M-3 Drone
Sarna News
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| M-3 Drone | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | O'Neil Shipyards[1]
|
| Production Year | 2698[2] |
| Use | SDS Drone |
| Type | Military Spheroid |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 4,000 tons |
| Structural Integrity | 21 |
| Length | 89 meters |
| Width | 75 meters |
| Height | 75 meters |
| Safe Thrust | 3.5 g |
| Max Thrust | 5.5 g |
| Fuel (tons) | 600 tons |
| Fuel (days) | 1.84 |
| Armament |
|
| Armor | 75.5 tons standard |
| Crew | None |
| Passengers | None |
| Escape Pods/Life Boats | 0/0 |
| Heat Sinks | 200 double |
| BV (2.0) | 16,459[2][1] |
Description[edit]
The M-3 SDS drone was the first full production drone, deployed in 2698. Following the M-1 small craft drone, and the Hector DropShip-based M-2, the M-3 was produced at the O'Neil Shipyards as a new hull, not refits of existing classes. With no crew, the M-3 matched the exceptional abilities of its Pentagon base, with double the nose arc firepower. The M-3 was a threat to most corvette and destroyer WarShips, and capable of destructive alpha strike salvos that could result in the loss of any DropShip.[1]
Eventually built at least six different locations across the Terran Hegemony, the M-3 was overshadowed by its flashier and much more massive M-5 Caspar successor but could be found in a majority of Hegemony systems.[1]
Either ignored in favor of the M-5, or confused with crewed Pentagons, and left off many after-action reports of the Terran Campaign, squadrons of the M-3 were credible threats to the forces of General Kerensky. A hidden Lunar base launched the last eighteen drones of the SDS network, resulting in the final heartbreaking loss of several assault Dropships, two Vincent corvettes, and the last Luxor heavy cruiser, the SLS Van Gogh, before the invasion of Terra began.[1]
Armament[edit]
Quad nose-mounted PPCs, Gauss Rifles, ER large lasers, and Artemis-enhanced LRM-20s were a major threat to even the most heavily armored foes. Dual front-arc weapons of the same, though with only one Gauss rifle in each, supplemented the nose weaponry. The aft of the class held the 12 medium lasers and one each PPC and large laser to discourage fighter pursuit and each quarter-aft section was stocked with another PPC and 2 ER large lasers, along with the remainder of the LRM launchers.
Cargo[edit]
- Bay 1: Cargo (28 tons), 1 door
Notes[edit]
The M-3 Drone required no crew as it was completely autonomous. The SDS Drone Control System and the station's internal automated defenses provided abilities to attack targets or fend off boarding actions. The SDS Self-Destruct System ensures the drone's proper behavior.[1]