MMT-38 "Mangonel" Grav Missile Tank (Wolfen / CAF):


In the development of various support vehicles, the Wolfen military decided to base their designs on already existing designs such as the Phalanx main battle tank and the Maniple infantry fighting vehicle. This allowed a much larger part commonality as well as reducing development costs.


The Mangonel is in large part based on the Phalanx main battle tank. It is named after heavy artillery used by the Wolfen military historically. In most respects, missiles in the Three Galaxies have taken over the role once filled by artillery. They have immense range and inflict incredible damage. Compared to the smaller Scorpio missile vehicles, the Mangonel was produced in much smaller numbers. It is far more expensive to produce than the lighter design. In comparison however, it has much greater ability to withstand damage and can operate on airless locations. It can also be dropped from orbit safely.


Primarily operated by the Wolfen military, the Consortium did purchase a number of these vehicles. In general though, they prefer to operate less expensive and smaller missile vehicle designs. It also has not been exported in large numbers to any smaller governments or mercenary companies. Five Human Alliance AMV-133 Sentry missile vehicles can be purchased for the cost of a single Mangonel.


Missile vehicles, especially if operating from an airless moon, can engage targets millions of kilometers from the launcher with long range missiles. Medium range missiles have less range but still can engage at significant ranges, far beyond that of any direct fire weapons. In effect, they can act as mobile planetary defense platforms. Their mobility makes them far harder to kill than fixed launchers although have much lower payload. On a planet with a normal Terra type atmosphere, this is greatly reduced because the atmosphere reduces acceleration greatly. However, even in an atmosphere, long range missiles can strike targets over five thousand kilometers away.


Most of the weaponry carried on the Phalanx is stripped off on the Mangonel to make room for the missile batteries. This includes the main laser and heavy rail gun in the turret as well as the gravity flechette gun. The forward mounted variable focus particle beam, side mounted pulse lasers, and top mounted rail gun mounts are retained to give the missile tank a measure of self defense. Early models mounted conventional electromagnetic rail guns while later models replace this with a gravity rail gun. It has only half the ammunition of the mount on the tank. In addition, the mini-missile batteries are retained with a total of twenty-four mini-missiles.


Replacing the main turret is a box missile launcher with the ability to carry twelve long range missiles and twenty-four medium range missiles. The medium range missile launcher is mounted above the long range missile launcher. In affect, a single Mangonel fills the role of two of the lighter Scorpio missile vehicles. There is no need for a medium range missile armed support vehicle to back up the vehicle armed with long range missiles.


As far as protection, the Mangonel retains the armor of a tank and can withstand far more damage than either the Scorpio or Sentry missile vehicles. It also replaces the original forward force field with a variable force field as is carried on most starfighters. It cannot be expected to be attacked from the front. Larger than the force field generator carried on newer fighters, reduction in ammunition for the rail gun and mini-missile launchers was to clear enough space for the force field generator. The ability to withstand far more abuse can be an advantage in a hostile situation where there are not enough defense units to properly protect the missile tanks. Still, it can be quite vulnerable to long range bombardment from starships.


As with most missile vehicles, the Mangonel carried far better sensors than most tanks and armored vehicles. As well, the Mangonel has an excellent communication. Compared to modern sensor and communication suits, the system is a bit dated but still quite capable. Using the sensor suites of linked systems can also extend sensor range beyond the vehicle's normal sensor range. As with the Phalanx, one criticism of the Mangonel is that it requires a large crew. It requires a driver, commander, communication operator, and three gunners. There is full life support for the crew of the vehicle.


Even though there are no real plans for the Wolfen military to retire the lighter vehicle, it is likely that the Wolfen military forces will retire the Scorpio before the Mangonel. Several upgrades are being considered for the Mangonel. These include an artificial intelligence control for defensive batteries to reduce crew, removing the pulse lasers and replacing them with additional variable focus particle beams, replacing the sensor suite with more modern sensors, and replacing the force field generator with a more modern generator. It is likely that the Wolfen military will act on the in the next few years. The Consortium has begun upgrading their Phalanx main battle tanks and it is unknown if upgrades to the Mangonel will follow.


(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: MMT-38
Vehicle Type: Missile Tank (Grav)
Crew: Six (6); pilot, commander, communication officer and three gunners.


M.D.C. by Location:

Rail Gun Mount (Cupola on top of Missile Turret)120
[1] Missile Turret600
10 mm Variable Focus Particle Beam Cannon (Front):200
Mini-Missile Launcher (Behind Missile Turret):160
4 mm Pulse Laser Mini-Turrets (2, Front Sides)70 each
[2] Sensor Arrays (2, Sides):150 each
[3] Main Body:950
Gunners Compartments (3):80 each
Pilot’s Compartment:/td>200
[4] Variable Force Field:200 side (1,200 total)


Notes:
[1] Destroying the turret prevents the use of all its weapon systems (Including Cupola mounted rail gun mount.)
[2] Loss of sensor array destroys all long range tracking and targeting capabilities.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body destroys the vehicle.
[4] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (60 M.D.C.) per melee.


