Mark II Combat Car

From Beyond the Frontier
Mark II Akita Combat Car
Overview
Designation: Mark II Combat Car
Manufacturer: The Initiative
Preceded By: Mark I Wolf Combat Car
Specifications
Weight: 4 Tons
Crew: Four (Driver, Three Gunners)
Armament: 3x 12.7mm Coilguns
Engine/Power Plant: Antimatter Cell
For for prior models of combat car, see Mark I Combat Car.

The Mark II Akita Combat Car (M2CC) is a military hovercraft fielded by The Initiative.

History

The Mark II Akita Combat Car was designed late in the War of Secession for mounted patrols. Following the war, it was retrofitted and remained in service with almost every branch of the armed forces.

Design

The Mark II Combat Car is an open-topped hovercraft, designed as an infantry fighting vehicle. The Akita's infantry spaces were designed for three crew in Armored Exo-Suits to control three 12.7mm coilguns, while protected by a 5.08CM (2in) thick armored wall, to which the coilguns are mounted on pivots giving each a 180-degree firing arc, with on located on each side and one firing forward over the nose of the craft. The top is wide enough to allow for a number of additional passengers (up to four). The armored ring around the top houses several hardpoints allowing poles to be mounted to support an armored splinter shield as needed.

The Mark II Combat car, like the Mark I Combat Car (MICC) is powered by a compact antimatter cell, and propelled by eight variable pitch drive fans (three on each side, and two forward). These drive fans force air into an armored plenum chamber beneath the craft. The armor plating on both the plenum chamber and the main hull of the craft is comprised of titanium alloy covered by ablative ceramic plating. Located in a belt above the plenum chamber between the armor plating is a series of explosive strips formed as shaped charges firing a high density field of ball bearings to shred nearby infantry, unarmored vehicles, or incoming warheads. The Akita was designed to be as low-tech in it's systems as possible, to cut down the weight and cost, allowing it to be quickly mass produced. It lacks the heavy weapons to go against some targets, allowing it to complement the MICC rather than replace it, which could go up against larger targets.The driver's compartment is sealed, allowing the driver to view the world through a number of automated systems, or to ride exposed with their head through driver's hatch located below the forward gun.