Even prior to the destruction of Iron Heart Industries under the hands of the Coalition, Northern Gun found itself fabricating parts for Iron Heart Industries tanks. When the company was destroyed by the Coalition, this trickle became a flood and Northern Gun started getting requests for new tanks to replace the ones that were destroyed and from mercenary companies that wished to increase their size. Northern Gun got their engineers to work on a new tank design as quickly as possible. While not possible to come up with a completely new tank design quickly, though the use of parts already produced for the Iron Hammer, they were able to come up with the prototype within 87 days. Because the tank uses many of the same parts as the Iron hammer yet is significantly more powerful, it got the name Sledgehammer. The prototype was quickly tested and bugs were worked out. The new Tank has begun production and this has resulted in a shortage of spare parts for the Iron Hammer. In addition to trying to expand their production of the Sledgehammer and spare parts, Northern Gun is planning to produce a light scout tank as well.

The general Iron Hammer hull was retained which is one of the factors that greatly increased production. The propulsion is slightly modified version of the ones for the Iron Hammer although the Sledge Hammer is available only in a nuclear version due to high energy needs of its weapon systems.

The tank looks much like the Iron Hammer and while the barrel is the same general width, it is slightly longer and is bored out to 15 cm instead of 20 cm. This is actually the weapon where the tank gets much of its firepower. Instead of a convention 20 cm cannon, the Sledgehammer uses an electro thermal cannon. While less advanced that the Gauss Cannons, it is a very impressive and far more rugged internally. It works by sending an incredibly powerful electrical current through light material. This metal becomes plasma and this expanding gas then drives the projectile forward. This projectile is fired at almost rail gun speeds yet is much simpler in operation. The Iron Hammer carries two rail guns, one Vulcan laser cannon, and a light laser. This was reduced to simplify operation. Only one of the rail guns and the Vulcan laser cannon were retained. Due to increased problems with Xiticix, the rail gun can be replaced by a wide angle plasma weapon. This is becoming increasingly more powerful. In addition to simplifying operations, the reduction in weapon systems has allowed for the increase in ammunition and the medium range missile launchers can carry six missiles each instead of five and has an automatic loading system. As additional defense, the Sledgehammer does carry smoke generators. The sensor systems of the Sledgehammer are more advanced than those carried on the Iron Hammer and it carries the same sensor systems as Northern Guns robot vehicles.

Authors Note: Reduced height of the tank from the height of original Iron Heart Industries design to make them closer to that of modern tanks. The author recommends reducing the height of Iron Heart Industry's tank designs as well.

Model Type: NG-105A
Class: Main Battle Tank
Crew: Three: One driver, one gunner, and one commander. No room for passengers, although one extra human sized passenger could probably be squeezed in.

M.D.C. by Location:

	Cupola on Turret:	100
	Rail gun / Plasma Flamethrower on Cupola:	75
	Main Turret:	300
	150 mm Electro Thermal Cannon:	180
	Side Medium Range Missile Launchers (2):	50 each
	Front Vulcan Laser Turret	75
	Smoke / Gas Dispensers (2):	15 each
	[1] Main Body:	650
	[2] Track Treads (2):	120 each

Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. from the main body will shut the tank down completely, rendering it useless.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the tank until it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x 10 minutes by a trained crew (2 replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by the inexperienced. Changing the tread is only possible when the vehicle is not under attack.

Speed:
Ground: 60 mph (96 km) on land. Buttoned up, it can travel under water at 20 mph (32 km).
Maximum Effective Range: Effectively unlimited.

Statistical Data:
Height: 14 feet (4.9 meters)
Width: 12 feet (3.6 meters)
Length: 35 feet (10.7 meters)
Weight: 62 tons (56.2 metric tons) fully loaded
Cargo: Minimal storage space; about four feet (1.2 m) for extra clothing, weapons, and personal items. Four Laser Rifles and three hand held Missile Launchers with 5 loads each are stored in a compartment behind the driver's seat.
Power System: Nuclear Only (10 year lifespan)
Black Market Cost: 38 million

