Stuka
Stuka | |
Production information | |
Manufacturer | Lycomb IntroTechnologies, Inc. |
Production Year | 2530[1] |
Model | STU-K5 |
Class | Heavy Aerospace Fighter |
Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
Cost | 6,156,000 C-bills |
Technical specifications | |
Mass | 100 tons |
Structural Integrity | 10 |
Frame | Lycomb 11 |
Power Plant | GM 300ATF |
Fuel | 400 - 5 tons |
Armament |
|
Communications System | O/P 9000AT |
Tracking & Targeting System | O/P 2500TGFD |
Heat Sinks | 30 single heat sinks |
BV (1.0) | 1,537[2][3] |
BV (2.0) | 1,794 |
Contents
Description
First designed in 2530 for the Star League Defense Force, the Stuka is meant for prolonged battle, boasting 30 single heat sinks that allow it to stay in the fight longer. Though somewhat outgunned by some medium fighters, it has 15 tons of armoring which gives it superior protection, and its Monitor 200 guidance system gives it the maneuverability of a medium fighter. Mostly used by Federated Suns forces thanks to their monopoly on its construction, the Stukas have proven a thorn in the side of House Kurita forces on many occasions.
Lycomb-Davion IntroTech originally manufactured the Stuka from their facilities on Demeter[4][5] along with a number of other designs. In 2795 the Capellan Confederation struck at and destroyed the facilities on Demeter in an attempt to deny the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns supplies of Stukas. While the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces strike was successful, the Confederation was unaware their overall goal wasn't met as Lycomb-Davion IntroTech were constructing a second manufacturing facility on New Avalon that was well on its way to being complete.[4]
Because of similarities in its design, the Stuka has on occasion been mistaken for a Lightning, a mistake which has often proven deadly.
Weapons and Equipment
The STU-K5 Stuka carries a mix of weaponry, a Simpson LRM-20 rack, Holly SRM-4, and a Martell medium laser rounding out the payload in the nose. The wings mount two Exostar large lasers each, with the final two medium lasers facing to the rear.
Variants
- STU-D6
- A variant created by the newly created Federated Commonwealth, which introduces recovered Star League technology into the design. Based on the K5, the fighter's weaponry gets an additional two LRM-20s on each wing, with two tons of ammunition. The nose launcher is replaced by a pair of SRM-6s with four tons of ammo. The fighter's engine is replaced with an XL model and it drops 10 of its single heats sinks to upgrade the remaining ones to double strength. BV (1.0) = 1,838[6][7]
- STU-D7
- This variant introduces technology that was conceived at the FedCom Civil War. Using the D6 as base design, the two LRM launchers are replaced with RAC/5s with two tons of ammunition. The large lasers are completely removed for nine ER medium lasers, three placed in each of the wings, one mounted in the nose with the LRM-20 and two SRM-6s, and two facing aft. All of the D7's launchers have been enhanced fitted with a Artemis IV guidance systems. A ship bolsters 21 double heat sinks to counter the massive heat the weapons produce. BV (2.0) = 2092[8]
- STU-K5b
- This variant kept only the medium lasers in the rear arc. To provide long range hitting power, the large lasers were replaced with a pair of ER PPCs in each wing. It replaced the rest of the standard weapon loadout with a nose-mounted AC/20 and medium laser to deal with enemies who came in close. Three tons of autocannon ammunition kept this version in the fight for a long time before it needed to return to base to reload. To keep heat levels manageable, the single heat sinks were upgraded to double strength models. BV (2.0) = 2,190[9][10]
- STU-K10
- This variant replaced the three medium lasers with two extra single heat sinks and four Exostar small lasers. This variant is mostly seen in the Draconis March Militia. BV (1.0) = 1,565,[11][12] BV (2.0) = 1,767
- STU-K15
- This variant that saw limited production reduced the armor by three tons and added six small lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,403,[13][14] BV (2.0) = 1,683
Notes
- Author Blaine Lee Pardoe stated in a blog entry that, according to his memory which he admitted could be wrong, the Stuka 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. He noted there was some pushback about the name which references an infamous German warplane from the Second World War, but that it was eventually cleared.
- The sourcebook Interstellar Expeditions: Interstellar Players 3 includes Random Assignment Tables for the Escorpión Imperio which contain the 100-ton "Thunderbird Strike Fighter"; stats for this unit would supposedly be published in XTRO: Deep Periphery. However, XTRO: Deep Periphery was cancelled and former BattleTech Line Developer Herbert A. Beas II stated that the "Thunderbird Strike Fighter" should be exchanged for the STU-K5 Stuka in the RAT. (See Interstellar Expeditions: Interstellar Players 3#Notes for further references.)
Gallery
Original STU-K5 Stuka from TRO:3025
STU-5K Stuka from Hardware-Handbuch 3025
STU-K5 Stuka from TRO:3025 Revised
AFFS Stuka from MechWarrior
Stuka from AT2r
References
- ↑ MUL online date for the Stuka
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 303
- ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 183
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 152: "Lycomb-Davion IntroTech"
- ↑ Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 11: "Arcadian Cuirassiers"
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 299
- ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 184
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 300
- ↑ Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 90
- ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 161
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 301
- ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 185
- ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 302
- ↑ AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 186