COMPETITION Brawling Bobcat: Armored Truck for the Lone Free State (2245)

[Sturgeon]

BULLETIN: ALL INDUSTRIAL-MECHANICAL CONCERNS

 

SOLICITATION FOR ALL-TERRAIN SCOUT TRUCK

 

The Provisional Government of the Lone Free State issues the following solicitation for a new All-Terrain Scout Truck. The vehicle will be the main line ground combat asset of the Texan Free State Rangers, and the Texan Free State Patrol, and will replace the ageing G-12 Scout Truck. The All-Terrain Scout Truck (ATST) will be required to counter the new Mormon vehicles and weapons we are encountering in the frontier, while still being fully road mobile and easing conversion training and maintenance for the Lone Free State militias. Please see the attached sheet for a full list of solicitation requirements.

 

 

Submissions will be accepted in USC only.

 

 

OOC Note: I recommend reading the lore segments, as they are stripped down to effectively present only relevant facts and context about the situation in Texas. You don't, strictly speaking, have to, but it's considered essential information.

 

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IS IT TIME FOR A LONE FREE STATE ARMY?

The Lone Star

 

by Captain Julio Rodgers of the Texas Free State Rangers

 

March 15, 2240

As a Texan first and a Ranger second, I value the independence of Texans above all else. Historically, the Lone Free State has ensured the liberty and independence of all Texans by eschewing a traditional military organization, and instead leaving the common defense to local authorities, who are adequately funded from the national treasury and very well equipped. This has done exactly what it was intended to do, and sets the Lone Free State apart from other governments in a way that has made it the greatest nation in the Former United States. However, as we approach the middle of the 23rd Century, we will find ourselves up against enemies unlike any we have fought before. Even now, past the New Mexico territories, our rangers tell us a state of Cascadia is building a military force the likes of which this continent has not seen since before the War. Our current system for national defense cannot-

 

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THE LAND BEYOND THE MISSISSIPPI: LONE STAR EDITION

The Post-New York Times

Op-ed by Muhammad Alharris

 

September 1, 2241

Past the quiet iron hills, the swamps of the Mississippi Commune, and the great river of the same name, lies a hard but beautiful place. Texas, the hardest hit of the 50 formerly United States, is even today no forgiving haven for weary travelers. Sweltering, 120 degree summers that last 9 months mean only men of grit and guts dare live there for very long. When my uber pulled into the station at Beaumont, I was already soaked with sweat. I checked my phone, 103 degrees, it read. It was 10 AM, in early May. Unlike in the East with its electric trains connecting the microcities that dot the coast, Texas is a place of roads. Great, spanning highways harkening back to the old world criss cross the country, with ubers flitting to and fro in chaotic swarms. What mass transit there is takes the form of large electric uber trolleys that seat 50, but I found that most people still drive their personally owned ubers - powered by diesel! - 1 to a person or two. Independence is the most important thing to Texans. No wonder, since it was so hard won in nuclear fire. And, I think (maybe a bit darkly), who else would put up with living here? 

 

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FAST ENOUGH, BUT NOT ENOUGH

 

Texas Patrol Weekly

 

by Deputy Marshal Art Renner

 

January 13th, 2243

 

There is no question that the G-12 Armored Truck has been the backbone of Lone Free State defense since the teen years of this century. Fast, with top speed of 70 mph, and long legged, with a range of almost 250 miles on a single tank, the G-12 was exactly what Texas needed to patrol its substantial and growing border. Was. The situation of today is not as it was. We're familiar with the scene, immortalized in the 2229 movie Lone Star, of Marshals charging into battle at 50 miles per hour against the bandit menace, triple machine guns blazing and almost out of fuel, but just in time to save the day, and a grateful settlement. Today, the machine gun is not The Decider anymore. That title now belongs to the recoilless and the autocannon, because we aren't just facing banditos anymore. Now, they have their own armored cars, their own machine guns, and even their own recoillesses from time to time. The G-12, Old Reliable, is now Old Liability.

