Having given all of you guys my take on the WarShips of the Taurian Concordat, I thought that I would give you to my vision of the Taurian Aerospace Corps. Today we begin with the light aerofighters--the Spitfire, the Mustang, and the Skyhawk.
The Spitfire is up first.
Code:
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Spitfire
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2750
Vessel Type: Aerospace Fighter
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 25 tons
Length: 12 meters
Power Plant: 250 Fusion
Safe Thrust: 12
Maximum Thrust: 18
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
2 Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
The Spitfire was introduced into service in 2483 to replace the ancient
Defiant recon fighter. The lightest aerospace fighter of the Taurian
Concordat to participate in the Reunification War, the Spitfire was also the
fastest. Primarily a recon unit and fast, light interceptor, the Spitfire was
only lightly protected by Taurian sensibilities, but could attain a maximum
accel of 9.0-g's, with the same internal armament as the Mustang.
Designed at the same time as the Mustang, the Spitfire was much more of a
specialist design--concentrating on recon and serving as a fast, light strike
bomber. Production was limited because of the popularity of the Mustang, but
over five hundred Spitfires served throughout the Concordat during the
Reunification War.
==Capabilities:==
A 25-ton aerospace fighter, the Spitfire used a powerful engine to produce a
maximum acceleration of 9.0-g's--a thrust that few other fighters of the era
could equal. However, in order to attain that thrust, the Spitfire was
extremely short-legged, with only three tons of internal fuel. Furthermore,
just 4.5 tons of standard armor provided half the protection of the Mustang (a
design merely ten tons heavier). Indeed, a simple medium laser could
penetrate the nose armor, and the wings and rear could not even resist a small
laser hit without a chance of it striking internal components.
Two medium lasers were mounted--one per wing, just like on the Mustang--, but
this did not make the Spitfire popular among the Fleet. Five external ordance
hardpoints were included on the design (one on the centerline and two beneath
each wing), but it was almost required to carry fuel tanks on two of them.
Still, when used for its intended role in recon and as a short-range light
bomber, the Spitfire did serve well. It was when pilots and commanders
attempted to use the craft in other roles that it suffered. This was not a
fault of just the Spitfire, history tells us of many fighters and ships used
for missions contradictory to its designed purpose.
==Battle History:==
Major Carletta san Luis piloted a Spitfire assigned to a recon air division
attached to Robsart Planetary Command during the Reunification War. Before
the War, Major san Luis taught advanced combat maneuvering for the Taurian
Aerospace Corps at its version of the 'Top Gun' school on Samantha. A
dedicated instructor, she was widely acknowledged as the premier pilot of the
TAC.
After the War began, and word arrived of the conquest of the Pleaides, she
requested reassignment to the front. Her family had lived on Maia and she had
received news they died during the fighting there. Reluctantly, the TAC
posted her to the Robsart Defense Command, where she arrived just four weeks
before the Battle of Robsart.
During the Battle in orbit, she repeatedly took her Spitfire into combat,
making twenty-three sorties during the four day engagement, with three
seperate wing-men. After the seventeenth sortie, there remained no other
Spitfires to accompany her. Major san Luis continued to fly, but without a
wingman.
During these sorties, Major san Luis used her superior thrust and
maneuverability to kill forty-two confirmed Star League and Davion aerospace
fighters. On her last mission--the twenty-fourth sortie--she never returned
to base. Star League records indicate that she intercepted a squadron of six
enemy fighters and engaged them, killing three before she was herself shot
down.
Major san Luis was posthumously awarded the Taurian Medal of Honor, for valor
above and beyond the call of duty. Regretfully, four days after her death at
Robsart, word arrived from the Pleaides that the initial report of her
families death during the fighting had been in error.
Her husband and two children had been wounded, but their wounds were minor,
and her family had been released from the Star League military hospital at
which they had been treated. Star League officials allowed her body to be
returned to Maia, where it was buried with honors. The senior aerospace
fighter pilot assigned to the Maia garrision presented her family with the
Medal she had earned in the skies over Robsart, in one of the few occassions
of civility and chivalry during the War.
==Variants:==
Unlike the Mustang, the Taurian Aerospace Corps never attempt to modify the
Spitfire--it proved far too useful in its intended role, and the commanders
did not want to promote using this design in roles for which others were more
suited.
==Deployment==
It was rare to see more than a single air division of Spitfires, and even that
was uncommon. Instead, it was far more likely to see them deployed as needed
in air-lances of two. Rarely would more than one air-lance be assigned to a
single unit.
Because of the relatively fraility of the design, the Spitfire was not popular
amongst the aggressive pilots of the TAC. However, it was well known among
those pilots that the Spitfire was perhaps the most maneuverable craft in
their inventory, and that it handled like a dream. A few rare pilots actually
preferred this craft, despite its reputation and general dislike.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Spitfire
Mass: 25 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: 250 Fusion 12.50
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 12
Maximum Thrust: 18
Structural Integrity: 12 .00
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Single .00
Fuel: 3.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters: 3.00
Armor Type: Standard (72 total armor pts) 4.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Nose: 27
Left/Right Wings: 17/17
Aft: 11
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 6 25.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 1,673,456 C-Bills
Battle Value: 516
Cost per BV: 3,243.13
Weapon Value: 518 (Ratio = 1.00)
Damage Factors: SRV = 9; MRV = 0; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 12, Armor/Structure: 2 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: FL; Point Value: 5
Next we have the Mustang.
