Polish PT-134 “Wolf” Main Battle Tank:

Poland adopted the Russian (Soviet Union at that time) T-72 Tank as their main combat tank and began producing the tank in 1978. The T-72 was produced by Poland in some numbers and was also exported. Later they began building the PT-91 Tank. The design was a modernized version of the T-72 tank using a number of new western systems and other modernizations. This design was the mainstay of the Polish Military Forces for several decades and was exported to a number of other nations. Numbers were vastly increased when the Soviet Union reformed. The PT-91 tank was modernized several times to keep up with the changing battle field although it was considered generally a good tank design.

Like with the vast majority of nations, the Polish Military found all of its military hardware almost obsolete when the revolution of new materials came in the third decade of the Twenty-First Century. An interim solution was to use the new materials for the PT-91 but that was really more of a temporary solution than anything else. Even with upgrades, such a design would not be as strong as a new built tank. The best solution was to develop a new tank using the new alloys and composites which had become available.

The German Military came up with a new tank which they designated the Leopard III. It was a monster of a tank and was armed with a 140 mm cannon. The United States built a new version of their Abrams armed with the same weapon and several other nations came up with similar designs. There was some consideration by the Polish Military to adopt a version of the Leopard III but it was decided that the tank was too large and instead it was decided to develop a smaller tank based on their PT-91 design using a number of secondary weapons from the German design.

This is how the PT-134 “Wolf” Main Battle Tank was born. It is called the "Wilk" in Polish and was also the name for a previous Polish upgrade to the T-72 tank. The design is still based on the T-72 tanks but used a large amount of "Western" systems. In this basic form, the vehicle soon replaced the upgraded PT-91 tanks, which were sold to less capable nations. As well, the PT-134 was also offered for export and competed directly with export model of the Soviet Black Eagle designs for customers. The PT-134 was better constructed than its Soviet counterpart and could withstand more damage. The design was updated several times but the tank actually remained in production in Poland until the Rifts destroyed much of the Earth and Poland collapsed. The use of materials made the vehicle virtually immune to environmental factors and material fatigue problems was vastly reduced.

After the coming of the Rifts, the PT-134 remained the backbone of the successor states that took over what was once Poland. Others found their way into the hands of mercenaries. Unlike the vast majority of facilities on Rifts Earth, the facilities which produced the PT-134 survived. As such, production of the tank continues to the present day. Some of these tanks are sold to mercenaries where the design is valued both because it is relatively simple and easy to repair especially when compared to many New German Republic designs.

There is rumor of a North American company looking to produce the PT-134 tank in a few years and that agents of the company have been talking to the factory. Presently, their facilities are at maximum production with the production of armored personnel carrier designs but there are plans to enlarge production. If they do start production of this tank, it is likely that the secondary systems will be weapon systems from North American sources instead of primarily German sources.

Unlike the Leopard III, the PT-134 does not use a fancy fuel cell system. It was judged that the system would be too hard to maintain and keep fueled. Instead a powerful diesel electric hybrid was produced. This virtually doubles the range of the tank to around one thousand kilometers. If the tank uses external fuel tanks, range is extended to eighteen hundred miles. The engine itself produces around twelve hundred horsepower with an improved transmission. Combined, these give a top speed of around eighty kilometers per hour on roads and a maximum off-road speed of around sixty kilometers per hour. This is quite a bit of improvement over the T-72 although still a bit slower than the Leopard III. Some crews since the coming of the Rifts have replaced the original diesel electric engine with fusion reactor packs from light robots and power armors.

One of the weaknesses of this design is the fact that it is not fully environmental although it does have comprehensive NBC protection. Still, most crews prefer to wear fully environmental body armor even though, like all T-72 developed designs, the crew compartments are extremely cramped for ist crew of three. Electronic systems are mostly German designs although were produced in Poland under licence. Most are quite similar to those mounted on the Leopard III. The Soviet missile decoy system is replaced by a German system as well.

The 125 mm 2A46MS gun is mounted on most versions of the PT-134 but some export models mount the 120 mm Rheinmetall gun instead. If produced in North America, the tank will most likely mount the 120 mm cannon because there are several companies which manufacture the weapon. Both weapons are a smoothbore weapon. The tank has a new automatic loader compared to the T-72 tank. A total of forty-two rounds are carried for the main gun. The Polish weapon industries did produce a plasma round although they did not export the ammunition in most cases. While missiles were also available, they were not commonly carried.

