Kestrel (Combat Vehicle)
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- This article is about the VTOL. For other uses, see Kestrel (disambiguation).
| |
| Kestrel VTOL | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Blackwell Corporation [1] |
| Production Year | 3007[2] |
| Mission | |
| Type | VTOL |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 25 |
| Armor | ProTech 4 |
| Engine | 160 ICE |
| Speed | 194 km/h |
| Crew | 2 |
| Communications System | Dalban StarLink Classic |
| Targeting Tracking System | Garret E2b |
| Heat Sinks | 0 |
| Armament |
2x Machine Gun |
| BV (1.0) | 76[1][3] |
| BV (2.0) | 155[4] |
Contents
Description[edit]
The Kestrel was designed in 3007 by Wolf's Dragoons for their special operations teams, particularly the Seventh Kommando. Lightly armed and armored, the Kestrel spent more on stealth than weapons and armor. In fact the heaviest armor, located on the front of the VTOL, can only survive a single Large Laser hit before it's gone. In addition, the oddly sized infantry bay doesn't allow a full platoon, but is too large for a squad. In the wrong hands, the Kestrel is nothing more than a target, but when used properly it is an excellent VTOL for special operations support.[1]
For many years, Wolf's Dragoons was the only known user of the Kestrel in the Inner Sphere. However, there have been enough combat losses that other powers have at least a few Kestrels in service. It also appears that the Dragoons sold several Kestrels to MI6.[1]
Weapons and Equipment[edit]
As a special operations transport, the Kestrel relies on stealth and speed more than weaponry. To encourage this mindset, the Kestrel only mounts a pair of Machine Guns.[1]
Variants[edit]
- Medevac
- Glimpsed only once, this variant introduced in 3022 apparently replaces the weaponry with Paramedic Equipment. BV (1.0) = 19,[5] BV (2.0) = 126[6]
- Scout
- Developed in the 3030s, this variant was produced for the Seventh Kommando and Special Recon Group. By dropping the infantry bay completely, Blackwell engineers were able to find room for a VTOL Mast Mount, a Remote Sensor Dispenser, and an extra ton of Communications Equipment. The largest change however, was to the engine, which received a VTOL Jet Booster. This allowed the Kestrel Scout to use bursts of speed reaching 260 km/h. Despite this, the Kestrel Scout was useless in any other role, and when the Special Recon Group was merged with the Dragoons' Home Guard, production halted.[11]
Design Quirks[edit]
The Kestrel Scout VTOL variant is subject to the following Design Quirk:[11]
Notes[edit]
- In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Turmfalke.
Gallery[edit]
Original Kestrel VTOL from Wolf's Dragoons
Kestrel VTOL from TRO:3058
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, pp. 64–65: "Kestrel VTOL Profile"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 MUL online date for the Kestrel (Combat Vehicle)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 77
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 27
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 78
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 29
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 30
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 31
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrades, p. 79
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere), p. 32
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Succession Wars, Volume 1, p. 11