 

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ALL ROADS LEAD TO AUSTIN

 

Austin Standard

 

by Marie Lemarre

 

July 23, 2239

 

Texas is not the jewel of the United States as it once was, but in the 23rd Century it still remains a force to be reckoned with. The unquestioned source of Lone Free State power is its vast, soaring highways, which keep men and materiel flowing to where they are most needed. Trucks of every variety use these roads, but they are most critical as a national security asset. Would our borders be as safe as they are, would the productivity of the free Texas man be as great as it is, without the ability of the Texas Patrol to go from Amarillo to Corpus Christi in six hours? No! The lifeblood of the Texan state pumps over our soaring highways, and our highways protect that lifeblood all the same. Of all the former American member states, only Texas has maintained its highways, and it reaps the benefits.

 

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THE GROWING THREAT PAST THE BORDER

 

The Lone Star

by Hillum Dickens

 

October 4th, 2242

Our border is once again threatened! A new fanatical enemy has appeared in Rockies, threatening our settlers in Moriarty, Wagon Mound, and Springer. Twelve settlements have been raided in the past eight months, with ten more reporting sightings of the "Mormon Menace". Just last week in Springer, cowherds were attacked by men with face cloths, wielding rifles and riding in trucks. They threw crude incendiary devices and torched several buildings, including a Post Office. The local Border Guard was alerted, but by the time they could ride over the men were gone, and 1200 head of cattle with them. These attacks cannot go-

 

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SHOCK AND AWE IN RATON

The Lone Star

by Hillum Dickens
 

May 30th, 2243
 

The Sante Fe militias are defeated! Mormon forces, better equipped than any we have seen before, have crushed the Lone Free State militias ordered to reinforce Raton by Provisional Governor O'Connor. Initial attacks on the border town were met with local response, but results were inconclusive as the Mormons led the Sheriff's deputies on long chases through the mountains. Exhausted and drained, they returned only to find buildings burned, farms destroyed, and livestock and materiel stolen out from under them. Immediately upon receiving the news, Governor O'Connor ordered the Texas Free State Rangers to assemble and deputize across the state, and an immediate action by the Sante Fe mayor to mobilize the militias in the area and march on Raton in response. Once they arrived, they found not forces of elusive mountain men, but a war machine of hundreds of men armed with heavy weapons, and tens of powerful tracked armored trucks with high caliber cannons. The Santa Fe Command, convinced of its numerical superiority, attacked the Mormon forces with haste. The Mormons responded by firing salvos of powerful new recoilless weapons that turned armored trucks into scrap, and using their own, better armed and armored trucks to mop up defenders. The result was a massacre.

 

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INTELLIGENCE DOSSIER: CALIFORNIAN DEVELOPMENTS IN MILITARY TECHNOLOGY

CONFIDENTIAL - CLASSIFICATION A

TEXAS LONE FREE STATE RANGERS
 

PUBLISHED: August 9th, 2244

RECEIVED: August 18th, 2244

DURING THE SECOND EXPEDITION INTO THE GONZALEZ CLAIM, INDEPENDENT RANGER DETACHMENTS WERE DISPATCHED TO LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE ABOUT TEXAS'S NEAREST NEIGHBOR AND THEIR MILITARY CAPABILITIES. WHAT WAS LEARNED IN THOSE SORTIES IS OF THE HIGHEST NOTE AND PRIORITY TO THE SECURITY OF THE LONE FREE STATE. CALIFORNIAN WEAPONS ARE ADVANCED FAR BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS, AND INCLUDE TRACKED, ARMORED TRUCKS ("TANKS") WITH POWERFUL GUNS COMPARABLE TO LIGHT ARTILLERY, AND ARMOR UP TO THREE INCHES THICK. THEIR AIR FORCES, THOUGH SOMEWHAT LESS TECHNICALLY SOPHISTICATED THAN OURS, ARE FAR MORE NUMEROUS AND CONTAIN A WIDER VARIETY OF AIR ASSETS, INCLUDING HIGH SPEED TURBOJET AND PISTON POWERED AIRCRAFT DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO COUNTER OTHER AIR ASSETS. THESE WOULD POSE AN EXTREME THREAT TO FREE STATE AIR GUARD UNITS, WHICH INCLUDE ONLY LIGHT AIRCRAFT INTENDED TO COUNTER GROUND TARGETS. THEY POSSESS A STANDING ARMY IN NUMBER EXCEEDING EVEN ALL MILITIA AND GOVERNMENT FORCES IN THE LONE FREE STATE BY MANY TIMES. THIS ARMY IS ALSO WELL EQUIPPED WITH A VARIETY OF WEAPONS CAPABLE OF PENETRATING VIRTUALLY ALL LONE FREE STATE GROUND ASSETS, SUCH AS THE G-12 ARMORED SCOUT TRUCK-
 

