NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.imagepup.com/up/cVgd_1194624692_M30_.jpg

MS-12 'Vespa' Combat Scooter

Built by Roma Motorworks in their early days, the MS-12 has become an in-joke among People's Guard units. Despite its diminutive size and laughable platform, the 'Vespa' has managed to serve admirably earning the respect of skilled ambush fighters.

With a B-10 82mm Recoilless Gun and 3 reloads strapped to the side, the MS-12 'Vespa' can ask as a rapidly deployed antiarmor weapon for armies looking for the most bang for their buck.

Deployed by putting down 2 reinforced kickstands and turning the front tire, the MS-12 'Vespa' in camouflage paint and with camouflage netting in a rear compartment it can be nearly invisible. The two soldiers that operate it will then wait for enemy vehicles to come and open fire with the 82mm Recoilless Gun, sending High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) or High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) rounds downrange up to a maximum of 4.5 kilometers.

During the Leafanistani Civil War, People's Guard Units regularly ambushed armored convoys, scout cars, and blunted offensives lead by Communist General Brekov much to his amusement. A single MS-12 team lead by Captain Mikhail Opitov accounted for 20 kills against a column of Communist BTR-90s, causing 102 casualties and lead to the retreat of an entire battalion of tanks attempting to capture a key bridge.

Absurdly cheap the MS-12 'Vespa' remains in service with all units of the People's Guard and select units of Paratroopers as a mobile antiarmor/fortification device.

Crew: 2
Seat height: 775 mm
Dry weight: 152 kg
Length: 1,7555mm
Width: 740 mm
Primary Armament: 1 x B-10 82mm Recoilless Rifle
Engine: Single cylinder, four-stroke catalytic, 150cc Diesel
Top speed: 120kph+
Maximum Range: 280km

Cost: 800 USD

This is crazy and unique.

This is crazy and unique.

WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW?

Imagine your modern tank battalion, dozens of M1A2 Abrams, Sabot rounds loaded, all locked up in case of nukes or gas rolling toward their target. When suddenly a cloud rises up out of the desert, and a thousand HESH rounds come screaming at them from long range, and a thousand scooters collide with the army.

Tank's turrets turning helplessly slow trying to machine gun the damn scooters. Commanders popping up to try to use the coaxial gun but being picked off by long range snipers. It would be a rout, it would be a success, it would be utterly embarrassing to any military. It would be the Toyota War with scooters.

Ooc: Omfg I Want One!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Vespamilitare.jpg

The Minarchist Republic of Vilikiy finds this idea intriguing, but notes the impracticality of an anti-tank weapon that cannot be adjusted in combat. It has begun development into a native sidecar-mounted TOW-Missile System. This will then be able to be attached to unmodified motorcycles with the ability to deliver powerful and guided anti-tank weaponry that can be fired on the move from a cheap and fast platform.

OOC: Yeah, Its got a hemi.

OOC: Now THAT is what I need to get to the train station every morning, instead of a crappy bicycle! To hell with waiting for traffic - just shoot the bastards! Mwuahahaaahaaa!

The Imperium of Belkaros would like to purchase the production rights to this interesting attack platform. We will pay 1 million Belkan Credits (about 2.5 million USD) for the rights.

Imagine the looks of surprise on the generals faces when they get their tanks get blown away by a motorscooters.

Official Inquiry

Is it possible to refit this vehicle with a Doomani Spiculum RPG?

[signed]
Viseadmiral Ørjan Bakke
Procurement Division
Defense Ministry
Realm of Cotland

OOC: Personally, I love the idea.

"What are those?"
"Nothing, just some civies on motobikes, who cares?"
"OH MY GOD, NOT MOTORBIKES YOU FOOL! VESPAS!"
*pwnage*

The Imperium of Belkaros would like to purchase the production rights to this interesting attack platform. We will pay 1 million Belkan Credits (about 2.5 million USD) for the rights.

We cannot accept such a low price. We will accept 8 million USD at least.



Official Inquiry

Is it possible to refit this vehicle with a Doomani Spiculum RPG?

[signed]
Viseadmiral Ørjan Bakke
Procurement Division
Defense Ministry
Realm of Cotland

Private Reply

An interesting proposal, Doomani slave built weapons? The Spiculum is a far larger weapon than the 82mm B-10 Recoilless Gun, relying on similar technology, at 105mm. The real advantage of the Spiculum is not that it sounds like the Gynecology tool, the speculum, but is its advanced ammunition and sighting system.

While we know the Doomani system is compatible provided a widening of the opening for the Recoilless rifle be enlarged, we fear its length is too short, and will result in backblast harming the vehicle will be damaged. We cannot dictate how you use this vehicle after you purchase it, we'll have you know that slave built weapons are regarded very poorly in Leafanistan.

As for practical advice, build a larger exhaust port to reach the rear of vehicle and beyond it. This advice is strictly confidential and hypothetical.

[END]

So, how do you aim?

Wunderburgen Automobiles would be interested in purchasing the rights to the MS-12. We would be willing to pay $20,000,000,000.00 USD.

ooc: A vespa scooter? Like in FLCL?

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1480/ddwuploadfs9.png

We would like to purchase 100 of these vehicles for testing purchases.

Total Cost: $80,000

Barronian Depatment for Defence and Warfare

So, how do you aim?

The front isn't flush with the gun itself. There is maneuvering room for the gun to adjust itself. However because it is limited side to side traverse, the entire Vespa will have to be aimed to fire. It is primarily a highly mobile gun platform that is far cheaper than comparable products on the market. Used in ambush attacks or highly mobile hit and runs the MS-12 will exceed expectations.

Wunderburgen Automobiles would be interested in purchasing the rights to the MS-12. We would be willing to pay $20,000,000,000.00 USD.

Order approved for Domestic Production Rights. Clause in contract means you cannot sell this to any other nation, but you can produce third party kits to 'upgrade' the MS-12 and those can be placed on the international market.

Greal would like to buy Domestic Production Rights for this "Scooter". We will pay 30 million dollars.

ooc: A vespa scooter? Like in FLCL?

OOC: Yes, but without the guitar and something a bit more realistically destructive.

Greal would like to buy Domestic Production Rights for this "Scooter". We will pay 30 million dollars.

Order approved. Clause in contract means you cannot sell this to any other nation, but you can produce third party kits to 'upgrade' the MS-12 and those can be placed on the international market.

in other words its like a recoilless rifle with a couple of thousand pounds of dead weight and a self-immolation tank attached?

(although if you mounted a Davy Crockett (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_%28nuclear_device%29) on that.....:eek:)

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1480/ddwuploadfs9.png

We would like to purchase 100 of these vehicles for testing purchases.

Total Cost: $80,000

Barronian Depatment for Defence and Warfare

Order approved.

in other words its like a recoilless rifle with a couple of thousand pounds of dead weight and a self-immolation tank attached?

(although if you mounted a Davy Crockett on that.....)

Just like a Mobile Gun System is a cannon with a couple thousand pounds of dead weight and a self-immolation tank is attached. Not everything is a sum of its parts.

We will pay 8.5 million in the spirit of friendship, and we apologize for the lowball offer. We pity the fools willing to pay the 20 trillion dollars for production rights.

Gerard Thomas,
Decemprimus Inquisitus Millitus