M577 Fuchs III APC

"We came outta that APC spitting sweat and blood. Up ahead we heard screaming as the twenty-mike-mike chopped the bugboys into salad. Sarge screamed 'Split Orange', an' we broke into a four-by-four formation, charging the hill with the smarts in support and the APC on overwatch. The bugboys saw us coming and launched a buzz-bomb. They'd have us cold if it weren't for the Loot' in the APC - he caught their launch flash and iced the suckers with the peebees before their bomb had even left the tube! S'damndest thing I ever saw!"

- Cpl. Lynda Gerhardt, B Coy. 1/7 Colonial Marine.*

Handling	Speed	Accel	B/A	Sig	Autonav	Pilot	Load
4/4	70	5	7/16	6 (8)	4	5	500

Seating: 1 bucket seat + 1 bucket seat + 12 bucket seats
Access: 1 standard + 1 sliding
Economy: 2 km per liter
Fuel: 1,000 liters
Cargo: 2 x 2 CF + 12 x 2 CF + 10 CF
Sensors: Military II (5)
ECM/ECCM: Military I (8)/Military I (8)
Other Features: Signature Improvement (3), Datajack Port, Offroad suspension, Handling Improvement (2), Remote Control Interface, Rigger Adaptation, 14 x APPS (plus Crash Cages), EnviroSeal (Cabin overpressurization), 30 x 14 man hours life support, Thermal Baffles (2), Smartlink II integrated, Gunnery Recoil Adjusters (6), Internal Missile Mount (Ballista), Battletac FDDM Receiver Module, Electronics Port, Power Amplifiers (4), Level 3 Amphibious Package, Anti Theft System (Rating 10, Electric Shock), Radar Absorbent Materials (1).
Armament:

Remote "Pop-up" turret (see description below), Victory Rotary Assault Cannon with 250 rounds each, with coaxial M263 with 600 rounds, with full anti-aircraft ability (see below for more).
Internally mounted Ballista launcher with Laser Designator, with 4 rounds.
Forward mounted twin M263 with 600 rounds for each.

Weights: 18,924 fully loaded (full 12 soldiers and ammunition load), 14,112 kg fully empty (no ammunition, fuel or passengers).
Dimensions:

Height (turret stowed)	2.17 m
Height (turret raised)	2.81 m
Length (turret stowed)	9.22 m
Length (turret raised)	8.58 m
Width	3.38 m
Wheel diameter	158.75 cm
Clearance (at rest)	21.59 cm

Quality Factors:
Ruggedness (2)
Master Workmanship (1)

M577 Fuchs III

2.1 General Description

The Fuchs III is an APC developed for the Special Security Group for use in tactical operations where necessary. Deployment of the M577 is with Section FOUR only, as they are more likely to use such a vehicle. The design was made to be able to be carried by the UD-4M Cheyenne. Key features such as protection, mobility were added to provide a carrying capacity of a total of 14 troopers, a driver, PTC (Platoon Tactical Coordinator) and a platoon of 12 soldiers. The weight of the vehicle had to be seriously watched for it to be air transportable, as well as the dimensions of the vehicle. While not as capable as most APCs, the M577 is still the backbone of the Special Security Group. The APC is built around a 4 x 4 wheeled layout, powered by a General Motors 256 diesel engine. Although the wheeled layout does not give the same performance as a tracked layout, the weight reductions offsets this. Each of the 159cm wheels are independently powered from the engine, being controlled by the electronically controlled transmission. All the tires are runflat (Armor 5/3), and can be controlled by a central regulation system. This allows the driver (Complex Action) to reduce the vehicles overall ground pressure over soft terrain (-1 modifier) by deflating the tires, while being able to reinflate them for road travel.

