I commissioned this artwork from Stephen Huda a while ago. I have been trying to come up with some fluff to describe the design but haven't been able do his artwork justice. Basically it's meant to be a tramp cargo ship of the current era, cheap enough even a small merc force can get a hold of.
The artwork is based on some modeling I did years ago and posted on this site:
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=24451.0Fluff:
Mk. VIII Colonial DropShuttle, Marine Transport & BattleMech Transport
==Overview==
The invention of the JumpShip spurred human migration like nothing else ever had before. The colonization effort required a massive expansion of humanity’s shuttle fleet. The Mk. VIII series of shuttle and its contemporaries were the first designed for that: mass production. The Mk. VIII was also designed to be a robust, low maintenance machine that was cheap to operate and last for decades, if not longer.
The first Mk. VIII iteration was intended to move small teams of scientists and support personnel and substantial stocks of supplies between jump points and likely habitual worlds for initial exploration. The second, and by far the most common iteration of the Mk. VIII, was to move the initial waves of colonists. And not long after militarized variants began to appear, primarily to transport small marine forces to quell potential revolt. In those early days of colonization, a single platoon of marines for an entire planet was enough force to give rebellious colonists pause to consider.
When the BattleMech was invented the latest model of the Mk. VIII was modified and pressed into service as a dedicated transport. Once purpose built ‘Mech transports join the service in large numbers most of the Mk. VIII ‘Mech transports were sold off by the SLDF for conversion back into cargo transports or scrap. Quite a few of those ‘Mech transports were snapped up by the lesser Star League member states to soldier on for decades more and not a few have passed into the hands of mercenaries and pirates throughout the Inner Sphere, Periphery and beyond.
==Variants==
Although all Mk. VIII DropShuttles have two things in common: they were built to the same basic design and they have since been converted to DropShips capable of using current generation docking collars, they are so old and have been modified so much over the years that each one can be considered a variant of the class. Designs for three of the more common roles the shuttle has been used for are included with this TRO for your review and comparison.
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Mk VIII-21H - Mech Transport
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2750
Vessel Type: Spheroid DropShip
Rules: Level 3, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 2,100 tons
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
2 Large Laser
2 Medium Laser
4 Autocannon/5
8 Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Capabilities:==
MASH Operating Theaters: 1
Paramedic Eqmt Sets: 4 (Function as ICU beds)
Mass: 4.5 tons
Cost: 65,000 C-Bills, Divided by 28 = 2,322 C-Bills
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Mk VIII-21H - Mech Transport
Mass: 2,100 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 409.50
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Structural Integrity: 12 50.50
Total Heat Sinks: 52 Single .00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 220.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 16.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (119 days supply) 44.50
Armor Type: Standard (736 total armor pts) 43.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 196
Left/Right Sides: 176/176
Aft: 188
Cargo:
Bay 1: 'Mech Bay (1) with 1 door 150.00
Bay 2: 'Mech Bay (1) with 1 door 150.00
Bay 3: 'Mech Bay (1) with 1 door 150.00
Bay 4: 'Mech Bay (1) with 1 door 150.00
Bay 5: Cargo (1) with 2 doors 190.00
Escape Pods: 2 (7 tons each) 14.00
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officer 7.00
7 Crew, Including Gunners 35.00
7 Embarked Officers 49.00
60 Embarked Enlisted 300.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Large Laser Nose 1(13) 1(8 ) -- -- 8 5.00
1 Medium Laser 3 1.00
1 Autocannon/5(40 rounds) FL/R 1(5) 1(5) -- -- 2 20.00
2 Small Laser FL/R 1(6) -- -- -- 4 2.00
1 Autocannon/5(40 rounds) AL/R 1(5) 1(5) -- -- 2 20.00
2 Small Laser AL/R 1(6) -- -- -- 4 2.00
1 Large Laser Aft 1(13) 1(8 ) -- -- 8 5.00
1 Medium Laser 3 1.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 21.00
4 C-18 Escape Pod 40.00
1 Sick Bay: 1/4 4.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 34 2,100.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 120,853,096 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,288
Cost per BV: 52,820.41
Weapon Value: 3,353 (Ratio = 1.47)
Damage Factors: SRV = 64; MRV = 26; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 14,086
(5,255 Structure, 7,845 Life Support, 986 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 0 (0% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 3, Armor/Structure: 13 / 12
Damage PB/M/L: 2/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DM; Point Value: 23
Specials: sph
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Mk VIII-18C Colonial Marine Transport
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2300
Vessel Type: Spheroid DropShip
Rules: Level 3, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 1,800 tons
Length: 40 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
4 Medium Laser
2 Autocannon/5
2 Machine Gun
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Capabilities:==
Ship's Captain and 2 embarked marine officers have private staterooms (7 tons
for Captain, 7 tons for each marine officer). Captain has private head, marine
officers share a head. Ship's crew and all others embarked personnel have
steerage accommodations in open bay berthing, 18 people to a compartment with
attached heads.
