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 Benowa F30C1 Kangaroo IV Hovercraft, Assault Carrier The Kangaroo is the basis of a large family of hovercraft in Australian
service. The F30C1 is the last version of the original Kangaroo
to remain in service. Originally an assault trooper carrier most F30s
are now in service as liaison vehicles for headquarters personnel and
general run-arounds.
The F30 has four
ball mounts, two facing forwards and one on each side. Two 12-mm machineguns
are issued as standard and the ball mounts can also be fitted with individual
weapons like 9-mm machineguns. F30s are also provided to peacekeeping
units where their inoffensive nature (compared to a Gatto HBT)
is supposed to assist the units in gaining the trust of locals. Like
most other military hovercraft the F30 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 armoured personnel carrier Armour: plenum: 2, all faces: 10
Sumatro Fabrique
F47A5 Waikerie Hovercraft, Airmobile Carrier The Waikerie [SA Ab: wings, anything that flies] is a lightweight hover armoured personnel carrier designed to be easily deployable by air and space transport. This vehicle is the cornerstone of FD COM’s airmobile infantry brigades. The vehicle’s automotive system is based on the F39 a common utility vehicle in the ADF. By using the same engine, hover system, propulsion system and controls as the F39 the F49 can be quite cheap, easy to build and maintain. The vehicle is conventional in layout with the 0.35-MW fuel cell and fuel supply located in the nose and the crew and cargo load in the rear. However unlike the F39 the crew bay is masked from the front by the low-profile turret. The turret has a limited angle of rotation being confined to the forward 270° by the crew compartment. However the remote mount for the machinegun on top of the turret has a full 360° rotation. The low-profile turret is armed with an F8B4 40-MW triple plasma gun and a co-axial missile launcher for F55B1 Funnel Web II anti-vehicle missiles and/or F60A1 Dust Reaper anti-aircraft missiles feed from a six missile rotary magazine. The remote turret has a ubiquitous Corvussnake 9-mm machinegun for local defence. The vehicle’s crew sits in three rows of three seats with the front row facing forward with workstations to operate the vehicle’s systems and the dismount riflemen occupying the rear two rows, facing backwards. The seats are crash absorbent and quite comfortable but there is very little spare room in the Waikerie, especially for the dismount section who store their packs and weapons paratrooper fashion – in your face. The crew and dismount section’s main entry and exit point is a one person hatch located between the two main propulsion fans at the rear. While it may seem to be a difficult mission to dismount quickly the rear six seats fold flush with the floor to enable quick and easy egress. This hatch comprises two pieces opening up and down. The top part of the hatch has, beneath an armoured cover, an observation window with a firing port to enable the centre rear passenger to comfortably fire a personal weapon to the vehicle’s rear. When the armoured cover for this window is open there is a 15% chance that a hit on the vehicle’s rear will strike the window which only has AV: 2. Another egress hatch is mounted on the roof above the commander’s seat on the front right of the crew compartment. This hatch provides the commander the ability to easily get in and out of a fully loaded Waikerie and is also used to replace the 9-mm ammunition cassette. While the basic vehicle has a quite low level of protection FD COM has recently fielded an appliqué array for the Waikerie. This armour is an active array that is effective against all sorts of anti-armour weapons including plasma and kinetic energy. Once expended however that area is unprotected (10% cumulative chance to avoid the appliqué armour in a particular angle of attack after each hit). Like most military hovercraft the Waikerie has a limited jump-jet capability, each minute in jump-jet mode uses 10 minutes of fuel and speed is quartered. The Waikerie also has an integral drogue parachute mount which combined with the jump-jets provides it with an air-drop deployment capability. The vehicle will usually be air-dropped with the full crew and passengers on board and then controlled to a safe landing through a combination of the parachute and jump jets. Type: air deployable armoured personnel carrier hovercraft Armour: plenum: 2, all faces: 6 (20 with appliqué armour) The Kamarga [Qld Ab:
