French Hering Anti-Aircraft Tank:

Because the French government had not upgraded much of its military during the first half of the Twenty-First century, the state of their forces dropped to deplorable levels. The majority of their equipment was old, worn-out, and outdated. The resurgence of colonial Britain in 2055 "woke up" the French government and made them realize that they had lost their status as a world power. To make up on lost ground, the French government funded and enormous military build-up program to re-equip its military in all areas. The army, navy, and air force all received funding for projects, especially those dedicated to colonial expansion and enhancing global presence.

In 2061 the French army had experienced a few combat engagements in Chad and Algeria utilizing their new armor and weapons. For the most part, they were highly successful. However, the high losses in Weygand missile vehicles worried the French military commanders. Several studies were conducted to ascertain why these losses had occurred. They concluded that the close range defenses of the missile vehicle were insufficient against multiple aircraft and flying power armor units. The missile armaments, while excellent in a supporting role, were not adequate for close combat. To counter the airborne threat a new close-range anti-aircraft system was required. Instead of a missile system, the French military opted for a gun system. The main reasoning for this was cost and speed. Missiles were expensive and while reloading systems were fast, they were not considered fast enough to counter multiple fast moving PAs. Thus the Hering anti-aircraft tank was built. The Hering anti-aircraft tank was named after General Pierre Hering; Chief of Staff Army of the Rhine (1919-1922), Chief of Staff Inspectorate of the Army (1922-1926), Commandant of L'ÉcoleSupérieure de Guerre (1926-1928), General Officer Commanding 15th Division (1928-1931), General Officer Commanding 7th Military Region (1931-1935), Military-Governor of Strasbourg (1935-1939), General Officer Commanding Paris Military Region (1939), General Officer Commanding Army of Paris (1940).

To make production easier and to reduce costs, it was decided that a standard chassis would be used. The hull of the Giat Industries Chevillon Light Tank was chosen for its light weight, multi-armor capability, and relatively inexpensive price. Like the Chevillon light tank, the Hering can be fitted with three levels of protection. In combination with the new series of super-strength armor materials, the design was capable of being configured for the type of combat expected. An added bonus was that the armor was easily replaceable when damaged in combat.

• Level I against armor piercing small arms, small cannon fire, and indirect fire splinters
• Level II against cannon up to 30mm and light warhead missiles
• Level III against cannon up to 120mm and medium warhead missiles

The profile of the vehicle was very low with the entire front end sloped with the turret mounted low on the hull. Both crew members were seated side by side in the hull with the turret behind them. A small but powerful nuclear reactor was located in the rear of the vehicle and powered all the systems and propulsion.

The vehicle mounts a larger turret than the Chevillon. To make the system as fast as possible the French designers incorporated the tracking and targeting systems of the naval Creusot-LoireRailgun CIWS. Once turned on, the system automatically attacks any airborne target it identifies as hostile. Instead of using the weapons of the Creusot-Loire CIWS, a pair of single barrel 30mm railguns. Behind the turret on either side of the hull was a raised section that housed a mini-missile launcher. Each of these flush mounted launchers carried sixteen missiles. Intended primarily for anti-missile defense, crews would switch some of the fragmentation rounds for AP or Plasma rounds, giving the vehicle a considerable anti armor punch should it encounter enemy armor. Also during the 2080s, an anti-personnel system similar to the British Claymore mine system was installed after several tanks were lost to mass infantry attacks. Lastly, a pair of smoke dispensers were mounted on the turret to help confuse laser-guided missiles and to conceal the vehicle.

The new Inter-Vehicular Information System allowed targeting data from one vehicle to be transmitted to every other vehicle fitted with the system within a 6 mile radius. This allowed incredible force multiplication for the French armored, power armored and airborne forces. One very common tactic was to have one or two vehicles keep their sensors active and transmit targets to other vehicleswho's sensors were off. Once enemy fire began targeting those vehicles, they would shut down their sensors and exit the target area. Other vehicles would activate their own sensors and take the place of the first vehicles. The ability to track and fire on enemy targets without exposing themselves to active sensor detection kept many of the French forces from enemy detection. Only when open combat came about would every vehicle within a unit have their sensors on.

Model Type:Giat Industries Hering Anti-Aircraft Tank
Vehicle Type: Anti-Aircraft Tank
Crew: Two (Driver and Commander).