Code:
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Mustang
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2750
Vessel Type: Aerospace Fighter
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 35 tons
Length: 14 meters
Power Plant: 280 Fusion
Safe Thrust: 10
Maximum Thrust: 15
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
2 Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
The Mustang class light interceptor was introduced by the Taurian Concordat
Navy in 2484 to replace the old and largely obsolete Warhawk class
interceptor. Designers actually listened to what Concordat aerojocks told
them that they needed in an interceptor--and translated that into one of the
finest light aerofighters of the Reunification Wars.
The armor-plast bubble canopy allowed the pilot exceptional visbility with the
naked eye, which even in this day and age remains the one sensor incapable of
being spoofed or jammed electronically. All of the cockpit controls were
located on the throttle and the stick, set to the left and right of the pilot
in the snug cockpit. Although standard instrumentation displays were included
in the cockpit, most were duplicated on the visor of the pilots helmet as a
'heads-up display'. This feature allowed the pilot to move his head left and
right, up and down, and still see the information he needed, as well as
maneuver and fight his aerocraft.
Remarkably heavy armor protection for such a light fighter--nine full
tons--allowed the Mustang to absorb damage that would cripple most other
aerofighters of its weight class. During the Reunification War, Mustang
pilots would return heavily damaged, but they returned with their fighters
intact rather than ejecting. This feature especially endeared the Mustang in
the hearts of many Taurian pilots.
==Capabilities:==
On a 35-ton frame, the Mustang managed to acheive a safe accel of 5-g's and a
maximum accel of 7.5-g's--well within the acceptable limits of a light
interceptor. While some fighters, including the Taurian Spitfire, were
faster, they sacrificed armament, fuel, or protective armor (in some cases all
of the above) to do so.
Nine tons of standard armor gave the Mustang a nearly unheard of level of
protection. The nose and both wings were sufficiently armored to prevent
thresholding from medium laser hits, while was rear was immune to small laser
crits.
Seven external hardpoint were provided--one under the centerline and three per
wing, each capable of supporting up to one ton of ordnance or fuel tanks. The
center line hardpoint could instead support a single load of up to five
thousand kilograms, provided that the outer four wing hardpoints were empty.
Similarly, the two inboard wing hardpoints could support loads of two thousand
kilograms, if the two outboard wing hardpoints were unloaded.
Most often, the Mustang would leave base with only fuel tanks on the two
outboard hardpoints, and ordance on the remaining five. The pilot would use
the fuel from the external tanks first, then when entering combat would drop
those two, increasing his thrust and giving him full internal fuel tanks as
well.
Often criticized for its light armament, the Mustang carried just two medium
lasers, mounted one per wing. Though this was indeed less than that carried
by many other fighters of the period, Concordat pilots deemed it sufficient
when combined the high accel and protective qualities of the armor.
==Variants:==
The Mustang II was a heavy strike variant that replaced the two medium lasers
and three tons of fuel with a single large laser mounted in the nose. Not
very popular among the Fleet, it required three or more external fuel tanks
just to keep the same 'legs' as standard Mustangs. Only sixty were produced
before the design was cancelled.
The Mustang III mounted four RL-10's in place of the two medium lasers--two
each per wing. Used as a strike fighter, it proved fairly successful and
capable of significant damage--though only for one single pass. Deemed a
specialist design, just over two hundred were produced leading up to the war.
These fighters would often carry seven external RL-10 packs against hardened
targets at 6-g's. At point-blank range, they would salvo all 110 rockets and
return to their base at maximum accel. Casualties among the Mustang III
pilots were high because of their need to close into the teeth of Star League
defenses to ensure delivery of their munitions.
==Deployment==
By the time of the Reunification War, the Mustang had become the principle
light aerofighter of the Taurian Concordat. It served not only in the Navy,
but in the Defense Forces as well--in both a ground attack and planetary
defense mode.
Tactically, two aero-lances of Mustangs were deployed together as a single air
division of four fighters. This division would be supported by two more
divisions of heavier fighters in a standard air corps--though this would vary
among Mustangs assigned to Fleet Operations.
Used as interceptors and recon craft during the War, Mustangs were among the
most dangerous of all Taurian craft encountered by the Star League. Following
the War, the factories that had produced the design were leveled, and all
schematics and blue-prints destroyed.
