OBT Forum

While the Warden-class Assault DropShip is a formidable vessel, it is also rather expensive to acquire and maintain.  After their invasion of the Periphery in 3074, Clan Goliath Scorpion began to look at less costly options to augment their defenses.  One such suggestion was the Gladiator-class Assault DropShip.

Far smaller than the Warden (1600 tons vs 4000 tons), the proposed Gladiator was far more lightly armed and armored, had smaller fuel bunkers and available cargo space, but the Gladiator did prove worthy in three areas.

First, while the armament and armor were lighter than that of the Warden, it was still more than sufficient to give any hostile power pause, especially if the new DropShip was deployed in numbers.

Second, the cost in resources to acquire and maintain a single Warden could instead add a total of three Gladiators to the Scorpion Touman.

Third, the lighter Assault DropShip proved to be able to accelerate at higher rates than the Warden (not by much, but still a distinct difference).  In fact, with the ability to operate at 4.5-G's Safe Thrust and 7-G's Emergency Overthrust, this DropShip design vied with many light and medium weight Aerospace Fighters and OmniFighters.

Khan Elam approved the Gladiator for full-scale production in 3075 with the intention of eventually acquiring at least one full Star for every world in the Scorpion Empire.  Vital and important systems would have a stronger defensive presence, while plans were made for Circinus itself to have no fewer than 100 Gladiators and 25 Wardens assigned to the Fire Wheel Battle Group, the Naval Star charged with the defense of Circinus local space.  This ambitious program would require decades to complete, but the Scorpions are patient.

                    AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
                                  VALIDATED

Class/Model/Name:  Gladiator
Tech:              Clan / 3075
Vessel Type:       Spheroid DropShip
Rules:             Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set:         AeroTech2

Mass:              1,600 tons
Length:            60 meters
Power Plant:       Standard
Safe Thrust:       9
Maximum Thrust:    14
Armor Type:        Ferro-aluminum
Armament:         
   12 ER Large Laser
    6 ER PPC
   18 ER Medium Laser
   18 ER Small Laser
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Class/Model/Name:  Gladiator
Mass:              1,600 tons

Equipment:                                                            Mass 
Power Plant, Drive & Control:                                          878.50
Thrust:  Safe Thrust: 9
      Maximum Thrust: 14
Structural Integrity: 14                                                45.00
Total Heat Sinks:    150 Double                                         73.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps:                                                     226.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters:                 12.00
Fire Control Computers:                                                   .00
Food & Water:  (120 days supply)                                         9.00
Armor Type:  Ferro-aluminum  (1,244 total armor pts)                    49.50
                           Standard Scale Armor Pts
   Location:                            L / R
   Fore:                                324
   Left/Right Sides:                 324/324
   Aft:                                 272

Cargo:
   Bay 1:  Cargo (1) with 2 doors                                       24.00

Escape Pods:  3 (7 tons each)                                           21.00

Crew and Passengers:
      2 Officers (2 minimum)                                            20.00
      4 Crew (2 minimum)                                                28.00
      9 Gunners (9 minimum)                                             63.00
Weapons and Equipment      Loc        SRV    MRV    LRV    ERV  Heat    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 ER Large Laser           Nose     2(20)  2(20)  2(20)  2(20)   24      8.00
1 ER PPC                   Nose     2(15)  2(15)  2(15)     --   15      6.00
3 ER Medium Laser          Nose     2(21)  2(21)     --     --   15      3.00
3 ER Small Laser           Nose     2(15)     --     --     --    6      1.50

2 ER Large Laser           FL/R     2(20)  2(20)  2(20)  2(20)   48     16.00
1 ER PPC                   FL/R     2(15)  2(15)  2(15)     --   30     12.00
3 ER Medium Laser          FL/R     2(21)  2(21)     --     --   30      6.00
3 ER Small Laser           FL/R     2(15)     --     --     --   12      3.00

2 ER Large Laser           AL/R     2(20)  2(20)  2(20)  2(20)   48     16.00
1 ER PPC                   AL/R     2(15)  2(15)  2(15)     --   30     12.00
3 ER Medium Laser          AL/R     2(21)  2(21)     --     --   30      6.00
3 ER Small Laser           AL/R     2(15)     --     --     --   12      3.00

2 ER Large Laser           Aft      2(20)  2(20)  2(20)  2(20)   24      8.00
1 ER PPC                   Aft      2(15)  2(15)  2(15)     --   15      6.00
3 ER Medium Laser          Aft      2(21)  2(21)     --     --   15      3.00
3 ER Small Laser           Aft      2(15)     --     --     --    6      1.50

1 Lot Spare Parts (2.50%)                                               40.00
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TOTALS:                                              Heat: 360       1,600.00
Tons Left:                                                                .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        305,986,352 C-Bills
Battle Value:      12,718
Cost per BV:       24,059.31
Weapon Value:      13,532 (Ratio = 1.06)
Damage Factors:    SRV = 325;  MRV = 202;  LRV = 50;  ERV = 0
Maintenance:       Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 20,361
                   (4,670 Structure, 9,535 Life Support, 6,156 Weapons)
                   Support Points (SP) = 16,094  (79% of MPV)
BattleForce2:      MP: 9,  Armor/Structure: 21 / 20
                   Damage PB/M/L: 14/11/7,  Overheat: 0
                   Class: DS;  Point Value: 127
                   Specials: sph