GEV-09 "PYTHON"
MISSILE HOVER TANK
Version 1.0 - Tuesday, June 8, 2004

Based on an original mecha design by Derran Tyler & Marty Bowles
RPG Stats by Derran Tyler

BACKGROUND

The GEV-09 Python missile hovertank is a support unit to the powerful GEV-07 main battle hovertanks, utilizing a combination of speed and stand-off attack capability to eliminate enemy armor long before they get in the range of their own weapons systems. The Python was designed to provide long-range fire support to the Diamondbacks while staying out of the line of enemy fire. Pythons also possess drastically more powerful electronic warfare systems than the Diamondback tanks, allowing them to further coordinate the combat action of any armored column.

The Python's chassis was modified to accomodate twin Capricorn V modular rotary launchers, twin armored ammunition bays, modified RAILS loading mechanisms, advanced electronics, a larger power plant, and accomodations for the four crew required to operate the vehicle. The heavy chassis was slightly modified to handle increased equipment load rather than heavy armor. Since lighter armor was used (as compared to the Diamondback), this freed up a great amount of internal space from structural bracing and solid armor filler. The chassis was ugpraded to the new Type II-C drive train modifications that the Diamondback was scheduled to be refitted with.

Electronics for the GEV-09 include the DePaul-Sheffield FCS, extensive ECM and ECCM, and a modified version of the "Horizon" communications system. The new Five Jackson control stations with modular interface and full surround holographic HUD with operator tailored interface were standard. The driver sat forward in the hull in a component armored bay mounted in the forward 'conning' tower. A hull top mounted hatch allowed access to the driver's station. The two WSCO Weapon Systems Control Officers sat behind the driver, separated by a armored bulkhead and hatch, in their own modular control stations. The WSCOs stations were duplicated between each one, so that in the event that one WSCO was incapacitated, the other could fight the vehicle. Extensive onboard semi-artifint meshing with the FiConSys allowed superior target acquisition. Advanced macros could also be custom tailored to individual mission parameters and preprogrammed as needed. An armored hatch was located in the upper hull, directly over the WSCO station, allowing quick access or exit from the vehicle. The vehicle commander's armored bay was located far aft, joined to the second WSCO's bay by a short crawlway and an armored bulkhead and hatch assembly. All stations were duplicated here with direct override. Most communications and tactical updates were handled through the command station where orders were given to the other three crew via a easy to use graphical interface and a comprehensive internal hardlined communications system.

The twin Capricorn Type V launchers were mounted on the new REDET Remote Electric Drive Elevating Turrets which gave the vehicle the ability to fight from a completely hull down position. A modified RAILS system was used to draw munitions and warheads from a large onboard storage bay. The RAILS system was modified for the on-the-fly (OTF) selection of modular warheads to meet target engagement criteria. Warhead loads ranged from anti-personnel to kinetic energy overhead attack armor busters and even tactical nuclear charges. Each launcher held a ready supply of six J-LAM missiles in a rotary magazine, targets were engaged and the proper munition was either selected by simply rotating or dialing the magazine to the correct munition or by retracting munitions from the magazine, reconfiguring an existing booster with a new warhead (returning the previous warhead to storage again) and reinserting the newly configured missile back into the launcher's magazine. Practical ROF was twelve missiles per minute. The GEV-09 had storage for sixty boosters and 120 standardized warheads. Reloading of the vehicle was done by replacing a cassette of boosters stored in lots of 10 boosters each and then by stacking in modular cassettes of warheads in lots of 10 warheads per cassette. Most of this was done via powered equipment at a field depot, but in an emergency could be done by all four of the vehicle crew using simple hand tools.

A 12mm CBR was installed in a powered pintel mount on the front hull, designed for close in AP work, and was controlled by a autonomous / manual FiConSys in the driver's compartment. A second 12mm CBR was installed on the rear hull, and controlled by a autonomous / manual FiConSys in the VCO's station. Each fed from a dedicated 5000 round cassette. A Grant-McCallister close in defense system Model 414 was also installed for point defense work against incoming rounds. It was controlled by its own dedicated autonomous FiConSys and had redundant controls in each station for switchover. A 10,000 round cassette fed the system and the new proprietary electronics provided OTH Over The Horizon detection capacity as well.

