Clan ASF's have always intrigued me, for a society that apparently values efficiency, they always seem grossly inefficient. Overgunned heat hogs that if you even though "I wonder what this button does..." whilst looking at the big red Alpha strike button in the cockpit, then they'd almost all overheat and melt their wings off before exploding. And most of them are flying Hellbringers, great globs of pod space whilst armour is a thing for lesser people. So I got to thinking about the fighters whilst chilling out and came up with this below. I'd love to hear folks thoughts and opinions.
My Khan, our newest heavy Aerospace asset nears completion although we must report that the latest tests have indicated some rather significant flaws in the design that may prove detrimental to its performance.
Fortunately, these are easily fixed at minimal cost and delay to the planned production schedule. The initial prototype whilst formidable was found to be too poorly protected to endure return fire and its fuel tanks made it short-legged, giving it a very short range and limited loiter time.
This has required some alterations to the crafts weaponry but its firepower remains formidable. With 12-tons of Ferro-Aluminium armour the design is far sturdier and with 5-tons of fuel onboard, she can remain in the fight for longer and allow her pilot to use the speed she is capable of rather than having to husband the fuel for short bursts of high speed.
Attached below are the datafiles with the proposed changes. As your Chief Scientist I fully endorse these changes, and I have also sent you the Scientist responsible for the initial design, he is the one delivering this data to you and his life, as all of ours, is yours.
When we return to the Inner Sphere, this fighter will be at the forefront of our Clans glorious conquest and these changes will help ensure victory against whatever the Bandit Lords of the Inner Sphere may place in our Clans path on the road to Terra.
Prime - The removal of the pair of large pulse lasers both significantly cooled the OmniFighter as well as freed up a considerable amount of tonnage. All three ER Small lasers now cover the fighters tail whilst the wings are armed with a pair of Medium pulse lasers where the single large pulse laser was held. The gauss rifle has also received a much-needed ton of ammunition. The result is a fighter far more at home in a dogfight and able to use its speed and firepower without risking a shut down. Capable of loitering on the battlefield or in space for longer the result is a far more balanced fighter and one deadlier for it.
Sabutai Prime
Clan TW
75 tons
BV: 3,184
Cost: 14,868,047 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 300 XL
Heat Sinks: 20 [40] (1 damaged)
Structural Integrity: 7
Armor: 230 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 76
Left Wing 52
Right Wing 52
Aft 50
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
Gauss Rifle NOS 1
ER Small Laser AFT 2
ER PPC RWG 15
ER PPC LWG 15
ER Small Laser AFT 2
ER Small Laser AFT 2
Medium Pulse Laser LWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser RWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser LWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser RWG 4
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
Gauss Ammo NOS 8
Gauss Ammo None 8
A - Taking inspiration from the Xerxes the Alfas main punch comes from a pair of ultra-20 class autocannons. We have doubled the ammunition bins allowing the guns to be used for a longer period, essentially doubling their firepower. The nose mounted autocannon has been replaced with a pair of ER Large lasers, mirroring the Xerxes, but our new craft is faster, better armed and has far greater heat dissipation systems allowing for sustained fire with the lasers and an autocannon without suffering crippling heat problems. An ER Small laser and medium pulse laser cover the fighters tail making rear approaches risky for smaller craft.
Sabutai A
Clan TW
75 tons
BV: 2,587
Cost: 14,832,813 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 300 XL
Heat Sinks: 17 [34] (4 damaged)
Structural Integrity: 7
Armor: 230 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 76
Left Wing 52
Right Wing 52
Aft 50
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
Ultra AC/20 LWG 7
Ultra AC/20 RWG 7
Medium Pulse Laser AFT 4
ER Large Laser NOS 12
ER Large Laser NOS 12
ER Small Laser NOS 2
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
Ultra AC/20 Ammo LWG 5
Ultra AC/20 Ammo LWG 5
Ultra AC/20 Ammo RWG 5
Ultra AC/20 Ammo RWG 5
B - A pure missile platform the Bravo is capable of unleashing ninety missiles in a single salvo without any heat registering on the fighters systems. The six LRM-15s are all enhanced with Artemis fire controls and draw from 10 tons of ammunition allowing for extended engagements with the launchers. Should anything survive this barrage, then the fighter can defend itself with a pair of ER medium lasers and a trio of rear firing ER small lasers. This large payload can still cripple any hostile fighter at long range and will also threaten DropShips as well as acting as flying artillery for our ground forces should any Spheroid forces refuse battle and run and hide like the cowards they are.
