Aurora
Sarna News
| |
| Aurora | |
| Production information | |
| Manufacturer | Dynamico Limited, Shipil Company |
| Use | 'Mech Carrier |
| Type | Aerodyne |
| Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
| Technical specifications | |
| Mass | 1,600 tons |
| Structural Integrity | |
| Length | 116 meters |
| Width | meters |
| Height | meters |
| Safe Thrust | 4 |
| Max Thrust | 6 |
| Fuel (tons) | |
| Fuel (days) | |
| Armament | 4 x Gauss Rifles 4 x ER PPCs 2 x Large Pulse Lasers 2 x ER Medium Lasers |
| Armor | 32 tons Ferro-Aluminum |
| Crew | 14 |
| Heat Sinks | 50 (100) |
| BV (1.0) | 3,877 |
| BV (2.0) | 3,250 |
Contents
Description
The Aurora is based on an abortive joint light freighter design project by Dynamico Ltd. of Delavan and Shipil Co. of Skye dating back to 3056 that had been shelved when the Lyran half broke away from the Federated Commonwealth.
Following Operation Bulldog, both the AFFC and LAAF felt that the venerable Leopard lacked the flexibility they needed in a light military transport and called for new DropShip designs. In response, Dynamico and Shipil revamped the canceled freighter for military duty.
The Aurora's most notable design feature are its modular cargo bays. Originally designed to improve cargo handling, they allow for an unprecedented flexibility on the military vessel: Although they cannot be attached or released quickly owing to the necessities of structural integrity, they allow for the ship to be reconfigured for entirely different mission profiles in mere days, with only limited ground support.
While production at Shipil was delayed until late 3069, Dynamico managed deliver the first prototypes just before the FedCom Civil War. The new design proved its worth in battles on Kentares and New Avalon and entered full production in 3069.
Armament
With two Gauss Rifles and two ER Medium Lasers in the nose and two ER PPCs in each wing the Aurora mounts adequate firepower for its size. Two more Gauss Rifles and two Large Pulse Lasers protect the aft.
Cargo
In addition to 164 tons of integral cargo space the Aurora mounts four modular bay, each of which can hold 150 tons of equipment. Standard modules are available for installation that each hold a BattleMech, Aerospace Fighter, three light vehicles, or 150 tons of either cargo or fuel. In addition, custom modules can be manufactured on demand such as one to accommodate an infantry company.
Overall, the cargo capacity compares favorably to the slightly larger Leopard class, although the Aurora lacks the former's integral fighter bays.
Variants
No proper variants are known, but the modular bays allow for a great deal of customization. While typically used to transport a lance of 'Mechs, the Aurora can thus be configured to serve as a carrier, combined arms transport, freighter, tanker or even gunship.