All armoured vehicles have greatly restricted visablity. Monsters can only be seen if they are directly in front of the vehicle or its turret, unless the commander of the vehicle sticks his head out of the top - which can be a little dangerous for him.
Rule Changes
Armoured vehicles have most of their armour at the front and so their DEF is + 1 if attacked from the front quarter. As the rear is less well protected DEF is - 1 in that quarter.
Anti-tank weapons like bazookas only do a single Hit of damage to armoured vehicles.
The Armoured Saving Throw succeeds if the modified d6 roll is greater than or equal to the STR of the weapon.
There is no saving throw against Advanced weapons.
Hits on Armoured Vehicles
All armoured vehicles have multiple Hits, but each loss of a hit point has a consequence. Roll a dice after every hit is lost:
1,2 - Wheels or tracks hit. Mobility halved until a Repair is carried out.
3,4 - Engine or driver hit. Immobilised.
5,6 - Weapon or cargo hit.
Note, the crew need to get out to effect repairs.
Cupola Machine Gun
In addition to the main armament listed, each of these vehicles has a SFMG (HMG if you're not using my special rules for extra guns) mounted on the commanders hatch. When firing it the commander isn't protected by the vehicles armour and instead counts as a normal target in cover.
Challenger II Tank
Appearances: The Runaway Bride, Turn LeftThese were ordered by Mr Saxon to be used by the army against the Racnoss spaceship, they would no doubt be useful against smaller opponents too.
Type
|
Move
|
DEF
|
Hits
|
Armour Save
|
Tracked
|
8"
|
7
|
3
|
+3
|
Weapon
|
Range
|
STR
|
Notes
|
120mm AP
|
60"
|
7
| |
120mm HE
|
60"
|
4
|
4" blast radius, scatter
|
Coax Machine Gun
|
36"
|
3
|
Burst
|
The 1970s equivalent was the Chieftain Tank, which was slower (move 7) and only DEF 6
M47 Tank
Appearance: DreamlandThe M47 was the main US battle tank in the early 1950s. In 1958 a squadron was brought in to try to deal with an incursion of Viperox in Area 51. As a tank it wasn't a great success and was quickly replaced by the M48, which has idenitcal stats.
Type
|
Move
|
DEF
|
Hits
|
Armour Save
|
Tracked
|
8"
|
6
|
3
|
+2
|
Weapon
|
Range
|
STR
|
Notes
|
90mm AP
|
50"
|
6
| |
90mm HE
|
50"
|
4
|
4" blast radius, scatter
|
Coax Machine Gun
|
36"
|
3
|
Burst
|
Only one of the above may be fired in one turn. However, below may be fired at the same time.
The cupola mg is an HMG.
The cupola mg is an HMG.
Current US main battle tank, the M1 Abrams, has identical stats to the Challenger II.
The 1950s British equivalent was the Centurian, which has a cupola SFMG and no bow MG
Scorpion Tank
Called in by the Brigadier to deal with the titular mechanoid, it lasted about 10 seconds before being vapourised - possibly because it was in fact just an Action Man model superimposed in the foreground.
Type
|
Move
|
DEF
|
Hits
|
Armour Save
|
Tracked
|
10"
|
5
|
2
|
+2
|
Weapon
|
Range
|
STR
|
Notes
|
76mm AP
|
50"
|
5
| |
76mm HE
|
50"
|
4
|
3" blast radius, scatter
|
Coax Machine Gun
|
36"
|
3
|
Burst
|
Note: modern versions have had the 76mm gun replaced with a 30mm autocannon (see Fox below)
Fox Armoured Car
A wheeled version of the Scorpion, but armed with a 30mm cannon, it entered service in 1973.
Seen parked outside Heathrow Airport, which was not particularly useful as the aliens were in Downing Street, and was bit out of place as the Slitheen landed in 2006 and the vehicle was retired from service in 1993.
Type
|
Move
|
DEF
|
Hits
|
Armour Save
|
Wheeled
|
10"
|
5
|
2
|
+2
|
Weapon
|
Range
|
STR
|
Notes
|
30mm Raden Cannon
|
50"
|
4
|
Burst
|
Coax Machine Gun
|
36"
|
3
|
Burst
|
Only one of the above may be fired in a turn.
