TL8 Golpher Weapons Carrier
Using the same philosophy as the WWII Universal (earlier, Bren Gun) carrier, the Golpher is a small tracked vehicle capable of fulfilling a variety of roles. Each vehicle has 45 cf of open cargo space which, near the end of production, is dedicated to a particular role selected by the buyer (the most common are listed below). If required, most repair shops can change the loadouts in a few hours. Some buyers leave the cargo space open, using the Golpher as a utility vehicle or ammo carrier.
The Golpher is not a serious military vehicle. It is favored by megacorps as a cheap AFV or scout, sometimes used by mercenaries or rebels, but is rarely used by even third world militaries, unless local conditions (such as poor terrain) renders larger combat vehicles unusable. However, it is cheap, and better protected than a jeep or truck, and with much better off-road mobility, so it is sometimes pressed into military use (compare to TL7 jeeps armed with 106mm recoilless rifles or TOW missiles).
There are currently plans to switch to an enclosed cargo deck and mount the weaponry in a turret or supertructure built over the cargo area.
Subassemblies: two tracks
Propulsion: 50 kW tracked drivetrain
Weaponry: provision for 150 lbs/3 cf of weapon and ammo (usually
a 10mmC minigun with 2000 rounds, not included in cost)
Instruments and electronics: two medium range scrambled radio,
light amplification (4x), military GPS, two small computers, two terminals
Miscellaneous: ST 50 winch, 4 Dischargers (4 Blackout Gas)
Controls: Computer
Occupancy: Short
Passengers: None
Crew: Driver, Commander/Gunner in 2 cramped seats
Envirnmental Systems: NBC kit for 2 men
Power: 50 kW ceramic, 1.65 gph
Fuel: self-sealing 20 gallon tank, 20 gallons diesel fuel
Access, Cargo and Empty Space: Body - 2.34 cf empty, 10 cf +
45 cf cargo and 7.8 cf access space
Volumes: Body 130 cf, Tracks 78 cf; Surface Area: Body 154 sf,
tracks 110 sf; Total Area 264 sf
Structure: medium frame, cheap
Hit Points: Body 231, Track (each) 82
Structural Options: Sealed
Armor (body): std metal, PD 4 DR 40 all locations
Statistics: Loaded Weight 5494 lbs (2.75 tons), Volume 208 cf,
Size Modifier +3, Price $34,491, HT 12
Ground Performance: Speed 51 mph, gAccel 3 mph/s, gDecel 20 mph/s,
gMR 0.5, gSR 6, Very Low ground pressure, 4/5 off-road speed
Water Performace: Can float, Hydrodynamic Drag 311, Aquatic Motive
Thrust 100, Top Speed 4 mph, wAccel 0.3, wDecel 10, wMR 0.75, wSR 4, Draft
1.15'
Infantry Carrier
In this role, the Golpher carries a fire team (4 men) in cramped, exposed seats. A pintle-mounted weapon (in this case a 40mm AGL, but other weapons can be used) is provided. The infantry are not provied with any NBC protection.
Subassemblies: add 360 degree traverse open mount
Weaponry (additional): 40mm AGL, 200x40mm HE grenades
Passengers: four in cramped, exposed seats
Access, Cargo and Empty Space: 1.6 cf of 45 cf free
Armor (gun shield): expensive metal, PD 4 DR 40
Statistics: Loaded Weight 6663 lbs (3.33 tons), Volume 208 cf,
Size Modifier +3, Price $38,192, HT 11
Ground Performance: Speed 46 mph, gAccel 3 mph/s, gDecel 20 mph/s,
gMR 0.5, gSR 6, Very Low ground pressure, 4/5 off-road speed
Dual Air-Defense
Nominally, this variant has a one-man crew with two infantry to provide additional support, serving as loaders or protection from enemy infantry. Some buyers use these vehicles as infantry support weapons, replacing the expensive SAMs with cheap rockets (the launcher can handle either). Note that not even ranging radar is provided.
