Broadsword

This article is about the DropShip class. For other uses, see Broadsword (disambiguation).

Broadsword
Production information
Manufacturer	DS Aero Assembly Site Rho Marshall Orbital Yards WC Aerospace Annex
Production Year	2979
Use	'Mech Carrier
Type	Military Aerodyne
Tech Base	Clan
Technical specifications
Mass	1,900 tons
Structural Integrity	9
Length	80 meters
Width	43 meters
Height	23 meters
Drive System	Peterson 211
Safe Thrust	2.5 g
Max Thrust	4 g
Fuel (tons)	130 tons
Fuel (days)	70.7 days
Armament	2x ER large laser 2x ER PPC 8x medium pulse laser 2x small pulse laser 1x anti-missile system 5x LRM-20 with Artemis IV FCS 2x Streak SRM-6
Armor	30 tons standard
Crew	8 2 Officers 2 Enlisted 4 Gunners (Crew Types) 2 Pilots 4 Engineers 2 Secondary Engineers Bay Personnel: 10
Escape Pods/Life Boats	2/2
Heat Sinks	79 double
BV (1.0)	5,602
BV (2.0)	6,264

Description

Developed by Clan Sea Fox shortly before they became Clan Diamond Shark to replace the venerable Leopard-class, the Broadsword-class is superficially similar to the older design but has been redesigned to carry five OmniMechs as per Clan military structure.

The Broadsword features a balanced blend of speed, firepower, and armor superior to its parent design, making it well-suited to raiding or reconnaissance missions. The craft's only lack is integral aerospace fighter support like that carried by the Leopard, a choice forced by the need to carry an additional 'Mech. The versatile and reliable craft is in use in the toumans of most Clans, though Clan Steel Viper fields the lion's share after successfully staging a Trial of Possession for the Diamond Sharks' Marshall Orbital Yards.

Many Broadswords were forced into combat on Tukayyid when Clan positions were overrun, though few were lost. The vessel's armament and armor effectively ensured the retreating Clan warriors could extricate the vessels in good order.

Armament

The Broadsword features an effective armament for its size, with twin Opera ER PPCs and ER large lasers, an Artemis IV FCS–equipped LRM-20 and single medium pulse laser mounted in its nose bays, supported by twin LRM-20 launchers, a trio of medium pulse lasers and a single small pulse laser in each wing. Aft firepower is all short-range with another medium pulse laser carried between two Streak SRM-6 launchers. Ten tons of LRM and four tons of streak missiles gave the Broadsword's missile launchers reasonable endurance, though a single ton of reloads for its nose-mounted anti-missile system could quickly leave it open to attacks from enemy launchers.

Cargo

The Broadsword is built around its ability to transport a complete OmniMech Star, but is somewhat restricted by its legacy of being based on the Leopard. The four side bays are relatively identical to those of its aging predecessor, with the fifth bay sitting within the craft's nose in the approximate position of the Leopard's two fighter bays. This problematic arrangement causes headaches for the technicians assigned to look after the 'Mechs in the nose bay, as only the smallest 'Mech parts can fit through the internal passageway linking to the other bays. Worse, the Broadsword's main cargo bay is located on the vessel's upper deck, which can only be reached via a pair of stairways, thus most of the vessel's cargo must be manually transported between decks.

• Bay 1: BattleMechs (2) 2, doors
• Bay 2: BattleMechs (3), 2 doors
• Bay 3: Cargo (77.5 tons) 1, door

Variants

• At least one allusion has been made to a differing version of the Broadsword. The Viper's Fang, a 1,850-ton version, transported a clandestine Clan Steel Viper force in search of the remnants of House Hallis in 3053. The vessel was noted as having a slightly smaller crew of 5, along with a cargo capacity of only 25 tons and 13 troops. Otherwise, specifications match, but it is unclear as to whether the vessel is a variant or the stated capacities were in error.

See Also

• List of named Broadsword-class DropShips

Notes

• In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Breitschwert.

Gallery

• 

  Original Broadsword from Bloodright

• 

  Broadsword from TRO:3057

• 

  Deck plan of a Broadsword from Bloodright

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• BattleSpace
• Bloodright
• Objectives: The Clans
• Technical Readout: 3057
• Technical Readout: 3057 Revised