THE PUNISHER’S BATTLE VAN

Steering radius: 72 degree turn: 90”

Performance: 0-40 mph acceleration: 4.8 seconds

0-60 mph acceleration: 6.9 seconds

0-100 mph acceleration: 9.9 seconds

Details: The battle van is built on a modified Econoline chassis, and is disguised as a TV repair truck. Special features include constant adjust air-assist suspension, electronically governed variable transmission, braking and steering (with expert system auto-pilot), one layer of peel-off body colour and license plate. An extra-high efficiency air-conditioning system provides cooling for the vehicle interior and the engine’s water supply.

Microchip features: The entire vehicle's operation is supervised by a monolithic, heavily shielded and environmentally protected computer and includes such responsibilities as intruder detection and suppression, USA road and city maps, the audio listening device digital filtering and enhancement processes, and sonar ranging of outside objects.

Offensive features include an electric 4 barrel mini-gun in .233 caliber with a 20,000 round ammo pod mounted on a mobile articulated arm which depends from a ceiling mounted track. On a spur of the same track is a similarly mounted 40mm grenade launcher with a 110 shell ammo box. The mini-gun can be slaved to radar control with the ability to track any HCT (Head Coupled Targeting) assigned object, from buildings to as many as 3 flying objects at one time. Four compressed air driven .25 caliber rubber bullet machine guns are mounted at the four corners of the van and provide crowd control for high-performance in-city driving; each gun has 400 rounds. Also for close crowd control is a bi-model delivery system either in stream or gas, tear gas and/or white fog. In the rear of the van is an automated man-trap which is a computer-driven flexible arm imbedded with nitinol wires which has the ability to rapidly ensnare any set target person's limbs. The man-trap tendrils are mounted on an articulated arm with a reach of about 11 feet. The man-trap can be used for intruder or interrogation restraint.

Defensive features: The entire van body is protected by layers of compound armor, which can repel .30 caliber armor-piercing bullets. Any weak points are doubly-armored, and all windows have multi-layered glass/Mar-guard composites with doubled panels in critical protection areas. The windshield is made of 3/4-inch, aircraft canopy windscreen material and can stop .50 caliber bullets. The tires are machined from solid rubber and are bullet-proof, the riding comfort of the van is effected through an active, computerized suspension. The van is protected by various intruder detectors but is aggressively protected by a ring of electronic pain field generators and a set of anti-personnel charges capable of firing up to three lethal charges. The van is also equipped with a thermite bomb remote controlled self-destruct mechanism, which can incinerate the entire vehicle within 15 minutes.

Other features include fore and aft parachute packs which are explosively deployed and which inflate by compressed gas charges, the 6 parachutes allow a minimum survivable fall of 28 feet (estimated), and an indefinite maximum. All doors and hatches can be opened by manual or computer means and all can be blown off with explosive charges. There is an internal air supply (located in the glove compartment) for 4 people and a complete wet-suit and underwater breathing apparatus for 1 (located in a case on the right wall).

The full-spectrum communications systems is part of the computer but is included in the surveillance package which has infrared night-vision and thermograph scanning, audio amplification devices and computerized interpretation. There are 3 radio phone lines for voice, computer and answering machine devices. The HCT helmet is linked to the van frame via infrared position locators and is accurate to 1/12, the helmet is contoured to fit around a low profile headset, self-powered and is also infrared linked to the van (the range is 75 feet, a radio link device is needed for greater ranges) which allows hands-free phone dialing as well as limited vehicle control. There is an omni-directional 15 ton capacity winch which also covers an underside escape hatch.

PUNISHER BATTLE VAN TOY

In 1991, Toy Biz produced a battle van toy model. The model had many features based on and inspired by the one appearing in The Punisher comic, including an opening front grill which revealed pivoting guns, hinged front and rear doors, spring action destroyer hubcaps, and a secret pop-up weapons platform mounted with machine gun stations. Also included was a trailer equipped with a massive gun which could be completely removed for remote confrontations.

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