British Warrior 2100 Mechanized Combat Vehicle:


The beginning of the Twenty-First Century was a time of great technological advancement. Included in this was the incredible material advances during the beginning of the Twenty-Thirties. While many previous advances had been in electronics and could be back-fitted to earlier designs, refitting designs with the new armor materials would result in inferior designs. While the reborn Soviet Union followed this pattern, this was not acceptable for most Western nations including Great Britain. Still, budgets were extremely limited in moth nations and budgets did not allow for completely new designs. Instead, upgraded versions of all ready existing designs such as the British Challenger Tank and the America Bradley fighting vehicle.


Along with the Challenger Main Battle Tanks, the British military had operated the infantry fighting vehicle for decades. British combat experience was limited compared to the United States but the Warrior infantry vehicle had served quite well. It had been successfully exported to Kuwait and other nations. There was some consideration given to just simply adopting the American design but instead it was decided to create an all-new design based on the Warrior design. Some old Warriors were upgraded with new armor, like the Challenger Mk II, to serve while the new design was being introduced but they were retired as soon as new Warrior 2100 vehicles were introduced. It took a few years to bring up production and it was not until the mid part of the Twenty-Thirties that the vehicles begun rolling out of the production lines. The Challenger III tank had a high production priority and started rolling from their factories several months before the Warrior 2100. The design was greatly upgraded during the Twenty-Forties although the designation was not changed. These upgrades included the replacement of the fighting vehicle's power plant. Still, the design was considered dated by this time and it was replaced by the Valiant infantry fighting vehicle in the Twenty-Fifties. Still, some crews preferred the idea of an ungraded version of the Warrior 2100 with a powerful rail gun replacing the 30 mm cannon. Even though the Warrior 2100 was pulled from front line service in British service, they remained in second line roles and was operated by a variety of other nations in front line roles until the coming of the Rifts.


Due to the fighting vehicles service in multiple nations, a small number of Warrior 2100 fighting vehicles survived the coming of the Rifts. Like other pre-Rifts designs, many of the surviving fighting vehicles have found their way into the hands of mercenaries. Like the Challenger Mk III, the Triax company in the New German Republic produces repair parts for the pre-Rifts design. Several post Rifts designs carry similar weaponry although there has been some consideration given towards an upgraded version of the Warrior 2100 including replacing the 30 mm cannon with a powerful rail gun. The design is a bit faster than the Challenger Mk III and can integrate with most post Rifts military designs better than the main battle tank. Still, the armor is a bit weak compared to later designs.


Fuel cell system had become very efficient in the decades before the introduction of the Warrior 2100 and the first production model were powered by a fuel cell system. The tank and armored vehicle designs of many other nations were also powered by fuel cell systems and the Challenger Mk III was initial powered by a similar system. Due to greater power and improved suspension, top speed is about 90 kph on roads and about 75 kph off-road under normal conditions. Range was excellent with a range of around 1000 kilometers although slightly less than the American upgraded Bradley fighting vehicle. Unlike the Bradley, the Warrior is not amphibious although has some fording abilities. The fuel cells operate by pulling the electrons off of an H2 molecule, splitting it into 2H+ molecules and 2 electrons. The electrons pass through the “load” (engines, weapons, avionics, etc.) creating current and powering the systems. Meanwhile, the 2H+ molecules pass from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the other “End,” the electrons then recombine with the 2H+ molecules and Oxygen (from the air) and are release as water from the rear of the vehicle. The upgraded version, introduced in the middle of the Twenty-Forties, replaced the fuel cell system with a high efficiency fusion reactor. While top speeds were not improved and power train was unchanged, the fusion reactor gave the infantry fighting design virtually unlimited range. While later designs had much heavier armor, the Warrior 2100 was still much stronger than refitted versions of the original Warrior. Due to the high tech alloys and composites used in the construction, the Warrior 2100 was virtually immune to corrosion, resist general wear, and have an extremely long life expectancy. Similar to the Challenger Mk III, the Warrior 2100 mounted a variety of advanced electronics and was also NBC and EMP protected. Still, it does not have the full systems of later tanks and robot vehicles. While the upgraded version of the American Bradley carries six troops in addition to the crew of three, the Warrior 2100 carries seven troops in addition to the crew of three.


