M-90A1 Grand Tiger
Heavy Assault Tank

(General information and capabilities about the M-series vehicles may be found here: M-series.)

The Grand Tiger is a heavy tank design produced by Archangel Heavy Industries (AHI) for internal use and sale to legitimate parties. It is based almost entirely off of the M-90 Baker Heavy Battle Tank that was in active service with the old American Empire at the time of the Cataclysm. The Baker was introduced approximately four years before both the M-36A1 Stirling Light Tank which AHI has released as the M-36A2 Jaguar Light Tank and the M-61A2 Gardner Main Battle Tank which AHI has released as the M-61A3 Panther Main Battle Tank.

The Grand Tiger (Baker) was designed to act as the heavy assault force on a battlefield. As the largest tank ever fielded in combat by the old American Empire, it was a force to be reckoned with. It possessed both incredible armor and armament and was quite capable of literally ripping through virtually anything else on the battlefield, including most robots and power armors. In fact, the design was so powerful that it could have easily engaged multiple Glitter Boy power armors simultaneously, which were generally considered the most powerful pre-cataclysmic robotic design.

Only slight modifications from the original design were made while producing the Grand Tiger. The main guns were improved with some slight advances in rail gun technology. The sensors were also replaced with improved versions. Other than these and a few stylistic changes, the vehicle is virtually identical to the pre-Rifts version.

Like the other tanks in service with the old American Empire at that time, the Grand Tiger was equipped with advanced fuel cells instead of a conventional engine or nuclear reactor. The tanks of hydrogen fuel are stored within the vehicle. However, the hydrogen tanks that powers the energy weapons are stored with the ion cannon and pulse laser.

Unlike most of the other M-series vehicles, the Grand Tiger is not equipped with the Mk II Computer-Enhanced Targeting System. That extremely advanced targeting system was introduced after the tank went into service. There was insufficient space within the tank to install the system and, at the time, it was felt that it would be too costly, difficult, and time-consuming to upgrade the tanks correctly.

The Grand Tiger departs from traditional tank designs in several respects. The first is that instead of using a single main gun, two rail guns are used as a sort of dual main gun. While this did increase the complication of the ammunition feed, it also gave it unparalleled offensive power. Unlike most tanks, the Grand Tiger uses four sets of treads. They are set so that there are two treads, front and back, on either side of the tank. In the middle of the tank, between the treads, is a small articulated section which actually allows the tank to slightly "bend". This vastly increases the ability of the tank to traverse extremely rough terrain and increases maneuverability. The tank is so large that if a traditional two-tread system had been used, the tank would have been much more restricted in terms of where it could go. In addition, the four treads have the added benefit of reducing the ground pressure of the tank.

The Grand Tiger has a quite sleek, relatively low-profile design, at least for a tank of its size. The "engine" (fuel cells) is placed at the front of the tank to help provide additional protection against head-on fire. This means that the turret is further to the rear than on most traditional tank designs. The turret itself is smaller than might be expected due to the fact that none of the crew are actually inside it. The main guns are loaded through an advanced and reliable automated system that will quickly load any type of ammunition specified by either the gunner or commander. This eliminates the need for one of the crew to act as a gunner. The weapons are fully stabilized and have advanced recoil compensation to eliminate what little recoil there is. This means that the tank can fire with full accuracy while traveling at top speed over rough terrain.

The advanced composite spaced laminate armor is steeply sloped to help deflect incoming shots and sports an ablative coating to help protect against energy weapons. Armored side-skirts are in place to protect the treads from incoming fire. The treads are also slightly wider than normal to help further lessen the ground pressure from the tank and thus increase its operational possibilities. A special explosive charge is mounted on the bottom escape hatch. This charge is designed to create a foxhole for the crew in the event that they are forced to abandon the tank. The explosive does no damage to the tank itself as it is directed down completely.

Two hatches are present on the rear of the tank. One is an alternate means to enter the tank besides the top hatches. This hatch also accesses the small troop compartment present in the tank. The Grand Tiger is so large that it is capable of transporting a small group of infantry into combat. Up to eight man-sized troops can be carried, though it is very cramped; a more normal complement is six troopers. The second hatch is the door to a rear cargo compartment. This compartment is normally used to carry either additional hydrogen tanks (up to 6 tanks), additional rounds for the main guns (up to 60 rounds), or a combination. It is also possible to carry other cargo in this compartment.

