Stridsvagn 134

The **Stridsvagn 134** was a Global Civil War-era Hovertank that was later used by the UEDF.

## Background

One of the more unusual designs from the Global Civil War period, the Stridsvagn 134 was a hover tank. While based entirely on existing technology, the vehicle was a previously unheard of practical application. While mechanically complicated and often maintenance-intensive, the Stridsvagn 134 offered a combination of speed, mobility, protection and firepower that was unprecedented in conventional tank designs. Not only was it faster than conventional tanks, but its hover design meant that it could go places they could not.

Due to these capabilities, the Stridsvagn 134 was used by a number of different powers during the Civil War. Examples were used worldwide, including being license-built in Mexico. Clever commanders learned to use its unique abilities to their greatest advantage, such as flanking opponents through terrain that conventional tanks would not be able to traverse. While its complexity did hamper its spread, the design was well-liked by those that used them.

The UEDF chose to adopt the design as an interim model until the development of more advanced Robotechnology designs. The Stridsvagn 134 was used as the basis for the semi-transformable VBT-1 Centaur Hover Tank. While it made use of Robotechnology to provide greater capabilities and flexibility, the Centaur still shared components with its progenitor. UEDF Stridsvagn 134s were used against the AUL, where it achived some measure of success against their rare armoured forces. However, it proved to be inferior in almost every regard to its successor and was largely rotated out of frontline service. Ironically, the Centaur would only have a brief period of frontline use as well before being replaced with the early Destroids.

Few examples of the tank survived the Rain of Death. Many of those that did fell victim to their own complicated design and were used as 'parts donors' to keep Centaur Hovertanks running. The last examples are believed to have been retired by 2018.

## Capabilities

Compared to contemporary tank designs, the Stridsvagn 134 was at the same time both radical and conventional. As a hover tank, it boasted previously unseen capabilities that were not found in other armoured vehicles. Its ability to hover made it far faster than other tanks of the time; its top speed of 150 km/h was twice that of the road speeds of the fastest conventional battle tanks. Furthermore, due to its hover platform, the Stridsvagn was not affected by the terrain underneath it like a regular tank would be. It was not hampered by soft sand, marshes, broken terrain and the like. Furthermore, it could go places that other tanks could not, such as across bodies of water.

However, at the same time, it also of a largely conventional design following the patterns of Main Battle Tanks going back to the early Cold War. The Stridsvagn 134 has a main body with a fully traversable turret which is equipped with a main cannon for use against enemy armour. The Stridsvagn 134 had a three-man crew consisting of a driver, gunner and commander who also served as a loader for the main cannon. The tank was equipped with full NBC protection for its crew. The vehicle carried advanced low light and thermographic optics as well as a laser rangefinder for the main cannon. Communications were handled by contemporary battlefield radio sets. However, the Stridsvagn 134 was still a Global Civil War era design. It never received any form of Robotechnology upgrades, instead being replaced with the Centaur.

The armor on the Stridsvagn 134 is composed of a standard Chobam laminar developed in the late 20th century. This armor was designed to defeat projectiles striking the forward surfaces of main battle vehicles, and is also effective against beam weapons. The armor on the Stridsvagn 134 stops all small arms and heavy infantry weapons fire, provides good resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3mm HE autocannon round, and fair resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the GU-11 55mm APFSDS round. The armor on the front of the turret stops all small arms, heavy infantry weapons fire, and light mecha-mounted weaponry, and provides excellent resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, and fair resistance to heavy mecha-mounted weaponry.

## Weapons and Equipment

* **120mm Motion-Stabilised Smoothbore Cannon:** Mounted in the turret. Feed is handled by a loading technician with mechanical assistance. The turret stores up to 50 rounds without resupply. Mix of shells is mission-dependent. Maximum effective direct-fire range is 5.3km, indirect fire possible out to 16km at maximum accuracy. This weapon is fully recoil-compensated, and features extra breaking systems to prevent recoil from destabilising the tank while in motion.

* **12.7mm Machinegun:** Mounted the front of the tank. The machinegun has an ammunition capacity for 500 rounds.

## Game Statistics

* **Required Rank:** 1

* **Designation:** Stridsvagn 134

* **Stats**
	+ **Armour – Mecha:** 2
	+ **Structure – Mecha:** 2
	+ **Hardware Points**: Basic
	+ **Speed** – **Hover:** 150 kph / 240 m / 24 Ground Units

### Weapons

* **120mm Main Cannon:** The Stridsvagn 134's Main Cannon fires a massive 120 mm round at an incredible speed. It has Medium range but can target objects at farther ranges. The Cannon reduces a target’s armour by 1. Destroying the Cannon eliminates the Rapid Barrage equipment suite. [B5][E][H][P1]

* **Machine Gun:** The Stridsvagn 134 is equipped with a light-class Machine Gun for defence. A Machine Gun ignores 2 armour against light targets and inflict 2x light damage. [H][P2]

* **No Melee:** The Stridsvagn 134 cannot engage in melee except to make Ramming attacks.

### Features

* **Crew:** The Stridsvagn 134 has a crew of 3: 1 driver, 1 gunner and 1 commander/loader. If one crew is missing or injured, then it may still operate but will take penalties to maneuvering and sensor skill rolls.

* **Terrestrial:** The Stridsvagn 134 can only be used in an Earth-like environment

### Equipment Suites

* **Rapid Barrage:** The Stridsvagn 134's Main Cannon can rapidly fire its heavy rounds for a short period of time. At Medium range, the firing rate increases, but risks depleting the weapon’s ammunition. When all uses of this Skill have been used, the 120mm Main Cannon is considered out of ammunition and cannot be used until reloaded. [B5][P1]
	+ **Uses:** 3
	+ **Skill:** 3

* **Float like a Bee:** The Stridsvagn 134's hover capability allows it to move easily over rough terrain, and even land gently from a short fall. Use this when navigating heavy terrain.
	+ **Uses:** Unlimited
	+ **Skill:** 2