OBT Forum

Remember way back when?  TRO:  3025 had just been released and in the back, we had actual ASF for the Five Great Houses!  THREE designs each.

In homage to those days past, let's try our hand at doing the same.  Pick a faction . . . any faction.  And design THREE Aerospace (or Omni-) Fighters for that faction.  One light-weight design (20-45 tons), one medium-weight design (50-70 tons), and one heavy-weight design (75-100 tons).

I'll start us off:

COMANCHE

==Overview==
The 40-ton Comanche is the second (and lightest) of the new series of Aerospace Fighters recently fielded by Clan Goliath Scorpion.  The first flight of this light-weight ASF took place in December of 3056, with full-scale production authorized by the Khan in mid-April of 3057.  Intended to serve as an interceptor,  fast fighter-bomber, and recon craft, the Comanche is only lightly armed, but few other ASF or OmniFighters can match the speed and armor protection of this new design.

==Capabilities==
Massing 40-tons, the Comanche uses a 320-rate extra-light fusion engine that provides for a safe acceleration of 5-G's and a maximum thrust of 7.5-G's. Although not quite able to thrust as quickly as fighters such as the Vandal or Bashkir, the Comanche's max acceleration is deemed 'good enough' by Scorpion pilots.  Especially in combination with the five-ton fuel tank and the massive 11.5 tons of ferro-aluminum armor plating that sheath this fighter from nose to tail.  The Comanche is able to resist penetration from Clan ER Medium Lasers (and Medium Pulse Lasers) on the nose and both wings; the stern is vulnerable however to all Clan and Inner Sphere Medium Lasers (and Clan ER Small Lasers!).

Eight hardpoints are fitted to the design allowing for a maximum ordnance load of eight tons at 4-G's of safe thrust (6-G's maximum). All hardpoints are fitted with plumbing for additional fuel-tanks, giving the Comanche excellent legs (and quite a formidable strike package against ground targets).

Armament is VERY light for a modern Clan fighter, with just nine tons devoted to weapons and equipment.  The longest ranged weapons are two ER Medium Lasers in the nose, supported by eight ER Small Lasers (three in each wing and two firing astern).  All ten weapons are tied into a two-ton Targeting Computer for maximum accuracy.  For added sensor resolution and range, an Active Probe has been fitted to the design.

With just ten standard double-strength heat sinks, the Comanche does tend to run hot when using all eight forward-firing weapons.  However, the heat buildup is relatively minor and with the high thrust of this design a skilled Pilot should be able to break away long enough to cool his systems down; alternatively, he can drop one or two weapons from his firing circuit if he is unable to disengage against his opponent.

==Deployment==
Although impressed with the heavy armor protection of the Comanche, most Clan Pilots believe that the lack of concentrated firepower makes this design sub-par.  To date, no Clan has expressed interest in obtaining production rights so the fighter remains exclusively in Scorpion hands.

                    AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
                                  VALIDATED

Class/Model/Name:  Comanche
Tech:              Clan / 3057
Vessel Type:       Aerospace Fighter
Rules:             Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set:         AeroTech2

Mass:              40 tons
Length:            15 meters
Power Plant:       320 XL Fusion
Safe Thrust:       10
Maximum Thrust:    15
Armor Type:        Ferro-aluminum
Armament:         
    2 ER Medium Laser
    1 Active Probe
    8 ER Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name:  Comanche
Mass:              40 tons

Equipment:                                                              Mass
Power Plant:  320 XL Fusion                                             11.50
Thrust:  Safe Thrust: 10
      Maximum Thrust: 15
Structural Integrity: 10                                                  .00
Total Heat Sinks:    10 Double                                            .00
Fuel:                                                                    5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters:                                            3.00
Armor Type:  Ferro-aluminum  (221 total armor pts)                      11.50
                           Standard Scale Armor Pts
   Location:                            L / R
   Nose:                                 61
   Left/Right Wings:                  61/61
   Aft:                                  38