M.D.C. By Location:

Level I:

Level II:

Level III:

	[1] Tractor Treads (2):	80	80	80
	Tread Skirts (2):	---	80	120
	Turret:	150	200	250
	40mm Rail Guns (2):	75	75	75
	Mini Missile Launchers (2):	75 each	100 each	150 each
	[2] Smoke/Gas Dispensers (2):	20 each	20 each	20 each
	[3] Main Body:	325	425	525

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] 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.
[3] 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: 93.2 mph (150 kph) maximum road speed; 74.6 mph (120 kph) maximum off-road speed. 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: On the surface at 40.4 mph (65 kph) or underwater (Buttoned up) at 19.9 mph (32 kph)
Maximum Range: Unlimited (Nuclear Fusion power supply with 10 year duration)

Statistical Data:
Height: 15 feet (4.5 meters)
Width: 10 feet (3.0 meters)
Length: Main Body: 27.5 feet (8.5 meters)
Weight: Level I: 34 tons
Level II: 36 tons
Level III: 39 tons
Power Source: Nuclear (Should have an average lifespan of 10 years).
Cargo Capacity: Minimal, enough for equipment with crew.
Black Market Cost: Not available, should go for about 40/50 million credits when in good condition.

Weapon Systems:

1. Dual 30 mm Rail Guns (2): Like the Creusot-Loire Railgun CIWS, the system is unmanned and fully automated. The weapons can be used on surface targets as well as against missiles and aircraft. The system can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +4 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft). The guns can be manually controlled remotely by the commander who sits in the hull of the tank. The system has a 360 degree rotation and can elevate up to 90 degrees to fire at targets directly overhead. These rail guns normally fire a solid dart of MDC materials that does massive damage to targets that it hits but can also use explosive warheads for softer targets and against aircraft.
   Maximum Effective Range: 1.9 miles (3.0 km)
   Mega Damage: 2D4x10 MD per burst of 10 rounds (Can only fire burst).
   Rate of Fire: 6 attacks per melee (automatic), 4 per melee (manual).
   Payload: 1000 rounds in a single magazine feeding both guns.
2. Mini Missile Launchers (2): One mounted in the hull of the tank on either side of the turret. They are recessed to the surface armor. When launched, armored panels slide out of the way, exposing the launchers and missiles arranged at a 45 degree angel. These missiles are supposed to be used to protect the tank from enemy missiles, and as such fragmentation warheads are standard issue. Usually crews will switch one quarter or all of the fragmentation rounds for AP or Plasma rounds, giving the tank a considerably enhanced anti armor punch at the expense of defensive capability.
   Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, mini-missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Damage: Varies with missile types, mini missiles only (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, 6, or 12.
   Payload: Each launcher carries 16 mini-missiles for a total of 32 Mini-missiles.
3. Claymore Mines (16): Five mines are mounted on the sides of the tank, and three more on the front and the back. Unlike the British system, these launchers are manually controlled and do not rely on quirky computers that can be easily confused by such mundane things as mud or dust on uniforms.
   Maximum Effective Range: a cone 50 feet (15 meters) long and 30 feet (9 meters) wide.
   Mega-Damage: 6D6 for targets 30 feet and further away, 1D4x10 for targets closer than that.
   Rate of fire: One at a time.
   Payload: 16.
4. Smoke/Gas Dispensers (2): A smoke/gas dispensing unit is attached to each side of the MBT. The dispenser releases a dense cloud of smoke that covers a 40 foot (12.2 m) area in front of the vehicle, It can also release tear gas. The dispenser can dispense prismatic aerosol for dispersing laser beams. This has the same effect as prismatic aerosol grenades. The effects of the prismatic aerosol is combined with the laser resistant materials that compose the armor if the later tanks when they are used together.
   Payload: 20 total; 10 charges each; typically 10 smoke, 5 prismatic aerosol, and 5 tear gas.

• 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 6 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.
• Inter-Vehicular Information System: Revolutionary system that allows the sensors of one vehicle to transmit targeting information to other vehicles within the unit. Range is 6 miles.
• Radar: 50 miles, can identify 96 targets and track 48 as low as 500 ft.
• 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 Kamikazi (kamikazi_gm@hotmail.com).

Copyright © 2003, Kamikazi. All rights reserved.