Class: Missile Hovertank
Manufacturer: Phoenix Corporation/Argus Millitech/Oracle Microsystems/Neo Star Macrotechologies

Crew: Commander, Driver, 2 Weapon Systems Control Officers

SPEEDS:

STATISTICAL DATA:

 

	Hovertank	N/A	N/A
Total Length :	13.3m
Total Depth :	-
Total Height :	2.72m
Total Breadth :	-
Total Width:	4.34m
Total Dry Weight:	42.48 metric tons

 

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. Phoenix Arms Capricorn Type V Rotary Missile Launcher (2): The Capricorn Type V gives the Python extensive stand-off combat capability with its powerful medium-range J-LAM missiles. The J-LAM is an advanced missile with nap-of-the-earth capability (NOE), which means it can literally fly at hypersonic speeds while flying as low as 6 inches off the surface. The missile is often called the 'Snake' because of its zig-zag flight pattern that allows it to evade enemy countermeasures. Once the missile has reached its terminal phase, it rises quickly and attacks the enemy unit topside where its armor is often the softest. A wide array of warheads can be used with the J-LAM; however, the most popular tend to be HEAP (High-Explosive Armor Piercing) and HEAP-I (High-Explosive Armor Piercing--Incendiary).
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-Armor
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Assault
   • RANGE: 35 miles
   • RATE OF FIRE: Six missiles/minute per launcher
   • PAYLOAD: 6 pre-loaded in the magazine, 60 in internal storage; 66 missiles total
2. Phoenix Arms CBR-4F 12mm Cone Bore Repeater (2): Designed for close-in work against enemy infantry, the CBR-4F cone bore repeater fires 12mm caseless ammunition at speeds exceeding four kilometers per second for practically instantaneous time-on-target capability. Given the incredible velocities of the 12mm ammunition, almost all infantry powered armors are effectively useless against this weapon.
• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-infantry
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-mecha
• RANGE: 1.2 km
• RATE OF FIRE: 120000 rounds/minute
• PAYLOAD: 5000 rounds

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE GEV-07D:

