Büffel VII

{{InfoBoxSupportVehicle 3x Machine Guns 2x Vehicle Grenade Launchers }}
 * image = [[Image:Büffel VII.jpg|191px]]
 * Name = Büffel VII Engineering Support Vehicle
 * Manufacturer = Arcturan Arms/MacEnroe Motors
 * Production Year=2407
 * Year Reference=
 * Use = Salvage Vehicle Minefield Sweeper Obstacle Removal
 * Chassis Type (Size) = Tracked (Medium)
 * Tech Base = N/A
 * Equipment Rating=C/C-D-C/E
 * Introduced = 2407
 * Cost = N/A
 * Mass = 70 tons
 * Armor = Commercial Armor
 * BAR = BAR 7
 * Power Plant = ICE
 * Fuel (Type/Range) = 208 km (Petrochemicals)
 * Cruise = 30 km/h
 * Flank = 50 km/h
 * Crew = 6 (1 officer, 2 enlisted/non-rated, 3 gunners}
 * Armament =
 * BV (1.0) = ???
 * BV (2.0) = 351 365

Description
The Büffel VII is a House Steiner combat engineering vehicle that was first produced in 2407. The vehicle was created to help Combat Engineers remove battlefield obstacles, such as debris, salvage and minefields.

Deployment
The vehicle was produced by the Arcturus Arms of Arcturus during the Age of War. The vehicle saw service for centuries in the Lyran Commonwealth's main line units and then later in planetary militia units. The vehicle in one form or another remained in service despite its manufacturing being taken over by MacEnroe Motors which later went out of business. The Büffel VII's specifications became the basis for many combat engineering vehicles to come after it.

The Jihad and the discovery of the Hegemony Memory Core allowed the vehicle to be brought back into production at both its old factory site on Arcturus and on Halfway.

Weapons and Equipment
Not intended for direct combat, the Büffel is meant to operate in the rear areas of friendly forces. The weaponry of the Büffel VII includes a pair of turret-mounted machine guns and a single one mounted in the front. Providing for some defense against light armored vehicles and infantry it has been given a pair of Vehicle Grenade Launchers mounted in the rear. A ton of ammunition is allocated to the machine guns.

The vehicle has a Bulldozer in its front to allow it to plow through debris. To help haul disabled vehicles, it mounts two Lift Hoists on the turret to allow for maximum flexibility. Its Internal Combustion Engine manages to get the vehicle up to approximately 50 kp/h, while its fuel capacity allows it to travel 208km. The vehicle is protected by 5.5 tons’ worth of reinforced hull plating armor that allows it to survive enemy fire long enough to accomplish its mission objectives.

The vehicle is also fitted with rear-facing Minesweeper gear, however due to its placing, the operators must drive the Büffel backwards in order to clear a minefield. The vehicle’s rear armor has been configured so as to handle this task with some safety.

Variants

 * Büffel (Reverse) : Its only Age of War era production variant produced by MacEnroe Motors in Introduction Year::2552, this variant swaps the Minesweeper and bulldozer arrangements so that the vehicle can drive forwards while clearing mines. This allows for a swifter sweeping of the battlefield . BV (2.0)= 365


 * Büffel (Cargo) : This is a field-upgrade developed in Introduction Year::2451 which includes the removal of the rear mounted Grenade launchers in favor of additional cargo capacity . BV (2.0)= 343


 * Büffel VIII : This Jihad era Variant is produced by re-started factories in the Lyran Alliance in Introduction Year::3074 . It removes the single Machine Gun mounted in the front and the Vehicle Grenade Launchers in favor of a Cargo Bay to allow twenty Combat Engineers to be transported onto the field . BV (2.0)= 339