Northern Gun produces several well known designs of Hover Cycle designs including the Rocket, Turbo, and Prowler. Theses designs are the basis for a large percentage of Northern Gun sales. They also produce wheeled land vehicles including several all terrain designs. Northern Gun is also famous for a number of power armors and combat robot designs. They also produce a number of aircraft designs. Finally, Northern Gun produces a number of larger hover designs. Some of these are basically hover jeep designs while others are a bit larger including hover transport vehicles. One of these larger designs is the "Apache Scout" Hover Scout. It is similar in role to the Triax Wilderness Crusader hovercraft. The "Apache Scout" is of comparative recent development and it was developed around the same time as the hover designs from Metalwork Industries were created. Sales of the design are not as high as with some of their other designs but the line is still quite profitable and there is consideration to expanding production. Some are purchased by other militaries or mercenary companies while others are purchased by individuals. There appears to be no plans to develop larger designs such as hover tanks.

For Hovercraft designs, the "Apache Scout" is a bit on the slow side with a top speed of around two hundred kilometers per hour. Still, this is faster than most land vehicle and has the ability to hover at up to around five meters which allows it to clear most terrain. The hovercraft is available with a powerful gas turbine, a high efficiency electrical system, or with a fusion reactor. The gas turbine version can use multiple fuel types including diesel, kerosine, and gasoline. The electrical powered version gives the ability to recharge from most electrical sources including larger fusion powered vehicles. While the fusion powered version is the most expensive, the engine gives virtually unlimited range and is very popular as a result. Still, some choose the other designs because of their lower initial cost. While comparatively lightly armored compared to most heavy combat designs, the hover scout is still very rugged. The design is available in two basic models with a heavier armored version. As a scout vehicle, the "Apache Scout" has an excellent sensor system equal to that of most robot vehicle. An interesting feature of the sensor system is that is on a extendable pod to look over terrain while hull is down. The standard crew is two although the hovercraft can be operated easily by one. The hover scout has the ability to carry four additional passengers or a small amount of cargo instead of passengers.

The Apache Scout is very well armed with a powerful Vulcan laser as the hover scouts main weapon. It is mounted in a turret above the vehicle and is capable against both ground targets and aircraft. While comparatively short ranged, it is capable of destroying most attacking ground vehicle or robot designs. The turret is unmanned and is remote controlled. The Pulse Laser is a Northern Gun copy of the Vulcan Laser developed by Iron Heart Industries and is used on several other Northern Gun designs and has also been copied by both Metalworks and Iron Armory. On fusion powered versions, the weapon pulls power directly from the fusion reactor while gas turbine versions and batter powered versions use a separate battery for the weapon system. In addition to the Vulcan Laser, the hover scout mounts a pair of medium range missile launchers on either side of the turret and a pair of mini-missile launchers mounted on the turret itself. The medium range missile launchers have a payload of two missiles each for a total of four medium range missiles. Each of the mini-missile launchers have a total of eight mini-missiles for a total of sixteen missiles. Unlike some other designs, the Apache Scout does not mount any firing ports for troops to use.

Model Type: NG-H-200 "Apache Scout"
Vehicle Type: Armored Hover Vehicle / Hover Scout
Crew: Two (can be piloted by one) and seats four passengers comfortably

M.D.C. by Location:

Standard

Up-Armored

	Main Turret:	100	120
	NG-44L Vulcan Laser Cannon (in turret):	60	75
	[1] Mini-Missile Launchers (2, sides of turret):	20 each	25 each
	Medium Range Missile Launchers (2, beside turret):	30 each	40 each
	[1] Headlights (4):	8 each	8 each
	Side Doors (2):	40 each	60 each
	Pilots Compartment	100	120
	[2] Hover Thruster Units:	100	120
	[3] Main Body:	275	350

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 will not function.

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 1.6 feet (0.5 meters) and maximum altitude is 16.4 feet (5.0 meters).
Maximum Range: With gas or electric, 800 miles (1,288 km) and with fusion, effectively unlimited.

Statistical Data:
Height: 7.2 feet (2.2 meters) including turret, 6.2 feet (1.9 meters) not including turret
Width: 6.6 feet (2.9 meters)
Length: 14.8 feet (4.5 meters)
Weight: 6.5 tons (5.9 metric tons)
Power Source: Three versions. Combustion (Gas Turbine), electric engine, or nuclear (10 year duration)
Cargo Capacity: 1.5 tons if carrying no troops
Market / Black Market Cost: 1.2 million credits with Internal Combustion engine, 1.4 million with Electrical engine, and 8.5 million for fusion with a 10 year life.

Weapon Systems:

1. NG-44L Vulcan Laser (1): This is a direct copy of the Iron Heart cannon and is quite powerful although much shorter range than the main cannon of many tanks. This weapon is a small turret mounted on the middle of the hovercraft and is operated by the driver or the tank commander. The weapon consists of six rotating laser cannons, cycling through bursts of six blasts per second.
   Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)
   Mega-Damage: 3D4 x 10 M.D. per instantaneous burst (counts as one blast/attack).
   Rate of Fire: Can shoot up to six times per melee!
   Payload: Nuclear Reactor: Effectively Unlimited (Draws Power off the main engines). Electric or Conventional Fuel: Battery is good for 500 bursts.
2. Medium-Range Missile Launchers (2): Two side-mounted missile launchers add to the "Apache Scout's" main armaments. Both launchers are usually controlled by a gunner but can be fired by the if the gunner is injured. They are usually outfitted with High-Explosive, Fragmentary or Plasma missiles. The launchers can engage air and ground targets. This hover vehicle uses an automatic loading system and additional missiles for reloads.
   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.
   Payload: 4 missiles, 2 in each launcher.
3. Mini-Missile Launchers (2): The missile launcher systems are mounted on the sides of the hover scout's turret. Both launchers hold 8 mini-missiles for 16 total. Weapon is useful against both ground targets and airborne targets.
   Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini missile types (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Mega-Damage: Varies with mini missile types (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, or 8. Can be fired equal to the gunner's combined hand to hand (usually 5 or 6).
   Payload: 8 Mini-Missiles each launcher for a total of 16 mini-missiles.

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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2005, Kitsune. All rights reserved.