Vehicles

Vehicle Name

Heavy Exploration Vehicle (HEV)

Vehicle Type

Exploration Vehicle

Location

Heavenfield

Vehicle Height

1.86m (6.1ft)

Vehicle Length

6.45m (21.16ft)

Vehicle Width

2.86m (9.38ft)

Vehicle Weight

11,900kg (26,180lb)

Vehicle Speed

61.5kmh (38.43mph)

Vehicle Powerplant

Early model Rostov Sealed-turbine LR-3

Vehicle Range

600km (375miles)

Vehicle Crew

1 x Driver, 1 x Navigator

Vehicle Passengers

2

Vehicle Armament

None
MIVs were sometimes fitted with a 20mm energy cannon in the Navigator's hatch.

Vehicle Description

Originally designed by the Exiles for journeys deep into unexplored territories, the Heavy Exploration Vehicle (HEV) could accommodate 2 crew and 2 passengers for extended journeys of up to 3 weeks.

Seven of these vehicles were originally built and assembled in the Field when the Exiles first commenced work upon the Fortress. Dr. Henschel and a group of the original founders of the Exile cause (those scientists and security personnel from the original Soviet Array) made numerous exploration runs.

These journeys were often perilous, as they sought out safe routes and charted the terrain, and it is rumoured that they even entered the Ghostfields and beyond in search of the battle plains alluded to by the Holy Ones. This would be where the Exiles would discover the technologies to build their vehicles, weapons and propulsion systems, as well as their filtration devices and Field-Shift Units (FSUs).

Originally, the sealed compartments were fitted with a life-support units with air-tanks and a rebreather system. But later on a filtration system was developed which greatly extended the range of the vehicles.

Most HEVs were retrofitted with these filters, and the space saved when the Life-Support Units (LSUs) were removed was converted into stowage compartments.

Sadly, the early-model powerplants proved under-powered and unreliable in comparison with the later new-technology systems but a desperate need for any vehicles kept these early units in service right up until the Battle of Maunsworth Field.

Many had their passenger cabins removed, and were often used as support vehicles for artillery or anti-aircraft units, often towing a small Habitation unit (HAB) behind for crew accommodation.

Although basic, one advantage of the HEVs were their wide tracks, which allowed them to cross some of the more difficult terrain of the Heavenfield.