Model Type: M-90A1
Class: Heavy Assault Tank
Crew: Three: one driver, one gunner, and one commander. Can accommodate up to one passenger in the main compartment if necessary.
Troop Payload: Up to eight fully equipped man-sized troops, cramped; six normally. These can be traditional infantry or man-size power armor such as the Super Trooper, Terrain Hopper, and other small armors. Flight capable power armors such as the SAMAS or Predator cannot be carried.
M.D.C. By Location:

     Turret - 450
     160mm Main Guns (2) - 150
     Primary Turret Missile Launchers (2) - 120
     Secondary Turret Missile Launchers (2) - 100
     Light Weapon Turrets (2) - 110
[1] Turret-mounted Light Auto-Cannon - 65
[1] Co-Axial Ion Cannon - 50
[2] Primary Sensor Array - 60
[2] Secondary Sensor Array - 60
[2] Searchlights (2) - 20
     Escape Hatch (1, bottom) - 50
[3] Treads (4) - 180
     Reinforced Crew Compartment (main body) - 200
[4] Main Body - 950

Notes

  1. Each of these items is small and/or difficult to strike. Any attacks must be called shots and are -3 to strike.

  2. This item is very small and difficult to strike. Any attacks must be called shots and are -4 to strike.

  3. Depleting the M.D.C. of one tread will slow the tank down, reducing speed and maneuverability by 50%. Depleting the M.D.C. of more than one tread will immobilize the tank until at least one tread 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.

  4. Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body effectively destroys the vehicle.

Speed: 55 mph (89 kph) on land. Cruising is normally about 28 mph (45 kph). Sealed and using an automatic snorkel, the tank can travel underwater at 20 mph ( 32 kph) at a depth of up to 20 feet (6 m).

Range: 80 miles (241 km) on one tank of hydrogen, though two tanks are normally connected at a time. The tank normally carries 10 tanks inside for the main fuel cells. Additional tanks may be carried in the rear compartment. Changing a tank takes approximately one minute for a trained crew and three minutes for the inexperienced. Three tanks are also carried to power the two pulse lasers and ion cannon.

Statistical Data

Height: 10 feet (3 m)
Width: 12.5 feet (3.8 m)
Length: 34 feet (10.4 m)
Weight: 100 tons (90718 kg)
Cargo: A small compartment large enough to hold a suit of light to medium body armor, compact rifle, handgun, and survival kit for each crew member. The rear compartment is roughly 2.5' x 2.5' x 6'.
Color: Typically camouflage, olive drab, dark grey, dark blue, or Midnight Black.
Power System: Fuel cells and electric motors.
Cost: Restricted military vehicle. It may also be sold to other militaries or established mercenary groups. Legitimate sales go for 9 million credits. Tanks of hydrogen are 500 credits each or 200 credits to refill.

Special Systems

  1. Dual 160mm Hypervelocity Railguns (2): These are the Grand Tiger's main weapon and are the same as the weapons mounted on the Panther. They are advanced rail guns capable of firing rounds with a variety of warhead types. The weapons can easily punch through the armor of light to medium vehicles and can also seriously damage heavier opposition, especially when paired together. Normally these weapons are fired by the gunner, but can be controlled by the commander.
       The turret is capable of 360 degree rotation and the weapons can traverse 40 degrees up and 10 degrees down from the level position. An advanced stabilization system is incorporated into the turret. It allows both the main guns and the co-axial ion cannon to be fired with full accuracy while at top speed over even rough terrain.
       The two main guns may be fired independently or together in a simultaneous attack. If fired together, both weapons must be firing the same type of round.

    2. Primary Purpose: Assault
    Secondary Purpose: Defense and anti-aircraft
    Mega-Damage: Varies with round:

    Armor Piercing: 3D6x10+35 (6D6x10+20 for simultaneous)
    High Explosive: 3D4x10 to a 20 foot (6.1 m) radius (3D6x10+20 for simultaneous)
    HEAT: 4D4x10+30 to a 12 foot (3.7 m) radius (7D4x10+40 for simultaneous)

    Range: 16900 feet (3.2 miles, 5150 m)
    ROF: A maximum of three attacks per gun per melee regardless of gunner's hand to hand combat numbers.
    Payload: 180 rounds. The standard distribution is 100 AP, 40 HE, 40 HEAT. Up to 60 additional rounds may be carried in the rear compartment. Both weapons draw from the same ammunition.
    Optional Rules: Two optional rules for armor penetration are presented. The author suggests #1.
    1. If the armor piercing round destroys more than 40% of the remaining armor of the target area in one hit, then it penetrates that area. When relevant, objects inside the target area take half of the equivalent damage that was inflicted in S.D.C. (Ex: A damage roll of 145 M.D.C. removes more than 40% of the armor from the main body of the target and thus penetrates. All objects inside take 72 S.D.C.)