storm] is the standard self-propelled hovercraft artillery piece of
FD COM Tactical Artillery units. The F68 is based on the chassis of
the Darrago hovertank. The name Kamarga
is actually from the artillery weapon the vehicle carries; an 18-cm,
50-calibre (nine meter long barrel) Gauss railgun. The barrel is mounted inside a large hexagonal
cover, which protects and stealths the Gauss
coils that propel the projectiles at controllable velocities up to 4,500
meters per second. An automatic reload system is fitted that can load
any round in under a second after the firing cycle is completed. The
ammunition for the railgun comes in two families; the long range, self-guiding
shell is 15 calibres long and weighs up to 150 kg, the short range,
“dumb” shell is 5-calibes long and weighs around 50 kg. Different
velocities are used depending on the shell type, range to target and
firing mission. All fire control
functions are self-contained; the F68 just needs to be supplied target
location from any other observation post, aircraft, vehicle or battlesuit
linked to its network. Like most other military hovercraft the F68 is
able to carry out limited jumps using booster jets (10 minutes of endurance
for every minute in flight and speed is quartered). The F68 carries
as standard, a satellite communications uplink,
microwave relay for electrical power transfer and communications and
eight Deathleaper missiles are for
air-defence. Type: hovercraft-propelled
gun-howitzer Armour: plenum: 20, front: 80, overhead: 80, other faces: 60 The Dullamah [NSW Ab: terrific hailstorm] was once the standard tactical artillery
piece of FD COM. Based on an articulated chassis of the old Type: self-propelled
gun-howitzer Armour: suspension: 10, front: 50, overhead: 50, other faces: 25 DunArmCo
F13B3 Warral
Tracklayer, Self-Propelled Gun-Mortar The Warral [NSW Ab: earthquake] is an old but still powerful heavy mortar
weapon firing an enormous 24-cm shell. The F13 has a purpose built tracked
chassis that was once used for a range of supporting vehicles but have
all been replaced by Wallaroo
modular load carriers. The main weapon is a DunArmCo
Warral 24-cm gun-mortar
with a 25 calibre barrel that uses a binary propellent system where
two otherwise inert liquids are mixed together to become explosive. The chassis of F13
is an old-style one piece hull with the power-plant turbine at the rear.
The very front has an elevated cab for the crew and operating systems.
This cab extends to the rear and houses the aft facing 24-cm gun-mortar
system. The Warral gun-mortar
is fixed within the cab but can train up to 30º left and right. Mounted
above the cab is the remote mount for the 12-mm air defence machinegun.
Ammunition for the Warral
gun-mortar is stored at the bottom of the vehicle’s hull and can be
automatically reloaded from grounded ammunition pallets through a port
beneath the crew cab. The F13 is found in four heavy tactical artillery
batteries of FD COM and is used to provide very heavy fire onto fortified
targets with its 160-kg shells. While range is limited this weapon provides
a useful capability in high intensity warfare. There are some rumours
that a battery of F13s is to be deployed to the European Arm of space
to be used against Kafer fortified “safe-places”. Type: self-propelled
gun-howitzer Armour: F45B3
24-cm binary gun, F40B1 12-mm machinegun in remote turret, F1
6-cm close defence system Benowa F51A2 Malagara Hovercraft, Self-Propelled
Gun-Mortar The Malagara [Qld Ab: lightning] is a variant of the Nantawarra specialising in fire support. The assault trooper compartment
of the Nantawarra is replaced
with a remotely operated turret for a 12-cm gauss mortar and its magazine.
Unlike other fire support vehicles the F51 has a high power remote laser
weapon for self-defence as it operates closer to the line of battle.
