Class/Model/Name: Minerva Assault Ship
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Vessel Type: Aerodyne DropShip
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 35,000 tons
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 6
Maximum Thrust: 9
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
91 PPC
---Overview---
In the third decade of the 31st century the Magistracy reacted to the increasing threats by resolving to build a navy that could keep as many threats as possible away from their worlds. Part of this plan was a pair of heavy assault dropships. The Minerva was designed as an attack vessel to act as the vanguard of a warfleet or a transport flotilla.
---Capabilities---
The Minerva is not, and does not purport to be, a complicated vessel. It uses very little advanced technology: mass production of advanced heatsinks and weapons has not yet reached the Magistracy of Canopus and a ship-building programme would demand far more than could be provided so the design uses standard hardware.
The armament is an impressive array of particle cannon, predominantly directed forwards. The multiple weapon bays provide options of spreading fire across multiple targets or delivering crushing barrages on an individual enemy: this is mostly reserved for dropships as even a single bay can kill or cripple most fighters and small craft almost instantly.
The Minerva is also possessed of respectable manuverability: not as much as the Achilles or Avenger, but still sporting a solid 1.5 G advantage over most dropships and able to keep pace with most medium and heavy fighters. To ensure it survives being on the leading edge of an advance, the ship is heavily armoured, with the layers of standard armour heaviest towards the bow.
The tradeoff is a lack of other capabilities: the Minerva can carry fighters only in its small shuttle bay and has only a small crew, which can leave it vulnerable to boarding actions. It also lacks missile defense, which can leave it vulnerable to attacks from outside its own engagement range.
---Deployment---
Two Minervas have been built so far, with four more laid down. Their performance in exercises has cast doubt on their cost-effectiveness however. The Magestrix has great faith in the design but her admirals feel it is over-sized for the role and have suggested that something smaller would be more desirable.
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Class/Model/Name: Minerva Assault Ship
Mass: 35,000 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 13,650.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 6
Maximum Thrust: 9
Structural Integrity: 105 18,375.00
Total Heat Sinks: 910 Single 228.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 204.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 263.00
Fire Control Computers: 70.00
Food & Water: (115 days supply) 23.50
Armor Type: Standard (3,255 total armor pts) 472.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 1,087
Left/Right Wings: 813/813
Aft: 542
Cargo:
Bay 1: Small Craft (2) with 2 doors 400.00
Bay 2: Cargo (1) with 1 door 372.00
Life Boats: 10 (7 tons each) 70.00
Crew and Passengers:
6 Officers (5 minimum) 60.00
9 Crew (5 minimum) 63.00
16 Gunners (16 minimum) 112.00
10 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
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7 PPC Nose 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 70 49.00
7 PPC Nose 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 70 49.00
7 PPC Nose 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 70 49.00
7 PPC Nose 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 70 49.00
7 PPC L/RW 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 140 98.00
7 PPC L/RW 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 140 98.00
7 PPC L/RW 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 140 98.00
7 PPC L/RW(A) 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 140 98.00
7 PPC Aft 7(70) 7(70) -- -- 70 49.00
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TOTALS: Heat: 910 35,000.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 1,859,752,800 C-Bills
Battle Value: 24,205
