Supertrucks are among the largest and most powerful land vehicles ever built. They were a common sight at some large-scale mining & quarry operations in the late-20th century, where their gargantuan weight capacity made it possible to economically transport large quantities of ore, coal or crushed stone. These giants fell out of use when the petroleum industry declined, as their huge engines guzzled fuel at rates which were measured in gallons per mile.

Recent advances in automotive technology & materials science have allowed supertrucks to roam once more. Although the chief use of these vehicles is in the construction & mining industries, some duellists began to wonder how they would perform when fitted out with armor and weapons....

There are four different sizes of supertruck, each with increasingly greater weight capacity. The basic structure of a supertruck is a large armored box on wheels. Other versions are available.
 

Size	Cost	Weight	Max. Load	Spaces	Tires	Armor Cost/Wt
Small	$350,000	15,000 lbs	250,000 lbs	100	4	50/20
Medium	$500,000	30,000 lbs	500,000 lbs	200	4	100/30
Large	$750,000	60,000 lbs	1,000,000 lbs	400	4 or 6	150/50
Heavy	$1,000,000	120,000 lbs	1,600,000 lbs	800	4 or 6	200/80

Chassis & Suspension

Supertrucks are specially-built to carry very large loads. They are also automatically off-road capable. All supertrucks have a handling class of 0, and no changes to either chassis or suspension are possible.
 

Tires

Unlike smaller vehicles (cars, etc) which use the same size tire, each size of supertruck has a size of tire that is specific to it.
 

Type	Cost	Weight	DP
Small	$12,500	1,500 lbs	120
Medium	$25,000	3,000 lbs	180
Large	$30,000	6,000 lbs	240
Heavy	$50,000	12,000 lbs	300

    For purposes of long-term durability, supertruck tires are assumed to be of PR construction. Supertruck tires may be steelbelted and fireproofed, but no other modifications are permitted. They also take no damage from being used off-road.
 

Supertrucks use power plants which have been engineered for maximum pulling capacity. Although supertruck power plants are very powerful, the top speeds they provide are relatively low.
    There are three types of power plants available; 1) Electric, 2) Internal Combustion, 3) Nuclear.

Electric
 

Size	Cost	Weight	Spaces	DP	Maximum Load
Small	$180,000	12,500 lbs	35	70	225,000 lbs
Medium	$300,000	15,000 lbs	50	100	450,000 lbs
Large	$450,000	25,000 lbs	75	150	900,000 lbs
Heavy	$800,000	40,000 lbs	100	200	1,440,000 lbs

    These power plants can use platinum catalysts, superconductors and extra power cells. They may not use supercharger capacitors.
 

Internal Combustion
 

Size	Cost	Weight	Spaces	DP	Maximum Load	MPG
Small	$360,000	11,250 lbs	30	90	250,000 lbs	1
Medium	$450,000	13,500 lbs	40	120	500,000 lbs	1/2
Large	$600,000	22,500 lbs	60	180	1,000,000 lbs	1/4
Heavy	$1,200,000	35,000 lbs	80	240	1,600,000 lbs	1/8

    In order to supply these engines with the large amounts of fuel required, a special type of fuel tank was developed. It is called the “bunker”.

New Fuel Tank
 

Type	Cost/Gallon	Weight/Gallon	DP**	Gallons/Space
Bunker	$50	25 lbs	20	40

**: Metal
    Fuel bunkers have fireproof insulation built-in. If a bunker is struck and breached by weapons fire, the amount of fuel lost is 1-5% per hit (1d-1).
    Internal combustion engines may use blueprinting and tubular headers. They can also be fitted with truck turbochargers, but require a number equal to 10% of the engine's spaces in order to get the bonus to maximum weight.
    The reactor is surrounded by radiation shielding equal to 30 points of metal armor. Each of the reactor's components (core, generators, etc) has 18 DP. For effects of damage to the reactor, see UNACFH; p.147-148.
 

Nuclear
 

Cost	Weight	Spaces	Maximum Load
$2,500,000	40,000 lbs	40	2,000,000 lbs

Acceleration & Top Speed

Supertrucks (regardless of the type of power plant) accelerate at the rate of 1 mph per turn up to 20 mph, and 2.5 mph per turn thereafter. The top speed of a supertruck is calculated with the following formula: (100 x Max. Load/Max. Load + Vehicle Weight). Assuming that a particular power plant is hauling its maximum load, this formula will yield a top speed of 50 mph.

