Re: The Fleets ( that you know of)
the first is The Mace...it will be the A10 of Hammers. Built for Ground support anti-armor and attacks on smaller Cap ships , like destroyers on down. The Mace will have 4 hard points, 2 on each side. four Cannon Mounded around the Nose and 2 pulse ports on each side..they are slower then the MArk Va but about the same speed as a MK II hammer. The Mace can be flown by 1 pilot, but a second crewman is needed for the 'heavybomb' drops...
the Second will be the HAmmer MK Va...Built along the lines of the Junky hammers the EDT tried to force down our throats...these will be faster and Lighter, good in both atmo and the Black..they will have 2 hard points for One Missile each...a pair of Cannon on each side of the Nose ( belt fed and Loaded through the fuselage on each side)...on the wings will be a LAzar port and a Pulse port on each side....In the center of the Nose is the "tag" cannon a clip of five tags for Tagging salvage or crippled fighters , so we can recover them...behind the Pilot seat is a space for a passenger, but ..rather cramped.
The Morning Star..... is a gunship, designed for heavy firepower support to ground-based troops. It's designed to fill a niche role--it doesn't have the 'heavy single payload' capabilities of a Mace, it's not as fast or as maneuverable as a Hammer--it is intended to provide massive firepower, in a very limited area, for a sustained period of time, from a stand-off distance that keeps it relatively safe from ground fire.
Originally envisioned as a three-man crewed plane, improvements in computer operations and shortages in available crew personnel led to redesigns with heavy automation, simplifying operations so that a single crewperson can manage the roles of pilot, navigator, and gunner, through combinations of HUD displays and touch-screen controls in the cockpit. Additionally, the autopilot is capable enough that the pilot can, if necessary leave the cockpit for brief periods to troubleshoot operational issues in the plane.
It's large, for a combat craft--built off the same airframe as the Stoly-class assault shuttle, though various modifications to the design resulted in it being noticeably larger than the Stoly. The engine configuration is different, however...the Morning Star has enough VTOL capability for launch and landing, but is not capable of a sustained hover with the weapons in operation. It has both endo- and exo-atmospheric flight capability, but it's designs severely limit its effectiveness in space-bound combat (its maneuverability is severely hampered due to the extremely limited amount of reaction jets that enable non-atmospheric maneuvers...it's a beast to fly in space, designed to maneuver just enough to be able to take off and land from a space-bound platform.) In the atmosphere, it is capable of supersonic flight in Earth-standard atmospheres, and its wings enable aerodynamic maneuvering, and can drop into a 'low consumption' mode that will allow it at least a couple of hours of linger time over a target area, but at much lower speeds.
It has a variety of weapons. The wings are fitted with under-wing hardpoints that can carry either dumb-rocket pods or anti-radiation missiles (which will home in on radar or other active detection systems targeting the Morning Star). Mounted laterally through the fuselage (sideways-firing) are a 120mm Howitzer artillery gun as well as twin pulse cannons. The Howitzer has a variety of options for rounds to fire, and can even switch between rounds in flight, thanks to the onboard automation. Options include smoke rounds, the anti-Demon gas (or other chemical) rounds, high-explosive, incendiary, and fragmentation anti-personnel rounds. The pulse cannons can effectively fire off four pulse rounds for each Howitzer round fired. Both weapons are mounted on a limited-motion turret that allows them to fire slightly ahead or behind of the Morning Star's current position, but they are not capable of firing directly ahead or behind the plane (another reason for the plane's lack of capability in space conflict).
On top of the fuselage, mounted in a turret with a slightly larger range of motion (but still incapable of firing straight ahead or behind),is a 40mm Gatling-style rotary cannon, capable of being loaded out with pulse, explosive, incendiary, or plain-slug rounds, and capable of firing several thousand rounds a minute (another reason why the plane can't operate in 'hover' mode...with its weapons firing, the recoil would shift the plane's position faster than the automated piloting-assist and fire-control systems could compensate for).
Below the fuselage, in the only turret that has a full 360-degree traverse and a 70-degree elevation (it can't fire straight down, but can be directed to fire downward at a very steep angle) are twin .50cal miniguns, each capable of sustained fire of several thousand rounds per minute. These may be loaded with armor-piercing, explosive, depleted uranium, or 'plain iron' rounds (or a mix of all the above. This design was intended to allow the Morning Star to help secure its own landing zone, if necessary, and it, combined with creative use of the anti-radiation missiles, is the only in-flight defensive firepower the Morning Star carries.
