FD COM – FIELD EQUIPMENT
by A. Gubler
Introduction
Most Australian field equipment is
of local design and manufacture. FD COM utilises the latest in personal
battle-suit technology both for fire control and armour protection.
The solders’ personal equipment is also designed to match the tough
unforgiving environmental demands of
Lara F6 Cassowary Combat
Lara
F5A9 Emu Combat
Lara F5B6
Dennawan Combat Walker, Assault Pioneer
Hundeman Industries
F3A3 Whisperdrone
Reconnaissance Drone, Man-Portable
Lara F18A2 Narromine
Drone, Walker, Cargo
DMA F42A1 Bokaring Combat
Suit, Armoured
DMA F13 Kuru Manu Combat
Helmet, Armoured
DMA F98A2 Dumber
Combat
Vest, Laserer’s
DMA F98B1 Dumber
Combat
Vest, Machinegunner’s
AST Wudina Hand Grenade, Fragmentation
AST Darkin Hand Grenade, Concussion
AST Nangar Hand Grenade, Red Phosphorous
AST Bibanup Hand Grenade, Plasma
DunArmCo F20A3
Ulandi
15-MW Plasma Launcher, Man-Portable
Quinn Optronics
F19A2 Kungala
375-MW Plasma Launcher, Man-Portable
DMA Ingra Breaching Charge, Multi-Purpose
DMA Benomera Projector,
Breaching Charge, Portal
DMA Marlokerrikan Projector,
Breaching Charge, Multi-Purpose
DMA Goora Combat Ladder, Man-Portable
DMA Cundiah Projector, Mine Clearance
DMA Kiandra
Australian Fighting Knife
Rum Jungle
Arms Numurkah Personal Barrier, Armoured
Rum Jungle Arms Gunyah Personal Shelter, Armoured
DMA Yungaburra Unattended Surveillance Unit
DMA Yarra Personal
Camouflage Suit
DMA Water Container, Five Litre
DunArmCo F7A6
40-MW Plasma Gun
DunArmCo F20B2
15-MW Ulandi
Plasma Thrower
The ADF has always been interested
in the use of powered walkers, introducing non-combat engineering walkers
as early as the 2230s. After much comparative study on the European
and Chinese combat walkers the ADF decided on the latter’s “clamshell”
or “pod” design type for its first generation combat walkers, the Emu
and their replacement in first line units the F6. These “clamshell” combat walkers are not like the more common
design with a human operator controlling the machine through kinaesthetic
control.
Lara F6 Cassowary Combat
The Cassowary (a large highly aggressive flightless
bird found in northern
Type: armoured
combat walker
Country:
New Canberra
In-Service-Date:
2295
Crew: 1 (operator)
Weight: 550-kg
Move:
crawl: 2-m, walk: 25-m, trot: 40-m, run: 70-m, swim: 10-m
Power Supply: 1,080-MJ flywheel
Power Use: 5-MJ per hour (stationary),
15-MJ per hour (crawl and walk), 30-MJ
per hour (trot), 45-MJ per hour (run
and swim) plus weapons use
Power Duration: up to 9 days
Sensor Range: 10-km
Sensor Bonus: +1
Signature: -2
Area Protected: all
Armour Value: 10 (20 for attacks
from beneath the walker)
Initiative Penalty: -2
Armament: F23B1 150-MW laser,
F39B5 30-mm coaxial Gauss grenade launcher, 2 × F29B2 8-cm rocket launcher, 4 × retractable claws in each appendage
arm, 2 × feet claws in each leg
Range Finder Bonus: +3
Cargo: 50-kg
Price: kA$ 6,875 (Lv 55,000)
Lara F5A9 Emu Combat
The
first generation of Australian combat walker to see mass service the
Emu (a large Australian
flightless bird much like the ostrich) replaced the F16A6 Binkenbar assault gun and is analogous with the Manchurian Type-3. F5 combat
walkers saw much action during the Cantonese-Indonesia
War of 2264-68 when
Type: armoured combat walker
Country: New Canberra
In-Service-Date:
2262
Crew: 1 (operator)
Weight: 425-kg
Move:
walk: 20-m, trot: 30-m, run: 60-m
Power Supply: 480-MJ capacitator
Power Use: 5-MJ per hour (stationary),
20-MJ per hour (walk), 40-MJ per hour
(trot), 60-MJ per hour (run)
Power Duration: up to 4 days
Sensor Range: 6-km
Sensor Bonus: 0
Signature: -1
Area Protected: all
Armour Value: 8
Initiative Penalty: -3
Armament: F7A6 40-MW plasma
gun, F21B2 9-mm coaxial machinegun, F29B2 8-cm rocket launcher, 2 × feet claws in each leg
Range Finder Bonus: +1
Cargo: 50-kg
Price: kA$ 4,750 (Lv 38,000)
Lara F5B6 Dennawan Combat Walker, Assault Pioneer
The Dennawan [NSW Ab: foot of a large
emu] is an engineering version of the original F5A9 Emu combat walker.
