Rattlesnake, Swamp Snake (Underwater Gear)
Overview and History

Vehicle Specifications   General Stats
Name: Rattlesnake, Swamp Snake (Underwater Gear)   Threat Value: 323
Vehicle Type: Walker   Offensive Value: 609
Production Type: Mass Produced   Defensive Value: 236
Cost: 188,416.67 dinars   Miscellaneous Value: 124
Manufacturer: Territorial Arms   Size: 6
Use: General Purpose   Original Default Size: 7
Height: 4.4 meters   Indv. Lemon Dice: 3
Length: 2.9 meters   Crew: 1
Width: 3.0 meters   Bonus Actions: 0
Avg. Armor Thickness: 42mm
Armor Material: Armoplast   Armor
Standard Op. Weight: 6235 kg   Light Damage: 13
Primary Move Mode: Ground (41 kph)   Heavy Damage: 26
Secondary Move Mode: Ground (68 kph)   Overkill: 39
Deployment Range: 450 km
Sensor Range: 2 km   Vehicle Availability
Communication Range: 10 km   Availability Threshhold: 4
Powerplant: V-Engine   Max Number on Field: 5
Engine Output: 435hp  
    Movement
Electronics   Primary Move Mode: Ground
Sensors: 0   Combat Speed: 4
Communications: -1   Top Speed: 7
Fire Control: 0   Secondary Move Mode: Ground
    Combat Speed: 6
    Top Speed: 11
    Maneuver: 0

Weapons
Quantity Name Code Arc ACC Damage Range ROF Ammo Special
 1
 Fragmentation Cannon
 FGC
 F
 +1
 x7
 1/2/4/8
 
 20
 AI, Frag, Under/Over Water
 2
 Light Panzerfaust
 LPZ
 F
 -1
 x10
 1/2/4/8
 
 2
 Dis, Under/Over Water
 1
 Anti-Personnel Grenade Launcher
 APGL
 FF
 -1
 x3
 1/2/4/8
 
 6
 AE0, AI, IF
 1
 Hand Grenade
 HG
 F
 -1
 x15
 0/0/0/0
 
 3
 AI, Dis
 1
 Vibroblade
 VB
 F
 0
 x8
 0/0/0/0
 
 0
 
 1
 Chassis Reinforcement
 CR
 F
 0
 x0
 0/0/0/0
 
 0
 

Perks
Name Rating Game Effects AUX
 Aquatic Sensors ONLY
 
 Underwater only
 AUX
 Backup Sensors
 
 Absorbs first "Sensors" hit
 
 HEP: Desert
 
 -
 
 HEP: Underwater
 
 -
 
 Manipulator Arm x2
 5
 Can punch
 
 Reinforced Location Armor
 1
 Increase base armor by 1 at Crew
 
Flaws
Name Rating Game Effects
 Inefficient Combat Computer
 
 -1 to attack roll for every weapon fired above one
 Exposed Auxiliary Systems
 
 "Aux" hits are one step worse
 Problem Prone
 
 Tighten One bolt, Two come loose
 Annoyance
 
 Stale air
Defects
Name Rating Game Effects

Variants
There are no variants.

Designer Notes
The Swamp Snake, the most important variant of the venerable Rattlesnake, was Terra Nova's first truly amphibious Gear. Designed for swamp warfare, the snake was an ingenious machine that pushed the outer envelope of Gear engineering in the eightenth century. The basic objective established for the Gear was to be able to fight with little hindrance in the dense swamps of the South and like in ambush within them by resting underwater and emerging only to attack its prey. The profile required a significant remodeling of the Rattlesnake, beginning with making every joint and seal on the Gear water-tight. This design required the addition of rubberized sheaths on all articulations and reinforcing the crew compartment with double seals to prevent leaks. To keep the Swamp Snake's air-breathing combustion engine operational, a snorkel was necessary to supply oxygen while submerged. Secondary sonar/thermograph-imaging aquatic sensors were added to the standard sensor suite for underwater observation. The question of observing the surface while submerged led to the development of a sensor "periscope," which was eventually merged with the engine snorkel to allow the Gear to stay submerged in wait for enemy units. The pilot's own oxygen supply came mainly from mechanical gills and air-recylcers, supplemented by the snorkel when necessary. The weapon systems of the Swamp Snake reflected its role: a water-tight Rucker 30mm fragmentation cannon, perfect for close range ambushes, and two TA Hammerhead self-contained torpedoes to strike at enemy ships from under water.