Not much more can be written about the ArmaTech SAMAS of Pre-Cataclysm fame, save that even today versions of this famous power armor are produced across the globe. S-Mart began producing their own brand of the SAMAS in the summer of 115PA, earning further animosity from the Coalition States in the process, if that were even possible considering the history between Desert Star and the CS.
The S-Mart SAMAS has entered service, largely in the hands of the Imperial Kyatashiro Navy, Imperial Kyatashiro Army, the N.O.M.A.D. Military and in the hands of various mercenary companies throughout North America. While S-Mart anticipated large scale orders from Tolkeen, for this type, these orders never materialized, largely because they were afraid of mistaken identity on the battlefield. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,800 have been produced in total, with the lion's share of that being in the hands of Kyatashiro, and with no less than 150 of them being in the hands of the N.O.M.A.D. Military. In the hands of the N.O.M.A.D. Military these types are mostly used for extremely close air support for ground troops, patrol duties, and fire missions. There are some noteworthy differences between the classic USA SAMAS and the S-Mart SAMAS, which this page will outline.
Model Type: SAMAS-A.
Class: Strategic Armor Military Assault Suit.
Crew: 1.
M.D.C. by Location: See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West for other details..
Head - 80.
Arms - 80.
Legs - 175.
MML-1 - 45.
Performance:
Running Speed See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
Leaping: See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
Flying Speed: See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West. In the S-Mart SAMAS-A's typical configuration, the EMT-2 turbines can provide full power thrust for up to 11 & 1/2 hours, before requiring at least a fifteen minute cooling period. Fitted with the S-Mart MML-2 Rotary Mini-Missile Launcher, this decreases the weight dramatically, as the RG-5 and it's heavy ammo drum are omitted. Speed increases by 25 mph, and endurance increases by 50 minutes. Optimal weight of the pilot is 180 Lb. For every 25 Lb. less than this amount, the power armor is capable of 5 mph more of speed, and 10 minutes longer endurance. For every 25 Lb. more than this amount, the power armor loses 5 mph of speed, and 10 minutes of endurance.
Statistical Data:
Height: See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
Length: See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
Width: See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
Weight: 1010 Lb., fully loaded. With the MML-2 fitted, in place of the RG-5 and it's ammo drum, this reduces the weight of the suit to 879 Lb. (Max height for the pilot is 6'4", with an optimal weight of 180 Lb.)
Physical Strength: See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
Power System: See pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
Cargo: Enough space for a survival kit, a sidearm, and a few energy clips.
Market Cost: Both versions of the S-Mart SAMAS-A, cost 2.1 million credits fully loaded.
Weapon Systems
1. S-Mart RG-5 10 mm Rail Gun: This is an S-Mart production of the USA-M31 Rail Gun, as found on pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
2. S-Mart MML-1 Twin Mini-Missile Launcher: This is essentially identical to the left forearm missile launcher found on pg. 196-198 of RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West.
3. (Optional) S-Mart MML-2 Mini-Missile Launcher: In place of the RG-5 and it's accompanying ammo drum, this missile launcher may be carried. This system is nearly identical to the Rotary Mini-Missile Launcher option for the USA SAMAS as deployed by the various Native American Preserves. When not in use it resembles an ammo drum, with shallow depressions in rows all around it's circumference, across the top of the back with a servo motor at the right side of it. Just before it is used, the drum swings up into position over the right shoulder. For additional details on it's function, please see RIFTS World Book 15: Spirit West, pg. 198.
4. Systems of Note: This unit incorporates all the usual environmental features found in power armor including environmental protection, environmental control, air filtration, an independant 6 hour supply of air, heat and radiation shielding.
1. H.U.D. Wideband Interface: This system is one of the most common systems used throughout post-cataclysm Earth in power armor. Instead of relying upon human vision it operates using a wide angle lense camera to take in the scene. Built into the helmet it sits directly in front of the pilot's face, concealed behind a curved LCD screen. With this model a full one hundred and twenty degree field of vision is attained AND it has no ill effects on the power armor operative. This system provides full integration of all systems in a comprehensive H.U.D. (Heads Up Display). Unlike the common systems found elsewhere, this type is joined with a more advanced targeting computer that allows up to two weapons to be trained on a target at once. The audio level in the H.U.D. Wideband Interface is advanced beyond normal human hearing, becoming only slightly less sensitive than the cybernetic amplified hearing system.
2. Anti-Dazzle Protection: This is essentially nothing more than a polarized film on the sensors that react to the ambient light. Thus if a bright flash occurs in the face of the SAMAS, the lense turns nearly black for an instant, and then quickly changes back to normal - protecting the operator from being dazzled.
