NORINCO KRS-12 “Troll” class Heavy Power Armor:

"Man, O' Man, those Trolls are some tough customers and their name certainly fits. I don't know who
wrote are briefing but inferior technology or not, we lost too many good men and women. We can in to
attack the rebel stronghold and we expected there to be some trolls in defense but none of our
superiors told us that the armors would be that deadly. If we had not outnumbered them by over three
to one, we would likely have lost. They may be slow but they are incredibly tough and heavier armed
than anything except maybe a Glitter Boy. The armor withstood our M31 Rail Guns like nothing I had
ever seen and their inferior liquid propellant gun is nothing to scoff at. It almost penetrated my armor in
two places. That is not the worst though, one of them managed to destroy two SAMAS using missiles
before we could even get in range with our rail guns. Each one had eight times as many mini-missiles as
our SAMAS. While most of the Trolls advanced to close the distance between us, a few stayed in the rear
and snipered at us with those long range rifles from some high hills. It was only our superior numbers
that allowed us to win. If we go against them again, we need some type of heavy air support like a few
Steel Tigers. Next politician I meet that wants to sell technology to China, I plan to stick my rail gun up
where the sun don't shine.

- Debriefing of Corporal Barbara Jones, US Army Rangers, Honduras Uprising, 2087

While the US constructed SAMAS power armor was one of the most advanced power armor designs in
the world, several other nations constructed power armors as well. One of these nations was China who
produced the KRS-12 Power Armor. The name “Troll” is not the official name but got the name from
soldiers who fought it in the field. The heavy power armor has no official name. While not as advanced
as many other power designs, the KRS-12 power armor was heavily armed and designed to take
incredible abuse. The design incorporated components from the old United States USA-GPA-01 Ground
Power Armor which the US sold design for the weapon systems to the Chinese. The armor was less
expensive and the Chinese did not restrict sales like the United States. As a result, the armor found its
way into a great many hands including various groups within the American Continents. Many of these
suits have been found by post-Rifts mercenary groups and still serve in large numbers in the post-Rifts
world. Several manufacturing companies have acquired copies of the armor with an interest in
producing the heavy power armor. Chipwell Armaments is chief among these companies and would give
them a product that could be produced easily yet would be of great interest to mercenary companies
and would likely sell quite well. There are also rumors that Northern Gun might be considering putting
an upgraded version of this power armor on the market. Triax manufactures upgrade packages for the
Troll heavy power armor which replaces the power supply and thrusters with more powerful units, adds
additional armor, replaces the machine-gun with a rail gun, and replaces the long range cannon with a
laser. There is rumor that Northern Gun may be planning a similar upgrade and even manufacturing an
upgraded model.

Appearance of the Troll is far different than most power armors. Strictly speaking, the design is not a
power armor at all but is a robot vehicle similar in the basic concept to the Ulti-Max produced by Triax.
The pilot sits in a cockpit similar in appear to that of some one man attack helicopters. The cockpit style
body has two legs and an arm on both sides of the body. The hand can be used to pick up items but have
a fairly low manual dexterity. Behind the main body is a massive thruster assembly with vents to feed
the main engines on the front on either side of the cockpit. The armor is huge and is about sixteen feet
tall with a width of twelve feet for just the main body. With the wings extended, the armor is about
thirty two feet wide. The large size of the armor is actually its main weakness, about six sets of normal
sized power armors and even several glitter boys can be stored in the space needed for one Troll. There
are many places where a lighter power armor can go where the Troll simply cannot operate.