These walkers are issued to the assault group companies of the divisional
assault battalions and to some elements of the infantry brigade engineering
units. The principal difference between the Dennawan and the Emu is in the armament
package and in the arms and legs of the walker. Plus the Dennawan has a robust retractable “bull bar” for
pushing objects and a large rear mounted external cargo cradle for carrying
all sorts of useful engineering equipment. The F5B6 also has two additional
appendage arms which are mounted on the sides of the combat walker and
are able to lift large loads and use retractable virboblades
to cut through obstacles. The legs also have much larger claws than
the regular Emu
combat walkers which are used as very efficient digging devices. The
weapon package is mounted in a ball mount like the Emu but with much higher angle of fire: 45° to either side and 75° in elevation
and depression. The principal weapon is a F20B2 15-MW plasma thrower
which sprays superheated steam or plasma bursts capable of melting all
but the most resilient composites and metals. A F21B2 9-mm machinegun
is mounted co-axially and there are retractable vibroblade
in each of the larger appendage arms (
Type: armoured combat walker
Country: New Canberra
In-Service-Date:
2268
Crew: 1 (operator)
Weight: 425-kg
Move:
walk: 20-m, trot: 30-m, run: 60-m,
Power Supply: 480-MJ capacitator
Power Use: 5-MJ per hour (stationary),
20-MJ per hour (walk), 40-MJ per hour
(trot), 60-MJ per hour (run and swim)
Power Duration: up to 4 days
Sensor Range: 6-km
Sensor Bonus: 0
Signature: 0
Area Protected: all
Armour Value: 8
Initiative Penalty: -3
Armament: F20B2 15-MW plasma
thrower, F21B2 9-mm coaxial machinegun, 2 × retractable vibroblade
in each large appendage arm, 2 × feet claws in each leg
Range Finder Bonus: +1
Cargo: 50-kg (internal) and 300-kg (external cradle)
Price: kA$ 5,125 (Lv 41,000)
Hundeman Industries F3A3 Whisperdrone Reconnaissance Drone, Man-Portable
The F3A3 is the latest version of the Whisperdrone to enter service with Australian infantry and reconnaissance units. The unit consists of a saucer-shaped disc with video, IR, UV and millimetre wave radar passive sensors and a LIDAR active sensor (also capable of laser designation and range-finding). The disc is connected to the backpack mounted control unit through a 100-m tether which provides motive power and a data-link. The drone is lifted by a high-speed ducted fan which is powered compressed air pumped through the combination air hose/data-link tether. The one centimetre diameter tether is too small to register on most sensors at any distance and the data-link does not require emissions or line of sight connection between the drone and operator. The length of the tether (100-m) is a limitation on the operational radius of the drone but is sufficient for most purposes. The drone is virtually noiseless (hence the name) and is very difficult to pick up on standard sensors when in passive mode. The drone, tether and operating system is carried in a standard pack that can be fitted to the pack-frame of the Australian combat vest. The Australian version draws power from the combat vest for operation. The F2A2 is the vehicle mounted version of the Whisperdrone in Australian service and is functionally identical to the F3A3.
Type: man-portable tethered reconnaissance drone
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2291
Weight: 28-kg
Power Use: 10-MJ per hour
Signature: -2
Price: kA$ 1,000 (Lv 8,000)
Lara
F18A2 Narromine Drone, Walker,
Cargo
The Narromine [NSW Ab: honey carrier] is a self-guided cargo carrying walker designed to support infantry by carrying loads. Each Narromine has six legs and can traverse all but the most difficult terrain without assistance. They operate by following preset paths or by following battlesuit equipped infantry (up to 15-m behind). While not exactly fast they can keep up with a trotting human over most terrain. The Narromine is also amphibious by inflating several floats and using its legs to kick through the water. As a robot carrier the Narromine has the equivalent to a skill level of 1 in its own operation. Apply this level to tasks of varying difficulties for successfully traversing terrain. Some FD COM infantryman are convinced that Narromines develop personalities in the field.
