TECHNICAL DATA
TRACKED HK- MODELS 250A, -D, -F SERIES G3 / G5 TYPE 500,
TYPE 550, TYPE 600
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HK TANK SIDE PROFILE WITH PLASMA GUN TURRETS.
NOTE SEGMENTED / FLEXIBLE CHASSIS
DESIGNED TO NEGOTIATE A VARIETY OF TERRAIN.
Close-up detail of powered turret assembly.
"A" model and
"D" model comparison of rapid traverse powered sponson architecture. The
heavy plasma gun in the "A" mount is
transverse mounted
("laying on its side") while the twin plasma guns in the "D" mount are
vertically mounted and double stacked.
The "A" model mounted a single heavy rapid fire
General Dynamics Model
44RD89 plasma gun in each turret, fed by a 2500 round cassette.
The "D" model added two heavy
rapid fire
General Dynamics Model R25D3 plasma guns per turret,
fed by an advanced power fuel cell.
PLAN PROFILE AND ELEVATION WITH FRONT MANIPULATOR ARMS
REMOVED FOR CLARITY
AND SIDE MOUNTED POWERED SPONSON TWIN HEAVY
PLASMA GUNS SHOWN FOR DETAIL
TRACKED HK- Model 250D Series G3 Type 500- The heaviest ground unit deployed by SKYNET, the T500 HK has earned several names among the Resistance, chief of which is "Tank". The Model 250D is the largest unit deployed by SKYNET for ground assault and urban pacification, which are its primary roles. The M250D stands 15 meters tall, stretches 25 meters in length, and has a width of 10 meters. The weight of the M250D is impressive as well, even with lighter and harder than steel hyperalloy, the M250D still maintains a hefty 60 ton displacement. The enduralloy chassis cradles a compact fusion bottle type reactor as well as the drive train subassembly which handles the multiple and redundant transmissions that drive the four independently suspended, independently steerable, all terrain bogey track assemblies. Each track is a full two meters wide, allowing superior all terrain mobility and the four independent track and drive assemblies enable the M250D to lose up to two drive units and still maintain a reasonable speed and percentage of maneuverability.
The 'torso' of the tank
houses the primary sensor / scanner suite, target acquisition modules, and
FiConSys fire control systems as well as redundant tactical microprocessors and
operating systems. The 'arms' of the torso each contain independently targeted
and tracking
The M250D is equipped with two large hydraulic servo enhanced manipulator arms with waldo-style gripper extensions housed in front of the main 'torso' of the tank. These are used for manipulating heavy equipment, acquiring hard to reach Resistance units, and removing debris from the path of the unit that it could not normally just roll over. Very few things can stand the direct impact of the heavily armored M250D which has been known to simply steam roller Resistance armed vehicles, with the Resistance units still inside the vehicles, while the M250D engaged multiple other targets.
The primary role of the M250D has been large area pacification. This role has placed the M250D in a wide search pattern of an area where it patrols, actively searching for human occupation and the unit is charged with terminating all positive contacts. Secondary mission objectives include clearance or destruction of potential sources of cover and shelter for human occupation. The M250D is often supported by an A4 which maintains a 'high eye' style of close air support, directing target acquisition and beyond visual sensor acquisition information directly to one or more M250Ds on the fly.
Primary sensors and communication suites for the M250D are somewhat inferior to that of the A4, allowing some initial defeats by Resistance units. Newer electronics have been added to the 'D' model, resulting in better performance in experimental field trials and actual combat missions.
Primary armament for the M250D is carried on the side mounted turret sponsons. Each turret affords a full 270 degree traverse and a elevation / depression of up to + / - 120 degrees and is controlled by a separate FiConSys which can operate and engage separate targets at the same time thus increasing the efficiency of the unit. The Resistance discovered that precision shots to the turret sensors would blind the HK on one side and this tactic was taken advantage of to a great degree in the early years of the model's introduction. Later models ('B' and later) would cross-link the FiConSys of both turrets into the main processor array of the HK, thus allowing for triple redundancy in target acquisition, a move that caught many of the Resistance by surprise.
Previous models of the M250 relied on chain fed plasma pulse cartridges, drawn in linkless feed from the ammunition bays deep within the Machine itself, to feed its primary armament. A pair of cross-linked ammunition bays, each holding 2500 plasma pulse cartridges, exists just slightly ahead of the main reactor in the main body. The ammunition bays are designed with walls and floor that are thicker than the roof of the bay so that an explosion in the bay won't wreck the machine, merely that all of the ammo will blow outwards, through the weaker top shell of the bay. The Machine will lose all of its ammo storage capacity but could return to its base for repair and resupply.
The later 'D' model uses a smaller, dedicated reactor for the weapon systems. In the event that either reactor is damaged or forced off-line, the remaining reactor can be brought to full power and still maintain the power requirements of the M250 weapon systems.
Primary weapons load for the early M250 series ("A" through "C") tracked HK units consists of two individual General Dynamics Model 44RD89 rapid pulse phased plasma guns, mounted in full powered turrets to the port and starboard side of the unit. These heavy, high gain plasma guns are fed by Type 3AM44 series 2 plasma pulse cartridges, linkless feed, drawn from dedicated 2500 round ammunition bays deep within the armored body of the Machine.
The "D" model is armed with linked pairs of reactor fed very rapid fire General Dynamics Model M25D3 phased plasma guns. Each M25D3 has a throughput range of 250 kilowatts with a practical ROF of 2000 pulses per minute, allowing the M250D to project 8000 PPM from its combined armament. Payload, feeding from the reactor waste, is for all practical purposes, infinite but did require periodic refueling and maintenance service.
The later variant of the HK heavy pacification unit, Model 250F, including aft powered turret with two heavy General Dynamics Model M25D3 plasma guns to provide for rear and improved side defense coverage. The "F" model could direct up to 4 heavy plasma guns to each side and to the front while directing up to 6 heavy plasma guns to the rear.
HUNTER KILLER TRACKED SCOUT
Another variant of the M250D used a much smaller combat chassis to allow it to maneuver in places the M250D could not. This model, the M255D was used extensively in the last years of the War as both an urban pacification unit as well as a fast scout and an installation patrol unit. it was easier to produce, requiring fewer raw materials, it was faster, carried two powered turrets with improved traverse each mounting a rapid pulse high energy phased plasma gun. The advanced electronics, a generation ahead of anything else in SKYNET's arsenal, were the prototypes for its next series of hunter killers. The electronic suite was the predecessor to the Centurion form of unit over unit supervisory control. SKYNET began to experiment with allowing some of the M255Ds to have semi-autonomous control of their patrol zones as well as their actions.
M255Ds were armed with individual General Dynamics Model 44RD89 rapid pulse phased plasma guns, mounted in full powered turrets to the port and starboard side of the unit. These heavy, high gain plasma guns were fed by Type 3AM44 series 2 plasma pulse cartridges, linkless feed, drawn from a single, dedicated 2500 round ammunition bay deep within the armored body of the Machine.
The "M255F" model is armed with two, individual mounted reactor fed, very rapid fire General Dynamics Model R25D3 phased plasma guns. Each M25D3 has a throughput range of 250 kilowatts with a practical ROF of 600 pulses per minute, allowing the M250D to project 1200 PPM from its combined armament. Payload, feeding from the reactor waste, is for all practical tactical purposes, infinite but did require periodic service and refueling.
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