Copyright (c) 1996 by dhcole@nwu.edu (Douglas Cole) Air/Land Hybrid for TL8 Hoverchariot Douglas Cole dhcole@nwu.edu This is one of my favorite vehicle designs so far. It's designed to be a low cost high mobility asset for flexible rapid response. Being a hybrid, it can either be said to fill neither of two roles or both to a reasonable degree of success. The prevalence of TL8 high powered weaponry makes it possible to mount very powerful weapons on a lightweight chassis. In the TL8+ armies thread on the gurps-l mailing list, it has been pointed out that it is becoming more and more difficult to deploy and successfully engage main battle tanks to a conflict. They're too heavy, too slow, and a smart missle can hit it where the armor is weakest. The hoverchariot is designed to be self-deploying. It can fly itself to a conflict, and then land and perform as a hovertank. It packs a respectable punch, but only is outfitted with one weapon at the moment, an 8.5mm Gauss Railgun which hits for 6dx10(2). Not a MBT killer, but it might not have to be...it can leapfrog over most obstacles at high subsonic speeds. In other words, this vehicle is taking the "speed" route in the old "speed versus firepower" debate. Without giving too much away, it could be redesigned to pack a heavier weapon, and certainly should mount some missiles under hardpoints in the wing (not included in the base version, but certainly would be either modified in the field or installed after the first production run). A common deployment pattern would be a flight of hoverchariots being disp= atched from either an offshore base or even an aircraft carrier (just dri= ve 'em off the deck...), where they would fly in on thrusters at a conven= ient altitude (either high or low depending on mission profile). The typ= ical attack pattern would likely have the chariots deployed against tank = columns by encircling them and striking from the flanks. Some of the cha= riots can even remain aloft for air defense purposes, but the hoverchario= t is not a dedicated dogfighter. The advantages of this design are balan= ced by significant disadvantages, but a wise commander will deploy them t= o best effect. =20 For example, modular design could include radar/sensor modules plus AAMs = on the hardpoints configured for air defense. Or ECM modules with HARMs = for SAM/AAA suppression. ATGMs of some sort, including a laser designato= r pod, would be a standard loadout. Other possibilities are bolt-on lami= nate armor plates for slugfest engagements, which would really mess up th= e top speed and range, perhaps even eliminating the ability to get airbor= ne, but allow greater survivability. A TL8 MBT that I designed (93 mph,7= 5mph offroad, front DR 1900, 120mm LP cannon w/APFSDS 50rnds, basic steal= th and emission cloaking) costs upwards of $8M each. Raw equipment alone= says that you can have two to three squadrons of the basic hoverchariot = for the price of one MBT. This particular vehicle strikes me as the type= of thing the US Marines would like to have, or maybe the Air Cavalry. =20 So here is the Peregrine Mk1 Combat Hoverchariot, designed using the Gurp= s Vehicles 2nd ed playtest rules. Motive Subassemblies: GEV Skirt, Good Streamlining, Wings Propulsion Six 50kW Vectored Thrust Ducted Hoverfans Two 2,000lb thrust turbofan engines (TL8). 60gal/hr fuel cons. Armament 8.5mm Gauss Railgun. 5000 shots APDS ammo (6dx10(2)). Fully stabilized = in a cyberslave mount that covers the front 180 degrees. The weapon bear= s wherever the pilot looks. The power for the cannon is provided by a de= dicated energy bank good for 5000 shots. Actually, it would make sense i= f the ammo and power cell are one unit, for easy replacement. The power = pack/ammo drum is 1.1 cubic feet, 110 lbs, $7,800. Instruments and Electronics The Peregrine mounts a medium range radio and a PESA with 5 mile range = [scan 15]. =20 Navigation instruments are a GPS receiver and an IFF. Targeting is provided by a HUDWAC with pupuil scanner and a dedicated hardened targeting computer [+2]. In case of battle damage, the hoverchariot mounts a compact fire=20 suppression system. Crew=20 Electronic maneuver controls, one normal seat and crew station, environm= ental conrtrol, and crashweb. Power The vehicle is powerd by a compact standard gas turbine engine. Fuel fo= r the engine is held in three tanks, one 150 gallon self sealing tank in = the body, and two 55 gallon self sealing tanks in the wings. The hoverch= ariot is fueled with aviation gasoline. Empty space: The vehicle as 15 cu ft of empty space in the body, and 30 = more in the wings. Structure: Basic TL8 structure, good streamling, with a medium structure constructed= out of standard materials for body and wings. =20 The body and engine pods are armored with DR80 composite armor, while the= GEV skirt is protected by DR20 non-rigid armor. No special componenet a= rmor is provided, to keep cost and weight down. Performance and Statistics: Net Mass/Cost: 11,164.56 lbs (5.6 tons); $356,000 Hit Points: Body: 257 GEV Skirt: 143 Ground Performance Maximum Lift Height at 0mph: 1.07 feet Dedicated Lift Thrust: 5582.28 lbs Top Speed: 165.76 mph (lift fans only) Max Range as hovercraft: 540 miles Hover accel: 0.75 hMR: 2 hSR: 4 Air Performance Stall Speed with full hoverfans >2ft altitude: 131 mph with full hoverfans at <2ft altitude: 0 mph with hoverfans off (jets only): 147 mph Aerial Motive Thrust: hoverfans directed down or off: 4000 lbs hoverfans as forward thrust: 5200 lbs. Top Speed: no hoverfans: 512 mph with hoverfans: 585 mph Range at top speed: 1918 miles. Efficient flight range: 2220 miles.