Ultra-Tech: Tanks
In the future, tanks may be obsolete ... or may still be a battle-winning combination of protection, mobility, and firepower. Ultra-tech tanks improve all these areas, but their greatest advantage is better situational awareness, thanks to virtual-reality sensors and their own miniature air forces of drones or swarms. Even so, friendly infantry are still vital to avoid ambush in cities or rough terrain! Adventurers may see tanks as dragons that require cunning and courage to slay, or the cavalry that charges to the rescue.
The tanks described below are all designed to be easily transported by aircraft or spacecraft. Larger ones are possible!
Light Battle Tank (TL9)
This tank has a tough composite-laminate hull that is reinforced by electromagnetic armor, but it relies on stealth and sensors to get the first shot. It runs quietly on rubber-band tracks, powered by a hybrid diesel-electric engine. The crew (a driver and commander-gunner) are stationed in the hull, protected by a NBC kit.
Its unmanned turret is armed with a 100mm tank cannon with the electrothermal upgrade and a coaxial 15mm chaingun. Atop the turret is a smaller turret with a strike laser for air defense and missile interception. The rear hull houses 10 tactical missile launchers in fixed upward-facing mounts.
Electronics include two holographic crew stations, a hyperspectral imaging sensor, a medium laser comm, a medium radio, a tactical ESM, and a tactical sound detector.
It is operated by a driver who uses Driving (Tracked) and Electronics Operation (Sensors) and a commander/gunner with Artillery (Guided Missiles), Gunner (Beams, Cannon, Machine Gun), and Electronics Operation (Comm, ECM, Sensors).
Hovertank (TL10)
This tank rides on a cushion of air, using auxiliary jump jets to cross rough terrain. The hull is sealed with full life support. The main turret has a 40mm railgun or a plasma cannon in a stabilized mount. The vehicle also has a small turret with a strike laser in a stabilized mount for point defense. Electronics include two holographic crew stations, hyperspectral imaging sensors, a medium laser comm, a medium radio, and a tactical sound detector. The vehicle is protected by infrared cloaking, a multispectral chameleon surface, radar stealth, and a tactical ESM.
Crew and skill requirements are the same as the light tank with the exception that Driving (Hovercraft) is used. LC1.
Grav Tanks (TL10^)
Grav tanks combine the agility of an attack helicopter with the armor and firepower of the main battle tank. The grav tank has the same capabilities as the hovertank, but is capable of transonic flight using contragravity. Use Piloting (Contragravity) instead of Driving skill.
Tanks Table
| TL | Vehicle | ST/HP | Hnd/SR | HT | Move | LWt. | Load | SM | Occ. | DR | Cost | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Light Battle Tank | 150 | -2/5 | 11 | 2/25 | 30 | 1 | +5 | 2S | 500/200 | $2,000,000 | 2CTt |
| 10 | Hovertank | 150 | -3/4 | 11 | 2/50 | 30 | 1 | +5 | 2S | 700/300 | $3,000,000 | Tt |
| 10^ | Light Battle Tank | 150 | +1/5 | 11 | 10/500 | 30 | 1S | +5 | 2SV | 700/300 | $3,500,000 | Tt |