DropShip

Description

In the BattleTech universe a DropShip is defined as any spaceship massing between 100 and 100,000 tons that is itself incapable of faster-than-light (FTL) travel. They essentially conduct all other space travel, including transit between planets and jump points and planetary landings (hence their name). For FTL interstellar movement, they dock with JumpShips by means of a Docking collar.

The mass range is given in the construction rules and reflects the fact that it is more or less impossible to build DropShips which are smaller than 100 tons or larger than 100,000 tons. Since DropShips are meant to be carried by JumpShips, a Docking collar is an implied neccessity and is automatically included in the structure of any DropShip.

Construction and Subtypes

DropShips are the workhorse of interplanetary space travel. It is DropShips (and occasionally their smaller cousins, the Small Craft) that move cargo and passengers between planetary surfaces, orbits, space stations and jump points. While transport is their primary role, some have been built for special purposes and act as tugs, rescue ships, fighter carriers or even designated combat DropShips. Accordingly, a wide and diverse variety of DropShip types exist.

The smallest known spaceship to meet the DropShip criteria is arguably the 200-ton K-1 DropShuttle, although it is generally classified as a Small Craft instead. The largest DropShip ever constructed is the 100,000-ton Behemoth (DropShip), which due to its sheer size tends to require (or block) a second Docking collar on JumpShips, and is incapable of operating in atmosphere or planetary gravity. The biggest DropShip that can actually land on a planet and take off again is the 52,000-ton Mammoth.

The most common military BattleMech transport classes are the 1,720-ton Leopard (one Lance: 4 'Mechs, 2 Fighters), the 3,500-ton Union (one Company: 12 'Mechs, 2 Fighters) and the much rarer 9,700-ton Overlord (one Battailon: 36 'Mechs, 6 Fighters); the most common Aerospace Fighter carrier is the 1,720-ton Leopard CV class (one Squadron: 6 Fighters).

DropShips are usually cramped inside, featuring relatively little in the way of creature-comforts or extra space. Every possible hole or space in a DropShip has some sort of system or mechanism important to the operation and maintenance of the vessel. Most crews live in small, spartan quarters bunking four crewman or more a piece, though Star League-era DropShips, as well as some newer ones as of the late 3060s, feature comparatively spacious twin cabins. Except for passenger liners, which afford their attendants a bit more privacy, DropShips are very public places. Most DropShips described talk of stale air and overly-cramped living conditions.

They are based around two basic hullforms, aerodyne and spheroid (egg-shaped). Depending on their intended role, DropShips can be constructed following either of these two alternative approaches. With advantages and disadvantages evenly balanced, roughly half all DropShips belong to one subtype and half to to the other.

Aerodyne DropShips

Aerodyne DropShips are shaped roughly similar to conventional aircraft. They are generally smaller than spheroid DropShips and cannot be bigger than 35,000 tons (the biggest known aerodyne class being the 12,000-ton Titan). Through their speed, they generate lift within an atmosphere which makes them easier to control. Even if the ship suffers damage or loses thrust it is still possible to crashland so that crew and cargo might survive. They usually require runways to land and take off, making them impractical wherever runways are not readily available.

Spheroid DropShips

Spheroid (egg-shaped) DropShips use sheer thrust to vertically descend onto a planetary surface and take off in the same way. This allows them to operate independent from runways or even spaceports, making them ideal for exploring unknown planets and giving them a tactical advantage in military operations. However, their simple and versatile landing and taking off pattern comes at a great risk as there is no failsafe whatsoever. They are utterly dependent on the functionality of their powerful engines to generate lift, and a control computer to manage their unstable flight. These systems require more maintenance than on aerodyne ships, and their failure means a swift and deadly crashlanding that leaves few if any survivors or salvageable parts.

