Shrike Combat Support Tank


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.
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