Padilla Tube Artillery Tank

This article is about the Republic-era tank. For other uses, see Padilla.

Padilla Tube Artillery Tank
Production information
Manufacturer	Aldis Industries
Production Year	3077
Mission	Fire Support
Type	Wheeled
Cost	2,756,550 C-bills
Technical specifications
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Mass	55 tons
Armor	Star Slab/3
Engine	Leenex 145
Speed	54 km/h
Communications System	COMSET 9c
Targeting Tracking System	Aldis TTS 7
Heat Sinks	10 single
Armament	1x Sniper Artillery Piece 2x LRM-5 2x Small Pulse Laser
BV (2.0)	592

Description

Not to be confused with the original Padilla, the Padilla Tube Artillery Tank was a Republic of the Sphere vehicle meant to fulfill a similar role. Originally designed and produced by Aldis Industries at the request of Precentor Martial Cameron St. Jamais, the Padilla Tube Artillery Tank serves as the main conventional artillery support platform used by the Republic Armed Forces.

Carrying seven and a half tons of armor, the Padilla is well-protected for a vehicle of its size. This is good as the tank's low top speed could make it an easy target for fast moving units or airstrikes.

Weapons and Equipment

The Padilla Tube Artillery Tank carries a Sniper Artillery Piece as its main weapon. Backed up by two tons of ammunition, this weapon allows the Padilla to put effective fire on targets from a great distance. For shorter range fire support, the Padilla is equipped with two LRM-5 launchers backed up by two tons of ammunition. This two ton bay allows the Padilla crew to mix their ammunition types. Occasionally Padilla crews have loaded Thunder LRMs to create a quick minefield. This allows them to delay enemy forces while they withdraw from close combat. Finally, a pair of Small Pulse Lasers serve to deter infantry, whether they're conventional or battle armored troops.

Variants

• Long Tom Cannon 

  Developed in 3077, the Padilla LTC carries a single Long Tom Cannon with two tons of ammunition. To make room for this massive weapon, the Padilla LTC drops one LRM launcher and a ton of ammunition. This variant also carries a Guardian ECM Suite to help protect itself. BV (2.0) = 985

• Thumper 

  There is a Padilla variant introduced in 3082, that carries a Thumper Artillery Piece. The variant replace the Small lasers with two Medium Pulse Laser. Additional the turret contains 4 MML3 for long range support. BV (2.0)= 530

• Dark Age (Padilla AMS) 

  The main weapon system of this variant is a turret-mounted Defiance Thumper artillery tube. This allows the Padilla to provide accurate fire support from long distances. The Padilla also packs a relatively large defensive armament, uncommon in other mobile artillery units. Besides a pair of turret-mounted Harpoon-6 SRM-6 racks, the Padilla also carried a pair of MainFire Point Defense anti-missile systems. This version was also produced by Cyclops Incorporated instead of Aldus Industries.

• Padilla Anti-Missile Tank 

  This version of the Padilla introduced in 3134, replaces the standard Padilla weaponry with a Gauss rifle tied into a Targeting Computer. The only other weapons are RISC Advanced Point Defense Systems carried in the turret. Seven and a half tons of Vehicular Stealth Armor are powered by a Guardian ECM Suite. This allows the Padilla Anti-Missile Tank to improve anti-missile defenses for itself and nearby friendly units, as well as providing direct fire support. The tank's top speed remains at 54 km/h. BV (2.0) = 1,155

Related Vehicles

• Padilla Heavy Artillery Tank - The original Padilla was an SLDF design. Twenty tons heavier than the Republic Padilla Tube Artillery Tank, other notable differences include the use of tracks instead of wheels, a lack of defensive armament, and the use of an Arrow IV launcher as its weapon system of choice.

Gallery

• 

  Dark Age Padilla Artillery Tank

Bibliography

• Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 3
• Master Unit List
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge
• Technical Readout: 3085
• Technical Readout: 3150