Dustrunner Buggy

**Key Features** | »» M400 HE Grenade Launcher (possibly stolen)»» All-terrain suspension»» Extra-large run-flat tires»» Fearsome painted logos»» Driver and Gunner with attitude problems

## Tactical Analysis

* **Road Warrior**: The Dustrunner is a converted dune buggy, capable of cruising around at high speeds over land or sea and conducting significant harassment against the enemy. With its trusty grenade launcher, it can cripple vital links in the enemy, be it artilery support, support vehicles, or even harvesters.

* **Dust Storm**: To complement this harassment capability, when threatened, the Dustrunner can kick up a huge cloud of dust and dirt (or a large spray of water at sea), obscuring the vision of the enemy and allowing the Dustrunner along with any nearby friendlies, to make their getaway while the enemy is busy cleaning its windscreen.

* **Minimum Force**: However, the Dustrunner is not a combat-capable vehicle, and care must be taken to ensure that these units are not lost. The low calibre of the grenade and lack of a fragmentation casing means that the Dustrunner is ineffective against most combat units, both vehicles, and infantry alike, even when flanking.

* **Beyond Thunderdome**: After a few engagments, some Dustrunner crews have found a way to reduce jamming even at high rates of fire, allowing them to make full use of their happy trigger fingers and the full automatic function of their grenade launcher. And further training on the gunners part leads to them aiming at the weakspots of vehicle, often the weld points, seams, and suspension, weakening the armour and slowing the vehicle for other Continental force.

## Background

*"Lets kick up some dirt!"*

-Dustrunner driver
**Dustrunner Buggies** were not an original part of Continental forces. Instead, these heavily modified All-Terrain Vehicles were owned and operated by the *Canyon Snakes* motor-gang in the Southwest United States, particularly the winding box canyons of Arizona and New Mexico. This gang was never considered more than a nuisance by the Allies, who only interfered with the gang's activities if they involved damaging Allied property or terrorizing innocent civilians. When the Continental Revolutionary movement started, a zealous Continental commander decided to enlist the support of several small towns in New Mexico.

Unfortunately, these towns were under the protection of the Canyon Snakes, and the Continental commander's small detachment of Beagles Tanks and Ranger Scout Cars was ambushed in a dead-end box canyon, nicknamed "Blood Gulch". The Canyon Snakes' heavily modified dune buggies were able to outmanoeuvre even the Beagles and the Continental commander's Himmelhammer van was soon surrounded. The Canyon Snakes declared themselves victorious, only to be hailed by an announcement from the unfriendly skies - the ambushers had become the ambushed, after the wily Continental commander sprung his ultimate trap.

A Pair of Hawker Jumpjets and 3 Longbow Mark I attack choppers appeared out of a PAWI field, and the outgunned Canyon Snakes surrendered. The commander then offered them a bargain - a chance to strike back at the Allied oppressors who were "F---ing up their right to roll, *man*" and a hefty sum of money for their services, in exchange for becoming a branch of the Continental Army and performing scouting and light strike missions for the liberation of the United States.

The Canyon Snakes wisely took the deal, and have since been reported as raiding various supply depots around the Southwest United States, seemingly striking swiftly and then disappearing in a dust cloud soon after, leaving all witnesses in stunned disbelief, if any survive the attack. Despite their effectiveness, the Snakes are starting to cause guilt by association as they continue their criminal ways, blatantly using their place in the Confederacy as justification to continue their criminal activities under the pretense of, "Aiding the war effort or something."

## Global Upgrade

**Health**: The front housing the engine is enlarged and extended forward. Sandbags are placed on it in front of the driver's window. A spiked bumper is placed on the front.

**Power**: The grenade launcher becomes bigger overall and the barrel is replaced with a barrel that looks more like a tank cannon.

**Speed**: The Exhaust pipes in the back and back wheels are doubled in size, popping a wheelie whenever it starts moving.

**Rate of Fire**: A belt of grenades comes from below where the driver sits into the gun.

**Armour**: Plates are attached to the bars around the gunner and around the driver, bulletproof glass is placed in front of the driver/gunner, and fenders cover the wheels. A plate covers the driver's roof also.

**Vision**: A targeting computer is attached to the front of the gun and the gunner wears a helmet with holographic display

## Behind the Scenes

The unit is an accepted suggestion by SgtNACHO.

The Dustrunner is based Desert Patrol Vehicles used by the United States Military.

## Just the Stats

 **Armour Type** | Light Armour

 **Kill Reward** | 4800

 **DPS** | 30