APC-12 Centaur

The APC-12 Centaur is an amphibious, tracked articulated, armored personnel carrier of the United Earth Federation. Introduced shortly before the 1st Space War, it was intended to complement the IFV-19 Minotaur as a more mobile and dedicated troop carrier for less intense situations. It would not see deployment in the aforementioned war however until 2202 when the need for troop carriers, especially for backline units, increased as the war went on for longer than expected. 
== Design ==
The APC-12 Centaur uses an tracked articulated system and split into two linked cars. By design the forward car is the primary car responsible for driving and control, the rear car can be detached as required. In most variants the only modification of the vehicle is in the rear car. This allowed the Centaur to detach and reattach the rear car corresponding to the needs of its current situation if the demanded rear car is available. The whole process, with a well trained crew, can be done in under an hour. 
== History ==
=== Origin ===
The APC-12 Centaur was initially a design and part of the same project that resulted in other UEF armored vehicles like the MBT-27 Centurion and IFV-19 Minotaur around the early 2100s as the newly formed Federation sought to standardise its vehicular arsenal. Much like the others, the design was based off existing designs and plans in the mid to late 21st century, borrowing many aspects. In the APC-12 Centaur's case it was based off the Swedish BvS 10 and BvS 206S
It was kept from production due to the thought of the IFV-19 Minotaur and LAV-40 could fulfill the same role as a troop carrier while being more heavily armed. Dedicated troop carriers for reserve and backline units instead fell on the 8x8 AUT-110 Ox armored truck, 6x6 ATT-4 Yak MRAP and the 4x4 TIV-226 Buffalo infantry mobility vehicle, with the Space Marine Corps additionally using the turretless variant of the LAV-40, the WAT-39 Satyr.
However in 2196, the UEF Army and Space Marine Corps sought to enhance their existing troop carrying abilities due to the UEF facing more increasingily rough terrain as they came across more different variety of planets. As a result the ATAT Program was started. It competed with the more traditional "box" designed, tracked APC-11 Gorgon, and the similarily articulated but wheeled APC-13 Ipotane. At the end of the program it was decided to procure all 3 designs with priority being placed on the APC-12 Centaur.
=== Operational history ===
== Variants ==
* APC-12A - Standard troop carrier configuration.
* APC-12B - Upgraded variant from the APC-12A.
* MCV-121 - Armored mortar carrier variant with a 81mm mortar and 91 rounds.
** MCV-122 - Designation for when equipped with 120mm mortar with 84 rounds. 
* AMV-123 Aphros - (Armored Medical Vehicle) Mobile field hospital/aid station variant. Rear cab lengthened significantly to accommodate more medical equipment and extra space for emergency litters.
* MEV-124 Bythos - Medical evacuation vehicle variant.
* CPV-125 Chiron - Command vehicle variant.
* AAV-126 Rancher - Anti-aircraft variant. Equipped with a search and fire-control radar on top of the forward car and a single rapid-firing 40mm autocannon in a remote turret in a modified rear cab.
* AAV-127 Chaperone - Anti-aircraft missile variant. A unique variant and one of the few with a dedicated modified forward car, the primary car has been modified and lengthened to support additional equipment and increased crew capacity from 4 to 6, equipped with a search and fire-control radar on top. Rear cab modified significantly to feature a 6-cell vertical launch system for 6 surface-to-air missiles.
* ALV-128 Chimera - (Armored Laser Vehicle) Point-defense anti-drone and C-RAM variant. Uses a high-power directed laser system, the PDL-105 point defense laser, on the rear cab. Supported by a search radar on the forward car.