Difference between revisions of "Behemoth (DropShip class)"
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(Clan Behemoth - cool find Wrangler!) |
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| name = Behemoth | | name = Behemoth | ||
| manufacturer = [[Brigadier Corporation]]<br/>[[Galileo Instruments]]<br/>[[TAG-Manufacturing|TAG]] <ref>''Dropships and Jumpships'', p. 17</ref> | | manufacturer = [[Brigadier Corporation]]<br/>[[Galileo Instruments]]<br/>[[TAG-Manufacturing|TAG]] <ref>''Dropships and Jumpships'', p. 17</ref> | ||
| − | | production year=2782 | + | | production year=2782 |
| year reference=<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/3812/ MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref> | | year reference=<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/3812/ MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref> | ||
| Use = Cargo Carrier | | Use = Cargo Carrier | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
| − | The '''''Behemoth''''' is the largest [[DropShip]] ever constructed | + | The '''''Behemoth''''' is said to be the largest [[DropShip]] ever constructed,<ref name=all>''DropShips and JumpShips'', p. 64; ''Technical Readout: 3057'', p. 68; ''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'', p. 66</ref> at least when it entered production; other 100,000 ton vessels were created since. |
| − | Because of its sheer size, the ''Behemoth'' suffers from a number of drawbacks including a relatively weak structure, incapability of atmospheric operations, and occupying a second [[hardpoint]] on [[JumpShip]]s (see [[Behemoth (DropShip)#Quirks|Quirks]] and [[Behemoth (DropShip)#Notes|Notes]] below). Because of the weak structure, most vessels rarely operate above half their maximum thrust (0.75g) to prevent structural damage.<ref name=all/> It was noted that the inability to land means the ship has to dock with cargo stations or use shuttles to load or unload its cargo, markedly increasing operating costs.<ref name=all/> | + | While its finalized design was officially only launched in [[2782]], the ''Behemoth'' class of DropShips apparently had a complicated design history going back as far as [[2650]], with prototypes existing in [[2658]] (see [[Behemoth (DropShip)#Notes|Notes]] below). Originally designed by [[Krester's Ship Construction]], the ''Behemoth'' was sold to foreign customers, and thus its construction continued on after the company's demise.<ref>''The Star League'', p. 165</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | Because of its sheer size, the ''Behemoth'' suffers from a number of drawbacks including a relatively weak structure, incapability of atmospheric operations, and occupying (or blocking) a second [[hardpoint]] on [[JumpShip]]s (see [[Behemoth (DropShip)#Quirks|Quirks]] and [[Behemoth (DropShip)#Notes|Notes]] below). Because of the weak structure, most vessels rarely operate above half their maximum thrust (0.75g) to prevent structural damage.<ref name=all/> It was noted that the inability to land means the ship has to dock with cargo stations or use shuttles to load or unload its cargo, markedly increasing operating costs.<ref name=all/> | ||
The internal layout of a ''Behemoth'' is such that the bridge deck is self-sufficient, with independent life support and power supply, and can easily be sealed off.<ref name=all/> Seizing control of a ''Behemoth'' is thus nearly impossible. The ''Behemoth'' is noted for comfortable individual rooms for its crew of fifty, a large hydroponic garden, a medical facility, an exercise room, a lounge, and a relatively spacious mess hall.<ref name=all/> | The internal layout of a ''Behemoth'' is such that the bridge deck is self-sufficient, with independent life support and power supply, and can easily be sealed off.<ref name=all/> Seizing control of a ''Behemoth'' is thus nearly impossible. The ''Behemoth'' is noted for comfortable individual rooms for its crew of fifty, a large hydroponic garden, a medical facility, an exercise room, a lounge, and a relatively spacious mess hall.<ref name=all/> | ||