While the plane is designed to be able to linger above a battlefield for a couple of hours, it only has enough ammo capacity to sustain about fifteen minutes of continuous fire. This necessitates that the majority of the interior space be dedicated to fuel and ammo storage, all of which is done modularly, allowing for a quick rearm/refuel period (extra modules can be prepared while the plane is sortied, when it comes back in the spent modules can be ejected and replaced, at which point the plane can deploy again and the spent modules can be reloaded.) This also allows for a theoretical improvement in the plane's survival if it DOES take fire, as damaged components can be ejected before the ammo or fuel cooks off (but if one of them DID get hit and burn off, it would be a pretty spectacular way to go out in a blazing ball of flames).
A critical component of the automation is the fire-control system, which allows the pilot to select which weapons to fire, helps identify threats on the ground, and instantly adjusts for range and windage (although the windage compensation may rely on gauging where a fired round actually hits, as opposed to where it was targeted. The majority of the Morning Star's weaponry is actually heavy enough to all but ignore the effects of all but the strongest winds). Additionally, the FCS has two modes--Precision and Fire For Effect. Precision focuses all the weapons on the smallest area possible, resulting in a devastating amount of damage to a relatively tiny location. Fire For Effect spreads the fire around, adjusting minutely as it fires to saturate an area with incoming rounds, and can quickly decimate a force moving on open ground. There is also an automatic IFF circuit to prevent friendly fire incidents. This can be over-ridden if someone requests a fire mission that is dangerously close, but if it isn't deactivated before attempting to fire, the weapons will not fire within a safe radius of any detected friendly troops (troops must also have an IFF transmitter, standard on most infantry and vehicular armor.)
(added) --Bunker-buster gas bombs. They need fire-and-forget capability, so they have to be smart bombs. They're basically a dual-projectile system, where the first uses a shaped charge to punch through the exterior (bunker, mountainside, armored door, ship's hull, etc.) and create a breach through which the second can penetrate and deliver a gas round inside the Demons' fortifications.
The Morning Star is also well-armored, with a full suite of countermeasures (electronic jamming, stealth technology, flares and chaff, and decoy drones), in addition to the anti-radiation missiles, which give it a dangerous capability for 'wild weasel' missions where it can be sent in ahead of regular combat planes to eliminate ground-based targeting facilities.
In terms of general aesthetics, it's not an attractive plane. It was built off a shuttle airframe, so it lacks the sleek lines of the Hammer or even the Mace. Sensor pods and jamming systems, along with the external hardpoints on the wings, make it even more bulky and awkward-looking. To those who look at its functionality, rather than its 'lines', however, it is a beautiful, dreadful, deadly piece of equipment and its pilots take a certain degree of pride in flying such an 'ugly' plane.
R&D update... weapons
Cluster Bombs--mounted on external hardpoints, max 2 per wing, with a variety of options for different mission profiles--
--standard exploding fragmentation bomblets, designed to blanket a broad area with high-velocity metallic particles about 5mm in diameter
--chemical bombs (typically loaded with the anti-Demon gas, but they could be easily adapted for other chemical-based applications)
--incendiary bombs, a combination of white phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and thermite particles in a more flammable version of napalm that is self-oxidizing and can burn in an oxygen-free environment
105mm Ion Rounds--designed to fire from the howitzer, loaded in a specially-modified magazine that is chemically self-sealing to contain the ion dust if the magazine takes fire during combat. The rounds are a discarding-sabot style--an inert outer shell that breaks away after firing, containing a central core that has ion dust bomblets (residue from the ion cannon used on the Harvester) packed around a C10 core that can be triggered by impact or set for aerial burst, creating a large cloud of ion dust in either case, that settles to the ground and affects the energy systems of anything it contacts. It will be unsafe for aircraft to fly through the detonation area for at least an hour afterwards, and possibly longer, depending on gravity and atmospheric conditions (the ion particles are relatively heavy, but in low gravity, they will settle more slowly, and strong winds can still keep them airborne for longer periods.)
Darts.....
Darts are new Fighters Given to us from the Angels of the 'Blue Moon'. The are smaller and More Nibble the any Hammers... The Angels of the two moons used standard Angel weapons, but they have been improved on my Hermes ground crews.
Angular wings sweeping back, shorter then Hammers for tighter turns. Cockpit is Even with the Middle of the wing. Tighter fit then Most for use of the Jump seat.. Tail fin 'leans' back with swept back elevators
They have a pair Of Pulse guns one lazre Gun on each wing. On the Nose a 37mm Gatling Cannon that fires through the Nose....it is meant for attacking fighters and smaller warships...Shadow has also used them for ground support, though they are not really armored to take the Punishment from AA guns....The 37 MM Gatling Cannon and power weapons on the wings do help with ground support, and their speed makes them harder to hit with normal ground fire
there is a "tag" cannon mounted Under the nose.Like all ESN fighters. there is a Jumpseat behind the pilot to pick up a fellow pilot or stranded Ground trooper.
