Vehicles

Rhand was a planet with an advanced teleportation system.

As a result, there were few vehicles.

What vehicles existed were used for recreation, as large cargo carriers, and by the military.

These vehicles were of three basic types: Ground Vehicles, All Terrain Vehicles, and Grav Vehicles.

Performance characteristics for these Ground, All Terrain, and Grav vehicles are listed in the Vehicle Data Table (9A)¹⁾.

A description of the values follows.

Rules for a vehicle in combat are found in Section 7.10²⁾.

Size: Vehicle length, width, and height in feet.

Target Size ALM: The vehicle's Target Size Accuracy Level Modifier (ALM) for front and side profile.

Weight: The vehicle's Gross laden weight and Cargo capacity in tons.

Passenger Capacity: Maximum passenger seating capacity of the vehicle.

Max Speed: The Max Speed gives the vehicle's ON and OFF road maximum speed in game hexes per phase.

The speed in miles per hour is 2 times the Max Speed.

The Maximum Speed for Grav Vehicles are for operation in an atmosphere.

Range and WF: The Range is the distance in miles a Ground Vehicle can travel on one fuel load.

The WF gives the weight of a full fuel load³⁾.

For Grav Vehicles, the Range gives the Maximum Operating Time in hours per fuel load.

The WF gives the weight of Star tech solid fuel in one load⁴⁾.

The following describes the various systems and functions within the vehicles of Table 9B.

Disabling of each function would be determined separately based on the odds from Table 9D.

An Asterisk (*) following a function indicates loss of that function disables the entire system.

Driver (Ground Vehicle)

This system includes the driver and various instrumentation.

Functions include Non-essential Electronics, Steering, and Brakes.

Driver (Grav Vehicles)

This system includes the pilot and Non-essential Electronics, Remote Visual, Flight Control Electronics*, Ejection System, and Weapon Fire Control functions.

Passenger

Area assigned for passenger seating or open for cargo.

Passenger Void

Vacant passenger area representing leg room and heads pace.

Cargo fills this area when the passenger area is used for cargo transport.

Power Train (Ground Vehicle)

This system takes electrical power from the power supply and converts it to mechanical power at the wheels.

Functions include the Turbine*, Power Train*, and Control Electronics*.

Suspension

Functions include Shocks and Suspension, Brakes, Axles*, and Steering Linkage.

Wheels

Loss of a wheel due to 1/6 to 5/6 damage entry limits vehicle speed to 10 HPP.

A Total System Out damage entry immobilizes the vehicle.

Power Supply (Ground Vehicle)

This system includes a Mobile Power Receiver and power conversion system which picks up transmitted power from a Power Relay Station and converts it to electrical power.

Functions include the Mobile Power Receiver*, Power Converter*, Control Electronics*, and Emergency Power.

Emergency Power is a simple power cell which provides electrical power for the vehicle's non-drive functions in the case of a power failure (capacity = 12 hours).

Combustion Engine (All Terrain Vehicles)

This is a conventional internal combustion engine.

It burns alcohol and is air breathing.

Functions include the Engine*, Starter and Battery, and Thermal Control (* after 10 minutes).

Fuel Tank (All Terrain Vehicle)

Alcohol storage tank for All Terrain Vehicles.

If the damage entry from Table 9D is a Total System Out, the tank explodes and burns.

The vehicle will be engulfed in flames within 1-2 phases.

Grav Field Generator (Grav Vehicle)

This provides the propulsive power of a Grav Vehicle.

The system is reactionless, noiseless, and only functions within range of a large gravitational body such as a moon or planet.

Non-Essential Electronics (Grav Vehicle)

Functions include Communications, Navigation, Reentry and suborbital navigation, Space docking controls, Auto-pilot, Ground radar, Electronic counter measures, and Landing cycle terminal guidance.

Remote Visual Guidance Cameras (Grav Vehicle)

Externally mounted cameras and radar which relay images to the pilot who is safely behind armor panels.

If these sensors are destroyed, the pilot must blow off his armor panel to pilot the craft.

The PF of the remaining visor is 30 points.

Power Supply (Grav Vehicle)

Lase modulated fusion power plant which uses Startech solid fuel.

