Ripper (Combat Vehicle)

This article is about the VTOL aircraft. For other uses, see Ripper.

Ripper
Production information
Manufacturer	Aldis Industries Cal-Boeing of Dorwinion
Production Year	2680
Mission	Troop Transport
Type	VTOL
Cost	268,889 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	10
Armor	ProtecTec 6 Ferro-Fibrous
Engine	Omni 70 fusion engine
Speed	194.4 km/h
Crew	2
Communications System	Datacom 100
Targeting Tracking System	Tarmac Quasar V
Heat Sinks	10 single
Armament	2x medium laser
BV (1.0)	340
BV (2.0)	345

Description

Developed to fulfill the Star League's requirement for a quick response VTOL aircraft that could carry a squad of infantry and their equipment, the Ripper normally carries elite infantry or Jump Infantry that need quick deployment or retrieval.

The Ripper, built from proven components for maximum reliability, uses a fusion engine to give the vehicle a significant range, as well as a high top speed, so much so that the infantry compartment is equipped with special acceleration couches to handle the strain of a high speed combat insertion. While the Ripper is heavily armored for a transport VTOL, carrying one and a half tons of Aldis Heavy ferro-fibrous plating to survive the high G maneuvers that are the hallmark of the craft, a small laser or even a well-equipped infantry squad can down the vehicle in short order.

While Aldis Industries' Terran-based VTOL production lines were destroyed during Operation Liberation, Cal-Boeing was able to secure a copy of the plans and reintroduce the design during the Third Succession War. Save for the Free Worlds League, all the other Successor States have purchased large numbers of the Ripper.

Weapons and Equipment

The Ripper is armed with two nose-mounted Omicron 950 medium lasers. The weapons are used more to intimidate than to strike an enemy, the pilot firing the twin lasers around the fringes of the vehicle's intended landing zone and then as they fly off to convince an unprepared foe to steer clear.

Variants

Due to the large volume and variety of buyers, there are a great number of Ripper variations in existence. The most common/notable are:

• ERML 

  A simple modification, switching the standard lasers for ER medium lasers, boosting range. BV (2.0) = 432

• MG / SPL 

  Targeted to combat the most common threat to the Ripper, many buyers replace the medium lasers with either 2 Small Pulse Lasers or 2 Machine Guns, for increased anti-infantry ability. BV (2.0) = 125 (MG), 160 (SPL)

• Light PPC (Kurita) 

  Produced per the request of the Draconis Combine, Cal-Boeing added an XL engine so the medium lasers could be replaced with a light PPC and extra heavy ferro-fibrous plating could be carried. BV (2.0) = 371

• Infantry (Lyran) 

  Produced for the LAAF as a battle armor platoon carrier, even with an XL engine the extra weight required limits the craft to a single Small Pulse Laser and one ton of heavy ferro-fibrous armor. BV (2.0) = 108

• Royal 

  The upgraded model used by the SLDF Royal units replaced both standard mediums with a single medium pulse laser. BV (2.0) = 228 or 255

Gallery

• 

  Original Ripper from TRO:2750

• 

  Upgraded Ripper from TRO:3050 Upgrade

Bibliography

• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War
• Technical Readout: 2750
• Technical Readout: 3050 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3075