Galleon
Sarna News
| Galleon Light Tank (GAL-100) | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Brooks Incorporated |
| Mission | Support |
| Type | Track |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 30 tons |
| Armor | 3/Star Slab 6 |
| Engine | 180 GTEM Internal Combustion Engine |
| Speed | 73 kph km/h |
| Armament | |
Contents
Description
Several different firms produced light armor support vehicles for the Star League. One of the more popular combat systems was the GAL-100 Galleon light tank. Produced mostly on planets within the boundaries of the Free Worlds League, it as an inexpensive means of providing both infantry and BattleMechs with support on the battlefield.
In the battle to oust Stefan Amaris, the Galleon served remarkably well. Many of these light tanks served in garrisons on the scattered worlds of the Periphery until the departure of General Kerensky. Thus, many Galleons ended up in the hands of House Marik and House Kurita.
Armament
The Galleon is a small, fast-moving, lightly armored vehicle. In an era when many arms manufacturers were designing hovercraft systems, Brooks Incorporated strayed with tracked vehicle designs, believing that demand would last far into the future.
With a maximum speed of over 73 kilometers per hour, this small tank can outrun most Mechs. Its weapons systems are fairly strong, and its only weakness is its lack of armor.
GAL-100 Galleon supports three main weapons, all of which were manufactured by Jackson Armaments, a subsidiary of Brooks Incorporated. The Jackson Model 17 medium laser is not the best system of its class, as several support coils have a tendency to overheat. The Star League fell before any modifications to the coil systems could be made, however.
The two small Jackson Model 12s, which are mounted on the side of the tank, have a better combat reputation. Although the tank lacks a smaller infantry fire support system, the Model 12 does provide some strong anti-mech support.
The main weakness of the GAL-100 Galleon is its minimal 3.5 tons of protective armor. Although this does not make the Galleon a very safe tank in combat, its light weight adds to its speed and range. The 1.5 ton fuel capacity and the efficiency of the 180 GTEM internal combustion engine (ICE) make it a popular vehicle with the armies of the Successor States.
Battle History
During the battle of Sounder’s Peak on the planet Kobe, Steiner units learned the usefulness of these light tanks in combat. While pinned in the lowlands of the Sounder Mountain Range, the Kurita raiding party sent forth several crack platoons of Galleons supported by several light recon Mech lances. The mobility and efficiency of these systems against mechs surprised both sides. House Kurita was able to prolong their campaign for Kobe by several months, and helped their comrades by keeping Commonwealth troops away from other Draconis advances.
House Marik first used the Galleon in 2910 on the planet Zion. On that small desert world, a strong band of Liao defenders were holding their own in a mountain area known as Gapston. House Marik launched a multipronged attack on the area, using several companies of elite BattleMechs and full infantry support, including eight platoons of Galleon tanks. The League mechs fought hard, but were tied down by Long Tom fire from the Liao fortifications. The defenders did not consider the Galleons a threat, and so the tanks advanced to the fortification, where they engaged the enemy. Although there were fighting superior forces and taking massive losses, the Galleons breached the walled fortress and knocked out several of the Long Tom systems, allowing the League mechs to finish the job. Though historians generally concentrate on the bravery of the MechWarriors in that battle, it was actually the fighting of the Galleons that won the day.
House Davion also maintained a fairly large number of Galleons, but they were rarely massed in any quantity for fighting purposes. However, in the battle for Ludwig in 2955, a large military convoy for the Federated Suns was attacked by Wasps and Locusts from the Draconis Combine. Defending the convey were two platoons of Galleons. The Kurita raiders found themselves fighting ground tanks with the same weight classification and weaponry. While the mechs were able to launch several Death from Above-style attacks, these were not enough to stall the firepower of the Galleons. Although most of the convoy was destroyed, so was most of the raiding party.
Recently, other combat units have begun using forces containing Galleon light tanks. Wolf’s Dragoons, the largest and best known mercenary unit in the Inner Sphere, has recently put together a light, mobile platoon using the Galleon as the main fire support craft. Also, Richard’s Panzer Brigade has also begun to use Galleons. House Liao is the only one that has not shown any interest in the GAL-100.
Variants
Currently, the only variant of the GAL-100 Galleon is in the service of House Kurita. The GAL-200 replaces the GAL-100’s twin small Jackson lasers with machine guns, using the reduced weight to add armor. Only a handful of these units have seen use, and several of those have fallen into the hands of House Steiner.
Notable Vehicles and Pilots
Private Shooman Wax
Shooman is a Galleon crewmember for the Draconis Combine’s 1089th Light Armored Support Group. His Galleon is called Doris after his long-dead sister, a highly esteemed MechWarrior who was killed in the battles for Alexandria. The Doris has been nearly destroyed several times and has even been pounced upon by many mechs. Shooman himself lost his left arm in combat, but he still remains true to his vehicle and the combine.
Lieutenant Harley Tomis
Harley is the gunnery officer on the GAL100 Galleon serving Davion’s 5000th Mobile Tank Support Unit. The unit has a strong reputation, having served in the relief force on Kentares IV many years ago. Tomi’ father commanded the unit then, and Harley still holds the family title and command. He has a very high record of tank and mech kills, being responsible for the destruction of over 10 BattleMechs and 20 tanks. His Galleon is in perfect condition, as it receives the best in repair supplies from a grateful House Davion.