Cassidy

#### Overview

The Cassidy was the primary landship of Arcean Union troops during the Great War and into the early era of the Long Peace. Manufactured by the famous vehicle conglomerate Cockerel, the Landship’s design was both inspired by the successes of landships of the government and revolutionary forces of the Arcean Civil War, and failures of such vehicles. The need for the Revolutionary Vanguard was for a medium landship that could defend the homeland and attack its enemies with equal reliability.  The vehicle was first created for the massed formations of the Arcean Army, with other models later picked up by the militia though the Aerorifles turned down the design due to its inability to be transported by airship. Since it’s inception, models have been used by Dotha, the Restoration Army, West Orissa, South Ephesus and Estille, while thousands of upgraded variants remain in the hands of Arcean Union militia units.

The vehicle was well rounded, with effective and strong armour together with speed at its inception, though early units that were deployed suffered from being forced to use Civil-War era radios for communication, the mass produced sets often breaking or were failing to receive signals. Early models also suffered from faulty chemical protection systems that were quickly addressed with the Mod 1 from the second half of the Great War and onwards. The main postwar model, the Mod 2 would see an overhaul of the vehicles engine and gearbox, increasing reliability and response to the driver. On top of this, additional armour compartments were affixed about the turret and flanks due to experiences with suicide bombers and anti-landship infantry weapons. Further possible additions in the shape of night-sights, chemical protection and much needed radio upgrades would follow. The Postwar variant would see plenty of action across the former UHR and war zones of the world, having been up gunned to a modern standard.

The landship has a crew of four, commander, gunner, loader and driver. All aside from the driver, are situated in the turret, separated from the driver by the ammunition stowage racks.

In Arcean service, the Cassidy has since been replaced by the Helena Main Battle Landship, though it remains in its upgraded form with the People’s Militia.

#### Armament

The first runs of the Cassidy were armed with a 40mm cannon accompanied by a 7.21mm machine gun in the coaxial position. This proved a capable weapon at first but was soon made redundant by great strides in Shirudian armour and left the tank extremely impotent. Therefore as the war entered its second half, the Mod 1 upgraded the tank to carry a 75mm main gun with an additional 7.21 machinegun for the commander. The 75mm could fire HE, Smoke or AP shells and was popular but towards the war’s end suffered with lethality issues at range. Late War Shirudo tanks would see armour upgrades that reduces kill rates and forced Cassidy crews to get even closer to their targets.

With the war’s end looming, Arcean designer Josefina Baker would oversee the creation of the “Baker” 120mm gun. This would be installed on the Mod 2 Cassidy and bring the tank into the new age. The 120mm served well in the dying days of the Great War and on into the Long Peace beyond. A rifled gun, it is capable of launching HE, Sabot, AP and HESH shells and though bosting decent gunsights, can be sighted by the commander’s machinegun turret as well.

#### Variants

* The Cassidy is one of the most varied vehicles in the world and sees many variants. Most are official Cockerel designs but many are unofficial or built under license by foreign powers.

* Early Cassidy: The first variant produced, mounting the 40mm cannon and a single 7.21 MMG. Minor engine reliability issues and suffered from outdated Civil-War radios.

* Mod 1: The primary variant for the second half of the Great War. Upgraded with a 75mm gun  with a larger turret to fit it, and an extra 7.21. Increased chemical protection than the previous model. Most commonly produced Cassidy model.

* Mod 2: primary postwar variant. Swaps the 75mm for the 120mm “Baker”. Replaced gearbox and improved engine design. Later kits for additional armour, early night sights, modern radio sets and further chemical protection.

* Mod.2 *Supp*: Primarily used by the RA, West Orissca, and South Ephesus. It is largely a Mod.2 with the ability to mount a modern composite armor kit, fire control system, and MCLOS racks. Was developed largely in tandem with the Helena as life extension kits for Mod.2s.

* Clarissa: Engineering Variant of the Mod 1. Boasts the 75mm gun, dozer blades and fascine cradle.

* Clarissa EAD: Clarissa mounting a sub nosed airredoubt gun in place of the 75mm. Deployed to destroy fortifications.

* Ciara ARV: Recovery variant. Lacks turret  and mounts a rear winch  and towing attachment.

* Cassidy ARK: Bridgelayer landship. Forgoes turret for bridge mount.

* “Donkey”: Slang term for unofficial variant of the Cassidy that sees the turret removed and used as an armoured APC.