During the 2760s, the AFFS commissioned a number of new combat vehicles to address deficiencies in their order of battle and reduce dependency on imports. While the designs were from several companies, the use of names starting with a C (or in one case a K) led to observers referring to them collectively as the C-series.
Cazador
Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Hovercraft
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-C-A
Production Year: 2765
Cost: 255,500 C-Bills
Battle Value: 336
Power Plant: Jerricho 75 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 86.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 129.6 km/h
Armor: ProtecTech 9 Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Federated 5-Shot LRM-5
1 Double-Gun Machine Gun
1 Infantry Compartment (1.5 tons)
Manufacturer: Jerricho Industries
Primary Factory: Robinson
Communications System: CommuTech
Targeting and Tracking System: BlazeFire Tracker
Overview:
Experience in the early 2760s fighting the Capellan Confederation persuaded the AFFS that their existing infantry transports were too lightly armed and protected. New infantry fighting vehicles were solicited and the Cazador was approved as one of the first, providing a template for other successful bids.
Capabilities:
With a top speed of almost 130 kph, the Cazador is ideal for raiding and rapid transport of personnel. The relatively spacious squad space has made them popular as command posts for infantry companies or as ambulances.
The turreted machinegun and LRM launcher allows the Cazador to engage at point blank range or to provide some limited skirmishing. Primarily they're used to support their embarked infantry. Some units prefer to load the missile launcher with smoke warheads in preference to explosives.
Battle History:
Cazadors saw heavy action against the DCMS as the Star League collapsed. Faced with the Kuritan hover tanks and Jenner light 'Mechs, AFFS commanders often detached their Cazadors to beef up skirmish lines.
Deployment:
After testing in the Davion Guards, the Tancredi Loyalists were among the first units to see the Cazador, although most frontline divisions have some in operation.
Variants:
To provide fire support from the Cazador chassis, Jerricho replaced the machine gun and the infantry bay with a second LRM launcher and more armour. Jump Infantry platoons with three squads sometimes use this variant as the fourth vehicle in their transport.
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 10 points 2.00
Engine: I.C.E. Engine 75 4.00
Cruise MP: 8
Flank MP: 12
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 0 0.00
Control Equipment: 1.00
Lift Equipment: 2.00
Turret: 0.50
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 80 5.00
Armor
Factor
Front 20
Left/Right 14/14
Turret 20
Rear 12
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun T 0 1 0.50
LRM-5 T 2 1 2.00
Infantry Compartment (1.5 tons) BD 0 1 1.50
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
@LRM-5 (24) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 3
8h 1 1 1 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: EE, TUR(1/1/1)
Chasseur
Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-C-A
Production Year: 2766
Cost: 181,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 343
Power Plant: Johnston 100 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 54.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 86.4 km/h
Armor: ProtecTech 9 Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Federated 5-Shot LRM-5
1 Double-Gun Machine Gun
1 Infantry Compartment (1.5 tons)
Manufacturer: Johnston Industries
Primary Factory: New Syrtis
Communications System: CommuTech
Targeting and Tracking System: BlazeFire Tracker
Overview:
Newcomers to the Federated Suns military supply system, Johnston Industries profited by buying out existing companies which lacked the capital to exploit the expanding AFFS. Amalgamating three corporations based on the capital of the Capellan March, they licensed parts of the Cazador design to let them bring their tracked APC in on schedule.
Capabilities:
The Chasseur shares a turret structure and armament with the Cazador, giving it good firepower at all ranges. While it's not as fast, it can handle difficult terrain suiting it for frontline deployments.
Battle History:
The Chasseur was blooded in fighting around Kathil and spearheaded infantry assaults during AFFS offensives into the Capellan Confederation. On Avigait, commando raids had seized key fortresses around the planetary capital and a full regiment of combat engineers rushed to relieve the commandos and man the captured guns. Their Chasseurs drove through fire from the rallying defenders and delivered hundreds of personnel to where they were needed.
Deployment:
Chasseurs can be found through most of the AFFS, in frontline regiments. The Syrtis Fusiliers are particularly eager to replace older APCs with them, but demands to rebuild regiments in the Draconis March have left the bulk of production sent to the far side of the Suns.
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 10 points 2.00
Engine: I.C.E. Engine 100 6.00
Cruise MP: 5
Flank MP: 8
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 0 0.00
Control Equipment: 1.00
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Turret: 0.50
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 80 5.00
Armor
Factor
Front 20
Left/Right 14/14
Turret 20
Rear 12
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun T 0 1 0.50
LRM-5 T 2 1 2.00
Infantry Compartment (1.5 tons) BD 0 1 1.50
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
@LRM-5 (24) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 3
5t 1 1 1 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: EE, TUR(1/1/1)
Kynigos
Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Wheeled
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-C-A
Production Year: 2765
Cost: 198,917 C-Bills
Battle Value: 313
Power Plant: Corean 100 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 64.8 km/h
Flanking Speed: 97.2 km/h
Armor: ProtecTech 9 Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Federated 4-shot SRM-4
1 Double-Gun Machine Gun
1 Infantry Compartment (1.5 tons)
Manufacturer: Corean Enterprises
Primary Factory: New Avalon
Communications System: CommuTech
Targeting and Tracking System: BlazeFire Tracker
Capabilities:
Corean Enterprises viewed their entry into the AFFS IFV submission process as an urban combatant, fitting the Kynigos with a short range missile system, and good all around armour.
Faster than most ground combat vehicles, the Kynigos can safely handle city streets at up to 70 kph and has a straightline top speed on tarmac of over 100kph. Many drivers have been reprimanded for pushing these limits in training.