Deep space DropShips

Although all DropShips are either of the aerodyne or the spheroid subtype, there is arguably a third subtype: Those incapable of atmospheric operations and/or landing on a planet, rendering the differences between aerodyne and spheroid ships irrelevant. Instead, these ships are limited to operating in deep space for one reason or another and would be destroyed when attempting to enter an atmosphere or land on a planet. Examples include the super-large Behemoth (DropShip) class cargo hauler, which is a spheroid design but too large and fragile for planetary operations, and the nominally "aerodyne" (i.e. non-spheroid) Achilles and Vengeance class military dropships which were not designed for atmospheric operations, lacking wings or lifting surfaces.

Manufacturing

DropShips are precious LosTech items and, for a time at least, were considered sacrosanct and would be treated as non-combattants by all sides. As lost technology was rediscovered, they became viable targets again although they are still too valuable to be sacrificed lightly, and typically well protected. However, it would seem that the loss of a dropship was not quite as bad a blow as could be expected, as spare parts could often be scavenged from a downed DropShip that would bring another defunct ship back to functional status or keep others in operation for some more time.

Maintenance of a DropShip usually costs more in resources in a year than the average citizen in the BattleTech universe would ever earn in several lifetimes. The chassis itself costs a large fortune to make, let alone the weapons, armor, avionics, and those powerful fusion engines required to even lift it off the ground.

Known DropShip classes include (sorted by tonnage):