F51s are found in the mortar platoons of armoured squadrons. Type: fire
support hovercraft Armour: plenum: 10, front: 40, overhead: 40, other faces: 20 Benowa F45A1 Yeraan Hovercraft, Self-Propelled
Rocket Launcher The Yeraan
[NSW Ab: high wind] is the principal weapon
of FD COM’s operational artillery units and provides long range missile
fires to destroy enemy formations. The vehicle itself is externally
indistinguishable to the Wallaroo flatbed carrier (see below) with
a standard cargo pallet. However in the F45 the pallet pickup system
is the trainable mount for a large missile battery disguised as a cargo
pallet. The missile launcher can take four missile packs,
packs can contain one 48-cm missile, two 24-cm missiles or eight 12-cm
missiles. Type: hovercraft-propelled
missile launcher Armour: plenum: 10, all faces: 20 Benowa F52A3 Bundarra Hovercraft, Reconnaissance Vehicle The Bundarra [NSW Ab: large kangaroo]
is a specialist reconnaissance version of the Kangaroo IV family
of combat hovercraft. The F52 is based on the Nantawarra assault carrier but with a lower hull and larger
turret. The crew compartment is located in the middle of the hull, behind
the turret and before the two main propulsion turbines. It has considerably
more firepower than a basic Nantawarra as its primary role is
to provide screening and counter-counter reconnaissance. F52s
have been compared to lightweight hovertank designs like the American
M-9 and Bavarian LkPz-VIII. The F52 is found
in the guide platoons of armoured squadrons, reconnaissance companies
of brigades and the divisional and corps reconnaissance squadrons. Type: reconnaissance
hovercraft Armour: plenum: 10, front: 40, overhead: 40, other faces: 20 Benowa F54A6 Tibarri
Hovercraft, Surveillance Vehicle The Tibarri
[Qld Ab: eye] is a specialist surveillance
version of the Kangaroo IV family of combat hovercraft. The F54
is based on the Bundarra reconnaissance
vehicle and is externally identical to it. However on the F54 the 6-cm
mass driver gun is a dummy mount replaced in the turret by a very large
extendable mast for a long-range sensor suite. The F54 is also fitted
with a fourth work-station dedicated to remote scout drone operation
of which a reconnaissance platoon usually has four. The F54 is
found mixed with F52s in the guide platoons of armoured squadrons, reconnaissance
companies of armoured brigades and armoured reconnaissance squadrons.
The F54A7 hovercraft, forward observation version is specialised for
artillery forward observers. This vehicle replaces the drone operation
equipment with more accurate weather sensors, including weather balloons
and other artillery specific equipment. Type: surveillance
hovercraft Armour: plenum: 10, front: 40, overhead: 40, other faces: 20 Sumatro Fabrique
F33A4 Warroo Hovercraft, Scout Vehicle The Warroo,
named for the small, fast scorpion like predator common to the Duffer’s
Strip of New Canberra itself named for an Aboriginal word for red hornet
because of its large stinger and reddish colouring, is a light hovercraft
specially designed for scouting and guide missions. The basis of the
design is the Type: reconnaissance hovercraft Armour: plenum: 2, all faces: 5 Bridgeport-Swift F73 Liarbird Hovercraft, Scout Vehicle The Bridgeport-Swift Songbird
is one of the most popular off-road hovercraft
in human use, coming in a wide range of versions and local adaptations.
The Liarbird is a special
militarised Songbird designed
to be in all appearances a regular civilian vehicle while possessing
a range of military features. This hovercraft has mostly been found
in Special Forces units but is now available on the open market and
though very rare has become popular with police units, local militias,
mercenaries and crime gangs (though sometimes the later two groups are
hard to tell apart). Liarbird’s are in service with the
SASR and some selected recce units of the ADF. The Liarbird looks identical to a hard-top Songbird but is equipped with armour sufficient to defeat most personal
weapons, an extendable weapons mount, jump-jets for extra mobility and
a more powerful engine with long range fuel tanks. When lowered the
extendable weapon is carried within the vehicle and is not noticeable.