Weapons and Equipment      Loc        SRV    MRV    LRV    ERV  Heat    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 ER Medium Laser          Nose         7      7     --     --   10      2.00
1 Active Probe             Nose        --     --     --     --    0      1.00
3 ER Small Laser           RW           5     --     --     --    6      1.50
3 ER Small Laser           LW           5     --     --     --    6      1.50
2 ER Small Laser           Aft          5     --     --     --    4      1.00
1 Targeting Computer                                                     2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                                    Heat: 26     40.00
Tons Left:                                                                .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        6,035,680 C-Bills
Battle Value:      1,768
Cost per BV:       3,413.85
Weapon Value:      2,280 (Ratio = 1.29)
Damage Factors:    SRV = 40;  MRV = 9;  LRV = 0;  ERV = 0
BattleForce2:      MP: 10,  Armor/Structure: 6 / 0
                   Damage PB/M/L: 5/2/-,  Overheat: 0
                   Class: FL;  Point Value: 18
                   Specials: prb
ZULU

==Overview==
The Zulu is one of three new Aerospace Fighters recently introduced by Clan Goliath Scorpion.  In 3053, Khan Ariel Suvorov made upgrading and improving her Clans ASF assets a major priority.  Accordingly, the Scientists of the Clan began work on a series of new fighters that embodied Scorpion ASF doctrine.

The first prototypes of the Zulu flew in March of 3056 and the new fighter received rave reviews from the Warriors assigned to test the new war-machine.  While the armament was considered light by the standards of current generation Clan OmniFighters, the Zulu was fast, maneuverable, and carried no less than fourteen and one-half tons of ferro-aluminum armor plating (rendering the fighter invulnerable to threshold criticals from Clan ER Medium Lasers on all facings).

Derided by other Clan Warriors as a medium trying to fill the role of a light fighter, the lack of Omni-technology in the design was widely seen as proof of Clan Goliath Scorpions lack of resources.  However, the decision to create a standard ASF instead of an OmniFighter was a deliberate one:  besides being cheaper to produce and simpler to manufacture, the lack of Omni-tech allowed Scorpion engineers to shave months off of the design process.  Furthermore, the need for a varied weapons loadout in aerospace engagements was deemed as relatively unnecessary.

Full scale production began in November of 3056 with the Zulu rapidly becoming the most common ASF in the Scorpion Touman.

==Capabilities==
Massing 60 tons, the Zulu uses a powerful 360-rate extra-light fusion engine that allows it to accelerate at 4-G's safely and 6-G's under maximum thrust.  Combined with the high level of maneuverability for a medium-weight ASF, the design team added an almost unprecedented amount of ferro-aluminum armor plating to the design:  14.5 tons.  Able to resist penetration of an Inner Sphere Large Laser on the nose and wings (as well as Clan ER Medium Lasers aft), the Zulu has proven itself to be an extremely rugged and robust opponent.  Five tons of fuel storage was included and all twelve hardpoint bays were equipped with fuel plumbing for additional tankage if required.

Able to deliver up to ten tons of ordnance while accelerating at 3-G's of thrust (twelve tons at 2.5-G's), the Zulu is often used in the close-air-support (CAS) role in support of Scorpion OmniMechs on the ground, while retaining a tremendous ability to conduct strafing runs if needed.

Armament is rather light for a Clan medium-weight OmniFighter, although with seventeen double-strength heat sinks the Zulu is able to make full use of all forward mounted weapons.  The primary long-range gun is an ER Large Laser mounted in the nose.  Secondary weapons consist of two ER Medium Lasers in the nose and two more firing astern.  Six ER Small Lasers (three per wing) complete the weapons package.  All eleven lasers are tied into a three-ton Targeting Computer allowing for very accurate fire.

Able to accomplish a variety of mission roles, the Zulu is certain to remain a significant portion of Clan Goliath Scorpion's Touman for decades to come.

