Although there are many different styles of infantry transport available, commanders hate using three or four vehicles to transport an infantry platoon during long trips. The Maxim Transport Hovercraft, however, is large enough to carry a full platoon of infantry and their support weapons.
         In addition to infantry transport, the Maxim is also an excellent fire platform. Mounting nine weapons, the Maxim can provide indirect long-range, short-range, and covering fire for the infantry it transports.

         Unlike other infantry transports, the Maxim is large and comfortable. The passengers have room to move around, check weapons, and discuss tactics. The seats are all padded and face toward the center of the vehicle so that the soldiers are relatively comfortable and are able to talk to each other, thus boosting morale.
         A large number of weapons were mounted on the Maxim for several reasons. First, infantry feel more secure if their transport can defend itself while they are inside. Second, the Maxim can provide covering fire for exiting troops. Troops exiting a vehicle are easy targets, and a transport that can fight back will discourage most attackers. Third, once the Maxim has debarked its infantry, it can support other vehicles in combat. Although this is not standard procedure, the Maxim carries enough firepower to make a difference.
         The weapons on the Maxim are arranged to give a great deal of firepower in all directions. The long-range missile racks are mounted on the rear of the hovercraft so that the back-blast will not affect exiting troops. The four machine guns are fitted on dual mounts, one on either side of the SureShot VI Short-Range Missile Launcher. This allows the Maxim to use its heaviest weapons on a single target.
         The lifting skirts of the hovercraft are specially designed to deflate and lower when infantry are leaving the craft. This means that the Maxim does not have to shut down its engine in order to lower to ground level, as do most other hovercraft.

         Maxim hovercraft are a popular method of mass transportation for troops. Each of the five Houses has some Maxims, but House Steiner has the largest registered fleet.
         More than once, Steiner has used Maxim hovercraft to transport infantry and support weapons across long distances on a planet. On one occasion, over 27 Maxims were used to transport an entire infantry regiment of the Arcturan Lancers across a continent to stop a 'Mech company from attacking the city of Indruston on the planet Dixie. Dropped off in a nearby forest, the infantry immediately set up every support weapon they had.
         Three days later, the enemy 'Mechs arrived. Firing their heavy support weapons at extreme range, the Lancers immediately felled several 'Mechs. Unable to pinpoint the attackers, the 'Mechs charged the woods to avoid further casualties and to close with the invisible enemy.
         The infantry units damaged several more 'Mechs before they reached the woods. The remaining 'Mechs, however, destroyed most of the infantry support weapons, As the infantry pulled back, the 'Mechs came crashing though the woods, firing at anything that moved. Hundreds of men were slaughtered while retreating from the marauders.
         Just as the 'Mechs broke through the other side of the forest, they were immediately attacked by the 27 Maxim hovercraft that had transported the infantry. After sustaining six losses, the 'Mech force retreated back to its drop zone.

         Most Maxim variants simply use different weapons systems. Preferring short-range missiles over long-range missiles, some units replace the FarFire Racks with more or heavier SRM packs. Sometimes, more weapons are added to the turret.

Trojan
         On the planet New Wessex, the Steiner Maxim hovercraft "Trojan" left the city Hallanan as a decoy to convince Kurita troops that an infantry regiment was deserting the city. When the enemy troops arrived in the city, the Steiner forces gunned down the invaders.