Vehicle Construction System

---

Welcome to the Luft Krieg Vehicle Construction System!

    Welcome to the Luft Krieg Vehicle Construction System for use with the Luft Krieg tactical game. Here you will find rules adaptations from the Heavy Gear Technical Manual 2nd Edition (click on the link to view it) which you will be able to use when designing new aircraft for your campaigns or own pleasure. Each of the rules which required modification is listed below, those that did not are identical to the ones you will find inside the Heavy Gear book and are not listed here. As with any rules you are free to modify them as you wish, however, they are not available for reproduction in any form. Thus they are only available on a personal basis for game play.

6.1.4. LKVCS Maneuver.

    While the rules available in the HGTM2 (Heavy Gear Technical Manual 2nd Edition) are quite good they don't provide much guidance regarding aircraft. It's tough to know exactly what rating to use on the right aircraft. Moreover the HGTM2 doesn't explain very well what characteristics of the vehicle would make it have a particular rating, they just give general rules of thumb and are not very specific. Rule 6.1.4LKVCS details how to find the right maneuver rating for the aircraft you wish to depict or design. In real life aerodynamics there are three very important factors in an aircraft design which will affect its maneuverability throughout the flight envelope. Those three factors are #1; Wing Loading, #2; Power Loading for propeller driven aircraft or Thrust to Weight ratio for jet powered ones and finally #3; Wing Aspect Ratio. Below is an explanation of what those three factors are.
 

•  Wing Loading: wing loading is not very complicated, it is only the aircraft's weight divided by the surface of its wings or lifting surfaces. Wing loading will affect the aircraft speed bleed rate or the rate at which the aircraft will slow down when turning hard. Aircraft with high wing loading will bleed airspeed faster and will thus reach their design stall speed faster than a comparative aircraft with a lower wing loading. Theoretically wing loading reflects the lift that the wing needs to create to make the aircraft sustain flight. Since lift is roughly equal to double the drag this means that a high wing loading will produce more drag than a low wing loading. If you keep the same engine output throughout the turn the aircraft will slow down since the drag will increase. Also the more the aircraft slow down the more it's turn radius will shorten and its angle of attack (AoA) will increase. With higher AoA drag increases again and the aircraft will ultimately slow down to its design stall speed. Thus an aircraft with low wing loading will be able to sustain a tighter turn than one with a higher wing loading.
• Power Loading and Thrust to Weight Ratio: these two are quite similar except that the later is more efficient. Power loading is the aircraft's weight divided by its engine output in BHp (Brake Horsepower) while thrust to weight ratio is the aircraft's weight divided by the turbojet's thrust in kgf. Power Loading and TtW (Thrust to Weight) ratio represent the aircraft's ability to accelerate. A lower power loading or higher TtW ratio for the same weight will make an aircraft accelerate faster. It will also increase its ability to sustain speed at high AoA negating  in some margin the effect of drag. Thus an aircraft with low power loading or high TtW will be able to sustain a tighter turn longer than the same aircraft with higher power loading or lower TtW ratio.
• Wing Aspect Ratio: wing aspect ratio is the aircraft's wingspan squared divided by the wing surface and only the wing surface not the fuselage lifting surface. Aspect ratio will affect the drag of a wing. A higher aspect ratio will normally reduce drag in cruise attitude to something not very significative. When maneuvring hard a high aspect ratio will help lift but in a smaller margin than in cruise attitude. However, a high aspect ratio will diminish the aircraft's roll rate. Roll rate can be considered as how fast an aircraft can enter a turn, it's the most important factor in a fighter and in a dogfight. So the aircraft with the lower aspect ratio can be expected to win a dogfight with an aircraft with a higher aspect ratio. Even if this factor is very important once the aircraft has entered the turn it's the two factors above that will count afterward.

    Below is a table with the Wing Loading and Power Loading values. For finding the right maneuver rating just criss cross the values which the fighter you want to depict or design has.
 
 

Step Two:

    Now that the primary maneuver rating is found we need to add the effect of aspect ratio to the equation. Just find the correct value on the table and add the maneuver rating to the one you already found in the tables at Step One.
 
 

    Here you go, you now have your aircraft maneuver rating. Feel free to use decimals rating to better reflect particular aircraft's characteristics.

6.1.7LKVCS Weapons

    While many aerial weapons are depicted in the Luft Krieg Rulebook many are overlooked or do not appear at all. I've collected here some of the weapons most encountered during World War 2. As I see fit I will add some new weapons for use. Only the guns' stats are changed here, otherwise any other rules covering weapons are the same.

