The Monster
Monster
- Intent: To create a tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle for the CIS
- Image Source: Gallery
- Canon Link: None
- Permissions: None
- Primary Source: None
- Manufacturer: Freebirds Industries, Confederacy of Independent Systems
- Affiliation: The Dire Wolves Mercenary Company, Confederacy of Independent Systems, Closed-Market
- Model: M-5
- Modularity: No
- Production: Minor
- Material: Durasteel/Alusteel/Duranium composite hull (Durasteel for the main frame, Alusteel for sections that just need structural support and don't require heavy materials, Duranium for high stress zones requiring maximum strength and durability), internal wiring and electronic components for radios, sensors, and other equipment necessary for operation, gun stabilization components and gyroscopes, auto-loading system components, Phrik-A/Ionite-A/Yorik-Coral composite armor surrounding all major components, Isotope-5A Micro-Reactor and electronic drive components, durasteel/doonium tracks, external light sources for driving in civilian settings.
- Classification: Infantry Fighting Vehicle
- Role: Infantry Carrier/Support Vehicle
- Size: Large
- Weight: Very Heavy
- Armaments: High - 35mm M-44 Autocannon, 6.5 M-240 GPMG, Twin Tube Variable Warhead Launcher (Primarily carries ATGMs or SAMs)
- Defenses: Average,
- Maneuverability Rating: High
- Speed Rating: High
- Propulsion: Tracked Drive Train powered by Isotope-5A micro-reactor
- Minimum Crew: 2 Driver and Gunner
- Optimal Crew: 3 Driver, Gunner, Vehicle Commander
- Passenger Capacity: 10 soldiers (dismounted squad) or 15 B-7 Droids
- Cargo Capacity: Small - can carry enough equipment for dismounted squad to include squad heavy weapons such as missile launchers
- Crewless turret and remote vehicle stations ensures that this tank offers a premium for crew protection and survive-ability. Armor is an Alusteel overlay with an Ionite-A undercoating on top of a light Phrik-A base. This offers very good basic protections against small arms and even anti-vehicle munitions but against heavier vehicle weapons this will be found wanting.
- Drive train and power plant in this vehicle give it good speed and is very responsive despite whatever terrain the vehicle might be sitting in. This gives the vehicle the ability to use its speed in a fight over its firepower or armor to give it an edge.
- Internal bay can house up to a full squad of 10 dismounts and their equipment or 15 B-7 battle droids in their droid infantry configuration.
- Weapons load on the vehicle gives it the ability to support infantry formations even after dropping off soldiers, using the 35mm cannon to hit a variety of targets while the Variable Warhead Launcher tackles harder or harder to hit targets like tanks and low flying craft.
- Various escape hatches on the vehicle not only allow for the crew, but passengers to perform an easy and safe emergency disembarkation from the vehicle in case of battlefield damage, accidents, or other emergency.
- Rear wall of the vehicle can lower to provide a much larger "ramp" for soldiers to embark/disembark or a small troop hatch in the ramp for safer entering/exiting the vehicle. This ramp however can also be used to knock down un-reinforced walls to provide new access points for soldiers in the vehicle.
- Turret has a two camera system with one slaved to the main cannon, and other being for the vehicle commander to use to scan surroundings. This system also allows for the vehicle commander to spot, lase, or even slew the main gun onto targets giving the vehicle commander unprecedented versatility on the field.
- A weapon for the infantry - This fighting vehicle has a single purpose in mind. To transport and support the infantry on the field of battle. And with its variety of weapons, speed and internal bays for squads it does this very well. This means that in any mechanized infantry formation you have a vehicle platform that is capable of moving your troops out quick, drop them off in advantageous locations, and then provide direct fire support with its weapons, or even advance alongside them as they move across terrain.
- Armored Cavalry - This vehicle is fast and very responsive across a variety of terrains. The height management system in this vehicle makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get this thing stuck. Add into this the drive train's power supply being an Isotope-5A Micro-reactor, and this thing can operate anytime, anywhere, regardless of the supply situations.
- Not a small vehicle - This vehicle while not having as much armor or fire power as other vehicles of its same size, is still about as large. That is a very huge problem for vehicle crews as this means that they become pretty big targets meaning they have to use their speed, tactics, and specialized firepower to win the day to support their dismounts. Or in some cases, just sit back and let their dismounts do the work if they'd only get in the way.
- Small cargo space - While this is an Infantry vehicle, and can carry some gear and equipment into battle for its dismounts, this fighting vehicle can't carry a large amount of extra gear or other cargo. Which is kind of the point because you're not gonna send your cargo trucks into combat are you?
The Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The tank that is not a tank. The M4 is a potent vehicle for its class, boasting good armor, an effective weapons payload, and is good for what it's designed for. Transporting and supporting the infantry. A mobile weapons platform that you can use to get your men into the fight fast, and then provide close support with its auto-cannon and missile launcher. And it all starts with the drive system. The tracks on this vehicle, and their electronic drive powered by a Isotope-5A Micro-Reactor gives this vehicle a large and powerful base to start. The tracks are designed to handle any terrain with ease, and while they may not be as responsive or fast as their repulsorlift counterparts, they ignore any sort of outside jamming. And then we move onto the hull and armor systems. The hull of this IFV is a composite of several different metals, giving it strength, mass, and flexibility by using three metals across the entirety of the hull and frame. With a layer of composite spaced armor on top of this to increase protection and you have a good vehicle with excellent crew protection and survivability. And then in the back you have enough space to house 10 infantry dismounts, their kits, gear, and weapons, and the ability to keep them safe as well. For these points alone you'd have an excellent infantry carrying platform, but then there's the weapons onboard. This vehicle carries with it a crewless turret that has a M-44 Auto-cannon and missile launcher with the ability to carry different types of warheads from Anti-Air, to Anti-Tank munitions. Now you have a proper Fighting Vehicle. All in all, this vehicle is great for what it was designed for. It's an infantry carrier with weapons and armor that it can hit back against most opponents, and support its cargo with great effectiveness. It doesn't have to fight tanks, it doesn't have to be the tip of the spear, but it certainly can. And with firepower like that on board, it can not only hold its own, it'll make a lot of vehicles and people regret picking that fight in the first place. Welcome to the future of mechanized Infantry.
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