Golden Age Weaponsmiths M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank

At the time of the coming of the Rifts, there were large numbers of M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tanks in storage in various reserve armories in the territorial areas of the former United States. These armories were all but forgotten but a large number of M1A2 Abrams survived the destruction of most the cities because they were in remote areas. Golden Age Weaponsmiths have acquired and converted large numbers of these tanks.

These tanks are relatively easy to convert due to the ability to replace the armor on the vehicle. Golden Age Weaponsmiths uses the more advanced Rifts M.D.C alloys and replaces the armor where they can and put additional armor where they cannot replace the armor. One item of interst is the fact that the Abrams were governed to travel at speeds of only about 45 miles per hour. Gold Age removed the governors when the updated the tanks. The pre-rifts tank uses the same size cannon as an Iron Fist Medium tank that was produced by Iron Heart Industries so it was simple to use the same rounds. The tanks machine guns can use Wellington Ramjet Rounds and these rounds are used by most Tank Crews for the refitted M1A2 Abrams crews. Many crews replace the machine-guns with rail guns or Wellington grenade launchers due to the fact that parts are easier to come by and the weapons inflict more damage. One additional weapon system can be added to the tank design. Groups purchasing these tanks will often have a mini-missile launcher added to the tank design.

While the M1A2 does not have the sensor capabilities of most tanks built on Rifts Earth, the tank does have Infra Red to see in smoke, Light Amplification Gear to see at night, and has a fire control computer that helps target the main cannon while the tank is moving. The Abrams carried a Global Position System but since the satellites of the system no longer exist, the system was useless and was removed. The tank is also environmentally sealed unlike tank designs built previously to the M1A2.

This tank, once converted, is surprisingly capable when compared to modern Rifts tanks although the tank is still considered by most to be less capable than more modern designs. The cheap price of the tank makes may people interested in purchasing the old tanks.

Model Type: GAW M1A2
Vehicle Type: Main Battle Tank
Crew: Four (Driver, 2 Gunners, and Commander).

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Tractor Treads (2):	50 each
	Weapon Turret:	150
	120 mm Rheinmetall smooth-bore gun:	80
	7.62 Machine Guns (2):	10 each
	12.7 mm Machine Gun:	20
	Smoke Grenade Launchers (6):	5 each
	[2] Main Body:	300

Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the tank until it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x10 minutes by a trained crew (2 replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by the inexperienced. Changing the tread is only advisable when the vehicle is not under attack.
[2] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and is unsalvageable.

Speed:
Ground: Cruising speed on land is 65 mph (104 kph) on roads and 60 mph ( 96.6 kph) off road maximum.
Maximum Range: 300 miles (483 km)

Statistical Data:
Height: 9.5 feet (2.9 meters)
Width: 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 meters)
Length: Main Body: 26 feet (7.9 meters) and With Gun Forward: 32.2 feet (9.8 meters).
Weight: 63 tons (57.2 metric tons)
Power Source: Gas Turbine Engine (Avco-Lycoming AGT-1500 1500 hp turbine engine)
Cargo Capacity: Minimal, enough for equipment with crew
Black Market Cost: 150,000 Credits. If fitted, any extra weapons systems will add to the cost of the tank

Weapon Systems

1. 120 mm Rheinmetall smooth-bore gun: Very similar to the Iron Fist's main cannon. It can fire a variety of loads, including high-explosive (HE), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), armor-piercing explosive (AP),and armor piercing sabot-discarding solids (APSD). The turret can rotate 360 degrees and the gun can elevate 55 degrees. Fired by the main gunner.
   Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1828 meters) for direct fire.
   Mega-Damage: (HE): 1D6x10 with a blast radius of 20 ft. (HEAT): 2D6x10, blast radius of 10 ft. (AP): 1D4x10. (APSD): 2D4x10.
   Rate of Fire: A Maximum of 3 attacks per melee.
   Payload: 40 rounds.
   Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +2 to strike with cannon and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when tank is moving.
2. 12.7 millimeter Machine gun: Located outside of tank meaning that the gunner (The commander) must be outside of the tank when using the Machine gun. Uses WI-20 Heavy Ramjet rounds. While the weapon has been refitted using Wellington ammunition, it is still considered underpowered by most crews. As a result, the weapon is commonly replaced by a rail gun or a Wellington automatic grenade launcher.
   Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914.4 m)
   Mega Damage: Single shot does 1D4 and 40 round burst does 5D6.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
   Payload: 1000 rounds (25 bursts).
3. 7.62 Machine Guns (2): One is coaxial (beside the main cannon) and the other is controlled by the loader. Uses WI-10 Ramjet rounds to increase the weapons damage. While the weapons have been refitted using Wellington ammunition, they are still considered underpowered by most crews. As a result, the weapons are commonly replaced by a rail guns or Wellington automatic grenade launcher.
   Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (609.6 m)
   Mega Damage: One round does 1 M.D.C. to M.D.C. targets or 3D6x10 S.D.C. to soft targets. Twenty round bursts do 2D4 M.D.C.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
   Payload: Carries 11,400 rounds total between both machine guns.
4. Smoke Dispenser (6): Mounted on either side of the tank and launches smoke grenades.
   Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke 40 ft (12 m) in diameter:
   Rate of Fire: Two per melee
   Range: 1,200 feet (365 m)
   Payload: Carries 4 smoke grenades per launcher.
5. Integral Smoke Generator: Uses the engine to create a thick cloud of smoke that cover an 80 ft (24 m) around tank.

Sensory Equipment:

• NPC Protection: While not full life support, the Armored vehicle is equipped with protection for the crew from most gas, radiation, and biological attacks
• Combat Computer: Gives +2 bonus when targeting with main gun
• Thermo-Imager: Range: 2,000 feet (609 meters). Finds the infra-red radiations of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness.
• Nightvision Optics: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). Uses light amplification to make a picture. Emits no light but will not work in absolute darkness. System can be dazzled by sudden bright lights but does not physically blind the pilot.
• Visual Magnification: Gives magnification of up to 12 times normal
• Periscopes: Enables the crew to see over most terrain

[Golden Age Weaponsmiths TM, Wellington Industries TM, and Iron Heart Industries TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 1998 & 2002, Kitsune. All rights reserved.