Many individuals, when they think of a military vehicle, only consider such vehicles as Tanks and Armored Personnel Carriers, but the fact is that Jeeps and Trucks are far more common than tanks or other heavily armored vehicles. In addition, jeeps and trucks are often sold to adventures and small groups that do not have the ability to purchase a Tank or APC. Probably the biggest single seller in North America is the Mountaineer Transport but there are several vehicles that are very popular as well. One of these is the Desert Wolf produced by Iron Armory and they have sold more of this Jeep design than they have any other design. It could be said that the Desert Wolf is what put the company in the business in the first place. The popularity of the Desert Wolf is believed to have enabled the company to expand their manufacture to other designs. The Desert Wolf still sells well and is sold to mercenary companies, traders, and adventures.
Like most designs built after the Desert Wolf, this Jeep seems to have been based on a late Twentieth and early Twenty-First Century design. The Desert Wolf is very similar in outward appearance to the United States Army HumVee although the Desert Wolf is slightly larger. The Desert Wolf has a wide clearance and can virtually any terrain that seems even remotely possible as is actually faster on both the road and rough ground than the HumVee. It has strong mega-damage material tires which can withstand a huge amount of abuse before being destroyed. The vehicle has seats for a driver and four additional passengers. One passenger sits beside the driver and the other three sit in the rear of the crew compartment. Unlike the HumVee, the Desert Wolf has a fully enclosed compartment. For the comfort of the driver and passengers, the vehicle has independent venting and air conditioning. Originally, the vehicle was available with liquid fuel, electrical power, and fusion powered but the design has been updated to be able to use fuel cells as well. The fusion rector system is popular with many who do not wish to worry about refueling, such as adventures, and uses two fusion reactors similar to those carried on light power armors. While the fusion power plant is popular, it is expensive and many cannot afford it. The fuel cell system is considered very efficient and was fitted to the Desert Wolf at the same time the Sagebrush Motorcycle entered production. The technology for the fuel cell design was purchased by Metalworks Incorporated from Archangel "Heavy" Industries who got the designs of fuel cells from pre-rifts records. The fuel cells operate by pulling the electrons off of an H2 molecule, splitting it into 2H+ molecules and 2 electrons. The electrons pass through the "load" (engines, weapons, avionics, etc.) creating current and powering the systems. Meanwhile, the 2H+ molecules pass from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the other "end", the electrons then recombine with the 2H+ molecules and Oxygen (from the air) and are released as water from the rear of the vehicle.
There are two basic frame designs of the Jeep. The first is standard bed design which is available with an open cargo bay or an enclosed cargo bay. The small enclosed bay can be converted into a small personal area. The second is an extended and widened cargo bed. The cargo section is available with a large enclosed cargo box as well. This version, along with being popular for cargo hauling, is also popular as a personal transport. If the compartment is converted, it is the size of the living quarters on a small recreational vehicle. The only problem with the large rear compartment is that any weapon mount cannot be fired to the rear.
All versions have the ability to mount a weapon system on the top of the rear passenger although the version with a large cargo compartment cannot fire its weapon mount. The mount can use several types of missile launchers, grenade launchers, and rapid fire laser cannon mounts. All weapons cost additional and missile launchers displace the position for the middle rear passengers. In addition to weapon systems, the vehicle has options for improved sensors (equal to a standard power armor) and fully contained environment. The vehicle's armor can also be augmented by the purchaser.
Model Type: I.A. GP-01
Vehicle Type: Military Jeep
Crew: One (Can carry four passengers in the crew compartment)
M.D.C. by Location:
| Top Weapon Mount | 25 | |
| [1] Headlight (2) | 5 each | |
| [1] Tires (4): | 20 each | |
| Crew Compartment | 100 | |
| [2] Main Body: | 160 (260) |
Notes:
[1] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the
attacker to make a "called shot" but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the unit down completely,
making it useless. Standard armor is 160 MDC but can be upgraded in increments
of 20 MDC up to an addition 100 MDC.
Speed:
Ground: Cruising speed on land is 120 mph (193.1 kph) on roads
and 90 mph (144.8 kph) off road maximum
Maximum Range: With gas or electric, 800 miles (1,290 km), with
fuel cells, 1,000 (1,610 km), and with fusion, effectively unlimited.
Statistical Data:
Height: Standard and Large Flatbed Versions: 7.2 feet
(2.2 meters). Large Cargo Compartment Version: 8.9 feet (2.7 meters).
Width: Standard Version: 8.9 feet (2.7 meters). Extended
Cargo Section Version: 10.5 feet (3.2 meters)
Length: Standard Version: 17.1 feet (5.2 meters). Extended
Cargo Section Version: 19 feet (5.8 meters)
Weight: Standard Flatbed Version: 10,500 lbs (4,762.7
kg). Standard Enclosed Version: 11,000 lbs (4,990 kg).
Large Flatbed Versions: 11,250 (5100 kg). Large Cargo Compartment
Version: 10,750 lbs (5330 kg)
Power Source: Four versions. Nuclear with 5 year fusion reactor,
Electric, Conventional liquid fuel that uses aviation gas, and Fuel cell
version that uses Hydrogen as a fuel to produce electricity.
Cargo Capacity: 6,000 lbs (2,720 kg) in cargo compartment and
can to up to 20,000 lbs (9070 kg)
Black Market Cost: Basic vehicle costs 80,000 credits with Internal
Combustion engine, 100,000 with Electrical engine or fuel cell power system,
and 800,000 for fusion with a 5 year life. Sensory / Communication upgrade
(equal to a standard power armor) costs 12,000 credits. Fully contained
life support system costs 50,000 credits. Missile launchers costs 200,000
credits, Grenade Launchers costs 150,000 credits, and rapid fire laser
cannon costs 35,000 credits. Additional armor costs 10,000 credits per
20 MDC.
Optional Weapon Systems: The vehicle can mount one of the following above the rear section of the crew compartment. Direct fire weapons are controlled by a gunner who sits behind the weapon mount. Missiles are controlled by a remote control system which replaces fifth passenger. In versions of the vehicle with a large cargo compartment, weapons cannot be fired directly to the rear.
Bonuses: +10% to all piloting rolls due to handling.
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).
Copyright © 2001, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
