Smokin' Whirlyiigs

[Sabelkatten]

So, Herb pointed out that you don't have to make a perfect copy of a classic for 3025... So another take on the Hind for 3025.

The Hart was produced for elite CC infantry units in the late 2900s. Well armed and armored its relatively low speed made it unpopular with the infantry it carried, thought against unprepared enemies it could cause significant damage. Later variants tried to improve the speed in various ways but the airframe proved unstable with more powerful engines.

Code: [Select]

Hart Assault VTOL mk.I

Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-C-A
Production Year: 2750
Cost: 597 667 C-Bills
Battle Value: 482

Power Plant:  60 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 86,4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 129,6 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  Medium Laser
    2  LRM-5s
    2  Machine Guns
    1  Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                2,50
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                 60                       3,00
    Cruise MP:  8
    Flank MP:   12
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             3                         3,00
Control Equipment:                                                         1,50
Lift Equipment:                                                            2,50
Power Amplifiers:                                                          0,50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  56                  3,50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     18       
                                          Left/Right   13/13       
                                                Rear     10       
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser                                 FR        3         1         1,00
2 LRM-5s                                     FR        4         2         4,00
2 Machine Guns                               FR        0         2         1,00
Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)              BD        0         1         1,00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0,50
@LRM-5 (24)                                  BD        -         0         1,00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 5
8v         2       2       1       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: EE, IF 1
The mk.II droppped the heavy laser for SRMs and more ammo. The laser was intended to provide a high-penetration weapon against mechs of ASF, but in practice it was still to weak to have much impact making the mk.II more popular.

Code: [Select]

Hart Assault VTOL mk.II

Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-C-A
Production Year: 0
Cost: 605 000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 501

Power Plant:  60 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 86,4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 129,6 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    2  LRM-5s
    2  SRM-2s
    3  Machine Guns
    1  Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                2,50
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                 60                       3,00
    Cruise MP:  8
    Flank MP:   12
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             0                         0,00
Control Equipment:                                                         1,50
Lift Equipment:                                                            2,50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  56                  3,50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     18       
                                          Left/Right   13/13       
                                                Rear     10       
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 LRM-5s                                     FR        4         2         4,00
Machine Gun                                  FR        0         1         0,50
2 SRM-2s                                     FR        4         2         2,00
Machine Gun                                  LS        0         1         0,50
Machine Gun                                  RS        0         1         0,50
Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)              BD        0         1         1,00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0,50
@LRM-5 (48)                                  BD        -         0         2,00
@SRM-2 (50)                                  BD        -         0         1,00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 5
8v         2       1       1       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: EE, IF 1

[acksed]

Not bad. ML on ICE isn't that bad; it's not as good as an SRM6 and ammo, but eliminating ammo and doing 5 DMG all day long makes for an acceptable tradeoff to me. The LRM5 is a more flexible plinker than the AC/2, with a bit more damage overall.


The Casta was supposed to be an anti-personnel and light vehicle raider, but it found its true purpose in starting fires and burning down forests where guerrilla forces were hiding. Between them, the Medium Laser and dual Vehicle Flamer could burn anything, and the "Firebugs" quickly became loathed.

Code: [Select]

Casta

Mass: 21 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-C-C-A
Production Year: 2921
Dry Cost: 451,350 C-Bills
Total Cost: 453,350 C-Bills
Battle Value: 307

Power Plant:  70 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 108.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 162.0 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  Medium Laser
    2  Vehicle Flamers
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:


================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                2.50
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                 70                       4.00
    Cruise MP:  10
    Flank MP:   15
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             3                         3.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.50
Lift Equipment:                                                            2.50
Power Amplifiers:                                                          0.50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  48                  3.00

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     15       
                                          Left/Right   11/11       
                                                Rear     9         
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Vehicle Flamers                            FR        6         2         1.00
Medium Laser                                 FR        3         1         1.00
@Vehicle Flamer (40)                         BD        -         0         2.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 3
10v        1       1       0       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: ENE, EE

[Sabelkatten]

Could probably do with a single ton of ammo, but if you absolutely have to burn down the entire forest in one go it's about right.

If you drop one ton of ammo and one of armor, how much total weight can you save?

[acksed]

Could probably do with a single ton of ammo, but if you absolutely have to burn down the entire forest in one go it's about right.

If you drop one ton of ammo and one of armor, how much total weight can you save?

None! With ICE, going below 21 tons at 10/15 actually gains engine weight and loses structure points and carrying capacity: 21t chassis has 10.5t free; 20t down to 17t, then 15t and 14t has 8t free. A 14t ICE VTOL at this speed is functionally identical to a 20t one, right down to the structure points.

You don't gain any more capacity till you reach 24 tons. Going above 25 tons does zilch.

tl;dr If you want ICE 10/15 VTOLs, 14-ton, 21-ton and 24-ton chassis are your best option.