Secondary weapons are German in origin. The tank has a Coaxial weapon mount along with a mount for the tank’s commander. Originally, an 8 mm Heckler & Koch LPM-8-B liquid propellant weapon was mounted in both places but was replaced by an 8 mm Heckler & Koch RLG-8G Rail-Gun in later production. In many older models, the liquid propellant weapons were also replaced. Even before the coming of the Rifts, a number of operators began replacing these weapons with pulse lasers of various types. Since the tank is powered by a diesel electric drive system, these usually use their own e-clips but many crews still consider them more efficient. Some crews have also replaced the top mount with an automatic grenade launcher.

One reason why that the main gun did not need to normal carry missiles is because the PT-134 was designed to be able to carry a mini-missile box launcher on the turret. This box launcher has a capacity for sixteen missiles. Volleys of up to four mini-missiles can be fired at one time. The box launcher is extremely similar to the one which could be mounted on the export version of the T-212 tank although the two weapon mounts are not interchangeable.

Model Type: PT-134

Vehicle Type: Main Battle Tank

Crew: Three (Driver, Gunner, and Commander).

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Tractor Treads (2):	100 each
	Weapons Turret:	180
	125 mm 2A46M (D-81TM) Smooth-Bore Gun:	80
	120 mm Rheinmetall Smooth-Bore Gun (Optional - Replaces 125 mm):	80
	[2] 8 mm Liquid Propellant Gatling Gun (Turret Mounted):	25
	[2] 8 mm Liquid Propellant Gatling Gun (Co-Axial):	20
	[2] 8 mm turret mounted Railgun:	40
	[2] 8 mm Co-axial Railgun:	30
	Turret Mounted Mini-Missile Launcher (Optional):	50
	Firefly Chaff Launchers (2):	25 each
	[2] Reinforced Crew Compartment:	100
	[3] Main Body:	475

Notes:

[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the tank 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.

[2] 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.

[3] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and is unsalvageable.

Speed:

Ground: 49.7 mph (80 kph) maximum road speed; 37.3 mph (60 kph) maximum off-road speed. 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 16.4 feet (5.0 meters).

Maximum Range: 621.4 miles (1000 km) plus up to 497.1 miles (800 km) more with a large strap-on rear fuel tank that is ejected before going into battle.

Statistical Data:

Height: 7.28 feet (2.22 meter) to top of commander's cupola.

Width: 11.78 feet (3.59 meters).

Length: 31.73 (9.67 meter) with gun forward; 22.80 feet (6.95 meters) for just the hull/main body of the tank.

Weight: 50.9 tons (46.2 metric tons)

Power Source: Conventional, Diesel / Electric Hybrid developing 1,200 hp.

Cargo Capacity: Minimal, enough for equipment with crew.

Black Market Cost: 2.25 million credits is manufacturing costs. Often will cost double to triple to purchase today. If fitted, any extra weapons systems will add to the cost of the tank; PT-134 tanks are usually found very heavily modified, though they are quite common without modifications as well. Mini-Missile launchers will cost an additional 200,000 credits. No change in cost between models armed with 125 mm or 120 mm main gun.

Weapon Systems:

