Craft: TertiusBane Ind. Shrike-23C Combat Support
Tank
Type: Light Tank
Scale: Speeder
Length: 9 meters
Skill: Repulsorlift Operations
Cost: 21,500 credits
Crew: 2
Passengers: 2
Cover: Full
Cargo Capacity: 700 kg.
Move: 112; 320 kph
Maneuverability: 2D+2
Body Strength: 3D
Altitude Range: - 20 meters
Weapons:
2 Light Blaster Cannon (fire linked)
Scale: Speeder
Fire Arc: Front
Crew: Pilot
Skill: Vehicle Blasters; Light Blaster Cannon
Fire Control: 1D+1
Range: 100-300m/700m/1.40km
Damage: 3D+1
4 Plasma Autocannons (two fire linked pairs)
Scale: Character
Fire Arc: Turret
Crew: 1
Skill: Vehicle Blasters; Plasma Autocannon
Fire Control: 3D+2
Range: 100-300m/500m/1.0km
Damage: 9D+1
Designed primarily to provide light fire support for
infantry units, the Shrike tanks are not really designed to take
on other vehicles. The light blaster cannons are primarily a
weapon of last resort. Mounted below the cockpit, they are used
to drive off harassing units, but are not really powerful enough
to take on opposing mechanized units.
The two autocannon turrets are much more impressive.
Mounted fore and aft on the Shrike's spine, the two
gyrostabilized turrets are capable of putting out streams of
plasma for hours at a time, which are absolutely lethal to
infantry units, and are capable of taking out lighter vehicles.
Originally, the Shrikes were designed as infantry fighting
vehicles. Shrikes of that period had only a single autocannon
turret, and would carry four dismounts. The effectiveness of the
autocannons led to excessive frontline use of the Shrikes,
putting the lives of the dismounts at risk. Yaeger Central
Command split the Shrike into two designs; the Shrike-3B, a
dedicated infantry support vehicle, and the Tabor-1A, an infantry
fighting vehicle.
Since that time the Shrike has undergone a series of
redesigns, but still retains some elements of its earlier
profile. The space which had been taken for the dismounts was
replaced with a very high powered power plant, which is actually
somewhat larger than the Shrike strictly needs, allowing it to
put out more power when absolutely necessary (though such usage
tends to cause systems to burn out), and which allows for a far
greater carrying capacity than the Shrike has internal space,
allowing for external riders (for whom the Shrike has handholds
and footholds), and to cover the vehicle with various forms of
camouflage.
In combat, the Shrike is used primarily as an infantry
support vehicle, for both large and small scale operations.
Mechanized rifle units are generally accompanied by a pair of
Shrikes whenever possible, and Shrikes will occasionally be
dropped by Doublets into high combat
zones to provide quick and wide deployment of high powered
anti-personnel weaponry. Another use for Shrikes is as mobile
autocannon emplacements. When used in this fashion, the Shrikes
are often parked sideways across the expected line of attack, and
covered over up to the autocannon with earth and debris, to disguise
it as a target, and to reduce the area available for attack.