Copyright 2000 by Brandon Cope
 

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Bobcat light tanks. TL8

This is the flagship vehicle of the Cat series. Like other Cats, it is amphibious and air-transportable, capable of high off-road speed and with a fair amount of defensive systems. First appearing in 2028, it distinguished itself in the Corporate Wars of the mid 2030's, especially in the latter stages when action moved to the Amazon; unlike Main Battle Tanks such as the Lancer, the Bobcat with its smaller size, lower ground pressure and amphibious ability, was rarely bogged down and ended up being the premiere combat vehicle of the wars.

Today, the Bobcat is used by many nations, especially in regions where larger, heavier tanks are not suitable. Also, given the cheapness and effectiveness of modern HEAT rounds and other anti-tank measures, many feel that it is simply inefficient to try to armor a tank against them, instead preferring armor sufficient against autocannons and trying to hide from other weapons. Where economically possible, liquid propellant cannons, not available in 2028, are being refitted to Bobcats. These are slightly more expensive, but double the ammo capacity with no extra space or weight requirements, as well as allowing for more punch. Also, since this reduces ammo weight by half, many buyers use the free 800-900 lbs to thicken the laminate armor (this is not the same as adding the applique armor, listed below), while a very small minority choose to double the ammo capacity.

In 2044, special ablative applique armor became available, each layer providing PD/DR 4/100 (plus sloping modifiers) and designed to be jettisioned by triggering the explosive bolts that hold it in place. Normally, if used, the Bobcat carries one layer on all hull and turret locations except the underside and rear. Each hull facing block is 300 lbs and $600 and each turret one is 120 lbs and $240; a normal upgrade costs $2,520 and weighs 1,260 lbs, which barely leaves the Bobcat amphibious, but highly resistant to 20/30mm APDS cannon rounds. Some users have added as many as five applique armor panels to the front of the tank. However, while the extra armor is attached, all benefits of stealth, IR cloaking and chameleon are lost. [Note that this is a variation of the exo-armor husk rules on p.ME104].

The stats below represent the 'standard' Bobcat 90, but most users customize the tank to some degree. Since it has a high HT, it isn't uncommon for some buyers to buy the tank as Cheap.

Subassemblies: Body +3, full rotation Turret +2, two Tracks +2, Pod +1
Powertrain: 350-kW ceramic engine with 340-kW tracked transmission and 100-gallons diesel in two 50-gallon self-sealing fuel tanks (fire 6); 4,000-kWs batteries, 10.5 gph
Occupancy: 3 CS Body.  Cargo: 30 cf body.

Armor
Body: F 6/260, RL 5/195, BT 4/130, U 4/100
Turret: F 6/260, RF 5/195, BT 4/130
Tracks: 4/50 

Weaponry
90mm smoothbore tank gun [Turret:F] (54)
10mmC minigun [Turret:F] (1,000) .
M136 pod [Pod]

Equipment
Body: 2x Medium range scrambled radios, 4xLLTV (1x10 mile F, 3x5 mile L/R/B), military GPS, HUDWAC, two hardened small computers, three terminals, 2xIFF, advanced laser/radar detector, 8 dischargers w/8 blackout gas loads, full fire supression, duplicate controls (commander), 3-man NBC kit
Turret: Searchlight (1 mile), 2x short range lasercomms, laser rangefinder (5 miles), thermograph (10 miles, Scan 17), full stabilization, antiblast magazine

Statistics
Size: 15'x7'x8' Payload : 0.7 tons Lwt: 11.36 tons
Volume: 742 cf (+4)
 Maint.:  106 hours Price: $1.2 million

HT: 12
HP: 975 [body], 385 [turret], 345 [each track]
 
 
gSpeed: 71
 aAccel: 4
 aDecel: 20 aMR: 0.75 aSR: 7
Very Low Ground Pressure. 4/5 Off-Road Speed.

wSpeed: 6
 aAccel: 0.6
 aDecel: 10 aMR: 0.5 aSR: 5
Floatation rating 12.5 tons.

<>Design Notes
Heavy frame for 400 cf body, 100 cf turret and 240 cf tracks. Structural Options include total compartmentalization (hull), sealed, improved suspension, basic IR cloaking, sound baffling, basic chameleon  Armor is advanced laminate on body and turret, advanced metal on tracks.
<>
Variants
The Bobcat 120 uses a lower-velocity, larger bore 120mm weapon with 56 rounds. While this gives it some advantages (better HE damage vs infantry, better HEAT penetration vs armor), it has much shorter effective range than the 90mm tank gun. The Bobcat 120 is often used as a tank destroyer or infantry support vehicle (though the Cougar FSV with a 105mm howitzer and 40mm AGL is slightly better suited for this role). The gun has two 28 round magazines; both are usually loaded with HEAT rounds, but some users will load HEDP or Beehive in the second, for anti-personnel use. Loaded weight is 11.49 tons and cost is $1.1 million.

