Small Arms & Equipment

GOVERNMENT: Union of Solar Republics
TYPE: 3rd Generation BattleKnight
MODEL: BK-01O Officer Model Zhukov MK-VII
DATE INTRODUCED: 2176 AD
LENGTH: 8.8 feet (2.7 meters)
WIDTH:14.8 feet (4.5 meters)
HEIGHT: 31.5 feet (9.6 meters)
MATERIAL: Crystal Composite
POWER PLANT: Ganymede Energy GENR-260 nuclear reactor
OUTPUT: 260 kilowatts
ARMOR TYPE: Crystal Composite
ARMOR THICKNESS: 3.6 inches
DISPLACEMENT: 5 tons
CREW: 1Pilot

PROPULSION

             PRIMARY (FLIGHT) :
             8x Vesta Motors VM-TNRE-57 Thermo-Nuclear Rocket Engine
             SPEED: 100 mph each (800 mph total)
             FUEL: .875 yd3, 54.6 minutes or .91 hours.

             WALKER ENGINE:
             1x USR-BKE-12
             SPEED: 30 mph

WEAPONS:

             PRIMARY (DEFENSIVE):
             2x Lithgear LG-AC20 20-millimeter autocannons; Effective Range: 384 yards; Payload: 100 rounds of plasma-tipped ammo each; ROF: 5, 10, or 20 round burst per discharge with a cyclic rate of up to 600 rounds per minute.

             PROXIMAL:
             1x Centauri Research CR-PA-1 1000-pound plasma axe; Effective Range: melee weapon (about 12 feet from fully extended arm); Payload: 24 hours of continuous use; ROF: up to five slashes per 10 seconds average although experienced pilots could sometimes bring the total to eight per ten seconds.

             PRIMARY (ASSAULT):
             1x USR AC-GP40 40 millimeter autocannon gunpod; Effective Range: 1536 yards; Payload: 100 rounds of plasma tipped ammunition stored in twin 50-round drums; ROF: 1,3, or 10 rounds per salvo (2 second discharge) with a cyclic rate of 300 rounds per minute.

ELECTRONICS:
              1x Neural Link System; Effect: provides a direct link between the pilot’s synaptic brain impulses, via a telemental helmet, and the BattleKnight’s computer control systems providing enhanced control and maneuverability for the pilot of the machine.
              1x Microwave Radio Communications array with a 1000-mile range.
              1x LADAR array with a range of 1000 miles.
              1x RADAR sensor array with a range of 50-miles.
              1x Multispectral Video/Optical array with a range of 1000 miles.

DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS:
             4x Lithgear LG-CL10 chaff/decoy launchers; Effective Range: 100 yards; Payload: 100 bomblets; ROF: 1-10 bomblets per discharge with a cyclic rate of up to 300 bomblets per minute.

              1x Heavy Combat Shield; Armor Thickness: 5 inches; Weight: 2817.5 lbs.

Description/Overview:
             (BK-01O Officer Zhukov MK-VII)
            The officer model of Zhukov was part of the continued efforts of the Union of Solar Republics Engineering Corps to improve the BattleKnight as rapidly as possible to keep up with the other powers of the Sol System.  When the USR engineers learned of the HBR-01D and HBR-01K models built by the EFSM in mid-2176 they realized that their existing army of BattleKnights were at a disadvantage in maneuverability and firepower.
            Therefore, the Engineers Corps set out to build a new machine loosely based on the existing BK-01 frame.  This new machine was originally assigned the designation of BK-0X for prototype BattleKnight.  However, the need for an officer mecha for use in the invasion of Mars took precedence over the development of the new design and many of its intended features and even its size were all put on hold.  Since the overall design was so similar to that of the BK-01B type, it was decided that it could be scaled down to use the existing frame, engines, nuclear battery, optics, sensors, plasma axe, NLS, and most other systems of the Zhukov-MKV.  Thus the BK-01O Officer Zhukov MKVI was born.
             The unique features of the BK-01O consisted of its sensor head and heavy combat shield mounted on the left shoulder, the USR AC-GP40 40-millimeter autocannon gunpod with dual fifty-round drum magazine, and the layered plate-style cockpit canopy door.  The main engine configuration consisted of eight VM-TNRE57 thermonuclear rocket engines that had a total of 2.015 cubic yards of fuel, which gave the mecha 2.8 hours of flight time at its maximum speed of 800 mph.

             Surprisingly this design was actually something of a success during the invasion of Mars. The sparse number of BK-01O units that were fielded did quite well against Solar Empire mecha and tanks.  After the 1st Interplanetary War ended, the BK-01O was put into limited mass production for all officers of the USR armed forces.  This unit was built from 2176 to 2200 AD for an estimated total of somewhere around 5500 units being built over that time frame.