6.1.7.1 Machine Guns
 
 

Weapon	Rating	Range	Damage	Accuracy	RoF	Ammo (ea.)	Minimum Size	Special
Browning M2 .30cal	35	1/2/4/8	x2,75	0	+1	0,10	2	US gun
Browning  M2 .50cal	60	1/2/4/8	x3,50	0	0	0,09	3	US gun
Browning  M3 .50cal	70	1/2/4/8	x3,50	0	+1	0,18	4	US gun
Browning .303cal	45	1/2/4/8	x2,75	0	+1	0,10	2	British gun
MG 17 7,9mm	60	1/2/4/8	x3,00	0	+1	0,14	3	German gun
MG 151 15mm	75	1/2/4/8	x4,00	0	0	0,11	4	German gun
MG 131 13mm	70	1/2/4/8	x3,75	0	0	0,10	3	German gun
MG 81 7,9mm	45	1/2/4/8	x3,00	0	+1	0,14	2	German gun
MG 81Z 7,9mm	65	1/2/4/8	x3,00	+1	+2	0,28	3	German gun
MG Rh/B.7 7,0mm	45	1/2/4/8	x2,50	+1	+2	0,21	2	German gun
MG 151/V0 15mm	85	1/2/4/8	x4,00	0	+1	0,22	5	German gun

6.1.7.2 Automatic Cannons
 

Weapon	Rating	Range	Damage	Accuracy	RoF	Ammo (ea.)	Minimum Size	Special
Browning M2 20mm	90	1/2/4/8	x4,50	0	0	0,18	5	US cannon
Browning  M3 20mm	110	1/2/4/8	x4,50	0	+1	0,27	6	US cannon
Hispano Mk.V 20mm	90	1/2/4/8	x4,50	0	0	0,18	5	British cannon
MG/FF 20mm	90	1/2/4/8	x4,50	0	0	0,18	5	German cannon
MG/FF M 20mm	100	1/2/4/8	x4,50	0	0	0,22	4	German cannon
MG 151/20 20mm	120	1/2/4/8	x4,50	0	+1	0,31	5	German cannon
MG 213/30 30mm	125	2/4/8/16	x5,50	0	+1	0,36	6	German cannon
MK 101 30mm	135	2/4/8/16	x5,50	0	0	0,40	5	German cannon
MK 103 30mm	145	2/4/8/16	x5,50	0	0	0,44	4	German cannon
MK 108 30mm	150	2/4/8/16	x5,50	0	+1	0,49	5	German cannon
MK 112 55mm	160	2/4/8/16	x7,50	0	+1	0,45	7	German cannon
MK 114 55mm	170	2/4/8/16	x7,50	0	0	0,52	6	German cannon

6.1.7.3 Aircraft Carried Bombs
 

Weapon	Rating	Range	Damage	Accuracy	RoF	Ammo (ea.)	Minimum Size	Special
45kg(100lbs) HE bomb	2	0/0/0/0	x1,50	-1	0	N/A	0
100kg HE bomb	3	0/0/0/0	x3,00	-1	0	N/A	0,25
113kg(250lbs) HE bomb	4	0/0/0/0	x3,50	-1	0	N/A	0,25
150kg HE bomb	5	0/0/0/0	x4,50	0	0	N/A	0,25
200kg HE bomb	6	0/0/0/0	x6,00	0	0	N/A	0,5
227kg (500lbs) HE bomb	6	0/0/0/0	x6,75	0	0	N/A	0,5
250kg HE bomb	7	0/0/0/0	x7,50	-2	0	N/A	0,5
454kg (1000lbs) HE bomb	10	0/0/0/0	x13,50	-2	0	N/A	1	AE0
500kg HE bomb	11	0/0/0/0	x15,00	-2	0	N/A	1	AE0
909kg (2000lbs) HE bomb	23	0/0/0/0	x27,25	-2	0	N/A	2	AE1, min. ALT=1
1 000kg HE bomb	24	0/0/0/0	x30,00	-2	0	N/A	2	AE1, min. ALT=1
2 000kg HE bomb	52	0/0/0/0	x60,00	-2	0	N/A	4	AE2, min. ALT=2
2 272kg (5000lbs) HE bomb	56	0/0/0/0	x68,25	-2	0	N/A	5	AE2, min. ALT=2
3 000kg HE  bomb	82	0/0/0/0	x90,00	-3	0	N/A	6	AE3, min. ALT=3
5 000kg HE bomb	128	0/0/0/0	x150,00	-3	0	N/A	10	AE4, min. ALT=4