Edit: the only other thing is the criticals, which do change fairly linearly.

[Sabelkatten]

Right, would need to drop to just 1,5 tons armor to get it to 14 tons. Probably not a great idea. A competing 14-ton design a couple of SRMs instead of the ML might be interesting:

The Firesprite was originally designed to compete with the Casta strike VTOL, but chronic problems with the electronics and the fuel feed to the flamers caused it to loose out to most orders. But its much lower per-unit price meant that some backwater worlds still bought it.

Code: [Select]

Firesprite incendiary VTOL

Mass: 14 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-C-A
Production Year: 2750
Cost: 239,067 C-Bills
Battle Value: 277

Power Plant:  45 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 108.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 162.0 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    2  SRM-2s
    3  Vehicle Flamers
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      10 points                1.50
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                 45                       2.00
    Cruise MP:  10
    Flank MP:   15
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             0                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.00
Lift Equipment:                                                            1.50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  40                  2.50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     14       
                                          Left/Right    9/9         
                                                Rear     6         
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vehicle Flamer                               FR        3         1         0.50
2 SRM-2s                                     FR        4         2         2.00
Vehicle Flamer                               LS        3         1         0.50
Vehicle Flamer                               RS        3         1         0.50
@Vehicle Flamer (20)                         BD        -         0         1.00
@SRM-2 (50)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      1    Points: 3
10v        1       1       0       0      1     0   Structure:  1
Special Abilities: HT1, EE
And of course you can always load infernos in the SRMs as well!

[acksed]

Question: How well-known in the succession wars is the fact that sufficient tonnage of communications equipment can be reconfigured to project an ECM field or ghost targets?

[Daryk]

Only by people who read that part of TacOps… 

[acksed]

The Engano was an effort by Posdana Industrial to have a highly-mobile forward command-and-control capability, with, its manufacturers claimed, the ability to reach the next continent over, or shut down enemy transmissions at the flick of a switch. The massive electronics suite needed a full year of training to master what was described as 'balancing an armour plate atop a six-metre pole', as the level of automation was minimal, and performing it in flight was even more difficult.
If the operator did not coordinate well enough, they could wipe out friendly communications, or send false targeting data. It is claimed that one unfortunate comms officer burned out a satellite by spilling his coffee over the narrowband tuning dial, but this is unconfirmed. When it worked, the results were spectacular - mechs shot at shadows, IFF was jammed and the claims were justified. It also meant that this flimsy VTOL quickly became a priority target.
Weaponry was limited to an Armstrong minigun. 3.5 tons of armour meant it relied upon its speed for defence, so some space was set aside for a troop compartment that would carry a support weapons team, for protection on the ground. Sometimes, the troop space was occupied by sub-commanders who needed to co-ordinate with the troops directly. If ever the order came to jam communications, and they were found, they died along with the crew. The high mortality rate and the company's insistence on training in-house meant the last operator of the GalaxyBand suite died in 2992, eight years after Posdana Industrial went bankrupt.

Code: [Select]

Engano Command Hov... VTOL

Mass: 24 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-D-C-A
Production Year: 2907
Dry Cost: 504,000 C-Bills
Total Cost: 504,500 C-Bills
Battle Value: 211

Power Plant: Tiger 100 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 108.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 162.0 km/h
Armor: Starshield Standard Armor
Armament:
    1 Armstrong Minigun Machine Gun
    1  Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)
    1 GalaxyBand HighBeam Communications Equipment (1.0 tons) (6.0 tons)
Manufacturer: Posdana Industrial
    Primary Factory:
Communications System: GalaxyBand
Targeting and Tracking System: Star Ballistic

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                2.50
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                100                       6.00
    Cruise MP:  10
    Flank MP:   15
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             0                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.50
Lift Equipment:                                                            2.50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  56                  3.50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     16       
                                          Left/Right   13/13       
                                                Rear     12       
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun                                  FR        0         1         0.50
Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)              BD        0         1         1.00
Communications Equipment (1.0 tons) (6.0 tons) BD        0         1         6.00
@MG (1/2) (100)                              BD        -         0         0.50

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 2
10v        1       0       0       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: EE

[Sabelkatten]

I don't think that was supposed to say command hover...

The Mohawk was designed as a cheap spotter/pathfinder to lead ground formations. The design requirements called for lowest possible cost and a long-range weapon to harass the enemy once found, speed being a secondary concern.

Unfortunately it turned out that a lot of units preferred to use the 'chopper as a general light flanking unit where its speed turned out to be rather too low. Fortunately it turned out to be easy to upgrade the airframe and add a second turbine to significantly increase the speed.

