Well, here is an attack/scout VTOL used by my vision of the TDF. Wasn't sure where to post it, since we have a 'Mech and an Aero, but not a vehicle sub-board. I'm sure ya'll will let me know if it needs to be moved. LOL Enjoy.
==Overview:==
One of the most scout/light attack VTOLs in Taurian service is the 25-ton
Shrike. Produced locally by Taurus Territiorial Industries at plants on
Taurus and Sterope, the Shrike is found in the garrison forces of nearly every
Taurian world.
==Capabilities:==
At 25 tons, the Shrike is considered to be a heavy VTOL craft, capable of
operating in virtually all roles that the TDF Armor Corps requires other than
transport. Using a high-efficiency 135 Twin-Intake Turbine I.C.E. engine, the
Shrike is able to maintain a maximum speed of 183.6 kilometers per hour, while
the internal fuel tanks allow for a combat radius in excess of 250
kilometers.
The two-man crew of the Shrike (pilot, weapon/sensor systems operator) have
excellent visibility from the lightly armored in-line dual cockpit, a feature
that reduces the crafts frontal profile and makes the Shrike harder to target
from dead ahead or astern.
Twin Aurora Missiliers Privet 5-tube LRM launchers are the only fixed weapons
on this design. One Privet is fixed to fire forward on each side of the
cockpit, with missile reloads stored in the central body beneath the cockpit.
A total of forty-eight missile salvoes (2 tons) are carried aboard, giving the
Shrike exceptional endurance.
The long-range and high speed of the VTOL, combined with its LRM bombardment
capability make this vehicle an ideal air cavalry scout and light attack
vehicle.
==Variants:==
The Shrike B is the close-combat version, replacing the twin Aurora Missilier
Privets with a pair of Aurora Missilier Foxglove quad-tube SRM launchers and
50 missile salvoes. Roughly one-in-three of all Shrikes in service are the B
variant.
==Deployment==
The Taurian Defense Forces Armored Corps operates the Shrike, primarily for
local defense of Taurian worlds. Each company in the Armor Corps is assigned
a maniple of two Shrikes in place of the air lance that a 'Mech unit would
have. This provides 6 Shrikes (a full lance) for each and every armor
battalion in service. The Shrikes assigned to armor corps battalions are
primarily used for recon and to support the ground elements.
In addition to the Shrikes directly assigned to support ground elements, the
TDF operates independent Air Cavalry Troops, Squadrons, and Regiments
comprised of Shrikes (18 per Troop, 54 per Squadron; 162 per Regiment). These
Shrikes can scout, but they mostly train and prepare themselves for the attack
role, both in an independent role as well as close-air support for the ground
elements.
Most Taurian worlds have an Air Cavalry Troop at the very least assigned to
their defenses. A few have a full-strength Squadron assigned, but only the
most industrialized and important worlds (like Taurus, Sterope, Pinard, and
New Vandenberg) have one or more Air Cavalry Regiments comprised of Shrikes.
BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Type/Model: Shrike A Attack VTOL
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Config: V.T.O.L.
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Mass: 25 tons
Power Plant: 135 135 ICE Twin intake Turbine I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 118.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 183.6 km/h
Armor Type: Renault Composite 56 Standard
Armament:
2 Aurora Missiliers Privet LRM 5s
Manufacturer: Taurus Territiorial Industries
Location: Taurus, Sterope
Communications System: Wintershaven Comm Mark IV Multi-Spectrum IVIS
Targeting & Tracking System: Bell & Sun Phalanx Bronze
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Shrike A Attack VTOL
Mass: 25 tons
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 15 pts Standard 0 2.50
Engine: 135 I.C.E. 0 9.00
Cruise MP: 11
Flank MP: 17
Heat Sinks: 0 Single 0 .00
Cockpit & Controls: 0 1.50
Crew: 2 Members 0 .00
Rotor Equipment: Main/Tail Rotors 0 2.50
Armor Factor: 56 pts Standard 0 3.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 3 14
Left / Right Sides: 3 14/14
Rear: 3 12
Rotor: 3 2
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 LRM 5 Front 0 24 2 3.00
1 LRM 5 Front 0 24 1 3.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 0 3 25.00
Items & Tons Left: 7 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 643,958 C-Bills
Battle Value: 560
Cost per BV: 1,149.93
Weapon Value: 84 / 84 (Ratio = .15 / .15)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 4; MRDmg = 5; LRDmg = 3
BattleForce2: MP: 11V, Armor/Structure: 0 / 2
Damage PB/M/L: -/1/1, Overheat: 0
Class: VA; Point Value: 6
Specials: if
BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Type/Model: Shrike B Attack VTOL
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3025
Config: V.T.O.L.
Rules: Level 1, Custom design
Mass: 25 tons
Power Plant: 135 135 ICE Twin intake Turbine I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 118.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 183.6 km/h
Armor Type: Renault Composite 56 Standard
Armament:
2 Aurora Missiliers Foxglove SRM 4s
Manufacturer: Taurus Territiorial Industries
Location: Taurus, Sterope
Communications System: Wintershaven Comm Mark IV Multi-Spectrum IVIS
Targeting & Tracking System: Bell & Sun Phalanx Bronze
--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model: Shrike B Attack VTOL
Mass: 25 tons
Equipment: Items Mass
Int. Struct.: 15 pts Standard 0 2.50
Engine: 135 I.C.E. 0 9.00
Cruise MP: 11
Flank MP: 17
Heat Sinks: 0 Single 0 .00
Cockpit & Controls: 0 1.50
Crew: 2 Members 0 .00
Rotor Equipment: Main/Tail Rotors 0 2.50
Armor Factor: 56 pts Standard 0 3.50
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front: 3 14
Left / Right Sides: 3 14/14
Rear: 3 12
Rotor: 3 2
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Items Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 SRM 4 Front 0 25 2 3.00
1 SRM 4 Front 0 25 1 3.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: 0 3 25.00
Items & Tons Left: 7 .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 742,958 C-Bills
Battle Value: 489
Cost per BV: 1,519.34
Weapon Value: 86 / 86 (Ratio = .18 / .18)
Damage Factors: SRDmg = 8; MRDmg = 1; LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2: MP: 11V, Armor/Structure: 0 / 2
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: VA; Point Value: 5