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FD COM – LAND VEHICLES by A. Gubler Introduction
As a modern industrialised country on the cutting edge of technological
development,
Bendigo
F25A5 Wombat Tracklayer, Assault Carrier Salta F68A4
Kamarga Hovercraft, Self-Propelled
Gun-Howitzer Salta F49B1
Yerrah
Hovercraft, Engineering Vehicle DunArmCo F40A1
500-MW Plasma Gun The F23B1 is a formidable heavy ground tank comparable to the French CC-25,
Chinese Type-40 and Kafer “Behemoth”.
Unlike these cutting-edge vehicles the F23B1 is an old design that has
been remanufactured with new components from the brand new Gatto hovertanks. The F23B1 is capable enough to defeat any other
ground vehicle in one on one combat and is also able to manoeuvre across
or under any terrain on the battlefield. Made up of two sections that are articulated together the F23B1 is able
to bend its body to provide maximum traction and to avoid bottoming
out in rough terrain. Each section has one track per side and the track
is a single piece with tension maintained by the adjustable power wheels
at the rear of each section. Because the F23B1’s tracks are separate
on each articulated section the tank is also able to bend in the middle
laterally so as to squeeze around corners. This is a very important
difference from other single-track articulated vehicles in the close
confines of urban areas. The crew, computers and communications equipment
are located in the rear section with the main weapons turret located
in the forward section. Each of the two sections holds a fuel cell power
plant and its H2 fuel supply, theoretically they could operate
independently. The main weapons
turret has a hexagonal side profile and lacks a traditional barrel extension
as the entire muzzle of the plasma beam weapon is mounted flush within
the main turret, pivoting on a centre mount. The vertical launch missile
cells are located either side of the plasma beam weapon within the turret
so as to not foul the line of fire of the main weapon. There are two
units of eight medium size VLS cells for Huntsman vehicle-mounted
anti-vehicle missiles and/or Deathleaper
vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft missiles. Two small turrets are located
on top of the main turret. One is fitted with the secondary laser weapon
and the other with sensors; both are extendable to a height of 10-m
on telescopes. An automatic grenade launcher is also fitted in the turret
alongside the plasma gun but in its own mounting. Type: tracked
main battle tank Armour: suspension: 25, front: 250, overhead: 100, other faces: 100 The F23A4 is a powerful heavy ground tank comparable to the French CC-21
and Manchurian Type-27. Whilst an old design the F23A4 has been progressively
updated with new components to ensure it is still a competent battle
vehicle. The F23A4 equips two out of four tank companies in the armoured
squadrons of the 25th, 32nd and 47th (Tracked Armoured) Brigades of
Field Command, all of which are reserve formations. The F23A4 is similar in layout to the B1 model however
it retains an older main weapons turret with a 12-cm Mass Driver Cannon
and a 100-MW laser system. In addition some other components are less
advanced and the armour is not as comprehensive. The missile launcher
cell is not located within the turret as in the B1 but in a raiseable
mount on the rear hull section. Type: obsolete
tracked main battle tank Armour: suspension: 20, front: 200, overhead: 80, other faces: 80 The F23A2 is an obsolete heavy ground tank comparable to the original
models of the French CC-21 and Manchurian Type-27. Like these vehicles
the F23A2 is an old design that isn’t as effective as it once would
have been on the modern battlefield, however
they are still imposing, effective vehicles able to dominate most combat
zones. The F23A2 equips two out of four tank companies in the armoured
squadrons of the 25th, 32nd and 47th (Tracked Armoured) Brigades of
Field Command. Type: obsolete
tracked main battle tank Armour: suspension: 20, front: 180, overhead: 80, other faces: 80 The Gatto, [Sp:
cat] named after a poisonous wildcat like predator native to New Canberra,
is the new standard main battle hover tank of the ADF Field Command.
Conceived as the mobile striking arm of FD COM the F80 is highly manoeuvrable
as well as being heavily defended and equipped with the wherewithal
to defeat any foreign counterparts.