Subassemblies: add 180 degree traverse open mount
Weaponry (additional): 30mmC autocannon, 2x70mm launchers, 600x30mmC
SAPHE rounds, 8x70mm IIRH missiles or unguided rockets
Passengers: three in cramped, exposed seats
Access, Cargo and Empty Space: 1 cf of 45 cf free
Statistics: Loaded Weight 7153 lbs (3.58 tons), Volume 208 cf,
Size Modifier +3, Price $59,991, HT 11
Ground Performance: Speed 45 mph, gAccel 3 mph/s, gDecel 20 mph/s,
gMR 0.5, gSR 6, Very Low ground pressure, 4/5 off-road speed
Light Self-Propelled Howitzer
This variant provides very light artillery support against enemy troops or squatters. It has a crew of two, gunner and loader. Actual ammo types carries vary widly, depending on the situation.
Subassemblies: add 180 degree traverse open mount
Weaponry (additional): 75mm howitzer, 35x75mm HE shells, 10x75mm
HEAT shells, 6x75mm Beehive shells
Passengers: two in cramped, exposed seats
Access, Cargo and Empty Space: 3.4 cf of 45 cf free
Armor (gun shield): expensive metal, PD 4 DR 40
Statistics: Loaded Weight 7390 lbs (3.7 tons), Volume 208 cf,
Size Modifier +3, Price $55,125, HT 11
Ground Performance: Speed 44 mph, gAccel 3 mph/s, gDecel 20 mph/s,
gMR 0.5, gSR 6, Very Low ground pressure, 4/5 off-road speed
Mortar Carrier
This variant provides useful mortar support to friendly troops. One crewman serves as a forward observer. As with the 75mm howitzer variant, the types of ammo carried can vary greatly.
Subassemblies: add 360 degree traverse open mount
Weaponry (additional): 81mm mortar, 40x81mm HE shells, 15x81mm
smoke shells, 9x81mm Starshells
Passengers: three in cramped, exposed seats
Access, Cargo and Empty Space: 0.9 cf of 45 cf free
Armor (gun shield): expensive metal, PD 4 DR 40
Statistics: Loaded Weight 7501 lbs (3.75 tons), Volume 208 cf,
Size Modifier +3, Price $40,091, HT 11
Ground Performance: Speed 44 mph, gAccel 3 mph/s, gDecel 20 mph/s,
gMR 0.5, gSR 6, Very Low ground pressure, 4/5 off-road speed
Recoilless Rifle Carrier
This provides a marginal anti-tank capability, especially against older MBTs and light AFVs. It is also useful as a support weapon, doing more damage than a 75mm HE round, but it has a much shorter range. This is not a common variant.
Subassemblies: add 180 degree traverse open mount
Weaponry (additional): 120mm recoilless rifle, 20x120mm HEAT
shells, 4x120mm Beehive shells
Passengers: two in cramped, exposed seats
Access, Cargo and Empty Space: 4.7 cf of 45 cf free
Armor (gun shield): expensive metal, PD 4 DR 40
Statistics: Loaded Weight 7522 lbs (3.76 tons), Volume 208 cf,
Size Modifier +3, Price $47,001, HT 11
Ground Performance: Speed 44 mph, gAccel 3 mph/s, gDecel 20 mph/s,
gMR 0.5, gSR 6, Very Low ground pressure, 4/5 off-road speed
New Weapons
30mmC autocannon: long barrel, heavy automatic
Dam 9dx3, Acc 15, 1/2 Dam 1500, Max 6300, SS 20, 228 lbs, $21,400,
ammo: 0.86 lbs, $3.44
70mm SAM: see M136 Missile Pod
40mm AGL
see p.VE43, TL7 40mm GL, but HEDP dam 8d(5), HE dam 6dx2[4d], CHEM
6 yrd radius
75mm howitzer: short barrel, breechloader
Dam varies, Acc 12, 1/2 Dam 1100, Max 5000, 608 lbs, $20,000, ammo:
15.8 lbs
HE: 6dx13 [6d], HEAT: 5dx15 (10), CHEM: 21 yard radius, Beehive: 1d
imp
120mm recoilless rifle: very short barrel, breechloader, low-powered
Dam varies, Acc 8, 1/2 Dam 600, Max 3400, SS 20, 390 lbs, $12,000,
Ammo: 48.6 lbs
HEAT: 6dx20(10), HE: 6dx54 [10d], Beehive: 1d imp
81mm mortar
see p.VE43, TL7 81mm mortar, but HE dam 6dx17 [6d]