    2. Armor Piercing rounds do critical damage on a natural strike roll of 18, 19, or 20.

  2. Coaxial Ion Cannon: Designed to engage targets not worth spending a main gun round on, this weapon is located directly between and beneath the two main guns. All weapons will always be aimed at the same target. Normally this weapon is fired by the gunner, but can be controlled by the commander.

    3. Primary Purpose: Anti-personnel, anti-vehicle
    Secondary Purpose: Defense
    Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 per shot.
    Range: 4000 feet (1200 m)
    ROF: Equal to the gunner's combined hand to hand attacks.
    Payload: 100 shots. It takes approximately two minutes for a trained crew to change the hydrogen tank that powers the weapon, assuming that a spare tank is available. Untrained crews will take about six minutes to accomplish this task.

  3. Turret-mounted Light Auto-Cannon: This is the same weapons as is mounted on the Panther. In most intents, this is a powerful heavy machine-gun. However, since it is more powerful than most conventional machine-guns it was classified as a light auto-cannon. This weapon is placed in a cupola on the top of the turret and must be fired manually. Therefore, it does not receive any strike bonuses from the vehicle. In order to use the weapon, the commander (or gunner) must stand up a small access path from the main body through the turret. The weapon is primarily used against flying opponents. Normally this weapon is fired by the commander, but can be used by the gunner if necessary.

    4. Primary Purpose: Antiaircraft, anti-vehicle
    Secondary Purpose: Defense: anti-personnel
    Mega-Damage: 1D4 per single shot. A burst is 60 rounds and inflicts 1D6x10.
    Range: 3000 feet (914 m)
    ROF: Single or Burst. Equal to the gunner's combined hand to hand attacks.
    Payload: 6000 round ammo box; that's 100 bursts.
    Note: The weapon is fitted with a laser targeting device. When used, the device gives a +2 to strike.

  4. Light Weapon Turrets (2): A small turret is mounted in the forward hull, slightly to the right side and another on the rear of the main turret facing aft. Both turrets are capable of 260 degree rotation and the weapons can traverse 30 degrees up and 15 degrees down from the level position. A light grenade launcher and a laser pulse cannon are mounted in each turret. Both weapons in each turret always aim at the same target and cannot be moved separately. The turrets are normally controlled by either the gunner or commander. However, the front turret is the only weapon that is capable of being controlled by the driver if necessary.
    5. Primary Purpose: Antipersonnel
    Secondary Purpose: Anti-vehicle
    Mega-Damage:
    Grenade Launcher: (Fragmentation) 4D6 single to a 12 foot (3.6 m) radius or
          2D6x10 for a 10-round burst to a 40 foot (12 m) radius.
    Pulse Laser: 2D6 per single shot. Burst as per machine-gun rules.

    Range: 3000 feet (914 m) each
    ROF: Either grenade launcher or pulse laser. Equal to the gunner's combined hand to hand attacks.
    Grenade Launcher: Single or 10-round burst
    Pulse Laser: Treat it as a machine-gun as per the modern weapons rules.

    Payload:
    Grenade Launcher: 400 rounds
    Pulse Laser: 450 shots. However, for damage purposes, consider a "magazine" to be 90 shots. It takes approximately two minutes for a trained crew to change the hydrogen tank that powers the weapon, assuming that a spare tank is available. Untrained crews will take about six minutes to accomplish this task.
  5. Primary (MRM) Turret Missile Launchers (2): Four medium surface to air missiles are located on each side of the turret. Standard issue is fragmentation warhead, but other types may be used. (See the new missile/bomb tables for other statistics). It is also possible to mount other types of more conventional medium range missiles on the tank. However, the missile racks would need to be modified and doing so would strip the tank of its primary defense against air threats. Normally this weapon is fired by the gunner, but can be controlled by the commander.

    6. Primary Purpose: Antiaircraft
    Secondary Purpose: Defense
    Mega-Damage: 2D4x10 to a 50 foot (15.2 m) blast radius
    Range: 70 miles (112.7 km)
    ROF: 1, 2, 4
    Payload: 8 missiles, 4 per side.

  6. Secondary (SRM) Turret Missile Launchers (2): Six short range surface to air missiles are located in a second launcher on each side of the turret. Standard issue is plasma/HEAT warhead, but other types may be used. (See the new missile/bomb tables for other statistics). This is a dedicated surface to air missile launcher. Thus it is unsuitable for other types of missiles and cannot be modified. Normally this weapon is fired by the gunner, but can be controlled by the commander.