It supplies the electrical power to the Grav Field Generator.

Landing Gear (Grav Vehicle)

Functions include Deploy, Retract, and Basic support structure.

The vehicle cannot go suborbital without retracting its landing gear.

Turret (ATFV and Grav Vehicle)

Vehicular weapon turret which includes Weapon Traverse, Weapon Elevation, Ammunition Feed*, Fire Control*, and the Weapon* itself.

Weapon Racks (Grav APC)

Internal weapon racks for air-air and air-ground missiles.

Functions include Weapon Deployment*, Fire Control*, and the Missiles* themselves.

Rhand's Ground Vehicles are much like today's cars and trucks.

They have tires, suspensions, power trains, and all the trappings of a common car.

Where they differ is in their power plant.

These vehicles are turbine driven, much like 20th century railroad tractors.

They draw electrical power through a Mounted Power Receiver from the community's Power Relay Station.

They are designed only for operation upon paved surfaces within range of a Power Relay Station.

They primarily served the Bondsmen community, as Bondsmen were denied access to the teleporting system.

This was the most common⁵⁾ form of vehicular transportation on Rhand.

Scooters were generally used by Bondsmen, whose only access to the ORCA system was their Landcaste-monitored transport to and from work.

The scooters were rented at low cost, and allowed the Bondsmen to easily move around within their own communities.

Ground Cars were the most common⁶⁾ form of vehicular transportation on Rhand.

They are small efficient vehicles designed to transport Bondsmen within their communities.

Bondsmen did not have access to the ORCA teleporting system except for Landcaste monitored transport to and from work.

Within their communities they relied on Mass Transport Trucks or Ground Cars.

Only influential Bondsmen were issued personal Ground Cars.

Ownership was a distinct sign of status and prestige.

Ground Trucks were common in Bondsmen communities and provided shipping and mass transit services.

Bondsmen shipping and freight within their communities was restricted from ORCA transport and relied upon Ground Trucks.

Rhand's All Terrain Vehicles are very similar to 20th century jeeps and trucks.

They are powered by alcohol burning internal combustion engines.

Fuel stations for these vehicles are found at most Power Relay Station and was produced by a number of Subcon companies.

All Landcaste military vehicles are classified as All Terrain Vehicles.

On other Starguild worlds, Landcaste forces relied heavily on ground transport.

On Rhand, the Landcaste military relied almost exclusively on the ORCA.

As a result, the military had little use for their ATVs.

These vehicles came as standard equipment, however, and a full complement was sent to Rhand.

On Rhand, many were used as field trailers often parked for years without service or maintenance.

Almost identical to modern off-road motorcycles.

They were popular among both the Landcaste and Starcaste for recreational use, but were unavailable for Bondsmen.

Small, tough, off road jeep designed for recreation and service use on Rhand's backroads and wilderness.

They are not common in communities, being kept on site at remote work and recreation sites.

The All-Terrain Transport (ATT) is the standard Landcaste military vehicle.

Designed for extended use in the field it is tough and dependable.

Few of these vehicles were kept in good working order on Rhand.

Most were parked at remote sites and used as trailers by field personnel.

The ATFV is an essential component of the Landcaste military on many Starguild worlds.

On Rhand it was unnecessary.

Rhand's populace was well behaved and there was little need for fighting vehicles.

These vehicles were none the less provided, and for the most part sat neglected in Landcaste military compounds.

PF = 180

Grav, or anti-gravity, Vehicles were the exclusive property of Starcaste military forces.

They cannot draw power from a Power Relay Station and have their own power generator.

The Startech solid fuel used by these generators was available in limited quantities only at Startech launch facilities.

The majority of Rhand's Grav Vehicles were Grav APC and Grav Carriers.

Grav Gunships and heavy support vehicles were available, but attached at Company or Battalion¹⁰⁾ level.

Today, the vast majority of Grav Vehicles are either no longer functioning or are being saved for emergency use.

Fuel for these vehicles is no longer available.

They are capable of attaining low orbit and atmospheric reentry and serve as the interface between Starmarine and Starfleet forces.