It can be extended on a snorkel mount up to 2-m above the vehicle and
has a full 360° firing arc. The weapons mount is modular and is offered
with four different types of weapon fits, though some units have fitted
their own weapons to the mount in order to increase firepower or standardise. Like most combat hovercraft it possesses a limited jump-jet capability,
which uses 10 minutes of endurance for every minute of flight. Speed
is quartered in jump mode. The Liarbird is often painted to look like a civilian vehicle with
interspatial aide agencies and TRI-D network paint schemes being the
most popular. The modular armament is interchangeable between the following
systems: MG mount (DunArmCo
Mini-12 with 250 round cassette), PG mount (Quinn-Darlan
Mk 2-A2 with 100 round cassette), AVM mount (Twin launcher for Panzerfaust-93 missiles) or AAM mount (Twin
launcher for Hornisse
missiles). Type: special
reconnaissance hovercraft Armour: plenum: 2, all faces: 6 Rheinfabrik F16A6 Binkenbar Tracklayer, Assault Gun The Binkenbar [Qld Ab: small tortoise] is the Australian version of the Westfälisch Armee’s infantry
Sturmgeschutz-5 Keiler [Ger: wild
boar] assault gun. The Binkenbar
is a lightweight, very low profile armoured vehicle used to provide
fire support to infantry. It was the mainstay of the fire and mobility
support companies of the infantry battalions but have now being replaced
by Emu and Cassowary combat walkers. However the Binkenbar remains
in service in the territorial defence units (TDU) of the Militia. Each
TDU has four Binkenbars
forming the fire support sections of the headquarters platoon. However
some TDUs with large geographic areas of responsibility replace
their Binkenbars
with Kangaroo IVs. The vehicle
is fully tracked with the propulsion system in the front and the operator
sitting reclined at the rear. The retractable weapon mount is located
in the middle of the vehicle. When retracted the weapon mount can fire
forward to 30º of the central axis. Fully extended the weapons are raised
1.5-m above the vehicle roof and have a full 360º arc of fire. In order
to lower its profile the road wheels can be retracted and the Binkenbar is lowered to a height of only 1.4 meters. Binkenbars are frequently
equipped with a trailer which is used to tow up to 400-kg of cargo,
mostly ammunition for supporting infantry. Type:
obsolete tracked infantry assault gun The Yerrah
[NSW Ab: digger] is the standard multi-purpose
combat engineering vehicle of FD COM. The F49 utilizes a purpose designed
and built hull shared with the Currawah
recovery vehicle. The F49 is a combination vehicle that has both a hovercraft
and tracked suspension system. For transit and some engineering tasks
like mine clearing the F49 uses the hovercraft system for motive power
but when better traction is needed four tracked pods drop from the hover
tub as the plenum is deflated. The vehicle is fully able to manoeuvre
under each system and is even able to carry out limited jumps using
booster jets (10 minutes of endurance for every minute in flight and
speed is quartered). The F49 is a double ended vehicle with the crew located
in the middle and engineering equipment at both ends. However it is
only able to travel at full speed on the air cushion in one direction
(the front) but is easily able to both backwards and forwards on tracks.
Above the crew cab is the remote turret for the high power laser and
close defence system. The purpose of the F49 is to bring combat engineering
equipment into the battlefield under armour protection. The F49 has
four main engineering implements as well as the crew and a large amount
of stored engineering equipment like explosives and tools. At the rear
end of the vehicle is a large dozer blade able to move 250-m3 of earth an hour. Mounted
above and behind the scoop is a telescoping digger bucket able to reach
up to 8-m from the vehicle to dig holes or tear down obstacles. The front end of
the F49 has the more aggressive equipment with the mine clearing array
and the demolitions projector. The mine clearing array consists of four
X-ray laser sensor/destroyers. These arrays scan an arc up to 20-m ahead
and to either side of the vehicle to detect mines based on their explosive
content. Once detected a high power burst is charged into the explosive
to detonate or make inoperable the mine. Type: combination
tracked/hovercraft engineering vehicle Armour: plenum/suspension: 10, front: 40, overhead: 40, other faces: 20 The Currawah
[NSW Ab: fixer] is the standard multi-purpose
armoured recovery vehicle of FD COM. The F48 utilizes a purpose designed
and built hull shared with the Yerrah
engineering vehicle. Like the Yerrah the F48 is a combination vehicle that has both a hovercraft
and tracked suspension system. The F48 utilises the tracked system for
much improved traction when it is towing or winching immobile vehicles. Unlike the Yerrah the F48 isn’t a “double ended” vehicle
but it does carry as standard a large amount of recovery and repair
equipment. At the front of the vehicle is a large dozer blade, similar
to that on the Yerrah able to move
250-m3 of earth an hour.