The first thing
an American, African or European hover tanker will notice about the
F80 is its considerable mass compared to their designs; this is because
of the different operational requirements for hover tanks in the Pacific
and Asian regions. Outside the Asia-Pacific the distances that hover
tanks are expected to operate over are considerably shorter. Correspondingly
hover tanks can be designed with shorter range and less protection,
as there is always sufficient support centres nearby. The large distances
between operational bases and considerable over-water requirements of
the Asia-Pacific has lead Australia, Japan, Manchuria and other regional
nations to design much larger and heavier hover tanks, something the
French lead European armies found out the hard way in the Central Asian
War. The F80 is about 20% larger than other hover tanks like the American
M-9 and German LkPz-IX but is over twice as
heavy as these tanks and about the same weight as a main battle tank. The F80’s Australian origin is clearly recognisable
with its angular body and wide low turret and attention to stealth and
camouflage. It caries a similar weapon fit to the F23B1 main battle
tank. The F80 carries as standard a Whisperdrone
tethered reconnaissance drone, satellite communications uplink, a microwave
relay for electrical power transfer and communications and automatic
ammunition reload system. Like most other hover tanks the F80 is able
to carry out limited jumps using booster jets (10 minutes of endurance
for every minute in flight and speed is quartered). Type: hovercraft
main battle tank Armour: plenum: 35, front: 150, overhead: 100, other faces: 100 The Darrago, named
after the nightmarish analogue of the hippopotamus found in the rivers
of New Canberra, is the second line hover tank in Australian service.
An excellent tank upon entering service the F65 is now somewhat dated
but still a lethal fighting machine.
The F65 looks very much like a Gatto
hovertank as the latter’s design is an evolution of the F65. Like most other
military hovercraft the F65 is able to carry out limited jumps using
booster jets (10 minutes of endurance for every minute in flight and
speed is quartered). Type: obsolete hovercraft main battle tank Armour: plenum: 20, front: 100, overhead: 80, other faces: 80
The F25 looks very much like half a Crocodile MBT as its hull and
automotive equipment is based on a lengthened rear-half of the heavier
main battle tank. The F25 is low and squat with two remote turrets,
the forward with a 25-mm autogun and the rear
with a 9-mm machinegun. Eight vertical launching missile cells are fitted
at the rear with four on either side of the rear ramp. F25s haven’t
been upgraded to the latest technology like the Crocodile III
but are still serviceable and effective APCs. Type: tracked
armoured personnel carrier Armour: suspension: 20, front: 120, overhead: 80, other
faces: 80 The Wirrenda, named after a gathering,
squirrel analogue in New Canberra which itself is named after an extinct
type of rock wallaby, is a purpose designed armoured personnel carrier
designed to replace the Nantawarra
in service with the assault troopers of the Australian Armoured Corps. The design incorporates technology from the
Gatto project and the F76 is a perfect companion to this powerful
vehicle. F76 production is lagging so not all Gatto equipped
armoured squadrons have the new F76, they have
to make do with the older Nantawarra APC.
The F76 has a two level turret
forward able to elevate up to 10-m on a snorkel. The vertical launch
missile cells are located at the rear of the vehicle in two boxes outside
the armoured shell. The dismount section enters and leaves the APC through
a large ramp between the missile cells. Like most other military hovercraft
the F76 is able to carry out limited jumps using booster jets (10 minutes
of endurance for every minute in flight and speed is quartered). Type: hovercraft
armoured personnel carrier Armour: plenum: 25, front: 90, overhead: 90, other faces: 60 Benowa F53A3 Nantawarra Hovercraft, Assault Carrier The Nantawarra [SA Ab: black kangaroo]
is a heavily armed and armoured version of the ubiquitous Kangaroo,
specialising in transporting assault troopers alongside Darrago hovertanks.
The F53 adds new armour, weapons and sensors to the basic Kangaroo
design. The most radical change is the replacement of
the single propulsion and lift turbine with two separate turbines. The
turbines are positioned so as to fit a large rear ramp to the F53 allowing
the assault troopers to disembark in full kit from the rear. The F53 has a two level turret with the 30-mm grenade
launcher and most sensors on the bottom and the 100-MW laser on the
top. This enables the laser to act as a point defence weapon automatically
engaging incoming missiles and shells. The Drop Bear rocket launcher
is mounted at the rear of the hull. The F53A4 replaces the rocket launcher
with two missile boxes like the Wirrenda but with only four small
size missiles each. The F53A4is usually issued one per platoon. Like
most other military hovercraft the F53 is able to carry out limited
jumps using booster jets (10 minutes of endurance for every minute in
flight and speed is quartered). Type: hovercraft
armoured personnel carrier Armour: plenum: 10, front: 40, overhead: 40, other faces: 20 |
