New Sovietskiy BMD-9 Airborne / Amphibious Combat Vehicle:


There has always been limited space in air transports so designs of Airborne Combat Vehicles have always been designed to be smaller than conventional ground vehicles. As well, the same problem is shared by combat vehicles carried by amphibious vessels. Finally, the Soviet Navy was developing a class of submersible troop carriers which would require a special combat vehicle. The Soviet Navy and Airborne units persuaded their political leaders to authorize a new design in the later part of the 2050s to replace older designs. The older designs were in most cases simply refitted designs from before the Soviet Union reformed in 2027 and most were quite dated. The first prototype was completed in 2060 but there were several problems with delayed production. Still, it was shown in Soviet military parades and reported in the Communist Soviet media as proof of advanced Soviet technology. The Combat Vehicle was not ready for service until 2064 when it was first deployed in the Krokodil class submersible troop transport. The combat vehicle slowly replaced older airborne combat vehicles in the airborne units. Because of the vehicle being constructed completely from the high tech materials pioneered during the "Mega-Damage Revolution" and is actually stronger than refitted old heavier Infantry Fighting Vehicle such as the rebuilt BMP-3 design. The design was also fairly affordable and yet heavily armed. As a result, it was heavily exported to nations around the world. Clients included nations in Africa, Asia, South Africa, and Central and South America. United States combat units had several engagements with these vehicles in Bush Fire wars in South America. When the Rifts destroyed most of the world, many of these vehicles but a surprising amount survived. Some of these remain in New Sovietskiy service and form an important part of their forces. A number of these vehicles were initially operated by Russian Warlord but many of them have been sold to Mercenaries. As well, a number of caches have been found by Mercenaries. While presently there are no groups which manufacture new vehicles, both Triax and Polish factories produce repair parts for the remaining Airborne Combat Vehicles.


This design used a small fusion power system which was significantly smaller than those carried in the BMP-8 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and T-255 Main Battle Tank and there were problems with the development of the new reactor. Still, once the problems were solved, the reactor gave the vehicle virtually unlimited range and also gave enough power for the addition of energy weapons. The vehicle was designed with treads instead of wheels but still has a high top speed. Top speed is around 125 kilometers per hour on roads and 90 kilometers per hour over rougher terrain. The combat vehicle uses water jets while traveling over water and has a top speed on water of 30 kilometers per hour. A special feature is the fact that the armored vehicle can be launched from 50 meters underwater and will rise to the surface with the top always facing upwards. As mentioned previously, the BMD-9 Combat Vehicle actually is better protected than the refitted BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Electronics are similar to larger armored designs being manufactured around the same time and are generally equal to that of Robot Vehicles after the coming of the Rifts but also has a periscope for viewing over terrain. The BMD-9 has a two person crew and the compartment is rather cramped.


Originally, the heavy 20-mm rail gun was planned for the vehicle but the lighter 10-mm rail gun in a twin mount was chosen instead of the heavier weapon. In the front of the combat vehicle is an automatic grenade launcher and a light 5-mm rail gun operated by the driver. Later versions had the 10-mm rail guns supplemented by a pulse laser and the 5-mm rail gun was also replaced by a pulse laser. The pulse lasers are modified versions of the S-500 Cyclone Pulse Laser Rifle with greater range. In addition to direct fire weapons, the armored vehicle carries mini-missile launchers for a powerful short range punch. The fighting compartment is fitted with e-clip connections as well as five firing ports. There are two firing ports on either side and one on the rear door. As a final defense, the BMD-9 carries a special jamming system to protect the troop transport against missiles and other weapons.


