Ares Assault Craft Mark VII (Interpolation)

[Liam's Ghost]

I found myself needing a succession wars era assault ship that wasn't an Aquarius or Lyoness, and found the Ares Mark VII. Some investigation located the reference in TRO 3085, and the unit itself in Megameklab.

Except whoever put it into megameklab created something with no resemblance to how the Mark VII is described in TRO3085. So I made my own, adhering as close to the described stats in the TRO as I could. Would it be so much better if it ditched that third large laser and associated gunner? Yes. But that's what the text called for, so...

EDIT: The stats and the record sheet have been corrected to reflect that it's actually supposed to be 200 tons, and consequently the design now more closely reflects the description in TRO 3085. If you downloaded the record sheet before this update, you're probably going to want to re-download it.

Ares Assault Craft Mark VII
Type: Military Aerodyne
Mass: 200 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard) 
Introduced: 2824
Mass: 200
Battle Value: 2,023
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 13,255,500 C-bills

Fuel: 10 tons (800)
Safe Thrust: 7
Maximum Thrust: 11
Heat Sinks: 16
Structural Integrity: 11

Armor
    Nose: 159
    Sides: 118/118
    Aft: 81

Cargo
    None

Ammunition:
   None

Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 0
Crew:  1 officer, 2 enlisted/non-rated, 2 gunners      

Notes: Mounts 27 tons of standard aerospace armor.

Weapons
and Ammo              Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV    
2 Medium Laser         R Wing     2.0      3      5    0    0    0  
2 Medium Laser         L Wing     2.0      3      5    0    0    0  
3 Large Laser           Nose      15.0     8      8    8    0    0  

[Daryk]

Makes sense to me! :)

[Giovanni Blasini]

I suspect you're 50 tons underweight.

The MUL lists all the Ares variants at 200 tons, including the Ares Mark VII, despite listing the Landing Craft Mk VII at 150 tons.

That said, it looks fine, the MUL is probably guessing, and the Record Sheets books are no help.

[Daryk]

In that case, it could probably gain another five weapons (say, Small Lasers for Point Defense) without trouble... ;)

[Liam's Ghost]

Huh. That's what I get for trusting any part of the record sheet in Megameklab.

It actually is supposed to be 200 tons based on the mark IX entry in 3085, which makes its stats fit much better.
I'll correct the original post when I'm done with this one.

[Liam's Ghost]

In that case, it could probably gain another five weapons (say, Small Lasers for Point Defense) without trouble... ;)

Honestly, if one wanted to add point defense, it'd be as simple as pulling the entirely extraneous third large laser and adding six small lasers (two aft, two each wing). Maybe put the rest into cargo or fuel to help with lingering over long distances.

Then when AMS gets recovered, swapping them out for six AMS, and adding five tons of ammo because you've also now eliminated the second gunner position.

Seriously, that third large laser serves no purpose. Fuel, armor, cargo, anything! Not another large laser that you can't fire but also requires another gunner. Come on people!

[Liam's Ghost]

And just because I can, here's three variants that remove the extraneous third large laser. A long range escort, an up-armored variant, and the previously mentioned point defense variant.

I'm not one to demand absolute efficiency in a design, but come on, you're spending five or ten tons for a weapon you can't use!.

Code: [Select]

Ares Assault Craft Mark VII LRE
Type: Military Aerodyne
Mass: 200 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Introduced: 2824
Mass: 200
Battle Value: 1,888
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 12,715,500 C-bills

Fuel: 20 tons (1,600)
Safe Thrust: 7
Maximum Thrust: 11
Heat Sinks: 16
Structural Integrity: 11

Armor
    Nose: 159
    Sides: 118/118
    Aft: 81

Cargo
    None

Ammunition:
None

Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 0
Crew:  1 officer, 2 enlisted/non-rated, 1 gunner

Notes: Mounts 27 tons of standard aerospace armor.

Weapons
and Ammo              Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
2 Medium Laser         R Wing     2.0      3      5    0    0    0 
2 Medium Laser         L Wing     2.0      3      5    0    0    0 
2 Large Laser           Nose      10.0     8      8    8    0    0 
   

Code: [Select]

Ares Assault Craft Mark VII (Armored)
Type: Military Aerodyne
Mass: 200 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Introduced: 2824
Mass: 200
Battle Value: 2,288
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 13,205,500 C-bills

Fuel: 10 tons (800)
Safe Thrust: 7
Maximum Thrust: 11
Heat Sinks: 16
Structural Integrity: 11

Armor
    Nose: 199
    Sides: 158/158
    Aft: 121

Cargo
    None

Ammunition:
None

Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 0
Crew:  1 officer, 2 enlisted/non-rated, 1 gunner

Notes: Mounts 37 tons of standard aerospace armor.

Weapons
and Ammo              Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
2 Medium Laser         R Wing     2.0      3      5    0    0    0 
2 Medium Laser         L Wing     2.0      3      5    0    0    0 
2 Large Laser           Nose      10.0     8      8    8    0    0 


Code: [Select]

Ares Assault Craft Mark VII (Point Defense)
Type: Military Aerodyne
Mass: 200 tons
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Introduced: 2824
Mass: 200
Battle Value: 1,927
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 13,148,000 C-bills

Fuel: 10 tons (800)
Safe Thrust: 7
Maximum Thrust: 11
Heat Sinks: 16
Structural Integrity: 11

Armor
    Nose: 159
    Sides: 118/118
    Aft: 81

Cargo
    Bay 1:  Cargo (2.0 tons)        1 Door   

Ammunition:
None

Escape Pods: 0
Life Boats: 0
Crew:  1 officer, 2 enlisted/non-rated, 2 gunners

Notes: Mounts 27 tons of standard aerospace armor.

Weapons
and Ammo              Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
2 Medium Laser         R Wing     2.0      3      5    0    0    0 
2 Small Laser          R Wing     1.0      1      3    0    0    0 
2 Medium Laser         L Wing     2.0      3      5    0    0    0 
2 Small Laser          L Wing     1.0      1      3    0    0    0 
2 Large Laser           Nose      10.0     8      8    8    0    0 
2 Small Laser           Aft       1.0      1      3    0    0    0 


[Daryk]

On the first and third, I'd shave 5 points off each wing to get the aft up to 91 (no PPC thresholding)... :)