N-1 Mortar Gun Carrier
| N-1A Mortar Gun Carrier | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Mortar Gun Carrier |
| Place of origin |  Thrashia |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Thrashia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Bastion Arms Inc. |
| Manufacturer | Bastion Arms Inc. |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 32 tonnes |
| Length | 7.5 m (24.6 ft) |
| Width | 3.5 m (11.5 ft) |
| Height | 4.1 m (13.4 ft) |
| Crew | 5 (2 crew, 3 operators) |
| Caliber | 120mm |
| Elevation | 115 |
| Traverse | 360 |
| Rate of fire | Mortars: 20 rounds in < 100 seconds, burst fire setting; 4 rounds per minute, sustained fire |
| Maximum firing range | 30 km |
| Armor | Classified |
Main armament | Neukraft 120mm |
| Engine | Repulsorlift |
| Speed | 380 km/h |
Development History
The New Era Weapons Development Program had an additional conditional provision for the creation of a shorter ranged infantry support system than the N-1A MRLRS. After much study and review of the after-action reports from the Great Chaos War, Imperial doctrinal experts saw the need for a wider range of weapon systems that are capable of engaging a variety of targets simultaneously. It was also felt that infantry, mechanized, and repulsor mounted infantry needed additional weapon support systems to increase their anti-infantry and anti-hard point capability. Thus was the creation of the N-1A-MGC, using the same chassis as the N-1 ARPC. In place of the space that was taken up by two squads of infantry, the N-1A-MGC is capable of carrying a significant personal supply of ammunition aboard. This includes dual-purpose munitions capable of engaging ground targets and hard points. Different munitions are also capable of engaging armored vehicles as well.
It's been nicknamed the "Brute".
Weapon System and Munition Types
The N-1A-MGC's main weapon system is it's 120mm mortar. The mortar has a magazine autoloader that enables it to enter a burst fire mode, firing 20 rounds in under 100 seconds or a sustained fire mode of 4 RPM. Mortar operators can feed the magazine during it's sustained fire mode, thus able to keep it firing for as long as it's commander needs it to. Testing under controlled and field conditions showed that the gun could fire under sustained status for more than eight hundred rounds before the temperature rises to a point that requires a cessation of fire. Coolant systems may then be engaged to quickly cool the tube and enable the resumption of fire under prior conditions. For reasons that Imperial engineers cannot quite explain in layman's terms, the coolant system cannot be engaged while the weapon system itself is firing.
All of the munition types of the mortar carry precision guided kits which are screwed into the nose of the projectile much like conventional fuses. In addition to the fusing function it provides a GPS guidance package and control surfaces to correct the flight of the shell. A conventional unguided N1 120 mm artillery projectile has a circular error probability (CEP) of 167m at its maximum range, meaning that half of the rounds can be expected to land within 167 meters of their intended target. Because that can be too high a risk for any friendly units that may be "danger close", the precision guided kits were added as stock additions to all munitions. The mortar is still capable of firing unguided munitions if necessary, however.
Small aerodynamic fins allow the system to steer the shell on target. Its GPS receiver compares the PGK's flight pattern to the coordinates of where it should hit, and the fins adjust its path to match where the round will actually impact. A fail safe exists where if the shell does not impact within 150 m (490 ft) of the intended target, it will land but not explode; the PGK "decides" five seconds after launch whether it expects to impact close enough to detonate. This safety feature is expected to give soldiers more confidence when calling in artillery support close to their position. The failsafe currently has a 92% standing reliability rating.
The precision guided kit fuse weighs 1.4kg, 0.4kg more than a standard fuse because of the addition of fins and an alternator. The self-contained system does not need a battery since the alternator inside generates power in flight. Not only is the PGK fuse cheaper to produce than whole purpose-built guided artillery shells, its purpose to turn standard shells into more accurate rounds enables the millions of rounds already in inventories to be upgraded, while new smart shells have to be built to create a stockpile. This kit upgrade for existing or even captured munition stocks enables the N-1A-MGC mortar system to have one of the best system longevity life cycles in the Imperial Military.
The Brute is capable of carrying 120 rounds within it's hold, with additional rounds capable of being carried by speeder or other logistics train vehicles.
Munition Types
- High Explosive Anti Personnel: High-explosive rounds are used to suppress or kill enemy dismounted infantry, mortars, and other supporting weapons, and to interdict the movement of men, vehicles and supplies in the enemy's forward area. Cartridge weight: 13.5kg.
- Incendiary Plasma: A mix of a plasma explosive core around which a cylinder of petrochemical gelling agent. Upon impact a radius of roughly thirty-five meters is coated with heated plasma that sticks to and burns any surface it touches. It's considered very effective against soft targets within urban areas. Cartridge weight: 15kg.
- High Explosive Formed Penetrator: Intended to be used against enemy vehicle assembly areas, the HEFP 120mm mortar round has a built-in rocket propulsion system that fires in a last-stage mode, after a target has been ascertained by the precision guidance kit. This enables the round to increase it's acceleration to lethal velocities against hardened targets. The kit is able to differentiate between burning vehicles as well, enable it to not waste its firepower against an already damaged vehicle.
- Illumination XM1 & XM2: The projectile is loaded with an illuminant candle assembly and parachute assembly. The XM1 round contains a standard illuminant mix which provides approximately 1 million candlepower of light, whereas the XM2 contains an infrared illuminant mix for use with standard night vision devices. It is equipped with a Mechanical Time Fuse which functions at a user-specified time after launch. When the fuse functions it initiates the candle assembly and separates the front and rear projectile segments. A spring located in the rear body ejects the parachute assembly. As the parachute deploys, the candle burns for 120-200 seconds, providing the required illumination over the target area.
- Obfuscation Particulates: This particular round is a mix of white phosphorous and small packets of Laser Denial Particulates which are designed to either deny advanced targeting systems or disrupt them enough that any such enemy precision weapon systems will not operate at full efficiency when targeting a friendly operational zone. Depending on ground conditions the cloud of gas and particles could last for as few as sixty seconds to as long as ten minutes, or longer. Deployment of this munition depends entirely on ground conditions.
- High Explosive Gas Dispersal: projectile contains either blister gas (a non-lethal irritant that has been tested and shown to affect most all carbon-based life forms) or any other type of gas that is injected into the container; and it has a perforated vane assembly welded to the inside of the body which is designed to accommodate the burster tube that extends from the fuse.