Code: [Select]

Mohawk Scout VTOL

Mass: 8 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-C-A
Production Year: 2750
Cost: 130,889 C-Bills
Battle Value: 190

Power Plant:  25 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 97.2 km/h
Flanking Speed: 151.2 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  LRM-5
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                       5 points                1.00
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                 25                       1.00
    Cruise MP:  9
    Flank MP:   14
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             0                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         0.50
Lift Equipment:                                                            1.00
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  24                  1.50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     10       
                                          Left/Right    5/5         
                                                Rear     2         
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM-5                                        FR        2         1         2.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      1    Points: 2
9v         1       1       1       0      1     0   Structure:  1
Special Abilities: EE

Code: [Select]

Mohawk strike VTOL

Mass: 11 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-C-C-A
Production Year: 0
Cost: 221,856 C-Bills
Battle Value: 260

Power Plant:  40 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 129.6 km/h
Flanking Speed: 194.4 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  LRM-5
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      10 points                1.50
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                 40                       2.00
    Cruise MP:  12
    Flank MP:   18
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             0                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.00
Lift Equipment:                                                            1.50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  32                  2.00

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     11       
                                          Left/Right    7/7         
                                                Rear     5         
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM-5                                        FR        2         1         2.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      1    Points: 3
12v        1       1       1       0      1     0   Structure:  1
Special Abilities: EE

[Wolf72]

ML w/ICE FTW! ...  oooh, could swap that out for a flamer too, right?

[acksed]

A multi-role helicopter, this variant of the Warrior is lower-endurance than its stablemate, only carrying a single ton of reloads for its dual Longfire IV LRM5s, but can harass, spot, reconnoitre, dropoff and extract with equal facility. The remote sensor package has been more closely integrated with the avionics, and recon companies and special forces that still have the ability to field Sensor Engineers have been snapping the "Cap" up.
It must rely on its passengers or other VTOLs to protect it from infantry, and withdraw at speed should 'mechs draw close. To assist in this, it carries much heavier mech-scale armour - four tons of L/CBM Aerosteel from its Thunderbird lines. The bulked-up armour plates and the special-forces connection has given rise to mass sightings of lostech-equipped, super-stealthy "black helicopters". Lockheed/CBM has declined to comment.

Code: [Select]

Warrior H7CAP

Mass: 21 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-D-D-A
Production Year: 2960
Dry Cost: 500,650 C-Bills
Total Cost: 530,650 C-Bills
Battle Value: 437

Power Plant: Omni 70 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 108.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 162.0 km/h
Armor: L/CBM Aerosteel Standard Armor
Armament:
    2 Longfire IV LRM-5s
    1 Lockheed Pinpoint Remote Sensor Dispenser
    1  Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)
Manufacturer: Lockheed/CBM
    Primary Factory: Furillo
Communications System: Xilex-2000b
Targeting and Tracking System: N&D Handsfree

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                2.50
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                 70                       4.00
    Cruise MP:  10
    Flank MP:   15
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             0                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.50
Lift Equipment:                                                            2.50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  64                  4.00

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     20       
                                          Left/Right   15/15       
                                                Rear     12       
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 LRM-5s                                     FR        4         2         4.00
(R) Remote Sensor Dispenser                  RR        0         1         0.50
Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)              BD        0         1         1.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 4
10v        1       1       1       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: EE, IF 1

[Wolf72]

some smoke or thunder ammo would suit this one! ... perhaps to much of a specialist at that point?

[acksed]

Seen as a prime example of 'just because you can, doesn't mean you should', the Lemon Jacket is made solely to carry an Imperator B AC/10. Just 10 salvos mean its endurance is low, and its armour at 3.5 tons is merely adequate. Just this would not be enough to sour people, but all this combined with its lack of speed leaves it vulnerable to lucky shots to the rotor or ammunition.

Code: [Select]

Lemon Jacket

Mass: 30 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: VTOL
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-D-D-A
Production Year: 3025
Cost: 900,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 460

Power Plant:  100 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 86.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 129.6 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  Autocannon/10
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                3.00
Engine:             I.C.E. Engine                100                       6.00
    Cruise MP:  8
    Flank MP:   12
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             0                         0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.50
Lift Equipment:                                                            3.00
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV -  56                  3.50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     16       
                                          Left/Right   14/14       
                                                Rear     10       
                                               Rotor     2         

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autocannon/10                                FR        3         1        12.00
@AC/10 (10)                                  BD        -         0         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      2    Points: 5
8v         1       1       0       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: EE, AC 1/1/0

[Wolf72]

It's not bad, it's just not great. (which means I love it!  mediocre means you can usually buy/produce more whether c-bills or BV)

a flying AC-10 moving at 8/12.  A lance of those is meant to move in at max speed, hit a target that they stand chance at disabling, and move out. (a light or medium mech seems a probable target).  Some Alt ammo (precision?) limits loitering, but that is a good trade off.