Xerxes (Aerospace Fighter class)

This article is about the aerospace fighter. For other uses, see Xerxes.

Xerxes
Production information
Manufacturer	Kirin Orbital Works SJ-3
Production Year	2827
Model	Standard
Class	Heavy aerospace fighter
Tech Base	Clan
Cost	6,549,466 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	85 tons
Structural Integrity	8
Frame	Type 42-5 Aero
Power Plant	340 fusion engine
Armor	Compound XAS Ferro-Aluminum
Fuel	640 / 8 tons
Armament	2x UAC/20s 2x ER large lasers
Communications System	KOW-Comm Type 9
Tracking & Targeting System	ASG Mark VII
Heat Sinks	12 double heat sinks
BV (1.0)	1,789
BV (2.0)	2,350

Description

Derisively known as the "Hunchback IIC of the skies," the heavily armed and armored Xerxes aerospace fighter is a highly effective air superiority and ground support fighter.

Developed and produced primarily by Clan Smoke Jaguar, this aggressive and brutally straightforward fighter ideally represented their approach to combat and quickly spread to the toumans of all Clans. After the development of the OmniFighter, the Xerxes was shunted to DropShip and WarShip escort roles and production wound down. With the SLDF's assault on the Smoke Jaguar capital of Huntress, Clan Hell's Horses secured all the Jaguar facilities on their shared Kerensky Cluster world of Kirin, ensuring the Xerxes production line survived Clan Smoke Jaguar's destruction.

With respectable speed thanks to its 340-rated fusion engine and eight tons of fuel, the Xerxes' 12 double heat sinks and nine tons of Compound XAS ferro-aluminum armor give the design good endurance for its weight and weapon load, though pilots must take care to use volley fire to avoid heat-related shutdowns.

Weapons and Equipment

Built around a pair of Aero-Model 4 UAC/20s, one mounted in each wing, the Xerxes is able to unleash a tremendous hail of lead that can cripple or destroy almost any opposing fighter, ground vehicle or BattleMech in a single pass. Four tons of reloads are generally enough for a single Clan sortie, but the mammoth autocannons are supported by two nose-mounted Series S6a ER large lasers, enhancing the fighter's strafing abilities.

Variants

• Xerxes 2 

  A redesign favored by the Hell's Horses, it trades the autocannons for longer ranged and less ammo hungry Gauss rifles fed with 32 rounds. This greatly improves the fighter's long-range performance as well. BV (1.0) =2,341 BV (2.0) = 2,479

• Xerxes 3 

  This variant strips out two double heat sinks and all the standard weaponry, replacing them with a pair of HAG/40s. BV (2.0) = 2,743

Gallery

• 

  Original Xerxes from TRO:3067

• 

  Strafing Xerxes piloted by Star Commander Marco of Clan Ghost Bear's 54th PGC from Total Warfare

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• Combat Operations
• Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged
• Technical Readout: 3067