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ATV or alternative vehicle

S

savage

SOC-14 1K
Sometime ago we had this ART gallery discussion on ATVs. Many ATV links we're shared.
http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Gallery/index.php?n=1428

The ATV popularity in SciFi probably started with the Lost in Space ATV, Chariot. Fans recently build one from scratch for conventions in the North East. BSG also had an ATV and the movie Damnation Alley had a wheeled ATV.
http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/?p=2609

Assuming grav is not available, I came across a couple interesting Soviet designs for any surface that I thought I'd share in a general discussion. Might inspire someone.

https://auto.mail.ru/article/58421-na_chto_sposobny_sovetskie_mashiny/
Go down the page and checkout the "thread ATV" (5) and the "pneumatic ball ATV" (6). Also, the military transport tracked ATV Витязьis (Knight) pretty interesting (7). Looks bigger than the MT-LB.

Enjoy and share any thoughts on alien world vehicles.
 
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Look at reality. How often do you really need an armored ATV for something? It's more likely you'll go with the local equivalent of a four wheel drive or SUV rental vehicle...

That is, assuming you aren't planning on going into a war zone or major combat...
 
Depends on the local fauna and the weather conditions. The canonical APC was presumablt able to be used like a well-built campervan.
 
The Honomon ATV (all terrain vehicle) is e vacuum-oriented variant of the more common wheeled ATV; it boasts continuous tracks and a completely sealed interior plus an air recycler. The vehicle masses 9.5 tons and measures 4.5 meters wide, 7.5 meters long, and 4.5 meters high. it is fitted with a collapsable undercarriage which allows total height to be reduced to 3.0 meter for storage and shipment. The power plant is mounted left and forward on the vehicle and provides energy for electric motors in the seated undercarriage driving the continuous tracks.
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That is the description for the ATV used in Mission to Mithril. It is not the standard ATV, which is described in the Starter Edition book. The following is not the full description.

The ATV is designed to serve admirably on many different wor lds under widely varying conditions, including vacuum and insidious atmospheres and high or low gravity. An ATV requires one driver. Passengers can number up to 16; the vehicle is fully pressurized and contains complete (though cramped) eating, sleeping, and travel facilities for eight. The vehicle may be lightly armored and can carry a turret mounting a laser or other local combat weapon.
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The picture looked a bit like a modified Russian BTR-80 eight-wheeled APC with the side hatch, compared to the BTR-60. The front could use some work as the pictured front would not work for an amphibious vehicle.
 
That is, assuming you aren't planning on going into a war zone or major combat...
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Depends on the local fauna
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yeah man, over in the wilderness thread they're talking about exploding animals. and you gotta watch out for hunter rabbit kill-bunnies, those lagamorphs shoot back. not to mention the recent thread regarding mortar trees and pop beetles. dude, you can never have too much armor.
 
Spartan159 said:
Oh, so it's the anti-aircraft missile birds we need to worry about. :) (Insert image of an angry bird here)
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You known some of the critters that have been created are no where near friendly. Outside of secure compounds, like in Terra Nova, an enclosed vehicle may be the preference. Or on Earth II. Also, an ATV can bring a lot of strength into a situation.
Some worlds, because of these critters, may have amber zones to simply keep starships within the starport to keep these bad boys on world and not hitching a ride to the next stop.

ATVs are also heavy. Great videos on youtube about Russian ATVs getting stuck in Siberian muddy roads. They like traveling in groups to solve this situation.
 
It depends on the tone you want to set, and if you feel that driving skills should remain relevant.

At a minimum you should have a off road capable vehicle, and you hire an ace local driver and possibly guide.

A ground vehicle is also going to be less conspicuous.

And if it's a convoy, you don't need to use the same vehicle type.
 
If you really need heavy duty off-road, go anywhere, you get something like a modern Unimog:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntYp2ch2GF8

With the added front loader bucket, bulldozer blade, or back hoe / crane attachments you can build your own road if one isn't available. They carry 1.5 to 3 tons of load and the crew cabs seat 6.

Or, you could get something like the larger Alvis Stalwart. It can swim the English Channel easily too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXpZSviD_ZA

They were a favorite for support crews in the Paris - Dakar rallies...

I suppose either in a Traveller setting could have a sealed, pressurized cab if necessary.
 
Enoki said:
If you really need heavy duty off-road, go anywhere, you get something like a modern Unimog:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntYp2ch2GF8

With the added front loader bucket, bulldozer blade, or back hoe / crane attachments you can build your own road if one isn't available. They carry 1.5 to 3 tons of load and the crew cabs seat 6.