==Deployment==
In use only with Clan Goliath Scorpion, the Zulu has been dismissed by most other Clans as a second-line or garrison ASF due to the lack of Omni-technology.  However, recently, Clan Cloud Cobra has expressed interest in the design after losing a Trial involving three points of Zulu fighters.  The heavy armor protection, high speed, and excellent heat dissipation for the onboard weapons brought nothing but praise from the Cobra pilots . . . causing the Khans of Cloud Cobra to rethink their initial evaluation.

                    AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
                                  VALIDATED

Class/Model/Name:  Zulu
Tech:              Clan / 3057
Vessel Type:       Aerospace Fighter
Rules:             Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set:         AeroTech2

Mass:              60 tons
Length:            18 meters
Power Plant:       360 XL Fusion
Safe Thrust:       8
Maximum Thrust:    12
Armor Type:        Ferro-aluminum
Armament:         
    1 ER Large Laser
    4 ER Medium Laser
    6 ER Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name:  Zulu
Mass:              60 tons

Equipment:                                                              Mass
Power Plant:  360 XL Fusion                                             16.50
Thrust:  Safe Thrust: 8
      Maximum Thrust: 12
Structural Integrity: 8                                                   .00
Total Heat Sinks:    17 Double                                           7.00
Fuel:                                                                    5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters:                                            3.00
Armor Type:  Ferro-aluminum  (278 total armor pts)                      14.50
                           Standard Scale Armor Pts
   Location:                            L / R
   Nose:                                 72
   Left/Right Wings:                  72/72
   Aft:                                  62

Weapons and Equipment      Loc        SRV    MRV    LRV    ERV  Heat    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 ER Large Laser           Nose        10     10     10     10   12      4.00
2 ER Medium Laser          Nose         7      7     --     --   10      2.00
3 ER Small Laser           RW           5     --     --     --    6      1.50
3 ER Small Laser           LW           5     --     --     --    6      1.50
2 ER Medium Laser          Aft          7      7     --     --   10      2.00
1 Targeting Computer                                                     3.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                                    Heat: 44     60.00
Tons Left:                                                                .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        9,835,930 C-Bills
Battle Value:      2,484
Cost per BV:       3,959.71
Weapon Value:      3,364 (Ratio = 1.35)
Damage Factors:    SRV = 51;  MRV = 24;  LRV = 3;  ERV = 0
BattleForce2:      MP: 8,  Armor/Structure: 7 / 0
                   Damage PB/M/L: 6/3/1,  Overheat: 0
                   Class: FM;  Point Value: 25
HUN

==Overview==
The final new Aerospace Fighter of the Goliath Scorpion Touman is the 95-ton Hun.  Designed as a heavy strike fighter from the drawing boards onward, this design has been described as 'absolutely brutal' by the few Clan Pilots who have engaged one and survived.  Forsaking any claim to high-speed in favor of incredible levels of armor protection and firepower, the Hun has become the sledgehammer of the Scorpion aerospace arm.

First flown in May of 3057, teething problems (and three redesigns to correct them!) prevented the new fighter from entering production until August of 3058.  But the final product proved well worth the wait.  Despite being 'only' an old-style Aerospace Fighter and not a modern OmniFighters, several Clans (including Cloud Cobra, Hell's Horses, Star Adder, and Steel Viper) have stated their intention to obtain production rights in Trials of Possession.  Clans Jade Falcon and Wolf have already managed to win rights to produce the design as well.

==Capabilities==
Massing 95-tons, the heavy-weight Hun uses a 285-rate extra-light fusion engine to achieve a safe thrust of 2.5-G's and a maximum thrust of 4-G's.  Although on the low end of ASF acceleration and maneuverability, the small engine left a tremendous amount of space for weapons and armor.  The Hun carries no less than 18.5 tons of ferro-aluminum armor plating, and can resist penetration by IS PPCs and Clan Large Lasers on the nose and both wings; the stern can stop penetration of IS Large Lasers as well.  Five tons of fuel tankage was lower than the design team originally desired, but with fifteen internal hardpoints (fewer than the chassis can theoretically mount, but engineers were concerned over the loss of thrust) all equipped with plumbing for reserve fuel tanks, this was deemed as adequate.

