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chanman
Major Posts: 5778 Yes, it ends in fire. That's why it's awesome! 
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Dropships
April 4, 2006: K-1/K-1C DropShuttles
Author: GiovanniBlasini
Welcome back to the DropShip of the...well, I dunno. Week? Month? We'll have to see. Anyway, this time around, I'm going to go out on a limb and talk about the K-1 and K-1C DropShuttles. Yes, that's right, I'm talking about a shuttle in a DSotW column. Trust me, it'll all make sense shortly. The K-1 DropShuttle is an OLD design, both in-universe and out. Originally published in the book DropShips and JumpShips, the K-1 was originally manufactured in 2536 to function as a cheap, long-range passenger and cargo transport. The idea was it could sit in a small craft bay of a larger craft, or dock to one of the plentiful number of JumpShips running around the Inner Sphere at the time. With passage on a JumpShip cheap because it was so readily available, the low 9.27 million C-Bill cost of a DropShuttle was a great alternative to larger, more expensive DropShips. I want you to read that price again. Yes, that's right, 9.27 million C-Bills, for a vessel that can literally function like a DropShip, able to make long-distance transits from a planet to jump point, capable of supporting its crew and passengers for weeks, or even months, at a time. Here's the problem with the DropShuttle, though - the damn statistics have changed too many times! See, even into Battlespace, small craft were more or less built like oversized aerospace fighters - hell, in DS&JS, it was even listed as having a 400-rating engine. Now, small craft are built exactly like DropShips, and the K-1 has suffered because of it. Originally, the K-1 was staffed by a two-person crew, and carried six passengers, essentially (according to the original TR3057) all in steerage quarters. On top of this, it had an impressive 55-ton cargo capacity, making it a great cargo-hauler for small-time operators. Weaponry was a bit on the light side, with an LRM-5, four medium lasers, a single small laser, and a ton of ammunition for the LRM rack. Over time that's evolved, though, under newer rules. First, crew requirements have ballooned up, with the modern K-1 requiring an officer, two enlisted/non-rated, and a gunner to operate. In standard quarters. Yes, kids, that's right - instead of 10 tons between two crewmen, we've now got 31 tons between four people. Passenger capacity, and accomodations, haven't changed, with six passengers in steerage quarters. Cargo, not surprisingly, has been reduced to a mere 21.5 tons, once you include 2 tons of spare parts and 3 tons of food. Oh well, at least she's still got nearly enough burn endurance for a round trip to and from a jump point, right? Um, no, not really. See, back in DS&JS, the ship burned only 1.06 tons/burn-day at 1G. Now, under AT2 rules, that's increased to 1.84 tons/burn-day, dropping its burn endurance from 28.3 days down to a mere 16.3 days. D'oh! What's that do to transit time? Well, if you're only concerned with a one-way trip to a jump point, you're not terribly screwed - depending on how far away it is, you might add a couple days to your transit time. If you want to make a round trip back to a planet? Um, yeah, it's going to take a little longer. Hopefully that JumpShip you're heading for has extra fuel, right? Um...never mind, most don't.  Another funny thing happened on the way to AT2 and TR3057R - the K-1 gained craploads of armor. Originally, it packed only 192 points of armor, arranged in AT1 fashion - 40 points in the nose, 25 each side, 12 in the engine, and 90 in the fuselage. Nowadays that's increased to 360 points of armor: 140 in the nose, 60 each side, and 100 aft. That cuts even more into that cargo capacity, unfortunately. The Clan version of the DropShuttle, the K-1C, isn't terribly different from the Inner Sphere one. Cargo is similar, fuel capacity and consumption is the same, as is the passenger capacity and crew complement. What's different is that the armor has increased even more, up to 444 points (180 nose, 80 per side, and 104 aft), and the armament has been changed to 2 MPLs in the nose, an MPL on each side, and an MPL aft. Heat sinks have been swapped from singles to doubles, allowing the K-1C to fire all its weapons. I'm going to finish up this post with the specs out of HMA on the K-1 and K-1C, then follow it up with a few special treats as a second post. Please stand by.  AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2536
Vessel Type: Spheroid Small Craft
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 200 tons
Length: 28 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 LRM 5
4 Medium Laser
1 Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
Like the KR-61, the K-1 and K-1C DropShuttles are long-range
shuttlecraft. The DropShuttles’ larger size, spheroid shape and lower
acceleration rates enable them to transport much more cargo, however. The
vessels’ 55-ton cargo capacities and six-passenger accommodations make the K-1
and K-1C more versatile than the KR-61, and these DropShuttles are a common
sight around jump points. The K-1 is equipped with a docking collar, allowing
it to attach to a JumpShip hardpoint. Such usage is rare outside of the Clans,
however, and more often the DropShuttle is relegated to the same duties as
other long-range shuttles.