Type: robot cargo
carrier
Country:
New Canberra
In-Service-Date:
2285
Crew: none
Weight: 150-kg
Move:
walk: 20-m, trot: 40-m, swim: 10-m
Power Supply: 480-MJ capacitator
Power Use: 5-MJ per hour (stationary),
20-MJ per hour (walk), 40-MJ per hour
(trot)
Power Duration: up to 4 days
Signature: -1
Area Protected: all
Armour Value: 1
Cargo: 300-kg
Price: kA$ 1,250 (Lv 10,000)
DMA F42A1 Bokaring Combat Suit, Armoured
The Bokaring [WA Ab: wearing skins] third generation combat suit is one of the four main components of the first-line Australian battlesuit. The other components being a compatible combat helmet, combat vest and individual weapon like the Taipan laser rifle. The F42A1 combat suit is a full-body inertial armour suit with a number of habitability systems with armoured boot soles (to defend against landmines) and modular heavy armour inserts for the torso. The suit provides full body protection by using a standard advanced ballistic nylon soaked in a shear thickening fluid composed of hard nano-particles of silica suspended in a liquid. The liquid, polyethylene glycol, is non-toxic, and can withstand a wide range of temperatures. The “inertial” material is flexible like fabric but once a projectile strikes the suit it transitions to a rigid material. Two additional composite matrix armour plates for front and back of the torso, respectively, can be inserted into the suit to provide additional protection. One of the main features of the suits habitability capabilities is the temperature moderation system which can keep the wearer in optimum condition whilst the external temperature varies from –20 to 50° C. This feature is integrated to the suits integral biomonitor and is powered by air circulation forced by the wearer’s movements with power boost for extreme temperature (0.8-MJ from the combat vest’s power cell for each hour above 35° C and below -5° C). The suit has a full overpressure seal against hostile atmospheres and the biomonitor can detect a large variety of atmospheric threats such as chemical weapons, biological spores and other dangerous gases. A number of hygiene features to enable the wearer to remain dressed for several weeks without needing major body cleaning, i.e. a shower or bath, are fitted as standard. The suit is not camouflaged coming in regular ADF olive drab but it is masked for a low level of emissions across the spectrum and to provide low returns to active sensors like radars. There are attachment pads on the shoulders, upper arms and left and right chest for various removable ADF insignia patches.
Type: full body inertial armour suit
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2289
Weight: 10-kg (additional 2-kg each for armour inserts)
Area Protected: torso and limbs (hit locations 2-10)
Armour Value: 0.5 (counts as rigid for blunt trauma damage), 1 (rigid) for hit location 7 and 8 only from attacks from beneath such as mines and booby traps, 1.5 (rigid) for hit locations 2, 3 and 4 when inserts are fitted
Signature: -2
Initiative Penalty: -1
Price: kA$ 145 (Lv 1,160) and kA$ 1.25 (Lv 10) for each armour insert
DMA F13 Kuru Manu Combat Helmet, Armoured
The Kuru Manu [NT Ab: eye in the dark] helmet module covers the head completely and natural vision is through an armoured faceplate equipped with a head up display (HUD). The helmet also is highly resilient, made of a composite matrix armour material and has most of the battlesuit’s sensors mounted around its surface. The F13 has as standard a respirator and a straw connecting the operator to the suit’s water supply. Sensors consist of four passive electromagnetic sensor arrays mounted around the top of the helmet combining the functions of a high-resolution infrared sensor, low light television and passive millimetre radar. The faceplate HUD combined with the sensors provides the equivalent to the binoculars detailed in the Adventurer’s Guide with thermal imaging night vision, ×5 to ×20 magnification and gyro-stabilisation at high magnification. Mounted inline with the wearer’s line of sight is a camera able to record images as detailed in the Adventurer’s Guide. Sensitive microphones are mounted on either side of the helmet and can provide boasted hearing, while filtering the potentially damaging loud sounds of combat.
Type: high threat combat helmet
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2291
Weight: 2-kg
Area Protected: head (hit location 1)
Armour Value: 2
Power Use: 0.5-MJ per hour
Signature: -2
Initiative Penalty: none
Price: kA$ 152.5 (Lv 600)
DMA
F98A2 Dumber Combat Vest, Laserer’s
The Dumber [WA Ab: kangaroo’s pouch] is the vest module of the frontline Australian battlesuit and incorporates the all important integration computer, information transfer system, communicator (with 20-km range but +1 to signature) and the photonic loop power cell. When integrated with the helmet and suit modules the battlesuit provides the equivalent to cold climate clothing, respirator, biomonitor, binoculars, large lifeform detector (with 2-km range), camera, hand communicator and portacomp (with 10 gigabyte memory and up to four 200 gigabyte memory chips). The vest also has a number of storage pouches for up to 20-kg of standard issue equipment, five litres of water and a pack-frame to which a variety of large equipment items can be attached. The battlesuit’s integrated functions are controlled through the keypad on the personal weapon or an alternate keypad on the left or right of the chest (location depending on the handedness of the operator) also basic commands can be activated by voice control.
