While Northern Gun produces a large number of giant robot type designs, Iron Armory produces wheeled and tracked vehicles. Some mercenary companies prefer tanks and wheeled combat designs over robot type designs. In many ways, the company has inherited the legacy of Iron Heart Industries although they have no real connection even though their names are similar. Iron Armory was still a relatively small company when Iron Heart Industries was destroyed by the Coalition. Iron Armory has copied a number of systems from Iron Heart including the Vulcan laser cannon. Iron Armory got their start with designs which were redesigned Pre-Rifts designs, fairly basic but extremely effective.

Along with a modified version of the M1 Abrams, one of the companies fairly early products was a redesigned version of the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The original 25 mm cannon was replaced by a Northern Gun rail gun design and various missile launchers could be mounted in place of the original TOW missile launchers. The redesigned Bradley became surprisingly popular among mercenary companies although there was some criticism of the troop capability of only seven soldiers. Originally there were three versions but later a fuel cell version was added to the line of vehicles for four different available propulsion systems.

Another common customer request was for an air defense version of the Bradley. Iron Armory had already introduced an Air Defense version of the Mountain Lion light armored vehicle but some customers did not like the wheeled design. As well, a version of the Abrams, called the "Bulldog", was also designed with a heavy air defense battery. This was designed as an air defense escort for other Abrams battle tanks. Designers at Iron Armory finally decided to manufacture an air defense version of the Bradley. They decided to use the name "Bulldog" for it as well. The design has only been produced in fairly small numbers so far and demand definitely exceeds supply of this design. There was originally a similar design by Iron Heart Industries called the Iron Wolf but was never produced in any numbers.

Unlike the Iron Wolf, the "Bulldog" Bradley retains the ability to carry troops. Troop capability is reduced from seven to six troops. The vehicle is operated by a crew of three as the standard Iron Armory Bradley and the hull is basically identical to the Iron Armory Bradley. The big change in the design is in the vehicle's turret. The standard version is armed with a rail gun howitzer copied from a Northern Gun design. This is replaced by a pair of Vulcan laser cannons. While shorter ranged, they have a much higher capacity than rail gun on non-fusion versions and the fusion powered version has an effectively unlimited payload. Both firing together can be devastating to both air and ground targets. The power systems needed to be greatly upgraded to support the Vulcan lasers. On either side of the turret, the vehicle mounts a medium range missile launcher. These are not the standard Iron Armory models but are fixed launcher with a greater capability. Each has four ready to fire missiles and four missiles in an automatic reloading system. No other weapons are mounted although smoke grenade launchers are carried. Prismatic aerosol and decoy grenades can also be carried. The vehicle also retains the firing ports of the standard Iron Armory model and fusion powered versions have power connectors for troop use.

The most popular version of the "Bulldog" Bradley is the fusion powered and they make up around eighty percent of all sales. These have effectively unlimited range with gas turbine and electric versions having a range of around three hundred miles and fuel cell versions having a range of four hundred miles. Speed of all models is around sixty-five miles per hour on roads and slightly slower off road. The design is also capable of amphibious travel and has a top speed of around eight miles per hour on water. Expected life span is around ten years before the fusion plant needs to be refitted for fusion powered version. The electrical version is basically the fusion powered version with high capacity batteries replacing the fusion reactor. The gas turbine can operate on a large variety of fuels including diesel, kerosene, gasoline, and even various alcohol fuels.

The most unsual design is the fuel cell version. The fuel cell systems are purchased from Metalworks Inc and some believe that Iron Armory is a subsidiary of them. There has been no proof, so at the moment it is just speculation by some. The technology for the fuel cell design was purchased by Metalworks Incorporated from Archangel "Heavy" Industries who got the designs of fuel cells from pre-rifts records. The fuel cells operate by pulling the electrons off of an H₂ molecule, splitting it into 2H⁺ molecules and 2 electrons. The electrons pass through the "load" (engines, weapons, avionics, etc.) creating current and powering the systems. Meanwhile, the 2H⁺ molecules pass from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the other "end", the electrons then recombine with the 2H⁺ molecules and Oxygen (from the air) and are release as water from the rear of the vehicle.

Model Type: IA M2A8AD "Bulldog"
Vehicle Type: Armored Personnel Carrier / Air Defense Vehicle
Crew: Three (Driver, Gunner, and Commander).
Troop Carrying Capacity: Six (6) soldiers in full gear

M. D. C. by Location:

	[1] Tractor Treads (2):	75 each
	Weapon Turret:	200
	Vulcan Laser Mounts (2, Turret):	120 each
	Medium Range Missile Launchers (2, Turret):	100 each
	Smoke Dispenser:	20
	Searchlight	20
	Headlights (2):	10 each
	Main Hatch:	200
	Reinforced Crew Compartment:	100
	Reinforced Personnel Bay:	100
	[2] Main Body:	350

Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the tank until it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x10 minutes by a trained crew (2 replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by the inexperienced. Changing the tread is only advisable when the vehicle is not under attack
[2] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and unsalvageable, but crew and troops may survive in their reinforced compartments.

