Larry wrote:River Monster wrote:It occurs to me that there's now nothing preventing Charis from fielding at least crude armored fighting vehicles. We have plate armor, an engine capable of propelling it, and breech-loading guns. Certainly something like a TOG or British Mark 1 is achievable. Or perhaps something like the German A7V would be a better, for some troop mobility.
(Mind you, I'm still holding out for steampunk hydrofoils.)
Another thought. If they could develop the Oil Refining, Diesel Engines, and the Machine gun. then the French Renault FT-17 is small, fast, and mobile enough to provide assistance to the ICA. Haul to battlefield by barge or wagon and you'll shock the heck out of the AOG troops. Although I must admit its more of a rolling machine gun nest than a true tank it would do the job against the human wave attacks that Harchong would bring to bear; Of course so would interlocking Machine gun fields of fire.
However, since we have no evidence of oil refining (other than whale/kracken oil for lamps), diesel engine development, or Machine guns (yet), the whole argument is completely academic.
Larry
While the FT-17 was an adequate starter tank, something more in line with an enlarged Renault R-40 or a Vickers 6 ton would be better. The FT was extremely short ranged, had thin armor, had a miserable suspension, had no chassis as such (the body panels acted as such) and was armed with a machine gun or cannon but not both. Most importantly (and shared with the R-40) is it had a one man turret. The Track Commander had to be gunnery officer, navigator and CO all at the same time.