• XINTIUM/NEUTRONIUM MULTI-LAYERED ARMOR: The Python's armor consists of two layers of armor. The first and undermost layer is composed of enriched neutrontium inter-weaved with mercurite fibers, which due to their natural properties block harmful electromagnetic radiation that can destroy electronic components and/or biological lifeforms. In-between the first layer and the outer layer are honeycombed neutrontium plates that are melded to the undermost layer of armor, which can cushion the concussive impact of blows on the mecha. The outermost layer is composed of Xintium alloy, the revolutionary metallic alloy that possesses an abnormal force in its molecules that regenerates molecular bonds overtime, which in turn makes the armor super resilient.
• BARRIER SHIELD GENERATOR: The Barrier Shield Generator of the Python generates a high-yield electromagnetic barrier shield that can deflect most types of weapons, protecting the powered armor from harm. The shield regenerates its power when not in use. The shield is always present but is not visible until a force is exerted upon it.
• RADAR: Oracle CPY-7 multi-band interleaved-multi-mode radar system, providing spherical very-long-range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes in addition to medium range imaging and target identification. This system includes passive modes for "stealthy" detection of targets. Oracle SLQ-310 multi-band interleaved multi-spectrum passive sensor system, providing spherical and extremely sensitive detection, identification, comparison and data storage of EM radiation at all altitudes.
• RADAR/INFRARED WARNING RECEIVERS: Multi-channel radar and infrared warning receivers. Gives warning against IR or Radar locks.
• ACTIVE RADAR JAMMER: Oracle SLQ-248 multi-wave radar jammer. Capable of jamming enemy radar; this includes radar from ships, other fighters, remote radar stations, and of course, aspect homing radars from enemy missiles.
• ENERGY-RESISTANT MERCURITE COATING: Using the highly resistant material known as mercurite, this coating scrambles laser tracking and effectively HALVES all energy weapon damage. Some weaker weapons will even bounce off the mercurite coating.
• RADIO COMMUNICATIONS: Wide-band and directional radio and video telecast capabilities. Range is 750 miles or can be boosted indefinately via satellite relay. The communications systems of NDI combat units are proprietary; that is that only other friendly systems can decipher the radio's encoded transmissions.
• LASER COMMUNICATIONS: Long-range, directional communications system. Effective range: 100,000 miles. The communications systems of NDI variable fighters are proprietary; that is that only other friendly systems can decipher the radio's encoded transmissions.
• LASER TARGETING SYSTEM: Thomson LT-5 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator. Range: 100 miles (160 km). Used for increased accuracy in the striking of enemy targets and is partly responsible for the drone's increased accuracy.
• OPTICS: INFRARED: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). This optical system projects a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the normal eye, but detectable by the Ocelot's sensors. The system allows the drone to detect hidden/concealed objects by their IR reflectiveness. The beam will be visible to anyone with IR sensitive optics, however.
• OPTICS: NIGHTVISION: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive light image intensifier that emits no light of its own, but relies on ambient light which is electronically amplified to produce a visible picture.
• OPTICS: THERMAL IMAGER: Range: 2000 feet (610 m). A passive optical heat sensor that detects infrared radiation projected by warm objects and converts that data into a false-color visible image. The system enables the drone to see in the dark, in shadows, and through smoke.
• SMOKE SCREEN SYSTEM: The Python can emit a thick cloud of smoke from its rear to create immediate cover. The smoke screen system can discharge a maximum of four bursts before needing to replace smoke canister. Each burst will cover a 60 ft area.
• ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION SHIELDS: Being a mechanized weapon, most enemies will resort to using EMP weapons to render the weapon useless. However, the electronic systems of the fighter have been shielded from electromagnetic pulse weapons using internal layers of mercurite to prevent harmful radiation from harming vital equipment.
• SQUAD LEVEL INTEGRATED COUNTERMEASURES SYSTEM: The SLICS was a complex system of squad level LOS and indirect networking among the high performance tactical computers that were part of each MI battledress. The SquadNet integrated each individual MI battledress equipped soldier into a operational unit and doctrine solution that was greater than the sum of its individual parts. Utilizing SLICS, an entire squad of battledress equipped soldiers could function as one greater effective unit, instead of as many lesser effective individual units. What one soldier knew or could see, sense, smell, detect, the entire squad knew equally well. All information from one suit or soldier was instantly available to every other member of the squad. SLICS also worked to integrate the EMS of the squad into one homogenous source, working to blend the squad into the background and 'phase' it out of enemy targeting systems reach. Suit emissions were carefully monitored by the SLICS and individuals were electromagnetically 'bled' selectively to match their backgrounds at a constant rate, monitored both locally by the individual suits which 'buddy checked' each other several hundred times a second, to the remote tactical drones which did 'removed' views of the squad to make sure that no EMS spikes were readily visible to the enemy. Target reference and engagement, target spotting, and integration into the mass of data which made up the 21CB became the norm. The entire squad worked flawlessly and seamlessly as one mobile unit, pooling resources and operating on a squad level instead of a individual level as had been the case before SLICS
• TACTICAL DRONES: These small RPVs were housed in a ‘hanger’ on the back of the suit and could be launched singly or together. The drones, no bigger than a man’s hand and roughly spherical in shape, were powered by a silent internal aerodyne system, and included a multi-sensor along with a compact hyper pulse transmitter and encoder. Using a drone, the onboard could spread the suit’s presence out to several hundred meters. The internal crystal storage power of the drone allowed it to loiter on station for upwards of two hours at a time, returning to the suit and recharging its internal batteries from the suits own power supply. Drones were common at depots, and were considered expendable. A drone could operate for up to 8 hours on a single charge, if it did not spend a lot of time in flight.
  

Content by Derran Tyler and Marty Bowles
HTML by Derran Tyler (disgruntlednegro@hotmail.com)
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