A somewhat uncommon version, the Bobcat 114 uses four of the same launchers used on the Lion light MRL vehicle, with 60 missiles. To keep cost down, most users normally fire unguided rockets (since it engages targets at LOS, this isn't a problem). Each launcher has its own 15 round magazine. Three are usually dedicated to anti-tank munitions, while the fourth is loaded with some type of anti-personnel round. The Bobcat 114 isn't very common, due to the much higher ammunition cost compared to the more conventional versions. Weight is 11,29 tons and cost is $1.15 million.

The second most common Bobcat variant, this replaces the main gun with a 75mm cannon with a fast autoloader and 112 rounds of ammo. While it loses the one-shot punch of the other versions, it can fire much faster, a useful advantage against certain opponents. Ammo is in two 56 round magazines. Weight is 11.5 tons and cost is $1.2 million.

New Weapons
90mm smoothbore tank gun: one medium barrel, slow autoloader, smoothbore
Dam 6dx11, Malf Crit, Type Cr, SS 30, Acc 14, 1/2 Dam 1800 yds, Max 6800 yds, ROF 1/5, $40,500, 1800 lbs
APFSDS ammo is $744, 31 lbs, 7dx19(2), 1/2Dam 2700 yds, Max 10200 yds, +1 Acc
HEDP ammo is $279, 31 lbs, 6dx15(5), HE damage 6dx23 [10d]
Beehive ammo is $372, 31 lbs, 2d Imp
A 90mm LP gun adds $81,000 to cost and halves ammo weight.

120mm smoothbore cannon: one medium barrel, slow autoloader, smoothbore, low powered
Dam 5dx9, Malf Crit, Type Cr, SS 30, Acc 14, 1/2 Dam 1000 yds, Max 4900 yds, ROF 1/6, $36,000, 1600 lbs
HEAT ammo is $330, 36.7 lbs, 6dx20(10)
Beehive ammo is $440, 36.7 lbs, 1d Imp
A 120mm LP gun adds $72,000 to cost and halves ammo weight.

75mm smoothbore tank gun: one medium barrel, fast autoloader, smoothbore
Dam 5dx11, Malf Crit, Type Cr, SS 30, Acc 14, 1/2 Dam 1600 yds, Max 6500 yds, ROF 1/2, $38,000, 1700 lbs
APFSDS ammo is $432, 18 lbs, 6dx19(2), 1/2Dam 2400 yds, Max 9750 yds, +1 Acc
HEDP ammo is $162, 18 lbs, 5dx15(5), HE damage 6dx13 [6d]
Beehive is $216, 18 lbs, 2d Imp
A 75mm LP gun adds $ 76,000 to cost and halves ammo weight.

10mmC minigun: six long barrels, elextric gatling, caseless
Dam 9d, Malf Ver., Type Cr, SS 20, Acc 13, 1/2 Dam 900, Max 4500, ROF 60, 0.38 kW
Ammo is 0.063 lbs and $0.125 each.

4.5" rocket: 114.3mm normal warhead, 6dx93[10d] HE or 6dx30(10) HEAT or 98 yrd radius CHEM, 1/2 Dam 2000, Max 4400, Acc 13, SS 20, unguided; rockets are $900 (HEAT) and 40 lbs

4.5" missile: 114.3mm normal warhead, 6dx93[10d] HE or 6dx30(10) HEAT or 98 yrd radius CHEM, 1/2 Dam 2000, Max 4400, Acc n/a, SS 20, PRH homing (skill 14); missiles are $6000 (HEAT) and 40 lbs

Stinger 3.0: 70mm SAM, 6dx21 HEPF, Max 4750 yds, IIR homing, skill 15, SS 20, Speed 700 yds/sec; a complete missile and semi-disposable launcher is $5530 and 30 lbs

Raptor Six-Pack: 6x102mm artillery rockets, 6dx88 HEC or 6dx27(5) HEDP, 1/2 Dam 1500 yds, Max 2800 yds, Acc 13, SS 20, Speed 900, unguided; rockets are $500 (HEC) or $585 (HEDP) and 25 lbs each.