IMW-3 Snark: Difference between revisions
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A product of the [[Mishalan Arsenal|Red Bear factories]] of [[Mishalan]], the IMW-3 Snark, a grotesque monstrosity enthusiastically described by [[Ludovic Verion]] as a "Sweet machine of destruction", had been signed up to by the Shirerithian Ministry of Military Affairs (MoMA) purely on account of its imposing bulk alone. The Snark programme had indeed consumed vast resources that left the [[Imperial Forces]] of [[Shireroth]] entirely bereft of tactical helicopters and a viable artillery arm during the conflicts leading up to the [[War of Lost Brothers]] and the [[Auspicious Occasion]]. The Snark's inherent advantages, namely its armour, speed and firepower was off-set by its sheer gargantuan size which tended to make it something of a magnet incoming enemy fire. For instance, at the Battle of Arandurcourt ({{AN|1644}}) three Snarks were lost to a combination of mechanical failures and [[Elwynn]]ese flanking harassment attacks. | A product of the [[Mishalan Arsenal|Red Bear factories]] of [[Mishalan]], the IMW-3 Snark, a grotesque monstrosity enthusiastically described by [[Ludovic Verion]] as a "Sweet machine of destruction", had been signed up to by the Shirerithian Ministry of Military Affairs (MoMA) purely on account of its imposing bulk alone. The Snark programme had indeed consumed vast resources that left the [[Imperial Forces]] of [[Shireroth]] entirely bereft of tactical helicopters and a viable artillery arm during the conflicts leading up to the [[War of Lost Brothers]] and the [[Auspicious Occasion]]. The Snark's inherent advantages, namely its armour, speed and firepower was off-set by its sheer gargantuan size which tended to make it something of a magnet incoming enemy fire. For instance, at the Battle of Arandurcourt ({{AN|1644}}) three Snarks were lost to a combination of mechanical failures and [[Elwynn]]ese flanking harassment attacks. | ||
Expensive to maintain and difficult to manufacture, the Snark had been slated to be withdrawn from Imperial service even before the [[Kalirion Fracture]]. Surviving examples were captured and operated by the [[Black Legions]] of [[Benacia Command]]. The challenges experienced in the design and production of the Snark manifested themselves during its operational life also. The design had to feature significant, and in consequence bulky, shock absorbers to mitigate stress and strain on the steel frame when operating in gallop mode. The four legs of the walker also produced a noticeable “stiletto effect”, where all the weight of the Snark's considerable mass would be concentrated in a very small area. The engineering challenges of distributing this weight and dissipating its downward pressure added further cost and complexity to this design. To this day the Snark should ideally limit its movements to terrain where the going is firm under foot. The considerations of material fatigue also obliged the operators of the Snark to limit its period of "galloping" to five minute "sprint dashes". | Expensive to maintain and difficult to manufacture, the Snark had been slated to be withdrawn from Imperial service even before the [[Kalirion Fracture]]. Surviving examples were captured and operated by the [[Black Legions]] of [[Benacia Command]]. The challenges experienced in the design and production of the Snark manifested themselves during its operational life also. The design had to feature significant, and in consequence bulky, shock absorbers to mitigate stress and strain on the steel frame when operating in gallop mode. The four legs of the walker also produced a noticeable “stiletto effect”, where all the weight of the Snark's considerable mass would be concentrated in a very small area. Actuation and articulation motors on the legs and main body of the Snark also added to the overall weight burden, to say nothing of the armour, armaments, and personnel carried. The engineering challenges of distributing this weight and dissipating its downward pressure added further cost and complexity to this design. To this day the Snark should ideally limit its movements to terrain where the going is firm under foot. The considerations of material fatigue also obliged the operators of the Snark to limit its period of "galloping" to five minute "sprint dashes". | ||
In spite of these limiting factors it had been consistently reported that being on the receiving end of a charge by three or more Snarks was a distinctly disconcerting experience for those who endured it and survived. | In spite of these limiting factors it had been consistently reported that being on the receiving end of a charge by three or more Snarks was a distinctly disconcerting experience for those who endured it and survived. | ||