Despite the capacity for fifteen tons of ordnance, the Hun very seldom carries more than five or ten; the loss of thrust, acceleration, and maneuverability is very real in this design.  Instead, the fighter relies upon its fixed weapons for strike missions.  The nose mounts the main armament package; a package which poses a threat to even capital WarShips, let alone other fighters or 'Mechs or DropShips:  four ER PPCs. 

Thirty double-strength heat sinks provides the Pilot assigned to a Hun with the cooling capacity to use all four of the ER PPCs without generating any excess overheat; the combined firepower of these weapons is able to destroy many lighter fighters in a single pass and is a major threat to any known DropShip (and many WarShips) in existence.

To aid the Hun on its strike missions, the Scientists who comprised the design team included an ECM Suite to confuse hostile fire control and targeting systems.  And to make matters worse for those fated to fight against the Hun, the Scientists added a seven-ton Targeting Computer to make certain that those ER PPCs (and the secondary weapons package) could strike true.

But this is only the PRIMARY armament of the Hun.  Secondary weapons consist of eight ER Medium Lasers (three in each wing and two mounted to fire astern).  At close ranges, the Pilot of a Hun has the option to remove two ER PPCs from his firing circuit and instead add all six wing-mounted ER Medium Lasers while remaining heat neutral!  Which gives the fighter an outstanding capacity to conduct strafing runs.  The twin ER Medium Laser tail-guns are almost an after-thought, but ensure that those who try and ride the Huns 'Six' will pay for their audacity.

Brutal in the extreme, yet elegant in a uniquely Goliath Scorpion manner, the Hun is definitely an Aerospace Fighter that is here to stay.

==Deployment==
No longer an exclusive Goliath Scorpion design, the Hun is produced by the Scorpions, Falcons, and Wolves, with several more Clans waiting for their own Trials of Possession.

                    AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
                                  VALIDATED

Class/Model/Name:  Hun
Tech:              Clan / 3059
Vessel Type:       Aerospace Fighter
Rules:             Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set:         AeroTech2

Mass:              95 tons
Length:            22 meters
Power Plant:       285 XL Fusion
Safe Thrust:       5
Maximum Thrust:    8
Armor Type:        Ferro-aluminum
Armament:         
    4 ER PPC
    1 ECM Suite
    8 ER Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name:  Hun
Mass:              95 tons

Equipment:                                                              Mass
Power Plant:  285 XL Fusion                                              8.50
Thrust:  Safe Thrust: 5
      Maximum Thrust: 8
Structural Integrity: 9                                                   .00
Total Heat Sinks:    30 Double                                          20.00
Fuel:                                                                    5.00
Cockpit & Attitude Thrusters:                                            3.00
Armor Type:  Ferro-aluminum  (355 total armor pts)                      18.50
                           Standard Scale Armor Pts
   Location:                            L / R
   Nose:                                 94
   Left/Right Wings:                  94/94
   Aft:                                  73

Weapons and Equipment      Loc        SRV    MRV    LRV    ERV  Heat    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 ER PPC                   Nose        15     15     15     --   60     24.00
1 ECM Suite                Nose        --     --     --     --    0      1.00
3 ER Medium Laser          RW           7      7     --     --   15      3.00
3 ER Medium Laser          LW           7      7     --     --   15      3.00
2 ER Medium Laser          Aft          7      7     --     --   10      2.00
1 Targeting Computer                                                     7.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                                   Heat: 100     95.00
Tons Left:                                                                .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        15,925,501 C-Bills
Battle Value:      4,141
Cost per BV:       3,845.81
Weapon Value:      4,867 (Ratio = 1.18)
Damage Factors:    SRV = 68;  MRV = 58;  LRV = 14;  ERV = 0
BattleForce2:      MP: 5,  Armor/Structure: 9 / 0
                   Damage PB/M/L: 8/8/5,  Overheat: 3
                   Class: FH;  Point Value: 41
                   Specials: ecm
What are your designs for your favorite faction?

MA