Type: combat vest
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2294
Weight: 12-kg empty
Power Supply: 0.8-MW rechargeable photonic loop storing 300-MJ
Signature: -2
Price: kA$ 168.75 (Lv 1,350)
DMA
F98B1 Dumber Combat Vest, Machinegunner’s
The F98B1 is a special variant of the Dumber combat vest for soldiers equipped with the F21A6 Corvussnake 9-mm conventional machinegun. Due to delays in the service entry of the Courvussnake’s laser machinegun replacement a new generation combat vest was designed to provide the same level of operative capability for machinegunners as the new laserer’s vest. The vest is similar to the F98A2 but has a much smaller power cell and a large 450-round backpack mounted ammunition chute. The ammunition chute replaces most of the space taken up by the photonic loop and the vest still has the standard pack-frame.
Type: combat vest
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2295
Weight: 3-kg empty, 9.3-kg with 450 rounds of 9-mm APHE
Power Supply: 0.12-MW rechargeable photonic loop storing 45-MJ
Signature: -2
Price: kA$ 93.75 (Lv 750)
AST
Wudina Hand Grenade, Fragmentation
The
Wudina [SA Ab: granite rocks] is a digitally fused, hand thrown, fragmentation
grenade used primarily for defensive tasks. The digital fuse, which
is found on all the AST series of hand grenades, is a license built
copy of the latest British system. The fuse has three
modes: contact, time and proximity. These are chosen through a simple
interface on the top of the grenade with the fuse’s default mode being
time delay. In contact/time mode, the grenade will detonate upon first
contact after being thrown or after a set time delay (set at five seconds
from release, but alterable by a battlesuit interface to up to 24 hours
or instant for booby traps). Unlike the British fuse the Australian
grenades do not detonate after 24 hours if not triggered but become
inoperable. The proximity mode waits
a pre-set time (generally a minute) after activation until a target
approaches. The trigger setting is variable, but a human within 6-m
is usual. This mode is frequently used during retreats, a grenade on
proximity is slung into the position the soldiers are abandoning in
order to kill the first enemy to enter it. It is also common in urban
operations as a quickly set booby trap. The proximity mode also has
an IFF receiver which will prevent detonation of the grenade should
a friendly soldier enter its kill area. Apart from the fuse the grenade
has an explosive content, a fragmentation jacket and a telescoping handle
providing extra throwing leverage for longer range (standard to all
Australian grenades).
Type: digitally fused defensive hand grenade
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2290
Weight: 0.3-kg
DPV: as explosion (EP = 2)
Price: kA$ 1 (Lv 8)
AST
Darkin Hand Grenade, Concussion
The Darkin [WA Ab: black rocks] hand
grenade is identical to the Wudina except it
lacks the fragmentation jacket. This enables the grenade to be used
offensively so that freidnly troops aren’t
injured by extensive fragmentation.
Type: digitally fused offensive hand grenade
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2290
Weight: 0.3-kg
DPV: as explosion (EP = 2) but no fragmentation
Price: kA$ 1 (Lv 8)
AST Nangar Hand
Grenade, Red Phosphorous
The Nangar [NSW Ab: bold red rocks] red phosphorous hand grenade has an identical fuse system to the Wudina grenade but a totally different explosive system. The lethality package of the grenade utilises the explosive burning capability of red phosphorous. Not only do these grenades unleash a shower of burning fragments but they also create a thick cloud of red smoke. The ADF utilises red phosphorus instead of the more inflammable white phosphorus due to the difference in ignition temperatures. Red phosphorous ignites at X° C and white phosphorous at X° C. Since the phosphorous inside the grenade will ignite when it reaches this temperature using red phosphorous in high temperature areas like deserts, jungles and the Australian Outback where the natural temperature quite frequently climbs above X° C making white phosphorous unsafe to use.
Type: digitally fused phosphorous hand grenade
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2290
Weight: 0.3-kg
DPV: as explosion (EP = 2), fragments continue to do full damage each round for up to 10 rounds, creates a thick obscuration cloud that blocks visual images for 5 minutes, the cloud is 20-m long and 10-m high
Price: kA$ 1.75 (Lv 14)
AST Bibanup Hand Grenade, Plasma
The
Bibanup [WA Ab: white rocks] is a plasma ignition grenade that utilizes
the same digital fuse system as the Wudina grenade. The grenade’s
lethality package is a 20-MW photonic core plasma ignition cell. Upon
detonation this cell powers a disposable laser ignition system to super-heat
a hydrogen fuel pellet to a plasma state. As there is no containment
chamber this creates an instant burst of plasma able to melt though
most materials. While expensive this grenade is in high demand by Australian
troops posted to the ESA Arm of space for operations against the Kafers.