    7. Primary Purpose: Antiaircraft
    Secondary Purpose: Defense
    Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 to a 15 foot (4.6 m) blast radius
    Range: 5 miles (8 km)
    ROF: 1, 2, 4, 8, 12
    Payload: 12 missiles, 6 per side.

  7. Reactive Flechette Defensive System: Mounted around the perimeter of the tank on top of the armor is a band of hundreds of small reactive flechette plates and sensors. It is primarily designed to automatically combat enemy infantry which try to close with the tank. However, in addition to anti-infantry defense, the system has also been found to be useful against incoming missiles.
       When a target enters within a certain perimeter of the vehicle (30 feet/9.1 m), the system automatically reacts by detonating one of the plates. This causes what is basically shrapnel to be launched towards the target at extreme velocity. The shrapnel can both injure infantry and often prematurely detonate enemy missiles. The system will not fire on friendly troops displaying the correct IFF code. Additional plates will detonate if the target continues to close. Due to the speed at which missiles close, only one plate will detonate.

    8. Primary Purpose: Anti-Infantry
    Secondary Purpose: Anti-Missile
    Mega-Damage: 5D6 to a 2 foot (0.6 m) radius area against infantry. 50% chance of detonating a missile.
    Range: 30 feet (9.1 m)
    ROF: One plate will detonate per target up to ten times per melee.
    Payload: 40 plates per foot.

  8. Smoke Dispenser (2): Mounted on each side of the turret towards the front is a smoke grenade launcher. This is used to lay down a dense smoke screen. The smoke screen may be used for defense, to provide cover while pulling back, or to confuse the enemy.

    9. Primary Purpose: Defense
    Secondary Purpose: Confusion
    Effect: Creates a cloud of smoke with a 30 ft (9.1 m) radius
    Range: 1,200 feet (365 m)
    ROF: Two per melee
    Payload: 24, 12 per launcher.

  9. Sensors and Systems of Note: When first built, the Grand Tiger (Baker) had many advanced systems incorporated into it to help it survive on the modern battlefield. Some of these systems were very new at the coming of the Rifts and are thus found in only a select few other vehicles.
    1. Radio/Video Communications: The long range, directional communications array has a range of 500 miles (804 km). The short range directional radio has a range of of 5 miles (8 km).
    2. Radar: Advanced radar with a range of 50 miles (80.4 km). It can identify 96 targets and simultaneously track 48 as low as 50 feet (15.2 m).
    3. Spotlights (2): These spotlights project both normal light and light in the infrared range. Used in conjunction with the IR imaging system, the lights can be used to scan an area at night or in darkness. Range of 600 feet (183 m).
    4. Heads-Up Display: All crew members have an advanced helmet system with an integrated HUD capable of displaying any type of information fed from the computer.
    5. Stabilization System: This automatic stabilization and recoil reduction system allows the tank to fire both its main guns and coaxial weapon with full accuracy while moving at top speed even over rough terrain.
    6. Imaging Systems: The tank has complete visual/video, low-light, infrared (thermographic and infrared light), ultraviolet, and magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) imaging systems to allow it to fight in any weather and conditions.
    7. Periscope and Snorkel: A telescoping sensor array is installed in the turret. It is capable of a 10 foot (3 m) extension from the top of the turret (it can see over a 20 foot/6 m obstacle) and also acts as a snorkel when the tank is under water. The sensor array is tied in to all of the imaging systems of the tank.
    8. EMP Resistance: All systems in the tank are hardened against electro-magnetic pulses (EMPs). Almost all systems also have multiple backup systems so that the tank can continue functioning at full capacity even when damaged.
    9. Fire Detection and Control: The tank is equipped with sensors that immediately detect any internal fire and activate the extinguisher system to put out the fire anywhere in the tank.
    10. Full Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection: The tank has full NBC protection when sealed. This includes computer controlled life-support, internal heating and cooling, air purifier, air circulation, gas filtration, and independent oxygen supplies for up to 48 hours.

  10. Bonuses: The Grand Tiger incorporates many advanced and unique features. Features such as high maneuverability and excellent interface design increase the effectiveness of the tank.

    11. + 10% to all piloting rolls (driver)
    + 15% to all navigation related rolls due to inertial tracking and other features
    + 10% to all communication related rolls due to advanced communication systems
    + 1 attack per melee (driver)
    + 2 to initiative (all)
    + 3 to strike with missiles (gunner/commander)

Designed by Chris Curtis (curtis@thepentagon.com).

Copyright © 1998 Chris Curtis. All Rights Reserved.