Difference between revisions of "Barracuda"

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{{InfoBoxWeapon
 
{{InfoBoxWeapon
 
| name = Barracuda<br>Barracuda-T
 
| name = Barracuda<br>Barracuda-T
| Type = Capital Missile<br>Teleoperated Capital Missile
+
| Type = [[Capital Missile]]<br>[[Teleoperated Capital Missile]]
 
| Tech Base = [[Star League]]<br>[[Inner Sphere]]
 
| Tech Base = [[Star League]]<br>[[Inner Sphere]]
 
| Year Availability = ???<br>3058 (?)
 
| Year Availability = ???<br>3058 (?)

Revision as of 15:58, 18 December 2009

Barracuda
Barracuda-T
Production information
Type Capital Missile
Teleoperated Capital Missile
Tech Base Star League
Inner Sphere
Year Availability ???
3058 (?)
Technical specifications
Heat 10[1]
Damage 2 Capital
20 Standard
Minimum Range N/A
Short Range 1-20[2]
N/A[3]
Medium Range 21-30
N/A
Long Range 31-40
N/A
Extreme Range 41-50
N/A
Tons 90
100
Mass N/A kg
Critical Slots N/A
Space Slots N/A
Cost (unloaded) 90,000
100,000
Ammo Cost (per ton) 8,000 (each missile)
7,000 (each missile)
BV (1.0) 522 (Launcher), 65 (each missile)
461 (Launcher), 58 (each missile)
BV (2.0) ???



Description

The Barracuda missile was developed by the First Star League. Since the capital-scale direct fire weapons used on Star League WarShips were so inefficient at intercepting smaller targets, the SLDF Navy turned to missiles to defend against them. Unrestricted by the small size mandated by 'Mech and AeroSpace Fighters, engineers and scientists made huge strides in missile targeting and effectiveness. These missiles were very effective at destroying small craft. The Barracuda was particularly effective at destroying fighters, trading away damage potential for a sensor and guidance package that almost guaranteed a hit.[4] After the fall of the Star League and the loss of WarShips, the Barracuda and its sister missiles were lost. Production restarted during the Clan Invasion alongside the production of new WarShips.

A special teleoperated version of the Barracuda, designated Barracuda-T, was developed in the late 3050's or early 3060's[citation needed] to overcome two problems with the original Barracuda missile: Its expendable nature and the guidance package. If the Barracuda missed its target, it would simply self-destruct. Though this prevented navigation hazards, it was still wasteful, particularly with the primitive guidance packages the post Succession Wars era Successor States could manufacture. The easiest way to solve the problem was to remove the guidance package and install communications links that would allow friendly operators to guide the missile like a remote-controlled AeroSpace Fighter. Though the Barracuda-T lost the ability to attack small craft[5], the ability to manually guide the missile and change targets more than made up for it.

Capital Missiles like the Barracuda are popular for Pocket WarShips because they are the only capital scale weapon system that can fit on a DropShip sized platform.[6]

Models


References

  1. AeroTech 2, p. 101
  2. Strategic Operations Record Sheets and Compiled Tables PDF download, p. 31
  3. AeroTech 2, p. 41, "Teleoperated Missiles"
  4. Technical Readout: 2750, p. 123
  5. AeroTech 2, p. 41, "Teleoperated Missiles"
  6. AeroTech 2, p. 46 "Weapons, Ammunition, and Other Equipment"