Type: digitally fused plasma hand grenade
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2292
Weight: 0.4-kg
DPV: as tamped explosion (EP = 4)
Price: kA$ 4.5 (Lv 36)
DunArmCo F20A3 Ulandi
15-MW Plasma Launcher, Man-Portable
The Ulandi [NSW Ab: burning big tree] is a controversial but highly lethal plasma thrower weapon in service with the assault pioneers of the Australian Infantry Corps. The weapon is a 24th century version of the archaic flamethrower. Plasma throwers use a similar firing mechanism to the more common plasma gun with a laser ignition system that super-heats a fuel package to a plasma state. The plasma is briefly contained in the ignition chamber and then propelled by a magnetic linear accelerator from the muzzle of the weapon. Unlike plasma guns the thrower does not focus the plasma bolt down a laser tunnel to the target. While this limits the range of the plasma bolt it enables the weapon to contain the plasma and release it at a controlled rate creating a spraying effect for considerable on target dispersion and bursting. Plasma guns also use hydrogen in a pellet form as a fuel package, in the plasma thrower the hydrogen fuel is in gaseous form. The plasma thrower also has access to a water tank and can simply superheat the water to a lethal steam and spray this on the target rather than generate plasma. This steam can be used to shoot around corners or fill rooms and bunkers with a lethal vapour. As the steam is fired from the weapon’s magnetic linear accelerator it is extremely condensed and at high pressure and can be useful for “hosing” through dirt, rock, wood and many other construction materials. The weapon itself is connected to the battlesuit by a standard 50-gauge illimet photonic cable integral to the weapon sling for power supply and a simple water hose for fuel. The hose can be supplied by the combat vest’s integral five litre water pouch or from a 10 litre water container mounted on the pack-frame. Attacks with plasma throwers are conducted as if shotguns according to the fire combat rules.
Type: 15-MW plasma thrower
Country: Australia
In-Service-Date:
2264
Weight (Empty): 7.5-kg
Length: 95-cm (bulk = 3)
Action: single shot plasma
projector or automatic steam projector
Ammunition: plasma: 0.01-L
compressed hydrogen, steam: 0.1-L water
Pulse Energy: 1.5-MJ for a
plasma burst, 0.25-MJ for a steam burst
Magazine: 1-L compressed hydrogen
bottle, external power and water fuel source
Magazine Weight: 1-kg for
compressed hydrogen bottle
Aimed Fire Range: plasma:
100-m, steam: 30-m
ROF: 2
Area Fire Burst: 5 (AFV =
5)
Area Fire Range: plasma: 80-m
for, steam: 25-m
DPV: plasma: as tamped explosion
(EP = 0.5) (×6), steam: 0.3 (×10)
Price: kA$ 210 (Lv 1,680), A$ 250 (Lv 2) for disposable hydrogen bottle
Quinn
Optronics F19A2 Kungala 375-MW Plasma Launcher,
Man-Portable
The Kungala [NSW Ab: to shout] is the Australian project name of the American M19 point destruction weapon a high-power man-portable single shot plasma gun. The F19A2 is used to destroy obstacles, bunkers, apartment blocks and anything unfortunate enough to be in its sights. The weapon system consists of a firing unit (sight, trigger and monopod) and a 375 megawatt photonic core plaser cell attached to the back of the firing unit. Once fired, the expendable cell is discarded and another attached in its place. Although capable of medium-range fire against fixed targets, the F19A2 is considered a close-in defence weapon against vehicles sine the pronounced firing signature will invariably expose the gunner’s position. In Australian service the F19A2’s firing unit breaks down into two components and comes with a carrying case for the weapon and a disposable cell that can be attached to the standard pack-frame. The case is 90-cm by 90-cm and 30-cm deep and fully loaded weighs 45-kg.
Type: 375-MW single shot
plasma gun
Country: America
In-Service-Date:
2279
Weight (Empty): 14-kg
Length: 224-cm (bulk = 9)
with plaser cell
Action: single shot
Ammunition: 270-mm × 844-mm
375-MW photonic core plaser cell
Ammunition Weight: 15-kg
Magazine: one cell attached
to rear of weapon
ROF: 1
DPV: as tamped explosion (EP
= 40)
Price: kA$ 290 (Lv 2,3020) and kA$ 81.25 (Lv 650) for each disposable plaser cell
DMA
Ingra Breaching Charge, Multi-Purpose
The
Ingra [WA Ab:
native rat’s burrow] BCMP is a hand placed horizontal or vertical breaching
system for walls, roofs and other obstacles based on the follow-through
charge principle (for more information on how this system works see
the F91A1 8-cm mass driver gun described
in the FD COM
– Land Vehicles article). The charge can be used to incapacitate hostile
forces behind walls, make paths, roads and runways unusable, dig foxholes
in hard and rocky ground (1-m deep, diameter 2-meter), destroy bridge
pillars and generally cause mayhem. The charge is simple and safe to
operate with a fully adjustable timer and has a “Stik-kit”
attachment pad which adheres to almost any surface.