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GUNS OF TEXAS

 

Encyclopedia of American Small Arms, 6th Edition

Vienna Publishing, 2241

Despite having no formal military, the Lone Free State of Texas has an extensive arsenal of sophisticated small arms and artillery. Local militias are provided a stipend with which they can purchase arms from the government, up to and including recoilless rifles of 105mm bore according to reports. It is therefore worth examining the weapons of the Lone Free State.

PISTOLS

 

The primary pistol of the Lone Free State is the G-36. This recoil operated semiautomatic pistol holds 15 rounds and has a barrel length of 102mm. Bore diameter is 10.2mm and it fires a 10x22mm round that was developed in the pre-war United States. Standard ammunition is semi-jacketed with a steel core, with both penetrating and expanding characteristics. The slide and barrel are both hammer-forged steel, while the frame is steel with polymer panels. Unusually, the gun is fired with a cowboy-esque hammer, and not a striker as has been ubiquitous for nearly two centuries. This pistol is commonly seen in Texas, as it is the best weapon available for purchase using government funds for local militias and landowners. At the same time, many local shops turn out boutique pistols of numerous varieties, all of which are broadly similar in characteristics to the G-36. In most cases, like the A1 version of the G-36, they provide a slot on top of the slide for a rugged reflector sight, which is commonly attached.

RIFLES

 

The most common rifle is the G-15. This is a 10-shot, manually operated rifle with provision for an optical sight, normally a robust 1-8x being attached. Caliber is the relatively antiquated 7.62x51mm. The feed mechanism is a sturdy steel box magazine which sits below the action of the rifle. Unlike most manually operated rifles of the Americas, the G-15 is lever actuated, not operated via a bolt handle. Texan shooters feel this gives them a superior rate of fire without compromising range, although it must be said this compromises prone and concealed fire capability. The G-15 is being phased out in favor of the newer and semiautomatic G-38.

MACHINE PISTOLS

 

Pistol caliber automatic shoulder weapons are uncommon in Texas, but the numerous police and paramilitary forces of the state occasionally use "sub machine guns" as they call them. Virtually the only model available is the G-32, which fires the same 10x22mm round as the G-36 pistol. It is a select-fire, closed bolt weapon using an unusual gas operated mechanism. Capacity is 35 rounds. Reportedly, it is very expensive and usually requires local funds in addition to the stipend to afford. Occasionally these weapons find their way into criminal hands, and they have also been seen in the possession of settler citizens who have legitimately purchased them.

STURMGEWEHRS

 

Offsetting the lack of machine pistols somewhat, the Texas government has aggressively pursued the sturmgewehr concept as part of their arms program. The latest of many Texan weapons in this class is the G-42, a gas operated select-fire weapon with a capacity of 28 rounds. Caliber is 6.86x40mm, and muzzle velocity is over 900 m/s. This rifle has been made relatively inexpensive due to a large production rate and widespread adoption by the settler population, who use it primarily for homestead defense and hunting. Like its manually-operated predecessor, it is compatible with optics, and usually is found equipped with the same 1-8 optical sight. Numerous other weapons, including pre-war designs both reclaimed and newly manufactured, are also used by various Texas citizens and militias.

