the shape of things to come

STEP 2: INSTALL ENGINES AND
CONTROL SYSTEMS
The second step in Support Vehicle design is the installation of
the vehicle’s engines and control systems. This step establishes
the key factors in the Support Vehicle’s mobility, including the
size and performance of its engine and the weight of the control
systems the crew uses during operations.
INSTALL ENGINE
Each Support Vehicle carries one engine to power its movement,
equipment and other integral components. As Support Vehicles
use a wider set of standards than Combat Vehicles, the formula
for determining the vehicle’s engine weight is slightly more complex
than that for a Combat Vehicle, and factors in the Support
Vehicle’s engine type, Technology Rating and desired speed as
well as the unit’s overall weight. Support Vehicles do not use the
military engines shown on the Master Engine Table (p. 49).
The Support Vehicle Engine Table below provides the formulas
and compatibilities of the various engine types available to Support
Vehicles, by Tech Rating. Determining the weight of a Support
Vehicle’s engine is simply a matter of multiplying the vehicle’s
total weight by its Base Engine Weight (a base multiplier of the
vehicle’s total weight based on its size and motive type), Movement
Factor (a value derived from the unit’s desired Cruise/Safe
Thrust) and Engine Weight Multiplier (a value based on the type
and Tech Rating of the engine chosen). This fi nal weight (rounded
to the nearest kilogram for Small Support Vehicles, and to the
nearest half-ton for those weighing 5 tons and up) includes the
engine, transmission and any integral cooling systems and shielding
necessary to operate the engine.
If the compatibility of an engine type is noted as “N” (under its
respective Compatibility column on the table) for a given Support
Vehicle motive type, that engine type may not be installed on that
Support Vehicle. If a given Engine Weight Multiplier for a Tech Rating
is listed as “NA” (under its respective Multiplier column on the
table), that engine type is unavailable at that Tech Rating.
At the designer’s option, a Support Vehicle may mount an
engine at a diff erent Tech Rating than its chassis (either higher or
lower). If a higher-rated engine is used, however, it will drive up
the Support Vehicle’s overall Tech Rating accordingly.
Minimum Engine Weights: In Support Vehicle design, Fusion
engines of Tech Rating C, Fission engines of all Tech Ratings, and all
hover-based Support Vehicles have minimum engine weights that
must be satisfi ed during construction. For Fission engines (and
Fusion engines of Tech Rating C), this minimum engine weight
is 5 tons (5,000 kilograms), regardless of the Support Vehicle’s
size, weight, speed or motive type. For Support Vehicles with a
hover motive type, this minimum weight is equal to 20 percent of
the vehicle’s total weight, rounded up to the nearest kilogram for
Small vehicles, or to the nearest half-ton for hovercraft 5 tons and
over. If both of these conditions apply (for example, a hovercraft
powered by a Fission engine), the higher weight result applies.
If the computed weight of the vehicle’s engine is less than this
minimum, the designer must either increase the vehicle’s speed
until an engine weight that meets the above criteria is found,
or infl ate the engine’s weight to meet these minimums without
increasing performance. For example, a 4,500-kilogram hovervan
with a minimum engine weight of 900 kilograms (20 percent of
4,500 kg = 900 kg) may install an engine that provides 6 Cruising
MP at 600 kg if desired. In order to meet its minimum engine
size requirement, however, this engine will be “infl ated” to 900 kg
without changing its performance.
Tractor/Trailers: Support Vehicles built as Trailers (constructed
using the Trailer chassis modifi cation), do not require an engine or
control systems unless they are also expected to operate without
a suitable Tractor unit. The movement rate of any Tractor/Trailer
Support Vehicle combinations is based off that of the controlling
Tractor unit, and is subject to the rules for carrying external cargo
as presented in Total Warfare (see p. 261, TW).
Tech Base/Rating: The engine types and Tech Ratings presented
in this section are available to Support Vehicles made
using either the Clan or Inner Sphere tech bases. Support Vehicles
created under either technology base may not make use of the
combat engines shown on the Master Engine List, including Compact,
Light and XL Fusion engines.
Space: The types of engine used by Support Vehicles do not
aff ect the Support Vehicle’s equipment slot space.
Support OmniVehicles: Engine type, Tech Rating, movement
points and weight must be established when designing a Support
OmniVehicle’s base confi guration, and may not be altered
in the completed Primary or Alternate configurations of that
Support OmniVehicle.
AIRSHIP/FIXED WING SUPPORT VEHICLE FUEL TABLE
Fuel Weight (kg) per Thrust Point (by Tech Rating)*
Support Vehicle Size Class A B C D E F
Small (Under 5 tons) 50 30 23 15 13 10
Medium 63 38 25 20 18 15
Large 83 50 35 28 23 20
*Airships and Prop-Driven Fixed Wing Support Vehicles multiply by 0.75 (round up to nearest kg). Solar-, Fission- and Fusion-Powered Airships and Prop-Driven Fixed Wing Support Vehicles require no
mass for fuel.