Introduction
Glad to see that you have taken up the challenge Trooper. Well before we can let you loose on an AT-AT you need to start on something a little smaller. In this course you will learn the about the The Aratech 74-Z military speeder bike and the LAVr QH-7 Chariot.
The Aratech 74-Z military speeder bike
Name/Model#: 74-Z Military Speeder Bike
Designer/Manufacturer: Aratech Repulsor Company
Combat Designation: Military Speeder Bike / Scouting and Patrol Speeder Bike (Repulsorlift)
Scale of Vehicle: Speeder
Length: 3 Metres
Crew: 1 Pilot (1 extra person can be carried in an emergency)
Cargo Capacity: 3 kg
Maximum Altitude Range: 25 Metres from ground level
Weapons: 1 Forward Pointing Underside Laser Cannon
Maximum Speed: 500 kph
The Aratech 74-Z military speeder bike is the Scout Trooper’s vehicle of choice. While the Hammer’s Fist does use several other versions of bike such as the Aratech 64-Y Swift 3 Repulsorlift Sled, the Ikas-Ando Starhawk and the Mobquet TraiMaker III, the 74-Z’s speed and reliability means that any Scout Trooper worth his wages uses it.
It can travel for thousands of kilometers without any significant maintenance, allowing the scouts to operate unsupported for weeks at a time.
The 74-Z is more maneuverable than ground units and airspeeders, this, along with their speed allows them to travel through terrain that would hinder those vehicles.
These speeder bikes are normally used for scouting and exploration, as well as spying on Rebel bases before a ground assault. The Scout Troopers on these bikes are ordered to avoid combat, so they can report any findings to base command. 74-Zs are also incredibly useful tools for urban patrol duty. The speed and maneuverability of these bikes make them a great asset in searches for entrenched New Republic urban assault troops.
The 74-Z have two outriggers with four forward steering vanes. The maneuvering controls are located in the handgrips, while the altitude control is built into the foot pedals. Speed is usually controlled through the foot pedals, however some Scout Troopers prefer to run the accelerator controls through the handgrips. The ease with which these adjustments can be made is just another reason for the continuing dominance of the 74-Z model.
Perhaps the most impressive parts of the 74-Zs design, and the two major reasons for it being the Scout Trooper’s bike of choice are the turbine repulsorlift and the forward-reaching repulsor fields. The first turbine repulsorlift is an unusual but highly successful design that keeps the bike stable even in extreme manoeuvres. While the forward-reaching repulsor fields reach out in front of the bike and help thread it through obstacles such as trees. However, their guidance must be used carefully because they are not strong enough to deflect the bike away from obstacles on their own.
The communication, sensor and weaponry control panel is located in front of the saddle, while beneath the saddle is a small cargo compartment which holds a small repair kit and enough space for a few essential items. The forward undercarriage section of the bike houses the maneuvering control units that are linked to the directional vanes. This section also houses the bike’s fixed weapon, the single, forward firing blaster cannon.
The armour of the 74-Z is light, but has been know to small arms fire. The rear section of the bike is taken up entirely by the power cell and repulsorlift engine, the main reason why the bike has earned the nickname of ‘the engine with a seat’ within the Hammer’s Fist.
Hammer’s Fist Scout Trooper squads of eight troopers are normally split in two when using speeder bikes. This creates two groups of four Scout Troopers, the first lead by the Squad Leader and the second by his second in command. These groups of four troopers are referred to as Lances, the first being Charlie Lance and the second, Delta Lance. This is in the same way as an infantry squad has Charlie and Delta fire teams. A Lance can then also be split up again into two parts for field operations. These scouts can explore and survey far more territory per man than can those using almost any type of other vehicle.
With the Hammer’s Fist each Platoon has the possibility if making one of its four squads into a scout squad. For this reason each Platoon is issued with eight 74-Zs for the squad, plus two spares. Having past this section of the Vehicle Specialist Certification will allow Troopers to use the 74-Zs as part of a Scout Squad. It will also enable them to purchase speeder bikes from the Hammer’s Fist shop.
The LAVr QH-7 Chariot
Name/Model#: LAVr QH-7 Chariot (Chariot LAV)Designer/Manufacturer: Uulshos Manufacturing
Combat Designation: Command Speeder
Scale of Vehicle: Speeder
Length: 11.8 Metres
Crew: 3 (Unit Commander, Driver, Bodyguard/Gunner) + At least 4 Communication Droids
Cargo Capacity: 10 kg
Maximum Altitude Range: 8 Metres from ground level
Weapons: 1 Forward Laser Cannon
Range: 200 Metres
Maximum Speed: 100 kph
The Chariot Light Assault Vehicle (LAV) is used extensively by Hammer’s Fist Command Personnel and is also one of the more common command speeders within the rest of the Emperor’s Hammer ground forces, due its low cost per-unit.
Within the Hammer’s Fist, all officers holding the position of Platoon Commander or above have access to a Chariot. However most Platoon Commanders prefer to lead their troops from the front meaning that Chariot usage only becomes common by Company Commanders and above. This serves the chain of command perfectly as the Platoon Commanders act as an officer link between the squad leaders on the ground and the tactical officers behind the lines.
It is more heavily armoured than a normal landspeeder, yet slower and more lightly armed than many other military landspeeders meaning that the Chariot hardly ever entered combat. It instead acts as a rear-echelon command vehicle that could keep pace with advancing Imperial troops, repulsorcraft and walkers, especially as the maximum altitude range allows this repulsorlift vehicle to cruise over most low-lying obstacles. Due to its command role, the Chariot is normally deployed with artillery or repulsorlift platoons, although it can be assigned to scouting units for special missions.
Electronic counter-measures take up the rear half of the craft, however this equipment does provide protection against electromagnetic bursts and other disruption tactics. The communications bay is equipped with a sophisticated signal scrambler for outgoing transmissions, making it virtually impossible for enemy units to intercept and decode enemy communications. At least four Communication Droids are assigned to the communications array, also the onboard computers allows the commander access to the most detailed intelligence available. Equipped with advanced Battle-Assistance Programs, Holographic Tactical Battlefield Displays. Hammer’s Fist commanders are able to co-ordinate over a dozen combat units and can provide a continuous data feed to the Central Military Command.
The vehicle also has a full up-link comm unit for communicating with orbiting command ships. The Chariot also has a long-range comm transceiver, subspace scrambler/transceiver, comm analysis amplifier/receptor and a low-frequency encryptor as well as several reserve systems.
For defence, the Chariot relies heavily on friendly forces as it has only a single, retractable, forward firing laser cannon, which was only designed as a last resort option. The vehicle has an armoured canopy and layered armour plates which are able to absorb low-power blasts, for its defence, as well as a retractable forward armour plate and retractable view ports for added protection.
With the appointment of Surface Marshall Ares as Prefect of the Legion a new chapter was opened in the story of the Chariot. Ares supervised a systematic upgrade of all Hammer’s Fist Chariots including the introduction of thicker armour plating, newer communications equipment and the replacement of the laser cannon with a more powerful swivel blaster.
As a Vehicle Specialist you will take up the position as driver of the Chariot. It will be your job to listen to the vehicle commander and follow his orders exactly as well as keeping all your attention of driving the vehicle. Your duties will also entail keeping the speeder out of danger and if necessary to fire the swivel blaster in defence.