Experimenting with MML and dropships

[Black_Knyght]

Fiddling around with MegaMekLab tonight, and looking at dropships just to see what's possible. THIS is jus an adaptation of the Fortress to see what I could do, but I'd welcome thoughts and ideas on it all the same.



Tizona C57-D Dropship

Code: [Select]

Tizona C57-D Dropship
-------------------
Base Tech Level: Advanced (IS)
Level: 3  Era: Succession Wars
-------------------
Experimental    - 
Advanced      3075+
Standard        - 
Tech Rating: E/E-F-E-E

Weight: 9000 tons
BV: 7,247
Cost: 446,573,288 C-bills
Source: TRO - Black Knights

Movement: 3/5
Heat Sinks: 112 [224]
Fuel Points: 12000 (400.0 tons)
Tons Per Burn Day: 1.84

Structural Integrity: 15
Armor: 924
            Armor 
-------------------
Nose          280 
Left Side     233 
Right Side    233 
Aft           178 

Weapons                      Loc  Heat 
----------------------------------------
Artillery Bay                NOS   20   
Arrow IV                               
Arrow IV                               
Arrow IV Ammo                 60 
PPC Bay                      NOS   30   
ER PPC                                 
ER PPC                                 
AC Bay                       NOS    2   
Gauss Rifle                             
Gauss Rifle                             
Gauss Rifle Ammo [IS]         32       
Laser Bay                    NOS   24   
ER Large Laser                         
ER Large Laser                         
Pulse Laser Bay              NOS    8   
Medium Pulse Laser                     
Medium Pulse Laser                     
PPC Bay                       RS   15   
ER PPC                                 
LRM Bay                       RS   12   
LRM 20                                 
LRM 20                                 
LRM 20 Artemis-capable Ammo   24       
Laser Bay                     RS   24   
ER Large Laser                         
ER Large Laser                         
Pulse Laser Bay               RS    8   
Medium Pulse Laser                     
Medium Pulse Laser                     
PPC Bay (R)                   RS   15   
ER PPC (R)                             
AC Bay (R)                    RS    8   
AC/20 (R)                               
AC/5 (R)                               
AC/20 Ammo                    15       
AC/5 Ammo                     20       
LRM Bay (R)                   RS    8   
LRM 10 (R)                             
LRM 10 (R)                             
LRM 10 Ammo                   24       
SRM Bay (R)                   RS    8   
SRM 6 (R)                               
SRM 6 (R)                               
SRM 6 Artemis-capable Ammo    30       
Laser Bay (R)                 RS    3   
Medium Laser (R)                       
PPC Bay                       LS   15   
ER PPC                                 
LRM Bay                       LS   12   
LRM 20                                 
LRM 20                                 
LRM 20 Artemis-capable Ammo   24       
Laser Bay                     LS   24   
ER Large Laser                         
ER Large Laser                         
Pulse Laser Bay               LS    8   
Medium Pulse Laser                     
Medium Pulse Laser                     
PPC Bay (R)                   LS   15   
ER PPC (R)                             
AC Bay (R)                    LS    8   
AC/20 (R)                               
AC/5 (R)                               
AC/20 Ammo                    15       
AC/5 Ammo                     20       
LRM Bay (R)                   LS    8   
LRM 10 (R)                             
LRM 10 (R)                             
LRM 10 Artemis-capable Ammo   24       
SRM Bay (R)                   LS    8   
SRM 6 (R)                               
SRM 6 (R)                               
SRM 6 Artemis-capable Ammo    30       
Laser Bay (R)                 LS    3   
Medium Laser (R)                       
AC Bay                       AFT    1   
AC/5                                   
AC/5 Ammo                     20       
Laser Bay                    AFT   24   
ER Large Laser                         
ER Large Laser                         
Pulse Laser Bay              AFT    8   
Medium Pulse Laser                     
Medium Pulse Laser                     
     

Equipment           Loc 
-------------------------
Artemis IV FCS       RS 
Artemis IV FCS       RS 
Artemis IV FCS (R)   RS 
Artemis IV FCS (R)   RS 
Artemis IV FCS (R)   RS 
Artemis IV FCS (R)   RS 
Artemis IV FCS       LS 
Artemis IV FCS       LS 
Artemis IV FCS (R)   LS 
Artemis IV FCS (R)   LS 
Artemis IV FCS (R)   LS 
Artemis IV FCS (R)   LS 

Carrying Capacity
-----------------
Mech (1 door) - 12 units
Mech (1 door) - 12 units
Mech (1 door) - 12 units
Cargo Space (1 door) - 496 tons

Crew                 
----------------------
Officers             9
Enlisted/Non-rated   0
Gunners              8
Bay Personnel       72

[Andras]

I thought this would be a dropship stuffed full of MMLs for weapons.

[DOC_Agren]

Not sure the Arrow IV value, on a dropship they are too short range to help defend it. I would rather a Long Tom to provide distant Fire Support, Arrow IV if I need them I can bring in mechs carrying them

[Black_Knyght]

Good to know.

This was entirely an experimental piece, with the idea that construction input might help improve on it.

[DOC_Agren]

Now that could be my view and maybe for you those Arrow IV can work for your needs.  I was never a big fan of landing my dropships right on the battlefield unless there is a great need.

I mean for Clan Outpost Defender has Arrow missile launchers that can provide fire support for ground troops.

[Black_Knyght]

I've always been something of a Missileer, but that's just my personal tendency. Not necessarily a practical one on a dropship maybe though.

Can larger ship missiles be mounted on a dropship?And IF so, are the usable on a planet's surface too, like make against ground targets?

[Alsadius]

Capital missiles(but not other capital weapons) can be mounted on DropShips. They can be used for bombardment if desired as well. However, capital missiles are extremely heavy, and generally the logistics of any serious missile-based bombardment is too difficult to be practical in most situations. Artillery is much more usable for DropShip-based bombardment, and I think sub-capital weapons are also reasonable for the purpose. (Obviously, capital energy/ballistic weapons on a WarShip are far better than either, but those are usually hard to come by)

[UnLimiTeD]

Actually, for self-defense Arrows are pretty great.
The standard munitions can be used as any artillery against ASFs and ground troops closing in.
With Air Defense Arrows, they are great AA.
As for capital missiles, if you want the option of artillery support without sacrificing capability when closing in (those things are heavy), I recommend the crown jewel of subcapital weapons: The Piranha.
Add one in the nose, it's ammunition isn't too heavy to carry on a dropship, they can server as makeshift artillery, and they are great against attacking fighters in space.
Though then it's obviously not succession wars anymore - but neither are non-tele-operated capital missiles.
For Trutzburg-Style planet hops for direct artillery support, Long Toms are better, but you definitely lack armour for that.