The Rebel Faction

Sentinel-class Medium Tank

As this is first R&D and I am trying to get use to the system, please correct me on everything, whether it is the format or too overpowered, etc.

Designation: Sentinel-class Medium Tank

Purpose: To provide a multi-purpose tank to provide the New Coalition with a somewhat heavy ground unit.

Application: Used as multi-role / Medium tank.

Technical Readout:

Name/Type: Sentinel-class Medium Tank
Designer/Manufacturer: Corise Lucerne / New Galactic Coalition
Combat Role: Multi-role vehicle / Medium Tank
Crew: 1 Driver + 1 Commander + 1 Communication officer/Gunner + 2 Gunners
Length: 10 Meters, 4.5 m tall.
Propulsion: Repulsorlift (5 m ceiling)
Speed: 250 Kph (Repulsorlift)
Shield Rating: 180 SBD
Hull Rating: 120 RU
Weapons: 1 Turreted BDS T-C6.4 Medium Dual Laser Cannon, 1 Turreted BDS E-G5.3 Medium Repeating Blaster, 1 Turreted Flak Pod with 4 Missile Tubes (20 Modular Missiles, 50 km range).
Passengers: 8 troops (using external handholds)
Cargo Capacity: None.
Countermeasures: Miradyne 4x-Phantom Short-Range Combat Jammer, Corellidyne MT-3.9x Holographic Image Disguiser

Description: The Sentinel-class Medium Tank was designed to provide the Coalition with a much needed armor unit to counter masses of enemy troops and vehicles. It is designed as a multi-role craft, allowing it to fulfill dozens of roles with the simple change of a warhead or weapon. The philosophy behind the Sentinel is do anything but engage it in a traditional direct combat, as it is more of a support tank than a Main Battle Tank. Powerful shields and hull plating combined with a potent armament make the tank a force to be reckoned with. It is primarily designed as AA unit, and with advanced proton missiles, it can easily destroy combat airspeeders and many starfighters. For ground engagements, a medium dual laser cannon is used against most vehicles while the turreted medium turreted blaster eliminates infantry. With durability, speed, and flexibility, the Sentinel provides a new vehicle to help the embattled Coalition ground forces. Because Sentinels use new technology and are somewhat expensive, planners envision Sentinels being assigned to only key installations and military units.

R&D Explanations:

Crew: The Sentinel is manned by two basic crewmen: a driver and a communications officer, who also mans the medium repeating blaster. These two crewmen are situated in the main chassis. A single gunner mans the flak pod within its separate turret. Lastly, the final gunner mans dual laser cannon in the turret. Lastly, the vehicle’s designated commander sits in the command cupola.

Propulsion: The Sentinel is propelled by a conventional repulsor drive that is somewhat similar to that of the many combat repulsorlift vehicles, such as the S-1 FireHawke, the rebel’s Tramp Shuttle, Freerunners, and so forth.


Shield Rating: Using shield technology derived from the Saber-class Fighter, the Sentinel has 180 SBD shields. While this higher than that of the Saber, the Sentinel’ larger volume allows it to carry a larger power source and generator

Hull Rating: The Sentinel’s frame is constructed of Ferrocarbon, which is normally used for structural support on Coruscant skyscrapers, gives it excellent structural support. Also, the front of the craft is plated with 0.25 meters of the same material. This allows the Sentinel to literally ram through buildings or other obstacles without any damage.

Over all of the Ferrocarbon frame and front ram plates, the Sentinel is covered with Quadanium steel plating that is laminated with carbon fibers for a form of reactive composite armor. Over this, the tank is covered with anti-magnetic coating to prevent explosive charges from being attached.

Weapons:

BDS T-C6.4 Medium Dual Laser Cannon: This BDS version of the dual laser cannon is specifically meant for army use with durable Dallorian alloys and easy field maintenance and repair capabilities. Like other BDS weapons, it does sport a particle accelerator for improved accuracy and damage ratings. However, the T-C6.4’s barrel is unusually long; this is from the extensive galven circuitry that highly focuses the bolt for even more improved range. Hence, while the T-C6.4 does not have the power of a heavier weapon, it has about twice the range. It also sports a falk burst option. While in the flak burst mode, the bolt loses cohesion and has a ¼ of the normal range. However, flak bursts are incredibly effective in shooting down enemy missiles and devastating pockets of troops. It is a dual purpose weapon as well, with uses as a point air defense weapon and as an anti-vehicle weapon. On the Sentinel, it is controlled by a gunner in the turret.

BDS E-G5.3 Medium Repeating Blaster: The E-G5.3 was designed for use against infantry and small, fast vehicles, like speeder bikes or swoops. As with the T-C6.4, it uses Dallorian alloys, easy field maintenance components, and a particle accelerator. However, the E-G5.3 uses a splitter coupling at the end of the barrel, which actually forms two separate beams only millimeters apart from each other. Not only does this improve accuracy, but it also increases shield penetration rates. This weapon is controlled by the communication officer/gunner or the driver.

