The Juggernaut was conceived to be the premiere assault model VT for the Hai Shi Dao forces, who intended on using it to replace their capable, but flawed, Regal Dress N divisions. The numerous design inadequacies of the first mass production 3rd generation VT had resulted in a a platform which was expensive to produce and maintain, but gave minimal battlefield effectiveness.

Lycoming D.S. advanced engineering teams established their research facilities in the Lao Tsu subterranean fortress, located in the Er Win mountain range on the south western penninsula of Hai Shi Dao Island. A security detachment of Hai Shi Dao VTs was assigned to maintain secrecy and security during the project. Unfortunately, Pacific Rim Forces operatives had already infiltrated agents into the support staff of the base and were able to regularly report upon the progress of the ongoing VT development.

By May of 2085 the design team had managed to construct a fully operational prototype model and begun testing and refining the platform further. Intelligence reports back to PRF command of the prototypes performance greatly worried executive staff, PRF could not then field a VT which would be a capable match for the Juggernaut design. Even the impressive Prominence M3 VT would be dominated by this new design. In order to acquire the necessary technology to stay in the war, PRF command authorised a covert attack on the research facility with the intent of stealing the prototype schematics. On the night of June 2nd, 2085, a combined force of PRF commandos and Jaralaccs Mercenaries stormed the subterranean fortress where Lycoming was designing the Juggernaut. After a quick but bloody firefight, the PRF commandos secured the base and retrieved a copy of the prototype plans from the fortress mainframe. In order to set back development as much as possible, the attackers destroyed all the labs and research materials they could find, as well as "neutralising" all the scientists present at the facility that evening. PRF went on to develop the Quasar from the stolen design.

Despite the enormous setback incurred by the raiders attack, the Hai Shi Dao was resolute on having the project brought to completion. Lycoming D.S. dispatched additional research teams to pick up where their deceased comrades left off, as well as affirm their position against the belligerent PRF faction.

The resulting Juggernaut design is one of the most advanced VT platforms ever fielded. It incorporates several advanced missile systems, as well as having a loadout weight potential unmatched by any other VT. Unaugmented, it may mount dual electromagnetic launcher systems and a standard complement of weapons and still have weight to spare. Although similar to the Quasar, the Juggernaut differs in that it is more oriented towards a distance combat role.

As with all third generation VTs, Juggernaut models are very rare and reserved for officers or special operations units only. It is rumoured that Hai Shi Dao command has developed a transport helicopter capable of air-dropping Juggernaut models into battle. Although never confirmed, it is thought these units would be used to deploy Juggernauts to defend the capitol city if invading forces ever penetrated the city defenses.




The nemesis from the first Steel Battalion game returns as a very limited 3rd generation command model for the Hai Shi Dao. As in the original game, the Juggernaut retains its massive loadout capacity, with the ability to mount dual Rail Guns, a rifle or cannon main weapon and still remain under standard load allowance.

As with all third generation machines, the Juggernaut is quite rare in Campaign mode, but regularly fielded in Free Mission by pilots seeking a massive arsenal on a highly mobile and durable platform. Sadly, the ability to mount a plasma torch has been omitted in the Steel Battalion: Line of Contact version of the VT. Pilots seeking a 3rd generation VT with those facilities will have to substitute the PRF Quasar.

There has been much discussion as to whether the Quasar or the Juggernaut is "better" than the other. In my opinion, each VT fulfills a different combat niche and cannot really be interchanged based on that perspective. Although both mount an assortment of rifle and cannon weapons and the third generation variant Rail Gun, the remainder of each VTs loadout is catered toward a specific combat role. Aside from the rifles/cannons and Rail Gun, the Juggernaut loadout has a number of long-distance guided missile weapons, including the PZ-MIS and the AVTDV. The Quasar seems more suited to close range and melee combat with its plasma torch options. Understanding the above, pilots should choose their platform based on which combat type is more comfortable to them.

Overall, the differences between the two models are very slight statistically.