New Sovietskiy T-284 Main Battle Tank:


Most of the Soviet Army's resource during the late twenty-seventies was invested in developing a new hover tank design and the SU-52 design, which designation is that of a self propelled cannon, but was more accurately described as a light support tank or reconnaissance vehicle. Still, many soviet leaders were concerned that the hover tank would have problems in combat and many simply did not like the Su-52 because of the light tanks extremely light main gun. A relatively simple solution was arrived at. This was to simply use a T-255 chassis with minor redesigns and the turret of the HT-281 with its 85-mm high velocity rail gun. The basic T-255 Chassis had been used in several other designs and was considered very adaptable to other roles like the T-80 Chassis was at the end of the Twentieth Century and the beginning of the Twenty-First Century.


The first T-284 tank rolled from the factory in 2083 but was not seen by Western powers until 2084. Instead of developing a series of prototypes, the tank went right to pre-production models and went to full production. The Soviets continued to manufacture T-255 tanks even while producing the T-284 tank. This is not unique in the Soviet system. They produced T-55 Tanks even while the T-72 and T-80 tanks were being produced as replacements for the obsolete tank. Both tanks were produced until the coming of the Rifts and the destruction of the factories with the apocalypse. The T-284 was never exported with the Su-52 being exported with the misleading description of "Heavy Tank." Very few T-284 tanks survived the coming of the Rifts but are very prized. A few are operated by mercenaries outside the old borders of the Soviet Union but most are operated by the New Sovietsky and a few by Warlords.


While the chassis is based on the T-255, there are significant modifications to the design. Propulsion systems remain unchanged and the T-284 has the same top speed. Still, the fusion engine gives the tank virtually unlimited range. The most significant change is that the redesign uses more advanced armor composites and the armor is slightly thicker. The treads also use newer composites which allow them to take greater abuse. These modifications make the tank much harder to kill and the availability of T-255 repair parts made them very effective. The turret ring had to be modified to accept the new turret and power feeds had to be modified to power the heavier weapons. The troop / ammunition compartment in the rear of the tank is retained although greatly reduced in size due to other changes. Sensors are about equal to those carried on the T-255 but are of a more modern design.


The major change in the T-284 compared to the T-255 is in weaponry. No weaponry from the T-255 is retained. The turret mounts an 85-mm hyper velocity rail gun combined with a shorter ranged but still very powerful plasma cannon. Both weapons can devastate other tanks but the plasma cannon has an unlimited payload although it only has about one quarter of the range of the rail gun. The weapons cannot be fired simultaneously. On the front and back of the tank are two automated point defense mounts. The mounts are similar to the S-500 Cyclone Pulse Laser Rifle but are designed with a self tracking system. These are identical to those carried on the HT-281 hover tank. The medium range missile launchers are mounted in the same places on the hull that the original launchers were mounted but were redesigned for higher capacity. The launchers can carry eight medium range missiles total. The launchers cut into the troop compartment. Some designers thought that simply eliminating the troop compartment and adding more missiles would have been a better modification. Still, the ability to carry a few troops was considered too valuable by Army leaders to completely eliminate.


Model Type: T-284
Vehicle Type: Main Battle Tank
Crew: Three (Driver, Gunner, and Commander).
Troop Carrying Capacity: two soldiers in full gear (No cyborgs)


M.D.C. by Location:

[1] Tractor Treads (2):120 each
[2] Weapons Turret:400
Main 85-mm Rail Gun:120
Secondary Plasma Cannon:80
[3] Fire-suppression laser mounts (2):60 each
Medium Range Missile Launcher (2, sides of hull):100 each
Multi-Option Jammers (2):25
[3] Headlights (2):10 each
Rear Troop / Cargo Door100
[4] Main Body:700