The chassis of the M577 is made of bonded titanium and incorporates a foam cavity to protect against mines on the bottom. Normal ground clearance is 22 cm, and can be raised to 30 cm via a hydraulic suspension. This allows the Fuchs III to comfortably handle vertical obstacles up to 0.5m and The hull and armor is bonded together (reduce target numbers by 2 for any Crash tests) rather than welded, providing protection from fatigue and wear caused by the fusion of the materials. Despite the light armor it has, the inside of it has been lined with ceramic tiles and covered by a polymer resin to prevent excess spalling (reduce attackers successes by 1). Because of weight restrictions, only a limited amount of armor can be applied, to keep combat weights down. It is capable of defeating fragmentation, small arms rounds, as well as low velocity munitions such as rifle grenades, as well as some battlefield missiles. Protection against dedicated anti-tank munitions is slight.

2.2 Crew and Passengers

The main compartment is spacious for a vehicle this size, and can seat twelve soldiers and the commander sits in a chair, overseeing the TOC. Standard procedure is one of the soldiers in the Section drives the vehicle, or the XO if he or she has a Vehicle Control Rig installed, however if necessary, a soldier from the attached Transport Company drives the vehicle. It allows for efficient weapons and supply stowage for supplies, ideally three days of combat, but in practice it can be as little as two days. Seating for twelve soldiers in full combat gear is provided, and has yoke harness restraints for any excessive maneuvers. Crew access is via a large starboard door and the driver position has its own door. The TOC (Tactical Operations Center) comprises of a Battletac system with encrypted electronics. Every soldier has a life monitor on their heart when in battle, the platoon commander monitors these on multiple video banks and it has monitors for the sensor displays (see below). Naturally the platoon commander sits on a sliding chair, which like a reclining chair to allow full movement between viewscreens. This can obviously be locked in place for takeoffs and landings (situation dependant, normal practice is to start checking two minutes before landing) while inside the Cheyenne, but can be unlocked for level flight. It mounts a joystick for drone control, which uses a dismountable Rigger control deck, or interface with the commander's Vehicle Control Rig. Below each monitor is a keyboard that can access each of the soldiers data, allowing the platoon commander to update any information necessary. Also it can provide direct, live video (through the soldiers helmets) as well as battle management displays are used to effectively command a platoon. Inside of the APC are storage lockers for additional equipment that is standard on all M577 APCs:

Four UA-571 Sentry Guns, any variants may be carried.
Two days worth of Rations, and other supplies are carried. There are ammunition storage lockers on the roof of the troop compartment that for each soldier, can carry up to 10 clips of any weapon type, or 5 M56A2 ammunition drums. By each seat is a rifle rack that can accept most rifles, as well as specialized mounts for the Platoon's M56A2 Smarts. They can also secure the G-6 and M66A2 Heavy Fire Weapon.
Two other lockers that contains other sensor systems allowing the Platoon to maintain a sensor matrix of up to 1,000 meters around the APC. Four ALR-23 Signal Beacons are also carried as well.
By the TOC area, there is a strapdown point for the three M70 drones on the ceiling. One is immediately behind it. However, these must exit before any other soldiers can exit. Though common practice is to have them prepositioned before the door prior to deployment to allow them to prep before combat.
Strapdown point in the TOC area for the M23 Support Drone. This is the same as the M70 above.

"We have this big red button labeled 'ECM'. If we tag any incoming we're supposed to slap the buttonand fire off the flares, chaff and jammers to save our butts. The word on the line is that the system gives you a fighting chance against infrared homing weapons, but no chance at all against radar homer. One of those puppies catches you, you're toast!"

- Staff Sergeant Billy 'The Ball' Arter,, USCM.*
2.3 Sensors

The Fuchs III mounts a large array of electronics. First it mounts ECM/ECCM gear to protect itself from jamming. The driver has a limited view outside, so MFDs and periscopes are provided to allow the driver to see in those blind areas. These displays are also in the TOC to provide the platoon commander with information. Towards the rear is a pannable searchlight that is slaved to a thermal tracker, a TV camera with x4 to x20 magnification, as well as a UV detector, and an ultrasound motion detector. A millimeter-wave targeting radar is mounted in the front cupola, and provides a sensor coverage all around the APC. The remote turret itself can track targets, or use the main sensors. The turret mounts a laser designator for the Ballista missiles, and a microwave radar. Added to this list is the M568 FDDM system, allowing the Fuchs III to make indirect fire attacks with aid from a spotter.

