Copyright 2008 by Brandon Cope
 
 

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M50A1 Ontos (1955-1970, TL7)

The Ontos (Greek for "Thing") started life in the early 1950's as a light-weight anti-tank vehicle for the US Army. However, they shortly decided that the vehicles they currently had were sufficient and passed on the vehicle. The US Marines, however, became interested, especially since the vehicle was light enough for easy air transport. Production started in 1955 and over 300 vehicles were produced. In 1963, the M50A1 was standardized, most coverted from the original M50's, by increasing the engine from 145 hp to 180 hp and replacing the transmission. Most M50's were used as infantry close support vehicles.

The main armament of the Ontos was six 106mm recoilless rifles, mounted externally three per side due to the backblast. Two of the guns could be removed and mounted on tripods for infantry use. Four of the guns mounted .50-cal spotting rifles, using ammo that was carefully matched to the ballistics of the 106mm rifles; the spotting rifle would be fired at a target until it hit, then one (or more) of the recoilles rifles would be fired at the target (all six recoilless rifles could be fired at once). The vehicle travelled with the gun loaded (and thus only 12 rounds were actually carried internally); in order to reload, a crewman had to completely exit the vehicle, exposing himself to enemy fire. Finishing off the armament was a .30-cal MG atop the vehicle, between the two trios of recoilless rifles. On some vehicle, the MG was replaced with a searchlight.

Due to the thin armor of the M50, crews often put spare tracks, sandbags (which also reduced the effects of richocheting bullets on nearby infantry) around the vehicle, or added racks above the track fenders and put jerry cans filled with water in them. Some crews removed the seats and put sandbags on the floor to reduce the effects of mines, then used stacked sandbags to sit on. There was a hatch on the sloped front for the driver, a hatch on the top for the gunner and double doors at the rear for the gunner and loader.

Allthough the beehive round fired by the 106mm recoiless rifle was impressive in it's ability to stop enemy infantry, the blackblast, exposed reloading and thin armor lead to the M50 being removed from service in 1970.

Subassemblies: body +3, limited rotation open mount +2, two tracks +2
P&P: 134-kW gasoline engine (short term access), 134-kW tracked drivetrain (short term access), 47 gal self-sealing standard fuel tank (fire modifier -1), 1,800-kWs lead acid battery
Occ: 3 NCS (driver, gunner,/loader and commander)
Cargo: 10 cf
 
Armor F R/L B T U
Body 5/38 4/25 4/25 4/25 4/13
Tracks 4/25 4/25 4/25 4/25 4/25

Weaponry
6x105mm M40A1C recoilless rifle [OM#1:F] (18 HEAT)
4x12.7mm .50-cal spotting rifle.[OM#1:F] (80 API)
7.62mm M1919A4 [OM#2] (1,000)

Equipment
Body: Medium range radio and reciever.

Statistics
Size: 13'x9'x7' Payload: 1,535 lbs Lwt: 19,027 lbs (9.5 tons)
Volume: 283 cf (Size Mod: +3) Maint.: 52 hours Price: $149,100

HT: 10
HP: 480 [body], 170 [each track], 185 [open mount]
 
gSpeed: 45 gAccel: 3 gDecel: 20 gMR: 0.25 gSR: 5 GP: very low (4/5)

Design Notes
Body is 139 cf, open mount 61 cf and tracks 83 cf, using cheap materials. Weight was increased 2.75 tons to reach historical weight.

In game terms. a successful hit with a spotting rifle gives a +2 to hit (on the next turn only) for the 106mm recoilless rifle fired. One source says all of the M40A1'a could be removed for ground use, but that the two upper.outermost were specifically designed for this.

Technically, the 106mm RRs were on open mounts on a limited rotation (80 degrees) turret, and the MG was on a cupola atop the turret. For simplicity, all three structures have been subsumbed into one. Historical speed for the M50 and M50A1 was 30 mph. Design speeds are 40 and 45 mph.
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New Weapons
106mm M40A1 recoilless rifle
Dam 4dx10(10) HEAT, Acc 12, SS 25, 1/2Dam 520, Max 3300, ROF 1/5

.50-cal spotting rifle
Dam 6d-1(2) API, Acc 12, SS 14, 1/2Dam 5-0, Max 3200, ROF 1