| APAGear II Archives | Volume 3, Number 1 | February, 2001 |
The Desert Rat is a light hunter/killer vehicle built on a reinforced Antelope Chassis. The current standard for the chassis includes a turreted Hammerstrike II guided missile system with a built-in sniper system. Along with its formidable Dimaen MK IV grenade launcher, the vehicle has stayed a cheap solution for an anti-gear vehicle over the last 100 years.
Originally, Davenger Industries was the first to roll the Desert Rat off its assembly lines in the late 1800s, one in a whole series of modified utility vehicles. At that time, the vehicle was armed with the Ankerson RP-209 rocket pack and the 44mm Dimean MK IV Grenade Launcher. In addition, the Desert Rat mounted only light steel alloy armor.
In 1913, with the advent of the CEF invasion, the Desert Rat became a mainstay supply line raider, used extensively in the maneuver tactics against CEF supply lines. Though many vehicles were lost when overrun by the hovertank garrisons; the Desert Rat proved an effective "hit and run" vehicle for the field.
The vehicle gained popularity among both Northern and Southern militaries, which were won over by the price and performance of the vehicle. As a result, other manufacturers, under the direction of the various polar armies proceeded to clone the Davenger model.
In the last months of conflict, Davenger Industries introduced an upgrade for the vehicle; the turreted Hammerstrike II guided missile system with a built-in sniper system that replaced the Ankerson RP-209 rocket pack. Keeping it's handy Dimaen MK IV; the vehicle now became a cheap anti-armor vehicle. In addition, later models were fitted with newer and lighter, ceramic duraplast armor.
Production Type: Mass Production
Cost: 269,500 credits
Manufacturer: Davenger Industries
Use: Wheeled Light Hunter/Killer Vehicle
Default Size: 3
Actual Size: 4
Height: 1.2m
Length: 3.7m
Mass: 2210 kg
Deployment Range: 500km
Crew: 2
Bonus Actions: 1
Movement: Combat 8 (48.0km/hr)
Movement: Top 15 (92.0km/hr)
Maneuver: -1
Armor: 8
Sensors: -2 2km
Fire Control: -2
Communications: -1 10km
Lemon Dice: 3
Threat Value: 281
OTV: 469.21
DTV: 42.72
MTV: 332.01
Name Arc Ammunition Payload 1 x AGM T 2 1 x APGL FF 6
Hostile Environment Protection: Desert Passenger Seating (1) Sniper System (AGM) Ammo Storage (4 AGM) Improved Off Road Reinforced Chassis
Partially Exposed Crew Compartment (Gunner)
"Electronic Warfare" add ECM (rating +2)
TV: +45
"Smoke" add smoke launcher (10 shots)
TV: +11
Many variants of the Desert Rat have appeared over the years, proving the design a sturdy platform for fulfilling many specific roles. Despite the usefulness and mainstay of gears, the Desert Rat can still provide a platform of formidable firepower in an inexpensive package.
"Thundering Rat" Remove: AGM, Sniper System
Add: VLFG (Turret, ammo 3), Stabilizer
Mount
Change: Ammo Storage (6)
TV: -74
The Thundering Rat is the most common variant in use in the Northern Guard. Despite the smaller chassis, the use of retractable, hydraulic stabilizers provide the necessary footing for mounting the formidable Rucker Group LAU-28 Field Gun. Able to hide out of range from the battle, the Northern Thundering Rat can provide a general-purpose, gear squad with the winning combination of artillery fire without the use of a more expensive Tybur or Mammoth.
"Infernal Rat" Remove: AGM, Sniper System,
Ammo Storage, Partially
Exposed Crew (Gunner)
Add: HFL (Turret, ammo 20), Fire
Resistant, Urban Friendly
Change: None
TV: -61
"Fire Fighter" (Infernal Variant)
Remove: None
Add: None
Change: all ammo to Fire/Fighting Foam
TV +1 to Infernal Variant TV
Used almost exclusively by the Southern Republic's Army, the Infernal variant is an effective urban combat unit. Wielding the powerful BURN-9p Heavy Flamer, the Infernal Rat can burn out most partisan forces and reduce a rebel firebase or urban hideout to ashes. The Inferno has thus served as a symbol of Republican strength and terror in the face of increasing BRF tactics within many Southern Savannah towns, patrolling those locales regularly.
Another use for the Infernal Rat variant is for fire fighting by supplying the flamer and grenade launcher with fire fighting foam ammunition. The high availability of these vehicles has made it a logical choice for such use in poorer districts where urban fire-fighting gears are just too costly.
"Pre-War of the Alliance" Remove: AGM, Sniper System
Add: MRP/9 (turret, ammo 9)
Change: Armor (6), Ammo Storage (9)
TV: -112
"Typical Rover" Remove: AGM, Sniper System
Add: LRF (turret, ammo 10)
Change: Armor (6), Ammo Storage (20)
TV: -171
Despite that the War of the Alliance has been long over, many of the Desert Rats haven't undergone the Hammerstrike II upgrades. Used for providing covering and saturation fire, many city-states maintain large numbers of Desert Rats still using the reliable Ankerson RP-209 rocket pack.
In addition, many rover gangs find the older Desert Rats to be the perfect machines for their operations. Most are left with buying weapon stripped models. The rovers then retrofit whatever heavy weapons they can obtain, most often 20mm to 30mm cannons.
This vehicle design was inspired by US Army M966 and M1045 HMMWV TOW Missile Carrier family of vehicles. I have used these vehicle variants many times for backing up a general-purpose squad or in Badlands Rover tactical campaigns.
| APAGear II Archives | Volume 3, Number 1 | February, 2001 |
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