| − | Because of its exceptionally poor combat performance, the ''Behemoth'' class | + | Because of its exceptionally poor combat performance, the ''Behemoth'' class rarely partakes in combat. Consequently, few have been lost to combat action and a relatively large number remains in operation.<ref>''DropShips and JumpShips'', p. 65</ref> The high cost of running a ''Behemoth'' ensures that only the largest trading companies can afford to operate them and they ply only the busiest trade routes, usually far from any conflict. |
| − | + | In the 31st century, [[Duke]] [[Hassid Ricol]] of the [[Draconis Combine]] was somewhat famous for being the only person to privately own a ''Behemoth''-class DropShip.<ref>''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 162, "Mówáng-class courier"</ref> | |
==Armament== | ==Armament== | ||
| Line 46: | Line 48: | ||
*Bay 3: Cargo (37,486 tons) - 10 Doors | *Bay 3: Cargo (37,486 tons) - 10 Doors | ||
(The cargo capacity changed slightly across various publications, owing to changes in the spacecraft construction rules: Initially, ''[[DropShips and JumpShips]]'' gave a cargo capacity of 85,000 tons; ''[[Technical Readout: 3057]]'' later changed it to to 75,121 tons and ''[[Technical Readout: 3057 Revised]]'' finally gave the definitive stats given above.) | (The cargo capacity changed slightly across various publications, owing to changes in the spacecraft construction rules: Initially, ''[[DropShips and JumpShips]]'' gave a cargo capacity of 85,000 tons; ''[[Technical Readout: 3057]]'' later changed it to to 75,121 tons and ''[[Technical Readout: 3057 Revised]]'' finally gave the definitive stats given above.) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Variants== | ||
| + | No variants of the ''Behemoth'' are known. | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is visual evidence of the [[Clans]] using the design as well,<ref>Image captioned as "Clan Behemoth DropShip" on p. 71 of ''Technical Readout: 3057''; compare to image of a regular Inner Sphere ''Behemoth'' captioned as built by Brigadier Corp. on p. 9 - both images remained unchanged in ''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'' and the page numbers remained the same too.</ref> but it is unknown if the vessel in question was built by the Clans (it might have been captured during the [[Clan Invasion]]). The image of said vessel was captioned as "Clan Behemoth DropShip" and highlights several supposedly altered or upgraded features or components, including supposed upgrades of its laser suite to ER models. No further details about its configuration are known, however. | ||
==Quirks== | ==Quirks== | ||
| − | No [[Design Quirk]]s are expressly mentioned in the writeup for the ''Behemoth'' (neither in the most recent writeup in ''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'' nor in any previous publication), | + | No [[Design Quirk]]s are expressly mentioned in the writeup for the ''Behemoth'' (neither in the most recent writeup in ''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'' nor in any previous publication), as all publications detailing the ''Behemoth'' class predate the introduction of the Quirk rules. The design's consistent descriptions implies that the following quirks should apply: |
*[[Design_Quirks#Large_DropShip_.5BBT.2C_AS.5D|Large DropShip]]; this Quirk's description in ''Strategic Operations'' expressly mentions the ''Behemoth'',<ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 198 (Large DropShip quirk)</ref> and it was also described in the design's writeup in ''DropShips and JumpShips''<ref>''DropShips and JumpShips'', p. 64</ref> long before Quirk rules existed (see also Notes below); | *[[Design_Quirks#Large_DropShip_.5BBT.2C_AS.5D|Large DropShip]]; this Quirk's description in ''Strategic Operations'' expressly mentions the ''Behemoth'',<ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 198 (Large DropShip quirk)</ref> and it was also described in the design's writeup in ''DropShips and JumpShips''<ref>''DropShips and JumpShips'', p. 64</ref> long before Quirk rules existed (see also Notes below); | ||