MACHINE GUNS

 

Although there is not much need for belt fed machine guns in cattle herding (the primary trade of the citizens of the Texas countryside) the Texas government has procured significant numbers for border control and to combat bandits. Most of these are contained in armories at the various outposts and post offices that run along the country's substantial highway system, but some are held privately. Despite most belt feds worldwide being based on designs from over 200 years ago, many of those in the Lone Free State are original designs dating to within the last 50 years. This is exemplified by the primary Texan belt fed machine gun, the G-17A4, which fires an advanced high pressure steel cased 7.62mm round with either an open or a closed bolt operation. Most remarkable is its weight, which is just over 8 kilograms. Stocked infantry variants, as well as more numerous fixed/vehicle stockless variants both exist. Texan heavy machine guns still fire the 322-year-old 12.7x99mm round, albeit in a greatly augmented form. Like the smaller 7.62mm machine gun round, it uses a steel case and relatively high chamber pressure of 4800 BAR, which results in a 3,150 ft/s muzzle velocity with its 750 grain armor piercing explosive projectile. The principal machine gun in this caliber is the G-19A2 which is gas operated and utilizes a soft recoil system and has a rate of fire of approximately 500 rounds per minute. These machine guns are usually seen mounted to government G-12 4x4 armored cars.

 

AUTOCANNONS

 

Only in the past 15 years as the Lone Free State invested heavily in autocannons. For most of its post-war history, there were simply not enough targets that required automatic cannons, with very few armored ground vehicles and aircraft being operated by non-state actors in the Texas region until recently, to necessitate development of new weapons. However, as the Lone Free State has expanded, it has begun to encounter better organized and armed natives, necessitating the development of a standardized suite of new large-caliber autocannons. Chief among these is the electric G-37 firing a 30.5x114mmB round with a muzzle velocity of about 820 m/s and a rate of fire of about 550 rounds per minute. Interestingly, this cannon is capable of being mounted on any of the same pintle mounts as the G-19A2, giving light Texan units potentially very good firepower.

 

RECOILLESS ARTILLERY

 

Despite not seeing the need for autocannons for many years, the Lone Free State has liberally used the recoilless artillery concept, with most local militias possessing some stockpile of recoilless weapons. Numerous variants of recoilless rifle exist in three primary calibers, 57.2x305mmR, 76.2x406mmR, and 105.4x610mmR. These recoilless cannons are commonly mounted to the light helicopters used by various Texan government entities.

 

 

A Texan G-18A7 helicopter waits for routine maintenance outside the hangar. These helicopters are the primary aerial support asset across the Lone Free State of Texas. (Reader's note: This picture shows two quite shagged out Kiowas, but the G-18 is a unique indigenous design to the LFSoT. The Kiowa is only used here to represent the kind of helicopter that the G-18 would be.)

 

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Supplementary Out of Canon Information:

 

 

I.     Technology available:

a.      Armor:
The following armor materials are in full production and available for use. Use of a non-standard armor material requires permission from a judge.
Structural materials:

                                                              i.     RHA/CHA

Basic steel armor, 360 BHN. The reference for all weapon penetration figures, good impact properties, fully weldable. Available in thicknesses up to 4 inches (RHA).
Density- 0.28 lb/in^3.

                                                             ii.     Aluminum 5083

More expensive to work with than RHA per weight, middling impact properties, low thermal limits. Excellent stiffness.

 Fully weldable. Available in thicknesses up to 4 inches.
Mass efficiency vs RHA of 1 vs CE, 0.9 vs KE.
Thickness efficiency vs RHA of 0.33 vs CE, 0.3 vs KE.
Density- 0.1 lb/in^3 (approx. 1/3 of steel).

For structural integrity, the following guidelines are recommended:

For heavy vehicles (30-40 tons), not less than 1 in RHA/1.75 in Aluminum base structure

For medium-light vehicles (<25 tons), not less than 0.5 in RHA/1 in Aluminum base structure
Intermediate values for intermediate vehicles may be chosen as seen fit.
Non-structural passive materials:

                                                            iii.     HHA

Steel, approximately 500 BHN through-hardened. Approximately 1.5x as effective as RHA against KE and HEAT on a per-weight basis. Not weldable, middling shock properties. Available in thicknesses up to 1 inch.
Density- 0.28 lb/in^3

                                                            iv.     Fuel

Mass efficiency vs RHA of 1.3 vs CE, 1 vs KE.