Type: multi-purpose demolitions system
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2256
Weight: 5-kg
DPV: 30 and explosion (EP = 2)
Price: kA$ 3 (Lv 24)
DMA
Benomera Projector, Breaching Charge,
Portal
The Benomera [NSW Ab: holes in a hill] is a simple yet effective means for breaching doors that can be fired from a safe distance eliminating risk to the operator, reducing injury to people in the vicinity of the door and minimizing collateral damage. The projector is in appearance very much like the F63 Red Back multi-purpose missile launcher; a disposable launching tube with a simple Gauss projector that propels the breaching munition. The Benomera’s breaching munition is a self-contained unit with a specially designed charge, standoff rod, stabilizing tail and impact detonator. After the munition is fired, the fuse is armed only at the designed safety distance. When the standoff rod hits the door, the impact detonator initiates the charge that blasts it down. The disposable launcher is connected by a cable to the battlesuit that integrates the aiming element with the combat helmet’s faceplate HUD.
Type: stand-off door breacher
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2261
Weight: 8-kg
Length: 95-cm
Action: single shot disposable
Aimed
DPV: 20 (with no behind armour effect)
Price: kA$ 17.75 (Lv 142)
DMA
Marlokerrikan Projector, Breaching Charge,
Multi-Purpose
The
Marlokerrikan [NSW
Ab: thunder hole] combines the stand-off firing
of the Benomera
with the behind armour effect of a more lethal demolition munition. The
launcher uses a disposable Gauss mechanism so can be fired from an enclosed
space. The demolition munition based on the follow-through charge principle
(see above) and can create a “human size” hole in single, double and
triple layer brick walls or equivalents.
Type: stand-off breaching charge
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2263
Weight: 9-kg
Length: 95-cm
Action: single shot disposable
Aimed
DPV: 40 and explosion (EP = 2.5)
Price: kA$ 16 (Lv 128)
DMA
Goora Combat Ladder, Man-Portable
The Goora [NSW Ab: tall] is a lightweight modular ladder that folds up into a relatively compact package for carriage by frontline infantry, assault troopers and engineers. The ladder is perfect for climbing over trenches and walls or used to get to hard to reach places in all sorts of terrain. The Goora can be extended to a full height of 10-m and is able to support up to 500-kg loads. The ladder is carried in a large storage container about 75-cm square and 1.5-m high and can be easily attached to the standard Australian load carrying pack-frame.
Type: lightweight modular ladder
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2192
Weight: 20-kg
Price: kA$ 7.5 (Lv 60)
DMA Cundiah
Projector, Mine Clearance
The Cundiah [Qld Ab: walkabout] utilises the same Gauss launcher as the Benomera and Marlokerrikan stand-off breaching charge launchers but combined with a sophisticated mine clearance cable and a recharge port. The mine clearance cable is 50-m long and can be launched from 5-m to 100-m in front of the projector. The cable falls to the ground along the path to be cleared and activates a range of landmine countermeasures. These countermeasures include IR, illimeter wave radiation, acoustic, pressure and magnetic human mimicry to detonate directional and conventional mines covering the path area. The effectiveness of the cable is up to 2-m each side for conventional buried pressure mines, 5-m each side for surface pressure mines and up to 30-m each side for directional smart mines (depending on sensor type). The advantage of this system over older explosive over-pressure systems is that the Cundiah can counter off-route directional mines and does not supply the enemy with a high operation signature. The cable can also be reeled in and re-used, however it does quite frequently suffer damage from detonating mines. The cable also has a series of markers every 2-m to enable the advancing soldiers to adequately follow the cleared path.
Type: stand-off mine clearing system
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2287
Weight: 12-kg
Length: 95-cm
Action: single shot
Aimed
DPV: none (90% chance to defuse conventional mines along path and 65% smart mines)
Price: kA$ 820 (Lv 6,560)
DMA Kiandra
Australian Fighting Knife
The Kiandra [NSW Ab: sharp stone used as a knife] is issued to every member of the ADF and worn on all levels of dress. The fighting knife is both a ceremonial and military weapon as well as a survival tool. Balanced for throwing and also fitted with discrete attachment points to be used as a bayonet this knife is a very flexible weapon.
Type: bayonet melee weapon
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2020
Weight: 0.5-kg
Length: 25-cm (bulk = 0) (unless attached to rifle, in which case use bulk of rifle)
Melee Skill Modifier: +2 (+1 is attached to rifle and +0 if attempting knuckle strike)
DPV: 0.1 (0.2 if attached to rifle)
Price: A$ 625 (Lv 5)
Rum
Jungle Arms Numurkah Personal
Barrier, Armoured
The Numurkah [Vic Ab: fighting shield] is a special three-layered armoured shield that opens out to provide an open box type shield able to protect from three directions with an area of 0.5 m2. The shield can be used as a hand carried breaching shield or as the basis for rapidly constructed field fortifications. The equipment comes with a number of straps and handles for easy use, including “Stik-kit’s for solid fixing to walls and windows, etc. When folded the Numurkah can be attached to the standard pack-frame of the combat vest.
