Hercules (DropShip class)

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Hercules
Production information
Manufacturer	Bowie Industries
Use	Troop carrier
Type	Military Spheroid
Tech Base	Star League
Technical specifications
Mass	7,250 tons
Structural Integrity
Length	87 meters
Width	meters
Height	meters
Drive System	Unknown
Safe Thrust
Max Thrust
Fuel (tons)
Fuel (days)
Armament	3 x ER Large Lasers 3 x ER PPCs 12 x Medium Lasers 2 x Large Pulse Lasers 2 x AC/5s 1 x Gauss Rifle 3 x LRM-15s with Artemis IV FCS 1 x LRM-20 with Artemis IV FCS 2 x SRM-6s with Artemis IV FCS
Armor	30 tons Standard
Crew	28
Heat Sinks	101 (202)
BV (1.0)	???
BV (2.0)	???

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

Description

Developed in 3053, the Hercules-class DropShip is 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 becoming a common site within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces. A distant relative of the venerable 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 Herculess 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 a SRM-6 on each angle, with each aft angle protected by single standard medium and Large Pulse Laser. Directly aft features a 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 Herculess internal space, its two massive vehicle holds can transport, repair and maintaine a complete armor battalion with the lower of the two 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 accomidations for the vehicle crews and a twelve platoons of infantry.

Variants

None known

References

• Technical Readout: 3057 - pg 52-53
• Technical Readout: 3057 Revised - pg