Metalworks Incorporated "Redball" Heavy Hover Hauler:
Before even considering the design of combat vehicles based on hovercraft chassis, Metalworks developed a number of non-combat hovercraft designs. One of these is the Silhouette Hover Sport but hover vehicles designed for larger cargo loads. The largest of these is the "Redball" and the vehicle is designed with the ability to carry payloads up to ten metric tons of cargo in its cargo bed.
In many places on Rifts Earth, the roads simply do not exist for good wheeled vehicle operations and in other places there are no bridges across bodies of water. All wheel six and eight wheel drive vehicles are one option. Another option is the hovercraft. Such vehicles already operated in limited numbers before the coming of the Rifts. After the coming of the Rifts, the numbers exploded. Another advantage of most hovercraft designs is that they are fast, limiting the ability of bandits to capture them.
The Redball has been a great seller both to mercenary units and non-military purchasers. Generally, the Coalition does not see these vehicles as a threat even if lightly armed. There are also several designs similar manufactured by other companies including a few pre-rifts designs which makes it hard to distinguish one design from another.
Because purchasers of hovercraft tend to mostly rely on such designs, this vehicle does not generally compete directly with Iron Armory's various truck models. Also, hover designs do tend to be considerably more expensive than wheeled vehicles. Still, in their niche, hover vehicles are extremely popular. Some companies who specialize in shipping even charge extra with hover transports and many clients gladly pay the additional fees.
The Redball is available in four basic different power plants. One is powered by a gas turbine engine which will run most fuel types although most efficient on diesel and kerosene. The second is a strictly electrically powered model which has an extremely high capacity storage battery. The third is powered by a fusion reactor. This design has the advantage of virtually unlimited range but is much more expensive. Fusion reactor has a normal time between refitting is five years.
The fourth, which is comparatively new in production is a fuel cell model. Since the coming of the Rifts, the technology was virtually lost. Because it uses hydrogen cracked from water usually using a fusion reactor, fuel is cheap and plentiful. 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.
Top speed of the hover hauler is around two hundred kilometers per hour and the vehicle has a maximum altitude of around ten feet. This allows the vehicle to clear most terrain. It is not as fast as many combat hovercraft designs, it is faster than most wheeled designs. Extremely wide for greater stability, the design can also operate over water without problem except for extremely high seas. The design is not really meant for open ocean travel and can easily capsize.
The vehicle is available with a four or six person cab and the cab has full air conditioning for crew comfort although standard model lack full life support. It is available as an upgrade as purchaser's request. A skilled autopilot program allows the driver to easily operate the vehicle for extended periods. There is the option for the vehicle to be fitted with additional sensors and communications equal to those carried on most power armors. This is a must if the crew is expecting any serious danger.
There are several available options for the cargo bay module for the Redball. Cargo carrying ability is less than a wheeled vehicle of similar size but still considerable. The vehicle can have an open bed, an enclosed cargo area, or a tank. The tanker variant can carry fuels, water, and other liquids as required. It has a maximum capacity of eight thousand liters (2113.4 gallon.) In many places there are no cargo facilities and there is an available crane option on the vehicle. The crane has the ability to lift cargo loads of up to 1,250 kilograms (2755.8 lbs) at full boom extension of 20 feet (6.1 meters.) At a 10 foot (3.1 meter) extension, can lift 2,500 kilograms (5511.6 lbs). Some owners have converted their vehicles for various purposes including mobile workshops by operators. Some purchasers also have been converted by adventurers for travel vehicles with kitchen and sleeping quarters for up to eight.
Even though not a combat vehicle, the hover hauler is still lightly armored. The world after the coming of the Rifts can be a highly hazardous environment and even high speed is not always the answer. The vehicle can also be given additional armor at the purchaser's request. No weapons are standard but the vehicle is available with a number of optional systems. A single weapon mount can be mounted above the chassis. A pulse laser which is a modified version of the JA-12 Rifle is most common although the Northern Gun NG-202 Rail Gun and the Wellington WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher are also popular choices. Eventually Metalworks plans to replace the rail gun with their own model of rail gun. In addition to a top weapon mount, the vehicle can mount a pair of mini-missile launchers.
