Yellow Jacket

Yellow Jacket VTOL TRO3058.jpg
Yellow Jacket Gunship
Production information
Manufacturer Michaelson Heavy Industries
Production Year 3058[1]
Mission Assault
Type VTOL
Cost 1,120,000 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 30 tons
Armor StarSlab/3
Engine Michaelson-Omni 40 Internal Combustion
Speed 97.2 km/h
Crew 1
Communications System Garret Supremesound
Targeting Tracking System Garret D2j
Heat Sinks None
Armament

1x Gauss rifle

BV (1.0) 1,110[2][3]
BV (2.0) 782[4][5]


Description[edit]

One of numerous VTOL designs produced by Michaelson Heavy Industries in response to the Clan threat, the Yellow Jacket Gunship provides one of the most mobile fire-support platforms in existence. Though it carries only one weapon, the Yellow Jacket is capable of sustained fire at long ranges, which makes a lance of these helicopters one of the most lethal forces an enemy can face. Field testing in the Chaos March sparked the interest of the Federated Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance who were quickly sold on the design's effectiveness against Clan and Inner Sphere enemies.[6][4]

Though not as fast as most VTOLs, the Yellow Jacket still has greater speed than most BattleMechs and OmniMechs. The Gauss rifle's long range combined with the Yellow Jacket's respectable speed keep the vehicle relatively safe, as does its heavy armor. While a single shot can destroy the rotor, like the Cavalry VTOL, the Yellow Jacket can take a direct hit to its nose from a Clan ER PPC and keep flying.[6][4]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Yellow Jacket is built around the Poland Main Model C Gauss rifle. This massive weapon, which constitutes the bulk of the craft's weight, can hurl rounds at speeds up to Mach 2.2. The Yellow Jacket's two tons of ammunition allow it to remain on the field for extended sorties, wreaking havoc on enemy lines.[6][4]

Variants[edit]

  • Ammo 
    While not recommended by Michaelson and produced only upon customer request, this variant trades out a ton of armor for an extra ton of ammo, giving the Gauss Rifle 24 shots before it has to retire from the field. BV (1.0) = 1,202[7], BV (2.0) = [8]
  • Arrow IV 
    Another new variation, Michaelson remove the Gauss Rifle in exchange for an Arrow IV missile system with two tons of reloads, with half a ton of armor removed to allow CASE to be added. BV (1.0) = 556[9], BV (2.0) = 612[10]
  • RAC 
    A recent variant, Michaelson replaced the Gauss Rifle with a Mydron Tornado Rotary AC/5 mated to a Targeting Computer, carrying two tons of ammo protected by CASE with enough weight left over to add an additional one and half tons of armor plate. BV (1.0) = 1,024[13], BV (2.0) = 797[14]

Related Vehicles[edit]

Hawk Moth - Developed by Michaelson Heavy Industries two years later, replaces the Gauss Rifle with a Light Gauss Rifle and is lighter and faster.

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was altered to Stechinsekt, which roughly translates to Stinging Insect. This was presumably done because German doesn't have a common expression for yellowjackets.
  • Unpublished but vetted errata for RS:3085u-ONN confirms the PPC variant's speed is increased to 9/14 (151 km/h) and notes the armor as heavy ferro-fibrous.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Yellow Jacket
  2. Combat Operations, p. 121
  3. Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 88
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, pp. 74-75, "Yellow Jacket VTOL Profile"
  5. Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 62
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Technical Readout: 3058, pp. 30-31, "Yellow Jacket VTOL Profile"
  7. Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 89
  8. Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 61
  9. Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 89
  10. Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 63
  11. Technical Readout: 3085, p. 190, "Old is the New New" - Yellow Jacket
  12. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 29
  13. Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 90
  14. Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 64

Bibliography[edit]