Etymology[]
The Bit'Nak Val is named after a heavy siege weapon from ancient Naram history. Stationary and as large as a house, this huge catapult threw several stones at once to demolish fortress walls. The tank of the same name shares many of the catapult's characteristics, including the lack of mobility.
Design Philosophy and Operational Role[]
Unwieldy, slow and heavily armed and armoured, the Bit'Nak Val is as un-Naram a vehicle as it can get without being KessRith produced. With a TOG invasion of the Naram worlds imminent, it was developed to stiffen the speed- and offensive-oriented B'ekkal Legions in the expected defensive war of attrition. In this role, the tank performed well, but its slow speed tied down the supporting B'ekkal units and prevented counter-offensives.
The characteristic Naram double-hull configuration is absent on the Catapult; instead, the armour gap is filled with additional titanium-foam baffling to increase armour thickness. The primary weapons are its missiles, of which it carries a large number. The depth-penetrating TVLGs have a range of 1,200 m, and the SMLMs, which carry dispersal warheads, are good up to 2 kilometers. For unpainted or heavily armed targets, the turret houses a massive 200mm Gauss cannon.
Since neither its main nor secondary armament is effective against infantry, the designers added an anti-personnel laser.
An excellent vehicle on the defense, especially if deployed in cover with forward-placed infantry to paint targets, the Bit'Nak Val dishes out massive damage to attacking vehicles, and its strong armour and high-flicker shields give it good staying ability. In overrun situations, though, its low thrust hinders its retreat, forcing it to stay behind and fight until it is disabled or destroyed to cover its comrades' retreat. This kind of sacrifice has almost become a tradition, and Catapult crews are usually a fatalistic lot.
Production History[]
The tank was rushed into production in 6725. Some 12,000 were built by the Laglorn Nulcor Armour Works before the TOG occupators shut the factories down. Since the TOG takeover was more of a political than of a military nature, its deployment was ultimately of little use. The ensuing guerrilla warfare by dispersed elements in the newly created Dalvik District was not kind to the less-than-nimble Bit'Nak Val. Many were destroyed, but their unusual tactical role did create surprises for the TOG Legions who had planned for glancing encounters with fast, light troops.
In any case, the political takeover of Dalvik meant that military options quickly petered out. The Bit'Nak Val's blueprints were smuggled into the Commonwealth by Naram refugees, and the vehicle is now produced by Guttel & Garsh. In the past 100 years, it has been used extensively by Commonwealth Legions.