• K-1 DropShuttle - 200 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2536. Passenger/cargo shuttle. Usually classed as Small Craft instead of DropShip. Clan version known as K1-C is identical except for better armor and upgraded (though similar) weaponry.
• Vampire - 400 ton military aerodyne. Small superfast troop transport from the Star League era. Extinct.
• Avenger - 1400 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 2816 as designated assault craft.
• Claymore - 1400 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 3054 by Davion at Skye. Designated assault craft.
• Leopard - 1720 ton (obsolete)/1800 ton (upgraded) military aerodyne, introduced in 2537. Standard BattleMech transport (4 'Mechs, 2 Fighters) since Star League era. Affectionally referred to as "Brick". Upgraded version launched in 3056.
• Leopard CV - 1720 ton (obsolete)/1800 ton (upgraded) military aerodyne, introduced in 2581. Standard fighter carrier (6 Fighters) since Star League era. Looks decidedly different from the classic Leopard, having a round fuselage. Upgraded version launched in 3054.
• Broadsword - 1850 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 2979 by the Clans. BattleMech transport (5 'Mechs). Designed to replace the Leopard class.
• Fury - 1850 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 2638. Common troop transport (8 light vehicles, 4 platoons).
• Confederate - 1860 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2602. Original Star League 'Mech transport, refittet by Clans (5 'Mechs).
• Noruff - 1900 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 3056 by Clan Steel Viper. Designated assault craft. Only one prototype known to exist by 3057.
• Gazelle - 1903 tons (obsolete)/2400 tons (upgraded) military aerodyne, introduced in 2531. Common tank transport (15 heavy vehicles). Upgraded version launched in 3055.
• Kuan Ti - 2200 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 3054 by Liao, blueprints made available to Marik. Designated patrol/assault craft.
• Lung Wang - 2550 ton military spheroid, introduced in 3055 by Liao. Heavily armed raider/transport (4 'Mechs, 2 Fighters, 1 platoon).
• Intruder - 3000 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2656. Heavily armed assault transport (2 Fighters, 4 platoons).
• Sassanid - 3000 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2875. Clan Battle Armour carrier (15 Elemental Points). Based off the Intruder design.
• Buccaneer - 3500 ton civilian aerodyne, introduced in 2708. Conceived as a military transport, but proved successful as a civilian cargo carrier.
• Union - 3500 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2708. Standard BattleMech transport (12 'Mechs, 2 Fighters). Iconic DropShip class.
• Hamilcar - 3575 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 3054 by Marik. Specialized space assault transport (8 'Mechs, 4 Fighters).
• Seeker - 3700 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2815. Troop transport (64 light vehicles, 4 platoons).
• Vulture - No details available. Class described as tank transporter similar to Seeker class.
• Nagumo - 4200 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 3056 by Kurita. Heavily armed troop transport (12 platoons).
• Achilles - 4500 ton military aerodyne; incapable of atmospheric operations, introduced in 2582. Designated assault ship geared for space combat.
• Condor - 4500 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 2801. Troop transport (20 light vehicles, 12 platoons).
• Okinawa - 4500 ton military spheroid, introduced in 3055 by Kurita. Fighter carrier (18 Fighters).
• Union-C - 4700 ton military spheroid) Introduced in 2829. 'Mech transport (15 'Mechs). Clan re-design of the venerable Union class.
• Hannibal - 4850 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 3055 by Marik. Heavily armed troop/tank transport (12 heavy vehicles, 4 platoons).
• Carrier - 5000 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 2882 by Clan Snow Raven. Heavily armed fighter carrier (10 Fighters).
• Monach - 5000 ton civilian aerodyne, introduced in 2759. Standard passenger liner.
• Triump - 5600 ton (obsolete)/6000 ton (upgraded) military aerodyne, introduced in 2593. Common troop/tank transport (45 heavy vehicles, 8 light vehicles, 4 platoons). Upgraded version launched in 3057.
• Fortress - 6000 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2613. Heavily armed combined arms transport (12 'Mechs, 12 heavy vehicles, 3 platoons). Noteworthy for mounting a heavy artillery piece.
• Hercules - 7200 ton military spheroid, introduced in 3053 by Steiner. Troop/tank transport (36 heavy vehicles, 12 platoons). Shares many components with Overlord class, making production and maintenance easier.
• Lion - 7215 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2595. Combined arms transport (8 'Mechs, a light vehicle company and possibly unspecified numbers of infantry). Predecessor of the Union class. Essentially extinct in the Inner Sphere; all Clan Lions are refitted to carry 10 'Mechs and 10 regular infantry Stars.
• Overlord - 9700 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2762. Common BattleMech transport (36 'Mechs, 6 Fighters).
• Miraborg - 9750 ton military spheroid, introduced in 3053 by Clan Smoke Jaguar. Fighter carrier (30 Fighters). Originally named "Charybdis" during its design phase, the class was renamed in memory of Tyra Miraborg when it was launched.
• Vengeance - 10000 ton military aerodyne; incapable of atmospheric operations, introduced in 2782. Fighter carrier (40 Fighters, 3 Small Craft).
• Mule - 11200 ton civilian spheroid, introduced in 2737. Common cargo carrier.
• Overlord-C - 11550 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2818. Fighter transport (45 'Mechs). Clan re-design of the classic Overlord class.
• Titan - 12000 ton military aerodyne, introduced in 2647. Heavily armed fighter carrier (30 Fighters). Extinct in the Inner Sphere, but still in use with the Clans.
• Model 96 (aka "Elephant") - Star League predecessor to the Model 97 tug; no details known besides Model 97 described as a refit.
• Model 97 (aka "Octopus") - 15000 ton civilian spheroid, introduced in 3051. Designated tug/rescue ship.
• Excalibur - 16000 ton military spheroid, introduced in 2786. Combined arms transport (12 'Mechs, 90 heavy vehicles, 12 platoons)
• Rose (aka "Bara no Ryu") - 16000 ton military spheroid, introduced in 3054 by Kurita. Unassuming freighter with heavy weapons and advanced avionics, capable of subterfuge missions and smuggling. Can carry 1 platoon of infantry and 4 Small Craft.
• Mammoth - 52000 ton civilian spheroid, introduced in 2808. Cargo carrier. Largest DropShip capable of planetary operations.
• Behemoth - 100000 ton civilian spheroid; incapable of planetary operations, introduced in 2782. Cargo carrier. Bays for 20 Small Craft.