This is a fan-made contribution.
Production History[]
Not all of the forces the TOG deploys are there of their own volition. The penal infantry auxilia form an important backbone to the TOG offensive. With even less concern for their survival than the typical TOG soldier, the sheer insanity and number of assailants pouring into the meat grinder can overwhelm a typical defender.
While the TOG brass enjoys using them, the Strike Legions to which they are assigned are not always as keen to have a penal auxilia attached to them. While “better them than us” certainly rules the day, having a platoon of infantry riding on the outside of your grav tank as you try to maneuver into the city is certainly, at best, distracting.
After decades of pushback, TOGSOG finally chose to take a look at the situation and see if they should re-evaluate their standard operations. Providing the penal corps with their own battlefield grav transports would be easy enough, if it weren’t for the cost. The credit value of a standard number of APCs would be unthinkable, and while the infantry may be expendable, the vehicles couldn’t be.
Design Principals and Tactical Role[]
Absolutely not inspired by the success of the Commonwealth’s Trojan Horse, the Dolium is designed around carrying two penal infantry auxilia squads into battle. Immediately, this cuts the cost of equipping the squad in two. The designers further doubled up the design duty with a trio of TVLG systems to create a support+battlefield taxi combo.
In use, the Dolium follows the Strike Legion into combat, dives beneath cover to provide indirect fire support as the penal auxilia disembarks. Once its expendables (of both the missile and infantry variety) have been exhausted, it then retreats back to the supply depot. Moderate shielding and respectable armour help it return safely from the front, while a single GMDC 5 provides the bare minimum of direct-fire capability, just enough to deter opportunistic raiders while not enough to give the tank commander any brave ideas.
With a 900 rated engine, the Dolium manages a respectable if not impressive level of acceleration. What has impressed the TOG brass is the cost. While more expensive than the Lupis, dividing the cost by its two-squad capacity plus its added role as a missile boat makes it a very attractive prospect indeed.
Game Notes[]
The Dolium is a fan-produced design by Kannik, using technology from the Centurion Technical Update.