GAW Stryker Family of Combat Vehicles

At the beginning of the Twenty-First Century, the US Army adopted the Stryker light armored vehicle. It was larger and heavier than the Marine Corps LAV it resembled. Mounting stronger armor, lacks the amphibious capabilities. Also an eight wheeled vehicle, it was created in several variants. There were armored personnel carrier versions, mobile gun system, anti-aircraft versions, anti-tank versions, mortar armed versions, cargo versions, recovery versions, electronic warfare versions, and command and control versions. Also like the LAV, the Stryker was relegated to National Guard and Reserve armories and museums.

Some of these vehicles have been found by adventures. Finding their way into Golden Age Weaponsmiths, they have been refitted with current technology. Strykers are respected for their speed and ease of maintenance. However, many more LAVs survived the Coming of the Rifts and through pure numbers have become more popular. However, the Stryker is coveted by those who recognize it for what it is. It has the same mobility as the the LAV despite its larger size, carries heavier armor than the LAV, and has a larger transport capacity. It does not have the ability to travel on the surface of the water though. Because of the larger engine, it is easier to upgrade with a fusion reactor. Some think that GAW may begin manufacturing their own Strykers, but most believe that it may stick with the LAV line its already started.

All versions of the Stryker carry smoke grenade launchers. All variants except the medical vehicle carry a Modular Remote Weapon System. Like all weapons on the Stryker, the MRWS is controlled from inside the vehicle, protecting the crew from harm. The MRWS can carry a 5.56mm, 7.62mm or .50 caliber machine gun, or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. These mounts will also take the laser and ion squad automatic rifles, any rail gun that weighs less 250 lbs (112.5 kg), or a Wellington automatic grenade launcher. Many crews also add a light mini-missile launcher to the turret. On all variants except the MGS, the MRWS is mounted on the front of the hull. Refitted medical vehicles now carry an MRWS.

The M1126 type was the most common vehicle. Designed to carry 9 infantrymen, it was only armed with the standard Modular Remote Weapon Station (MRWS).

The M1128 Mobile Gun System is actually the least common but most powerful. Its main weapon is a 105mm tank gun in a remote controlled, low profile mount. The ammunition is more limited than a true tank but has a long range and is powerful. The vehicle is armed with a coaxial weapon mount that will take the same array of weapons as the MRWS. A third crew station, for a gunner, is added. There is also an MRWS mounted on top of the turret, usually controlled by the vehicle commander.

Another variant was the M1129, an accurate and lethal high angle fire support platform utilizing a 120mm mortar, the type favored by the Army. It has increased range and damage compared to the smaller mortar used by the USMC LAV-mortar carrier, but requires a larger, heavier mount. The vehicle also carries a dismount 60mm mortar in its equipment load should the crew have to leave the vehicle behind (the 120mm is much too heavy for man portability). The larger vehicle is able to carry almost the same payload as the LAV despite carrying a larger weapon. An additional crewman is carried, which allows the M1129 to maintain the same firing rate as its smaller mounted cousin.

The main other version of the vehicle is M1133 Medical Evacuation Vehicle. It carries a crew of three (driver and two medics) and can carry four litter or six ambulatory patients while medical personnel provide care on the way.

By the time of its inception, missile guidance had progressed to the point that the Army entrusted air defense and anti-tank missile duty to the same platform, the M1134 Stryker Missile Carrier. It does not carry any troops and is armed with an MRWS in addition to the missile mount.

For the moment, no other variants have been recovered.

Model Type:	GAW M1126	Armored Personnel Vehicle
	GAW M1128	Mobile Gun System
	GAW M1129	Mortar Carrier
	GAW M1133	Medical Evacuation Vehicle
	GAW M1134	Missile Carrier

Vehicle Type: Multi-Purpose Eight Wheeled Ground Combat Vehicle

Crew:	GAW M1126	2 (Driver and Commander)
	GAW M1128	3 (Driver, Gunner, and Commander)
	GAW M1129	6 (Driver, Commander, and 4 Mortar Crewman)
	GAW M1133	3 (Driver and 2 Medics)
	GAW M1134	3 (Driver, Gunner, and Commander)
Troops:	GAW M1126	9
	GAW M1128	None
	GAW M1129	None
	GAW M1133	None
	GAW M1134	None

