The HT-45 “Crawler” Half-Track was created as a means to fill out the Iron Company's need for a cost-effective general-purpose vehicle that offered good cross-country capabilities. It was first introduced in YE 45.

The HT-45 is a half-track intended to fulfill the role that many vehicles such as the STV and LUT fulfill in other armies alongside the Defender acting as a transport, recovery vehicle, gun carriage, etc,. In spite of having only average speed and mobility, it is a capable light vehicle. It usually boasts a copula for a squad-level support weapon or a large mount for heavier weapons and equipment. It also comes in a civilian variant, though it has no weapon systems and cannot accept them, but can be modified into a backhoe, bulldozer, etc;. Of course there's nothing keeping some enterprising individuals from re-militarizing them.

The vehicle's primary strength is its ease of modification; it can be quickly modified to act as a gun carrier, Medi-Vehicle, Utility vehicle, etc; and can even be up-armored for high-intensity combat situations-though it is no substitute for a dedicated unit for that role-being somewhat limited by its design choices. It can mount a heat baffling system to disrupt infrared sensors and provides some protection against detection. The civilian variant cannot mount this system.

The vehicle's power plant is also easily accessed and fixed, though it does have problems with its battery.

Shortly after his meeting with Ketsurui-Motoyoshi Katsuko, Albert Steiner realized that any units being sent out to assist the 1st expeditionary fleet would have some form of mechanized support as the yeomen would not be able to keep up with the Yamataian forces they were being attached to and heavier assets were needed by front-line troops battling the Mishu Sandraker a solution was needed. After rummaging for a bit in the various equipment stockpiles that they'd arrived with, he found several operational half-track vehicles that had belonged to a now-defunct PDF unit that was likely used to transport any number of the civilians they'd brought with them.

After examining them, the Iron Company copied the design, modifying it slightly to bring them up to their standards; mostly streamlining and standardizing a number of the components. From prototype to production, the vehicle has proven to be a fairly tough if awkward workhorse, from transportation to serving as a recovery vehicle. However, It was discovered that there were issues with the powerplant that had not been ironed out during testing; mainly that the location of the battery, which was far too close to the radiator, had a nasty habit of overheating. This would often lead to a greatly reduced lifespan, swelling, and on occasion simply exploding after long-term use and damaging or destroying the engine outright. Still, the Company with its general attitude of “make do” simply pressed forward with these archaic vehicles despite the troubles, sending several out with the Cohort that arrived at Port Jiyuu in YE 45.

The Crawler looks like a traditional large-load diesel truck; a large, boxy cab with a slightly sloping hood with a bed with high sides to protect the troops riding in it. The up-armored variant adds a top and sometimes a turret along with additional armor plates on the cab.

Crawler Half-Track
Year Introduced	YE 45.
Class/Nomenclature	IC-K1-2A (Current Production Version)
Designers	Iron Company, Albert Steiner
Manufacturer	Iron Company
Fielded By	Iron Company
Weight	9071kg
Production	Mass Production
Pricing	Starting at 5000ks

• Crew: 2( driver, gunner¹⁾ ), 4²⁾(driver, loader, gunner, spotter)
• Maximum Capacity: Up to 5 crew members.
• Passenger Capacity: 12

• Width: 7.2 Ft
• Height: 7.8 Ft³⁾, 10.4⁴⁾
• Length: 17 Ft

• Ground speed: 72KPH
• Range: 200 miles
• Lifespan: 30 years

See Damage Rating (Version 3) for an explanation of the damage system.

DRv3 Tier: Size Light Anti-Mecha, Armor is Tier 6 , Teir 7 Up-armored

The interior of the cab is fairly straightforward forward-driver sits on the right with the steering wheel infront of him, gear-shift on the right and controls for the lights, wipers and the starter-being little more than a nob that one pulls while holding down the break, and the co driver on the left there's also room for one more in the middle. Entrances are doors to the left and right in the cab, plus a rear entrance for quick egress in an emergency-or in the event the driver needs to pull out-once can also jump out over the sides in the standard model-a door is also located in the rear primarily for use with the armored version. The turret for either open-topped or enclosed sits in the middle and is removable, and its recovery equipment is mounted on the front for the dozer blade, and the crane replaces the turret. The coupla located on the left side that can take either anti-power armor or anti-personnel weapons, though is not used when mounting heavy weapons when the turret is present yeomen manning the vehicle will have to rely on personal weapons. Ammunition is usually stored in a sealed crate that opens outwards towards the front of the vehicle regardless of configuration. (Label what’s inside of the vehicle, such as the location of entrances and exits, where the driver, gunner, commander, loader, pilot, co-pilot, etc, and passengers sit but also the location of onboard systems.

On the Cupola one of the following can be mounted:

• Belt-Fed GP-1 Assault Rifle
• Lightbringer Variable Laser Cannon
• 4cm Mauler Autocannon

The turret can accommodate the following when mounted:

• 7.6cm Sunderer Cannon
• 4cm Mauler Autocannon

The Power-plant is the same model of engine used by the Universal Medium Tank, albeit modified for use in a Half-Track-the engine compartment can be sealed if needed, the vehicle overall lacks life support sealing outside of the uparmored version-this comes in the form of adding additional armor plating on the rear and adding the option of an enclosed turret. Even then, this really only provides physical protection from weather conditions and hostile fire, therefore all crew and passenger should ensure that their equipment is stored in properly sealed containers rated for the environment. The vehicle can also be converted into a recovery vehicle through the use the of a crane and a dozer blade to move damaged vehicles. A covering with a thin slit on the front can be put over the head and tail lights, though while this limits visibility it does assist in covering from visual detection. The vehicle also has the option of engaging or disengaging the drive train for the front wheels, controlled by a small lever located on the left-hand side of the steering wheel.

While not stellar, the Crawler can generally accommodate up to 15 tons of cargo onroad, and 10 tons offroad though space can be a limitation. It can usually pull roughly 3 to 4 times its weight when used in a towing capacity.

The Crawler's standard equipment is as follows:

• Fire Extinguisher 🧯
• A first aid kit, usually either something put together by the crew, an EM-J5-M3602 - First aid kit, or a case containing a Lifesaver Emergency Autodoc System injector and several doses.
• A number of Jerrycan Jug behind the cab.

Commissar Farzi created this article on 2024/06/24 06:15. Art work by Commissar Farzi.

The article was approved by Wes on 2024/06/26.⁵⁾