The dozer blade is also used as part of the stabilising system which
has automatic levelling adjustment to maintain a solid lifting base
during recovery operations. There are three winches on the F48 including
the main winch at the front which is 120-m long and able to pull 10,000-kg
while on tracks and 75,000-kg when stabilised. The two auxiliary winches
found fore and aft can pull 5,000-kg each and have a 40-m long cable. The F48 also has
a telescopic lifting crane able to lift 24,000-kg and when fully extended
has a total reach of 20-m. Also standard at the rear of the vehicle
is an automatic towing device that includes a plenum hose, automatically
attaching tow-bar and power transfer cabling. The F48 carries a large
amount of tools and repair equipment to enable the crew to carry out
field expedient repairs. The vehicle also has a large under armour cargo
bay for modular replacement parts like spare air-cushion cells, tracks,
blower turbines, fuel cells, etc. Type: combination
tracked/hovercraft engineering vehicle Armour: plenum/suspension: 10, front: 40, overhead: 40, other faces: 20 Benowa F41A2 Wallaroo Hovercraft, Medium Carrier The Wallaroo, a type of large brown kangaroo, is a modular APC
designed to carry a large number of infantry or cargo to and from the
battle. Unlike Australian assault carriers the F41 is not meant to be
a fighting vehicle except in emergencies. The F41 is based on the Nantawarra chassis, itself an enlarged Kangaroo, but with the
vehicle’s fuel-cell power and propulsion turbine systems moved to the
front and bottom. This makes the F41 much higher than the low, sleek
Nantawarra but considerably increases the
vehicles useable volume.
The driver, self
defence system and room for a single passenger are located forward in
a cab behind the fuel cell. Immediately aft of the control cabin is
a large flatbed for various modules which can be replaced in the field.
FD COM modules include: APC module for 18 passengers and 1,000-kg of
cargo, flatbed carrier module with a remote 4,000-kg pallet pickup system,
multiple launch rocket system (see Yeraan above), medical centre, command post,
etc. Like most other military hovercraft the F41 is able to carry out
limited jumps using booster jets (10 minutes of endurance for every
minute in flight and speed is quartered). Type: cargo hovercraft Armour: plenum: 2, all faces: 5 Sumatro Fabrique
F38A6 Warrigal Hovercraft,
Light Carrier The Warrigal
is the standard light utility vehicle of the ADF and is named for a Aboriginal word for wild usually applied to dingos, the native
wild dog of Type:
utility hovercraft Armour: plenum: 2, all faces: 5 Sumatro Fabrique
F39A4 Werai
Hovercraft, Medium Carrier The Werai
[NSW Ab: look out] is the Australian name for a common Type: utility hovercraft Armour: plenum: 2, all faces: 5
Sumatro Fabrique F39B2 Werai II Hovercraft, Logistics Carrier, Airborne The F39B2 is a modified F39 specialising in the support role for airmobile infantry. The F39B2 adds the high power jump jets of the F47 and drogue parachute to the basic F39 utility vehicle. In addition the rear cargo section of the F39 is modified to be replaced with varying modules like the Wallaroo carrier. This creates a flexible logistics vehicle for use by the rapid deployment airmobile infantry brigades. Like most military hovercraft the F39B2 has a limited jump-jet capability, each minute in jump-jet mode uses 10 minutes of fuel and speed is quartered. The F39B2 also has an integral drogue parachute mount which combined with the jump-jets provides it with an air-drop deployment capability. The vehicle will usually be air-dropped with the full crew and passengers on board and then controlled to a safe landing through a combination of the parachute and jump jets. Type: air deployable cargo hovercraft Armour: plenum: 2, all faces: 5 DunArmCo F40A1 500-MW Plasma
Gun The F40 is a new type of plasma gun that does
not use a photonic core to power the plasma ignition and targeting laser.
Instead the hydrogen pellet is feed into the breech by itself and the
plasma gun sources the required energy from the vehicles own power cell.