One of the most amazing features of this armor is the fact that it can fly even with its huge size. While
most power armors do not fly through aerodynamics, the Troll is definite proof that if you put large
enough engines on anything, it will fly. The Troll is relatively slow and has a top speed of only around
160 miles per hour with a preferred cruise speed of just under 100 miles per hour. The cooling system
on the thrusters is also not as efficient as the systems on the more advanced SAMAS armor. The
thrusters can operate for only a maximum duration of two hours at maximum power and only five hours
at cruising speeds or lower. A final limitation is that the fusion reactor produces just enough power for
the flight system. Because of this, true rail guns or energy weapon cannot be connected to the armor's
power supply and heavy power armor normally will land before firing its electro-thermal cannon due to
the fact that the engines cut out for a moment when the cannon is fired. Some pilots have learned to
compensate but most still prefer to land. A final limitation is that the heavy power armor lacks
maneuverability compared to smaller power armors. Mobility on the ground is fairly limited and the
armor has a top speed on the ground of about 40 miles per hour.

One of the reasons for the armor's initial popularity was its extremely heavy firepower. The standard
SAMAS power armor carried two mini-missiles while the Troll carries sixteen mini-missiles on the
shoulders of the armor. This was one of the reasons behind the Heavy Assault SAMAS being designed
with extra mini-missiles. The main gun of the Troll is an 8 mm liquid propellant Gatling weapon which
bursts can inflict as much damage as the USA-M31 Rail gun from the SAMAS although it does have a
slightly shorter effective range. It is mounted on the left arm of the power armor and appears to be
similar to the weapon carried on the USA-GPA-01 power armor. The final weapon is an electro-thermal
cannon used mostly for sniper style shooting. It is also similar to the electro-thermal weapon carried on
the USA-GPA-01 power armor. The cannon fires a comparatively large discarding sabot penetration
projectile which can inflict huge damage at long range.

Model Type: KRS-12

Class: Heavy Armored Flying Power Armor

Crew: One

M.D.C. by Location:

[1] Shoulder Mounted Mini-Missile Launchers (16): 20 each

NORINCO NTG-40 Electro-Thermal Cannon (Right Arm): 90

NORINCO LPG-8 Liquid Propellant Gatling Gun (Left Arm): 60

[2] Shoulder Wings (2) 60 each

Twin Air-Intake Jets (2; Sides of Cockpit) 60 each

Main Rear Jets (4) 80 each

[1] Hands (2): 40 each

Arms (2): 140 each

Legs (2): 200 each

Reinforced Pilot’s Compartment: 100

[3] Main Body 380

Notes:

[1] These locations are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot,”
but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.

[2] Destroying one wing will make flight impossible. However, even with no wing(s) the KRS-12 Troll
Power Armor can make jet powered leaps and hover stationary above the ground.

[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the unit down completely, rendering it useless.

Speed:

Running: 40 mph (64.4 kph) maximum. Note that the act of running does NOT tire out its operator.
Cruising speed is a more cautious 30 mph(48.3 kph). Well suited for most terrains, including underwater.

Leaping: The heavy power armor cannot leap without thruster assistance. With jet assistance, the Troll
can leap up to 40 feet (12.2 meters) high and can 80 feet (24.4 meters) across without actually attaining
flight.

Flying: The wings and thrusters enable the Troll heavy power armor to hover stationary in mid-air or fly.
Maximum flying speed is 161.6 mph (260 kph), but cruising speed is considered to be 99.4 mph (160
kph). Maximum altitude is limited to about 820.2 feet (250 meters).

Maximum Effective Range: Conditionally unlimited. The fusion reactor gives power for years of service,
but the jet thrusters get hot and need to cool for an hour after a maximum of two hours of flight when
traveling at speeds above cruising, and five hours at or below cruising speed.

Underwater Capabilities: Although not designed for underwater use, it can walk along the bottom of the
sea at about 25% of its normal running speed. Using the jet thrusters, the Troll can travel on the surface
of water at 35 mph (56 kph/30 knots), underwater at 25 mph (40 kph/22 knots) or fly above the water
surface at normal speeds.

Maximum Ocean Depth: 1,312 feet (400 meters).

Statistical Data

Height: 16.1 feet (4.9 meters)

Width: 14.8 feet (4.5 meters) with wings folded, 32.2 feet (9.8 meters) with wings extended.