Or, you could get something like the larger Alvis Stalwart. It can swim the English Channel easily too...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXpZSviD_ZA

They were a favorite for support crews in the Paris - Dakar rallies...

I suppose either in a Traveller setting could have a sealed, pressurized cab if necessary.
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For medium duty, the M973 SUSV (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3fr9Bkd3AE) is snow-capable, swims, does at least 95 km/h, can be driven by people familiar only with wheeled vehicles.

And it's both road-safe and capable of rather extreme terrain handling. And it can be fitted with a dozer blade, and the back cab can be retrofit to handle other engineering tools.
 
timerover51 said:
The picture looked a bit like a modified Russian BTR-80 eight-wheeled APC with the side hatch, compared to the BTR-60. The front could use some work as the pictured front would not work for an amphibious vehicle.
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I would assume that, like the BTR's, it has a trim vane.
 
Enoki said:
Look at reality. How often do you really need an armored ATV for something? It's more likely you'll go with the local equivalent of a four wheel drive or SUV rental vehicle...

That is, assuming you aren't planning on going into a war zone or major combat...
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When you need it, you need it. The local equivalent may be a donkey cart. Local vehicles, when available, are good for local conditions only. And they may be appropriate. An SUV does not sleep, feed, and provide sanitary facilities for 8, in vacuum.

A grav vehicle is, for over 10 times the price, in CT, a better transportation, if that is all you need. And on most civilized worlds local transport can be had that is much better suited for population centers.

I could outfit a G-Carrier to act as an ATV, for fewer souls, and a lot more money, and this would probably be my preference. But... for the money, I still see the original conception of the ATV as the multi-tool of ground transport and shelter in the boonies as quite sound.
 
Enoki said:
Or, this gallery of the odd might fit your particular needs...

http://galleryhip.com/doomsday-preppers-vehicles.html
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BRD is the probably one of the better solutions. Although, Firefly with it's grav vehicle, mule probably asks the question if there are cheaper grav solutions.

The original CT ATV vehicle was probably based on the German Lynx of the 70s:
http://tanknutdave.com/the-german-spaehpanzer-luchs-recon-8x8-vehicle/

There are a lot of non-military ATVs on the market these days.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Petrovich_141701140.html?spm=a2700.7724857.29.52.nHNOOY


a present group of options for our TL
http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/8-wheeled-vehicles.asp
 
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savage said:
BRD is the probably one of the better solutions. Although, Firefly with it's grav vehicle, mule probably asks the question if there are cheaper grav solutions.

The original CT ATV vehicle was probably based on the German Lynx of the 70s:
http://tanknutdave.com/the-german-spaehpanzer-luchs-recon-8x8-vehicle/

There are a lot of non-military ATVs on the market these days.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Petrovich_141701140.html?spm=a2700.7724857.29.52.nHNOOY


a present group of options for our TL
http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/8-wheeled-vehicles.asp
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As I read it, the BTR's are a bit bigger than the more maneuverable Luchs, both of which are too small to be a CT ATV.

I like Ian Stead's interpretation, which, while lacking a scale or the ubiquitous "razor blades in armpits guy" gives a feeling for the multitool:
https://biomassart.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/traveller-atv/

Not what you'd take to the mall. Not the slickest SUV, the meanest AFV, the fastest auxiliary craft for a ship, the most capable advanced base, nor the cheapest ground car, but a reliable, cheap solution to cover all these bases, in some basic fashion.

My needle nose pliers are much better than those on my little SOG multitool. As are almost any of my screwdrivers. My son makes much better knives than that on in it; much better. I've got better rulers, awls, bottle openers, can openers, wire strippers, and common pliers, so indeed, if I limit the comparison to any of these tools, my little SOG will lose. That, of course, misses the point.
 
samuelvss said:
As I read it, the BTR's are a bit bigger than the more maneuverable Luchs, both of which are too small to be a CT ATV.

I like Ian Stead's interpretation, which, while lacking a scale or the ubiquitous "razor blades in armpits guy" gives a feeling for the multitool:
https://biomassart.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/traveller-atv/

Not what you'd take to the mall.
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Yes. I was thinking more in terms of art concept of an 8x8. But it is bigger with "any world" design approach for future TLs. I had forgotten about Ian's version. Thanks for the reminder.
 
When players ask me about the ATV, I point out it's a Vacuum-capable Winnebego on high profile tracks, with a laser rifle in a turret.

One could easily make a camper for 4 out of a G-carrier, and a reasonable one for 1-2 on an Air/raft...

but that's not what the ATV is about. It's a full time mobile home on tracks. And, it goes anywhere but underwater... at least as long as it's fully functional.
 
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