M8 Buford Armored Gun SystemCountry of Origin: United States |
| Specifications | |
| Type: Fire support vehicle | Armor Material: Aluminum with steel armor modules |
| Manufacturer: BAE Systems (ex-United Defense) | Armor Thickness: n/a |
| Height: 2.37 m | Maximum Speed: 70 kph on-road |
| Length: 9.18 m | Powerplant: Detroit Diesel 6V-921A V6 |
| Weight: Level 1: 16.7 tons, Level 2: 20 tons, Level 3: 23.6 tons | Horsepower: 550 hp |
| Description | |
| Size: 9 | Total Actions: 2 |
| Weapons | |||||||||||||
| Name | Code | Arc | S | M | L | EX | Acc | FC | Dam | Qty | ROF | Special | Ammo |
| 105mm/51-caliber rifled gun | LTC (see New Weapons) |
T | 5 | 10 | 20 | 40 | 0 | 0 | x22 | 1 | 0 | HEAT | 15 |
| 105mm gun | LTC (see New Weapons) |
T | 5 | 10 | 20 | 40 | 0 | 0 | x22 | 1 | 0 | Armor-Piercing, -1 DM / range band |
15 |
| Pintle-mounted M2HB 12.7mm heavy machinegun | HMG | T Pintle | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | x4 | 1 | +3 | Anti-Inf | 600 |
| Coaxial-mounted MAG 7.62mm machinegun | LMG | T Pintle | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | x3 | 1 | +4 | Anti-Inf | 4500 |
| Defense | |
| Primary Movement: Ground 4/8 (48 kph) | Secondary Movement: N/A |
| Maneuver: -2 | Armor: 10 / 20 / 30 |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Crew: 3 (Driver, Commander, Gunner) | Deployment Range: 480 km |
| Sensors: +1 / 3 km | Communications: +1 / 20 km |
| Perks: Airdroppable, Ammo/Fuel Containment System, Backup Communications, HEAT Resistant Armor (Rating 2), Reinforced Armor (Front Arc, Rating 3 at Level 2 (see below), Rating 5 at Level 3) | Flaws: Annoyance (vehicle is only airdroppable in Level 1 configuration) |
| Defects: None | Lemon Dice: 4 |
| Notes | |
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The M8 was designed to be equipped with a series of add-on armor panels, so the level of protection can be configured to the level of threat. Level 1 was the basic vehicle, and was light enough to be airdropped. Level 2 was the standard mode, with some add-on armor, while Level 3 was the "heavy" mode, with the most armor and the greatest weight. The M8 was being developed for the U.S. Army as a fire support vehicle and light tank, but the project was cancelled in 1996 as the C-17 Globemaster III entered service with the U.S. Air Force. As the C-17 can carry a M1 series main battle tank, the development of a seperate air-deployable light tank was viewed as redundant. The four prototypes that were produced were placed in storage, and it has been reported that they were sent to Iraq in 2004 to provide fire support for the 82nd Airborne Division. Whether they were actually sent has not been easy to verify with official sources (specifically, BAE Systems or the U.S. Army), but the stats are presented here for players interested in the vehicle. |
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