Model Type: BMD-9
Vehicle Type: Airborne / Amphibious Combat Vehicle
Crew: Two (Driver and Gunner).
Troop Carrying Capacity: Six soldiers in full gear (Four human sized Cyborgs)


M.D.C. by Location:

[1] Tractor Treads (2):50 each
Weapons Turret:120
[2] Twin 10-mm Co-axial Heavy Rail-Guns (Turret):50 each
[2] Co-axial Mounted Pulse Laser Mount (Later Models):40
[2] Bow Automatic Grenade Launcher (Front of APC):40
[2] Bow Mounted 5 mm Rail-Gun (Early Models):25
[2] Bow Mounted Pulse Laser Mount ( Later Models):40
Mini-Missile Launchers (2, sides of hull):30 each
Multi-Option Jammers (2):25
[2] Headlights (2):10 each
Reinforced Crew Compartment:80
Reinforced Personnel Bay:80
Rear Troop / Cargo Door80
[3] Main Body:250


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: Maximum speed on land is 77.7 mph (125 kph) on roads and 55.9 mph (90 kph) off road maximum. 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%.
Water Capabilities: Has two propellers that allows the vehicle to travel on the surface on the water like a boat. It is not designed for deep water use. Using the propellers, the Kodiak can travel on the surface of water at 18.6 mph (30 kph/16.2 knots).
Maximum Effective Range: Effectively unlimited (Nuclear Fusion power supply with 5 year duration). The Armored Vehicle carries about two weeks worth of supplies emergency rations onboard.


Statistical Data:
Height: 7.4 feet (2.25 meters)
Width: 10.5 feet (3.20 meters)
Length: 20.5 feet (6.25 meters)
Weight: 15.7 tons (14.2 metric tons).
Power Source: Nuclear fusion reactor; Must be refueled every five years, otherwise effectively unlimited.
Cargo Capacity: 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. Without troops, can carry up to 1.5 tons in troop compartment.
Black Market Cost: 5.2 million credits was the production price originally; Remaining tanks sell for double that (11.6 million credits). The tanks remain popular with some mercenaries and small nations. Many of these tanks remain in service with the New Sovietski and a few are in the hands of Russian Warlords.


Weapon Systems:

  1. Twin 10 millimeter GSR-10 Heavy Railgun: The Soviet military was unable to make an effective liquid propellant weapon and instead developed, some say stole, a rail gun design for their existing vehicles. It is carried in many tanks and other combat vehicles. It is mounted in a twin mount as the main weapon of the Combat Vehicle and is capable of 360 rotation and can be fired up to 85 degrees upwards.
    Maximum Effective Range: 4,920 feet (1,500 meters)
    Mega Damage: Single Cannon: Single shot inflicts 2D4 and 20 round burst does 1D6x10+10. Both Cannons: 40 round burst (20 from each cannon) does 2D6x10+20
    Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the Gunner (usually 4 or 5).
    Payload: 4800 rounds (240 single bursts / 120 double bursts).
  2. Co-axial Pulse Laser Mount: Mounted in the turret co-axial with the twin 10-mm heavy rail guns. Weapon was not carried in original models but was refitted to most Combat Vehicle and mounted in all later models. The Laser fires four shot bursts and is capable of destroying missiles and inflicting serious damage on aircraft. The weapon is also useful against armor and infantry. Laser is similar to the S-500 Cyclone Pulse Laser Rifle with extended range.
    Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
    Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 MD for four shot burst.
    Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the Gunner (usually 4 or 5).
    Payload: Effectively unlimited.
  3. Bow Mounted ATR-50 Automatic Grenade Launcher: Weapon is very similar to the WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher produced by Wellington Industries and the American Automatic Grenade Launcher operated around the same time but uses a larger grenade and is heavier in design. Weapon was used in vehicles as well as being used in tripod mounts and used by power armors. Weapon can fire single shot or bursts of ten rounds and can inflict heavy damage when burst fired. Unlike the American design, the Soviet automatic grenade launcher only used belts. The Armored Vehicle normally mounted two belts together to increase number of rounds to 400 rounds. Weapon is mounted in the bow of the armored vehicle and was mounted along with a light weapon mount. Both weapons are controlled from inside the vehicle.
    Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
    Mega-Damage: 3D6 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 12 ft and 5D6 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 3 ft, burst of 10 rounds does 2D4x10 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 40 ft and 2D6x10 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 8 ft. Other special rounds are available.
    Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner (Driver) - Single Shot or Ten round bursts.
    Payload: 400 Round Double Belt.
  4. Bow Mounted Weapon Mount (1): In the front of the Combat Vehicle, there is a mount which can be controlled either by the pilot by remote. It is mounted along with automatic grenade launcher. The weapon is designed for use against troops assaulting the tank and against low level aircraft. Originally the weapon carried was 5-mm light rail gun but was later replaced by a pulse laser.
    1. 5 millimeter GSR-05 Medium Rail-gun: Finally developed as a replacement for the medium machine-gun for previous tank design and was mounted on original versions of the BMD-9 Amphibious Combat Vehicle. Many crews would have preferred a heavier rail gun.
      Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (609.6 meters)
      Mega Damage: One round does 1D4 M.D.C. to M.D.C. targets or 6D6x10 S.D.C. to soft targets. Twenty round bursts do 4D6 M.D.C.; Forty round full bursts do 1D4x10
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner (Commander)
      Payload: Carries 3,000 rounds total (150 full bursts or 75 half-bursts)
    2. Pulse Laser Mount: Replaces the medium rail-gun in later models and many older models replace the rail gun as well when refitted. The Laser fires four shot bursts and is capable of destroying missiles and inflicting serious damage on aircraft. The weapon is also useful against armor and infantry. Laser is similar to the S-500 Cyclone Pulse Laser Rifle with extended range.
      Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
      Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 MD for four shot burst.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner (Commander)
      Payload: Effectively unlimited.
  5. Firing Ports (5): The BMP-9 has five firing ports that allow soldiers in the troop bay to fire their guns out of the vehicle. There are two firing port on each side of the vehicle and one on the rear door to the troop compartment. Firing ports can be closed in order to make the vehicle a sealed environment. Firing ports are fairly small and grenade launchers and missile launchers cannot be fired from firing ports. The BMP-9 has power connectors so that troops can fire energy weapons without draining their energy clips.
  6. Hull Mounted Mini-missile Launcher (2): Mounted on the sides of the Airborne Combat Vehicle's hull are mini missile launchers. These launchers are 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 also has 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: Can fire missiles one at a time, or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) missiles.
    Payload: Each launcher carries 8 mini-missiles for a total of 16 Mini-missiles.
  7. Multi-Option “Shtora-8A” Jammers (2): These are multi-purpose jamming devices designed to stop incoming missiles and confuse an enemy targeting the BMD-9.
    Effect: Each firing launches two Chaff rockets, two Flare rockets, and the tank begins emitting a large cloud of smoke, both standard and Anti-Laser Prismatic Aerosol; The Chaff rockets detonate and spread Chaff over the area, the flare rockets floating down by parachute; Effects last for one minute (4 Melee rounds.) The Chaff rockets have a 20% chance of interfering with the course of enemy missiles each (40%, total) that are radar guided so that they miss the tank. The flares have the same percentages, except with IR-guided missiles. The Anti-Laser prismatic aerosol reduces damage by half for any laser beam striking the tank (With the exception of X-ray lasers but not variable frequency lasers; X-Ray lasers suffer no damage modifiers, and variable frequency lasers simply cannot compensate for the variables involved), and adds a +4 difficulty to targeting the tank with a laser guidance system or visually.
    Rate of Fire: Usually once every four melee rounds; Effects are not cumulative.
    Maximum Effective Range: Around the tank only; Rough distance of 80 ft (24 m) around tank.
    Payload: Sufficient for twelve firings; One of each type of jamming option from each side of the vehicle.


Sensory Equipment:
The Infantry Fighting Vehicle carries all standard equipment of a robot vehicle plus this special equipment:



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Initial Concepts by Marina O'Leary (LusankyaN@aol.com ).


Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2002, Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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