Speed:
Ground: Cruising speed on land is 65 mph (104 kph) on roads and 60 mph ( 96.6 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%.
Water Capabilities: The Bradley fighting vehicle is designed to be amphibious and can cross small bodies of water. It is not designed for deep water use. The Bradley can travel in this manner at 8 mph (12.9 kph/6.9 knots).
Maximum Range: With gas or electric, 300 miles (483 km), with fuel cells, 400 miles (643.7 km), and with fusion, effectively unlimited.

Statistical Data:
Height: 9 feet 11 inches (3.02 meters)
Width: 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 meters)
Length: 21 feet 2 inches (6.5 meters)
Weight: 24.5 tons (22.2 metric tons)
Power Source: Four versions. Nuclear with 10 year fusion reactor, Electric, Conventional liquid fuel that uses aviation gas, and Fuel cell version that uses Hydrogen as a fuel to produce electricity.
Cargo Capacity: Without troops, can carry up to 4 tons (3.6 metric tons.)
Black Market Cost: Internal Combustion powered sells for 1.8 million, Electrical engine and fuel cell versions sells for 2.5 million credits, and fusion with 10 year life sells for 14 million credits.

Weapon Systems:

1. Vulcan Laser Cannons (2): These cannons are a copy of the IH-44L Vulcan Laser on the Iron Hammer Tank that was manufactured by Ironheart Industries. These were a secondary weapon but make an incredible air defense weapon. On the nuclear powered version, the laser cannons pull power directly from the fusion reactor of the vehicle. On the fuel cell version, the laser cannons are powered by a fuel cell. Each of the other versions use a high capacity battery.
   Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters).
   Mega Damage: 3D4x10 for an instantaneous burst from cannon (Both cannons firing together inflict 6D4x10)
   Rate of Fire: Each cannon can shoot up to six times per melee (Normally combined) but is restricted to the gunners number of hand to hand attacks.
   Payload: Nuclear Reactor: Effectively Unlimited (Draws Power off the main engines). Combustion, Electrical, or Fuel cell : 200 bursts total. It takes approximately two minutes for a trained crew to change the hydrogen tank that powers the weapon on fuel cell version, assuming that a spare tank is available. Untrained crews will take about six minutes to accomplish this task.
2. Medium Range Missile Launchers (2): Replace the variable missile launchers with fixed missile launchers but of higher capacity. Mounted on either side of turret. Mostly used against airborne targets but can be used against ground targets as well. Each launcher has four missiles ready to fire and an auto-reload system with an additional four medium range missiles per launcher.
   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, 4, 6, or 8.
   Payload: each launcher carries 8 medium range missiles for a total of 16 medium range missiles.
3. Smoke Dispenser (2): Mounted on either side of the armored vehicle and launches smoke grenades. While other types of grenades can be used, they have been rarely carried. Recently, there has been consideration for the use of prismatic aerosol and decoy grenades to help protect the vehicle against lasers.
   Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke 40 ft (12 m) in diameter. Other special effects per grenade type
   Rate of Fire: Two per melee
   Range: 1,200 feet (365 m)
   Payload: Carries 12 smoke grenades per launcher.
4. Firing Ports (7): The Bradley has seven firing ports that allow soldiers to fire their guns out of the vehicle. There are three firing ports on either side and one on the rear of the vehicle. Firing ports can be closed in order to make vehicle a sealed environment. Firing ports are fairly small and grenade launchers and missile launchers cannot be fired from firing ports. On fusion powered versions, the Bradley has power connectors so that troops can fire energy weapons without draining their energy clips.

Sensory Equipment:

• Radio/ Video Communications: Long range, directional, has a range of 500 miles with short range directional radio of 5 miles.
• Laser Targeting System: Range is 2 miles and gives +1 to strike with long range weapons. Not applicable to hand to hand.
• Combat Computer/ Targeting Computer: Assist in the tracking of targets.
• Radar: 50 miles, can identify 96 targets and track 48 as low as 500 ft. Same as robots Maxi-Radar.
• Full Life Support: Protects pilot and tank from heat and radiation and gives a breathable atmosphere inside the Tank.
• Spotlight: Range: 600 feet (182.9 meters)
• Thermo-Imager: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). Finds the infra-red radiations of things that are warm. Also enables pilot to see in smoke, shadows and darkness.
• Nightvision Optics: Range: 2,000 ft (609 m). Uses light amplification to make a picture. Emits no light but will not work in absolute darkness. System can be dazzled by sudden bright lights but does not physically blind the pilot.

[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2009, Kitsune. All rights reserved.