Weapon	Rating	Range	Damage	Accuracy	RoF	Ammo (ea.)	Minimum Size	Special
45kg(100lbs) Incendiary bomb	4	0/0/0/0	x1,50	-1	0	N/A	0	Incendiary
100kg HE Incendiary bomb	5	0/0/0/0	x3,00	-1	0	N/A	0,25	Incendiary
113kg(250lbs) Incendiary  bomb	6	0/0/0/0	x3,50	-1	0	N/A	0,25	Incendiary
150kg Incendiary  bomb	7	0/0/0/0	x4,50	0	0	N/A	0,25	Incendiary
200kg Incendiary  bomb	8	0/0/0/0	x6,00	0	0	N/A	0,5	Incendiary
227kg (500lbs) Incendiary  bomb	8	0/0/0/0	x6,75	0	0	N/A	0,5	Incendiary
250kg Incendiary  bomb	9	0/0/0/0	x7,50	-2	0	N/A	0,5	Incendiary
454kg (1000lbs) Incendiary  bomb	14	0/0/0/0	x13,50	-2	0	N/A	1	AE0, Incendiary
500kg Incendiary  bomb	15	0/0/0/0	x15,00	-2	0	N/A	1	AE0, Incendiary
909kg (2000lbs) Incendiary  bomb	31	0/0/0/0	x27,25	-2	0	N/A	2	AE1, min. ALT=1, Incendiary
1 000kg Incendiary  bomb	32	0/0/0/0	x30,00	-2	0	N/A	2	AE1, min. ALT=1, Incendiary
2 000kg Incendiary  bomb	68	0/0/0/0	x60,00	-2	0	N/A	4	AE2, min. ALT=2, Incendiary
2 272kg (5000lbs) Incendiary  bomb	72	0/0/0/0	x68,25	-2	0	N/A	5	AE2, min. ALT=2, Incendiary
3 000kg Incendiary   bomb	114	0/0/0/0	x90,00	-3	0	N/A	6	AE3, min. ALT=4, Incendiary
5 000kg Incendiary  bomb	192	0/0/0/0	x150,00	-3	0	N/A	10	AE4, min. ALT=5, Incendiary

Weapon	Rating	Range	Damage	Accuracy	RoF	Ammo (ea.)	Minimum Size	Special
Glide Bomb	+2							Glide Bombs are available for all above types of bomb up to 1 000kg.Simply add the Rating to the Rating of the bomb you choose.It's considered as a Glider.
Guided Bomb	x2							Guided Bombs are available for all above HE types up to 1 000kg.Simply double the Rating.It's a Wire Guided weapon.
Fuel Air Explosive	x2		x2					Fuel Air Explosive Bombs are available for all HE types of bomb up to 500kg.Double each, the Rating, the Damage and the Area Effect.It's a Slow Burn weapon.
Torpedo	298	Up to 5 + 1d6.	x20	-1	0	N/A	4	Water movement.
250kg Cluster Bomb	10	0/0/0/0	x8	0	0	N/A	0,5	AE1
500kg Cluster Bomb	14	0/0/0/0	x16	0	0	N/A	1	AE2

6.1.7.4 Aircraft Carried Rockets
 

Weapon	Rating	Range	Damage	Accuracy	RoF	Ammo (ea.)	Minimum Size	Special
2,75in. Zuni HE	12	1/2/4/8	x5,00	-1	0	N/A	2	US rocket.
2,75in. Zuni Incendiary	14	1/2/4/8	x5,00	-1	0	N/A	2	US rocket. Incendiary
5in. Zuni HE	24	1/2/4/8	x10,00	-1	0	N/A	4	US rocket.
5in. Zuni Incendiary	28	1/2/4/8	x10,00	-1	0	N/A	4	US rocket. Incendiary
70mm HE	12	1/2/4/8	x5,00	-1	0	N/A	2	British Rocket.
70mm  Incendiary	14	1/2/4/8	x5,00	-1	0	N/A	2	British Rocket.
70mm HEAT	22	1/2/4/8	x8,00	-1	0	N/A	2	British Rocket.
R-4/M 55mm HE	8	1/2/4/8	x4,00	-1	0	N/A	2	German Rocket.
R-4/M 55mm HEAT	19	1/2/4/8	x4,00	-1	0	N/A	3	German Rocket.
WfrGr 210 210mm HE	45	1/2/4/8	x15,00	0	0	N/A	5	German Rocket.

All the content of this site, unless otherwise stated, is Copyright © '2001 Philippe Lemieux.All rights reserved.All the text is Copyright © '2001 Philippe Lemieux.All rights reserved.All images, unless otherwise stated, are Copyright © '2001 Philippe Lemieux.All rights reserved.No part of this website maybe reproduced, on paper or on the World Wide Web or by any other means without the express written permission of the owner of the Copyrights or the webmaster.The webmaster wishes to point out that Dream Pod 9 Inc. is in no way associated to this website and project, it's a private endeavour that is dedicated solely for Gear Krieg, Luft Krieg and gaming fans in general.

Luft Krieg, Gear Krieg and their associated logos are Copyright © 2001 Dream Pod 9 Inc.All rights reserved.Luft Krieg, Gear Krieg, Panzerkampfer and their associated logos are Trademarksô of Dream Pod 9 Inc.