Thickness efficiency vs RHA of 0.14 vs CE, 0.1 vs KE.

Density-0.03 lb/in^3.

                                                          v.     Assorted stowage/systems

Mass efficiency vs RHA- 1 vs CE, 0.8 vs KE.

                                                         vi.     Spaced armor

Requires a face of at least 1 inch LOS vs CE, and at least 0.75 caliber LOS vs fullbore AP KE.

Reduces penetration by a factor of 1.1 vs CE or 1.05 vs KE for every 4 inchair gap.
Spaced armor rules only apply after any standoff surplus to the requirements of a reactive cassette.

Reactive armor materials:

                                                            vii.     ERA

A sandwich of 0.125in/0.125in/0.125in steel-explodium-steel.
Requires mounting brackets of approximately 10-30% cassette weight.

Must be spaced at least 2 sandwich thicknesses away from any other armor elements to allow full functionality. 81% coverage (edge effects).

                                                            viii.     NERA

A sandwich of 0.25in steel/0.25in rubber/0.25in steel.
Requires mounting brackets of approximately 10-30% cassette weight.
Must be spaced at least 1 sandwich thickness away from any other armor elements to allow full functionality. 95% coverage.

The details of how to calculate armor effectiveness will be detailed in Appendix 1.

b.      Firepower

                                                              i.     Bofors 57mm - 85,000 PSI PMax/70,000 PSI Peak Operating Pressure, high quality steel cases, recoil mechanisms and so on are at an equivalent level to that of the USA in the year 1960.

                                                             ii.     No APFSDS currently in use, experimental weapons only - Spindle sabots or bourelleted sabots, see for example the Soviet BM-20 100mm APFSDS.

                                                            iii.     Tungsten is available for tooling but not formable into long rod penetrators.

                                                            iv.     Texan shaped charge technology - 4 CD penetration for high-pressure resistant HEAT, 5 CD for low pressure/ precision formed HEAT.

                                                             v.     The subsidy-approved GPMG for the Lone Free State of Texas has the same form factor as the M240, but with switchable feed direction.. The standard HMG has the same form factor as the Kord, but with switchable feed direction.

c.       Mobility

                                                              i.     Engines tech level:

1.      MB 838 (830 HP)

2.      AVDS-1790-5A (908 HP)

3.      Kharkov 5TD (600 HP)

4.    Detroit Diesel 8V92 (400 HP)

5.    Detroit Diesel 6V53 (200 HP)

                                                             ii.     Power density should be based on the above engines. Dimensions are available online, pay attention to cooling of 1 and 3 (water cooled).

                                                            iii.     Power output broadly scales with volume, as does weight. Trying to extract more power from the same size may come at the cost of reliability (and in the case of the 5TD, it isn’t all that reliable in the first place).

                                                            iv.     There is nothing inherently wrong with opposed piston or 2-stroke engines if done right.

d.      Electronics

                                                              i.     LRFs- unavailable

                                                             ii.     Thermals-unavailable

                                                            iii.     I^2- Gen 2 maximum

                                                            vi.     Texas cannot mass produce microprocessors or integrated circuits

                                                           vii.    Really early transistors only (e.g., transistor radio)

                                                          viii.    While it is known states exist with more advanced computer technology, the import of such systems are barred by the east coast states who do not approve of their use by militaristic entities.

 

Armor calculation appendix.

[Sturgeon]

I have more to write about the Hawkeyes, and of the Texan view of California, and what's the deal with Mexico, but this is plenty to get y'all started.

[Sturgeon]

From the discord:

[Sturgeon]

 

Map of the Lone Free State of Texas showing its extensive road network. Note the dashed line showing the old border before Ranger Commandant Edwin González's 2237 expedition to the Western Gulf.