If reinforcements ever arrive, these vehicles will be necessary for supply and evacuation.

Owners of these vehicles will be reluctant to needlessly use them.

Data for Grav Gunships has not been included in this book.

Incorporation of gunships into the combat system requires special rules and will be the subject of our Grav Gunship Combat Supplement¹¹⁾.

These are large lightly armored carriers used for transporting infantry squads and field support units.

They are the work horse of the Starforce military providing essential behind the lines transport and support.

PF = 30

Additional notes posted by Mr. Beak to the Phoenix Command mailing list¹²⁾:

Grav carrier (most common grav vehicle):
Base Dimensions: H 10' W 10' L 30' Weight of 18.2 metric tons
  Capacity: 30 passengers plus 10 crew
  Unarmored PF: 30  (front, sides, top, bottom) 25 (rear)
  Cargo capacity: 8.2 metric tons
  Speed in atmosphere is 563 feet per second

This is the most common form of Starforce Grav Vehicle.

It is a multipurpose vehicle with a number of models adapted to general troop transport, command and control, medical evac, power armor transport, or electronic warfare.

A Grav APC is armored and has a weapon turret but were far to valuable to engage ground targets.

They were not used for combat ground support and transported troops in and out of secured landing zones.

PF = 180

Additional notes posted by Mr. Beak to the Phoenix Command mailing list¹³⁾:

Grav APC:
Base Dimensions: H 6' W 10' L 30' Weight of 14.9 metric tons
  Capacity: 12 passengers plus 2 crew
  Aerodynamics can be added for atmospheric travel
  Low density armor plate provides a PF of 180
  Speed in atmosphere without aerodynamics 884 feet per second
  Speed in atmosphere with aerodynamics 1150 feet per second

The Seven Worlds and Dragoncrests no not use grav gunships.

Medium and heavy grav gunships have not been authorized due to restrictions in the Starguild Articles of War (SAW).

The SAW were modified after the First Corporate Wars to exclude the use of certain weapons.

The casualty rates for ground personnel was considered extreme and inhumane, and as a result only light gunships have been authorized for use under certain circumstances, with only low damage class lase weapons allowed to be mounted.

Base Dimensions: H 4' W 12.7' L 20' Weight of 7.9metric tons
  Capacity: 2 crew
  Aerodynamics are standard
  Low density armor plate provides a PF of 180 (front, sides, top, bottom)
33 (rear)
  Speed in atmosphere: 1440 feet per second
  1 x light weapon bay

Medium gunships have not been authorized for production due to restrictions in Starguild Articles of War.

Base Dimensions: H 4' W 14.2' L 21.7' Weight of 10.5 metric tons
  Capacity: 2 crew
  Aerodynamics are standard
  Low density armor plate provides a PF of 180 (front, sides, top, bottom)
33 (rear)
  Speed in atmosphere: 1300 feet per second
  4 x light weapon bay, OR 2 x medium, OR 1 heavy

Heavy gunships have not been authorized for production due to restrictions in Starguild Articles of War.

Base Dimensions: H 4' W 16' L 22.8' Weight of 13 metric tons
  Capacity: 2 crew
  Aerodynamics are standard
  Low density armor plate provides a PF of 180 (front, sides, top, bottom)
33 (rear)
  Speed in atmosphere: 1190 feet per second
  8 x light weapon bays, OR 4 medium, OR 2 heavy

The most common armament is lase cannon.

Missiles and area saturation weapons can be mounted although again, are not authorized per Starguild Articles of War.

  Rate of fire: 72/.5 sec burst
  AOE: 216 hexes (roughly 15/15 PC hexes, 1 grenade per 3 hexes)
  Light bay ammo cap: 16 bursts
  Medium bay ammo capacity: 134 bursts
  Heavy bay ammo capacity: 292 bursts

Rate of fire: 72
Pen: 317

Rate of fire: 288
Pen: 310

2 x medium lase

Living Steel (10300) first edition section 3.3 Vehicles, 7.10 Vehicles In Combat, table 9A Vehicle Data Table

Living Steel (10300) second edition table 5A

Mr. Beak's post to the Phoenix Command mailing list on groups.io, April 15, 2018.