Leopard (DropShip class)
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Leopard (obsolete) | |
Production information | |
Manufacturer | various |
Use | 'Mech Carrier |
Type | Aerodyne |
Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
Technical specifications | |
Mass | 1,900 tons |
Structural Integrity | |
Length | 66 meters |
Width | meters |
Height | meters |
Drive System | Star League V84 |
Safe Thrust | |
Max Thrust | |
Fuel (tons) | |
Fuel (days) | |
Armament | * 2x PPCs
|
Armor | Standard |
Crew | 9 |
Heat Sinks | 80 (single) |
BV (1.0) | 2,579 |
Contents
Description
A simple and easy-to-maintain design, the Leopard quickly became the standard lance-sized 'Mech carrier for the original Star League and the Great Houses. It's low operating costs and plethora of replacement parts (with the exception of the drive system) has allowed it to not only survive the Succession Wars as a ship class, but become the predominant entry vehicle for 'Mech recon, objective raid, and special operations missions. The two fighter bays allow for the lance's air support needs or act as enlarged cargo areas for booty.
Armament
The Leopard has an impressive weapons loadout for such a small DropShip, most useful for attacks from aerospace interceptors. It can be easily overwhelmed, however, if swarmed. While it does count on three long range missile racks for heavy hitting, two PPCs, five Large Lasers, and seven Medium Lasers give it more than enough combat capability when its munitions run out.
Cargo
Variants
The venerable Leopard, like many Succession War survivors, has had numerous modifications made throughout the vessel's class, mostly minor differences owing to the numerous manufacturers throughout known space. Other than the sister Leopard CV model, however, which is essentially a different ship type, no specific multi-number sub-classes of the Leopard currently exist as a regular production model.
Typical refits or modifications include a tank carrier version capable of carrying 12 vehicles. It is also not unknown for Leopard owners to remove the 'Mech cubicles entirely (and often the AeroSpace fighter cubicles as well) and simply use the Leopard as a cargo ship.
Upon the resurgence of technology, the Leopard benefitted from extended range and pulse weaponry, with new upgraded Leopards now being produced.