Originally posted on rec.games.mecha February 14, 1998.
Overview: --------- The Taurian Defense Forces have been without a standard light tank for ages. Although a variety of specialized vehicles like the J. Edgar hovercraft and Hunter light tank have been produced for centuries, each has their drawbacks and needs the support of other vehicle types to effectively perform its mission. The LT-1 Light Tank, produced on New Vandenburg by Vandenburg Mechanized Industries, was commissioned to fill that need. The LT-1 Light Tank is designed to be as "standard" as possible. The most high-tech component it carries is its 200-rated fusion engine; this was included from the beginning in a conscious effort to raise the technological level of the TDF. While still not as high-tech as its Inner Sphere counterparts, the mass production of a fusion-engined vehicle does help the TDF in this regard. The other components are ones that have been produced in the TC for centuries and have proven their worth in other designs. Capabilities: ------------- The LT-1's main feature is its 200-rated fusion engine, which gives it good speed for its class and the ability to carry a larger complement of weapons. The fusion engine (and subsequent free heat sinks) also allows the LT-1 to carry a PPC as its main cannon. This was a large point in its favor; its competitors in the design process mounted a variety of autocannons as their primary weapons, which limited the amount of secondary armament they could carry. The LT-1's secondary weapons load consists of a pair of SRM-2 launchers and a single machine gun. These weapons should compensate for the PPC's inaccuracy at close ranges and offer the LT-1 a potent anti-infantry capability. Using only Level 1 weapons, the LT-1 is extremely inexpensive, with a total price tag of 1,033,666 C-bills (less than the cost of a standard 20-ton mech.) This feature ensures that LT-1s will quickly fill out the ranks of Taurian militia and garrison units. LT-1 Light Tank Tech base: IS level 1 Tonnage: 40 Engine: 200 fusion 12.75 Cruise: 5 Flank: 8 Type: tracked IS: 4 CC: 2 HS: 10 0 Turret: 1 Armor: 144 (standard) 9 Front: 40-4 L/RS: 26-4 Rear: 20-4 Turret: 32-4 Weapons: PPC T 7 2 SRM-2 T 2 SRM Ammo 50 B 1 MG T 0.5 MG Ammo 100 B 0.5 Cost: 1,033,666 Designed using The Vehicle Factory 2.0 (with cost calculated manually)