Shrike VTOL APC
Mass: 15 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: 0
Cost: 255,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 183
Power Plant: Fronere 100 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 140.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 216.0 km/h
Armor: SimplePlate Standard Armor
Armament:
2 Durand Machine Guns
1 Infantry Compartment (1.0 tons)
Manufacturer: Kalinda Aerospace
Primary Factory: Kalidasa
Communications System: Helex J.101
Targeting and Tracking System: Helex T.790
Overview:
Ever since it was first implemented as a weapon of war, the rotary-wing VTOL
has been one of the fastest means of transporting troops about the battlefield.
Quick and agile, a VTOL transport is able to get armed infantry to trouble
spots or out again. Kalinda Aerospace is just one of the latest engineering
firms to design such a platform. The Shrike VTOL APC is designed to be a
cheap, fast transport that just about commander is able to purchase.
Capabilities:
While the Shrike VTOL APC won't win any awards for speed or firepower, it is
very efficient at its job of getting armed infantry to a specific point on the
map as quickly as possible while keeping the cost per unit as affordable as
possible. The rotary-winged vehicle makes use of a Fronere 100 ICE powerplant
that is both rugged and easy to maintain. Every part of the vehicle can be
reached easily and replaced or repaired as needed with as few tools as needed.
While capable of reaching speeds no other VTOL can match, the unarmored
rotor assembly makes it an easy target for defending gunners. Lacking heavy
firepower of its own in favor of speed, the infantry carried in one rely on
that speed and maneuverability to evade enemy fire. The two Durand machine
guns are only effective against unarmored infantry, and are used primarily to
beat back opposing light forces as the BTOL disembarks the infantry.
Deployment:
The Shrike VTOL APC has been widely sold across the Inner Sphere, primarily
as second-line transports as well as to units that make heavy use of vehicles
to move infantry around on the battlefield. The largest operator of the type
is the FWLM, where they have been able to beat companies like Quikscell into
the VTOL transport market.
Variants:
The only widely seen variant of the standard Shrike replaces the infantry
bay with a couple of additional Durand machine guns, one out of each side as a
dedicated gunship for L/Z infantry suppression. However, some operators
replace the ifantry capability with extra communications gear, turning the VTOL
into a small communications relay platform and scout unit.
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 10 points 1.50
Engine: I.C.E. Engine 100 6.00
Cruise MP: 13
Flank MP: 20
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 12
Left/Right 9/9
Rear 8
Rotor 2
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 1 Points: 2
13v 1 0 0 0 1 0 Structure: 1
Special Abilities: EE
