Tanks are desired by many militaries but they are very expensive to purchase for many militaries and are much harder to maintain than wheeled vehicles. With these facts in mind, the directors at Iron Armory, a company that specializes in taking United States Pre-Rifts combat vehicles and weapons and rebuilding them for use, decided to create a wheeled vehicle that could do the job of anti-tank vehicle, armored personnel carrier, command and control vehicle, radar and electronic warfare version, missile launching platform, and even an air defense vehicle. The vehicle is patterned off of the US Marine Corps LAV-25 from the later half of the Twentieth century and early Twenty First century and looks much like that ancient Pre-Rifts vehicle. In spite of this fact, the vehicle is very dangerous and very effective. While Iron Armory has only began production of this vehicle, the Combat vehicle is already selling very well and the factories are having problems keeping up with orders.

The vehicle has eight powered wheel for ground propulsion and two propellers as propulsion on the water. The tires are made out of a mega-damage solid rubber like material. Because the Mountain Lion has a total of eight wheels, the vehicle has virtually the off road performance of a true tank. The propellers allow limited travel on the surface of the water and the vehicle is water tight. The main body is constructed out of incredibly strong mega-damage alloys which makes the combat vehicle almost as tough as many light tanks. The vehicle is available with liquid fuel, electrical power supply, fuel cells, or a fusion plant. The fusion plant is a copy of the system carried on the Mountaineer class vehicle. This vehicle is the first vehicle designed by Iron Armory that is available in a fuel cell version. The fuel cell systems are purchased from Metalworks Inc and some believe that Iron Armory is a subsidiary of them. There has been no proof, so at the moment it is just speculation by some. 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 release as water from the rear of the vehicle.

The Mountain Lion is constructed at the factory in the various different configuration. The anti-tank version is virtually the equal of a more conventional tank in firepower. The anti-tank version carries the same 80 mm rail gun as the modified Abrams tank but has fewer secondary weapons and less ammunition for the main gun. This version must be powered by either fusion or by fuel cell. The armored personnel carrier, command and control version, and radar and electronic warfare models are armed the same way but all but the armored personnel carrier version have specialized equipment. The air defense version carries sophisticated computers, advanced radar systems, a powerful vulcan laser cannon, and missile launchers. The missile version has cells for carrying eight long range missiles. A few wealthy individuals have purchased these vehicles and have used them as essentially personal vehicles.

Model Type:	LAV-800-AT	Anti-Tank Version
	LAC-800-APC	Armor Personnel Carrier Version
	LAV-800-CC	Command and Control Version
	LAV-800-REW	Radar and Electronic Warfare Version
	LAV-800-ADV	Air Defense Vehicle Version
	LAV-800-MM	Missile Platform

Vehicle Type: Variable Ground Combat Vehicle

Crew:	LAV-800-AT	3 (Driver, Gunner, and Commander).
	LAC-800-APC	3 (Driver, Gunner, and Commander).
	LAV-800-CC	5 (Driver, Gunner, 2 Communication Operator, and Commander).
	LAV-800-REW	6 (Driver, Gunner, Communications, 2 Sensors, and Commander).
	LAV-800-ADV	4 (Driver, Gunner, Sensor Operator, and Commander).
	LAV-800-MM	3 (Driver, Gunner, and Commander).
Troops:	LAV-800-AT	None
	LAV-800-APC	8
	LAV-800-CC	2 (Command Personnel)
	LAV-800-REW	None
	LAV-800-ADV	None
	LAV-800-MM	None

M. D. C. by Location:

LAV-800-AT Anti-Tank Version:

	Weapon Turret:	230
	High Velocity 80 mm Rail gun:	125
	Rapid Fire Laser Cannons (2):	50 each

LAV-800-APC / CC / REW:

	Rapid Fire Laser Cannons (2):	50 each
	Automatic Grenade Launcher:	70
	Variable Missile Launchers (2):	50 each

LAV-800-ADV Air Defense Vehicle Version:

	Vulcan Laser Turret:	120 each
	Variable Missile Launchers (2):	50 each

LAV-800-MM Missile Platform:

	Long Range Missile Launcher:	200
	Rapid Fire Laser Cannons (2):	50 each

	[1] Wheels (8):	50 each
	Smoke Dispenser:	20
	Searchlight	20
	Headlights (2):	10 each
	Main Hatch:	150
	Reinforced Crew Compartment:	150
	Reinforced Personnel/Equipment Bay:	100
	[2] Main Body:	425

Notes:
[1] Up to one tire can be destroyed on each side of the vehicle without any appreciable loss in mobility but top speeds with be reduced by 10%. If two tires on a side are destroyed, the vehicle is reduced in top speed by 20% and has a -25% to piloting rolls when being operated off-road.
[2] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and unsalvageable, but crew may survive in their reinforced compartment.

Speed:
Ground: Cruising speed on land is 65 mph (104 kph) on roads and 60 mph (96.6 kph) off road maximum
Water Capabilities: Has two propellers that allows the vehicle to travel on the surface on the water like a boat. It is not designed for deep water use. Using the propellers, the Mountain lion can travel on the surface of water at 6.2 mph (10 km/5.4 knots).
Maximum Range: With gas or electric, 372.8 miles (600 km), with fuel cells, 447.4 (720 km), and with fusion, effectively unlimited.