Main Gun: The PT-134 Wolf enjoys a +3 to strike for the main gun using the laser targeting sights and radar, and because of its gyrostabilisation the gun can be fired without penalties "on the move". The cannon can angle from -5 degrees to +14 degrees up, and the turret can rotate through 360 degrees. Main gun is controlled by the tank’s gunner. The same Auto-Loader works on both 125 mm and 120 mm rounds.
1. 125 mm Smooth Bore Cannon/Missile Launcher: The PT-134 can also fire Guided Missiles through the 125 mm gun; Truly a multi-purpose weapon that is considerably effective against enemy armor and robots alike. Plasma rounds are a late pre-Rifts innovation and are rare and expensive. They were almost never available for export.
  Maximum Effective Range: Direct fire range is 6,561 feet (2,000 meters). Has a quadrant site that allows the Sabot (APSD) rounds to be fired indirectly out to 30,839 feet (9,400 meters). Range for missiles varies with short range missile type; Usually Armor Piercing are carried.
  Mega-Damage: High Explosive: 1D6x10 with a blast radius of 20 feet (6.1 meters). High Explosive Anti-Tank: 2D6x10, blast radius of 10 feet (3.05 meters). Armor Piercing: 2D4x10+10. Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot: 3D4x10 (optional rule is that cannon gets a critical on a natural 18, 19, or 20 due to its high penetration). Plasma: 4D4x10+5, blast radius of 20 feet (6.1 meters) Mega-Damage for missiles is as per short missile type; almost always Armor Piercing (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Rate of Fire: Three per melee.
  Payload: 42 gun rounds; An additional round can be stored, ready to fire, in the main gun. Twenty-Two rounds are ready to fire in auto-loader with twenty additional rounds which must be manually loaded into auto-loader. This require two minutes (Eight melee rounds) by an untrained crew to load into the auto-loader, and only one minute (Four melee rounds) by a trained crew. Short range missiles are rarely carried.
  Bonuses: +2 to strike at all times with cannon shells from the laser sight and fire control computer, including when on the move. For indirect long-range fire has a +1 to strike, but only when standing still.
2. 120 mm Rheinmetall smooth-bore gun: Carried mainly on export models. Very similar to the main gun originally fitted to the Leopard II, American Abrams, and many other Western Tank designs. While there were missile types developed for the 120 mm cannon, these were much rarely carried than 125 missile types. They are also the equivalent of a short range missile. Most common type of round carried is the armor piercing sabot-discarding solids (APSD) type round which is extremely effective against tanks, other armored vehicles, and various heavy combat robot types.
  Maximum Effective Range: 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) for direct fire with discarding sabot round, 6,000 feet (1,828 meters) for direct fire with all other rounds, and indirect fire range of 26,250 feet (8,000 meters). Range for missiles varies with short range missile type; Usually Armor Piercing are carried although missiles are extremely rarely carried with the 120 mm cannon.
  Mega-Damage: High Explosive: 1D6x10 with a blast radius of 20 feet (6.1 meters). High Explosive Anti-Tank: 2D6x10, blast radius of 10 feet (3.05 meters). Armor Piercing: 2D4x10. Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot: 3D4x10 (optional rule is that cannon gets a critical on a natural 18, 19, or 20 due to its high penetration)
  Rate of Fire: A Maximum of 3 attacks per melee.
  Rate of Fire: Three per melee.
  Payload: 42 gun rounds; An additional round can be stored, ready to fire, in the main gun. Twenty-Two rounds are ready to fire in auto-loader with twenty additional rounds which must be manually loaded into auto-loader. This require two minutes (Eight melee rounds) by an untrained crew to load into the auto-loader, and only one minute (Four melee rounds) by a trained crew. Short range missiles are extremely rarely carried.
  Bonuses: +2 to strike at all times with cannon shells from the laser sight and fire control computer, including when on the move. For indirect long-range fire has a +1 to strike, but only when standing still.
Top Mounted Weapon System: The tank has a mount directly above the main turret. This mount has a 360 degree swiveling fire-arc and is capable of tracking aerial targets even directly overhead the PT-134. It can be fired manually, or from within the turret with computer guidance. As such, it is a somewhat crude but efficient CIWS for use against missiles and aircraft as well as ground personnel. On many models, these weapons have been replaced by pulse laser designs although not listed here due to the vast variety of available weapons. While not effective against missiles, automatic grenade launchers are also quite popular with many crews.
1. Heckler & Koch LPM-8-B Liquid Propellant Machine-gun: This weapon was designed when it was clear that the older 7.62 mm machine-gun design would be inadequate. In later models, this was replaced by a rail gun but many older models still retained this weapon. The weapon can fire all types of burst available to machine guns except extended bursts. The weapon uses a special liquid propellant which delivers about four times the force of nitro-cellulose propellant and the weapon fires an 8 mm round.
  Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
  Mega-Damage:
  Single Shot (Costs 1 attack): 1D6
  Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner.
  Payload: 600 rounds
2. Heckler & Koch RLG-8G millimeter Rail-Gun: Replaces the liquid propellant machine-gun in later models. Rail gun does not need to carry any propellant giving a higher ammunition capacity and has a longer range than the previous liquid propellant weapon.
  Maximum Effective Range: 4,920 feet (1,500 meters)
  Mega Damage: Single shot does 2D4 and 20 round burst does 1D6x10
  Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner; usually the commander.
  Payload: 800 rounds (40 bursts).
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. On many models, these weapons have been replaced by pulse laser designs although not listed here due to the vast variety of available weapons.
1. Heckler & Koch LPM-8-B Liquid Propellant Machine-gun: This weapon was designed when it was clear that the older 7.62 mm machine-gun design would be inadequate. In later models, this was replaced by a rail gun but many older models still retained this weapon. The weapon can fire all types of burst available to machine guns except extended bursts. The weapon uses a special liquid propellant which delivers about four times the force of nitro-cellulose propellant and the weapon fires an 8 mm round.
  Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
  Mega-Damage:
  Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner.
  Payload: 1000 rounds
2. Heckler & Koch RLG-8G millimeter Rail-Gun: Replaces the liquid propellant machine-gun in later models. Rail gun does not need to carry any propellant giving a higher ammunition capacity and has a longer range than the previous liquid propellant weapon.
  Maximum Effective Range: 4,920 feet (1,500 meters)
  Mega Damage: Single shot does 2D4 and 20 round burst does 1D6x10
  Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner; usually the commander.
  Payload: 1200 rounds (60 bursts).
Turret Mounted Mini-missile Launcher (Optional): The tank has the ability to mount on the top of the tank’s turret a mini missile launcher. This launchers is designed for rapid fire use to engage heavy tanks and giant robots. These weapons are designed to be able to destroy enemy vehicles quickly. Smoke warheads are often carried for special purpose uses. Weapon is mainly controlled by the tanks gunner but the pilot and commander also have controls.
Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini-missile type; Usually armor piercing or fragmentation are carried (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega Damage: Varies with mini-missile type; Usually armor piercing or fragmentation are carried (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: One at a time, or in volleys of 2 or 4.
Payload: 16 Mini-missiles.
Firefly Chaff Launcher (2): Located on the sides of the turret they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. The launchers do this by launching both flares and active radar decoys. Chaff isn`t actually in use any more, but the name sticks around. The decoys and the flare rockets float down by parachute; Effects last for one minute (4 Melee rounds.)
Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate on Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
Range: Around tank only; Rough distance of 80 ft (24 m) around tank.
Mega Damage: None
Payload: 18 each for a total of 36. 36 reloads are carried, reloading takes five melees. IF you want to get out of the tank to do so.