MASH Operating Theaters: 1 (Function as OR's and Treatment Rooms)
Paramedic Eqmt Sets: 2 (Function as ICU beds)
Mass: 4.0 tons
C-18 Escape Pod has capacity of 18 people. Ship has escape pod capacity for
full complement.
Armament is primarily for ship's defense when grounded.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Mk VIII-18C Colonial Marine Transport
Mass: 1,800 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 351.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Structural Integrity: 10 36.00
Total Heat Sinks: 48 Single .00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 184.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 14.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (120 days supply) 45.00
Armor Type: Standard (472 total armor pts) 27.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 125
Left/Right Sides: 111/111
Aft: 125
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) with 1 door 231.00
Bay 2: Cargo (1) with 1 door 231.00
Bay 3: Cargo (1) with 2 doors 200.00
Escape Pods: 2 (7 tons each) 14.00
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officers 7.00
5 Crew, Includes 2 Gunners 25.00
2 Embarked Officers 14.00
52 Embarked Marines 260.00
15 Additional Berthing 75.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Medium Laser Nose 1(5) -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Autocannon/5(20 rounds) FL/R 1(5) 1(5) -- -- 2 18.00
1 Medium Laser AL/R 1(5) -- -- -- 6 2.00
1 Medium Laser Aft 1(5) -- -- -- 3 1.00
2 Machine Gun(200 rounds) Aft 0(4) -- -- -- 0 2.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 18.00
4 C-18 Escape Pod 40.00
1 Sick Bay: 1/4 4.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 14 1,800.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 92,778,168 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,409
Cost per BV: 65,846.82
Weapon Value: 1,914 (Ratio = 1.36)
Damage Factors: SRV = 31; MRV = 7; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 11,743
(3,773 Structure, 7,260 Life Support, 710 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 2,815 (24% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 3, Armor/Structure: 8 / 8
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 14
Specials: sph
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Mk VIII-18A DropShuttle
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2300
Vessel Type: Spheroid DropShip
Rules: Level 3, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 1,800 tons
Length: 40 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Armor Type: Standard
Armament: None
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Capabilities:==
Ship's Captain has cramped private stateroom with private head. All other
embarked personnel have steerage accommodations in open bay berthing with
communal facilities.
Sick Bay consists of:
MASH Operating Theaters: 0 (Function as OR's and Treatment Rooms)
Paramedic Eqmt Sets: 1 (Function as ICU beds)
Mass: 0.5 tons
C-18 Escape Pod has capacity of 18 people. Ship has escape pod capacity for
full complement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: Mk VIII-18A DropShuttle
Mass: 1,800 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 351.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 3
Maximum Thrust: 5
Structural Integrity: 10 36.00
Total Heat Sinks: 48 Single .00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 184.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 14.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (124 days supply) 46.50
Armor Type: Standard (472 total armor pts) 27.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 125
Left/Right Sides: 111/111
Aft: 125
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) with 1 door 246.00
Bay 2: Cargo (1) with 1 door 246.00
Bay 3: Cargo (1) with 2 doors 200.00
Escape Pods: 2 (7 tons each) 14.00
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officers 7.00
3 Crew 15.00
71 Steerage Passengers 355.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 18.00
4 C-18 Escape Pod 40.00
1 Sick Bay .50
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 0 1,800.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 79,015,720 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,138
Cost per BV: 69,433.85
Weapon Value: 0 (Ratio = .00)
Damage Factors: SRV = 0; MRV = 0; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 11,513
(3,773 Structure, 7,260 Life Support, 480 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 1,689 (15% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 3, Armor/Structure: 8 / 8
Damage PB/M/L: -/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 11
Specials: sph