Statistical Data:
Height: 9 feet (2.75 meters) for main body and 10.66 feet (3.25 meters) including weapons turret
Width: 9.8 feet (3.0 meters)
Length: 21.3 feet (6.5 meters)
Weight: 13.78 tons (12.5 metric tons)
Power Source: Four versions. Nuclear with 10 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: LAV-800-APC: Without troops, can carry up to 8 tons. All Others: Minimal, enough for equipment with crew.
Black Market Cost:
LAV-800-AT Anti-Tank Version: Fuel cell versions sells for 1.6 million credits and fusion with 10 year life sells for 12 million credits.
LAC-800-APC Armor Personnel Carrier Version: Internal Combustion powered sells for 1 million credits, Electrical engine and fuel cell versions sells for 1.2 million credits, and fusion with 10 year life sells for 8.5 million credits.
LAV-800-CC Command and Control Version: Internal Combustion powered sells for 1.1 million credits, Electrical engine and fuel cell versions sells for 1.3 million credits, and fusion with 10 year life sells for 8.6 million credits.
LAV-800-REW Radar and Electronic Warfare Version: Internal Combustion powered sells for 1.2 million credits, Electrical engine and fuel cell versions sells for 1.4 million credits, and fusion with 10 year life sells for 8.7 million credits.
LAV-800-ADV Air Defense Vehicle Version: Internal Combustion powered sells for 1.3 million credits, Electrical engine and fuel cell versions sells for 1.5 million credits, and fusion with 10 year life sells for 10 million credits.
LAV-800-MM Missile Platform: Internal Combustion powered sells for 1 million credits, Electrical engine and fuel cell versions sells for 1.2 million credits, and fusion with 10 year life sells for 8.5 million credits.

Weapon Systems:

