| From: | Jeffrey Mach <mach@****.CALTECH.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Burma |
| Date: | Sat, 17 May 1997 16:40:51 -0700 |
>>>>>[Colonel Rusanov, I'm glad to be of service.
As for the LAV designs I showed you, the offer is still open. Any more
operations like you had in Burma, and you may find them comfortably in
your price range. But, I won't push a weapon on someone who doesn't want
to use it.
Now, for the business at hand:
We can definitely do self-propelled artillery. It's amazing that such an
old concept still finds its way onto the modern battlefield, but for
newyen for newyen efficiency, you really can't knock it in terms of sheer
pounding power.
You say you want 155mm and 67 calibre mounted on a Leopard chassis. I had
some engineers I know in Military Vehicles have a look at your preliminary
description and say we can do it. The cost estimate for integration would
be >>encrypted<< including weapon system and labor and a little fudge
factor that I have learned to add because engineers always underestimate
costs. At least these guys are predictable.
I would like to know if you have already purchased the Leopard chassis, or
if this is a conversion from some other weapon system. Deconstructing a
vehicle so that you can get it to the point where you can build on to it
costs a bit extra.
On the other hand, if you haven't bought the chassis, I think I can
overall save you some money by going for an already integrated MLRS or
artillery system built from scratch. They are already able to come off
the production line, and have the advantage of already being fully tested
and designed from the ground up as part of an integrated weapon system.
Therefore, you don't have to pay for R&D and get an already proven design.
All around, it is generally a better idea if you want a low-volume sale.
+++++include Sagittarius.data
+++++include Artemis_MLRS.data
You'll note they are a couple of our older designs and that the chassis
design is not too dissimilar from the Leopard, especially since these
designs will fit within the C-130 as you requested. They come in tracked
or wheeled variants, depending on the predominant terrain conditions you
think you would be using them in. If worse came to worse, I believe they
could even be fitted with the Leopard's power plant, if that is so
critical of an issue. Since they are designed around current engines,
that would cost a little extra, but I doubt changing it would be that
drastic of a necessity. I can also, with much certainty state that the
Artemis, being a fully integrated system will be easier to maintain and
reload/rearm than a retrofit design, no matter how good a job the
engineers do. On a more humorous note, because of weight and the long
tactical range of the weapon, I think I can safely say that noone I know
of makes an LAV artillery piece.
As for ammunition being beneath me? Come on. I'm proud to have been part
of sales from everything from .22 long-rifle to multi-warhead brilliant
anti-tank artillery rockets (a real show-stopper, if you ask me). Don't
ask me for stores, though. Rations and fuel aren't my department. But I
could put you in touch with somebody. Wonder if you got a trial packet of
Battle-Fuel 3000? Its this new pasty stuff that comes in a few palatable
flavors (whatever you do, don't get the Beef variety) that is supposed to
contain all the nutrients necessary for a war-fighter. Comes in different
varieties tailored to different metahuman types. It's supposed to be
healthy, quick to eat, quick to digest, and imminantly durable in terms of
shelf life in battle conditions, but it is not exactly Cordon Bleu
cooking. (I know what I'm talking about. I once was doing a demo for the
French Foreign Legion and was bowled over when they offered me wine with
lunch).
Get me a list, and I'll see what I can do. I should get you the usual
system + ammo package discount for any artillery that is purchased. From
the footage, I might even be able to convince my boss to let me knock an
additional 10% or more off some of our Bunker-Buster(tm)
fortification-piercing artillery rockets if you choose to go with the MLRS
option. We normally only offer those to governments and "special
customers." Its just the only corp he hates worse than Aztech, is
Maxim.]<<<<<
-- Stainless Steel Rat <16:37:16/05-17-58 PDT>