Bullets....( Never Produced)ESN fighters made on Everest..fast , light armored, have a small edge on a Dart...twin Pulse guns on each wing, Gatling 37MM one the nose (( these never made production, after Darts hit the assembly line))
Arrows..( Never Produced).ESN Fighters made on Everest... Normal speed, about that of a Hammer III, but can turn out of a Dive or climb a bit more easy.. has 4 Pulse cannons on each wing...and 3 50 cal hard ammo MGs in the nose.(( These never made it past testing, Hafter Hammer V and Va was introduced ))
Arrows can be fitted with a LAncer Torpedo..smaller then the torpedo that regular torpedo craft carry..they have an AP warhead, that Breaks and sets off an HE explosive.
Hammer Va..... the first Hammer Vs were built by EDT friendly companies, and were 'death traps".. The ESN took the concept and Made the HAmmer Va... Longer then the HAmmer IV, but more sleek..wings are as Long as the Hammer IV, but a tad swept Back.. The cockpit is even with the middle of the wing, and has a bit more room in the cockpit Twin Pulse Guns and one lazar on each wing..Gatling Cannon in the Nose, Tag cannon Under the nose. They can dive as well as any craft, But climbing turns are slower,The rounded stabilizer and elevators were made for more stable Gun platform..this was a fleet favorite, Until the Darts arrived.
Insect Class Fighters....
The BEE...... fits in size between the Hammer Va and the Dart. the wings are shorter with tips curved forward.. two heavy Pulse runs on each wing... with one lazar gun mounted just out side those.. Under the nose of the fighters is the gunport for the Gatling 37MM hard ammo cannon...and the Tag Cannon on the nose.
One seater with Jump seat.. it is a bit slower then the Dart, because of added armor, but faster then the Hammer Va, it can turn a bit better then the dart.
NOVAS....Verian Fighters from Uden, given to the Fleet as part of thier contribution to the APF war effort.
The Novas used by ESN pilots are armed with a 37MM gatling Cannon in the Nose , with underslung Tag cannon... on the wings are three Heavy Pulse on each wing, with a Lazar weapon mounted under the Middle Pulse Guns.. Humans tend to use the lazars for 'tracers'... Verians have two more Heavy Pulse Guns in the Nose, and do not have the GAtling Cannon.
Shaped like soda Bottle, the nose widens into the Body but the stubby body stops a Yard behind the End of the Cockpit. With shorter thicker wings, the Nova can turn and Make Climbing turns.. and dives real well. the cockpit is only covered with Metaglass to , just behind, the Pilot's chair, then it is metal plating the rest of the way back..it is Fast enough to dogfight, and armed enough to strafe
HAMMER VII.... Not Much is Known thus far. Long Thin bodies with swept back wings.... at least three Heavy Pulse on each wing... Gatling cannon on the nose.. they appear well armored... Intel folks have told troops to look for wreckage
Mantis...
Final version of Fighters sent to the Fleet.
Smaller the Novas, a tad bigger then a DArt, swept back wings that curve Up and face forward.. 4 Barrel ..37 Gatling Cannon .. two ports for 2 rounds per rotation... 4 Heavt Puls e guns, two on wing tips.. two at Mid wing...Faster then all but the Darts, is as good as at turns as most enemy fighters.. can dive better then it Climbs.. is better at all, in The Black
Paradise Fighters
The Aircraft were called 'Harps' . Two wings on each side . the bottom wing , flat, the upper wing at an angle . Heavy pulse guns on each wing tip, with two more nose mounted heavy Pulse.
The Nose was short, with the pilots only a foot or so behind it, while being above it. three smaller thrusters arranged in a trinangle, , the tail Fins were arranged in a 'V' to match the upper wings.
two wide spread skids Hold the aircraft off the ground, by only 2 feet comparted to the 'taller' Mantis
Mosquito (Skeeters)
two wing mounted Heavy Pulse guns
there are (2) Three barrel 37 MM gatling canons that are mounted inside the cowling on either side...both are belt fed , doubling the ammo a fighter can carry.
The Undersurface has one more sheet of rolled metal, giving it a bit more protection from ground troops fire, while protection the Power Cells and ammo containers
The 'skeeter' can dive a bit faster then the Mantis, but climbs , just a bit slower, the flat under surface helps it turn faster, making it more nimble then it looks
Extra Armor behind the pilot's head to help protect the Pilot, just a bit longer,
Skids are still the landing gear
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:09, Mon 14 Mar 2022.
