Merlin (DropShip class)

Merlin
Production information
Manufacturer	Irian Technologies Clipperton Brigadier Corporation Gibson
Use	Assault DropShip
Type	Military Spheroid
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Technical specifications
Mass	2500 tons
Structural Integrity	20
Length	92 meters
Width	32 meters
Height	21 meters
Drive System	???
Safe Thrust	6
Max Thrust	9
Fuel (tons)	50
Fuel (days)	1.84
Armament	4x ER PPC 7x ER Large Laser 4xLRM-20 2xSRM-6 4xMedium Pulse Laser 12xMedium Laser
Armor	50 tons Standard
Crew	11
Heat Sinks	90 Double Heat Sink
BV (1.0)	5340
BV (2.0)	???

Description

The Merlin is a combination WarShip escort and fast attack design. Rushed through the design and testing process, the Merlin was created to fill a gap in the Free Worlds League Navy after they lost access to Capellan Lung Wang production. The design process was expedited using assistance from the Word of Blake. Since entering service in 3063, most of the Merlins produced to date have been assigned to escort the Thera-class WarShips. The Merlin's performance has won rave reviews from their crews and the ships they support. Fast, well armored, and with a decent punch, the Merlin does an excellent job of covering a WarShip's weak zones.

The crews originally complained about the cramped, Spartan quarters aboard the Merlin, but soon realized that they had access to the much larger recreation facilities aboard their assigned WarShip. The only real flaws with the ship are some minor heat management issues and the limited fuel supply. Though the Merlin can draw fuel from a Thera or Eagle if part of that task group, on a fast attack the Merlin is likely to run out of fuel if the captain is foolish.

IrTech's Clipperton facility had produced a dozen Merlins by 3067, but the Brigadier Corporation's Gibson facility had serious production problems due to sabotage by a ComStar sympathizer who sabotaged the project.

Armament

Most of the Merlin's weapon array is energy-based. This is a good thing because the SRM launchers have only two tons of ammunition. The LRM launchers, by contrast, carry ten tons of ammunition, but this will probably be gone much faster than the crew would like. Fortunately, the ER Large Lasers and ER PPCs can still inflict significant damage on enemy AeroSpace Fighters and DropShips once the missile ammunition is gone.

Cargo

The Merlin carries a pair of AeroSpace Fighters to provide some additional defense. The second cargo bay can contain a little over 500 tons.

Variants

No variants of the Merlin were known before the beginning of the Jihad. It is possible that the Blakists converted some of their Merlins into Pocket WarShips, but this is speculation.