Accessories

The size of a supertruck's tires and their wide turning radius precludes the mounting of wheelguards. However, oversized wheel hubs may be used. These hubs cost $100 and weigh 40 lbs per point. The maximum armor value of a supertruck wheel hub is equal to the side armor of the vehicle that carries them. Supertrucks also use outsized versions of the roll cage. Supertruck roll cages cost $1,000 per armor facing, and weigh the equivalent of 2 points of metal armor per facing. They also take up 10% of the supertruck's body spaces. Supertrucks do not use HD shocks, as their equivalent is already built-in. All other accessories are available at their normal cost and weight.
    A supertruck may mount two AFV turrets (1 on each of the TF & TB facings) whose total spaces are equal to or less than 40% of its body spaces. Note that one of these AFV turrets must be designated as being higher than the other. All supertrucks can mount two car turrets or cupolas of any size on each of the TF & TB facings. As with the AFV turrets, one of the turrets on each facing must be higher than the other. Supertrucks can also mount two car sponsons of any size on each of the RF, RB, LF & LB facings. One sponson on each facing must be at a higher level than the other.

The vast size of a supertruck means that it is much easier to target than any other vehicle. Supertrucks have the following targeting modifiers:
 

Size	Sides	Front
Small	+4	+3
Medium	+5	+4
Large	+6	+5
Heavy	+7	+6

    The thickness of a supertruck's tire walls (which exceeds several inches in places) means that such tires are much less subject to spike damage. Accordingly, normal spikes do 1d-5 per counter, explosive spikes do 1d-4 per counter and drop-spike plates do 1d-3 per plate.
    A supertruck's size and ground clearance have the following effects against other types of dropped weapons:

1) Ice & oil do not affect a supertruck's handling class unless the counter is the same size (or larger) than the vehicle itself. This is because one or more of the tires will be on bare ground or pavement.

2) When a supertruck crosses a mine counter, the mines will only damage the tire that hit them (the other tires are outside the damage radius). Mines of all types do half-damage to a supertruck's bottom armor (because of the high ground clearance).

3) Flame clouds & cloud bombs do normal damage to supertruck tires and bottom armor. They do not damage the top armor, and only cause half-damage to the side armor (such clouds only extend partway up the side of the vehicle).

4) Paint (unless delivered by a grenade or rocket which strikes the front of the vehicle) doesn't affect a supertruck's windows. This is because the paint cloud doesn't rise to their level.

Supertrucks can steamroller any vehicle or building which is half their size or less. Vehicles of van size or less can drive underneath a supertruck and take no damage (unless they get hit by one of the tires). Supertruck ram plates only affect targets which are greater than half the supertruck's size (this is because of the height at which the ram plate is mounted).
    A supertruck's vast size gives it very sluggish handling characteristics. All reflex rolls made by a supertruck's driver are at a -1 penalty. Also, rolls of “6" only give a +1 to HC (not +2). Driver skill can be used to offset the reflex roll penalty. Supertrucks can perform any maneuver up to D3 without any trouble. D4 maneuvers are at an additional +2 to the hazard level. Maneuvers of D5 hazard or greater are not possible.

Weapon damage hazards

A supertruck's immense size makes it relatively immune to the hazards caused by weapons fire. The hazards are as follows; 1) D1: 50-64 points of damage, 2) D2: 65-80 points of damage, 3) D3: 80+ points of damage. Note that this damage must be suffered from a single attack, not a large volley of smaller weapons.
    Supertrucks may side-mount and fire any weapon of 75-mm TG size or less without hazard. Weapons of 90-mm to 140-mm TG size can only be mounted front & back (but still cause no hazard). Weapons of 150-mm bore or greater (artillery pieces) cause a D1 hazard when fired.

Other Configurations

Some purchasers may be interested in using supertrucks for more than just combat. To accommodate their wishes, the following versions of the basic body are available:

1) Flatbed: -50% to body cost, -1/3 from body weight (round down)
    This configuration has no armor on the TB, RB & LB facings. The armor on the B facing now protects the compartment housing the crew, power plant & weapons.

