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M4
"Cheetah" HMMWV
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 TThe
M4 ATV is the second-generation high performance HMMWV. Like its
predecessor, the original HMMWV, the M4 is a rugged all terrain
vehicle designed to transport troops in and out of combat
situations. However the M4 is more then a simple transport. Its
power articulated pintle mount allows it to carry a wide range of
mission specific weapons and equipment that give the M4 such
versatility.
When
the Army first placed the order for a second generation all
terrain vehicles to supplement the first generation HMMWV they
decided to change the direction the combat ATV was evolving into.
Previously the ATV designs were becoming more and more like APC
(Armored Personnel Carriers), which the Army already had a unit
for. Instead the Army asked for a high mobility, high-speed unit
able to ferry a squad of troops in and out of an area, provided
limited tactical support, and be as easily modified as possible.
High priority was also given to field maintenance; the M4 was to
use as many ‘off the shelf’ parts as possible to allow the
unit to be repaired in the field with whatever spare parts were
available. The unit did not need to be fully enclosed as previous
units had been, and armor was given lower priority then previous
designs. The ultimate goal of the project was to create the
“racing car” of the military.
Many
companies submitted designs to the Department of Defense,
including Ford Motor Company, Pratt and Whitney, Rolls Royce and
General Electric, to name a few. In the end the design was awarded
to A joint venture between General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin.
The two companies co-design used a variety or aircraft based
technologies to create a stable, high performance vehicle.
The
body of the M4 is a composite design of a honeycomb plastic
reinforced with an aluminum-ceramic armor ‘exoskeleton’. The
composite frame allowed the structure of the vehicle to bend and
twist with high speed maneuvers, but remain solid, providing a
flexible and strong platform for the troops, weapons and equipment
to be mounted to. The driver’s compartment is an open cockpit
that would not look out of place in a fighter jet. The controls
are completely electronic/digital, with a backup analog display.
The driver is strapped into place with a 5-point harness and
surrounded on all sides by instrumentation. The passenger’s
chair contains secondary displays and is usually manned by the
squad leader or communications operator. The M4 is equipped with a
battlefield removable communication suite equal to anything a
mobile command might need.
The
rear section of the M4 is equipped with six folded seats, each
able to fold down and buckle in a single soldier. In the center of
the rear platform is a standard pintle-mounting bracket, to which
a piezoelectric tendon armature has been mounted. Like Exo’s the
synthetic tendon allows a full range of motion without the hiss of
pistons and fluids. The armature is designed to take a wide range
of weapons and equipment ranging from squad support weapons to
optical sensors. The M4 is also used as a recovery vehicle with
the armature removed and a high-tensile winch and arm being
inserted.
The
open concept of the M4 allows the troops being transported to use
their weapons while in motion. The fold away seats can be locked
facing in, or out. When facing out the M4 (fully loaded with
troops) can fire in any direction, with six Infantrymen buckled in
their seats, one manning the armature and a officer communicating
the M4 ‘s position at any time. The complete design meet the
needs the Army had placed for the design, and more. The high
speeds capable of the M4 are nearly as fast as some high speed
cars, coupled with the 4 wheel drive independent variable height
suspension, the M4 is as comfortable in city streets as it is
climbing mountain passes. |
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M4
"Cheetah" HMMWV |
| Name: |
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Cheetah
or M4. |
| Production
Code: |
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M4
HMMWV. |
| Production
Type: |
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Mass
Production. |
| Class: |
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Second
Generation High Mobility Multipurpose
Wheeled Vehicle.
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| Crew: |
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- One, plus 7 passengers. One
Communication Operator, one Pintle Gunner and six
Infantrymen.
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S.D.C.
By Location: |
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* |
Headlights |
20 |
S.D.C. |
(x 4) |
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* |
Searchlights |
25 |
S.D.C. |
(x 2) |
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Run-Flat
Tires |
100 |
S.D.C. |
(x 4) |
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* |
Independent
Suspension |
110 |
S.D.C. |
(x 4) |
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Roll Cage |
125 |
S.D.C. |
(x 1) |
|
** |
Engine |
115 |
S.D.C. |
(x 1) |
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** |
Engine Door |
150 |
S.D.C. |
(x 1) |
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* |
Pintle Base |
50 |
S.D.C. |
(x 1) |
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* |
Pintle
Armature |
65 |
S.D.C. |
(x 1) |
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* |
Troop
Seating |
50 |
S.D.C. |
(x 6) |
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* |
Ammo Drum |
80 |
S.D.C. |
(x 1) |
|
*** |
Main Body |
200 |
S.D.C. |
(x 1) |
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* |
A single asterisk indicates a small and difficult target to strike,
requiring the attacker to make a “called shot”, but
even then the attacker is –4 to strike.
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** |
Before the engine itself can be targeted, the engines armored cover
must first be destroyed. Even then the engine and cover
are both small targets requiring a ‘called shot’ to
strike, with a –1 to strike.
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*** |
Deleting
the S.D.C. of the main body will destroy the frame of
the M4, with a 30% (00-30) chance of igniting the fuel
(1D4 *100 points of damage to a 50ft/16.1 m radius). All
personnel in combat operations are required to wear body
armor when riding in an M4 (when possible) to prevent
damage from the elements and enemy attack.
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Speed |
| Driving: |
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150.0
mph (240.0 km) maximum. The cruising speed of the
Cheetah is a more reasonable 80.0 mph (128.0 km).