2.4 Stealth and Defensive Systems

Defensive systems include passive aural and thermal masking to reduce the vehicle's signature drastically. The vehicle has foam lined armor that adds 2 dice to resist fire attacks. Magical defenses are limited to anchored spells and a bound earth elemental tasked to provide added defense to the APC. Other magical defenses is provided by any mages/shamans that are with the platoon, and does not provide all around coverage with fiber-optic cables. Smoke, flare and chaff dispensers also provide defense and mounting points for reactive armor is also provided. The skin around the vehicle has a number of patches to break up the vehicles thermal outline.

2.5 Weapon Systems

Due to space and weight requirements, the M577 only carries a limited number of offensive weaponry. Mounted on a remote turret mounted on tracks is a Victory Rotary Assault Cannon, with a coaxial M263 minigun. The Victory carries 250 belted rounds, while the MG carries 600 rounds. Mounted on the left side and the right side in the center of the vehicle is a four round Ballista launcher on each side. An armored door protects the system from fire and a pop up micro remote turret mounts a laser designator for laser guided munitions. Mounted on the right forward of the vehicle is a medium remote turret mounting twin M263s, which are both fed by a 600 round drum. This turret has traverse of only 60º from the front. External three cell missile racks may be installed if necessary as well. Mounted to the rear right is a four cell launcher for M5 Recon Drones, which can be used as a reconnaisance. Additionally, these drones carry Battletac FDDM to increase their combat capability.

M263 Minigun

Mounted in the front and the turret of the M577, this constitutes the vehicle's main infantry support weapon. A six-barreled design that is chambered for the 10 x 28mm caseless round that the M56A2 fires, the M263 is a heavy hitting weapon. More powerful than the M56A2, the weapon is now being retrofitted onto existing M577s for better weight savings, due to the newer materials being introduced, as well as limited deployment on the M343 turret of the LAV-45. The frame of the whole machine gun is made of new, advanced metals made in zero-gee, it dramatically reduces the weight considerably, while a marked improvement over the old Vanquisher minigun. Using the caseless ammunition has also dropped weight so the M577 can fire the same amount of rounds while carrying a lighter load. It fires in the "super-machinegun" category, bringing impressive fire to bear. To handle all the recoil generated, each barrel ends in a Gas-Vent IV, as well as a modified ring mount with improved shock absorbers to handle the recoil generated. Unlike the Vanquisher, which had to be modified to accept Smartlink II, the M263 comes equipped from the factory with it, including a built in rangefinder to improve accuracy. Currently, the M263 is only mounted on the UD-4L and M577, and is fed standard by a 600 round ammo drum. The ammunition fired is the same ammunition fired by the M56A2, and can be set in both modes (a Free Action while rigged, Simple Action non-rigged), both "Delay" and "Super" modes.

Type	Mode	Damage	Ammo
HMG*	FA**	13S	800(drum)

*Increase range brackets by 125%
**Use super-machinegun rules
The weapon offers 5 points from the Imp. Gas-Vent IV mounted on the barrels (no, you don't get 30 points recoil comp!). The shock absorbers offer an additional 4 points of recoil compensation. For game purposes, treat the round as EXplosive in the "Super" mode, and in "Delay" mode, treat as EX, but also use APDS rules. It should be noted that the type of mode cannot be switched while firing the burst. All rounds in the burst will be one or the other. When in the next phase, the character may switch modes, a Free Action while rigged, Simple Action non-rigged. It requires a Complex Action to rotate the barrel to speed for firing.

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1996, 97, 98, 99, Fresh Productions.

*Most information came from the Colonial Marines Technical Manual.