The main gun of the fighting vehicle is a 30 mm Rarden cannon similar to the original Warrior fighting vehicle. While there was some consideration given to an upgraded version carrying a powerful rail gun, the convention cannon was retained in all versions. Still, new ammo was developed to make the cannon more effective. The upgraded version of the American Bradley upgraded to a 30 mm cannon from the original 25 mm cannon. Like the Challenger III, it was decided to mount mini-missile launchers on either side of the turret. This gave the design a considerable defensive punch although payload was limited. Beside the main turret, a 7.62 caliber machine-gun was mounted co-axial to the main gun and is fired by the gunner. With the introduction of new body armors, the medium machine-gun was simply not effective. There were problems with the development of liquid propellant weapons and it had to be retained until the introduction of a pulse laser. With the introduction of a fusion reactor, the cannon was replaced by a pulse laser. The mount was small enough to take the place of the coaxial machine-gun without redesigning the turret. Fuel cell system simply did not produce enough power to support the energy weapons and most retained the medium machine-gun. Many post Rifts crews have replaced the machine-gun with rail guns and/or energy weapons and simply use energy clips to power the weapons. For self defense, two banks of smoke dispensers are mounted on the armored vehicle. In addition to smoke grenades, a variety of other specialized aerosols including tear gas grenades, prismatic aerosol grenades, radar decoying grenades, and thermal decoy grenades.


Model Type: GKN Defense Warrior 2100
Vehicle Type: Armored Personnel Carrier
Crew: Three (Driver, Gunner, and Commander).
Troop Carrying Capacity: Seven soldiers in full gear


M. D. C. by Location:

30 mm L21 Rarden cannon (1, Turret):75
[1] 7.62 Machine Gun (1, Coaxial - Early Model):10
[1] Coaxial LMG-60 Automatic Pulse Laser (1, Later Fusion Versions):50
Mini Missile Launchers (2, turret):30 each
Weapon Turret:150
[1] Smoke / Gas Dispensers (4):15 each
[1] Headlights (2):10 each
Rear Hatch:100
Reinforced Crew Compartment:100
Reinforced Personnel Bay:100
[2] Main Body:280
[3] Tractor Treads (2):60 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 fighting 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: 55.9 mph (90 kph) maximum road speed; 46.6 mph (75 kph) off-road. 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%.
Underwater: Can be equipped with snorkel to run underwater down to 15 feet (4.6 meters)
Maximum Range: Fuel Cell Models: 621.4 miles (1,000 km) Nuclear Models: Effectively Unlimited (5 years.)


Statistical Data:
Height: 9.16 feet (2.79 meters) to top of turret
Width: 9.95 feet (3.03 meters)
Length: 20.8 feet (6.34 meters)
Weight: 50,265 lbs (22,800 kg) unloaded and 57,100 lbs (25,900 kg) fully loaded
Power Source: Fuel Cell System or Nuclear fusion turbine (Must be refueled every five years, otherwise effectively unlimited)
Cargo Capacity: Without troops, can carry up to 2.1 tons in troop compartment.
Black Market Cost: Fuel Cell Models: 1,500,000 Credits to built. Nuclear: 6,500,000 Credits to build. Add 250,000 if mounting pulse lasers. Each model usually costs double to triple that to buy one today. If fitted, any extra weapons systems will add to the cost of the tank; Warrior 2100 are sometimes found very heavily modified with all weapons replaced although many retain the 30 mm cannon.


