Rusty
Purveyor of Fine Weaponry
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a light tank for sale to militaries the galaxy over
- Image Source
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Oxidation Industries
- Affiliation: Oxidation Industries
- Market Status: Open Market
- Model: LT Mk1 "Law"
- Modularity: No
- Production: Minor
- Material: Durasteel, alusteel, plastoid, ceramics, depleted baradium, tank components
- Classification: Light Tank
- Role: Reconnaissance, Infantry Support
- Size: Small
- Weight: Light
- Armaments: Low
- 50mm High Velocity main gun- Avergae
- GRTD coaxial machinegun- Low
- AA-3 Tribarrel (cupola mounted)- Low
- Defenses: Low
- Reactive Armor- Average
- AA-3 Tribarrel (cupola mounted)- Low
- Maneuverability Rating: High
- Speed Rating: High
- Propulsion: Tracks
- Minimum Crew: 1 (driver)
- Optimal Crew: 4 (Driver, Commander, Gunner, Loader)
- Passenger Capacity: N/A
- Cargo Capacity: Low
- Lightweight
- Maneuverable
- Reliable
- Small- The LT Mk1 is has an extremely small profile for a tank, making it both easy to conceal when pulling recon duty and a hard target to hit when spotted.
- Agile- In addition to its small size, its excellent power to weight ratio gives it exceptional maneuverability, speed, and acceleration. It might not be much for a standup fight, but it's pretty great for running away from one.
- Reasonable Firepower- The LT Mk1 isn't anyone's idea of a powerhouse, but it has enough of a punch to bloody a potential opponent's nose in order to run away. The 50mm High Velocity cannon has decent armor piercing characteristics against light to medium armor, the GRTD is devastating against dismounted infantry, and the AA-3 provides some protection against incoming indirect fire.
- Reasonable Protection- Much like the armament, the LT Mk1 doesn't provide a whole lot in the way of armor, but what it does have is decent crew protection for a vehicle of its size and weight. Most of the protection is centered around the crew compartment, meaning that even if the vehicle is hit and disabled, there's a decent chance that the crew will be able to escape to fight another day.
- Reliable- The multifuel engine is both reliable and easy to maintain, and it can run across a variety of fuels. Pretty much any liquid with the right viscosity and the hydrocarbon content can be burned.
- Puny- The LT Mk1's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. In a standup fight with just about any dedicated main battle tank, it's guaranteed to get punched out in short order.
- Myopic- Despite the variety of advanced sensor suites available, the LT Mk1 relies primarily on the eyeballs of the crew. Partly to save weight and partly to keep the electromagnetic signature to a minimum, OxI decided to forego more advanced sensors. This means that the crew will have to get fairly close to see what they're supposed to be observing.
- Primitive- Everything about the LT-1 is basically old tech. This makes it cost efficient to produce and reliable in austere conditions, but it lacks many of the comforts and conveniences of modern vehicles, plus some things considered vital pieces of kit for survival. The ride is bumpy, there's nothing in the way of passive or active sensors aside from the eyeballs of the crew, and no shields to speak of. There is, however, a coffeemaker.
The LT Mk1 is the epitome of armored simplicity. It's designed to accomplish one specific job: to put eyes on the bad guys on a budget. To accomplish this goals, it has just enough armor and just enough firepower to give the crew a chance of making it back to friendly lines intact.
The armor is a fairly standard sandwich of durasteel and depleted baradium, with a plastoid anti-spall layer on the backside, all centered around the crew compartment. It's not enough to protect from a direct, armor piercing hit, but it should do for glancing blows, and with a vehicle as light and agile as the LT Mk1, solid hits are likely to prove difficult. In the event of missiles, there are reactive armor tiles on the top of the hull, designed to defeat incoming shaped charges by exploding and detonating the incoming warhead before it reaches standoff distance. However, this protection is limited, as each shot has the potential to damage the tank it's trying to protect, and each one also temporarily blinds, deafens, and stuns the crew within.
The 50mm High Velocity gun is punchy for its caliber, but it's no substitute for a proper main gun. Unarmored trucks and lightly armored APCs are in danger. Other tanks are not, barring an extremely lucky hit. Similarly, the coaxial and cupola guns were chosen to provide temporary protection, but not for standup fights. The armament scheme is designed to work with the tank's speed and mobility to give it the chance to fight through and past threats, not to stand up and take them on properly. Crews who are too brave for their own good will almost certainly end up dead.
In short, the LT Mk1 is a specialist's vehicle. To get the most out of it, you need a well trained and experienced crew, with an iron will and nerves of steel. Or, you know, just buy a bunch of them, load them up with conscripts, and throw them in the general direction of the bad guys. Whatever floats your boat.
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