Drillson
Sarna News
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| Drillson | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Cyclops Inc. |
| Production Year | 3025[1] |
| Mission | Support |
| Type | Hovercraft |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 50 |
| Armor | ArcShieldHeavy |
| Engine | MaxLift 215 Fusion Engine |
| Speed | 151 km/h |
| Crew | ??? |
| Communications System | Cyclops 1[2] |
| Targeting Tracking System | Evil Eye[2] |
| Armament |
1 x Large Laser |
| BV (1.0) | 710[3] |
| BV (2.0) | 950[4] |
Description
Entering service with the Lyran Commonwealth's military in 3025, the Drillson is another example of the LCAF's preference for heavy vehicles.[5][3] The excellent performance of this heavy hovertank during the Fourth Succession War established it as one of the best of its type. The government of the Federated Suns was sufficiently impressed to make the Drillson a mainstay of the then forming Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth. [4]
The Drillson is very heavy for a hover vehicle. Much of this weight is invested in protection. The vehicle features six and half tons of ArcShield armor evenly spread across the tank, with somewhat stronger protection in the front and on the turret. This heavy protection, combined with the powerful armament, make the Drillson much more durable in combat than is usual with hover vehicles. This survivabilty allows the type to take part in the direct support of BattleMechs in combat.[5][3][4]
The targeting systems available to Drillson crews almost equal BattleMech-standards, featuring a full 360° view of the battlefield and a direct connection with the turret-mounted Laser. [5][3][4]
Armament
The Drillson relies mostly on the Cyclops Eye Large Laser based in its turret. The Laser is a home-brew design by Cyclops and the tank's targeting systems were developed especially for this weapon. Mounted alongside the Laser are two HoverTech SRM-2-racks supplied with one ton of ammunition. A single Light CrossBow LRM-10 and two Kicker Machine Guns complete the the weapons array. [5][3][4]
Variants
- Drillson I.C.E. - Armed exactly as its fusion-counterpart, the original Drillson was much slower due to the additional tonnage the heat sinks and amplifiers took up. The variants top speed is 96 kph.
- Drillson S2 - Due to the specialized nature of the targeting system, the Laser stays in this configuration. The removal of the long range missiles, however, make room for four additional SRM-2's and three tons of ammunition. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 945 [3] [4]
- ER Large Laser - A variant rumored to be under development around the War of 3039, supposedly a test-bed for the then still experimental Cyclops XII ER Large Laser, though no production models ever appeared. [4] BV (2.0) = 960[6]
- SRM - The updated post-Clan Invasion model of the Drillson replaces the HoverTech SRM racks with more ammo efficient Streak SRM-2s and swaps the Cyclops Eye not for a Extended Range Laser, but instead a Large Pulse Laser. [4] BV (2.0) = 899[7]
- Sealed - This version replaces all the standard weaponry with a pair of Light PPCs which are mounted in the turret and an MML-3 sufficient ammuniton for extended battles (33 shots SRM + 40 shots LRM). A Floatation Hull allows this model to support amphibious operations alongside the Plainsman.[8] BV (2.0) = 870[9]
References
- ↑ MUL online date for the Drillson
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 62, "Drillson Heavy Hover Tank"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 54
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 62
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Technical Readout: 3026 - p. 50
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 111
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 112
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3085, p. 191
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 37