Seydlitz

Seydlitz
Production information
Manufacturer	Shipil Company United Outworlders Corporation Taurus Territorial Industries
Production Year	2504
Model	SYD-21
Class	Light aerospace fighter
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Cost	1,370,380 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	20 tons
Structural Integrity	11
Frame	Shipil 15
Power Plant	Shipil 180
Armor	Shipil Standard
Fuel	240 - 3 tons
Armament	1x Large laser
Communications System	O/P AIR500
Tracking & Targeting System	O/P 3000
Heat Sinks	10 single heat sinks
BV (1.0)	472
BV (2.0)	440

Description

The Seydlitz was a light aerospace fighter born from a Star League Defense Force contract for a small, fast planetary defense interceptor. The Shipil Company won the contract when they submitted their design in 2504 and in that same year began mass-production of the fighter. The concept behind the fighter was to hit the enemy fast and hard, preferably destroying them before they had a chance to fire back. Its Shipil 180 fusion engine, taking up a third of the fighter's total weight, gives the Seydlitz a safe acceleration rate of five and a half gravities and a maximum acceleration of eight and a half gravities, allowing it to outrun and outmaneuver most other aerospace fighters. The single RAMTech large laser gives the fighter a powerful punch for its small size, especially when it gets behind small DropShips and is used to disable their drive systems.

Unfortunately, this emphasis on speed and maneuverability left little room for anything else. Only two tons of armor means practically any weapon will penetrate the fighter's thin skin with one volley, while three tons of fuel leaves it on a short leash from any friendly DropShip or airstrip. Seydlitz pilots therefore live in mortal fear of being caught in an ambush, as there is a good chance the enemy's first shots will be disabling ones. Though two additional tons of fuel can be carried on the fighter's two external hardpoints, this hampers its maneuverability and most pilots will jettison the fuel tanks when entering combat.

The majority of Seydlitz fighters were deployed within the Lyran Commonwealth, usually on small worlds where they proved to be excellent support and escort craft. When the Star League fell, the LCAF took control of these fighters, leading to very few being deployed by the other Great Houses except through the hiring of mercenaries; though the Draconis Combine captured several examples on Alexandria none have been seen in their service. At the dawn of the thirty-first century both the Outworlds Alliance and Taurian Concordat approached the company for permission to produce the fighter and, since neither was opposing the Lyran Commonwealth at the time, were granted licenses. With the creation of the Federated Commonwealth the fighter was also used by the AFFC, though with the succession of the Lyran Alliance it again became associated with House Steiner.

Weapons and Equipment

Unusual for an aerospace fighter, the Seydlitz carries only a single nose-mounted RAMTech 1200 large laser. This does give the tiny fighter the ability to deliver a single, devastating blow before maneuvering away from hostile fire and coming back for another pass. Originally it had been fitted with a Maztel large laser, but the system generated too much heat and was replaced in 2507.

Variants

• SYD-Z1 

  Introduced immediately after the secession of the Lyran Alliance, the SYD-Z1 is just a renamed version of the classic SYD-21 to ensure commonality between the Seydlitzs designations. They were supplied to poor factions within the Chaos March as a public relations move. BV (1.0) = 472, BV (2.0) = 440

• SYD-Z2 

  The SYD-Z2 is a House Steiner variant replacing the single large laser with five RAMTech 800 medium lasers, two on the wings and three on the nose and fuselage. BV (1.0) = 640 (616), BV (2.0) = 716

• SYD-Z2A 

  A modern version of the SYD-Z2 produced in 3050, the SYD-Z2A retains the medium lasers but features an XL engine and double heat sinks, additionally adding ferro-aluminum armor and extra fuel. BV (1.0) = 820 (822), BV (2.0) = 806

• SYD-Z2B 

  A updated version of the SYD-Z2A, the SYD-Z2B features the same XL engine, double heat sinks and extra fuel, but replaces the five standard medium lasers with four ER medium lasers and an extra ton of ferro-aluminum armor. BV (1.0) = 909, BV (2.0) = 906

• SYD-Z3 

  The SYD-Z3 trades arms for armor, replacing the large laser with two RAMTech 800 medium lasers and using the three extra tons for armor. Noted for the crudeness of the armor plating, the modifications were post–Star League era and do not protect vital areas well. BV (1.0) = 552 , BV (2.0) = 504

• SYD-Z3A 

  A modern version of the SYD-Z3, the SYD-Z3A features an XL engine and double heat sinks, and additionally upgrades the medium lasers of the SYD-Z3 to RAMTech 800P medium pulse lasers, as well as adding four tons of ferro-aluminum armor. BV (1.0) = 517 (519), BV (2.0) = 514

• SYD-Z4 

  Featuring an XL engine and double heat sinks, the SYD-Z4 upgrades the large laser to an ER large laser. The design also has increased the level of ferro-aluminum armor and added more fuel. BV (1.0) = 572 (649), BV (2.0) = 543

• SYD-45X "Starling" 

  Developed by Shipil in the midst of the Jihad, the extensively modified and five ton heavier SYD-45X variant utilizes experimental technology. Built around a 300-rated XXL fusion engine with double heat sinks and clad in an extra ton and half of heavy ferro-aluminum armor, the "Starling" boasts increased protection and massive boost in speed. Using a small cockpit and retaining the same fuel tankage as the SYD-21 frees up weight for a prototype Bombast Laser and a one-shot chaff pod. BV (2.0) = 695

• Seydlitz C 

  Developed after Clan Jade Falcon took control of Shipil, they modified the SYD-Z4 to use a Clan-spec ER PPC with a PPC capacitor. They also covered the frame in reflective armor. These modifications required cutting back on fuel.

Custom Variants

• Seydlitz Mary 

  This Seydlitz, piloted by Mary Smith replaces the standard engine with an XL engine. The large laser was also replaced with a snub-nose PPC. The lighter engine made room for an extra ton of fuel and more armor, bringing the total armor weight to three and a half tons. BV (1.0) = 180

Notable Pilots

See: Category:Notable Seydlitz Pilots

Notes

• Author Blaine Lee Pardoe stated in a blog entry that, according to his memory which he admitted could be wrong, the Seydlitz was among the aerospace fighters for which he invented the name and wrote the original background as initially published in TRO:3025, after being given only its art and game stats to work with for the TRO entry. The name was inspired by one of his favorite battle cruisers from the First World War.

Gallery

• 

  Original SYD-21 Seydlitz from TRO:3025

• 

  SYD-21 Seydlitz from TRO:3025 Revised

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• Experimental Technical Readout: Mercs
• Master Unit List: Battle Values
• Objective Raids
• Record Sheets: 3039
• Record Sheets: Unique Fighters
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3025 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3057
• Technical Readout: 3150