely vulnerable to kills outside of the range of the battery. Of course, as they are not properly armored military designs, the light mobile vehicles are extremely vulnerable if they are targeted. Many heavier armored missile vehicle designs also have a protective force fields.

While the main missile battery is considered these vehicles primary weaponry, some of these missile vehicles do have a secondary battery. Most often this is a light laser designed for defense against attacking troops or against incoming missiles. In addition, some also have a light mini-missile battery although usually limited to twelve mini-missiles total. These are more effective than they might otherwise be because mini-missiles usually have smart guidance systems. In a pinch as well, the mini-missiles can be effective against heavier armored targets.

Compared to purpose built missile vehicles, the “Limvee” lacks any sort of long range sensor systems but instead relies on other vehicles to operate as a sensor platforms. There are a few different tactics. Some forces will operate these missile vehicles alongside purpose built designs with these vehicles acting in the support role. Another tactic is to have a grav transport converted to a sensor platform with two to four light missile vehicles operating with each one. Depending on tactical disposition, missile vehicles armed with long range and medium range missiles may operate together. The missiles themselves do have some limited guidance systems as well.

Both conventional electrical models and fusion powered models are common. If not frequently operated, conventional models are cheaper while fusion powered models offer virtually unlimited endurance. Conventional models still do have a range of twenty-five hundred kilometers. For both conventional electrical and fusion powered models based on the T-550, vehicles have a normal top speed of one hundred and sixty kilometers per hour at low altitude. At higher altitudes, it can operate at a maximum of two hundred kilometers per hour with a maximum altitude of up to two hundred meters. Operating at such high altitudes makes the vehicles a target so rarely operate that high. Other models of medium hover transports may have different performance.

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

Model Type: LMMV (Converted T.C. T-550).

Vehicle Type: Light Mobile Missile Vehicle.

Crew: Three (3) or four (4) - Usually commander, driver, gunner, and communication specialist.

M.D.C. By Location:

	[1] Optional - Light Pulse Laser Cupola / Mini-Turret (Front):	40.
	[1] Optional - Mini-Missile Launchers (2):	100 each.
	[2] Missile Turret:	100.
	[3] Hover Unit:	120.
	[4] Main Body:	380.
	Cockpit:	80.

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 missile 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] Destruction of the hover unit will cause the vehicle to be no longer under the pilot’s control.

[4] Destruction of the main body will cause the vehicle to crash.

Speed:

Driving on the Ground: 99.4 mph (160 kph) maximum. The hover craft 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 124.3 mph (200 kph), due to being a low powered Contra-Grav system, altitude is limited to 656.2 feet (200 meters.)

Maximum Range: With electric power system has a 1,553.4 miles (2,500 km) range and with fusion (after market upgrade) has effectively unlimited range.

Statistical Data:

Length: 27.23 feet (8.3 meters).

Height: 9.35 feet (2.85 meters).

Width: 8.20 feet (2.5 meters).

Mass/Weight: 21,605.3 lbs (9,800 kilograms) empty and 31,967.0 lbs (14,500 kilograms) fully loaded.

Power System: Electrical with High Capacity Battery (Advanced Fusion Conversion with a 5 year micro-fusion reactor available.)

Cargo: Crew can carry basic equipment including weaponry in crew compartment. Otherwise, missile launcher replaces cargo bed.

Market Cost: Conventional Electrical Model: 2.5 million credits. Micro Fusion Model: 3.0 million credits.

Mini-Laser turret costs an additional 250,000 and Mini-missile launchers costs an additional 200,000 credits for the pair.

Weapon Systems:

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

One (1) Box Missile Launcher: Mounted on the rear of the vehicle in the place of a cargo compartment is a box missile launcher. The missile launcher is raised when ready to be fired but is generally stowed when the vehicle is moving. The box launcher contains either four long range missiles or eight two medium range missiles. Box launcher can rotate 360 degrees and can angle up to sixty. Even so, the missiles can target against targets ninety degrees above the vehicle.
1. Long Range Missiles: The box launcher is fitted to fire long range missiles. Missile has a top speed of Mach 20 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 8% of light per turn (faster than any starship.) Whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will continue to travel in a straight line unless set to self destruct or receives a destruct code but has very low odds of hitting star ships (Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile, when unpowered, is at -25% to be detected.) Long range missiles do not have minuses to hit small targets, unlike cruise missiles, and are all considered smart missiles.
  
  Maximum Effective Range: Long Range Missile range is 3,400 miles (5,470 km) in an atmosphere and 1,800,000 miles (2,897,000 km/9.7 light seconds) in space.
  
  Mega-Damage & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Fusion warheads inflict 2D4x100 M.D.C. each.)
  
  Rate of Fire: Can fire long range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or four (4) long range missiles.
  
  Payload: Four (4) long range missiles total.
2. Medium Range Missiles: Instead of being fitted for long range missiles, the box launcher is fitted for firing medium range missiles. Weapon system is used for hitting enemy robots, fighters, and long range and cruise missiles. Missile has a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Weapon system can be used on multiple targets simultaneously.
  
  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 (Multi-warhead heavy warheads inflict 5D6x10 M.D.C. each - See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
  
  Rate of Fire: Can fire medium range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or four (4) medium range missiles.
  
  Payload: Eight (8) medium range missiles total.
One (1) Mini-Turret 6 mm Pulse Laser - Optional: 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. On conventional electrical models, the weapon has its own battery while on fusion models, the weapon pulls directly from the vehicle’s reactor.

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 to the combined hand to hand attacks of the commander (usually 4 or 5) - Single Shot, Three Round Burst, and Extended Bursts (Use Machine Gun burst rules).

Payload: Conventional Electrical Model: Battery is good for 1,500 blasts (500 three shot bursts.) Micro Fusion Model: Effectively Unlimited.
Two (2) Mini-Missile Launchers - Optional: One of these are mounted on the left and the other on the right side of the vehicle’s front chassis. These are standard mini missile launchers, usually used for close in defense purposes. Unlike missile launchers with most larger vehicles, the launcher does not have any reloads. 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 mini- missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (4), four (4), or six (6) mini-missiles.

Payload: Six (6) mini-missile per launcher for a total of twelve (12) mini-missiles.

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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