Sai

SAI.JPG
Sai
Production information
Manufacturer Wakazashi Enterprises
Production Year 3045[1]
Model S-3
Class Medium
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Cost 2,111,280[2]
Technical specifications
Mass 40 tons
Structural Integrity 8
Frame Wakazashi I
Power Plant Shinobi 240 engine
Armor Shinobi Standard
Fuel 400 - 5 tons
Armament

1 x Large Laser
4 x Medium Lasers

Communications System Neil 4000
Tracking & Targeting System Chichester ASR-26
Heat Sinks 14
BV (1.0) 843[3]
BV (2.0) 959[4]

[5][1]

Description

Development

The S-3 Sai was created for the Draconis Combine as a new light aerospace fighter to replace the aging and ill-reputed Sholagar light fighter. Originally developed by the defunct Mangon Aeronautics in the early 3030s, the Sai design was discovered by Wakazashi Enterprises after the company takeover in 3045. The project was pushed into limited production, producing 30 fighters for field tests. The Draconis Combine High Command put the prototypes to use, deploying them against House Davion in raids. On these raids, the Sai got to test its mettle against House Davion's Sparrowhawk and House Steiner's Seydlitz designs.

The Schuyler plant begun retooling in 3048, taking advantage of newly recovered Star League technology in the S-4X model. The fighter is noted for being the first in the 31st century to mount an extralight fusion engine. Shortly after production began, the Clan Invasion took place and the Sai plant on Schuyler fell into the hands of Clan Smoke Jaguar in June 3050.[6][7]

The Smoke Jaguars discovered the blueprints for the Sai and upgraded it with Clan technology, designating the new design the S-4C and deploying it to several second line Clusters. In 3056 the first Inner Sphere OmniFighter, the S-4O Sai, entered extremely limited production at an unknown location. At the beginning of 3059 fewer than fifty prototype OmniFighters existed in the entire Combine. The Omni Sai was viewed as a morale-boosting production, and a flawed one at that. In 3062 the MIK-O Tatsu was released with may of the Sai's flaws corrected.[8][9][1]

On 10 August 3059, Wave Three of Operation Bulldog landed on Schuyler. Three days later the Smoke Jaguars retreated offworld, leaving the Combine with the planet and the ability to produce the Sai again. However, unable to continue production of the Clan-tech enhanced fighter, Wakazashi engineers redesigned it as the S-4 3061.[10][11][1]

The Sai would continue to be improved upon, with the S-7 launching in 3065 and the S-8 in 3069[12][1]

Weapons and Equipment

The original S-3 was armed with a nose-mounted Diverse Optics Type 30 Large Laser. For secondary armaments the craft has a pair of Diverse Optics Type 20 medium lasers mounted in each wing. The Shinobi 240 Fusion Engine allows the craft to reach a maximum thrust rate of 12, with 5 tons of fuel. The fighter is protected by 7.5 tons of standard armor.[13]

Variants

  • S-4 
    Based on the S-4C after recapture of the planet from Jaguars. The S-4 is a virtual copy of the Clan tech based version. Main weapon is a nose-mounted Inner Sphere version of the Extended Range PPC. However, the wing weapons are now single SRM 4 enhanced with the Artemis IV Fire Control System, with 50 rounds of ammo for them. The Double Heat sink count is retained at 14. BV (1.0)= 1,075[14][15]; BV (2.0) = 1,005[16]
  • S-4C 
    Created by Clan Smoke Jaguar after the capture of the plant during the Clan Invasion. The Sai features a Clan ER PPC as its main weapon. In the place of the lasers, four Streak 4-tubed SRMs launcher are split between each wings with 50 rounds. The fighter is also given 14 double heat sinks to cope with the heat. BV (1.0) = 1,762[17][18], BV (2.0) = 1,778[19]
  • S-4X 
    The original Star League tech enhancement of the Sai, this design included an Extended Range Large Laser, with a single Medium Pulse Laser mounted in each wing. The craft is protected by 8 tons of ferro-aluminum armor. The fighter features 21 single heat sinks and Extra-Light Engine version of the 240 Shinobi Fusion engine. BV (1.0) = 842, BV (2.0) = 830[20]
  • S-4O 
    The OmniFighter version of the Sai. Little is known about it.[21][1]
  • S-7 
    During the 3060s, the Wakazashi created the S-7 variant. Taking advantage of the development of new weapons. The S-7 became known as an escort and is used on border worlds of the Combine. The nose-mounted ER PPC is swapped for a pair of Extended Range medium lasers and the wing weapons are changed out for MRM 10 Launchers with 48 rounds of ammunition. The Fuel for the variant was increased up to 6 tons. BV (1.0) = 1,016[14][22]; BV (2.0) = 834[23]
  • S-8 
    Introduced just prior to the Jihad, the S-8 has a revised weapons layout. A pair of new Light PPCs are placed in nose, while each wing weapon slots are give pair of ER medium lasers. The fighter armor is changed out for 9 tons of ferro-aluminum armor. BV (2.0) = 952[24], BV (2.0) = 1,304[25]

Gallery


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 MUL online date for the Sai
  2. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, 247
  3. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 245
  4. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 236 S-3 Sai - Battlevalue 2.
  5. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 391
  6. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 236 S-3 Sai - History and update.
  7. ↑ Invading Clans, p. 66
  8. ↑ Field Manual: Draconis Combine, pp. 66, 85, 109, Two flights and one Wing noted as being prototype OmniFighters, the rest were captured Clan OmniFighters
  9. ↑ Technical Readout: 3067 Revised, p. 150
  10. ↑ The Dragons Roars., p. 50
  11. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 236 S-3 Sai - Background information from TRO:3039 on Sai.
  12. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 236 S-3 Sai
  13. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 236 S-3 Sai - Stats.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Combat Operations, p. 126
  15. ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 66
  16. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 392
  17. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 249
  18. ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 67
  19. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 393
  20. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 394
  21. ↑ Technical Readout: 3067 Revised, p. 150
  22. ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 68
  23. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 395
  24. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 252, "S-8 Sai includes BV".
  25. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 396

Bibliography

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