History
Several years ago, Project Mad Dog was started, with one hundred scientists and engineers working on designing mechs for combat. The tall, legged design was chosen over traditional vehicle types for the psychological impact it would have in battles rather than from a tactical standpoint. Eventually, two designs were shaped: A small, fast scout walker and a massive walking version of the tank destroyer. Both of these are remotely controlled or autonomous.
Design
Shredder
360 view of Shredder
The Shredder was originally made as a fast scout, being able to move along at a fast speed of 58 MPH/93 KPH. Armed with two six-barreled 7.62mm Gatling guns, the Shredder, named because of this, can shred light vehicles and infantry, even when the latter is in cover. The problem of ammunition was solved by halving the rate of fire to 1300 RPM and the ammunition boxes carry enough bullets for continuous fire for three minutes. As it is roughly twelve feet tall, is can see and shoot over most obstacles. The guns can also swivel up and down up to 45 degrees, so the Shredder has a limited anti-air capability.
The Shredder has ceramic and hardened aluminum, with an inner lining of 75mm RHA. Additionally, cage armor, reactive armor, and additional RHA can be added. The Shredder can withstand a direct hit from an AT-4 light antitank rocket launcher. The insides are built to be as reliable as possible, so even if the armor is penetrated, the Shredder will be at least partially operational. Indeed, the only electronic systems on board is the radio and computer. The rear is not armored, however, as weight is always a problem. As long as the thick front armor is kept toward the enemy, there is not a large chance it will be badly damaged. The legs are thickly clad in heavy armor, being a obvious weak spot. Their hydraulics are completely encased in blast resistant armor, and the joints are made of strong alloys. From the front, the only weak spot is the waist, which the front plate does not cover. In modified versions, there is armor that hangs down over it. Still, this spot, if damaged, will incapacitate the entire machine, if not cripple it.
The problem of balance was solved with a Segway-like system: A gyroscope tells a series of weights if and where the Shredder is overbalancing, and the weights shift accordingly to keep the center of gravity above the tipping point. Needless to say, if the gyroscope is damaged, or too many weights are lost, the Shredder will be in serious danger of tipping. As before, as long as the frontal armor is facing the shots, all will be fine. The Shredder is, unfortunately, unable to swivel at the torso.
Smasher
Smasher
The Smasher was named after the nickname for the carronade, an old naval gun. The carronade functioned by shooting a large projectile at low speeds, so instead of making a clean hole through a ship's timberwork, it would rip and shred the insides. The carronade was called the 'smasher' due to its huge destructive capacity.
The Smasher is a 25-foot tall walking antitank gun. Its main armament is a 128mm "Nutcracker" recoilless rifle. An optional armament is to have a weapon mounted on the top, a remote weapon station for a .30- or .50 caliber machine gun, a 20mm, or a 40mm grenade launcher. The cannon has forty-eight rounds in the storage compartment, mounted in blowout panels so if the ammunition is exploded the vehicle will not be destroyed. The autoloader can get off one round every four to five seconds, and the 128mm shell fires AFPSDS rounds, HEAT, HESH, beehive munitions(Or shotgun shells, i.e. the XM1028), or illumination shells. The 128mm is able to penetrate most modern tank armor, though it has trouble when used against Chobham-type heavy armor packages.
The Smasher's armor is made of heavy alloys, such as DU, titanium carbide, and other hard metals. The armor is similar to Chobham, the famous armor package installed on the M1 Abrams and Challenger II tanks. Obviously, it is lighter than Chobham, shaving off some of the layers and decreasing its protection. This is so because normal Chobham is hard and expensive to mass produce, and it would also weight down the Smasher down too much, and it would become too top-heavy. The armor can withstand a direct 105mm M68A2 shell and is survivable aainst 120mm M256 rounds. The Smasher, like the Shredder, is often modified to use additional armor like ERA and cage armor. The back is nearly always equipped with cage armor, and to top with ERA when weapon stations are not added. Unlike the Shredder, the Smasher is able to rotate at the torso, allowing it to engage targets on the move without having to go directly at them.
The Smasher moves along at a plodding pace of 25 MPH/40 KPH. At this speed, it cannot go very far, but it makes up for this by being able to cross nearly any terrain, thanks to its long and powerful legs. Like the Shredder, the Smasher's leg hydraulics are completely encased in armor, and the joints are made of even stronger materials, due to the significant monetary value attached to the Smasher.(Noe: Unofficially, the legs are a weapon, able to kick and crush small vehicles and personnel - pilots often take advantage of this, and when controlled by a computer, they are programmed to take this into account) The rear of the Smasher has some armor, mostly hardened aluminum and RHA, and the torso is covered in carbon fibers able to withstand most small-arms fire but is nonetheless a weak point. The stabilization system is identical, albeit larger, than the Shredder's.
