Buckler Gun Truck
Length: 9.5 m
Width: 4 m
Height: 4 m (with turrets)
Crew: 5 (1 driver, 4 weapons officers-only 1 Driver required for operation)
Weight: 2,200 kg
Load Capacity: 5,000kg
Engine: MIH-Multifuel Diesel 1,200 HP, 2750 RPM.
Transmission: MT- Axe Two 430.
Speed: 48 km/h
Operational Range: 800km
Armament: 4x turrets. Options include any 15mm or below machine gun, most commonly the MA-300, MA-340 (400/700 rounds) OR SAGL-25M automatic grenade launcher (50 rounds).
Batteries: 3xMHP Li-Po batteries
History
The Buckler Gun Truck is a convoy protection vehicle as well as heavy transport truck intended to project the Marshite advance both through swift resupply and the competent defense of a convoy against infantry. While it is not capable of defending itself against vehicles or aircraft, it is not made to be a combat vehicle. First deployed in 1990 by the Khaskian Guard, it has since become one of the most common vehicles sighted in the Marshite Army, from urban Militia to crack Paratrooper forces.
Design
The Buckler is a well-defended logistics vehicle, but still a logistics vehicle. One turret is placed in between the driver and weapons officer in the passenger and another pointing directly off of the back of the vehicle, overlooking the rear. The other turrets are placed on either side of the vehicle, one on either side pointing outwards. Each turret has full 360 degrees traversibility and has an armour-piercing resistant shield canopy covering the frontal arc. Each one is manned. While remote firing and full bulletproof 360 degree canopies were considered possibilities, cost became a consideration for a vehicle so widely used as well as the utility factor. In the end, it was decided that a frontal shield manned turret would suffice and its service history has shown this to be true.
Each turret is capable of natively hosting just about any machine gun or automatic grenade launcher. In Marshite service, this can be a combination of MA-300 Berduns, MA-340 Reils, and SAGL-25M Automatic Grenade Launchers. All weapons can host a fair amount of ammunition, though not enough to sustain itself in combat for a great period of time. The Buckler is meant to engage infantry until heavier forces come in to deal with the threat. In this manner it has proven an effective weapon of war, engaging enemy infantry with extreme lethality. During the Crusade of Bishop Osiris, an eighteen vehicle convoy escorted by four Bucklers was ambushed by a light infantry force of one-hundred. Inaccurate long-range RPG fire thankfully did not destroy any Bucklers in the opening salvo and in the ensuing engagement forty of the one-hundred opposing infantry were killed. The Bucklers then counter-attacked- disobeying orders by doing so- and ran down the survivors and sat upon a hill, expending their ammunition as they mowed down the fleeing enemy as well as another large enemy infantry force that was engaged. Running out of ammunition, the Bucklers retreated to the convoy. By the time the enemy arrived back at the convoy standard combat forces of the Crusade had wheeled around and smashed the enemy's attacking force. Incidents such are illustrative rather than special, numbering in the dozens or hundreds in any given war.
Despite its effectiveness, it cannot survive heavy enemy fire. The armour that surrounds the vehicle can withstand .50 caliber bullet fire but anything above that is risky at best, though on its slanted edges it can reflect up to 20mm fire.
The MIH-Multifuel Diesel 1,200 HP, 2750 RPM engine is powerful and efficient, allowing the Buckler to exist separate of other logistics vehicles in terms of speed and fuel consumption. Traveling at 48 km/h with an operating range of 700km, the Buckler is capable of supplying forces abroad. It has a capacity of 5,000 kg, allowing it to carry a heavy load of supplies. This is perhaps what makes the vehicle such a potent tool logistically- not only can it defend itself, but it acts as a competent supply truck otherwise. Cargo can be slipped in and out easily and quickly, automated 'rollers' powered by powerful Li-Po batteries helping move cargo deeper inside the vehicle and quickly back out. It is entirely possible to unload 5,000 kg worth of cargo in under twenty seconds with a prepared crew waiting for it.
Export
The Buckler Gun Truck is a powerfully effective logistics vehicle and logistics are the most potent weapon of war in all of human existence. However, it is not considered a state secret or something so game-changing as to be restricted. The Buckler Gun Truck is easy to export vehicle that has a wide range of uses and deployment arrangements.
Upon purchase of a Buckler, the purchaser is entitled to the following, in addition:
DPR to stocks, spare parts, ammunition and resupply examples of all non-restricted materials, to maintain suitable reserves and hardware redundancy, for use with the Buckler Gun Truck.
Each Buckler Gun Truck is available at a total cost per unit of NS$400,000
To states so authorized, DPRs to the Buckler are available at NS $4.8bn.
Sales are made through Lyran Arms, VMK AG, and Covenant Arms.