Weapon Systems:

  1. 30 mm L21 Rarden cannon (1): Carried on the original Warrior combat vehicle and carried over on the Warrior 2100. Weapon fires a combination of armor piercing and explosive rounds to inflict heavy damage on targets. Since the cannon is built into a turret, it can rotate 360-degrees and can aim upwards 60 degrees - allowing it to engage low-flying aircraft and creatures. The cannon is controlled by a gunner inside the turret compartment. The vehicle has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +2 to strike with the cannon and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when it moving. Both the gunner and the vehicle commander are housed within the turret.
    Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1,830 meters).
    Mega-Damage: A burst is 20 rounds and inflicts 2D6x10. A single round does 3D6 M.D.
    Rate of Fire: Equal to the gunner's hand to hand attacks; each burst counts as one melee action.
    Payload: 250 round magazine (12 bursts) each mount. The vehicle can carry an additional 500 rounds stowed internally in troop compartment replacing one trooper. Reloading is done inside the vehicle and takes two melee rounds (30 seconds) for two crewmen or passengers and six melees (90 seconds) if only one person is involved or the people aren't trained in the reload procedure.
  2. Coaxial Mounted Weapon: Mounted beside the main gun and fires in the same direction as the main gun. This limits it to the same firing arcs as the smoothbore, but since it uses the same targeting systems as the main cannon and is mounted very stable it is more accurate than its counterpart on top of the turret. +2 to strike due to better fire control.
    1. 7.62 mm L94A1 Chain Gun (1): A similar weapon was initially carried on the M2 Bradley as well but was quickly replaced on most armored vehicles by liquid propellant weapons on the American design. Was retained on the Warrior 2100 until replaced by a pulse laser on fusion powered versions. Some crews did not carry ammunition for the weapon, considering it to be useless. Engineers developed Ramjet rounds for the 7.62 machine-gun but they were found to be ineffective.
      Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (609.6 meters)
      Mega Damage: One round does 1 M.D.C. to M.D.C. targets or 3D6x10 S.D.C. to soft targets. Twenty round bursts do 2D4 M.D.C.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: Carries 2,000 rounds for the Coaxial mount.
    2. LMG-60 Coaxial Automatic Pulse Laser (1): Basically the Squad Automatic laser rifle mounted above the cannon barrel and linked directly to the Warrior 2100`s power pack. It`s special cooling system allowed for extended bursts which, in combination with a unlimited payload, made up for the somewhat low range of this weapon. The weapon replaced the medium machine-gun on later versions of the fusion powered versions of the Warriorr.
      Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (610 meters)
      Mega-Damage: 2D6 per single shot, 6D6 for a rapid fire three shot burst, or use machine gun burst rules for higher burst setting (See Machine Gun burst rules).
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: Effectively unlimited.
  3. Mini Missile Launchers (2): One mounted on either side of the turret. These look suspiciously like smoke grenade launchers, but the canisters are really mini missiles. These missiles are supposed to be used to protect the Challenger III from enemy missiles, and as such fragmentation warheads are standard issue. Enterprising crews have been known to switch some or all of the fragmentation rounds for AP or Plasma rounds, giving the tank a considerably enhanced anti armor punch at the expense of defensive capability.
    Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, mini-missiles only (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
    Mega-Damage: Varies with missile types, mini missiles only (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
    Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or six (6) missiles.
    Payload: each launcher carries 6 mini-missiles for a total of 12 Mini-missiles.
  4. Smoke Dispenser (2): Mounted on either side of the armored vehicle and launches smoke grenades. Some testing has been done using prismatic aerosol grenades to reduce the effect of lasers against the tank. As well, tear gas grenades can be used for special purposes.
    Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke 40 ft (12 m) in diameter (see other grenades for their effects)
    Maximum Effective Range: 1,200 feet (365 m)
    Rate of Fire: Two per melee
    Payload: Carries 6 smoke grenades per launcher (12 grenades total).


Sensory Equipment

Special Notes:


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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2005, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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