Author Topic: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System  (Read 1236 times)

Liam's Ghost

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Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« on: 19 November 2024, 23:49:14 »
I made a thing!

The whole system weighs four hundred tons for the tractor and the trailer, and you only get three shots before the ground crew has to reload the launcher from the cargo bay of the tractor, but a battery of them might still be enough to deter smaller ships from casually approaching.

Bonus, it can also be used as a very inefficient surface to surface missile system.


Type: Pluton SOM Tractor
Chassis Type: Tracked (Large)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 200 tons
Battle Value: 897
   
Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   51.5
Engine/Trans.                                      75.0
    Cruise MP:4
   Flank MP:6
Heat Sinks                    0                     0.0
Fuel                                                0.0
Turret                                              0.5
Armor Factor (BAR 8)          222                  10.0

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   20        32   
     Front R/L Side        20/20     32/32   
     Rear R/L Side         20/20     32/32   
     Rear                    20        32   
     Turret                  20        30   
   

Weapons
and Ammo              Location    Tonnage      
Light AC/5             Turret       5.0     
LAC/5 Ammo (20)         Body        1.0     
   
Cargo
    Bay 1:  Cargo (50.0 tons)       1 Door   

Notes:
Features Tractor Chassis and Controls Modification
Communications Equipment (7 tons)(7 tons)
Advanced Fire Control(0.5 tons)


Type: Pluton SOM Trailer
Chassis Type: Tracked (Large)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 200 tons
Battle Value: 616
   
Equipment                                         Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls                                   34.0
Engine/Trans.                                      15.0
    Cruise MP:0
   Flank MP:0
Heat Sinks                    0                     0.0
Fuel                                                0.0
Armor Factor (BAR 8)          222                  10.0

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   20        37   
     Front R/L Side        20/20     37/37   
     Rear R/L Side         20/20     37/37   
     Rear                    20        37   
   

Weapons
and Ammo              Location    Tonnage      
Piranha Subcap Launcher  Rear     100 tons
Ammunition (Piranha) 3   Body     30 tons
   
Cargo
    None

Notes:
Features Trailer Chassis and Controls Modification
Communications Equipment (1 ton)(1 ton)
Advanced Fire Control (10 tons)
Good news is the lab boys say the symptoms of asbestos poisoning show an immediate latency of 44.6 years. So if you're thirty or over you're laughing. Worst case scenario you miss out on a few rounds of canasta, plus you've forwarded the cause of science by three centuries. I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face.

(indirect accessory to the) Slayer of Monitors!

Daryk

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #1 on: 20 November 2024, 21:04:37 »
Why does the trailer have a 15-ton engine again?  I'd think that would be another missile at least...

Liam's Ghost

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #2 on: 20 November 2024, 21:58:30 »
Why does the trailer have a 15-ton engine again?  I'd think that would be another missile at least...

Since it has to be built as a support vehicle to mount a subcapital missile, that's the minimum size the engine can be.

I think. I haven't double checked the rules to be sure, but I do know support vehicle trailers don't let you get away with the one ton engine trick.
Good news is the lab boys say the symptoms of asbestos poisoning show an immediate latency of 44.6 years. So if you're thirty or over you're laughing. Worst case scenario you miss out on a few rounds of canasta, plus you've forwarded the cause of science by three centuries. I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face.

(indirect accessory to the) Slayer of Monitors!

Daryk

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #3 on: 21 November 2024, 04:12:37 »
Ah, OK... I'll check TM when I get a chance.  Thanks! :)

Gorgon

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #4 on: 21 November 2024, 04:39:29 »
I just checked and TM clearly says that SVs with the trailer chassis mod can be built without engine. I *thought* that they could not make use of their equipment unless hitched to the tractor, but I didn't find it in the rules at a glance.

That being said, I like the Pluton, very nice. And so much cheaper than a Rattler or Triton!
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Der Kommissar

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #5 on: 21 November 2024, 07:13:35 »
A good bugger to have as a force multiplier for more hardened orbital defense assets, and an affordable checkmate to the sneaky pirate trick of stuffing a civilian dropper full of death.

Dragon Cat

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #6 on: 21 November 2024, 07:47:47 »
I love it except for one thing

The Light AC5 on the tractor, wouldn't machine guns be a better choice? More out of curiosity than anything. I understand this gives it some ranged defence but one AC isn't going to stop an aerospace fighter on a bombing run or a group of spec infantry leading an army to target
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

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Daryk

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #7 on: 21 November 2024, 18:00:11 »
The wording on page 126 of TM is a little unclear:
Quote
Tractor/Trailers: Support Vehicles built as Trailers (constructed using the Trailer chassis modification), do not require an engine or control systems unless they are also expected to operate without a suitable Tractor unit.
They don't say what the engine tonnage should be to just operate the equipment... ?

