Well Mal-3 gave his OK over on SB so here's my (I'm jwolfe on SB) next writeup. Figured I'd toss it here as well.
Note that unlike the Zaku, this machine isn't supposed in production yet. If any authors like it enough to use, it'll probably be on the list that XCOM and other forces are looking at to upgrade their TO&E. Unless we are looking at years down the road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Type/Model: Ichaival MA-1
Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Fenspace
Chassis Config: Tracked
Crew: 3 (pilot, gunner, commander)
Production Year: Pending
Power Plant: Tellus Fusion Engine v1.2
Maximum Speed: 70 km/h
Armor: Tellus Standard Armor v1.05
Standard Armament configuration:
1 GH//BAE 200 mm ‘Hellbore’ coil assisted howitzer cannon
3 Starshot Laser CIWS
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown
History:
This heavy self-propelled howitzer was one of the offered designs in reply to the military’s request for a large caliber high speed artillery platform capable of damaging and destroying heavy and assault battlemechs at extreme (by IS standards) range. Almost 30 tons heavier than the well known M109A7 it is faster, better armed and with the various methods of feeding data for the guided shells, possesses very high accuracy.
While resembling the tank form of the fictional Hildolfr, the Ichaival was never designed to have any transformational abilities. The only ‘limbs’ the vehicle has are the armature locks that can serve to brace it when firing. The gun can be fired without bracing or even on the move but accuracy will suffer.
The 200 mm autoloading howitzer that is the core of the vehicle was a joint venture between the Gearheads and BAE Systems during the process of determining A: how to mass produce BTech standard armor and B: how best to break it. The choice to focus on a shell-based artillery system to counter mechs instead of missiles was based around the greater ease of manufacturing the ammunition in factories like those on board the Megaroad or similar vessels. In trials the gun’s effective range tops out at 20 kilometers based on local conditions.
The shells used are a derivative of the M982 Excalibur guided rounds. Given the fact that the howitzer would likely befighting without the benefit of GPS guidance on other planets, alternative targeting methods were devised. As a result Ichaivals can get targeting information through allied vehicles or troops acting as spotters or preplanted beacons.
If lacking allied forces in the area for spotting duty, the Ichaivals have the option of launching one or more of their three ‘Panoptes’ reconnaissance-stealth UAVs that can scout large areas of territory along with giving target information and related data before having to return, dock with the vehicle and recharge. As an additional feature Ichaivals can easily share targeting data with each other and allied forces meaning that a group can hit the same target in quick succession often striking the same region of armor.
While the size of the shells used allows for a variety of payloads depending on the mission, the primary one used is the co-developed 'Bolter' armor piercing high explosive shell. Designed to penetrate as far into the armor belt as possible before detonating, the shell can potentially wreak havoc on the internal systems of lighter armored mechs.
While there are CIWS lasers placed on the front and sides of the machine for infantry and anti-missile duty, the light armor and unwieldy main gun preclude this vehicle from ever being any sort of close range combatant without extensive modifications. Another aspect is that the CIWS lasers, a fair percentage of the internal systems and reactor parts are identical to those used in the Zaku mech resulting in greater ease of repair and replacement due to the ubiquity of said parts in Tellus mech-based forces.
Note that unlike the Zaku, this machine isn't supposed in production yet. If any authors like it enough to use, it'll probably be on the list that XCOM and other forces are looking at to upgrade their TO&E. Unless we are looking at years down the road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Type/Model: Ichaival MA-1
Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Fenspace
Chassis Config: Tracked
Crew: 3 (pilot, gunner, commander)
Production Year: Pending
Power Plant: Tellus Fusion Engine v1.2
Maximum Speed: 70 km/h
Armor: Tellus Standard Armor v1.05
Standard Armament configuration:
1 GH//BAE 200 mm ‘Hellbore’ coil assisted howitzer cannon
3 Starshot Laser CIWS
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory: Unknown
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting and Tracking System: Unknown
History:
This heavy self-propelled howitzer was one of the offered designs in reply to the military’s request for a large caliber high speed artillery platform capable of damaging and destroying heavy and assault battlemechs at extreme (by IS standards) range. Almost 30 tons heavier than the well known M109A7 it is faster, better armed and with the various methods of feeding data for the guided shells, possesses very high accuracy.
While resembling the tank form of the fictional Hildolfr, the Ichaival was never designed to have any transformational abilities. The only ‘limbs’ the vehicle has are the armature locks that can serve to brace it when firing. The gun can be fired without bracing or even on the move but accuracy will suffer.
The 200 mm autoloading howitzer that is the core of the vehicle was a joint venture between the Gearheads and BAE Systems during the process of determining A: how to mass produce BTech standard armor and B: how best to break it. The choice to focus on a shell-based artillery system to counter mechs instead of missiles was based around the greater ease of manufacturing the ammunition in factories like those on board the Megaroad or similar vessels. In trials the gun’s effective range tops out at 20 kilometers based on local conditions.
The shells used are a derivative of the M982 Excalibur guided rounds. Given the fact that the howitzer would likely befighting without the benefit of GPS guidance on other planets, alternative targeting methods were devised. As a result Ichaivals can get targeting information through allied vehicles or troops acting as spotters or preplanted beacons.
If lacking allied forces in the area for spotting duty, the Ichaivals have the option of launching one or more of their three ‘Panoptes’ reconnaissance-stealth UAVs that can scout large areas of territory along with giving target information and related data before having to return, dock with the vehicle and recharge. As an additional feature Ichaivals can easily share targeting data with each other and allied forces meaning that a group can hit the same target in quick succession often striking the same region of armor.
While the size of the shells used allows for a variety of payloads depending on the mission, the primary one used is the co-developed 'Bolter' armor piercing high explosive shell. Designed to penetrate as far into the armor belt as possible before detonating, the shell can potentially wreak havoc on the internal systems of lighter armored mechs.
While there are CIWS lasers placed on the front and sides of the machine for infantry and anti-missile duty, the light armor and unwieldy main gun preclude this vehicle from ever being any sort of close range combatant without extensive modifications. Another aspect is that the CIWS lasers, a fair percentage of the internal systems and reactor parts are identical to those used in the Zaku mech resulting in greater ease of repair and replacement due to the ubiquity of said parts in Tellus mech-based forces.