The development of [[Bassarid Quadwalkers]], along with the rumoured scale of armaments production in [[Cakaristan]], prompted a re-evaluation of the design in the late 1690s. The list of objections presented by the Mishalan Arsenal to proposals for an immediate restart of production proved to be a considerable one, beginning with the loss of machine tools and technical knowledge, the ensuing inability to mass produce essential components, including the main gas-turbine, drive shafts, and reduction gears, and the estimated time required to reconstitute a long-ago dissipated supply-chain, suggested that a target for resumption by {{AN|1700}} would be deeply optimistic to the point of impossibility. | |||
[[Category:Weaponry]][[Category:Shireroth]][[Category:Unified Governorates of Benacia]] | [[Category:Weaponry]][[Category:Shireroth]][[Category:Unified Governorates of Benacia]] | ||
Revision as of 11:52, 21 July 2021
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| Type: | Mobile Command Platform |
| Place of origin: | Shireroth |
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| In service: | |
| Used by: |  Raspur Pact
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| Designed: | 1641 AN |
| Manufacturer: | Red Bear LLC |
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| Crew: | 24 |
| Speed: |
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| Range: | |
| Weight: | Heavy |
| Length: | Long |
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| Main Armament: | 75mm cannon |
| Rate of fire: | 90 rpm |
| Effective range: | 1,800 m direct fire |
| Maximum range: | 7,678 m indirect HE shell |
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| Cost: | |
A product of the Red Bear factories of Mishalan, the IMW-3 Snark, a grotesque monstrosity enthusiastically described by Ludovic Verion as a "Sweet machine of destruction", had been signed up to by the Shirerithian Ministry of Military Affairs (MoMA) purely on account of its imposing bulk alone. The Snark programme had indeed consumed vast resources that left the Imperial Forces of Shireroth entirely bereft of tactical helicopters and a viable artillery arm during the conflicts leading up to the War of Lost Brothers and the Auspicious Occasion. The Snark's inherent advantages, namely its armour, speed and firepower was off-set by its sheer gargantuan size which tended to make it something of a magnet incoming enemy fire. For instance, at the Battle of Arandurcourt (1644 AN) three Snarks were lost to a combination of mechanical failures and Elwynnese flanking harassment attacks.
Expensive to maintain and difficult to manufacture, the Snark had been slated to be withdrawn from Imperial service even before the Kalirion Fracture. Surviving examples were captured and operated by the Black Legions of Benacia Command. The challenges experienced in the design and production of the Snark manifested themselves during its operational life also. The design had to feature significant, and in consequence bulky, shock absorbers to mitigate stress and strain on the steel frame when operating in gallop mode. The four legs of the walker also produced a noticeable “stiletto effect”, where all the weight of the Snark's considerable mass would be concentrated in a very small area. Actuation and articulation motors on the legs and main body of the Snark also added to the overall weight burden, to say nothing of the armour, armaments, and personnel carried. The engineering challenges of distributing this weight and dissipating its downward pressure added further cost and complexity to this design. To this day the Snark should ideally limit its movements to terrain where the going is firm under foot. The considerations of material fatigue also obliged the operators of the Snark to limit its period of "galloping" to five minute "sprint dashes".
In spite of these limiting factors it had been consistently reported that being on the receiving end of a charge by three or more Snarks was a distinctly disconcerting experience for those who endured it and survived.
The development of Bassarid Quadwalkers, along with the rumoured scale of armaments production in Cakaristan, prompted a re-evaluation of the design in the late 1690s. The list of objections presented by the Mishalan Arsenal to proposals for an immediate restart of production proved to be a considerable one, beginning with the loss of machine tools and technical knowledge, the ensuing inability to mass produce essential components, including the main gas-turbine, drive shafts, and reduction gears, and the estimated time required to reconstitute a long-ago dissipated supply-chain, suggested that a target for resumption by 1700 AN would be deeply optimistic to the point of impossibility.
