Hercules (DropShip class)

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Hercules
Production information
Manufacturer Bowie Industries
Production Year 3053[1]
Use Troop carrier
Type Military Spheroid
Tech Base Star League
Technical specifications
Mass 7,250 tons
Structural Integrity 9
Length 87 meters
Width 84 meters
Height 120 meters
Drive System Unknown
Safe Thrust 1.5 g
Max Thrust 2.5 g
Fuel (tons) 145 tons
Fuel (days) 78.8 days
Armament 3x ER Large Lasers
3x ER PPCs
12x Medium Lasers
2x Large Pulse Lasers
2x AC/5s
1x Gauss Rifle
3x LRM-15s with Artemis IV FCS
1x LRM-20 with Artemis IV FCS
2x SRM-6s with Artemis IV FCS
Armor 30 tons Standard
Fore: 14
Sides: 12
Aft: 13
Crew 28
Escape Pods/Life Boats 2/2
Heat Sinks 101 (202)
BV (1.0) 3,881[2]
BV (2.0) 3,884


This article is about the DropShip. For the Free Worlds League 'Mech, see Hercules (BattleMech).


Description

Developed in 3053, the Hercules-class DropShip is an armor and infantry carrier based in part on the venerable Overlord.

Originally designed and produced in the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, the class has seen extensive action against the Clans and is becoming a common sight within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces. A distant relative of the Overlord-class, the Hercules uses many of the same components, speeding up both development and production. This commonality also gives the class a decent supply of viable spare parts -- handy given the Hercules’ relatively scant 30 tons of evenly distributed armor and light weapons array.

Armament

With the exception of its impressive nose bays, which carry a Gauss Rifle, AC/5, an ER PPC, a Artemis enhanced LRM-20, twin ER Large Lasers and four Medium Lasers, the Hercules is lightly armed given its size and role. The remaining forward facing firepower consists of twin Medium Lasers, an LRM-15, ER PPC and an SRM-6 on each angle, with each aft angle protected by single standard medium and Large Pulse Laser. Directly aft features an AC/5 supported at long range by an LRM-15 and ER Large laser, backed up by two medium lasers.

Cargo

Taking up a large proportion of the Hercules's internal space, its two massive vehicle holds can transport, repair and maintain a complete armor battalion with the lower hold able to carry 12 vehicles of any size, while the upper deck can carry 24 vehicles, though its off-loading ramps cannot support more than 75 tons. Directly above the vehicle bays are the accommodations for the vehicle crews and twelve platoons of infantry. An additional bay can accommodate 1,381 tons of supplies.

Variants

None known

References

  1. MUL online date for the Hercules (DropShip class)
  2. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 245

Bibliography