User:Impurest Cheese/K71 Assault Transport


 * The K71 Assault Transport or Cape Buffalo Assault Transport is very similar to the Ongar APC although there are differences in speed, armament and capacity.

Overview

 * A product of Kalasnikov Arms and Armor produced in the hidden factories on planets such as New Odessa to fill the void between the reliable Warthog and the recently created Ongar APC. Like both of these vehicles the Cape Buffalo had a good performance off road and had reinforced ‘bull bars’ to allow the Cape Buffalo to perform hit and run attacks. Like the Brute Chopper the Buffalo was more armored at the front then the rear although the driver was more protected then the Brute vehicle.
 * As well as being an Assault Transport the Cape Buffalo has interchangeable weaponry for use against many different types of target. While it’s weaponry was URF manufactured it’s power source had been reversed engineered from parts of a Scorpion Tank giving the Buffalo a phenomenal amount of power for a vehicle of it’s size. Despite having a resistance to small arms fire the Buffalo was still vulnerable to rockets and cannons. In addition to these weapons the gunner was exposed to the elements and was a prime target for snipers.

Armor and Armament

 * The main weapon of the K71 Assault Transport was the .50 Caliber Machine Gun that was mounted on a turret on the roof. This weapon was generally used as an anti infantry weapon and could tear holes into the chassis of vehicles such as the Warthog or Covenant Ghost. A second Machine Gun could be mounted onto the passenger side of the Cape Buffalo. This weapon is interchangeable with a grenade launcher or the capture chair which was originally designed for hunting large game. The military version of the capture chair is used as an anti armor position. A soldier armed with the RPG92 could decimate UNSC heavy armor.


 * While the armament of the Cape Buffalo was impressive for a vehicle of it’s size the armor was lighter then that of the Ongar but was still heavy enough to repel most small arms fire although rockets were still a problem. The Buffalo’s chassis is quite enclosed with only the turret and passenger chair open to the elements. The structure of the chassis coupled with the thin armor at the rear of the vehicle led to ODSTs calling this vehicle “the Charging Coffin”.

Engine

 * The Buffalo was in possession of an engine that had been taken from a Scorpion Tank. Identical to the engine found in the Sun Spider Light Tank the engine of the Buffalo gave it a speed of around 80mph on a tarmac road while it could manage a speed of 50mph on a dirt road. Thanks to the ‘Bull Bars’ on the front of the Buffalo it could smash through underbrush and mud making it a deadly force off road to infantry.


 * The engine of the Cape Buffalo did have some problems due to its size when off road. If the Buffalo ‘jumped’ over an obstacle and began to descend the mass of the engine pulled it down vertically causing excessive damage to the front of the vehicle and it’s occupants. Whiplash from such incidents was not uncommon and reports of broken necks have been confirmed. In around 2556, Kalashnikov Arms and Armor replaced the majority of the engines with the one found in the Ongar.

Comparison with the M81 Medium Armored Vehicle and the M12 LRV Warthog

 * Speed and Off Road Capabilities


 * The speed of the M12 LRV Warthog is never mentioned in the Halo Series but rough estimates are between 65 to 120mph. The Warthog’s off road ability is well known and can drive over rough terrain, snow and sand with relative ease.


 * With an off road speed of 50mph the K71 Assault Transport is slower then the Warthog although it is hindered by being larger. Like the Warthog the Buffalo can drive on most surfaces with ease and has additional protection from impacts due to the large ‘bull bars’ on the front of the vehicle.


 * The off road speed of the M81 Medium Armored Vehicle is never stated but can be estimated at 30mph when comparing with similar vehicles. The Ongar can reach places that similar sized vehicles need assistance from dropships.


 * Armor


 * The Warthog has light armor that provides some protection from small arms but suffers massive damage from grenades and Chain Guns.


 * The Cape Buffalo is almost impervious to small arms fire although it is a favorite target for UNSC rocket launchers. Extended exposure to rapid machine gun fire will erode the armor off until the passengers become exposed to the elements.


 * Like the Cape Buffalo the Ongar is almost invulnerable to small arms fire and is more resistant to missiles and grenades. The Ongar is still a prime target for UNSC vehicles and tanks due to the large amount of infantry and munitions they carry.


 * Weaponry


 * The Warthog has a wide range of weaponry that can be mounted on the rear if the vehicle. The most common weapons are the Anti Air Gun and Guass Canon. The Warthog is very effective ramming infantry although each impact cause a large amount of damage to the chassis.


 * The Cape Buffalo is armed with a .50 caliber machine gun as well as an optional grenade launcher or second machine gun. Designed for ramming infantry the Buffalo takes less damage per impact from the Warthog although the engine can act as an anchor if the vehicle becomes airborne.


 * The Ongar has a larger range of weapons then either the Warthog or the Buffalo. These range from high pressure hoses to the URF standard 88mm smooth bore canon. Unlike the Cape Buffalo the Ongar is not used for ramming although an impact is fatal to infatry.

Compatibility

 * URF Servicemen
 * Marines
 * Spartans
 * Brutes
 * Elites (although it is a tight fit)

UNSC Comments

 * “I would hate to be ran over by a Buffalo as it charges down it’s prey like the dirty foxtrot it is”


 * “When hunting Buffalo don’t take a high powered rifle take a Rocket Launcher nothing less will take it out”


 * “It’s a box on wheels just like a Charging Coffin”