Overview:
    The Bushmaster/Nimrod Fighting Vehicle System was designed to be the "little brother" to the Rommel/Patton tank series, but Defiance Industries deferred production of yet another risky fusion engine based vehicle until the success of the Rommel/Patton tanks could be evaluated.  Hermann Steiner however, having faith in this design philosophy, rushed development and subsidized the production of fifty Nimrod Cavalry Fighting Vehicles and forty Bushmaster Infantry Fighting Vehicles, the first of which hovered off the Defiance assembly line in August of 3025.  Three months later, fourty of the Nimrods, along with spare parts, were delivered to the 1st Volunteer Armored Cavalry Regiment mercenary unit for field trials and evaluation since their tactics were deemed most suited to the vehicles.
    Shortly after the last Bushmaster came off the line, however, Katrina Steiner convinced Hermann to delay mass production until the new fusion engine plants to be built on Tharkad were opperational.  Almost immediately the design was licensed to the Donegal Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of Agristar Inc., where production has slowly continued, although sporatically and in small lots.
    These sturdy vehicles have impressive armor, exceptional speed, and enough firepower to flatten or cripple almost any recon unit in one salvo.  One must keep in mind though that these are not tanks and are not designed to go head to head with front line combat units.
    Both vehicles have a crew of three; a gunner, a driver, and a commander. The Bushmaster IFV serves as an infantry support vehicle and carries one fully equipped infantry squad.  It's primary roles are the rapid deployment of infantry units, providing cover fire for those units, and the supression of enemy mechs and vehicles. The Nimrod CFV's primary role is to serve as a recon/screening platform. It's secondary role is that of a light mech killer. The Nimrod carries various sensors, communications equipment, and two dismounted scouts.

Capabilities:
    Outwardly, the Bushmaster and Nimrod are nearly identical. Both vehicles sport the increasingly popular Main Gun/SRM combination.  The Blitzen PPC has been retro-fitted just as the Killer and MechHunter AC's were for the Rommel/Pattons to reduce bulk and allow it to fit in the low-profile turret.  This weapon gives the Nimrod/Bushmaster Fighting Vehicle considerable range and firepower.  The Coventry Heavy Missile System is more than adequate as a short-to-medium range support weapon.  Rounding out the weapons package are two Springfield/Sharps machine guns for the Bushmaster IFV, and one machine gun for the Nimrod CFV. On the Bushmaster, one MG is mounted coaxially to the right of the Blitzen PPC, and the other is mounted on the rear of the vehicle to cover the infantry as they are dismounting. The Nimrod only has the coaxial MG.
    The Bushmaster IFV is surprisingly roomy inside.  It has ample space for it's infantry squad plus extra storage space for support weapons, remote sensors, etc.  The Bushmaster's O/P Comtes is a tried and true comm system that can give it very limited ELINT capabilities on a cloudy day.
    The Nimrod CFV's GE Recom is a very effective ELINT/Sensor suite.  It can moniter as well as transmit on hundreds of channels simultaneously. The GE Recom can also take advantage of the Nimrod's powerful fusion engine and jam other radio transmissions for short periods of time. In addition, the Nimrod CFV is equiped with an Elevated Platform Observation System, or EPOS array. This is a fully integrated and compact thermal imager, video camera, and rangefinder. The EPOS array is mounted atop a telescopic, pneumatically powered mast that reaches seven meters above the ground when fully deployed and can rotate 360 degrees. This system gives the Nimrod the ability to observe targets and call in artillery fire unobserved from behind brush, berms, or small ridges. When not in use, the mast recesses into the Nimrod's body and the EPOS automatically stowes behind and to the left of the turret. The GE Recom Unit and EPOS array, in conjunction with the Nimrod's deployable remote sensors, satelite/dropship uplink, and two dismounted scouts, should make the Nimrod CFV a very effective recon unit indeed.  Both vehicles use the proven Blazefire tracker with Rangecheck targeting system.  

Mass:  45 Tons
Movement Type:  Hover
Power Plant:  DAV 170
Cruise Speed:  97 kph
Flank Speed:  152 kph
Armor:  StarSlab/8
Armament:
     1 Defiance Blitzen PPC
     1 Coventry Heavy Missile System
     2 Springfield/Sharps Machine Guns
Manufacturer:  Defiance Industries of Hesperus II (licensed to DAEMCO, Military Vehicles Division)
Communications System:
      Bushmaster IFV:  O/P Comtes
      Nimrod CFV:  GE Recom
Targeting and Tracking Systems:  BlazeFire Tracker with RangeCheck