Sabutai B
Clan TW
75 tons
BV: 3,103
Cost: 16,414,922 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 300 XL
Heat Sinks: 15 [30] (6 damaged)
Structural Integrity: 7
Armor: 230 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 76
Left Wing 52
Right Wing 52
Aft 50
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
LRM 15 LWG 5
LRM 15 LWG 5
LRM 15 RWG 5
LRM 15 RWG 5
LRM 15 NOS 5
LRM 15 NOS 5
ER Medium Laser RWG 5
ER Medium Laser LWG 5
ER Small Laser AFT 2
ER Small Laser AFT 2
ER Small Laser AFT 2
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo LWG 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo RWG 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo LWG 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo RWG 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo NOS 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo NOS 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo NOS 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo LWG 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo RWG 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo NOS 8
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Artemis IV FCS RWG
Artemis IV FCS RWG
Artemis IV FCS LWG
Artemis IV FCS NOS
Artemis IV FCS LWG
Artemis IV FCS NOS
C – Designed to be a heavy dogfighter the Charlie variant is armed with a pair of large pulse lasers and LB-10 pattern autocannon for mid to long range engagements. In a dogfight however, it can bring its six medium pulse lasers to bear which will rip through any fighter in short order. Designed for our most aggressive Warriors who will take the Sabutai to the limits of its agility the C can obliterate fighters before they even think of trying to flee.
Sabutai C
Clan TW
75 tons
BV: 2,791
Cost: 14,224,375 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 300 XL
Heat Sinks: 19 [38] (2 damaged)
Structural Integrity: 7
Armor: 230 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 76
Left Wing 52
Right Wing 52
Aft 50
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
LB 10-X AC NOS 2
Large Pulse Laser NOS 10
Large Pulse Laser NOS 10
Medium Pulse Laser LWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser LWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser LWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser RWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser RWG 4
Medium Pulse Laser RWG 4
ER Small Laser AFT 2
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LB 10-X AC Ammo NOS 10
LB 10-X AC Ammo NOS 10
D - Built for long and mid range engagements the Delta has had its electronics system considerably augmented. An ECM and Active probe are all tied into a targeting computer which links the weapon systems together. For long range engagements an ER PPC and a pair of LB-5 pattern autocannons, each with their own 2-ton ammunition bin can cripple a hostile fighter before they are in range. At shorter ranges a quartet of ER Medium lasers, two on each wing can maul a target and provide additional support during strafing runs. Finally a pair of SRM-6 launchers are built into the nose to provide barrage firepower at short range. A sole ER medium laser covers the rear and this fighter features an extra half ton of fuel for even greater endurance.
Sabutai D
Clan TW
75 tons
BV: 2,680
Cost: 15,399,742 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 300 XL
Heat Sinks: 20 [40] (1 damaged)
Structural Integrity: 7
Armor: 230 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
-----------------------------
Nose 76
Left Wing 52
Right Wing 52
Aft 50
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER PPC NOS 15
LB 5-X AC LWG 1
LB 5-X AC RWG 1
ER Medium Laser LWG 5
ER Medium Laser RWG 5
ER Medium Laser LWG 5
ER Medium Laser RWG 5
ER Medium Laser AFT 5
SRM 6 NOS 4
SRM 6 NOS 4
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LB 5-X AC Ammo RWG 20
LB 5-X AC Ammo LWG 20
LB 5-X AC Ammo RWG 20
LB 5-X AC Ammo LWG 20
SRM 6 Ammo NOS 15
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
ECM Suite NOS
Active Probe NOS
I trust these designs meet with your approval my Khan and I look forwards to your inspection of our facilities on the 18th of this month.