In order to fulfill its multi-role capability, the Sentinel’s main weapon is a flak missile pod that can be fitted with various types of warheads (Most commonly, it uses Arakyd 315 missiles for anti-aircraft and anti-armor capability). Each missile tube holds 6 missiles. There are a limited number of other reloads within the tank itself, but reloading during combat is a risky task. To enhance missile speed and acceleration, the flak pod is fitted with magnetic accelerators.

Warhead/Missile Types:
Arakyd 315: This missile is an improved version of the ubiquitous Arakyd 313 missile used on Merr-Sonn PLX-2M. The Arakyd 315 is nearly identical, except being enlarged by 150%. It also sports improved guidance and engine systems, and a slightly larger proton warhead. The guidance system of the Arakyd 315 has the option of locking onto an enemy’s transponder signal to ensure that friendly-fire incidents do not occure. Usually, this is used in conjunction with the “smart” Gravity Activated Mode that locks the missile on gravity-wave anomalies produced by the target vehicle’s repulsorlift. This combined system of targeting has led to nearly perfect accuracy. The range of the Arakyd 315 remains the same as its precedessor: 50 kilometers.
(Note: All subsequent warheads use the Arakyd 315 missile chassis and subsystems; the only thing that changes is the warhead type).

Cryoban: This warhead uses the chemical agent Cryoban to absorb heat, creating an intense area of cold at the detonation point. It can easily put out fires, destroy electronic components, droids, no-cold adapted vehicles, and living beings (adapted from the description of the Cryoban grenade in the Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology).

Incendiary: This warhead is filled with a chemical similar in effect to napalm.

Flare Cluster Missile: This warhead releases a cluster of flares to illuminate an area or throw off enemy warheads.

Fex-M3 Nerve Gas: This warhead releases Fex-M3 Nerve Gas, which kills upon skin contact after ten seconds (adapted from CSPL-12 "Caspel" Projectile Launcher Canister).

Plank Gas: This warhead releases plank gas, an incredibly corrosive gas capable of destroying sealed suits, such as stormtrooper armor or vacuum suits. (adapted from CSPL-12 "Caspel" Projectile Launcher Canister).

Smoke: This warhead uses smoke to mark terrain and obscure vision. (adapted from CSPL-12 "Caspel" Projectile Launcher Canister).

Spore/B: These Bothan Stun spores incapacitate victims into unconsciousness. This agent can be blocked by breath masks and other air filtration systems. (adapted from CSPL-12 "Caspel" Projectile Launcher Canister).

Flechette: This warhead burst with shrapnel and flechettes upon detonation for a wide area effect.

T-238: This warhead releases a chemical agent that attacks the digestive track, causing severe deliberate nausea for several areas. (adapted from the description of the Cryoban grenade in the Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology and from CSPL-12 "Caspel" Projectile Launcher Canister).

Additionally, each missile is capable of being guided by an observer via a hand-held targeting laser. The observer illuminates the target with the beam, which produces the signature that the missile homes on to. Thus, Coalition troops can call down precise missile strikes up to 50 kilometers away from the Sentinel tank; provided that there is no communication jamming. However, a disadvantage of the Sentinel’s weapons arrangement is the placement; all energy weapons have a constricted arc of fire due to the placement of other weapons. Another disadvantage is the limited amount of missiles. Thus, most Sentinels pull a repulsorlifts trailer with additional missile ammo.

Passengers: Although there is no room available inside the tank, the Sentinel is capable of carrying a single squad of troopers on external handholds. This is advantageous for quick embarking and disembarking of personnel, but also leaves the infantry vulnerable to enemy fire at times.

Miradyne 4x-Phantom Short-Range Combat Jammer: This combat jammer, originally used by the A-wing, uses a DER to absorb and block long-range enemy sensor pulses. It also has a full-spectrum distortion projector that blocks all scanners and targeting computers.

Corellidyne MT-3.9x Holographic Image Disguiser: This system uses several small holo-projectors to project a holographic shroud over the tank. The shroud’s image is based on data collected from tank’s sensors on the surrounding environment or retrieved one from the tank’s computer. Since it consumes a lot of power, it can only operate on the beam weapon charge for less than a minute. For extended use, it can run on the tank’s main power system. When running on the main power system, one of the following systems cannot be used: weapons, shields, or engines. As an example, the tank can move with engines and full shields with the disguise system engaged. During this time, however, the weapons would be inoperable.

Post R&D Items:

Weaknesses: Limited energy weapon fire arcs, weak energy weaponry against heavy ground vehicles, limited missile magazine, somewhat bulky when compared to other ground vehicles. It also has an Achille’s heel in the rear, where the armor is just barely thick enough to stop heavier hand-held blasters. In certain conditions, the repulsorlift drive cannot be used, making the vehicle next to useless. These conditions include passing through energy fields and planets with odd gravity fluactions.