M. D. C. by Location:

Modular Remote Weapon System (All):

	.50 Caliber Machine Gun (1, in turret):	20
	Weapon Turret:	60

M1128 Mobile Gun System:

	105 mm Cannon Mount (In Turret):	80
	Weapon Turret:	120

M1129 Mortar Vehicle:

Upper Hatches (2)

65 each

M1134 Missile Carrier:

	Medium Range Missile Launchers (2)	60 each
	Weapon Turret:	100

	Smoke Dispensers (2):	5 each
	[1] Wheels (8):	35 each
	Headlights (2):	5 each
	Rear Hatch:	80
	Reinforced Crew Compartment:	80
	Reinforced Personnel/Equipment Bay:	80
	[2] Main Body:	200

Notes:
[1] Up to one tire can be destroyed on each side of the vehicle without any appreciable loss in mobility but top speeds with be reduced by 10%. If two tires on a side are destroyed, the vehicle is reduced in top speed by 20% and has a -25% to piloting rolls when being operated off-road.
[2] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and unsalvageable, but the crew may survive in their reinforced compartment.

Speed:
Ground: Cruising speed on land is 62.1 mph (100 kph) on roads and 48.7 mph (80.0 kph) off road maximum. The vehicle is designed to traverse virtually all terrain and can climb at up to a 60% grade although at a much slower speed (About 10% of maximum road speed). It can also climb barriers and ford trenches. The vehicle can also handle side slopes of up to 30%.
Maximum Range: Original version has a maximum range of 415 miles (668 kilometers). Versions refitted with fusion reactors have effectively unlimited range.

Statistical Data:
Height: M1126, M1129, M1133 and M1134: 8.72 feet (2.64 meters), M1128: 10.3 feet (3.12 meters)
Width: 8.97 feet (2.72 meters)
Length: 22.92 feet (6.95 meters)
Weight: M1126, M1129, M1133 and M1134: Combat Weight: 32,940 pounds (14,941.3 kilograms), M1128: Combat Weight: 37,540 pounds (17,027.9 kilograms)
Power Source: Pre-Rifts models have 350 hp diesel engine. A side effect of the larger engine is that it can easily be replaced with a 10 year fusion reactor (same model as is carried in the Mountaineer ATV).
Cargo Capacity: M1126 and M1133: Without troops, can carry up to 3,300 pound (1,497 kilograms) and the M1126 has a carrying rack for two mini-missile launchers and 12 missiles, All Others: Minimal, enough for equipment with crew.
Black Market Cost:
M1126 and M1133: Upgraded Pre-Rifts model 100,000 credits
M1129 and M1134: Upgraded Pre-Rifts model 110,000 credits
LAV-MGS Mobile Gun System: Upgraded Pre-Rifts model 125,000 credits
Add 500,000 for 10 year fusion reactor

Weapon Systems:

