While browsing a site on pinball graphics, I saw some great art that featured a hovercraft-like tank, surrounded by churning waves and a two-headed sea dragon. I thought the vessel would be perfect for a Post-Apocalyptic setting, where the tech level is 21st century. From the colorful glass image, I could see that the craft was wide and armed with big guns. I then went searching for gunboat designs that could be the "skeleton" for the SCORPION 3. First, I found information on the famous MK PT boats from the 1960's. These riverine ships were bristling with weapons, everything an adventuring group would need to eradicate pulp-era threats. Unfortunately, this scale of vessel doesn't seem to have a modern relative in the modern US Navy (based on brief surfing). I had to look at the international scene, where other countries have new "stealth ships" diminutive enough to handle the raiding/coastal patrol task, like the Skjold class from Norway (pictured below the MKIII).

I decided that a modestly futuristic ship would have a catamaran-type of hull, with angular shapes, and heavier weapons than what might be carried or mounted on a road vehicle. Since my Mutant Future realm has alien technology, perhaps the human raiders need big caliber guns to defeat "Martian" energy screens. Basically, the good guys would have to dig up the primitive artillery that shot dumb, yet enormous, shells. Thus, my new design has two classic "pounders", the 40mm autocannon and the 81mm mortar. In a world flooded by mile-high waves and melted polar caps, having control of waterways would be significant. The whole idea of an aquatic Navy might be strange to space-faring invaders, who might not expect a "Viking" sortie.

The simplified elevation and deck plans were "traced" over the proportions of the MKIII patrol boat. In addition to the main weapons, there would also be "boarder/monster" repellent in the form of high-pressure steam nozzles encircling the raised tower. Furthermore, soldiers inside would have jet-packs for making ship-to-target assaults.