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BattleTech Player Boards => Fan Designs and Rules => Combat Vehicles => Topic started by: massey on 21 December 2014, 11:26:54

Title: 3025 fire support
Post by: massey on 21 December 2014, 11:26:54
In the spirit of the Kanga, which caused people to say "wait, you put those on what?", I was messing around with vehicles and thought the Inner Sphere in 3025 really needed more options for long-range fire support.  Now that I made them, I really see no reason why these vehicles wouldn't see service in any era.


Thumper VTOL (so called because of the distinctive thump-thump of its rotors... and the Thumper artillery it carries)

30 ton VTOL
4 tons -- 70 rated internal combustion engine
3 tons -- internal structure
3 tons -- lift equipment
1.5 tons -- control equipment
1.5 tons -- armor (24)
17 tons -- Thumper artillery piece (40 ammo)
823,000 C-bills

7/11 movement

Front -- 8
L/R -- 5
Rear -- 4
Rotor -- 2

1 Thumper artillery piece with 40 rounds (Front)


--


The Thumper VTOL was created because of the pressing need for artillery support for fast moving attacks.  It also solves the problem of slow-moving heavy artillery pieces being captured by light battlemechs, and makes counter-battery fire nearly useless.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: solmanian on 21 December 2014, 11:33:19
I'm not an expert on aeronautics, but what happens to a helicopter when it tries to fire a gun that big?
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: massey on 21 December 2014, 11:35:02
Sniper Hovercraft

50 ton hover
12 tons -- 165 rated internal combustion engine
5 tons -- internal structure
5 tons -- lift equipment
2.5 tons -- control equipment
1.5 tons -- armor (24)
24 tons -- Sniper artillery piece (40 ammo)
1,303,000 C-bills

8/12 movement

Front -- 8
L/R -- 6
Rear -- 4

1 Sniper artillery piece with 40 rounds (Front)


--


Same idea here.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: massey on 21 December 2014, 11:39:16
I'm not an expert on aeronautics, but what happens to a helicopter when it tries to fire a gun that big?

Game rules?  I believe it just fires. :D

Hey, the Yellowjacket somehow manages it. ;)

I'm imagining the helicopter as looking something like an Osprey, with dual rotors and a ginormous cannon sticking up in front, with many crude sexual references being made by the crew.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: serack on 21 December 2014, 16:40:00
can not fire while airborne , only artillery that can is Arrow IV systems  >:D
 
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: massey on 21 December 2014, 16:41:57
Do VTOLs count as "airborne" for that?  They don't use the altitude maps.  I read that line and I wasn't sure.  Regardless, it's pretty easy to land, fire, and then take off again.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: serack on 21 December 2014, 16:43:36
yes there considered airbourne for it, but yea can still land fire few rounds then bug out to next location :)
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: Wolf72 on 21 December 2014, 18:28:00
I have a 39 ton hover going 7/11 ... it has a thumper (front) and 2 MG's (turret).  Gave it a Primitive ICE and Primitive armor.  I think of it as a highly mobile turret with some AI capability.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: Col.Hengist on 21 December 2014, 19:36:43
Both are pretty good. Neither should be any where near a battlefield. This makes for a very fluid form of artillery. Maybe the grandfather to the yellow jacket.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: massey on 22 December 2014, 22:14:21
I came across a post by Weirdo that indicates the "airborne" restriction applies only to actual ASF and conventional fighters.  Woo-hoo! :)
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: Hellraiser on 22 December 2014, 22:57:49
Thumper VTOL (so called because of the distinctive thump-thump of its rotors... and the Thumper artillery it carries)
30 ton VTOL
4 tons -- 70 rated internal combustion engine
3 tons -- internal structure
3 tons -- lift equipment
1.5 tons -- control equipment
1.5 tons -- armor (24)
17 tons -- Thumper artillery piece (40 ammo)
823,000 C-bills

7/11 movement

Front -- 8
L/R -- 5
Rear -- 4
Rotor -- 2

1 Thumper artillery piece with 40 rounds (Front)

The Thumper VTOL was created because of the pressing need for artillery support for fast moving attacks.  It also solves the problem of slow-moving heavy artillery pieces being captured by light battlemechs, and makes counter-battery fire nearly useless.

Pretty sure this already exists in canon.  Its called the Karnov (Artillery)
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: Hellraiser on 22 December 2014, 23:00:30
Sniper Hovercraft

50 ton hover
12 tons -- 165 rated internal combustion engine
5 tons -- internal structure
5 tons -- lift equipment
2.5 tons -- control equipment
1.5 tons -- armor (24)
24 tons -- Sniper artillery piece (40 ammo)
1,303,000 C-bills

8/12 movement

Front -- 8
L/R -- 6
Rear -- 4

1 Sniper artillery piece with 40 rounds (Front)


--


Same idea here. 

Fairly solid.  Reminds me of the Kanga (Arrow) refit I did long ago.
Though I'd probably loose a ton or 2 of ammo for more armor.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: massey on 23 December 2014, 01:17:21
Pretty sure this already exists in canon.  Its called the Karnov (Artillery)

Wow.  Never even knew about that.  Thanks.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: Wolverine on 10 January 2015, 23:14:50
arty on a copter ?  take a look at the recoil mechanisms on land vehicles and fixed carriage arty sometime, then take a close peek at how delicate a copter is,... if this is allowed by the rules, its a oversight or glitch for sure.
J
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: Col.Hengist on 11 January 2015, 03:27:47
Battletech isn't reality, it's a game.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: Wolf72 on 09 February 2015, 11:45:57
Is it really an issue if the VTOL lands, then fires a few turns, then takes off again to find a new location to fire from?

Talk about an annoying (for the opposing forces) tactic.  Sure it has some defensive issues when stationary, but that's half the fun of a game of Launch and seek.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: battletech on 01 March 2015, 11:49:43
I don't see why this wouldn't work.  The AC-130 mounts a 102 howitzer.  The recoil must have been accounted for.
Title: Re: 3025 fire support
Post by: Col.Hengist on 01 March 2015, 20:23:08
See my last post.