Post by thejman on Nov 9, 2017 23:06:34 GMT
The Hexapod high-speed Main Battle Tank of the mining District of Geodae.
After claiming independance and forming its own government, the need arose for a force to protect the area and its valuable resources from anyone who wanted to claim them as their own. They needed an armored vehicle that could traverse even the impassible terrain of the Geodae super-cavern. That would mean the development of a land-based armored vehicle that could travel up a 90 degree cliff face or even drive on an inverted surface. Engineers and scientists were stumped
This problem remained unsolved until a scientist who went by the name of "Bradley Huntsman" brilliantly developed a multi-role hexapod drive system that was nothing short of an answer to prayer. Using a space transport as a basis for his design, he over-hauled it into an entirely new vehicle prototype that could do all that was needed of it, and more. Unfortunately, Bradley would not live to see his creation show its potential, but the tank was given the name "Huntsman" in honor of it's late creator.
In testing, the Huntsman outperformed all other alternatives with its revolutionary design and its simplicity, making service and mass-production very easy. shortly after, there came the issue of communication. That problem was short lived as designs were uncovered from the late Dr. Huntsman for a Spread-spectrum telecommunications system that was like the last piece of the puzzle. The communications signal actually produces physical sound resonating from the hull of the tank. Some describe it as the machine singing in electronic tones. Upon interaction with other signals, the tone changes. No two signals are the same due to minute imperfections in the materials used to construct the communications systems.
Pilots of these tanks use them for all manner of purposes including, Clearing rubble, exploration, repair services in inaccessible areas, material transport, and combat.
The tank itself uses a hybrid of an Aether power generator and a standard electrical battery in unison to give its drive system nearly 90 tons of torque. The engine is silent
Armor: Military-grade rolled steel with external panels
Powerplant: Aether battery / electrical charge hybrid (Internal combustion engines are illegal in Geodae due to Monoxide poisoning threat)
Output: 3000 shaft Horse power. approx. 2000 lb. ft.
Sub-output: Fan Thrusters underneath each claw can produce 5 tons of lift to allow the tank to hover just above even ground.
Weight: 20 t
Top speeds:
Walking mode: 5 Mph on level terrain
Hover mode: 45 mph on level terrain
Armament:
X2 50.cal Rotating HMG
X1 High velocity Grenade launcher
X6 anti-armor/anti-personnel claw manipulators
standard countermeasures (CHAFF, IR Smoke, and decoy tracking beams)
(Some models are equipped with short-barrel 30mm chainguns in place of the Rotating HMG's)
Crew: single pilot, Autonomous autopilot for sentry purposes only