Type: rigid armour multi-purpose shield
Nation: New
In-Service-Date: 2275
Weight: 6-kg
Area Protected: depending on angle of fire and shield location
Armour Value: 4.5 with three layers and 1.5 folded out
Price: kA$ 6.25 (Lv 50)
Rum
Jungle Arms Gunyah Personal
Shelter, Armoured
The Gunyah
[NSW Ab: quickly built weather proof roof]
is a quickly assembled special shelter made up of inertial armour that
is able to cover a foxhole or sniper position. The armour is similar
to that found on the Bokaring armoured combat suit and covers up to
3-m2. The armoured cover comes in a storage bag that is attaches
to the standard pack-frame.
Type: inertial armour foxhole cover
Nation: New
In-Service-Date: 2289
Weight: 12-kg
Area Protected: depending on angle of fire and cover location
Armour Value: 0.7 (counts as rigid for blunt trauma damage),
Price: kA$ 55 (Lv 440) for each armour insert
The Military Working Dog (MWD) is a highly trained canine usually of the German Shepard bread. These dogs are trained to support military operations through their acute senses in particular acoustic and olfactory. They are also trained to fight and support their operator. In Australian service each infantry battalion has a MWD cell in its reconnaissance platoon; each cell has four MWDs and their operators.
Type: trained
canine
Country:
universal
In-Service-Date:
n/a
Crew: none
Initiative: 1
Hit: routine
Size: 20-kg
Speed: 100
Armour: 0.1
Wound Potential: -3
Consciousness: 1
Life: 2
DPV: 0.2
Signature: -6
Price: kA$ 37.5 (Lv 300)
DMA Yungaburra Unattended Surveillance
Unit
The Yungaburra [Qld Ab: place haunted by spirits] is a stay behind remote sensoring unit used to cover a particular area. Unlike most active basecamp security sensors found in civilian use the Yungaburra is totally passive and has a low energy use. They are also highly reliable and can operate with out maintenance, fully exposed to local weather extremes for several years. Each unit is deployed usually in a tree or elevated area and has its array of sensors and solar power cell (between 30-cm and 75-cm square depending on local sunlight) firmly attached and a special covering much like the Yarra personal camouflage suit covers most of the unit. The unit will send updates upon detecting a target to its command centre. These messages will raise its own signature depending on transmission range; 20-km (+1), 100-km (+2) and 200-km (+3).
Type: remote sensor unit
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2269
Weight: 28-kg
Signature: -4
Price: kA$ 1,000 (Lv 8,000)
DMA Yarra Personal Camouflage
Suit
The Yarra [Vic Ab: hiding place] is a system of camouflage suits for combat infantryman, special forces and reconnaissance personal. Each suit consists of four parts: pants, jacket, helmet cover and weapon cover. All elements of the suit are quite lose and oversized but gathered at extremities by adjustable fasteners. The jacket is designed to be worn over the combat vest and pack frame and has several large openings for the wearer to access equipment. The helmet cover fully covers the head with openings for sensors and due to its floppy nature disrupts the natural head shape. The suit is made up of disruptive material combining “Ghille” type layering with a fine under mesh for allowing temperature moderation. The camouflage is designed to disrupt passive and active sensors across the spectrum. Due to the varied nature of the terrain the ADF focus on defending; three major continents (Australia, Antarctica, Arrakis) and three entire worlds (Huntsland, Kingsland and Botany Bay), not to mention extra-territorial deployments, makes one particular pattern of camouflage colours ambitious in the least. The personal camouflage suits come in at least 18 different colour and signature variations and are issued as per local requirements. As the basic suit is unchanged it is quite a simple matter of designing and manufacturing new signature patterns.
Type: full-body camouflage suit
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2278
Weight: 2-kg
Signature: -2 (-1 for out of area use)
Price: kA$ 20 (Lv 160)
The Yurgo [SA Ab: long way] is a standardised rechargeable battery pack in ADF service. Each battery pack can be attached to the standard pack frame and integrated into a combat vest’s power cell. The battery can also be hooked directly to an energy source to recharge or to an item needing power.
Type: rechargeable battery pack
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2294
Weight: 10-kg
Power Supply: 0.8-MW rechargeable photonic loop storing 300-MJ
Price: kA$ 93.75 (Lv750)
The personal utility blade (PUB) is
a folding and extendable combination tool. Features of the PUB include
a shovel, machete, hatchet, saw and “Mul-T-Tool”.
The PUB is a very useful tool that can also make a nasty melee weapon
if needed.
Type: utility tool and emergency machete melee-weapon
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2112
Weight: 2-kg
Length: 75-cm (bulk = 2)
Melee Skill Modifier: +1
DPV: 0.3
Price: kA$ 1.25 (Lv 10)
The personal sleeping shelter (PSS) is an inflatable individual tent combined with a mattress and sleeping bag. The PSS has a quick access side opening, an integral foot pump and minor temperature control equipment. Setting up simply requires the user to roll out the shelter and inflate with the foot pump, the tent feature is held suspended by inflatable supports.