Such a thorough job of eliminating the fighter was done that it has not to
this day been duplicated, even in the Concordat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Mustang
Mass: 35 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: 280 Fusion 16.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 10
Maximum Thrust: 15
Structural Integrity: 10 .00
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Single .00
Fuel: 5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters: 3.00
Armor Type: Standard (144 total armor pts) 9.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Nose: 41
Left/Right Wings: 41/41
Aft: 21
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 6 35.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 1,985,378 C-Bills
Battle Value: 662
Cost per BV: 2,999.06
Weapon Value: 707 (Ratio = 1.07)
Damage Factors: SRV = 9; MRV = 0; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 10, Armor/Structure: 4 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: FL; Point Value: 7
and finally for today, we have the Skyhawk.
Code:
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Skyhawk
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2750
Vessel Type: Aerospace Fighter
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 45 tons
Length: 15 meters
Power Plant: 270 Fusion
Safe Thrust: 8
Maximum Thrust: 12
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 Large Laser
2 Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
The Skyhawk is the largest aerospace fighter classified as a light in the
Taurian Aerospace Corps. Often described as a fast dog-fighter, it is also an
impressive strike bomber, with a substantial maximum thrust, excellent armor
protection, good internal weapons, and the capacity to carry up to nine tons
of bombs in external hardpoints.
First introduced in 2564, the Skyhawk was new to the Fleet in the run-up to
the Reunification War, but quickly became one of the most acclaimed light
aerofighters of that conflict. Produced in greater numbers than any other
Taurian aerospace fighter during the War itself, over seven thousand of these
craft served in action against the Star League.
==Capabilities:==
On a 45-ton frame, the Skyhawk is still capable of a maximum acceleration of
6-g's (safe of 4-g's). Armament is exceptional, with a single nose mounted
large laser and two medium lasers, one per wing. 14 standard heat sinks
provide sufficient heat dissipation capacity to use the armament as well.
This all laser weaponry allows the Skyhawk to make devastating strafing runs
against ground targets, as well as engage enemy aerospace craft outside of
short-range.
The fighter also mounts 11.5 full tons of standard armor--a massive amount for
a fighter of its weight. This craft is immune to medium laser penetration on
all aspects. Nine external hardpoints allow the Skyhawk to carry a
substantial load of ordnance, while still maintaining a maximum acceleration
of 4.5-g's. Four hardpoints are placed beneath each wing, while the ninth
lies on the centerline beneath main body of the craft.
Five tons of internal fuel provide more than enough tankage for most
operations--additional fuel can be carried on the extrenal hardpoints in lieu
of weapons should the need arise. Taking their cue from the Mustang, the
design team purposely crafted the cockpit and controls in such a fashion to
assist the pilot do his job without thinking about his job.
While the Skyhawk is streamlined and operates very handily in an atmosphere,
it performs best at high-atltitude on or near the orbit-atmosphere interface.
Taking advantage of the electronic interference that comes from entering or
exiting the atmosphere, the Skyhawk has few systems that can be adversely
affected--and the hull has been deliberately designed to take advantage of
that narrow band.
That is not to say that it cannot perform well in vacuum. Indeed, the Skyhawk
would have become the main light combatent of the Concordat had it not been
defeated during the War.
==Variants:==
The Skyhawk II was a support model, replacing all four heat sinks and the
large laser with a nose mounted LRM-15 and two tons of ammunition. Several
thousand were produced during the War, as this variant was nearly as popular
as the main Skyhawk chassis, mainly for the increased range.
The Skyhawk III was a failure. The large laser and four heat sinks were
removed and replaced by an AC-5 and one ton of ammunition. No major increase
in range was achieved, and damage actually dropped--less than 200 Skyhawk
III's were manufactured before production was halted.
The Taurian Defense Force created the Skyhawk IV for ground support. Once
again, the large laser was removed, replaced by three more medium lasers
mounted one per wing and in the nose, and one more heat sink was added. An
additional medium laser was added to the rear, providing protection against
enemy aerocraft. This variant was capable of delivering devastating strafing
runs against enemy ground forces. Over 2,500 Skyhawk IV's were delivered
before the Surrender.
==Deployment==
Massive numbers of the Skyhawk were built and deployed during the War.
Virtually every aerospace unit contained at least one air division of these
fighters--some air corps contained nothing but Skyhawks.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Skyhawk
Mass: 45 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant: 270 Fusion 14.50
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 8
Maximum Thrust: 12
Structural Integrity: 8 .00
Total Heat Sinks: 14 Single 4.00
Fuel: 5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters: 3.00
Armor Type: Standard (184 total armor pts) 11.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Nose: 54
Left/Right Wings: 44/44
Aft: 42
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Large Laser Nose 8 8 -- -- 8 5.00
1 Medium Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 14 45.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 2,326,826 C-Bills
Battle Value: 955
Cost per BV: 2,436.47
Weapon Value: 1,329 (Ratio = 1.39)
Damage Factors: SRV = 17; MRV = 6; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 8, Armor/Structure: 5 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 2/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: FL; Point Value: 10
Hope that ya'll enjoy them. As always, let me know what you think, for good or ill.
Arminas tar Valantil
Grand Master of the Ebon Rose
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