Hellfire Support Vehicle
Mass: 65 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: NVA 190
Cruising Speed: 32.7 kph
Flank Speed: 51.1 kph
Armor: Hoyt Heavy Model 2
Armament:
FS Variant:
3 Delta Dart Long Range Missile 15 racks
2 Delta Dart Long Range Missile 5 Rack
AA Variant:
3 Western Medium Autocannon Class 5
Manufacturer: Vandenberg MilTech
Primary Factories: New Vandenberg
Communication System: VeraTech ComSuite D
Targeting & Tracking System: VeraTech Multi-Track 74 (FS Variant) Pinard-Dicolais Airsweeper (AA Variant)
Type: Hellfire Support Vehicle
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 65
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: 6.5
Engine: 190 16
Type: ICE
Cruising MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heatsinks: 0
Control Equipment: 3.5
Lift Equipment: 0
Power Amplifier: 0
Turret: 2.5
Armor Factor: 104 6.5
Armor Value:
Front: 26
Turret 30
R/L Side: 16
Rear: 16
Weapons & Ammo Location Tonnage
FS Variant
3 LRM 15 Turret 21
2 LRM 5 Turret 4
LRM 15 Ammo (32) Body 4
LRM 5 Ammo (24) Body 1
AA Variant
3 AC/5 Turret 24
Ammo (120) Body 6
Overview
During the first half of the 26th Century, the Taurian Concordat began modernizing it’s armed forces. New mechs, more powerful then the early, primitive designs were introduced. Soon the TDF High Command found their large armored forces, the backbone of their military, were sadly behind the times, operating older equipment ill-suited for the modern battlefield. Numerous calls went out for new tanks and AFV to equip the armored corps. Among the Requests for Proposals that were issued by the TDF there was one for a Fire Support Vehicle (FSV) and one for an Air Defense tank. Many manufacturers responded to these RFPs with separate designs. The sole exception was Vandenberg Mil-Tech. Seeking to expand into the lucrative defense market, Vandenberg Heavy Industries had created a new branch to build Battlemechs and other weapons. Unconstrained by conventional thinking, the design team quickly realized that a single chassis could be used for both the FSV and AA Tanks. The TDF procurement officers were impressed by the cost savings that were realized with the design, while the Supply Service was impressed with the commonality between the 2 models, which would ease logistical issues. While the Vandenberg Mil-Tech entry was not the best performer during the competitive trials, it placed near the top and combined with the cost and logistic advantages, the Hellfire Support Vehicle was the consensus choice of the TDF officers.
Capabilities
The Hellfire Support Vehicle is a reliable and effective, if nondescript, design. The most notable feature is the use of a common chassis between the 2 variants. While many designs talk of using a common chassis, the Hellfire takes it to a new level. The only difference between the 2 designs in the turret. All the connections between the turret and the chassis are designed to a single standard. Even the ammo feed from the hull ammo bays is designed to handle either AC Ammo or LRM ammo with only a few adjustments to the feed system. During Reunification War, Taurian techs were able to quickly repair a number of Hellfires by mating undamaged turrets with undamaged chassis. Even when mixing chassis and turrets from different variants, these replacements could be accomplished in less then half an hour.
The biggest complaints about the tank were the relatively slow speed, while this was not an issue in defensive operations, the Hellfire was hard pressed to keep up with Taurian tanks during offensive operations. As a result the TDF Armored Corps would typically deploy the Hellfire as an anvil for the hammer of their Grizzly tanks. Numerous Star League units found themselves being pressed back by the TDF only to run into massed fire from Hellfires.
Deployment
The Hellfire AA and FSV models were both deployed in large numbers with the TDF. Many of these tanks were assigned to defensive units, where they would fight from prepared positions, raining fire down on approaching enemy forces. During the Reunification War, the Hellfire fought in almost every engagement and many were lost to the SLDF. Despite these high losses, the Hellfire remained the most common AFV in Concordat after the Reunification War and many continue to soldier on with the TDF in the Star League era.