50 mega joules are required for each shot, necessitating a large vehicle
power cell. The F40 is the standard first line fighting vehicle weapon
for the ADF. This weapon is one of the most powerful plasma guns in
service and is extremely lethal against armoured and area targets. Type: 500-MW plasma gun DunArmCo F8B4 40-MW
Triple Plasma Gun The F8B4 or “Mark Eight” as it is commercially known is a Gatling style plasma gun with rotating “barrels”. The weapon
has three plasma ignition chambers and firing lasers, rotating between
them to assist in cooling. An old design the F8 is still a powerful
weapon able to pump out burst after burst of plasma. Type: triple 40-MW plasma
gun The Southern Cross Lasers F72 is a high power laser weapon found on the
latest Australian hovertanks. The primary role of the F72 is point defence
against incoming missiles and shells. It has secondary roles as an anti-vehicle
weapon in its own right and local defence against infantry. The F72
usually operates in automatic mode and will engage missiles and personnel
that come within range without appropriate IFF signals. The standard
weapon turret of an F72 is mounted on an extendable telescope able to
lift the weapon 10-m above the top of the vehicle. This enables the
laser to fire upon targets while the vehicle is masked by terrain. Type: 250-01 laser The vehicle mounted version of the laser machinegun F23 Brownsnake the F23B1
is only fitted as standard to the new F6 Cassowary combat walker. This laser can either fire high-powered single
shots or bursts at a much lower power. Like the hand carried version
the F23B1 is a very impressive weapon but with prodigal power requirements. Type: 150-01 laser The F66 is a high power laser weapon usually powered from a 500-MJ capacitator
integral to the vehicle. This weapon is used as point defence against
missiles and medium velocity shells for most of the older series of
Australian combat vehicles. The weapon is also very useful for anti-infantry
tasks, keeping the enemy away from launching lethal close range attacks
against combat vehicles. Like the more modern F72 laser the F66 is usually
controlled by the vehicles integral computer on automatic mode. Type: 100-01 laser DunArmCo F45B3 24-cm Binary
Gun The F45 or Warral
artillery weapon first entered Australian
service close to 100 years ago. At this time it was a pioneering binary
propellent weapon, now its age is definitely showing. However the F45
has the advantage of firing a huge 160-kg shell able to deliver massive
explosive power onto a target, albeit at short range. The weapon is
feed from an automatic magazine for up to 40 shells. Ammunition types
are limited but include a HEPD (High Explosive, Point Destruction) round
for destroying fortifications. The binary propellent is stored in two
tanks as a liquid with a total full mass of 240-kg. The precise amount
of propellent used is dependent on the range to the target. The F45
is classified as a mortar in Australian service due to its short range.
Unlike much smaller calibre mortars the F45 can’t fire on the move. Type: obsolete 240-mm
gauss gun-mortar High Explosive: as explosion (EP = 120) Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: High Explosive: kA$ 30 (Lv 245) DunArmCo F86A8 15-cm Binary
Gun The F86 or the Dullamah has been replaced in ADF service by the
Kamarga artillery weapon. However the F86 is still
found in service supporting tracked armoured brigades, in some tactical
artillery groups and in old fixed defences. The F86 is a binary propellent
weapon and uses the same binary liquid propellent as the 24-cm Warral artillery system. The gun is feed from an automatic,
adaptable magazine able to store 96 standard 15-cm rounds or 32 of the
longer extended-range shells or an appropriate mix. The binary propellent
is feed from two tanks with a total mass of 96-kg. Extended-range munitions
have a rocket booster and glide wings which enable them to be fired
to a considerably boosted range. Type: obsolete 150-mm
binary gun-howitzer Nation:
Muzzle
Velocity: 1,240-mps Magazine:
96
standard or 32 extended-range,
96-kg
binary propellent Ammunition
Weight: 50-kg (standard), 110-kg (extended-range), 1-kg binary propellent (standard to maximum range),
2.5-kg binary propellent (extended-range to maximum range) ROF: 5 DPV: dependent on shell
used (DPV is the same for standard and extended-range munitions): High Explosive: as explosion (EP = 40) Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: High Explosive: kA$ 10 (Lv 80) The standard artillery piece for the ADF the F105 or Kamarga is found
primarily on self-propelled hovercraft mounts or in fixed defences.
