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swordtart · 10-18-2018, 06:38 AM

Personally, I'd be putting those side and back mounted RR's in sponson turrets. The few extra pounds and $ will make little difference to your budget but your fire arcs increase significantly (and it saves you 8 spaces).

I'd add another gunner station as well (since you have 7 firing arcs, you might as well have a dedicated Gunner-2 for each) or you'll always have at least 1 pair out of the fight. Also buy some targeting computers. 7 SWCs are less than 3% of your budget, but will make a massive difference.

Also why so little armour? If this is a dedicated convoy escort, you could put much more armour (and a lot of it metal) to keep you all safe and sound. Since all tractors have a max load of < 20K lb and any sensible tractor capable of hauling this will need a 60K lb capable plant, you have K's of lb to play with.

I would also consider replacing the front 4 tires plus hubs and guards (and all that weight and expense) with the emergency skid plate thing (I forget it's real name). In reality those tires only create a maintenance overhead (if you are using convoy tyre damage rules). You are unlikely to park up anywhere dangerous unconnected and if you become unconnected whilst rolling, it is very unlikely to end well. If memory serves the skid plate forces greater deceleration than the normal 5 per turn which is a good thing.

I'd rather not be rolling in a straight line during a fight for maybe 66" even assuming I'd survived the hazard roll that forced the disconnect in the first place. I spent maybe 5% of phases with the trailer parallel to the road in my last road fight (since trailers don't move in nice 15 degree increments like the tractor does). Even a few degrees off the absolute parallel would take you far off-road (and into far worse trouble) before you coast to a stop.

****

Of course for far less money, you could put together a 40' with 20+ points metal and 50 points plastic on all sides. Take out all the DF weaponry and just carry several dozen good 'ole boys (Handgunner 2) armed with AR's with extended mags and ABV's stuffed with paint grenades (or something more exotic if you don't mind them dropping it in your lap). The rules are a bit vague on how many passengers can fire out of a side arc, I'd say no more than 1 per 1/4" so maybe 8 per side for a 40' and 2 firing to the rear. Since the trailer is 1" high, who is to say you couldn't have a second passenger deck though?

This is quite cost effective vs. bikes, but even against cars the regular D1 hazards from each individual hit can stack up (and you can still target top armour as an out of arc shot). It might make a more interesting low intensity engagement than a proper battle rig.

Dakka Dakka Dakka ;)

10-18-2018, 06:38 AM	#12
swordtart Join Date: Jun 2008	Re: What products for a semi? Personally, I'd be putting those side and back mounted RR's in sponson turrets. The few extra pounds and $ will make little difference to your budget but your fire arcs increase significantly (and it saves you 8 spaces). I'd add another gunner station as well (since you have 7 firing arcs, you might as well have a dedicated Gunner-2 for each) or you'll always have at least 1 pair out of the fight. Also buy some targeting computers. 7 SWCs are less than 3% of your budget, but will make a massive difference. Also why so little armour? If this is a dedicated convoy escort, you could put much more armour (and a lot of it metal) to keep you all safe and sound. Since all tractors have a max load of < 20K lb and any sensible tractor capable of hauling this will need a 60K lb capable plant, you have K's of lb to play with. I would also consider replacing the front 4 tires plus hubs and guards (and all that weight and expense) with the emergency skid plate thing (I forget it's real name). In reality those tires only create a maintenance overhead (if you are using convoy tyre damage rules). You are unlikely to park up anywhere dangerous unconnected and if you become unconnected whilst rolling, it is very unlikely to end well. If memory serves the skid plate forces greater deceleration than the normal 5 per turn which is a good thing. I'd rather not be rolling in a straight line during a fight for maybe 66" even assuming I'd survived the hazard roll that forced the disconnect in the first place. I spent maybe 5% of phases with the trailer parallel to the road in my last road fight (since trailers don't move in nice 15 degree increments like the tractor does). Even a few degrees off the absolute parallel would take you far off-road (and into far worse trouble) before you coast to a stop. **** Of course for far less money, you could put together a 40' with 20+ points metal and 50 points plastic on all sides. Take out all the DF weaponry and just carry several dozen good 'ole boys (Handgunner 2) armed with AR's with extended mags and ABV's stuffed with paint grenades (or something more exotic if you don't mind them dropping it in your lap). The rules are a bit vague on how many passengers can fire out of a side arc, I'd say no more than 1 per 1/4" so maybe 8 per side for a 40' and 2 firing to the rear. Since the trailer is 1" high, who is to say you couldn't have a second passenger deck though? This is quite cost effective vs. bikes, but even against cars the regular D1 hazards from each individual hit can stack up (and you can still target top armour as an out of arc shot). It might make a more interesting low intensity engagement than a proper battle rig. Dakka Dakka Dakka ;)