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CO_17thRecon
Kell Hounds
Major
Joined: 10-Sep-2002 00:00
Posts: 1297
Location: United States
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 Posted: 29-Jun-2007 13:09 Post subject: Small Support Vehicle: Ratte MMV |
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I finally finished my Rat design, and man, did it end taking a long departure away from what I originally intended. Originally, the machine was to be based (roughly) on the British Supacat. This didn't work well due to item limitations. I was able to make it as fast as the Supacat, better armored, and able to carry more people, but due to support vehicle rules, I had trouble getting the necessary space for all three weapons. The main gun was also tricky. I wanted to use the Heavy Auto Grenade launcher, but then I learned that it was clan only.
After searching out for a good anti-infantry weapon that would scare the bejesus out of someone, I settled on the medium recoilless rifle. I bent the technology availability rules a bit to use the Battle Armor version on a 3025 support vehicle, but I think it's justified, personally. The only thing special about the BA rifle is that it is bigger than the infantry version. And I know that Defiance would usually jump at the chance to make a big gun and get big business. If the tech bending bothers you, you can always use a support machine gun instead.
Overall, I'm fairly pleased with it. It's fast, tough, and packs a moderate punch. It lacks the backup weaponry I had originally intended, but hey, it has windows, and presumably the people inside are carrying guns. 
Edit: Hey, a neat coincidence. My Ratte weighs 4 tons, and so does the Supacat. Ironically, I had not even planned that.
Type/Model: Ratte Multi-Role Military Vehicle
Tech: Inner Sphere / D
Config: Small Wheeled Support Vehicle, Off-Road Capable
Mass: 4 tons
Power Plant: General Motors I.C.E.
Range: 1000 km
Cruise Speed: 86.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 129.6 km/h
Armor Type: Beckwood Copperchain, Grade 3
Equipment: Defiance Eisenjager Rifle System
Manufacturer: Corean Enterprises, TharHes Industries
Location: New Avalon (FS), Tharkad (LC)
Communications System: Basix 50
Targeting & Tracking System: Rander Crosshairs
--------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
One of the first signs of the nascent Steiner-Davion alliance was the free transfer of technicians and knowledge back and forth between the commonwealth and the Suns. Several notable designs were created during this time -- including the Hatchetman -- which retain their popularity in both halves of the former superpower. Among these designs is a relatively often overlooked small military vehicle known as the Ratte.
The Ratte started as a project to gather multiple Davion technicians and designers and send them to a conference in the Commonwealth in early 3025. While there, they discussed various design philosophies, and, as an exercise, set about coming up with several vehicles which would use the best of both the Commonwealth and Suns. Among the designs they came up with was the Ratte, a design which spent another year in research and development before the design was finalized.
Combining Steiner favored heavy firepower and armor with Davion favored speed and versatility, the Ratte is a good multi-purpose design; if a little expensive compared to other similar market vehicles.
==Capabilities:==
The Lyran engineers tabled the first chassis design, which was a 4 ton monster, capable of traversing almost any terrain. They then proceeded to load the chassis down with layers of steel plating. This steel plating armor, though light, is not as resilient as BattleMech class armor. While the Ratte is well protected from small arms, and light support weapons, true combat vehicles and BattleMechs can easily puncture the thin shell with a concentrated attack. Seeing no reason to quibble about the size of the chassis, or armor protection, the Federated engineers simply proposed that with the chassis and armor being acceptable, that the team move on to the engine and crew compartment.
Arguing hard against conventional wisdom that heavily armed and armored units do not travel fast, the Federated engineers finally persuaded the Lyrans to use a new General Motors combustion engine developed specifically for the Ratte. While large, the engine was capable of propelling the Ratte up to 130 kilometers an hour. Having seen the unarmed prototype in action at the off-road testing track, the Lyrans quickly agreed that the GM power plan was worth the weight, and set about giving the machine a long cruising range of 1000 kilometers.
During this time, the Federated engineers also set the passenger capacity to eight people, arguing that the machine could also be used as a small scale squad transport vehicle with the extra passenger room. Seeing nothing to complain about, the Lyrans simply suggested that with the interior and power plant decided upon, that it was time to discuss weaponry.
It was at this time that the discussion bogged down. The Federated engineers were in favor of using a new automatic grenade launcher design from Federated-Barret, arguing that it would be a good psychological as well as physical weapon against the enemy. The Lyrans meanwhile, favored a chassis laden with conventional machine guns.
It was at this time that a Defiance engineer happened to be on his way past the room, and stopped to view the chaos amusedly. He finally stated that he had an alternate suggestion. (Whether he was concerned about the future vehicle, or merely wanted to sell merchandise is anyone's guess.)
He suggested that they contact Defiance and order a specially made recoilless rifle. His reasoning is that the rifle gives the Federated engineers their psychological weapon, in terms of the hail of shrapnel an anti-personnel round can create, and gave the Lyrans a massive gun with which to ward off other armored vehicles, and perhaps even give scout 'Mechs pause.
After a few moments of stunned silence, the delegation agreed that this was a pretty good idea, and soon afterward, the prototype was armed with a Defiance Eisenjager rifle, the largest such weapon produced in the Inner Sphere.
The weapon performed beautifully in all tests, and was accepted as the gun of choice for the Ratte. However, as it could not provide suppressive fire, limited quantities of a machine gun armed Ratte would be built later. Finally, the Federated engineers argued successfully for a complicated new fire control system, arguing that if the gun can't hit anything, it's just dead weight.
During the final stages of the unit's construction and testing, the Eisenjager was moved to an armored turret-like mount, and additional cargo space was added to the vehicle. The first production model Rattes were soon moving off the production line at Tharkad by the end of 3027. Production commenced soon afterward at the Corean plant on New Avalon.
==Variants:==
Various minor variants of the Ratte exist, from cargo variants, to the popular machine gun armed variant. Most variants rarely alter the armor or engine however, as the Ratte's sizable resilience to destruction is among the most note-worthy features of it.
==Deployment==
The Ratte is deployed mainly with AFFS and LCAF forces throughout the Inner Sphere, but various Rattes have also been sold to mercenary units, and occasionally private paramilitary concerns, such as police SWAT units.
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Type/Model: Rat MMV
Mass: 4 tons
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 5 pts Standard 0 0.720
Engine: Internal Combustion 0 1.020
Cruise MP: 8
Flank MP: 12
Fuel: 0 0.102
Heat Sinks: 0 Single 0 0.000
Advanced Fire Control: 0 0.029
Crew/Passengers: 8 0 0.600
Turret Equipment: 0 0.029
Armor Factor: 40 pts BAR 3 0 0.760
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 1 8
Left / Right: 1 8
Turret: 1 8
Rear: 1 8
Weapons and Equipment Location Heat Ammo Items Mass
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Recoiless Rifle (BA) Turret 0 40 2 0.290
Cargo Space Body 0 1 0.450
-------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 0 3 4.000
Items & Tons Left: 2 0.000
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 18,687 C-Bills
Battle Value: 82
Cost per BV: 228 C-Bills
Availibility: X-E-D
_________________
Jarylan Blackwell
"What the...?! Where did you get THAT?!"
"Creative aquisition."
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Stinger
The Knights of Chaos
General
Joined: 30-Apr-2002 00:00
Posts: 1833
Location: United States
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| Posted: 29-Jun-2007 13:25 Post subject: |
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I like it. good price and excellent fluff.
_________________
Stinger
If it's "creepy" to use the Internet, military satellites, and robot aircraft to find a house full of gorgeous young models so I can drop in on them unexpected, then FINE, I'm "creepy". Howard Wolowitz. BBT.
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