*[[Design_Quirks#Un-streamlined_.5BBT.2C_AS.2C_SBF.5D|Un-streamlined]]; the ''Behemoth'' is explicitly described as "incapable of atmospheric operations or planetary landings"<ref>''Technical Readout: 3057'', p. 68; ''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'', p. 66</ref> and the ship's entry in ''Technical Readout: 3057'' even contained a note saying "May not operate in atmosphere".<ref>''Technical Readout: 3057'', p. 68</ref> | *[[Design_Quirks#Un-streamlined_.5BBT.2C_AS.2C_SBF.5D|Un-streamlined]]; the ''Behemoth'' is explicitly described as "incapable of atmospheric operations or planetary landings"<ref>''Technical Readout: 3057'', p. 68; ''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'', p. 66</ref> and the ship's entry in ''Technical Readout: 3057'' even contained a note saying "May not operate in atmosphere".<ref>''Technical Readout: 3057'', p. 68</ref> | ||
Revision as of 03:04, 13 July 2019
| 191px | |
| Behemoth | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Brigadier Corporation Galileo Instruments TAG [1] |
| Production Year | 2782[2] |
| Use | Cargo Carrier |
| Type | Civilian Spheroid |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 100,000 tons |
| Structural Integrity | 30 |
| Length | 200 meters |
| Width | 200 meters |
| Height | 275 meters |
| Drive System | Sunburst M-200L Megadrive |
| Safe Thrust | 1 g |
| Max Thrust | 1.5 g |
| Fuel (tons) | 600 tons |
| Fuel (days) | 68 days |
| Armament | 4x Large Lasers 10x Medium Lasers |
| Armor | 210 tons Standard Fore: 5 Sides: 5 Aft: 6 |
| Crew | 50 |
| Escape Pods/Life Boats | 5/5 |
| Heat Sinks | 158 |
| BV (1.0) | 1,684[3] |
| BV (2.0) | 1,017 |
Description
The Behemoth is said to be the largest DropShip ever constructed,[4] at least when it entered production; other 100,000 ton vessels were created since.
While its finalized design was officially only launched in 2782, the Behemoth class of DropShips apparently had a complicated design history going back as far as 2650, with prototypes existing in 2658 (see Notes below). Originally designed by Krester's Ship Construction, the Behemoth was sold to foreign customers, and thus its construction continued on after the company's demise.[5]
Because of its sheer size, the Behemoth suffers from a number of drawbacks including a relatively weak structure, incapability of atmospheric operations, and occupying (or blocking) a second hardpoint on JumpShips (see Quirks and Notes below). Because of the weak structure, most vessels rarely operate above half their maximum thrust (0.75g) to prevent structural damage.[4] It was noted that the inability to land means the ship has to dock with cargo stations or use shuttles to load or unload its cargo, markedly increasing operating costs.[4]
The internal layout of a Behemoth is such that the bridge deck is self-sufficient, with independent life support and power supply, and can easily be sealed off.[4] Seizing control of a Behemoth is thus nearly impossible. The Behemoth is noted for comfortable individual rooms for its crew of fifty, a large hydroponic garden, a medical facility, an exercise room, a lounge, and a relatively spacious mess hall.[4]
Because of its exceptionally poor combat performance, the Behemoth class rarely partakes in combat. Consequently, few have been lost to combat action and a relatively large number remains in operation.[6] The high cost of running a Behemoth ensures that only the largest trading companies can afford to operate them and they ply only the busiest trade routes, usually far from any conflict.
In the 31st century, Duke Hassid Ricol of the Draconis Combine was somewhat famous for being the only person to privately own a Behemoth-class DropShip.[7]
Armament
As a civilian cargo carrier, the Behemoth's armament is pitiful at best, consisting of 4 Large Lasers backed up by 10 Medium Lasers. Intended as purely defensive, they are arrayed along the bottom/rear of the craft with the nose completely bare. The high cost of the craft keeping them far from any need to use these weapons has protected them far better that the lasers and 15 tons of standard armor.
Cargo
The Behemoth's cargo capacity of 74,972 tons is split into twenty cargo decks linked by a central spire running the length of the vessel. Four heavy duty cargo lifts allow transit of cargo within the vessel. Due to the large degree of compartmentalization, the Behemoth can easily deal with both cargo that can and cannot be exposed to vacuum. Owing to its heavy reliance on shuttles for cargo transfers, the Behemoth features twenty small craft bays.
