Lightning (Combat Vehicle)

This article is about the hovertank. For other uses, see Lightning.
Lightning.jpg
Lightning
Production information
Manufacturer Curtiss Industries, Kressly Warworks
Production Year 2696[1]
Mission Reconnaissance
Type Hover
Cost 1,681,300 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 35
Armor Star Slab/3 Ferro Fibrous
Engine GM 210
Speed 184 km/h
Crew 3
Communications System Century Model 770
Targeting Tracking System TGI 2331C/TGI F-190
Heat Sinks 10 single
Armament
BV (1.0) 349[2]
BV (2.0) 510[3][4]


Description[edit]

The Lightning was designed for the Star League by Curtiss Industries as a hovercraft combat vehicle designed to take down slow BattleMechs and vehicles. Some commanders would combine several Lightnings into a temporary compact unit to crush the hostile line, using their maneuverability to break up formations. A interesting feature of the Lightning is a low wing mounted on the rear of the vehicle that increases the vehicle's stability at high speed.[3][5][6]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Lightning is armed for short-range combat. Two Raker-IV Medium Pulse Lasers are in the front, allowing the crew to target enemies as they close with them. One Maxima One Shot SRM 4 pack on each side is designed to allow the vehicle to fire off the missiles as it passes an enemy, then repeat the maneuver on the return trip.[3][5][6]

Variants[edit]

  • ERSL 
    This variant of the ERML replaces one of its ER Medium Lasers with two ER Small Lasers. BV (2.0) = 884[8]
  • RL 
    This variant was created by Blakist Precentor Robert Havasy to counter Capellan Confederation Shadow Lances.[3] In order to take advantage of the vulnerability of 'Mechs equipped with Stealth Armor at close range, the RL carries seven Rocket Launcher 15s. The modern update of the one-shot launchers, the Lightning's mission profile is perfectly suited to the use of Rocket Launcher technology. It also carries two anti-missile systems in the front to protect from missiles. BV (2.0) = 709[9]
  • Royal 
    The upgraded model used by the SLDF Royal units, both one-shot SRM-4s were replaced with a pair of Streak SRM-2s. The more advanced launchers inflicted, on average, the same amount of damage while withholding fire for shots that would have missed, and maximizing the single ton of reloads carried, as well as saving enough weight to also add a TAG unit.[10] BV (2.0) = 633[11][12]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Lightning CX-3 variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:[13]

Notes[edit]

  • In German products, the unit's proper name was perfectly altered to Flash.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Lightning (Combat Vehicle)
  2. Combat Operations, p. 106
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, pp. 160–161: "Lightning Vehicle Profile"
  4. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 180
  5. 5.0 5.1 Technical Readout: 2750, pp. 96–97: "Lightning Vehicle Profile"
  6. 6.0 6.1 Technical Readout: 3050 Revised, pp. 200–201: "Lightning Vehicle Profile"
  7. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 181
  8. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 182
  9. Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League), p. 183
  10. Technical Readout: 3075, p. 169
  11. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged, p. 142
  12. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 9
  13. 13.0 13.1 Experimental Technical Readout: ComStar, p. 9

Bibliography[edit]