Length: 12.5 feet (3.8 meters)

Weight: 6.9 tons (6.3 metric tons) fully loaded

Physical Strength: Equal to a P.S. 38

Cargo: A small 2.3 foot (0.7 meter) on a side storage compartment behind pilot seat for extra clothing,
weapons, and personal items

Power System: Nuclear Fusion with average life span of 8 years

Black Market Cost: Normally sells for 1.4 million credits but can sell for up to 2.5 million credits
depending on situation.

Weapon Systems:

NORINCO NTG-40 Electro-Thermal Cannon (1): This weapon is mounted on the right arm of the heavy
power and even though old, is extremely powerful. The weapon is usually used to sniper against other
power armors and against heavy vehicles. Weapon sticks out about four feet forward from the right arm
. The projectile is loaded into the barrel, behind which there is a “propellant,” which is a dot of light
metal. A powerful electromagnetic force is applied to the metal, which causes its atoms to “switch”
directions. This happens so violently that the metal turns to plasma, and this expanding gas then drives
the projectile forward. The weapon has a direct power feed from the Armor to power the weapon. The
actual projectile is a 33 mm discarding sabot penetration round. If weapon is fired while the armor is
flying, power to thrusters is cut. The heavy power armor will lose 10 mph (16.1) for every shot fired in
the air and the pilot must make a piloting roll at -10% to keep control of the flying armor.

Maximum Effective Range: 8,000 feet (2438.4 meters)

Mega Damage: 2D4x10

Rate of Fire:Maximum of four per melee.

Payload: 40 Round Internal Magazines.

NORINCO LPG-8 Liquid Propellant Gatling Gun: This weapon is a Gatling style weapon and is mounted on
the left arm of the power armor. The weapon is considered multi-purpose and can inflict heavy damage
on well armored targets and well as being able to spray targets. The weapon can fire all types of burst
available to machine guns except extended bursts. The weapon uses a special liquid propellant which
delivers about four times the force of nitro-cellulose propellant and the weapon fires an 8 mm round.

Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 ft (914 meters)

Mega-Damage:

Single Shot (Costs 1 attack): 1D6

Ten Round Burst on One Target (Costs 1 attack): 5D6

Ten Round Burst on 1D4 Target (Costs 1 attack): 1D6

Thirty Round Burst on One Target (Costs 1 attack): 1D6x10

Thirty Round Burst on 1D8 Target (Costs 1 attack): 2D6

Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of pilot

Payload: 1500 rounds

Shoulder Mini-Missile Launchers (16): The power armor has sixteen tubes to fire mini-missiles on the
shoulder. Weapon is extremely powerful and all mini-missiles can be fired on one target in a single
volley. Most common mini-missiles are plasma and armor piercing.

Maximum Effective Range: Varies by Mini-Missile Type - Usually one mile / 1.6 km (See revised bomb
and missile tables for details.)

Mega-Damage: By Mini-Missile Type - 1D4x10 Armor Piercing / 1D6x10 Plasma (See revised bomb and
missile tables for details.)

Rate of Fire: Can fire mini-missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), or sixteen (16
- all) mini-missiles.

Payload: Sixteen mini-missiles.

Energy Rifles or Light Rail Gun and other hand-held weapons can be substituted in an emergency or
used as a back-up weapon. Space limitations and the bulk of the armor limit additional weapons to one
and weapons cannot draw from power armors power supply. Due to low manual dexterity, power armor
has a -1 to strike with hand held weapons (does not apply to hard mounted weapons)

Hand to Hand Combat: Rather than use a weapon, The pilot can engage in mega-damage hand to hand
combat. See Basic and Elite Power Armor Combat Training in the Robot Combat section of Rifts, page 45.
All abilities are the same except has a penalty of -2 to dodge penalty and -1 to initiative.

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Drawing by Talis D. Merrill (taalismn@pop.tiac.net).

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright © 2002, Kitsune. All rights reserved.