NationStates Jolt Archive


Federal Republic Combat Systems unveils M5 Rolling Thunder

New York and Jersey
17-11-2003, 08:29
http://www.thematrix-fr.com/animatrix2/anime_gallery_sec_ren__1.jpg

Federal Republic Armmed Forces Newsletter:
"Tankers to get new behemoth"

The government has announced earlier today that the Federal Republic Army would begin to phase out the M60A3 and M1 unmodified tanks with the experimental M5 Rolling Thunder Battletank. The M5RT isnt much different from the typical M1A2 SEP, however, it replaced the command features on the SEP with a second main weapon. A one shot, hit or miss EMP gun. That's right folks, Nomad Moon Research Facility is proud to present their latest gadget for the tankers. A single shot EMP gun hooked up to a seperate battery inside of the M5RT. The drain of the gun however means its a one shot, one kill deal. After which the tank unless it changes batteries is left with its 125mm smooth bore cannon, and the 50 caliber machine gun on the turret for the commander.

The tanks prices have yet to be announced yet insider sources place a single M5RT somewhere between 5 million and 7.5 million FRDs. The M5RTs are being produced at Ford and Chrysler Tank Arsenal Facilities and are expected to be integrated with frontline units later this year. The M5RT shares one thing however with the departing M60A3 and M1 unmodified Abrams, they lack ERA. With price tags as high as they are now it was decided that the addition of ERA to the current armor package would weigh the tank down to much and would force the price to go higher than actually needed.

We spoke with several Armored Division commanders who all expressed the same concern. "Will the EMP Gun short circuit the tank its on? Or surrounding tanks?" We decided to try and find out, and after several days of pressing on we spoke with one of the researchers at the Nomand Moon facility on Charon. She assured us that extensive tests were conducted inside of the base to see the effects of the EMP gun, and while the possbility for a misfire taking out the tanks electronics was a possibility it would only happen if the tank was poorly maintained. With tanks constantly going into combat situations poorly maintained may not be so rare as the scientists figure.

Talks of allowing the export of the M5RT to other nations are being conducted with the Federal Senate on Weapons and Research, a decision is to be expected later this month. FRCS is hoping the Senate will allow the export of the tank to the open market while opponents say this will even the playing field when the whole point of developing the EMP weapon was to disabe an enemies sight enough so to take it out before it can take out a friendly tank. Nomad Moon Researchers disclosed the projected range of the EMP weapon being at 1.5 miles with a blast radius of 10 feet around the point of supposed impact. Further inquriers were refered to the Armies Press Secretary who intold pointed us to the OSS who inturn told us the information was classified. Until we see these things in combat however all we can say is this,

The tankers got a new toy to roll over crunchies with.
New York and Jersey
17-11-2003, 14:03
Bump
The Imperial Navy
17-11-2003, 14:05
Ever scince they created Project GRIM, everyone's been after Matrix stuff.

what's so special about it?
New York and Jersey
17-11-2003, 14:08
Ever scince they created Project GRIM, everyone's been after Matrix stuff.

what's so special about it?

OOC: I thought about doing this for awhile now. Its a nice pic for a tank and a nice idea
The Imperial Navy
17-11-2003, 14:09
Well... I did like some of the stuff from the Animatrix...
New York and Jersey
17-11-2003, 14:11
OOC: I would have done those Power Armor suits from SRII, but I could never find a really good picture.
The Imperial Navy
17-11-2003, 14:13
Yeah... aren't many pictures of them...
Syskeyia
17-11-2003, 14:44
Cool pic, NYNJ.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia
Knootoss
17-11-2003, 20:34
Sweet
~Random Knootian SATO attache to NY&NJ
New York and Jersey
18-11-2003, 03:06
The M5RT moved across the news camaras before it came to a complete stop just several feet away. It was nighttime and the news crew was using its nightvision lens to watch the combat tank and record the information which would show up in news pieces later that night. Inside of the tank the crew worked as if they were in a normal tank, the gunner training the barrels sights for the EMP Gun which had the offical name of EMPG-01 "Haymaker". A crackle of engery registered in the night as the gunner turned the EMPG-01 on, the power was being collected from the battery and stored inside of the focusing disc on the outside of the tank. A downside to this was that in the night it was highly visable form several hundred feet away.

"Let's give these reporters a light show, Mac loaded the 125mm, prepare to joint fire."

The gunner looked up in the darkened tank toward his commander and said with an uncertain voice."Sir?Double shot?We're an experimental tank, I dont think the Army would like it if we messed this thing up."

"Come on, someone else is bound to think of this thing sooner or later and try it out. Better we do it now and see if it works or not, besides its not like the news will show it we screw up or not."

"Alright, your the CO..."

"Damn right I am, now load an HE round and lets get this show on the road."

The gunner loaded a single HE round into the chamber of the smoothbore gun and made sure his sights registered correctly on the target off in the distance. He would have to do a quick switch from the EMPG-01 fire switch over to the 125mm fireswitch, depressing the trigger twice rather quickly in the back of his mind he pretended this was like a combat situation.

"Gunner, fire!"

Pressing back onto the trigger once the EMPG-01 crackled engery loudly before the focused charge of electrons moved from the gun and through the nightsky. As this was happening the gunner switched back down to the 125mm cannon and depressed the trigger a second time as the entire tank jerked back and lifted up the M5RT slightly. Of course this caused the short beam of the EMPG-01 to change direction, the beam skimming over the target while the 125mm shell smacked into the side of the target with deadly precision.

"The Haymaker missed...damnit...well that just tell ya one thing..."

"Yeah, we wasted a multithousand dollar battery and the news is probably gonna show the footage."

The gunner nodded and sighed abit as he slumped down in the chair slowly and watched the smoking wreck that was the target. If it had been hit by the EMPG it would still be crackling ever so lightly with the energy that caused its electronics to overload. The camaramen and report each awestruck at the new weapon but disapppointed that it had missed.

Federal Republic News Network(Local Channel 1,Satellite 270,Cable 35):
..."In other news the military invited us to view the first major combat tests for the M5RT. We take you now to footage we gathered at the test site."

A playback of certain events showing the firing of the gun and its travel through the air but not the subsequent miss of the EMPG-01. A reports voice is heard durning the footage.

"The EMPG-01 fired without problem and traveled as far as the eye could see in the darkness before it dissapted once more. The tank was fully operational after firing and even let loose a 125mm shell afterwards. The target was completely destroyed. It was a successful test in our eyes and in the eyes of the military, this is John Miller for FRNN back to you in the studio."
New York and Jersey
19-11-2003, 07:14
Federal Armed Forces Newsletter:
Senate Reaches Decision on Exportation

The Federal Senate Committiee on Research and Devlopment of new weapons systems has agreed to allow the exportation of the M5RT Mainbattle Tank. Using Chysler and Ford Tank Arsenals to produce the M5RT for the Army and Marine Corps, CEO Fredrich Wellington of Federal Republic Combat Systems has announced that they will provide construction kits to select nations who wish to purchase the tank. The kits will allow for the construction of the M5RT on foriegn soil and it is suggested that the tank production will be licensed out to other countries. The Senate's decision to allow the export came after fierce opposition to from the military was hushed on the final day of arguements. When asked, no one from the Joint Chiefs of Staff answered any of our questions. None of the senators on the FSCRD was available for comment.