STATISTICS
| Mass: 50 tons | Movement Type: Hover |
| Power Plant: TME 165 eXtraLight | Armor Type: TME 3000 Standard |
| Comm Systems: TME Vox Et Deus | Cruising Speed: 89 kph |
| Targeting/Tracking Systems:
TME 3050 Point-And-Shoot |
Maximum Speed: 131 kph |
| Chassis: TME L-Speeder | |
| Armament: 1 TME/BTSTS-AUAC:3057 "Rapid Grand Cannon" Assault Rapid-Fire Autocannon 2 TME/BTSTS-ML:3000 "ZapEmGood" Medium Lasers |
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OVERVIEW
The TME-43 Puma is a tiny, dense hovertank that strikes hard and moves fast. A highly maneuverable lifting body design, the Puma somehow comfortably seats four. The driver sits in the armored aerospace fighter-style cockpit with HOTAS (Hands-On-Throttle-And-Stick)-oriented controls. The sponson gunners sit in reclining armored couches just behind the cockpit, using a neurohelmet-like virtual reality targeting system--just turn one's head and shoot. The turret gunner sits on top of the fusion engine in a swiveling harness with the heavy autocannon just to his right.
CAPABILITIES
The Puma serves the purposes of long-range reconnaissance and fast-attack power. The heavy rapid-fire autocannon is well equipped with ammunition and the armor is thick for such a fast vehicle. The TME-43 has been known to be a scout 'Mech hunter, chasing down slower scout 'Mechs and pummeling them with the heavy autocannon. Pumas have also been used in platoons to surround and overwhelm much heavier 'Mechs.
DEPLOYMENT
The TME-43 serves with several notable armored calvary divisions.
VARIANTS
One variant, the TME-43-A "Long-barreled" (often called the "'43 Special" in Davion space) replaces the heavy autocannon with a Gauss rifle.
TME-43 Puma Medium Hovertank |
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| 50 tons | Hover | Cruising MP: 8 (86.4 kph) | Flank MP: 12 (129.6 kph) |
| Engine: 165 XL Fusion | Engine Mass: 4.5 t | Control Mass: 2.5 t | Lift Equipment: 5.0 t |
| No Power Amplifier | 10 Heat Sinks | Internal Structure: 5.0 t | Turret Mass: 1.5 t |
| Armor Mass: 9 t | Armor Points: 144 | Crew: 4 | Sponson Mass: .5 t |
ARMOR |
EQUIPMENT |
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| Front: | 35 |
Ultra AC/20 | Turret |
| Left/Right Side: | 28 / 28 |
Medium Laser | Left Side |
| Rear: | 20 |
Medium Laser | Right Side |
| Front Turret: | not applicable |
25 Ultra AC/20 shots | Body |
| Rear Turret: | 35 |
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