Baicha Heavy Vehicle Industries
| Type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Vehicle manufacturer |
| Founded |
1686 1695 (revival under Ralgon) |
| Headquarters | Nova Victoria, New Ralgon, Imperial Federation |
| Products | Heavy trucks, armoured vehicles, tanks, heavy vehicle parts, small arms |
Baicha Heavy Vehicle Industries, usually referred to by its abbreviate BHVI, is a manufacturer of heavy trucks, armoured vehicles, tanks and stationary diesel engines, that originated in Baicha, then part of the Barbarian Republic. The company was founded in 1686 with help from Sokoku Industries, which shared blueprints of the Dolstier I MBT with the company. Initial focus of the company was to provide replacement parts for the Dolstier I MBT that was used by Barbary in the Cibolan Reconquista. Ten customised Dolstier I MBT's were produced under license as well from 1686 to 1687. As the Dolstier I's design was over 40 years old at the time, some parts were re-designed. The company shared their improvements with Sokoku Industries, which invited BHVI to co-operate on the new Dolstier II MBT project.
The collapse of Barbary in 1689 AN nearly brought the company under, but a long period of persistence led to its resurgence in a divided state during 1695 AN. Its reconsolidation in 1715 AN and a long period of heavy investment by the central government of the Imperial Federation saw its revival as a major defense manufacturing company by the 1720's AN. In its current state, the company is a major player in Cibolan heavy arms manufacture, with its inexpensive but durable small arms being commonly employed by frontiersmen in the western interior of Drag'os as well.
History
Barbary Period
Starting in 1686, the company also began to produce heavy trucks for the domestic market. The TR30 and TR50 tractor units, with a maximum weight of either 30 or 50 tonnes (including trailer and load) were announced in the Sheng month of 1686. A version of the TR30 that was adapted for building site use with more ground clearance and off-road tires, was fitted with armoured glass and marketed as the MIL30 to the Barbarian military.
Post-Barbary Period
In 1689 AN the company moved to Ralgon following the collapse of Barbary. Its evacuated premises were ransacked and plundered by the murderous Natopian ESB-Kosaken-Brunïakis-Afzælt cossacks, who abducted junior technicians, working on loading the last engines that were left on the site on trucks to Ralgon. Because of this crime, Baicha Heavy Vehicle Industry has the policy that its products, military or civil, could not be sold or re-sold to entities associated with the Nathan Regime. It should be noted that at the time of the raid, all military sensitive equipment had been removed from the site and brought to sites in Ralgon and Jingdao by armed USSO convoys.
The main factory facilities, while ransacked at Yixing for a time, still survived largely intact and served as the main arms manufacturing hub for Valora's military within New Ralgon. The main hub for Baicha moved to Nova Victoria for a time, which had already grown into a significant naval shipyard capable of hosting vehicle manufacturers as well. The company was effectively split into two during the Ralgon War of Succession from {{AN|1704 to 1715 AN, with competing headquarters at Yixing and Nova Victoria. The two companies were reunited after the conclusion of hostilities, with a majority stake in both arms being bought by the Imperial Federation government, awash with capital following the war.
To keep up with talent recruitment and retention, the Baicha Institute for Technology was moved alongside the company, similarly hosting campuses in both its primary cities of operation. The Institute was founded in 1687, and experienced a similar division to its namesake company until 1715 AN when the Institute reunited, its assets centralizing in the following years to strengthen the company's growth.
Imperial Federation Period
The corporation became the Imperial Federation's primary producer of heavy vehicles to include tanks and artillery, most of its products being both used and stationed in Valora, New Ralgon, Tar-Palantir, and their environs. Between the heavy investment from the central government and renewed boom that followed the Imperial Period from 1715 AN, Baicha Heavy Industries once again became a premier company, and rose to prominence as a major producer of small arms as well.
In 1723 AN, a factory was opened in Nordhafen, employing many refugees from Sankt Ludwigshafen, whose authority in southeastern Cibola had collapsed the year before. During the same year, a flagship factory opened in Val'nor, to supply the Grand Armada of the Imperial Federation with amphibious heavy vehicles.
The company continues to manufacture legacy USSO models, while also focusing on developing cutting-edge equipment in an effort to supply Raspur Pact forces in Cibola.
Military products
(USSO legacy models)
- BHVI Dolstier I
- BHVI Dolstier II
- BHVI MIL30
Civilian products
(USSO legacy models)
- BHVI TR30
- BHVI TR50
Engines
(USSO legacy models)
| Trade name | Horsepower | Torque | Used in... |
|---|---|---|---|
| BHVI 20L V12/120 | 1,200HP | 4,400Nm | Dolstier II, TR50 |
| BHVI 16L V8/75 | 750HP | 3,500Nm | USSO T86, USSO T87, TR50 |
| BHVI 16L V8/60 | 600HP | 3,000Nm | TR50 |
| BHVI 12L I6/40 | 400HP | 2,000Nm | MIL30, TR30, TR50 |
| BHVI 10L I6/35 | 350HP | 1,500Nm | MIL30, TR30 |
| BHV 10L I5/30 | 300HP | 1,500Nm | TR30 |