2) Dumper: +100% to body cost, +50% to body weight
    A dumper is actually the original configuration of all supertrucks. It has no armor on the TB facing, and the armor on the B facing protects the power plant, crew & weapons (see above)

Road Lord: Small supertruck, small power plant w/ SCs, 4 small tires, driver & 4 gunners, 2 TGs w/ magazine switches linked F, 4 extra magzines (2 HESH, 2 APFSDS), 4 pulse lasers in 2 universal turrets (1TF, 1 TB), 8 laser batteries, 2 HVMGs (1 RF, 1 LF) w/ 2 extra magazines each (all ammo is HD), 5 HrSwc, radar, LD radio, 5 safety/ejection seats, CASM (TGs & ammo), improved fire extinguisher, 4 200-pt wheel hubs, Composite Armor F120/180, B80/120, RF50/75, RB50/75, LF50/75, LB50/75, TF30/50, TB30/50, UF30/50, UB30/50. Acceleration 1/2.5, HC: 0, Top Speed: 62.5 mph (50 mph w/ full load), 146,295 lbs, $990,650.
    The Road Lord is designed as a pure combat machine, with no cargo capacity. As such, it would be used to escort convoys of other vehicles.

Titanosaur: Medium supertruck, medium power plant w/ upgrades & 1 set extra power cells, 4 SB medium tires, driver & 11 gunners, 2 TGs w/ 3 extra magazines each (1 F, 1 B), 2 TGs in 25-space AFV turret TB, 6 extra magazines, 4 sponson-mounted HVMGs (1 RF, 1 RB, 1 LF, 1 LB) w/ 2 extra magazines each, 4 sponson-mounted HDFTs (1 RF, 1 RB, 1 LF, 1 LB) w/ 2 extra magazines each, 3 cyberlinks (TGs), 8 HrSwc (all other weapons), CASM (TGs & ammo, HDFTs & ammo), 12 safety/ejection seats, radar, LD radio, deluxe galley, 24-space crew lounge, portable earth station (in AFV turret), cargo safe, improved fire extinguisher, cmoposite turret armor (600 points metal/600 points plastic), 4 composite whel hubs (50 points metal/50 points plastic each), Composite Armor F200/300, B150/200, RF100/100, RB100/100, LF100/100, LB100/100, TF50/75, TB50/75, UF50/75, UB50/75. Acceleration: 1/2.5, HC: 0, Top Speed: 57.5 mph (50 mph w/ full load), 389,520 lbs, $2,025,600.
Cargo Capacity: 7 spaces, 110,480 lbs.
Note: the turret armor placement is specified by the purchaser.
    A Titanosaur is one of the toughest fighting machines on the road today, with an armor & weapons package that exceeds some MBTs. It has a small cargo capacity which is used to transport highly-valuable commodities (precious metals, computer chips) or personal weapons & equipment for the crew.

Stone Giant: Large supertruck (dumper), large power plant w/ upgrades, 6 SB large tires, driver & 3 crew, vehicular computer, LD radio, 4 safety/ejection seats, improved fire extinguisher, roll cage, Composite Armor: F20/45, B20/30, RF20/30, RB20/30, LF20/30, LB20/30, TF15/20, UF15/20, UB15/20. Acceleration: 1/2.5, HC; 0, Top Speed: 85 mph (50 mph w/ full load), 231,800 lbs, $2,657,975.
    The Stone Giant is one of the most common supertrucks in use today. Its immense carrying capacity have made it indispensible for large-scale contruction & mining projects.

Load Master: Heavy supertruck (flatbed), large power plant w/ upgrades & 1 set extra power cells, 6 SB heavy tires, driver & 3 gunners, 20-space AFV turret (TF) w/ heavy crane, 2 HVMGs (1 RF, 1 LF) w/ 2 extra magazines each, 2 ACs linked F, 4 extra magazines, 2 pulse lasers linked B, 2 laser batteries, 4 HrSwc, radar, LD radio, improved fire extinguisher, deluxe galley, 24-space crew lounge, 6 100-pt wheel hubs, composite turret armor (250 pts metal/250 pts plastic), Composite Armor: F100/150, B30/50, RF50/75, LF50/75, TF30/50, UF30/50, UB30/50. Acceleration: 1/2.5, HC: 0, Top Speed: 70 mph (50 mph w/ full load), 451,320 lbs, $2,355,600.
Cargo Capacity: 446 spaces, 583,680 lbs
Note: the turret armor placement is specified by the purchaser
    The Load Master is designed as a large-capacity vehicle transporter, able to haul a pair of 100-ton AFVs or numbers of smaller vehicles (cars, truck trailers, etc). Note that the lasers are positioned to sweep the flatbed cargo area.

Thanks to Michael Owen for providing the supertruck images for this article.
 
 

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