[Lord_James]

What is “I^2 - Gen 2” under electronics? 

[Sturgeon]

15 minutes ago, Lord_James said:

What is “I^2 - Gen 2” under electronics? 

 

Image intensifiers, e.g. night vision

[Sturgeon]

STANDARD WHEELS

I am providing 3 standard wheel sizes for the competition which are considered "standard" Texas rim/wheel sizes. Please note that you may use your own wheel sizes or wheels, or no wheels at all (entries may be tracked). These are just made available for the convenience of the competitors. They include:

17" RIM WHEEL

20" RIM WHEEL

24" RIM WHEEL 

You will need to make your own wheel hubs, obviously.

These assets shamelessly stolen from Jaanus Ismael, off GrabCAD.

 

If you need another file format, let me know what works for you.

[Xoon]

Let me get this straight?

No size or weight limit? 

[N-L-M]

Size is essentially unrestricted, axle load must be below 10 tons (per axle ofc)

[Xoon]

4 minutes ago, N-L-M said:

Size is essentially unrestricted, axle load must be below 10 tons (per axle ofc)

[N-L-M]

If that's what you feel best suits the needs of the Lone Free State, go for it.

[Sturgeon]

1 hour ago, Xoon said:

Let me get this straight?

No size or weight limit? 

 

Yes although we do have a couple last minute requirements for you.

[Xoon]

58 minutes ago, N-L-M said:

If that's what you feel best suits the needs of the Lone Free State, go for it.

I am just joking.

I am guessing the practical limit is 40 ton, since more than 4 axles are rare on AFVs.

 

 

 

@Sturgeon

 

I am going to laugh my ass off if this ends up being the winning submisson, just replace the crane with a cannon.

[Lord_James]

Was about to ask the same question about size limit. Now, I do remember that Mowag made a 10x10 version of the Piranha once, might go with something like that.
 

There is only the 30mm auto cannon and the RRs? No larger auto cannons or artillery / field guns? 

[Sturgeon]

10 minutes ago, Lord_James said:

Was about to ask the same question about size limit. Now, I do remember that Mowag made a 10x10 version of the Piranha once, might go with something like that.
 

There is only the 30mm auto cannon and the RRs? No larger auto cannons or artillery / field guns? 

 

They have other weapons but they are not detailed. Use your imagination.

[Sturgeon]

How many teams do we have right now?

[Xoon]

Mock up is coming along:

 

 

[Xoon]

Improved hull:

 

Currently 5,38 Metric Ton.

[Sturgeon]

Don't forget the armor calculation appendix!

[Sturgeon]

OP updated with additional details.

[TokyoMorose]

Doing some numbers in my head and comparing to various guns out there, if that 7.5lbs HE per shot or salvo requirement is in terms of fill weight and not total shell weight (and I am assuming that is the case)... meeting that is going to be an interesting challenge. Some of the ideas I have are real goofy for that.

 

[Kal]

Caspir

[Kal]

Texas 1942

 

https://texasarchive.org/2013_00338

 

 

[N-L-M]

4 hours ago, TokyoMorose said:

if that 7.5lbs HE per shot or salvo requirement is in terms of fill weight and not total shell weight (and I am assuming that is the case)

You are correct.

Can be a single big shot, or a burst of indeterminate length, or any other special tricks you come up with!

The Rangers are very open minded when it comes to getting HE delivered to targets.

[Toxn]

4 hours ago, N-L-M said:

You are correct.

Can be a single big shot, or a burst of indeterminate length, or any other special tricks you come up with!

The Rangers are very open minded when it comes to getting HE delivered to targets.

You'll have to correct me on this, but hitting the requirement with a single shot means something along the lines of a 4.7'/120mm calibre shell.

 

Edit: so, using the 122mm OF-462 shell as a reference, and assuming that the filler weighs the same as TNT, then the minimum you can get away with is 4.5'/115mm, with an all-up shell weight of 50.3lb/22.8kg.