Freelance Traveller

by Ken Pick

The Supersheridan/Zelda family of AFVs was intended as a coherent family of small, relatively low-tech vehicles for colonial or mercenary use - cheap and easy to maintain in low-tech conditions. The design was limited by the following constraints:

1. All vehicles to be Size 2 (LIGHT), with FAST TRACK mobility and CFE engines.
2. No massdrivers or energy weapons.
3. Maximum system quality of ENHANCED.

Supersheridan-M light missile tank:

SMALL vehicle (class 2), FAST TRACKED mobility, CFE power, Armour 2.
1xRFAC/2 in turret with ENHANCED FireCon; 1xGMS/H (ENHANCED guidance); 1xAPSW.
BASIC ECM.
Basic/Effective Signature 2 (D10).
POINTS VALUE 103.

The Supersheridan light tank resembles an M-551 Sheridan hull with an altered double-barreled turret mounting an autocannon and a magazine-fed missile launcher.

Supersheridan-G light gun tank:

SMALL vehicle (class 2), FAST TRACKED mobility, CFE power, Armour 2.
1xHKP/3 in turret with ENHANCED FireCon; 2xAPSW.
BASIC ECM.
Basic/Effective Signature 2 (D10).
POINTS VALUE 86.

The Supersheridan-G light tank resembles an M-551 Sheridan hull with a low, cleft turret with a long-barrelled gun (similar to an Ares 76) flanked by two APSW cupolas.

Supersheridan-AAA area defence vehicle:

SMALL vehicle (class 2), FAST TRACKED mobility, CFE power, Armour 2.
1XBASIC ADS; 1xAPSW.
Basic/Effective signature 2 (D10).
POINTS VALUE 225.

The Supersheridan-AAA is similar to the Supersheridan-G, but with a multibarrel Gatling gun flanked by an APSW cupola and a sensor-dome cupola. In direct-fire mode, the ADS fires as a twin RFAC/1.

Zelda light APC:

SMALL vehicle (class 2), FAST TRACKED mobility, CFE power, Armour 2.
1xAPSW, 2 capacity points free (room for 2xAPSW, 1xLAD, or 1xGMS/L)
BASIC ECM, capacity for 2 infantry teams.
Basic/Effective signature 2 (D10).
POINTS VALUE 40 (plus cost of infantry carried and any additonal weapon)

The basic Zelda APC resembles an M-113 with a more prismatic appearance (like the angular armor of the M-2 Bradley); the APSW is in an armored cupola.

Zelda mortar carrier:

SMALL vehicle (class 2), FAST TRACKED mobility, CFE power, Armour 2.
1xRAM Mortar (light artillery), 1xAPSW.
Capacity for additional load of ammunition.
Basic/Effective signature 2 (D10).
POINTS VALUE 75 (plus cost of ammunition)

Zelda command post:

SMALL vehicle (class 2), FAST TRACKED mobility, CFE power, Armour 2.
1xAPSW.
BASIC ECM, COMMAND/CONTROL CENTRE.
Basic/Effective signature 2 (D10).
POINTS VALUE 140.

FTV/C light fireteam APC:

SMALL vehicle (class 2), FAST TRACKED mobility, CFE power, Armour 2.
1xRFAC/2 in turret (ENHANCED FireCon); 1xAPSW.
BASIC ECM, capacity for 1 infantry team.
Basic/Effective signature 2 (D10).
POINTS VALUE 58 (plus cost of infantry carried)

The FTV/C resembles a cross between the Supersheridan-M and the Zelda, with an autocannon turret and space for one fire team.

FTV/M light fireteam APC:

SMALL vehicle (class 2), FAST TRACKED mobility, CFE power, Armour 2.
1xGMS/H (ENHANCED guidance), 1xAPSW, 2 capacity points free.
BASIC ECM, capacity for 1 infantry team.
Basic/Effective signature 2 (D10).
POINTS VALUE 85 (plus cost of infantry carried and any additonal weapon)

The FTV/M is identical to the FTV/C except for its turret, which carries a missile launcher instead of an autocannon.

TO&E (Zelda/Supersheridan):

The basic unit is an infantry platoon of 4 Zelda APCs, 2 Supersheridan-Ms, six rifle teams (three squads), and two specialist teams (platoon HQ/weapons squad). Points value 446 (assuming APSWs for the specialist teams) to 506 (assuming GMS/Ls).

A company consists of three platoons plus an HQ/weapons platoon of 1 Zelda command post, 1 Supersheridan-AAA, 2 Zelda mortar carriers. Company HQ points value 515 + cost of light artillery ammunition.

Total 22 vehicles + 24 dismount stands. Points value 1853-2033 + light artillery ammunition.

TO&E (FTV):

The basic unit is a platoon of 3xFTV/Cs and 3xFTV/Ms (with 6 x infantry teams); each pair of FTV/C & FTV/M operate together in a "buddy system", carrying a squad between them; there is no separate platoon HQ. Points value 550.

Companies are organized the same as the above TO&E.

Company total 22 vehicles + 18 dismount stands. Points value 2165 + light artillery ammunition.

TO&E ("German-style"):

The basic unit is a platoon of 3 Zelda APCs, 1 FTV/G, six rifle teams (three squads for the Zeldas), and one specialist team (platoon HQ in the FTV/G). Points value 258 (assuming nothing special about platoon HQ) to 308 (FO team in each HQ).

Company organization is identical to the above two TO&Es with the addition of 2 Supersheridan-G light tanks to the HQ/weapons platoon. Company HQ points value 687 + cost of light artillery ammunition.

Total 18 vehicles + 21 dismount stands. Points value 1461-1611 + light artillery ammunition.