Introduction

The Luftkissengefectspanzertrager-XIII (LkGfPzTr-XIII), sometimes shortened to Gefectspanzertrager-XIII or just ‘Gefects-dreizehn’, is Germany’s frontline assault hover APC utilised in conjunction with the well known sturmtaktik. Developed from the standard APC version known as LkPzTr-VIII, the Gefects 13 is designed to operate in close combat on top of enemy positions and survive against most standard weapons. Alongside the LkPz-IX hovertank it is one of the iconic vehicles of the new Bundeswehr.

Narrative

Gustav Solms roared in pain and frustration as a hidden Kafer blasted his battlesuit with pellets from a gigantic shotgun, staggering him from his feet and forcing him to drop his SK-19. He groped for the 11mm Stracher he carried on his left thigh and yanked it from the holster while he rolled for cover, ungainly in the heavy armour. Joseph strode past him, hosing streams of rounds from the MG-91 into the recesses of the tools sheds that were the heart of the Kafer defence in this sector. Then Joseph was down, a direct hit from a plasma shot drilling him through the heart.

Gustav swore again, came up to a knee and started firing steadily using thermal images to aim the big handgun. This mission was going bad quickly, this mining complex was being held by the cut off survivors of two regular Panzer Grenadier companies who were surrounded by Kafers. Gustav’s company of the division’s crack assault unit, LkGfPzGren.Abt.4, were part of the rescue team. Only sturmtakik works best on Kafers when they are unaware and surprised, these aliens had been fighting and seemed to be only warming up. The first wave of assault troops were getting badly cut up.

Then the second wave was there, a Gefects 13 ramming through a barricade and sending Kafer soldiers cartwheeling through the air. Seconds later its remote turrets were firing again and heavily armoured soldiers were rising in its wake already firing. It was joined seconds later by another two vehicles, one of them trailing thick smoke from its turbines, which also added their troops to the fight.

Gustav staggered to where Joseph’s body lay, sprawled face first on the ground, scooped up the MG-91 and got it firing again. Behind him the squad rallied as another carrier arrived with more troops. It was vital that they made this break in and the link up with the Panzer Grenadiers, they were running out of ammunition and they weren't going to leave anyone behind alive for the aliens. 

Index

LkGfPzTr-XIII

LkPzTr-VIII

Layout

Weapons

Colour Plates
Acknowledgements

LkGfPzTr-XIII

The LkGfPzTr-XIII was developed as a result of Bavarian experience in the Central Asian War where the difficulties of breaching the heavy Manchurian anti-tank belts became a significant tactical problem for all forces involved. However for the relatively lightly equipped Bavarians it was a problem for which they devised a tactical solution involving a mixture of infiltration and assault which would become known as sturmtaktik.

The Bavarians used the stalwart LkPzTr-V during the Central Asian War, and while appreciating its many qualities it was not ideal for the tactics they were using being a vehicle with limited internal volume. At the conclusion of the war Bavaria acquired a number of Brandenburg produced LkPzTr-VII for trials purposes. The LkPzTr-VII was a roomy vehicle designed for use by the Brandenburg marines on the Baltic but which had a number of significant tactical limitations with a limited armament.

In the final years of the CAW Bavaria began the development of a new HAPC. This would be a complete break with the legacy of the LkPzTr-V, being designed completely from the ground up. The new design was significantly larger than its predecessor and incorporated new armour and vectronics. Its armament would also be upgraded with a powerful plasma weapon and coaxial machine gun in a remote turret. The first prototypes were produced just prior to the War of German Reunification and several were assigned to an experimental sturmtaktik unit. These few prototypes saw action during the war in the German breakthrough on the northern front, and performed very well.

After the Reunification War permission was sought and received for the permanent modification of the LkPzTr-VIII for a sturmtaktik specific vehicle to be known as the LkGfPzTr-XIII. This vehicle featured enhanced frontal armour protection, a second remote turret and drop hatches in the floor of the vehicle. These drop hatches would allow battlesuit equipped infantry to drop down into the plenum and then be subsequently uncovered as the vehicle moves on. This deployment method allows for the troops to be in action faster than a conventional dismount through a door. The second, rear mounted turret has an automatic grenade launcher for increased suppressive firepower and a ATGW missile launcher to engage heavy targets.

Production of the LkGfPzTr-XIII commenced in 2304 with the first models being sent to the divisional assault battalions within the frontline Panzer Grenadier Divisions. The vehicle proved highly popular with the crews being both highly capable and very comfortable. The vehicle was soon upgraded to the Aufs B version with additional armour in the front arcs of the vehicle to enhance survivability. Export sales were limited with the British buying 20 for trials purposes and the Azanians purchasing several for their regular Mechanised Divisions.