3. Infrared Optics: This system allows the user to see the heat emanating from an object. It can be set to be white hot or black hot, depending on operating status. If in combat black hot would be best to avoid being blinded by explosions and similar. While in passive mode, outside of combat, white hot would be best, so as things like body heat would better stand out. The range of this system is 2,000'.
4. Nightvision Optics: This system uses the ambient light from starlight, moonlight and similar to allow a sort of green-tinged vision beyond normal visual ranges for a human. The range of this system is 2,000'.
5. Macrovision Optics: These optics are essentially like a microscope, capable of magnifying objects hundreds of times, from a distance of 6'. This is a useful system for analyzing clues in the field, such as tracks, spent shell casings and similar.
6. Telescopic Optics: These are exactly as they sound, telescopic optics that enhance the image of far away objects. At a range of 6,000' an object appears only 100' away, as an example. The range of this system is 6,000' effectively - but it can enhance the image of objects further away yet still, they just are not quite so well detailed.
7. Thermal Imaging Optics: This is very similar to the Infrared Optics in the sense that it detects heat, but unlike the imprecise nature of the infrared optics, this measures the heat signature precisely displaying them in colorful shades of reds, yellows, greens and blues with various degrees of heat. The thermal imaging optics are also far more sensitive than the infrared optics, actually allowing them to see heat through walls of structures at certain distances. The range of this system is 2,000', but it can only see heat through an obstacle such as a brick wall from 100'.
8. Military Radio & Scrambler: This is the same radio equipment, bolt for bolt, microchip for microchip, as the system found on the USA-G10 Glitterboy. The broadcast range is a modest 50 miles. By resetting the radio transmitter inside the armor to an elevated position, however, the same transmitter can achieve a fairly consistent 500 mile range using atmospheric bounce. Atmospheric anomalys can extend this range still further or can completely disable the radio system within a set radius, it just depends on the circumstances. The scrambler system allows the radio signals to be scrambled to all those not equipped with the correct scrambling codes.
9. I.F.F. Transponder System: This system transmits data such as alpha-numeric designation code, course, mission, base of operations, and unit, via radio signal, to other similarly equipped military stations, vehicles, and power armor suits that have been programmed with the correct access codes. This allows a friendly N.O.M.A.D. soldier in an S-Mart Assassin, overflying a squad of SAMAS, to quickly determine who these individuals are. This also allows field commanders to keep far better track of their military assets. A further feature of this system is that it functions well as a distress beacon. A note towards the safety of I.F.F. - is that the codes are very difficult to break. Since the N.O.M.A.D. Military periodically changes their I.F.F. safety codes - attempts to crack the codes that have taken weeks of supercomputer analysis - are for naught. Those SAMAS that are sold DO include this system but it is programmed as a civilian system, readily read by N.O.M.A.D. Military programmed I.F.F. transponders.
10. Civlian Radar & Tracking Computer: The radar system of the SAMAS covers a sixty degree arc in front of the suit to detect distant objects. Unlike the more advanced type offered by S-Mart, this version is not terribly sensitive to changes in environment, but moreover is sensitive to objects moving outside of ground clutter. In the SAMAS, it's mostly used while the suit is in flight to detect incoming objects, vehicles, and the like. The range of this model is a modest 10 miles. The tracking computer, linked to the radar, is used to track objects detected by radar. Up to fifty separate targets may be tracked simultaniously.
11. EMP Sponge: This system will absorb a single EMP attack, whether as the side effect of the detonation of a nuclear weapon, or from a specialized EMP weapon.
12. Improvements Available: The SAMAS's basic layout is far from overextended in fact there remains a GREAT deal of room for improvement in terms of the number of systems that can be carried. Remaining system requirement slots are as follows, the first number is internal, second is external. Head 0/25, Left Arm 10/25, Right Arm 25/25, Left Leg 35/32.5, Right Leg 35/32.5, and Main Body 27.5/0. An additional 20 S.R. may be fitted to the twin turbine pack, 15 S.R. may be fitted to each of the two main wings, and 5 S.R. may be fitted to each of the winglets.
5. Hand to Hand Combat Abilities: In addition to Power Armor Basic or Elite pilot training, the SAMAS enjoys the following bonuses;
+3 to strike with ranged weapon systems.
Punch: 1D6 M.D.
Power Punch: 2D6 M.D.
Kick: 1D6 M.D.
Leap Kick: 2D6 M.D.
Body Flip/Throw: 1D6+3 M.D.
Body Block/Tackle: 1D6+3 M.D.