1. Modular Remote Weapon System (All Vehicles except Pre-Rifts M1133): This unit is a remote controlled turret on the front deck of the vehicle. The mount can take many new weapons with minimal modification. For energy weapons, a capacitor equivalent to 20 E-clips can be installed in place of the ammo carriage (not necessary for a nuclear powered vehicle). Often,a mini-missile launcher is also added to the turret.
   1. 12.7 millimeter Machine-Gun: While one of the more powerful small arms available when the vehicle was first designed, it is still quite underpowered compared to most rail guns.
      Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914.4 m)
      Mega Damage: Single shot does 1D4 and 40 round burst does 5D6.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: 400 rounds (10 bursts).
2. M1128 Mobile Gun System:
   1. M68A1E4 105 mm Cannon: One of the unknown facts about the LAV-MGS is it is based on the MGS developed by the Army. Once the Stryker MGS was perfected, the Marine Corps was able to jumpstart its long running MGS system with the data taken from it. The mounted weapon is very similar to the cannon carried on the M-1 Abrams but is of a smaller caliber. Weapon is designed to use against heavily armored targets. It can fire a variety of loads, including high-explosive (HE), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), armor-piercing explosive (AP),and armor piercing sabot-discarding solids (APSD). The mount / turret is designed to be low profile so that when the rest of the vehicle is hiding behind cover, it is hard to detect. The turret can rotate 360 degrees and the gun can elevate 55 degrees. Fired by the either the gunner or commander and has an automatic loading system.
      Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1828 meters) for direct fire and indirect fire range of 20,000 feet (6,000 meters).
      Mega-Damage: High Explosive (HE): 1D4x10+10 with a blast radius of 15 feet (4.6 feet), High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT): 2D4x10+10 with a blast radius of 8 feet (2.4 meters), Armor Piercing (AP): 6D6 with no blast radius, and Armor Piercing Sabot-Discarding (APSD): 1D6x10+10 with no blast radius (optional rule is that cannon gets a critical on a natural 18, 19, or 20 due to its high penetration.)
      Rate of Fire: A Maximum of four (4) attacks per melee.
      Payload: 18 rounds.
      Bonuses: Has a special fire control computer that helps to aim the cannon. Gives +1 to strike with cannon and vehicle does not have minuses to fire when tank is moving.
3. M1129 Mortar Vehicle:
   1. M121 120 mm Heavy Mortar: This mortar is mounted near the rear of the vehicle with two hatches which open so the mortar can be fired. Smooth bore and barrel loaded, It is operated by a crew of four and is hand loaded. It is extremely useful in the short range indirect fire roll. Range is less that true artillery but is still extremely effective in indirect fire rolls. There are special guided rounds available although rare. See Battlefield Mortars for Rifts for more details.
      Maximum Effective Range: 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) to 23,620 feet (7,200 meters) depending on number of charges used. Minimum range is 660 feet (200 meters) to 5,250 feet (1,600 meters) depending on charges used.
      Mega-Damage: By mortar round type (See Battlefield Mortar table for details: Fragmentation 2D6x10 (50 feet/15.2 meters), High Explosive 3D6x10 (30 feet/9.1 meters), Armor Piercing 3D6x10 (20 feet/6.1 meters), Plasma 4D6x10 (40 feet/12.2 meteres), and has a vast number of other type of rounds as well).
      Rate of Fire: 12 to 16 rounds per minute depending on number of charges (3 to 4 per melee) for one minute, 4 rounds per minute after one minute of fire depending on number of charges (one per melee.)
      Payload: 90 rounds total
4. M1134 Missile Carrier:
   1. Medium Range Missile Launchers (2): Launchers replace TOW missile launchers with medium range missile launchers in the original anti-tank versions and are useful in a variety of roles. The weapons are useful in the anti-armor role as well as against aircraft and as missile style artillery. The turret can traverse through 360 degrees. Additional missiles need to be hand loaded from inside the vehicle.
      Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Mega-Damage: Varies with missile types, medium range missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
      Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2 or 4 (Reloads are hand loaded and require 1 minute per missile).
      Payload: each launcher carries 2 medium range missiles for a total of 4 medium range missiles. Carries 4 medium range missiles as reloads inside vehicle.
5. Smoke Dispenser (2): Mounted on either side of the MRWS and launches smoke grenades.
   Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke 40 ft (12 m) in diameter:
   Rate of Fire: Two per melee
   Maximum Effective Range: 1,200 feet (365 m)
   Payload: Carries 4 smoke grenades per launcher with 8 more stored inside vehicle.

Sensory Equipment:

• NBC Protection: While not full life support, the Armored vehicle is equipped with protection for the crew from most gas, radiation, and biological attacks.
• Thermo-Imager: Range: 2,000 feet (609 meters). Finds the infra-red radiations of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness.
• Visual Magnification: Gives magnification of up to 12 times normal
• Periscopes: Enables the crew to see over most terrain

[Golden Age Weaponsmiths TM, Wellington Industries TM, and Iron Heart Industries TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By James Laursen (prowlstheknight@yahoo.com)

Minor Revisions by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2008, James Laursen & Kitsune. All rights reserved.