Battle History:
Several dozen Kynigos were operating in support roles around the city of New Haifa when Coordinator Minoru Kurita selected it as the final target of his Robinson campaign. Pressed into hunter-killer squadrons, the Kynigos slowed the DCMS advance and in one case used a command van variant as bait to draw an overly optimistic recon lance to report they'd traced the AFFS command post, drawing DCMS forces away from the main advance. Only four Kynigos survived the defense of New Haifa, but they bought the time needed for reinforcements to arrive and turn the tide.
Deployment:
The Kynigos is more often used in utility roles than in combat but some infantry regiments swear by them. Two full regiments are employed by the Davion Assault Guards and they're commonly provided to units garrisoning important urban centres.
Variants:
The Kynigos is readily adapted for many roles using the infantry bay to transport personnel or equipment. Recon forces often fit elaborate electronic warfare systems while command vans mount extra radios.
A production variant fitting LRMs in place of the SRMs, in line with the Chasseur and Cazador, was technically quite simply but has only seen limited use.
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 10 points 2.00
Engine: I.C.E. Engine 100 6.00
Cruise MP: 6
Flank MP: 9
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 0 0.00
Control Equipment: 1.00
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Turret: 0.50
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 80 5.00
Armor
Factor
Front 18
Left/Right 15/15
Turret 18
Rear 14
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun T 0 1 0.50
SRM-4 T 3 1 2.00
Infantry Compartment (1.5 tons) BD 0 1 1.50
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
@SRM-4 (25) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 3 Points: 3
6w 1 1 0 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: EE, TUR(1/1/0)
Culverin LB-X Carrier
Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/E-F-D-A
Production Year: 2765
Cost: 1,888,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 837
Power Plant: Veridian 180 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 32.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Armor: Quantum Heavy Plate Standard Armor
Armament:
2 Imperator Code Red LB 10-X ACs
1 Magna Longbow-5 LRM-5
Manufacturer: Johnston Industries
Primary Factory: Barstow
Communications System: Tordar Communications Model C
Targeting and Tracking System: Sabik Microsystems Model K7-Ta
Overview:
During the early stage of the liberation of the Hegemony, the SLDF's needs for replacement equipment forced them to look to the manufacturers of the Great Houses. John Davion's quick support convinced General Kerensky to look at Johnston Industries, a newly established firm that was building simple tracked weapon carriers for the AFFS. Johnston received an early contract for their Culverin.
Capabilities:
Simplicity was the goal for the Culverin: a moderately armoured sixty ton chassis that devoted more than half its tonnage to a pair of forward firing heavy autocannon. The availability of Imperator Code Red autocannon allowed Johnston to save weight and install a LRM launcher.
Where possible the Culverin operated in a second-line role, deployed en masse or in ambushes where the inflexible weapon arrangement wasn't a factor.
Deployment:
The SLDF bought most of the Culverins at first, with only the initial evaluation models in AFFS hands. As Kerensky consolidated his units for the attack on Terra, his demands for new equipment slackened and the AFFS made significant purchases.
In addition, following negotiations with the Periphery state, House Davion authorised sale of the Culverin to the Outworlds Alliance, a decision of borderline legality as despite the ceasefire the Alliance was still in a state of rebellion against the Star League.
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 24 points 6.00
Engine: I.C.E. Engine 180 14.00
Cruise MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 0 0.00
Control Equipment: 3.00
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 128 8.00
Armor
Factor
Front 37
Left/Right 37/37
Rear 17
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 LB 10-X ACs FR 4 2 22.00
LRM-5 FR 2 1 2.00
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (20) BD - 0 2.00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (20) BD - 0 2.00
@LRM-5 (24) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 8
3t 2 2 2 0 3 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: EE, FLK 1/1/1
Carronade Artillery Carrier
Mass: 60 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Advanced Rules
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-B-A
Production Year: 2771
Cost: 1,040,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 584
Power Plant: Veridian 180 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 32.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Armor: Quantum Heavy Plate Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Hegemony Arms DAT/91 Sniper
Manufacturer: Johnston Industries
Primary Factory: Barstow
Communications System: Tordar Communications Model C
Targeting and Tracking System: Sabik Microsystems Model K7-Ta
Overview:
With Johnston Industries success fielding the Culverin, Prince Davion commissioned them to develop a new standard self-propelled artillery vehicle for the AFFS, both to fill out their expanding forces and to replace equipment that had been sold on to the SLDF.
Capabilities:
Built on the same chassis as the Culverin, the Carronade is ruthlessly minimalistic: it carries the desired Sniper artillery cannon and rather than spend tonnage on other weapons the interior is filled by a massive ammunition supply.
While this leaves the Carronade largely defenseless if attacked directly it simplifies logistics and allows the crews to focus on their role supporting the rest of their demi-brigade.
Deployment:
The SLDF purchased a few evaluation units of the Carronade but the fall of the Star League prevented any major purchases. As such the AFFS had a near monopoly on the design until the Outworlds Alliance received permission to purchase design in the 2780s.
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 24 points 6.00
Engine: I.C.E. Engine 180 14.00
Cruise MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 0 0.00
Control Equipment: 3.00
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 128 8.00
Armor
Factor
Front 37
Left/Right 37/37
Rear 17
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sniper FR 10 1 20.00
@Sniper (90) BD - 0 9.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 6
3t 2 0 0 0 3 0 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: ARTS, EE
(These designs are part of the revised Davion & Davion (Deceased) I'm looking at)
