Description
Damage Inc had long used Bulldog Tanks as their mainstay armored vehicle. Not as famous or "sexy" as fusion powered machines like the Patton, or as over armed as a Von Luckner, the Bulldog was a solid, reliable unit.
Shortly before the Jihad, they put in a technical data pack with specifications for an upgraded version capable of keeping abreast with the increasing lethality of the Post Invasion battlefield, but without the budget breaking attendant cost so many of these new fusion powered Omni-Vehicles were saddled with.
Firstly, the powerplant was changed from a Multi Fuel ICE engine to a more compact CV Fuel Cell. While this reduced it's operational range slightly, it's top speed of 64 kph was maintained, and it was considered a worthwhile trade, especially as Dmg Inc std doctrine was not to run extended maneuvers far from resupply, but to insert forces fast, via airdrop, etc, and be ready to exfil at a moments notice, if need, via Dropship. As for refueling/charging, being a military design, the entire bank of cells themselves can be rapidly switched for a fresh set, much the same way as an Omnimech swaps pods. When in transit, normal charging methods are of course deployed.
One key change was based on the old Light Autocannon version. Ditch the Large Laser, Power Amplifiers and Heat Sinks for a Ballistic Main Gun. The final choice ended up being between the new Mydron Tornado Rotary Autocannon with a three ton magazine, or an Imperator Code Red LB-10X Autocannon with a two ton magazine. While the Mydron Rotary won the trials, it was decided to produce the LB-X version concurrently, as a secondary model, as the LB-X was particularly vicious versus Aerospace and VTOLs.
Secondary armament is a pair of Telos sourced Streak Quads packs, flanking the turret, fed by a single one ton ammunition magazine. The AP Machine Gun was changed to a Sperry Browning model, and moved from the bow position to a coaxial position, giving it a full 360 field of fire. Likewise as is standard doctrine for all DMG INC frontline combat units, a TAG Designator is also in the turret, guaranteeing immediate support from the Arrow IV homing missiles of the Artillery Battalion, if needed. Lastly a hidden Vehicular Grenade Launcher was tucked into the bow.
Defensively, the changes were every bit as extreme. Firstly, the armor was changed from Bulldog Standard Plate to Durallex Guardian Heavy Ferro Fibrous Armor, with coverage being increased from 6.5 tons to 10.5 tons, giving it the equivalent of double the armor thickness of the base model, in all locations.
This protection is supplemented with the addition of a CASE system of the ammunition magazine, and a Goalkeeper Anti-Missile System add for active defense. Lastly a TekBattleComm system was installed to ensure maximum communications performance between all units, capable of cutting through most standard ECM units, though still not able to break through Guardian, Angel and NOVA ECM interference.
While at 4.2 Million C-bills a unit, it's a fair chunk more expensive than a standard Bulldog, it's still massively cheaper than the fusion powered monstrosities flooding the field in the 3060s, allowing Damage Inc to field 3 Cujos for every one Manteuffel deployed by the LAAF or AFFS, for instance As such, and given it's combination of battlefield performance and low maintenance, it's remained a standard in the units TO&E all the way to the modern day in 3150.
the old CCG art for the Bulldog was one of my favorites, it's a rough homage to that.
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