Star Trek Federation Ground vehicles?

[Admiral_K]

I was at the movies last night and saw a preview for the newest ST movie. In it it had several federation types riding around in what appeared to be dune buggy like units. Part of an assualt ground force? I suppose they could have stolen them from antoher race, but if not this could finally give the AT-AT's something to shoot at besides people running around in pajamas.

[Master of Ossus]

Hardly worth the AT-AT's effort. BTW, the humvee type things that look like they have ARMOR (of all things) attached to them are not Federation vehicles.

[Oberleutnant]

Just what MoO said. The only Starfleet vehicle in the trailer was the jeep driven by Picard that jumped off from the cliff into the shuttle. Nothing so far (not even the script leaked to the net) seem to indicate that the Starfleet jeep deployed by the Enterprise is somehow technically years ahead of what we have use in today's armies. BTW, look at the official Nemesis website at nemesis.startrek.com and click "Kolarus III". There's a tiny pic of what they call Kolarin Desert-Terrain Attack Vehicle. It is a groovy name, but the sad reality is that the KDTAVs look just like some Mad Max ripoffs -- without any noticeable armour whatsover. They have at least mounted weapons, though that is hardly worth of mentioning.

[consequences]

actually, having crew served weapons on a highly mobile platform would seriously increase starfleets ground combat capabilities. Unfortunately, this is because those abilities suck so badly to begin with, and wouldn't do more than increase the casualties of a decently equipped opponent a bit.

[Howedar]

Are they crew-served weapons? They looked like phaser rifles to me.

[Master of Ossus]

They have one gun hooked up to the back that only seems useful when they're running away. That is kind of a crew-served weapon. I think the little dune-buggy would greatly increase SF mobility on the ground, and allow them to make mechanized groups that were good at fighting holding-actions and rear guard movements (by good, I mean better). As a whole, though, I cannot believe that SF's ground forces suck that bad. The script seems to indicate that it is relatively new technology, given to elite ships (E-E), and that it is given only in MINUTE quantities--not enough to seriously use in a strategic move, or enough to shift a large-scale battle significantly in one direction or another. In addition, the fact that the thing does not have seatbelts (indicated by the fact that Data was forced to steady himself by grabbing onto the frame work of the vehicle) means that the trooper in the passenger seat cannot participate in combat while the vehicle is moving. He cannot use a phaser rifle. The driver is similarly unarmed. This indicates a high-personnel count:utility ratio, which is not good in any fighting vehicle.

The vehicle seems primarily designed for exploration purposes, and not for out-and-out combat, although it is possible that SF's idiotic tacticians could utilize them as such, in small quantities. I have no idea why this should be a significant step-up for SF, but it appears to be, as Picard said that the vehicle was new.

[Setesh]

They would be better off using the 'Warthog' from HALO. The passenger can shoot. The .50 cal on the back would be a huge benifit over a phaser. Not to mention its armored enough to survive 'roadkill' attacks.

[Master of Ossus]

Almost anything would be better than that little POS. My dad's old Chevy would have some advantages in passenger capacity, protection, seatbelts, and the fact that people riding in the bed could shoot at stuff while the truck is moving.

[GrandMasterTerwynn]

Almost anything would be better than that little POS. My dad's old Chevy would have some advantages in passenger capacity, protection, seatbelts, and the fact that people riding in the bed could shoot at stuff while the truck is moving.

Hell, a truckload of drunken rednecks armed with shotguns and hunting rifles would have more offensive capabilities than the Starfleet vehicle. It'd probably terrorize an enemy a lot more too. I mean, a big old '76 Chevy pickup with sides armored in three inches of mud with Confederate flags pasted everywhere . . . I'd be pretty terrified . . . well, more so than watching the Starfleet vehicle coming at me.

[Sea Skimmer]

Arab cavalry on camel back from 1918 would have better mobility and firepower. American Army Special forces on horse back would be no contests what so ever..

[Peregrin Toker]

At least they have SOME ground support vehicles in the Federation....

[Sparkticus]

Would an AT-ST even have to unload on one of these things? Just run up and give it a good stomp, no sense in wasting that Tibanna Gas.

Mind you, giving the fed's vehicles gives the imp's a chance to use some of the more nasty weapons in their arsenal. Anti-vehicle mines... Boom!

[Isolder74]

Would an AT-ST even have to unload on one of these things? Just run up and give it a good stomp, no sense in wasting that Tibanna Gas.

Mind you, giving the fed's vehicles gives the imp's a chance to use some of the more nasty weapons in their arsenal. Anti-vehicle mines... Boom!

Mines desinged to kill AT-AT's. That is way overkill!

[Master of Ossus]

Why would the Empire need mines to kill those little POS's. Even an AT-ST looks more powerful, by a lot.

[Sparkticus]

Why would the Empire need mines to kill those little POS's. Even an AT-ST looks more powerful, by a lot.

Noted. But mines are fun! I knwoa lot of people here are into seeing the terror in their victrim's eyes right before they get blown from their sockets, but I prefer the concept of people turning up in the next world with WTF? written all over the face.

[Sparkticus]

Apologies for the spelling issues in that last post