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| Terrain
Clearance: |
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The
M4’s variable height suspension allows it to hug the
ground with a minimum clearance of 6 inches (15.2 cm) to
a maximum clearance of 20 inches (50.6 cm). The lower
the clearance, the lower the center of gravity, this
allows the M4 to perform high speed turns and maneuvers
without fear of flipping. At higher clearances the M4
must slow down to make sharp turns, or there is a risk
of rolling the vehicle. Any high speed turns (50
mph/80km) with a height over 1 foot (30.4 cm) means
there is a risk of rolling, 15% (00-15) plus 3% per inch
(2.5 cm) over 1 foot (30.4 cm).
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Statistical
Data: |
| Height: |
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15.0
feet (4.57 m) from front grill to rear bumper.
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| Width: |
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7.08 feet (2.16 m). |
| Length: |
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6.1
feet (1.87 m) with maximum suspension clearance, 4.5
feet (1.37 m) with minimum suspension clearance.
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| Weight: |
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5,200
lbs (2,359 kg) without the addition of weapon and
ammunition or personnel.
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| Physical
Strength: |
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Equal
to a towing P.S. of 55.
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| Cargo: |
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Extensive,
enough for 6 additional passengers or equivalent cargo.
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| Power
Systems: |
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General
Dynamics High Efficiency Diesel-electric Hybrid engine.
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| Range
(Per tank of Fuel): |
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Using
the same basic engine technology as a Exo, the hybrid
engine allows the M4 to operate very quietly when
needed. The 25 gallon fuel drum allows for 700 miles
(1,124.3 km) operation range with an additional 2.3
hours or battery life (equal to 350 miles (563.15 km)
before needing recharging. The battery can be used and
recharged by the engine while in use extending the
batteries operation range to 10 the normal distance
3,500 miles (5.631.50 km)!!
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| Construction
Cost: |
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$50,327.00
dollars for a new, undamaged, full equipped standard M4
without ammunition or weapons.
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Weapons: |
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1.
Pintle Mount Options:
Located in the center of the rear cargo area is an
articulated pintle mount and turret base allowing for a
multitude of standard weapons and equipment to be
mounted. The following short list are some of the basic
options used:
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- A.
M230
33mm Chain Gun (x1): The
same chain gun used by the AH-64 Series Apache. The
M230 is a high caliber single-shot-single-kill
weapon. The high rate of fire, balance and accuracy
of this weapon make it a popular choice with many M4
gunners and crew.
- Purpose:
Anti-Armor
- Weight:
1,500 lbs (681.0 kg).
- Damage:
2D6 *10 per round.
- Rate
of Fire:
Fully automatic. Able to fire single shots, short
bursts (*5 rounds), long bursts (*10 rounds) and
sprays (*25 rounds). Equal to the combined number of
hand to hand attacks per melee of the gunner.
- Effective
Range:
6,000 feet (1,830 m).
- Payload:
400 rounds are carried in an armored ammo container.
Replacing an ammo container requires properly
trained personnel, tools and a P.S. of 30 or better.
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- B.
Hughes Aircraft & Raytheon Corporation TOW
Missile (x2):
A pair of TOW missile tubes can be mounted on the
pintle armature. The tubes are single use tubes that
need to be replaced after firing. The TOW system is
currently under review to determine if a better
system is available, but for the moment remains part
of the M4’s arsenal. Current weapons stockpile
will see the TOW missile as part of the M4 arsenal
for the foreseeable future.
- Purpose: Anti-tank, Anti-Armor
- Weight:
409.2 lbs (243.8 kg) for the launcher and 2 Tow 2B
missiles.
- Damage:
2D6 *100 per missile.
- Rate
of Fire:
Can fire 1 at a time or both together. Counts as 1
attack action of the gunner.
- Effective
Range:
1.25 miles (2.0 km) +blast radius 50 feet (16.1 m).
- Payload:
2 TOW 2B missiles.
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- C.
Mechanical Armature (x1):
The pintle mount can be removed, and a Kodiak
Industries light piezoelectric crane arm may be
mounted instead. Using the same hook ups as the
pintle mount the Kodiak arm is able to perform all
manner of movement through the use of a computer
control interface or a ‘waldo’ type sensor
system (mimics a human arms motion). The unit can be
used to reload heavy weapons, haul battle-damaged
unit, lift rubble, or load salvage onto the M4.
- Purpose:
Salvage and Heavy Load Assistance.
- Weight:
1,900 lbs (924.8 kg).
- Damage:
Not applicable.
- P.S.:
Robot P.S. equal to 55.
- Rate
of Fire:
Equal to the pilots combined number of hand to hand
attacks per melee.
- Effective
Range:
The arm has a reach of 12 feet (3.8 m). the winch
line is 150 feet (48.4 m) long.
- Payload:
Unlimited, hooked into the power systems of the M4.
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| 2.
Hand To Hand Combat: The
M4 is not capable of hand to hand combat in the
traditional sense of the word, however it can ram and
run over human sized objects with little damage to the
M4 itself. A ram (with the bumper) inflict 2D6 points of
damage for every 25 mph (40 km) of speed. Running over
an object inflict 1D6 *10 points of damage per tire,
usually 2 tires (front and back on one side) inflicting
2D6 *10 points of damage.
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- 3. Sensor System Note: The M4 has no built in sensors. Rather optics, radar, ladar and
other systems are added to the pintle mount or
bolted to the frame itself. The only built in system
is the communications set which links the M4 to any
command center or friendly unit in the area.
- Sensor
Bonuses:
No standard bonuses from sensors. Bonuses from
additional sensors may apply.
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