Heuschrecke (Locust) Medium Panzermech

Description

With further developments of the Rift-tech walker technology, Germany has been able to enhance its panzermech programme with the addition of a bipedal jump-capable walker, able to compete with the versatility of the US Grizzly and Mudskipper chassis…

Germany’s Rift-tech scientists have designed and built impressive walkers but initially failed to match their US counterparts with respect to agile, two-legged walkers. The manoeuvrability of the US Mudskipper was seen as a gold standard and they had the opportunity to study one soon after they entered combat.

Through a combination of reverse-engineering, focused resources and the input of Italian scientists, the breakthrough came with the creation of the Heuschrecke (or Locust) medium walker. Unsurprisingly the Locust duplicates many of the US Mudskipper’s capabilities. It can carry a 75mm anti-tank gun or HE rocket launcher on its central hardpoint, utility lifters in the arms and either dual machine guns or light automatic cannons in its hull.

Most impressive however are its gravitational jump modules, an adaption of previous Rift tech only made possible with Italian assistance. Although the modules provide less lift and freefall capability than the Mudskipper, it delivers the same mobility on the battlefield, where it matters most. With elite crews, an impressive payload and respectable armour, the Locust is going to make a significant difference to Axis plans.

Adopted by the Luftwaffe immediately for its Fallschirmjäger units, the army has been slower to adopt it in numbers but can clearly see its potential. The Italians quickly leveraged their involvement in its design to ensure they had access to the medium Locust as soon as it started in production. Technology sharing with Imperial Japan suggests that the Allied and Soviet forces will need to devise tactics to counter this new and impressive threat in short order.