The LkGfPzTr-XIII first saw action against the Kafers in 2301 on Beta Canum with the divisional assault battalion of 8 Luftkissenpanzergrenadier Division ‘Windhund’. This unit fought all the way through the occupation and liberations of Beta Canum. Further sturmtaktik units were part of the wave of German reinforcements that came onto the French Arm in the wake of the Battle of Beowulf.    

LkGfPzTr-XIII Aufs B

Type: Hover Assault Carrier

Crew: Driver, gunner, commander

Weight 5000 kg

Armor: Plenum: 2 Sides, Top: 30 Front: 60

Armament: Jaschonek Fabricant A-7 vehicle plasma gun in a front-mounted remote turret Aimed Fire Range. 1600 m Range Finder. + 1 ROF: 5 Rounds Carried: 30 DP: As tamped explosion (EP = 15) and a coaxial 7.5mm MG91 machinegun in a frontmounted remote turret; and rear-mounted remote turret containing a GW-120

30mm AGL and a single Luchs missile

Signature: 5

Evasion: 6

Sensor Range: 10 km

Range Finder Bonus: +1

Cargo: 11 passengers and 400 kg

Max Speed: 200 kph

Cruising Speed: 180 kph

Combat Movement: 420 m

Off-Road Mobility: Full

Power Plant: 1 MW hydrogen fuel cell

Fuel Capacity. 264 kg

Fuel Consumption: 22 kg/hr

Endurance: 12 hr

Price. Average price for the reconditioned Kangaroo-IV is Lv 285 000.

INDEX

LkPzTr-VIII

As described above the LkPzTr-VIII was developed after the Central Asian War and came into full service in the wake of the successful war with France. The vehicle is externally almost identical to the LkGfPzTr-XIII and can be easily mistaken for it. The early models mounted only the single front turret and lacked the deployment hatches in the floor of the vehicle. The Aufs B, introduced in 2300, is equipped with the rear turret from the LkGfPzTr-XIII increasing the vehicle’s combat power.

The LkPzTr-VIII equips the mechanised infantry units of the most of the frontline units of the Bundeswehr, which are also equipped with the LkPz-IX. The combination of these two vehicles has performed very well in units that have been engaged in the Kafer War on the French Arm.

There are only a few variants of the LkPzTr-VIII due to the large numbers of still capable LkPzTr-Vs in the German inventory which have been modified to fill support roles. The main variant in service is the command version of which there is normally one in each company to provide its main headquarters function. The size of the LkPzTr-VIII Befehls makes it a very popular command vehicle.  

LkPzTr-VIII Aufs A

Type: Hover APC

Crew: Driver, gunner, commander

Weight 5000 kg

Armor: Plenum: 2 All faces: 20

Armament: Jaschonek Fabricant A-7 vehicle plasma gun in a front-mounted remote turret Aimed Fire Range. 1600 m Range Finder. + 1 ROF: 5 Rounds Carried: 30 DP: As tamped explosion (EP = 15) and a coaxial 7.5mm MG91 machinegun in a frontmounted remote turret.

Signature: 5

Evasion: 6

Sensor Range: 10 km

Range Finder Bonus: +1

Cargo: 11 passengers and 400 kg

Max Speed: 200 kph

Cruising Speed: 180 kph

Combat Movement: 420 m

Off-Road Mobility: Full

Power Plant: 1 MW hydrogen fuel cell

Fuel Capacity. 264 kg

Fuel Consumption: 22 kg/hr

Endurance: 12 hr

Price. Average price for the reconditioned Kangaroo-IV is Lv 154 000.

INDEX 

Layout

<TBC>

INDEX

Weapons

Jaschonek Fabricant A-7

The A-7 is a Central Asian War era rapid fire plasma cannon similar to the French CPL-1A. It is designed for light anti-vehicle action and engagement of infantry strong points. First introduced on later models of the LkPzTr-V it was integrated onto the LkPzTr-VIII as its main armament.    

Type: 160 MW Plasma Cannon
Country: German
Action: SA
Ammunition: 35x100mm 160 MW photonic core plaser cells
ROF: 5

Fire Control: +1
Aimed Fire Range: 1600m
DP Value: As tamped explosion (EP = 15)

MG91 Machine Gun

The MG91 is the standard German medium machine gun. It is used by both infantry and as a coaxial or pintle mounted weapon on a range of vehicles.