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] The Weapons turret is unmanned by the crew, and contains the main plasma cannon and heavy rail gun; Destroying it will knock the cannon out action.
[3] 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.
[4] 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 65.2 mph (105 kph) on roads and 49.7 mph (80 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: Uses tracks to propel tank over the surface of the water but is not designed for deep water use. Using the tracks, the T-255 can travel on the surface of water at 11.2 mph (18 kph/9.7 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: 9.4 feet (2.85 meters) to top of the turret
Width: 12.8 feet (3.90 meters)
Length: 28.9 feet (8.80 meters) not including gun barrel and 38.7 feet (11.80 meters) with barrel forward
Weight: 73.6 tons (66.8 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. In cargo compartment, up to 500 lbs (226.8 kg) can be carried instead of troops or ammunition.
Black Market Cost: 20.5 million credits was the production price originally; Remaining tanks sell for double that (41 million credits). Most of the surviving tanks remain in service with the New Sovietski and a few are in the hands of Russian Warlords and Mercenaries.


Weapon Systems:

  1. High Velocity 85-mm Heavy Rail Gun (1): A powerful rail gun mounted on the right side of the plasma cannon mount on the main turret. The weapon is normally used against tanks and heavy armor. This rail gun normally fires a solid dart of ultra dense high strength materials that does massive damage to targets that it hits but can also use explosive warheads. The twin barrels can angle 45 degrees up and down and the turret has a 360 degree rotation. The weapon system is also gyro-stabilized and has an advanced fire control computer.
    Maximum Effective Range: Direct fire range is 11,500 feet (3,500 meters) and can fire indirectly out to 41,000 feet (12,500 meters).
    Mega Damage: A single round inflicts 3D6x10+20 (optional rule is that cannon gets a critical on a natural 18, 19, or 20 due to its high penetration). Can use High Explosive rounds that do 1D4x10 with a blast radius of 20 feet (6.1 meters). High Explosive Anti Tank does 1D6x10+10 with a blast radius of 10 feet (3.05 meters)
    Rate of Fire:Maximum of four per melee.
    Payload: 60 rounds (smaller and require no propellent) In addition, the troop compartment can hold 80 additional gun rounds if no troops or other cargo is carried. These have to be hand loaded into the turret magazine before being ready to fire but can be done internally.
    Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +2 to strike with rail gun and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when tank is moving.
  2. Plasma Bolt Cannon (1): The plasma bolt cannon was designed as a secondary weapon for the tank that does not require ammunition. The SPC-100 Plasma Cannon on the "Maelstrom" hover tank of the New Sovietski is based on this cannon although the copy does not have as good a cooling system. The Plasma Bolt cannon does not have the range of the high velocity rail gun but inflicts incredible damage. The cannon cannot be fired at the same time as the 85-mm rail gun.
    Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
    Mega Damage: 2D4x10+20 per blast
    Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner.
    Payload: Effectively unlimited.
    Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +2 to strike with rail gun and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when tank is moving.
  3. Fire Suppression Pulse Lasers (2): These Close-In Weapon Systems fire four rapid-pulse lasers against missiles or low-flying aircraft. The weapon is also useful against armor and infantry if targeted against them. The weapons are automated and track missiles with radar sensors (+4 to strike missiles and aircraft) They are mounted on the front and back of the vehicle. 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: Each turret has 6 attacks per melee round.
    Payload: Effectively unlimited.
    Bonuses: +4 to strike flying targets with radar guidance.
  4. Medium Range Missile Launchers: (2) These missile launchers fires volleys of medium range missiles, principally anti-aircraft fragmentation. They can be used against a wide variety of targets. Missile launchers are mounted on the sides of the body of the tank.
    Maximum Effective Range: As per medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
    Mega Damage: As per medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
    Rate of Fire: The launcher can fire a volley of 1 to 4 missiles per melee round.
    Payload: 4 medium range missiles each launcher for 8 Medium Range missiles total. No reloads carried.
  5. Multi-Option “Shtora-8B” Jammers (2): These are multi-purpose jamming devices designed to stop incoming missiles and confuse an enemy targeting the T-284
    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 tank only; Rough distance of 80 ft (24 m) around tank.
    Payload: Sufficient for twenty four (24) firings.


Sensory Equipment:


The tank carries all standard equipment of a robot vehicle plus this special equipment:


Special systems standard to all late-model Soviet Army vehicles:
As stated in the Mystic Russia Source book regarding New Sovietskiy equipment.



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Vehicle Drawing is drawn and copyrighted by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


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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