Type: one-man tent
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2094
Weight: 1-kg
Price: kA$ 6.5 (Lv50)
The standard bicycle of the Australian infantry the personal military bicycle (PMB) is easy to use, tough and compact and can get over most terrain. The PMB is a one-person, operator-powered, mountain bike. The PMB doesn’t have a chain but uses a crankshaft, furthermore the wheels are one piece; there are no spokes. The bicycle folds in half and is fitted with a special attachment points and can be carried on the standard Australian pack-frame. Made of plastics the bike is very light but able to support considerable weight, they are also very cheap and are considered a disposable item by FD COM.
Type: man-powered bicycle
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2148
Crew: rider
Weight: 1.5-kg
Armour: none
Evasion: 5
Signature: 0
Cargo: 200 kg (including rider)
Max Speed: 60 kph
Cruising Speed: 20 kph
Combat Movement: 120 meters
Off-Road Mobility: quartered
Endurance: dependent on rider
Price: kA$ 13 (Lv100)
These solar-powered energy generation systems are standard issue to field personnel and are fitted with attachment points to double as a water-proof tarpaulin. Each cell is 10-m by 10-m and can generate 0.2-MW per hour (720-MJ) in Terra equivalent daylight. In one 12 hour period a solar power cell can generate enough energy to recharge 28 Dumber combat vest power cells. The cells are coloured in the standard Australian olive drab to provide some element of camouflage.
Type: solar power generator
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2245
Weight: 8-kg
Price: kA$ 125 (Lv 1,000)
The combat medical stretcher is little more than a secure means of transporting wounded. It is not a lightweight automed and its only medical features are attachment points for fluid containers and bio-redout facilities. However the stretcher is much lighter than an automed and folds up into a relatively compact size. They also have extendable legs and are widely issued as they double as field use stretcher beds. The combat medical stretcher has attachment points to fit onto the standard Australian pack-frame.
Type: stretcher
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2110
Weight: 11-kg
Price: kA$ 6.5 (Lv 50)
DMA Water Container, Five Litre
Water containers are very important
equipment items for troops operating in high temperature regions like
Type: water container
Nation:
In-Service-Date: 2235
Weight: 5-kg (full)
Price: A$ 250 (Lv 2)
Most vehicle mounted weapons mentioned in this article can be found in FD COM – Land Vehicles.
DunArmCo F7A6 40-MW Plasma Gun
The F7A6 or “Mark Seven” as it is commercially known is a conventional plasma gun similar to a single firing element of the “Mark Eight” three barrelled plasma gun. The F7 utilises the same 40-MW photonic core plasma cells as the “Mark Eight” once spent these cells, which are molten hot and quite dangerous, are ejected from the F5 combat walker forward and downwards from the main pod.
Type: 40-MW plasma gun
Country:
In-Service-Date:
2249
Action: single shot
Ammunition: 30-mm × 90-mm
40-MW photonic core plasma cell
Magazine: 50
Aimed Fire Range: 2,000-m
ROF: 1
DPV: as tamped explosion (EP
= 6)
DunArmCo F20B2 15-MW Ulandi
Plasma Thrower
The F2oB2 is the vehicle mounted version of the Ulandi [NSW Ab: burning big tree] plasma thrower. The F20B2 is identical to the F20A3 except that it draws power directly from the Dennawan combat walker’s capacitator and fuel from several hydrogen bottles and a dedicated 30 litre water tank.
Type: 15-MW plasma thrower
Country:
In-Service-Date:
2268
Action: single shot plasma projector or automatic steam projector
Ammunition: plasma: 0.01-L
compressed hydrogen, steam: 0.1-L water
Pulse Energy: 1.5-MJ for a
plasma burst, 0.25-MJ for a steam burst
Magazine: 480-MJ capacitator,
4 × 1-L compressed hydrogen bottle, 30-L water
tank
Magazine Weight: 1-kg for
each disposable hydrogen bottle
Magazine Price: A$ 250 (Lv
2) for disposable hydrogen bottle
ROF: 2
Area Fire Burst: 5 (AFV =
5)
DPV: plasma: as tamped explosion
(EP = 0.5) (×6), steam: 0.3 (×10)
Acknowledgements
The hand grenade digital fuse is based
on that detailed in the British Army: 2300AD Infantry Equipment article by Bryn
Monnery and Dan Hebditch. The Whisperdrone
is from Loren K. Wiseman’s Ground Vehicle
Guide. Special thanks to Bryn Monnery
for input on the scientific nature of plasma weapons. All Australian
Aboriginal names used in this series of articles are from Aboriginal Place Names by A.W. Reed.