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Design Overview
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Combat Vehicle Technical Readout
Name/Model: Stormbolt 48 STBT-48A
Designer: Captain_Frosty
Source(s): Custom Mordel.Net Units
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: D
Tonnage: 30
Role: Missile Boat
Configuration: Combat Vehicle
Era/Year: Succession Wars / 3048
Rules (Current): Introductory
Rules (Era): Introductory
Rules (Year): Introductory
Total Cost: 1,370,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 748
Movement Type: VTOL
Power Plant: Fuse-Tec '40b 130
Cruising Speed: 97.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 151.2 kph
Armor: BSM Combat plating
Armament:
1 Cascade Arms 'Longarm' Heavy LRM 15
1 Saria Inc. Model 1b 'Medium' Medium Laser
Manufacturer: Blackshield State Manufacturing
Primary Factory: Tertiaron, Ducon, Primucon
Communications: SamCo 'Callmaster' 3044
Targeting & Tracking: Saria Inc. 'Snipershot' v3
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Overview:
Originally planned at the aerial equivalent of the CVL-45A, the STBT-48A 'Stormbolt' faced a
variety of redesigns as the ever-present vulnerabilities inherent to all VTOLs made the idea
unattainable. Dissatisfied but willing to see something useful made of this endeavor, the
project was reworked from the ground up; heavy armoring removed in favor of speed, a large
laser replaced with a medium to act as a secondary weapon and a large amount of space, once
meant to carry a pair SRM 6s and their ammo along with the heavy laser's inner workings, was
dedicated to an LRM 15 and three tons of ammo for it.
The result was an affordable and effective long range support craft that could consistently
provide artillery support to frontline units. The high speed further enhanced this role as
'fire and relocate' tactics minimized the threat of counter fire from enemy weapons as the
skies lacked the usual natural obstacles that may have made such a tactic unattainable on
the ground.
Though not what was initially promised, this effectiveness nonetheless proved sufficient to
justify both the funding and resources used for the creation of the successful prototype. A
fact which spared the R&D team from the ever looming threat of budget cuts another few
years, with variants of the design further solidifying its position as a mainstay of the
military branch.
Capabilities:
The STBT-48A 'Stormbolt' is a missile boat and little more. Cheap in both C-Bills and BV, it
has enough speed to always stay at the optimal range and rain LRM fire upon the enemy. The
secondary medium laser also provides limited close range fire support when necessary but
should generally not be relied upon for much.
Deployment:
Like any dedicated missile boat, STBT-48A 'Stormbolt' should be kept far from the enemy
while providing consistent bombardments to soften its targets up. Thanks to its low BV cost,
it is advisable to use these units in pairs with crews that focus on gunnery, allowing for
near guaranteed LRM 15 hits every turn at the approximate price of 1500 BV.
Another use of the STBT-48A 'Stormbolt' is as a flanking weapon. Due to its simplistic
nature, it is most likely that opponents will underestimate the threat this VTOL may pose,
allowing the necessary time to fly past enemy lines and flank said enemies with medium range
LRM 15 fire. Given correct positioning and a little luck, this can lead to upwards of 20
damage directly into the rear of a key enemy target, potentially even eliminating said
target in one fell swoop.
Variants:
The STBT-48 'Stormbolt' has four variants.
The first is the STBT-48A, which was discussed above.
The second is the STBT-48B, an attempt to replace the LRM 15 with a PPC, sacrificing the
superior potential damage for a far more consistent damage output. Due to the PPC's heat,
the medium laser has also been replaced with an SRM 6 as a close range backup weapon.
The third is the STBT-48T, a troop transport variant with the LRM 15 downgraded to an LRM 10
with 2 tons of ammo. A flamer has been included for anti-personnel duties and a two ton
infantry compartment allows for the movement of troops with ease.
The fourth and final variant is the STBT-48S, a radical change in design and rarely
deployed. The LRM 15 and all its ammo are replaced with a pair of SRM 6s and two tons of
ammo for them. The remaining tonnage is used to further enhance the VTOL's speed,
effectively converting it into an almost suicidal striker platform with an incredibly high
damage potential.
Notable MechWarriors:
None; even if a vehicle crew did attain fame, it would only be in the territories of the
Blackshield Company and thus of no significance to the major powers.
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Equipment Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 3.00
Engine: 130 Fusion 7.00
Cruising MP: 9
Flanking MP: 14
Heat Sinks (Single): 10 0.00
Control Equipment: 1.50
Lift Equipment: 3.00
Power Amplifier: 0.00
Turret: 0.00
Armor Factor: 72 4.50
Type: Standard
Armor
Value
Front: 19
R/L Side: 17
Rear: 17
Rotor: 2
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Weapons and Ammo Location Tonnage
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LRM 15 Front 7.00
Medium Laser Front 1.00
LRM 15 (Ammo 24) Body 3.00
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Alpha Strike Statistics
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Point Value (PV): 23
TP: CV, SZ: 1, TMM: 3, MV: 18"v
Damage: (S) 1 / (M) 2 / (L) 1
Armor (A): 2, Structure (S): 2
Specials: ATMO, IF1, SRCH
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