Type: 7.5mm conventional machinegun

County: Germany

Weight (empty): 7 kg

Length: 110 cm

Action: Single shot or bursts

Ammunition: 7.5 x35mm fixed cartridge ball

Muzzle velocity: 960 mps

Magazine: 150-round disposable cassette

Magazine weight. 2 kg

ROF: 5

Aimed Fire Range: 800 m (1000m on mount)

Area Fire Burst: 20 (AFV=2)

Area Fire Range: 600 m (780 meters on mount)

DP Value: 0.7

Price: Lv880

GW-120 Automatic Grenade Launcher

The GW-120 is the standard German AGL. It can be used vehicle mounted or dismounted on a tripod.

Type: 30mm vehicle mounted automatic grenade launcher

Ammunition. Any 30mm propelled grenade

Magazine: 2 x 40-round internal hoppers (gunner can select from either magazine at will)

ROF: 4

Aimed Fire Range: 500 m

DP Value: Dependent on grenade used.

Luchs Aufs D

The Luchs is the standard German ATGW. The Aufs D is a single shot weapon designed for installation on lightweight vehicles. It is much lighter than the other versions of the missile as it lacks the automatic reloader. The weapon must be reloaded manually from outside the armour. On the LkGfPzTr-XIII the Luchs is used to engage targets that might be found in depth beyond the main objective and for staving off counter attacks until supporting vehicles can arrive.

Type: vehicle-mounted anti-vehicle missile

Nation: Germany

Launcher Weight: 10 kg

Missile Weight: 18 kg

Range: 7,000 meters

Guidance: automatic

Homing Value: 17

Attack Angle: selectable

Damage: EP = 40

Launcher Price: Lv3,000

Missile Price: Lv5,000

INDEX

Colour Plates

<TBC>

LkGfPzTr-XIII Aufs A, Luftkissengefectspanzergrenadier Abteilung 8, Deutsches Kontinent Korps

Jurgenburg, German Continent, Beta Canum 4, 2nd March 2302

This plate shows a Gefects 13 of LkGfPzGren.Abt.8 in action against the Kafers on Beta Canum early in 2302. As the divisional assault battalion this unit was heavily involved in action against the Kafers attacking the German colony, usually in the reserve role. This unit was most often committed to counter attacks to stabilise the front but sometime was called upon to fight in rear guard actions or in defence. The unit suffered heavy casualties but evacuated to New Africa to continue to fight until the final liberation.  

This vehicle is in the standard German grey colours. It carries standard tactical markings, a German flag and the greyhound insignia of the division.

<TBC>

LkGfPzTr-XIII Aufs B, Luftkissengefectspanzergrenadier Abteilung 4, X Korps

Hexenkessel, Dunkelhim, 24th December 2302

This plate shows a LkGfPzTr-XIII of LkGfPzGren.Abt.4 in action during the liberation of Dunkelheim. This unit deployed to the French Arm as part of the liberation effort, initially stationed at Beowulf before fighting on Beta Canum-4. The unit was heavily engaged on Dunkelheim in three major set piece actions.   

This vehicle is painted in the unique pattern devised for the liberation of Dunkelheim.

<TBC>

Saxon, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, 8th Armoured Brigade, 3rd Armoured Division, British Army

Salisbury Plain, United Kingdom, 11th July 2295

The British acquired some 20 LkGfPzTr-XIIIs under the designation ‘Saxon’ for a series of trials into the application of sturmtaktik in British Army units. The unit chosen for this was Zulu Company of 2RRF which ran six months of trials on Salisbury Plains in 2295. The experiment was not seen as an overwhelming success as a control company using conventional tactics achieved similar results when properly supported. The British chose not to adopt sturmtaktik or the Saxon, the Saxons were instead retained for OPFOR purposes and still serve in this role.  

This Saxon is shown in standard UK green camouflage, although today they are believed to be in a two tone green and tan pattern. The vehicle carries the Union Flag and the red fox emblem of the 8th Armoured Brigade. It carries the colours of the regiment from an antenna and the battle honour Imjin. 

<TBC>

LkPzTr-VIII Aufs A, Luftkissenpanzer Abteilung 91, 6 LkPz Div, I Korps

Heidelburg, Germany, 9th March 2299

This plate shows a LkPzTr-VIII of LkPz.Abt.91 on exercise in western Germany in 2293. The battalion is part of I Korps which provides the high readiness component of German defences against the French.   

The vehicle uses the standard German grey camouflage pattern.

INDEX

Acknowledgments

The original GfPzTr-XIII is described in the Ground Vehicle Guide by GDW. Modifications here include increased armour values, a change to the missile launcher and an increase in rate of fire for the GW-120. Description of sturmtaktik is taken from the article by D Hebditch on Etranger. Illustrations are by Ian Stead. 

INDEX

Copyright 2010, Ian Stead and D Hebditch.

13 Feb 10