The F105B6 is the current self-propelled version and is the primary
armament of the F68 hovercraft. The gun can fire standard or extended-range
projectiles from its modular, self-loading magazine. Type: 180-mm Gauss gun-howitzer Nation:
New
Muzzle
Velocity: 2,450-mps Magazine:
120
standard or 40 extended-range Ammunition
Weight: 90-kg (standard), 210-kg (extended-range) ROF: 5 DPV: dependent on shell
used (DPV is the same for standard and extended-range munitions): High Explosive: as explosion (EP = 70) Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: High Explosive: kA$ 20 (Lv 160) DunArmCo F90B1 12-cm
Mass Driver Gun The F90 or Malagara is a mobile gun-mortar artillery system used
to provide fire support to manoeuvre units. Because of its lower muzzle
velocity the F90 is able to fire while its carrier vehicle is moving. Type: 120-mm Gauss gun-mortar Nation:
Muzzle
Velocity: 645-mps Magazine:
96 Ammunition
Weight: 15-kg ROF: 5 Indirect
DPV: dependent on shell
used: High Explosive: as explosion (EP = 12) Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: High Explosive: kA$ 6 (Lv 48) DunArmCo F102B3 12-cm
Mass Driver Gun The F102B3 is the latest version of the F102 12-cm Gauss gun mounted as
the standard armament of the Crocodile-11
main battle tank. The F102B3 has significantly higher muzzle velocity
and a more capable anti-armour round. Type: 120-mm Gauss gun Ammunition
Weight: 25-kg ROF: 3 Armour Piercing, Flechette: 100 Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: Armour Piercing, Flechette: kA$ 45 (Lv 360) DunArmCo F102A1 12-cm
Mass Driver Gun The F102A1 is the older version of the F102 12-cm Gauss gun mounted as
the standard armament on the later versions of the Crocodile-1 main battle tank. Type: obsolete 120-mm
Gauss gun Ammunition
Weight: 25-kg ROF: 2 Armour Piercing, Flechette: 80 Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: Armour Piercing, Flechette: kA$ 32 (Lv 256) The F110 is the main armament of the Darrago hover battle tank. With a
calibre of 9-cm the F110 is one of the most powerful Gauss guns found
on a hovercraft. The gun uses much of the breakthrough mass driver technology
of the Kamarga artillery system. This makes the F110
one of the most effective weapons of its generation. Type: 90-mm Gauss gun Ammunition
Weight: 10-kg ROF: 5 Armour Piercing, Flechette: 90 Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: Armour Piercing, Flechette: kA$ 25 (Lv 200)
Type: 80-mm low-velocity
Gauss gun Ammunition
Weight: 15-kg ROF: 1 High Explosive, Multi Purpose: as tamped explosion (EP = 20) Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: High Explosive, Multi Purpose: kA$ 5 (Lv 40) Ansbach Industrie-Gesellschafte F100A6 6-cm Mass Driver Gun The F100 is a licence built Australian version of the Bavarian (now German)
6-cm mass driver gun fitted to the LkPz-VIII.
A powerful and lightweight weapon the F100 provides the FD COM armoured
reconnaissance force with excellent firepower. Type: 60-mm Gauss gun ROF: 5 Armour Piercing, Flechette: 80 Ammunition Expense: dependent on shell used: Armour Piercing, Flechette: kA$ 20 (Lv 160) AST F39B5 3-cm Gauss Automatic Grenade Launcher The Australian Steel & Technologies F39B5 is the latest version of
their successful family of 3-cm grenade launchers. The F39 is a cassette
feed, externally powered automatic weapon. The grenade launcher is found
on most of the latest of the ADF’s combat
vehicles where its multi-use nature lends itself well as a secondary
weapon. The 3-cm grenades are interchangeable with those of the hand
carried grenade launchers. The F39B5 differs from the older F39B1 in
that it is able to fire the new second generation High
Explosive, Targeted Burst (HETB)
grenade. This grenade has an infra red sensor in the nose which before
bursting detects the closest concentration of targets and directs the
grenades burst in that direction. This is especially useful for, not
literally but effectively, shooting around corners and in complex targeting
environments like city scapes and close jungle. The F39’s automatic
magazine is able to load any type of grenade on demand. Type: 30-mm Gauss gun ROF: 5 High Explosive, Multi Purpose: as tamped explosion (EP = 4) High Explosive, Thermobaric: as explosion (EP
= 8) with quarter normal
fragmentation Ammunition Expense: dependent on grenade used: High Explosive, Multi Purpose: A$ 625 (Lv 5) AST F39B1 3-cm Gauss Automatic Grenade Launcher The older version of the F39 grenade launcher the F39B1 is found in second-line
vehicles. The F39B1, however, is still a potent combat weapon. F39s
fitted as secondary weapons are usually fitted in independent mounts
with high degrees of elevation as they are very useful anti-personnel
weapons in close terrain like city scapes. Type: 30-mm Gauss gun ROF: 5 High Explosive, Multi Purpose: as tamped explosion (EP = 4) Ammunition Expense: dependent on grenade used: High Explosive, Multi Purpose: A$ 625 (Lv 5) DunArmCo F35B10 25-mm Automatic Cannon The F35B1 is the vehicle-mounted version of the F35 or Mini-25 autocannon. The F35 is not dismountable from the parent vehicle.