Metalworks does not make a combat version of the hover vehicle although some owners refit the vehicle with additional weaponry. These are nicknamed "Battle Wagons" by many. Metalworks does produce a combat support version of the hovercraft armed with long range missiles. A six missile type launcher, the missile launcher is identical to the launcher carried on the Husky produced by Iron Armory. These missiles have potentially over a thousand mile range.
For military roles other than a support missile platform, there are two additional support roles including one which is designed as a command and control vehicle. This has additional communication facilities and space for a crew of eight in addition to the normal crew. There is also an electronics warfare version which mounts the same communication facilities as the command and control version but adds a long range radar system as well.
| Model Type: | M.I. HH-04A | Open Bed Cargo Design |
| M.I. HH-04B | Enclosed Bed Cargo Design | |
| M.I. HH-04C | Tanker (8000 liter) Model | |
| M.I. HLRM-04 | Long Range Missile Platform |
M.D.C. By Location:
| [1] Headlights (4): | 10 each | |
| [1] JA-12 Pulse Laser Rifle Mount (Optional): | 40 | |
| [1] NG-202 Rail Gun Mount (Optional): | 75 | |
| [1] MI-RG-40-X Rail Gun Mount (Optional): | 75 | |
| [1] WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher (Optional): | 70 | |
| [1] Mini-Missile Launchers (2, Optional): | 30 each | |
| Long Range Missile Launchers (Missile / Rocket Version): | 150 | |
| [2] Hover Thruster Units: | 125 | |
| Crew Compartment | 125 | |
| Cargo Compartment / Bed / Tank: | 125 | |
| [3] Main Body: | 225 (325) |
Notes:
[1] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the
attacker to make a "called shot;' but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[2] Destruction of the hover unit will cause the vehicle to be no longer
under the pilots control.
[3] Destruction of the main body will cause the vehicle to crash. All
systems, including emergency parachute, will not function. Standard armor
is 225 M.D.C. but can be upgraded in increments of 20 M.D.C. up to an addition
100 M.D.C.
Speed:
Hover Speed: Can hover at ground level at from a hover to up
to 124.3 mph (200 kph) over both land and water. Minimum hover height is
2 feet (0.6 meters) and maximum altitude is 10 feet (3.05 meters).
Maximum Range: With gas or electric, 600 miles (965.6 km), with
fuel cells, 800 (1287.5 km), and with fusion, effectively unlimited.
Statistical Data:
Height: 9.19 feet (2.8 meters) for cab (does not include weapon
mounts)
Width: 10.50 feet (3.2 meters)
Length: 33.46 feet (10.2 meters)
Weight: 27.56 tons (25 metric tons) empty and 41.89 tons (38
metric tons) fully loaded.
Power Source: Four versions. Nuclear with 5 year fusion reactor,
Electric, Conventional liquid fuel that uses aviation gas / diesel, and
Fuel cell version that uses Hydrogen as a fuel to produce electricity.
Cargo Capacity: 11.02 tons (10.0 metric tons) in cargo compartment.
Crew can also carry basic equipment including weaponry in crew compartment.
Market / Black Market Cost:
Standard Model: 450,000 credits with Internal Combustion engine,
600,000 with Electrical engine or fuel cell power system, and 1.5 million
for fusion with a 5 year life.
Long Range Missile Platform: 950,000 credits with Internal Combustion
engine, 1.1 million with Electrical engine or fuel cell power system, and
2.0 million for fusion with a 5 year life.
Upgrades: Sensory / Communication upgrade (equal to a standard
power armor) costs 12,000 credits. Fully contained life support system
costs 50,000 credits. Cargo Crane costs 5,000 credits. Mini-Missile launchers
costs 400,000 credits for a pair. Pulse Laser Mount costs 60,000 Credits.
Wellington Automatic Grenade Launcher costs 150,000 credits. Northern Gun
Rail Gun costs 70,000 credits. MI-RG-40-X Rail Gun costs 150,000 credits.
Additional armor costs 50,000 credits per 20 M.D.C. Full Command / Control
Facilities (with communication) costs 200,000 credits. Radar / Electronic
Warfare Facilities cost 300,000 credits.
Weapons Systems: The vehicle can mount the following above the rear section of the crew compartment. Direct fire weapons are controlled by a gunner who sits behind the weapon mount. Missiles are controlled by a remote control system.
Sensory Equipment:
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]
By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).
Copyright © 2008, Kitsune. All rights reserved.