Weapon Systems

1. 150 mm Electro Thermal Cannon (1): Mounted in the tanks main turret in place of the 200 mm cannon on the Iron Hammer and is quite a bit more powerful. The projectile is loaded into the barrel, behind which there is a "propellant", which is a dot of light metal. A powerful electromagnetic force is applied to the metal, which causes its atoms to "switch" directions. This happens so violently that the metal turns to plasma, and this expanding gas then drives the projectile forward. Since the cannon is built into a turret, it can rotate 360-degrees and can aim upwards 60 degrees - allowing it to engage low-flying aircraft and creatures. The cannon is controlled by a gunner inside the turret compartment.
   Range: 4 miles (6.4 km).
   Mega Damage: A single round 4D6x10+40 (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 does 2D6x10 M.D. with a blast radius of 30 feet (9 meters). High Explosive Anti Tank does 3D6x10 M.D. with a blast radius of 12 feet (3.6 meters).
   Rate of Fire: Maximum of three per melee.
   Payload: 80 rounds (smaller and require less propellent). Normally 40 rounds are of standard anti-tank slugs. The payload of the original Iron Hammer was actually 50 rounds not 80 rounds.
   Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +2 to strike with the cannon and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when tank is moving.
2. NG-44L Vulcan Laser (1): This is a direct copy of the Iron Heart cannon and is quite powerful although much shorter range than the main cannon. This weapon is a secondary turret mounted on the bow of the tank and is operated by the driver or the tank commander. The weapon consists of six rotating laser cannons, cycling through bursts of six blasts per second.
   Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)
   Mega-Damage: 3D4 x 10 M.D. per instantaneous burst (counts as one blast/attack).
   Rate of Fire: Can shoot up to six times per melee!
   Payload: Effectively Unlimited.
3. Support Weaponry Turret: Originally planned to only carry the NG-202 light rail gun, the mount was modified so that it could carry a plasma flamethrower to deal with Xiticix and other monsters than need to be dealt with in large numbers. The weapon is located in the cupola (mini-turret) over the main turret, and has a 360-degree rotation of fire and can elevate 90 degrees so the rail gun can engage aerial targets (The Plasma Flamethrower does not have the range).
   1. NG-202 Rail Gun (1): Like the cannon on the Samson Power Armor, this cannon has been modified for a higher rate of fire. The tank commander the gunner, or the driver can access and use the rail gun.
      Effective Range: 4,000 feet ( 1,200 m)
      Mega-Damage: A burst is 60 rounds and inflicts 1D6x10 M.D. One round does 1D4 M.D.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-6) of the gunner.
      Payload: 12,000 round drum, that's 200 bursts! Up to five drums can be carried by the tank. Reloading the drum takes 15 minutes if done by hand, 5 minutes if done with robots and special equipment.
   2. WI-NFT-1 Napalm P Plasma Flamethrower: While Northern Gun and Wellington Industries are not on the best terms, the need for this weapon system has forced Northern Gun to purchase them to place on the tank. While not effective against aircraft, the wide area the weapon covers is very effective. This weapon fires a stream of liquid which when activated "burns" for a short period of time (1D4 minutes) and inflicts damage during that duration. This is not a convention plasma weapon that heats materials to the point beyond gas and has some interesting properties. Because the canisters for the plasma cannon are well inside of the tank, the damage from explosion are minimal unless the tank is destroyed.
      Effective Range: 500 feet
      Mega-Damage: A short plasma burst inflicts 3D6 M.D. A concentrated plasma burst (counts as two attacks; 7 seconds) inflicts 1D4x10 M.D. As an additional option, the plasma weapon can be used to cover a wide area. Up to an area of 10 ft radius can be effected per melee attack. All targets within the area of effect will take 2D6 M.D. and will continue to receive 2D6 M.D. of damage per melee for a period of 1D4 minutes. The plasma fire cannot be extinguishes by water but must use sand or special chemical designed to fight metal fires.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks (usually 4-6) of the gunner.
      Payload: The tank has 4 Napalm-P tanks which gives the weapon 400 "shots".
4. Medium-Range Missile Launchers (2): Two side-mounted missile launchers complete the Sledgehammer's main armaments. Both launchers are usually controlled by a gunner, but can be fired by the driver or tank commander if the gunner is injured. They are usually outfitted with High-Explosive, Fragmentary or Plasma missiles. The launchers can rotate up or down 180 degrees, allowing them to engage air and ground targets. This tank uses an automatic loading system and additional missiles for reloads.
   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: 12 missiles, six in each launcher. The Tank has one set of reloads (12 medium range missiles) for the launchers which takes one melee to reload launchers.
5. Smoke/Gas Dispensers (2): A smoke/gas dispensing unit is attached to each side of the MBT. The dispenser releases a dense cloud of smoke that covers a 40 foot (12.2 m) area in front of the vehicle, It can also release tear gas.
   Payload: 20 total; 10 charges each; typically all smoke.

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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 2000, Kitsune. All rights reserved.