1. LAV-800-AT Anti-Tank Version:
   1. High Velocity 80 mm Heavy Rail Gun (1): This rail gun normally fires a solid dart of MDC materials that does massive damage to targets that it hits but can also use explosive warheads. The turret can angle 45 degrees up and down and has 360 degree rotation. The weapon system is also gyrostablised and has an advanced fire control computer. The version of the vehicle that uses fuel cells has a special fuel cell for this weapon system.
      Range: 3 miles (4.83 Km).
      Mega Damage: A single round 4D6x10+20 (optional rule is that cannon gets a critical on a natural 18, 19, or 20 due to its high penetration). Can use High Explosive rounds that do 1D4x10 with a blast radius of 20 ft. High Explosive Anti Tank does 1D6x10 with a blast radius of 10 ft.
      Rate of Fire: Maximum of four per melee.
      Payload: 20 rounds (smaller and require no propellent). Fuel cell for cannon must be replaced every 120 rounds.
      Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +2 to strike with rail gun and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when tank is moving.
   2. Rapid Fire Machine gun Style Laser Cannons (2): A light laser designed for anti-infantry use that allows for all the bursts available to a machine gun except full melee.
      Range: 3,000 ft (914 m)
      Mega-Damage:
      2D6 for single shot (Costs 1 attack)
      4D6 for ten round burst at one target (Costs 1 attack)
      2D6 for ten round burst at 1D4 targets (Costs 1 attack)
      1D6x10 for thirty round burst at one target (Costs 1 attack)
      2D6 for thirty round burst at 1D8 targets (Costs 1 attack)
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: Effectively unlimited shots.
2. LAV-800-APC / CC / REW: All three of these versions are armed with identical weapon systems.
   1. Rapid Fire Machine gun Style Laser Cannons (2): A light laser designed for anti-infantry use that allows for all the bursts available to a machine gun except full melee.
      Range: 3,000 ft (914 m)
      Mega-Damage:
      2D6 for single shot (Costs 1 attack)
      4D6 for ten round burst at one target (Costs 1 attack)
      2D6 for ten round burst at 1D4 targets (Costs 1 attack)
      1D6x10 for thirty round burst at one target (Costs 1 attack)
      2D6 for thirty round burst at 1D8 targets (Costs 1 attack)
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: Effectively unlimited shots.
   2. Automatic Grenade Launcher: Weapon is WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher mounted on a spindle mount.
      Range: 3,000 ft (914 m)
      Mega-Damage: 4D6 for single shot of Fragmentation with a blast area of 12 ft, 1D4x10 for a single shot of Armor Piercing with a blast area of 3 ft, 2D6x10 for a burst of ten rounds of Fragmentation with a blast area of 40 ft, and 3D6x10 for a burst of ten rounds of Armor Piercing with a blast area of 8 ft.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: 400 Rounds
   3. Variable Missile Launchers (2): Mounted on either side of vehicles cab and the vehicle can be constructed with one of three different type of missile launchers. The type of launcher is normally built onto the vehicle at the factory and would take a mechanic about 8 hours to switch from one launcher to another.
      1. Medium Range Missile Launchers:
         Range: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Damage: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, or 6.
         Payload: each launcher carries 3 medium range missiles for a total of 6 medium range missiles. Carries 6 medium range missiles as reloads inside vehicle
      2. Short Range Missile Launchers:
         Range: Varies with missile types, short range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Damage: Varies with missile types, short range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, 6, or 12.
         Payload: each launcher carries 6 short range missiles for a total of 12 short range missiles. Carries 12 short range missiles as reloads inside vehicle
      3. Mini Missile Launchers:
         Range: Varies with missile types, mini-missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Damage: Varies with missile types, mini missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 5, 10, or 20.
         Payload: each launcher carries 10 mini-missiles for a total of 20 Mini-missiles. Carries 20 mini-missiles as reloads inside vehicle.
3. LAV-800-ADV Air Defense Vehicle Version:
   1. Vulcan Laser Cannons (2): These cannons are a copy of the IH-44L Vulcan Laser on the Iron Hammer Tank that was manufactured by Ironheart Industries. These were a secondary weapon but make an incredible air defense weapon. On the nuclear powered version, the laser cannons pull power directly from the fusion reactor of the fighter. On the fuel cell version, the laser cannons are powered by a fuel cell.
      Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters).
      Mega Damage: 3D4x10 for an instantaneous burst from cannon.
      Rate of Fire: Each cannon can shoot up to six times per melee (Normally combined) but is restricted to the gunners number of hand to hand attacks.
      Payload: Nuclear Reactor: Effectively Unlimited (Draws Power off the main engines). Fuel Cell Version: 200 bursts total. It takes approximately two minutes for a trained crew to change the hydrogen tank that powers the weapon, assuming that a spare tank is available. Untrained crews will take about six minutes to accomplish this task.
   2. Variable Missile Launchers (2): Mounted on either side of vehicles cab and the vehicle can be constructed with one of three different type of missile launchers. The type of launcher is normally built onto the vehicle at the factory and would take a mechanic about 8 hours to switch from one launcher to another.
      1. Medium Range Missile Launchers:
         Range: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Damage: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, or 6.
         Payload: each launcher carries 3 medium range missiles for a total of 6 medium range missiles. Carries 6 medium range missiles as reloads inside vehicle
      2. Short Range Missile Launchers:
         Range: Varies with missile types, short range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Damage: Varies with missile types, short range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, 6, or 12.
         Payload: each launcher carries 6 short range missiles for a total of 12 short range missiles. Carries 12 short range missiles as reloads inside vehicle
      3. Mini Missile Launchers:
         Range: Varies with missile types, mini-missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Damage: Varies with missile types, mini missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
         Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 5, 10, or 20.
         Payload: each launcher carries 10 mini-missiles for a total of 20 Mini-missiles. Carries 20 mini-missiles as reloads inside vehicle.
4. LAV-800-MM Missile Platform:
   1. Missile / Rocket Launchers (8): Has eight launchers that can fire missiles that are mounted on the top of the vehicle in a turret. While normally guided missiles are used, the launchers will sometime launch unguided versions to reduce the cost of ordinance used. The launchers can rotate 360 degrees.
      Range: As per long range missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Mega Damage: Varies with missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of two, four, six, or eight.
      Payload: Eight (8) Long Range Missiles total.
   2. Rapid Fire Machine gun Style Laser Cannons (2): A light laser designed for anti-infantry use that allows for all the bursts available to a machine gun except full melee.
      Range: 3,000 ft (914 m)
      Mega-Damage:
      2D6 for single shot (Costs 1 attack)
      4D6 for ten round burst at one target (Costs 1 attack)
      2D6 for ten round burst at 1D4 targets (Costs 1 attack)
      1D6x10 for thirty round burst at one target (Costs 1 attack)
      2D6 for thirty round burst at 1D8 targets (Costs 1 attack)
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: Effectively unlimited shots.
5. Smoke Dispenser (2): Mounted on either side of the vehicle 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 12 smoke grenades per launcher.

Sensory Equipment

• Radio/ Video Communications (Standard): Long range, directional, has a range of 500 miles with short range directional radio of 5 miles.
• Radio/ Video Communications (Command & Control / Electronic Warfare Versions): Long range, directional, has a range of 800 miles with short range directional radio of 50 miles. Vehicle also has the ability to monitor up multiple frequencies and record up to 96 hours of data.
• Laser Targeting System: Range is 2 miles and gives +1 to strike with long range weapons. Not applicable to hand to hand
• Combat Computer/ Targeting Computer: Assist in the tracking of targets.
• Radar (Standard): 50 miles, can identify 96 targets and track 48 as low as 500 ft. Same as robots Maxi-Radar.
• Radar (Electronic Warfare / Air Defense Versions): 250 miles, can identify 256 targets and track 96 as low as 500 ft.
• Full Life Support: Protects pilot and tank from heat and radiation and gives a breathable atmosphere inside the Vehicle. It protects against chemical and biological weapons as well.
• Spotlight: Range: 600 feet (182.9 meters)
• Thermo-Imager: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). 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.

[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 1999, Kitsune. All rights reserved.