Etymology[]
The Vespasian was named after the historical Roman Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasianus, who took over an Empire nearly bankrupted by Emperor Nero's mismanagement and politically unstable after the upheaval of the Four Emperors Year. By careful administration and judicious reforms, he repaired the damage done by his predecessors and left his son Titus a flourishing, stable and pacified realm.
He is remembered under the TOG as an example of how a capable Caesar, equipped with both a strong vision and unlimited powers and unfettered by democratic political jockeying, can manage his Empire for the good of all. He is often cited when extolling the value of strong central leadership over Republican inefficiency. Those who use him as an example of the virtues of a dictatorship conveniently ignore the fact that Vespasian's predecessors, after all equipped with the same dictatorial powers, had brought the Empire to the brink of ruin.
Design specs for the Vespasian light tank.
Design Philosophy and Operational Role[]
The Vespasian is one of the newer designs in the TOG arsenal. It trades off some acceleration to be able to carry a larger gun. Its primary mission is to provide covering fire for light recon elements or to guard the flanks of an advancing medium tank line. Still fast enough to serve effectively as a raider (its secondary mission profile), it can outfight anything it cannot outrun.
The Vespasian .stl file by Daniel Cleyne.
Printed Vespasian miniature.