The magazine is a modular cassette that can be reloaded with individual
rounds from under armour. Type: 25-mm conventional
autocannon ROF: 5 DunArmCo F40B1 12-mm Conventional Machinegun The F40B1 is the vehicle mounted version of the F40 or Mini-12 machinegun.
The F40B1 can be dismounted and fired from a field mount. Type: 12-mm conventional
machine gun ROF: 5 DunArmCo F21B2 9-mm Conventional Machinegun The F21B2 is the vehicle-mounted version of the standard light support
weapon of the Australian infantry. The F21B2 can be dismounted from
a vehicle and fitted with man-machine interfaces (stock, trigger, sling,
etc.) and is almost identical to the standard F21. Type: 9-mm conventional
machine gun ROF: 5 The F29B2 is the vehicle-mounted version of the infantry’s standard man-portable
rocket launcher. The F29 was developed in cooperation with Type: quadruple 8-cm
vehicle-mounted rocket launcher High Explosive, Multi Purpose: as tamped explosion (EP = 15) Ammunition
Expense: Dependent on rocket used: High Explosive, Multi Purpose: kA$ 50 (Lv 400) Mossburg Arsenal F1 6-cm
Close Defence System The F1 close defence system is an active defence system firing 6-cm grenades
designed to engage near threats to the vehicle. Based on an American
design, the M1, with some modifications F1s have been retrofitted or
built as standard on most ADF combat vehicles. F1s are used as back-ups
to laser point defences in more sophisticated vehicles or as stand-alone
systems. The system is designed to immediately deploy smoke to conceal the vehicle
as necessary. The F1 consists of four banks of six 6-cm ordnance launchers,
one located at each corner of the turret (front and back), to provide
360o protection to the vehicle. In vehicles without large
turrets (or very small turrets like the Kangaroo) the ordnance
launchers are located together forming a circular structure.
Typical load-out
is two anti-missile rounds, two anti-personnel rounds, and two smoke
rounds per discharger, though other options may be loaded as necessary.
When activated, the F1 system fires one or more 6-cm grenades at the
incoming target, or to place smoke. Grenades may be fired at targets
up to 100 meters away from the vehicle. Type: 6-cm close defence
system Anti-Missile: burst radius: 10-m
(DPV = 0.8) Ammunition
Expense: Dependent on grenade used: Anti-Missile: kA$ 1.25 (Lv 10) Urandangi F63 Red Back Multi-Purpose Missile The F63 can be targeted against both aircraft and vehicles. With a flick
of a switch the missile can change its warhead, motor and guidance modes
to better engage a number of different targets. F63s can be loaded in
the F29B2 rocket launcher fitted to several ADF combat vehicles. An
appropriate hand held launcher can also fire the F63. Type: vehicle-mounted
anti-aircraft or anti-vehicle missile Urandangi F55B1 Funnel Web II Anti-Vehicle Missile The F55 is the lightweight anti-vehicle missile in Australian service,
designed and manufactured at the Defence Material Agency’s principal
missile facility on the Type: vehicle-mounted
anti-vehicle missile Urandangi F60A1 Dust Reaper Anti-Aircraft Missile The F60 is a capable anti-aircraft missile fired from vehicle launchers
or semi-mobile field mounts. The F60 is a short range missile usually
assigned to defend a point target. Type: vehicle-mounted
anti-aircraft missile Urandangi F49A1 Huntsman Anti-Vehicle Missile The F49 is a long range anti-vehicle missile fired from vehicle launchers.
The F49 is semi-autonomous after launching and will scan the designated
area for enemy vehicles and subsequently attack the highest priority
target. Type: vehicle-mounted
anti-vehicle missile Urandangi F51A2 Deathleaper
Anti-Aircraft Missile The F51 is a medium range anti-aircraft missile fired from vehicle launchers
or fixed mounts. The F51 is a very high speed missile with several targeting
systems to counter enemy countermeasures. Type: vehicle-mounted
anti-aircraft missile The vehicles detailing ADF artillery are heavily
dependent on Peter Grining’s work on artillery
in 2300AD. The M1 point defence system is from James Boschma’s article on the M9 “Lee” hover battle tank. The Kangaroo
IV hovercraft is from Loren K. Wiseman’s Ground
Vehicle Guide and the M29 rocket launcher is from Clare W. Hess’s
Operation Overlord. |