The 1960/70s equivalent was the Saladin which had six wheels and a 76mm gun like the Scorpion.
Saxon Armoured Personnel Carrier
Appearances: Aliens of London, World War Three.
Used in the Doctor's 'arrest', this vehicle is then seen parked outside Downing Street.
It is basically an armoured lorry to ferry troops to the front line and isn't designed as a combat vehicle.
Type
|
Move
|
DEF
|
Hits
|
Armour Save
|
Wheeled
|
10"
|
5
|
2
|
+2
|
Weapon - Cupola HMG only, but can carry 10 soldiers in the back.
This vehicle entered service in 1983.
The 1960s/70s equivalent was the Saracen APC which carried 8 troops and which could have an HMG in a turret.
Spartan Armoured Personel Carrier
This is an armoured personel carrier from the same family of vehicles as the Scorpion tank. It carriers 3 crew and 4 passengers, and is usually used for carrying specialist teams around the battlefield, such as anti-tank or anti-aircraft teams. It entered service in 1978.
One is briefly seen in Aliens of London, accompanying a Fox armoured car.
Type
|
Move
|
DEF
|
Hits
|
Armour Save
|
Tracked
|
10"
|
5
|
2
|
+2
|
Weapon - Cupola SFMG only
The 1960s/70s equivalent is the FV432. Count this as a tracked version of the Saracen, move 8".
Abreviations
AP = Armour Piercing. A solid shell to go through armour.
HE = High Explosive. A shell that goes bang.
Coax = Co-axial. A smaller gun next to the main one.
HMG = Heavy Machine Gun. British HMGs use rifle-calibre bullets and are STR 3. US HMGs are usually STR 4 as they fire bigger bullets.
Models
Fortunately gamers have a lot of choice of modern models, both 28mm wargames figures and 1/48 plastic kits. However things are a bit more difficult for the Classic Era vehicles, and a bit of adaptation is required.
Challenger
1/48 kits are made by Kitech and Academy and there is a 28mm version by Empress Miniatures.
Chieftain
Arii do a 1/48 model kit. There used to be a 28mm version by Sloppy Jalopy. Dinky did a one that is about the right scale, but had a massively oversized gun.
M47
French company Verem/Solido do a die cast version that looks about right. Warlord Games do a 28mm version of the almost identical M46 as part of their Bolt Action Korea range. It's successor, the M48, served in Vietnam and is available in both 1/48 scale and 28mm and has identical stats.
Centurian
Warlord Games do a 28mm version as part of their Bolt Action Korea range. There is an old Corgi die cast model that is about the right scale as well.
Scorpion
Sloppy Jalopy do this in 28mm
Fox
The Honourable Lead Boiler Company did this too.
Saladin
The Honourable Lead Boiler Company did one in 28mm, but the Corgi version is pretty much dead on for scale and a nice enough model to use straight out of the box.
Saxon
Sloppy Jalopy again.
Saracen
The Honourable Lead Boiler Company did one in 28mm.
Spartan
Empress Miniatures do one.
Other Vehicles
There are a plenty of other interesting models out there which can be used. Here is a very quick guide.
Abrams and Leopard II MBTs.
These would be used if the aliens landed anywhere except the UK. Stats are exactly the same as the Challenger, although sticklers for absolute accuracy may wish to add an inch to movement.
VAB and Panhard
Aliens invading France will find themselves up against NUIT, the French UNIT. Their equipment could include the VAB, which is the equivalent of the Saxon, and the Panhard AML90, which is like the Fox, but has a gun similar to the Scorpion. Both are availabel as die-cast models by Solido.
Warrior AIFV
Airfix make an excellent kit. As a tracked vehicle it would be less likely to be used in the UK than the wheeled Saxon and Fox. Same stats as the Scorpion, but has a 30mm cannon and carries 8 soldiers.
Snatch Land Rover
A Land Rover but DEF 5. Two soldiers can shoot from cover out of the top.
Striker
A Scorpion that fires anti-tank missiles. See the Air Strike rules for how they work.
Ferret
A 1970s version of the Fox. Has an HMG rather than a 30mm cannon.
FV432
This seems an unlikely vehicle to deploy to an internal security threat, but at least you can get a decent model from Sloppy Jalopy.
Humber Pig
Slightly smaller and older version of the Saxon. No cupola gun.
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