Hydaspes

Hydaspes.png
Hydaspes
Production information
Manufacturer Various
Production Year 2840[1]
Model Standard
Class Heavy aerospace fighter
Tech Base Clan
Cost 16,311,656 C-bills[2]
Technical specifications
Mass 95 tons
Structural Integrity
Frame Type 992-35E
Power Plant Aerofusion 285 XL engine
Armor Forging II Ferro-Aluminum
Fuel
Armament
Communications System CCC T-55
Tracking & Targeting System CCC D5.2J with Artemis IV
Heat Sinks 23 double heat sinks
BV (1.0) 3,270[2][3]
3,341[4]
BV (2.0) 3,701[5]

Description[edit]

Developed as a long-range combatant, Hydaspes heavy aerospace fighter is one of the most deadly fighters in the Clan toumans, even if it has been relegated to second-line status with the development of OmniFighters.[3]

Among the earliest fighters designed after Operation Klondike, Clan Cloud Cobra mated their newly developed advances in laser technologies with a thoroughly modern airframe to produce a design in advance of anything the SLDF had made. Derived from the famous Star League era Garret D2j targeting and tracking system, the newer CCC D5.2J is designed to target foes at extreme ranges, pouring on an increasingly devastating level of firepower as it closes with the target. While relatively slow, after two centuries of service the extremely potent Hydaspes is seen across almost all Clan toumans. Due to its heavy use of advanced technology, including 22.5 tons of Forging II ferro-aluminum armor, 23 double heat sinks and a 285 AeroFusion XL engine, some of the more resource poor Clans have difficulties fielding the design.[3]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

Focused primarily towards savaging its targets at range, the Hydaspes is built around a trio of Series XIV ER large lasers, one mounted in the nose and one beside an Artemis IV FCS-enhanced Type XV "Long Bow" LRM-15 in each wing. Short ranges aren't neglected, with three paired sets of Series PPS-XIX medium pulse lasers fitted to the nose and wings, with two aft-mounted CCWP-37 Mk. 2 Streak SRM-6 launchers discouraging any attacks from the rear. While four tons of LRM reloads and a single ton for the ammo-efficient Streak missile launcher give the launchers reasonable endurance, but the large volume of energy weapons overstress the fighter's heat dissipation abilities.[3]

Variants[edit]

Custom Variants[edit]

  • Hydaspes Algar 
    This version of the Hydaspes is used by Star Commander Algar of Clan Snow Raven. Based on the Hydaspes 2, this variant removes the heavy lasers and replaces them with ER medium lasers to cover the front and rear arcs. The ATM-9 launchers were removed and replaced with larger ATM-12 systems, providing 48 missiles in a single salvo. Six tons of fuel provides enough for combat, but not so much as to be wasteful. BV (1.0) = 3,374[10]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Hydaspes 3 variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:[8]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Hydaspes
  2. 2.0 2.1 Combat Operations, p. 109
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Technical Readout: 3067, pp. 170-171, "Hydaspes Fighter Profile"
  4. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 172
  5. Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged, p. 299
  6. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 173
  7. Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged, p. 300
  8. 8.0 8.1 Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. 199
  9. Record Sheets: Prototypes, p. 94
  10. Record Sheets: Unique Fighters, p. 10

Bibliography[edit]