Samurai

Samurai
Production information
Manufacturer	Fairchild Dornier
Production Year	2472
Model	SL-25
Class	Medium aerospace fighter
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Cost	2,473,042 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	50 tons
Structural Integrity	7
Frame	FD 50-12
Power Plant	Hermes 250
Armor	SearWeave
Fuel	640 - 8 tons
Armament	6x Medium lasers 4x Small lasers
Communications System	FD 205
Tracking & Targeting System	Scope 115F
Heat Sinks	19 single heat sinks
BV (1.0)	969
BV (2.0)	974

Description

The first Samurai aerospace fighters were introduced by the Terran Hegemony even before the Exodus, when Terran forces realized the need for a strong, capable ground-attack fighter. Fairchild Dornier managed to design a fighter which would meet these expectations, and so Samurai production began. However, the Amaris Civil War led to the destruction of Samurai factories, stopping the production in 2774.

By the late thirty-first century, the Fairchild Dornier had rebuilt the Samurai's production lines for the Lyran Alliance during the Jihad. This was due to disruptions in production of its mainstay medium fighter, the Lucifer, during that time period.

Weapons and Equipment

The SL-25 mounts five medium lasers firing forward to attack ground units and an additional medium laser for attacks while moving away. Additionally, three small lasers allow it to attack fighters of same size or larger, while a single aft-mounted small laser is useful for dogfights with more agile enemies.

Variants

• SL-26 

  After over 150 years of service, Dornier redesigned the Samurai to take advantage of Star League technology; this version was introduced in 2620. This variant comes with an XL engine, ferro-aluminum armor, and 18 single heat sinks, while the two medium lasers mounted on the wings were replaced with ER large lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,364, BV (2.0) = 1,385

• SL-27 

  Thanks to Dornier contracts with Lyran Alliance and ComStar, new Samurai could be built. This variant was introduced in 3068. Based mostly on the SL-26, the SL-27 mounts 15 double heat sinks, two medium pulse lasers, two ER medium lasers, two ER small lasers, and a single anti-aircraft plasma rifle, as well as an additional aft-mounted ER medium laser and ER small laser. BV (1.0) = 1,200, BV (2.0) = 1,631

Notable Pilots

Elden Berardinelli – One of the original members of the command lance of Sorenson's Sabres. Berardinelli’s Samurai was maintained in perfect condition.

Notes

• The Unseen Samurai image first appeared on the AeroTech box (top and bottom). This image never appeared along with game stats, and was only identified as the SL-25 Samurai when Ral Partha released a miniature for it.

• The Reseen Samurai image first appeared in AeroTech 2 Revised Edition, illustrated by Chris Lewis. Its first Technical Readout appearance was in Technical Readout: 3039, illustrated by Doug Chaffee.

Gallery

• 

  Original Unseen Samurai from AeroTech

• 

  Original Reseen Samurai from AT2RE

• 

  SL-25 Samurai from TRO:3039

Bibliography

• AeroTech
• AeroTech 2 Revised Edition
• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• Master Unit List: Battle Values
• Record Sheets: 3039
• Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged
• Sorenson's Sabres
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3057