Speed:
Driving on the ground: 200 mph (320 kph) maximum. The Mangonel's contra gravity system allows it to make very tight turns, change directions unexpectedly, and float over any obstacle.
Flying: Limited flying abilities. Unlike conventional hover vehicles, the Mangonel uses a contra gravity system and can fly at speeds of 200 mph (320 kph) to a maximum altitude of 1000 feet (305 meters) in the air. The disadvantage of flying is that the tank is designed to fight close to the ground. Contra-Grav system can also control descent speed so that the tank can be dropped from orbit.
Underwater: The Phalanx can use its thrusters to travel up to a maximum speed of 27.3 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 four weeks.


Statistical Data:
Height: 26.5 feet (8.1 meters) including cupola and 21.8 (6.6 meters) to top of turret
Width: 30 feet (9 meters)
Length: 40 feet (12.2 meters)
Weight: 260 tons (235.9 metric tons)
Cargo: Minimal storage space: about three feet (0.9 m) in side dimensions for extra clothing, weapons and personal items.
Power System: Advanced Fusion reactors with average energy life of 30 years
Market Cost: 200 million credits for a fully operational and equipped Mangonel A partially rebuilt missile tank: reduce M.D.C. by 30%, with no force field, costs between 120 and 150 million credits.


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

  1. One (1) 10 mm Variable Focus Particle Beam Cannon: Mounted in the front of the missile tank and controlled by its own gunner. The weapon is extremely useful. The particle beam is relatively short ranged but can fire as a concentrated beam or can spread out fire. When firing is a wide beam, it is extremely useful against infantry and missiles.
    Maximum Effective Range: Single Target: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) in an atmosphere and 75 miles (120 km) in space. Wide Beam: 1,200 feet (366 meters) in an atmosphere and 22.7 miles (36.6 km) in space.
    Mega Damage: Single Target: 1D6x10 M.D.C. per Particle Beam blast. Wide Beam: 6D6 to all targets within a 100 foot (30.4 meter) diameter area.
    Rate of Fire: Equal the gunners' number of hand to hand attacks. Wide beam has an additional +2 to strike fast moving targets.
    Payload: Effectively unlimited.
  2. Two (2) 4 mm Laser Mini-Turrets: These side-mounted weapons can be operated by the pilot, the missile tank commander or the communication officer and are used for defense against infantry and missiles which leak through the vehicle's other defenses.
    Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) in an atmosphere and 75 miles (120 km) in space.
    Mega-Damage: 4D6 per blast single blast (cannot be fired in tandem).
    Rate of Fire: Equal to the number of combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner.
    Payload: Effectively unlimited.
  3. One (1) Cupola Mounted Rail Gun Mount: Mounted above the missile turret, early versions of the vehicle carry a conventional electromagnetic rail gun while later versions replace this with a gravity rail gun. The mount is designed to be operated by its own gunner although can be operated by the commander or other crew member as well. Useful for last ditch defense of the vehicle. The mount can rotate 360 degrees and can elevate up to 90 degrees to hit airborne targets. Weapon is useful against both ground targets and airborne targets including missiles.
    1. 5 mm Light Electro-Magnetic Rail Gun: Original weapon system. Even though not quite as powerful as the later gravity rail gun, these mounts are extremely reliable. As such, few crews have replaced these weapon systems. As with most rail guns, the projectiles are fired at incredible velocities.
      Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) in an atmosphere and 65 miles (90 km) in space.
      Mega-Damage: A burst is 40 rounds and inflicts 1D4x10+10 M.D. Can only fire bursts.
      Rate of Fire: Equal the Driver / Commander's number of hand to hand attacks or by computer (+3 to strike and has 5 attacks.)
      Payload: 4,000 rounds (100 Bursts)
    2. 6 mm Light Gravity Auto-Cannon: Replacement weapon system identical to the weapon mounted in the Phalanx main battle tank. Inflicts slightly greater damage and has slightly greater range than the original conventional electromagnetic rail gun.
      Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) in an atmosphere and 75 miles (120 km) in space.
      Mega-Damage: A burst is 40 rounds and inflicts 1D6x10+10 M.D. Can only fire bursts.
      Rate of Fire: Equal the Driver / Commander's number of hand to hand attacks or by computer (+3 to strike and has 5 attacks.)
      Payload: 4,000 rounds (100 Bursts)
  4. One (1) Long Range Missile Launcher (12 Long Range Missiles): The missile tank mounts a box launcher that carries both long range and medium range missiles. The turret can rotate 360 degrees and can able up to 45 degrees. Even so, the missiles can target against targets ninety degrees above the vehicle. Long Range 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 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 penalties 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 missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), or four (4) missiles.
    Payload: Twelve (12) long range missiles total.
  5. One (1) Medium Range Missile Launcher (24 Medium Range Missiles): Mounted together with the long range missile launcher, the missile tank carries medium range missile launchers. 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 (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), four (4), or eight (8) missiles.
    Payload: Twenty-Four (24) medium range missiles total
  6. One (1) MLRS Mini-Missile Launcher: This Multiple Launch Rocket System is an auto-loading missile launcher operated by its own gunner although can be operated by the commander or other crew member as well. The Mini-missile launcher can engage airborne and ground targets. Standard issue is half fragmentation and half plasma mini-missiles. 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.) Batteries can launch on multiple targets each at the same time.
    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 volleys of two (2), four (4). Eight (8), or twelve (12) mini-missiles.
    Payload: Twenty-Four (24) mini-missiles total.


Sensory Equipment:


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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2012, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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