OBT Forum

Prototypes Alpha, Lightning and Thunder
Tech:               Inner Sphere/ 3067
Era:               Canon/What if
Availability:            Federated Suns
Vessel Type:            Conventional Fighter
Mass:               50 tons
Power Plant:            Omni 250 Fusion
   Safe Thrust:            5   Maximum Thrust:         8
Armour Type:            StarGuard III w. CASE
Armament:         
   2 Bulldog Mini-gun Machine Guns
   2 NAIS Model 2b Rotary AC/2
Manufacturer:            Nock Heavy Engineering Inc.
   Location:              New Avalon
Communications System:        O/P 9000AT
Targeting & Tracking System:     O/P 2500 TGFD

Overview
   Nock Heavy Engineering Inc. first airborne project, the Prototype Alpha was created as a possible counter to the recent upgrade of the Heavy Strike Fighter fielded by the Capellan Confederation, Free Worlds League and Word of Blake. To pass the basic criteria requested by the AFFC Quartermaster's Office, the engineers were forced to fit Rotary Autocannons rather than the originally intended LBX. This led to delay after delay, until the first prototype finally made its way to the planetary militias proving ground in early 3067. The original, concept-prototype, was created in a computer modelling program, and displayed several faults that were fixed before work commenced on the production-prototype.

Capabilities
   Armament for the Alpha includes a NAIS Model 2b Rotary AC/2 in each wing root. This originally had a 180-round magazine, which was reduced to 90 rounds in order to save weight for secondary armament. Original production model named Alpha Strike Fighter cannot fire the cannons when carrying a centreline fuel tank as it blocks the shell ejection ports. This issue was corrected in later versions. Secondary armament takes the form of twin Bulldog Mini-gun 20mm Machine Guns in the underside of the nose, positioned to avoid muzzle flair temporarily blinding the pilot.
   Three pylons are provided under each wing (four in some variants), for a total of six (or eight) hard points to fit external ordinance. This ordinance can be either a 1,150 litre fuel tank or unguided bombs or rockets. A single 1,500 litre tank can be fitted to the centreline, between the engines, for ferry flights, but this position is not used for combat stores. The original models can carry general-purpose bombs and unguided rocket pods, but not precision-guided munitions. Upgraded models have provision for TAG and NARC-guided and electro-optical bombs, as well as air-to-surface missiles.  The standard and the new variant both carry CASE (in the form of an ejection seat) saving the pilot if the ammo is hit and the fighter explodes.

Deployment
   Two prototypes have been built to date, nicknamed Thunder and Lightning by the test pilots.  Another two prototypes are under construction, however these will be armed differently. The two new fighters mount a pair of Light AC/5, one per wing, supplied with a ton of ammo.  In the nose the fighter carries a five-tube Multi-Missile-Launcher with an Artemis VI FCS supplied with two tons of ammo, one for SRMs and one for LRMs.  Alongside the MML-5 in the nose is a single Medium Laser taking advantage of the heat sinks built into the fusion engine.  The new variant also carries extended fuel for a total of four tons allowing for extended periods over the target and Ferro-aluminium armour instead of the standard used on the original.  It is unknown if the AFFS Quartermaster will want to buy either variant so Nock Heavy Engineering Inc. are looking at possibly selling to mercenaries.
EDIT What if:  In 3071 during training/testing a pair of test pilots (Thunder and Lightning) noticed a fire fight on New Avalon.  Curious they investigated only to find a full blown battle between four OmniMechs with several Battle Armour protecting a running limousine against a dozen fast moving dune-buggies.  The Mechs and Battle Armour were clearly marked as the First Davion Guards RCT.  Quickly relaying the message they were ordered by their base to intervene on the side of the Davion Guard claiming six kills between them with a mix of Light autocannon and missile fire.  It was only later the pilots discovered that they had saved Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion and her children from assassination.
   The next day both pilots were awarded the Sunburst Medal by the Heir-designate Prince Burton Davion, one of the passengers of the limo while Nock Heavy Engineering Inc was handed an order for three hundred fighters based on the two prototypes named the Rostock Superiority fighter in honour of the battle on New Avalon.  Twenty of these aircraft were assigned to the First Davion Guards RCT at a request from Marshal Bishop Sortek in an effort to respect and honour the pilots and the aircraft.

Alpha                           Conventional Fighter          50 tons
Equipment:                          Mass
Power Plant:                    250 Fusion                    12.5
                                Safe Thrust:    5
                                Maximum Thrust: 8
Engine Shielding:                                              6.5
Structural Integrity:          5                             0
Heat Sinks:                     10                             0
Fuel:                                                          3
Cockpit, Avionics & Attitude Thrusters:                        5
Armour Type:                    48 pts                         3
Location               Standard Scale Armour Pts
Nose:                              15
Left/Right Wings:             12
Aft:                            9

Weapons and Equipment      Location Max Range             Mass
2 Machine Gun              Nose         Short                  1
Rotary AC/2                R/L Wing     Medium                16
Ammo (MG) 100              Body                                0.5
Ammo (RAC/2) 90            Body                                1
CASE Equipment             Body                                0.5

Rostock                           Conventional Fighter          50 tons
Equipment:                          Mass
Power Plant:                    250 Fusion                    12.5
                                Safe Thrust:    5
                                Maximum Thrust: 8
Engine Shielding:                                              6.5
Structural Integrity:          5                             0
Heat Sinks:                     10                             0
Fuel:                                                          3
Cockpit, Avionics & Attitude Thrusters:                        5
Armour Type Ferro-aluminium:    44 pts                         3
Location               Standard Scale Armour Pts
Nose:                              14
Left/Right Wings:             11
Aft:                            8

Weapons and Equipment      Location Max Range             Mass
Medium Laser               Nose         Short                  1
MML-5 with Artemis VI FCS  Nose         Varies                 4
Light AC/5                 R/L Wing     Medium                10
Ammo (Light AC/5) 20       Body                                1
Ammo (MML-5) 20/24         Body                                2
CASE Equipment             Body                                0.5