Sensors:

Signaal Cougar Combination Air/Ground Millimetre Radar: Range of 8 miles (12.8 km); Capable of tracking up to 10 targets simultaneously, this radar serves to guide the 8 mm railgun in engaging aircraft (+2 to targeting aircraft and missiles with the railgun), and providing early warning of incoming aircraft and missile attacks; The radar can be programmed to shut off immediately if it detects an aircraft firing a missile, incase the missile is a radar-homing HARM type. The radar suffers from slightly reduced performance against ground targets (-20% to sensor rolls).
Fully stabilized gun sight: A computer aided gunsight with up to x100 magnification and integral laser rangefinder. +3 to strike in direct fire under all conditions, and +3 to strike in indirect fire when standing still.
Datalink transmitters: A powerful battlefield management communications system. Allows the tank to use targeting data from scout vehicles for firing the Anti-Tank missiles or Sabot rounds, and to provide targeting data to other vehicles. Bonus varies on the quality of the data being provided, but all data would allow the tank to fire over obstacles if the scout vehicle is in the right position. The normal effective battlefield range is 10 miles (16 km).
Signaal Sabre ESM/ECM system: Combines ESM and ECM into one powerful system. The system can detect another radar system at around 125% of the range of the transmitting radar and is usually subject to radar horizon. When jamming it causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that it is jamming, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -3 penalty to all radar guided weapons.
Thermo-Imager: range of 2 miles (3.2 km). Finds the infra-red radiations of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness.
Two Periscopes: Have up to x100 magnification for commander and driver to view out of while maneuvering the vehicle.
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 (but not burned out, compensates within a single round) by sudden bright lights but does not physically blind the user.
Laser Targeting/Rangefinder System 41,333 feet (12,400 meters).

Special Notes:

Tank is fully NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protected, and all equipment is hardened against EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse).

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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