Apple-Churchill Surveillance VTOL
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| Apple-Churchill Surveillance VTOL | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Apple-Churchill |
| Production Year | 2971[1] |
| Use | Observation |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
| Chassis Type (Size) | VTOL (Medium) |
| Equipment Rating | D/X-X-D/C |
| Cost | ??? |
| Introduced | 2971 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 20 Tons |
| Speed | 75.6 km/h |
| Top Speed | 118.8 km/h |
| Power Plant | ICE |
| Fuel (Type/Range) | Petrochemical / 1250 km |
| Communications System | Unspecified |
| Targeting Tracking System | Unspecified |
| Armament | None |
| Heat Sinks | None |
| Armor | Unspecified |
| Barrier Armor Rating (BAR) | 5 |
| Crew | 3 |
| BV (1.0) | ??? |
| BV (2.0) | ??? |
Description[edit]
The Apple-Churchill Surveillance VTOL is a unique and stealthy VTOL produced by Apple-Churchill exclusively for the Maskirovka and select other organizations within the Capellan Confederation. Designed to tail suspicious individuals without being noticed, rarely more than sixteen of these VTOLs are produced in a year barring any large orders. Given the nature of the craft, Apple-Churchill builds the VTOL and all spare parts completely in-house from their factory on Sian, is responsible for training all mechanics and operators, and will dispatch their own technicians to repair accidental or battle damage on the spot. The VTOL is very reliable however, and in all the years since its introduction only three have ever crashed, all due to pilot error.[2]
Weapons and Equipment[edit]
The Apple-Churchill VTOL is not designed for combat operations, carrying just a half-ton of armor and no weaponry. However, it is fitted with a variety of sensing devices for locating and tracking individuals. Fitted to the craft's nose is a high-resolution imager camera and infrared imager camera while the craft's rear contains a remote sensor dispenser with sixty sensors, typically sonic and visual types, controlled by trained operators seated in the rear compartment. The VTOL is also fitted with an additional ton of communication equipment.[2]
More impressive is the VTOL's purported sonic stealth capability, as its dual-ring, counter-rotating multiblade rotor and internal-combustion engine hardly produce any sound. There have been confirmed reports of people standing no more than three hundred meters distant from a hovering Apple-Churchill VTOL yet completely unable to hear it. How the craft achieves this is a secret closely guarded by the Maskirovka.[2]
Variants[edit]
Though not officially acknowledged, rumors persist of a variant Apple-Churchill VTOL designed to transport and deploy Maskirovka special operations teams.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ MUL online date for the Apple-Churchill Surveillance VTOL
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Handbook: House Liao, pp. 148–149: "Apple-Churchill Surveillance VTOL"