Hamilcar (DropShip class)

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Hamilcar
Production information
Manufacturer Irian Technologies
Production Year 3054[1]
Use Space Assault Ship
Type Military Aerodyne
Tech Base Star League
Technical specifications
Mass 3,575 tons
Structural Integrity 9
Length 132 meters
Width 98 meters
Height 34 meters
Drive System Unknown
Safe Thrust 2 g
Max Thrust 3 g
Fuel (tons) 97 tons
Fuel (days) 52.7 days
Armament 4 x ER Large Laser
2 x ER PPCs
2 x Large Pulse Lasers
1 x Gauss Rifle
3 LRM-15s with Artemis IV FCS
3 x LRM-20s with Artemis IV
2 x SRM-4s with Artemis
Armor Unknown
Fore: 17
Sides: 14
Aft: 15
Crew 18
Escape Pods/Life Boats 4/0
Heat Sinks 56 (112)
BV (1.0) 3,812[2]
BV (2.0) 4,162

Description

Developed by a Marik think tank, the Hamilcar-class DropShip is a unique and hard to classify space assault vessel.

When first revealed, many observers wrote the design off as a poorly designed raider, neither a fighter or 'Mech carrier. Opinions changed when the Hamilcar first saw action, defeating a group of terrorists in a showpiece of integrated action between the DropShip, Jump Jet equipped BattleMechs and Aerospace Fighters, with the ship and its cargo geared towards acting as a zero-g combat unit.

However, beyond its rather niche role and unusual design features, the Hamilcar is a relatively mediocre design at best, hampered by a mere 80 tons of fuel, scant cargo space, limited weapons array and a paltry 35 tons of armor. The vessel is so focused on operating in concert with its 'Mechs and fighter screen that it isn't a viable combatant without them.[3][4]

Armament

The Hamilcar recovered technology arsenal is almost exclusively forward facing, consisting of a Gauss Rifle, ER Large Laser, Artemis IV FCS enhanced LRM-20 and SRM-4 racks mounted in the nose, backed up by an ER large laser, LRM-20, ER PPC and Large Pulse Laser in each wing. Aft weaponry consists of a another ER large laser backed up by a LRM-15 and SRM-4, complemented by further rear-facing LRM-15's in each wing.[3][4]

Cargo

The Hamilcar features a mere 90 tons of cargo, instead devoting available space towards carrying two Lances of BattleMechs and two AeroSpace Fighter Lances. The bays for the four fighters are deserving of note for their unusual placement, directly below the engines, rather eccentric but one which allows the fighters to be removed or loaded on the ground via simple ramps, generally not possible on most other DropShips.[3][4]

Variants

No known variants

See Also

Gallery

References

  1. MUL online date for the Hamilcar (DropShip class)
  2. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 223
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Technical Readout: 3057, p. 32-33 - "Hamilcar Profile"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 30-31 - "Hamilcar Profile"

Bibliography