- Bay 1: Small Craft (20) - 4 Doors
- Bay 2: Cargo (37,486 tons) - 10 Doors
- Bay 3: Cargo (37,486 tons) - 10 Doors
(The cargo capacity changed slightly across various publications, owing to changes in the spacecraft construction rules: Initially, DropShips and JumpShips gave a cargo capacity of 85,000 tons; Technical Readout: 3057 later changed it to to 75,121 tons and Technical Readout: 3057 Revised finally gave the definitive stats given above.)
Variants
No variants of the Behemoth are known.
There is visual evidence of the Clans using the design as well,[8] but it is unknown if the vessel in question was built by the Clans (it might have been captured during the Clan Invasion). The image of said vessel was captioned as "Clan Behemoth DropShip" and highlights several supposedly altered or upgraded features or components, including supposed upgrades of its laser suite to ER models. No further details about its configuration are known, however.
Quirks
No Design Quirks are expressly mentioned in the writeup for the Behemoth (neither in the most recent writeup in Technical Readout: 3057 Revised nor in any previous publication), as all publications detailing the Behemoth class predate the introduction of the Quirk rules. The design's consistent descriptions implies that the following quirks should apply:
- Large DropShip; this Quirk's description in Strategic Operations expressly mentions the Behemoth,[9] and it was also described in the design's writeup in DropShips and JumpShips[10] long before Quirk rules existed (see also Notes below);
- Un-streamlined; the Behemoth is explicitly described as "incapable of atmospheric operations or planetary landings"[11] and the ship's entry in Technical Readout: 3057 even contained a note saying "May not operate in atmosphere".[12]
- Weak structure - Operating at maximum thrust of 1.5g (or above 0.8g according to DropShips and JumpShips) is said to damage the vessel's structure and cause stress cracks.
Notes
- There are contradicting dates for the introduction of the Behemoth. Most sources including the Master Unit List state that it was introduced in 2782, the writeup for Krester's Ship Construction in The Star League (p. 165) states that the first prototypes of the Behemoth and the Mammoth made their maiden flights as early as 2650. It goes on to narrate how Krester's had been promised by the Terran Hegemony that they would be able to sell both designs to other powers, only for both designs to be blacklisted nonetheless which supposedly led to the theft of two prototypes in 2650 {sic} and Krester's being subsequently allowed to sell the designs abroad after all because they would be reverse-engineered; since this is before the first prototypes reportedly made their maiden flights (in 2658), either the 2650 or the 2658 date is presumably wrong.
- When the Behemoth was introduced to the BattleTech universe, the concurrent construction/space travel rules postulated that a DropShip required two docking hardpoints for every 60,000 tons (or fraction thereof) of mass to dock with a JumpShip. Consequently the Behemoth, the only DropShip massing over 60,000 tons, was said to take up the space for two vessels when docked to a JumpShip.
Under current rules (Strategic Operations), a hardpoint can dock DropShips up to 100,000 tons. From the context, it could be argued that the Behemoth does not actually need two hardpoints (and could thus be carried on a JumpShip with only a single hardpoint), but would block an adjacent hardpoint on some JumpShips due to its sheer size. - Similarly, the structural weakness of the Behemoth and the danger of stress cracks is not reflected in any actual game rules.
- Though the design can not enter dense atmosphere or endure high gravity it is able to carefully land on low gravity planetoids and therefore includes landing legs.[citation needed]
References
- ↑ Dropships and Jumpships, p. 17
- ↑ MUL online date for the Behemoth (DropShip class)
- ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 263
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 DropShips and JumpShips, p. 64; Technical Readout: 3057, p. 68; Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 66
- ↑ The Star League, p. 165
- ↑ DropShips and JumpShips, p. 65
- ↑ Handbook: House Liao, p. 162, "Mówáng-class courier"
- ↑ Image captioned as "Clan Behemoth DropShip" on p. 71 of Technical Readout: 3057; compare to image of a regular Inner Sphere Behemoth captioned as built by Brigadier Corp. on p. 9 - both images remained unchanged in Technical Readout: 3057 Revised and the page numbers remained the same too.
- ↑ Strategic Operations, p. 198 (Large DropShip quirk)
- ↑ DropShips and JumpShips, p. 64
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3057, p. 68; Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 66
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3057, p. 68