Liam's Ghost

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #8 on: 21 November 2024, 18:36:37 »
I'm assuming (as is megameklab) that it requires an engine big enough to correspond to a movement rate of 0.

Which for a tech E fusion engine would be 0.025*(4 + (0*0))*.75*200=15.

(Where 0.025 is the base engine value, (4+(0*0)) is the movement factor, 0.75 is the weight multiplier for a tech E fusion engine, and 200 is the total vehicle mass)

full disclosure, I designed the tractor entirely in mml, but I could only partially make the trailer in that program, as it doesn't yet have an option for putting a subcapital weapon on a support vehicle, so the trailer readout is hand edited.
Good news is the lab boys say the symptoms of asbestos poisoning show an immediate latency of 44.6 years. So if you're thirty or over you're laughing. Worst case scenario you miss out on a few rounds of canasta, plus you've forwarded the cause of science by three centuries. I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face.

(indirect accessory to the) Slayer of Monitors!

Liam's Ghost

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #9 on: 21 November 2024, 18:40:28 »
I love it except for one thing

The Light AC5 on the tractor, wouldn't machine guns be a better choice? More out of curiosity than anything. I understand this gives it some ranged defence but one AC isn't going to stop an aerospace fighter on a bombing run or a group of spec infantry leading an army to target

Honestly, I feel like any weapon is going to be too token to be practical, and strictly speaking the tonnage would probably have been better spent on a troop compartment for ground crew and security personnel.

So more or less it was added on the theory that it's for the crew's morale support rather practical value, and any real defenses would come from separate units assigned as support.

So strictly speaking the battery should have the launchers as well as additional transport for ground crew and protection.
Good news is the lab boys say the symptoms of asbestos poisoning show an immediate latency of 44.6 years. So if you're thirty or over you're laughing. Worst case scenario you miss out on a few rounds of canasta, plus you've forwarded the cause of science by three centuries. I punch those numbers into my calculator, it makes a happy face.

(indirect accessory to the) Slayer of Monitors!

Daryk

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #10 on: 21 November 2024, 18:43:42 »
Well, if you're willing to keep the tractor with the trailer, you can recover those 15 tons... :)

Der Kommissar

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #11 on: 23 November 2024, 08:57:19 »
I will broadly echo the opinion that the defensive armament should be anti-infantry.  Maybe some magshots for bonking battle armor and a heavy flamer for BBQing?  But I'm kinda weird about flamers and magshots.

Hazard Pay

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #12 on: 23 November 2024, 13:11:13 »
I’m partial to LPPC + whatever else

Daryk

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #13 on: 23 November 2024, 13:33:52 »
I'd go for a Snubbie and Machine Guns for crew morale purposes.  Any leftover tonnage should go to a troop compartment as Liam said... :)

Sabelkatten

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #14 on: 23 November 2024, 13:50:31 »
AMS?

Btw, AMS can be used against capital missiles in space. Does that work on the ground?

AlphaMirage

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #15 on: 23 November 2024, 13:59:53 »
AMS?

Btw, AMS can be used against capital missiles in space. Does that work on the ground?

It does not, although with advanced rules it can function as a machine gun should the vehicle be attacked by infantry.

Vehrec

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #16 on: 24 November 2024, 13:13:36 »
So, assuming there are 4 trailers and tractors to a Battery, what kind of 'forward observers' would be used to spot, track and identify incoming threats, and how man batteries should be allocated to a single 'Area Defense Group'?  A further question, how best to transport reloads for the darn trailers?
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Der Kommissar

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #17 on: 24 November 2024, 13:54:16 »
Light hovertanks like Harassers would be my choice.  Peggies or the LRM Harasser.  Cheap and fast and can put some pain on raider elements.  If bringing more reloads is a question, why not opt for some Busters?  They've got double lift hoists AND cargo bays.

AlphaMirage

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #18 on: 24 November 2024, 15:02:42 »
Depending on volume of fire a J-27 can tow a Piranha missile. Although using a Uni or similar cargo mech might be better

Vehrec

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #19 on: 24 November 2024, 21:18:42 »
Light hovertanks like Harassers would be my choice.  Peggies or the LRM Harasser.  Cheap and fast and can put some pain on raider elements.  If bringing more reloads is a question, why not opt for some Busters?  They've got double lift hoists AND cargo bays.
Do those...have trans-orbital sensor capabilities?  I don't think they really do.

Though, one option might be to modify a Piranha missile into an orbital lifter for a short-lifetime satellite, to get sensor coverage beyond the horizon.
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Der Kommissar

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Re: Pluton Surface to Orbit Missile System
« Reply #20 on: 24 November 2024, 22:05:08 »
Oh, I assumed you were talking about ground defense for the launchers for some reason.  Throwing your own sats into orbit certainly seems like it'd be plausible and useful.