Cyclone Hover Scout
Mass: 25 tons
Movement Type: Hover
Power Plant: NVA 145
Cruising Speed: 121.1 kph
Flank Speed: 185.7 kph
Armor: Majoris Type 5
Armament:
3 Delta Bolt-2 Short Rangle Missile Racks
3 Westen Heavy Machine Guns
Manufacturer: New Vandenberg Automotive
Primary Factory: New Vandenberg
Communication System: VeraTech ComSuite A with Lazcom
Targeting & Tracking System: VeraTech Tanktnt XAT183
Type: Cyclone Hover Scout
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Movement Type: Hover
Tonnage: 25
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: 2.5
Engine: 145 10
Type: ICE
Cruising MP: 11
Flank MP: 17
Heatsinks: 0
Control Equipment: 1.5
Lift Equipment: 2.5
Power Amplifier: 0
Turret: 0
Armor Factor: 40 2.5
Armor Value:
Front: 14
R/L Side: 10
Rear: 6
Weapons & Ammo Location Tonnage
1 SRM 2 Front 1
1 SRM 2 Rear 1
Ammo (50) Body 1
Machine Gun Front 0.5
Machine Gun Left Side 0.5
Machine Gun Right Side 0.5
Ammo (100) Body 0.5
Communications Gear Body 1
Overview
In 2513 the TDF issued a request for a new scout tank. Numerous companies submitted prototypes for evaluation. After a long and grueling series of trials, the TDF chose the Cyclone Hover Scout from New Vandenberg Automotive. A major manufacturer of civilian cars, trucks and construction equipment, the Cyclone was NVA’s first military product. The design would be procured in large numbers and turned NVA into a major supplier for the TDF.
Capabilities
The Cyclone Hover Scout is built for speed. One of the fastest known ground vehicles in existence, the Cyclone uses it’s speed to race behind enemy lines and gather intel for the TDF. The Cyclone’s value as a scout is further increased by the NVA design team’s efforts to reduced the vehicles signature. The design lacks a turret and a low profile, making it hard to see visually, while a radar reflective coating and IR suppression systems reduce the radar and heat signatures of the scout.
While all of those features were an important consideration in the TDF choosing the Cyclone, the key factor in their decision was the communication system. Rather then use a basic system, the NVA team chose the top of the line VeraTech ComSuite A with Lazcom. While expensive, the ComSuite A radio has an extremely long range and superior clarity. It also has the ability to transmit images and other datafiles in addition to voice transmissions. For extremely long range communications, the Lazcom module can communicate via a tight-beam laser with an orbiting satellite, dropship or warship. This effectively gives the Cyclone the ability to transmit across an entire planet by using satellite relays.
With so much mass and space dedicated to the engine and com systems, there is little space left over for weapons and armor. The thin armor can barely protect the Cyclone from heavy weapons, more then a single hit will usually destroy the scout. The weapons consist of a pair of SRM 2 missile racks and 3 machine guns. One of the SRM racks is mounted on the rear of the Cyclone and is used to discourage pursuit by enemy forces, while the machine guns are mounted to protect the front and sides.
Deployment
The Cyclone saw heavy deployment with the TDF. It could commonly be found in almost every armor unit and many of the Taurian Volunteer formations. In addition to serving as scouts, the Cyclone saw service as a raider and APC during the war. While the Cyclone performed well, numerous ones were lost in the hard fighting. With the destruction of the New Vandenberg Automotive factory during the fighting on New Vandenberg, production of the Cyclone ended. The few surviving Cyclones have continued to serve with the post war TDF, but age and attrition are wearing down their numbers.
Variants:
There are 2 major variants of the Cyclone. The Cyclone Fast Strike Hover Tank removes the communication gear and side mounted Machine Guns to add a pair of 2 tube SRM Racks. The rear mounted missile launcher is also relocated to the front of the tank, providing it with a powerful punch. Originally produced in limited numbers of TDF Cavalry units, by the time the NVA factory was destroyed it had become the main production model.
The Cyclone APC was used by TDF special forces and regular infantry as a high speed transport. The expensive VeraTech ComSuite was removed and replaced with a simple radio, while the rear SRM Rack was removed and replaced with a large hatch and ramp. The interior space could carry either a pair of regular infantry squads or single heavy weapons squad and their equipment. The APC variant proved very successful and is believed to have inspired the SLDF’s Maultier Hover APC.