The Clan K-1C carries much more armor than the Inner Sphere K-1 and
utilizes sophisticated pulse lasers to enhance the firepower and accuracy of
its arsenal. The two designs are nearly identical in all other respects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1
Mass: 200 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 52.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 6 2.50
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Single 1.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 31.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1.50
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (60 days supply) 3.00
Armor Type: Standard (360 total armor pts) 21.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 140
Left/Right Sides: 60/60
Aft: 100
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) 16.50
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officers (0 minimum) 10.00
2 Crew (2 minimum) 14.00
1 Gunners (1 minimum) 7.00
6 Steerage Passengers 30.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 LRM 5 Nose 3 3 3 -- 2 2.00
Ammo (LRM 5) 48 --- 2.00
1 Medium Laser Nose 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser Aft 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Small Laser Aft 3 -- -- -- 1 .50
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 15 200.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 9,266,850 C-Bills
Battle Value: 912
Cost per BV: 10,161.02
Weapon Value: 1,751 (Ratio = 1.92)
Damage Factors: SRV = 16; MRV = 1; LRV = 1; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 1,565
(286 Structure, 1,020 Life Support, 259 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 5,289 (338% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 9 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 9
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1C
Tech: Clan / 2914
Vessel Type: Spheroid Small Craft
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 200 tons
Length: 28 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
5 Medium Pulse Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
Like the KR-61, the K-1 and K-1C DropShuttles are long-range
shuttlecraft. The DropShuttles’ larger size, spheroid shape and lower
acceleration rates enable them to transport much more cargo, however. The
vessels’ 55-ton cargo capacities and six-passenger accommodations make the K-1
and K-1C more versatile than the KR-61, and these DropShuttles are a common
sight around jump points. The K-1 is equipped with a docking collar, allowing
it to attach to a JumpShip hardpoint. Such usage is rare outside of the Clans,
however, and more often the DropShuttle is relegated to the same duties as
other long-range shuttles.
The Clan K-1C carries much more armor than the Inner Sphere K-1 and
utilizes sophisticated pulse lasers to enhance the firepower and accuracy of
its arsenal. The two designs are nearly identical in all other respects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1C
Mass: 200 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 49.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 6 2.50
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Double 2.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 31.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1.50
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (60 days supply) 3.00
Armor Type: Standard (444 total armor pts) 21.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 180
Left/Right Sides: 80/80
Aft: 104
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) 17.00
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officers (0 minimum) 10.00
2 Crew (2 minimum) 14.00
1 Gunners (1 minimum) 7.00
6 Steerage Passengers 30.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Pulse Laser Nose 7 7 -- -- 8 4.00
1 Medium Pulse Laser RW 7 7 -- -- 4 2.00
1 Medium Pulse Laser LW 7 7 -- -- 4 2.00
1 Medium Pulse Laser Aft 7 7 -- -- 4 2.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 20 200.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 9,645,600 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,413
Cost per BV: 6,826.33
Weapon Value: 2,818 (Ratio = 1.99)
Damage Factors: SRV = 35; MRV = 32; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 1,746
(286 Structure, 990 Life Support, 470 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 9,225 (528% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 11 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 14
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chanman
Major Posts: 5778 Yes, it ends in fire. That's why it's awesome!
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More from this thread:
But wait, there's more! Here's my take on what the K-1 and K-1C SHOULD look like, based on what they were capable of in DS&JS. Note I've dropped the passenger capacity, while keeping the AT2 crewing requirements legal. Either way you slice it, the K-1 was originally set up for eight people, not ten. I'd go back to the idea that only two people are needed to run it, and treat the two additional crewmen as passengers. I've also shrunk the crew quarters down to steerage quality again, which is what it's supposed to be, based on the ship's description. Hell, mine even fits the fluff better. AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: K-1 Dropshuttle (Gio's DS&JS Version)
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2536
Vessel Type: Spheroid Small Craft
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 200 tons
Length: 28 meters
Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney 400 Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 LRM 5
4 Medium Laser
1 Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
Like the KR-61, the K-1 and K-1C DropShuttles are long-range
shuttlecraft. The DropShuttles’ larger size, spheroid shape and lower
acceleration rates enable them to transport much more cargo, however. The
vessels’ 55-ton cargo capacities and six-passenger accommodations make the K-1
and K-1C more versatile than the KR-61, and these DropShuttles are a common
sight around jump points. The K-1 is equipped with a docking collar, allowing
it to attach to a JumpShip hardpoint. Such usage is rare outside of the Clans,
however, and more often the DropShuttle is relegated to the same duties as
other long-range shuttles.
The Clan K-1C carries much more armor than the Inner Sphere K-1 and
utilizes sophisticated pulse lasers to enhance the firepower and accuracy of
its arsenal. The two designs are nearly identical in all other respects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: K-1 Dropshuttle (Gio's DS&JS Version)
Mass: 200 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 52.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 6 2.50
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Single 1.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 31.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1.50
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (75 days supply) 3.00
Armor Type: Standard (192 total armor pts) 10.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 60
Left/Right Sides: 48/48
Aft: 36
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) with 1 door 48.00
Crew and Passengers:
3 Crew (3 minimum) 15.00
1 Gunners (1 minimum) 5.00
4 Steerage Passengers 20.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 LRM 5 Nose 3 3 3 -- 2 2.00
Ammo (LRM 5) 48 --- 2.00
1 Medium Laser Nose 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser Aft 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Small Laser Aft 3 -- -- -- 1 .50
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 15 200.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 8,696,850 C-Bills
Battle Value: 577
Cost per BV: 15,072.53
Weapon Value: 1,320 (Ratio = 2.29)
Damage Factors: SRV = 16; MRV = 1; LRV = 1; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 1,454
(275 Structure, 920 Life Support, 259 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 3,152 (217% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 5 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 6
And, last up, my K-1C: AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: K-1C Dropshuttle (Gio's DS&JS Version)
Tech: Clan / 2914
Vessel Type: Spheroid Small Craft
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 200 tons
Length: 28 meters
Power Plant: Pratt & Whitney 400 Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
5 Medium Pulse Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
==Overview:==
Like the KR-61, the K-1 and K-1C DropShuttles are long-range
shuttlecraft. The DropShuttles’ larger size, spheroid shape and lower
acceleration rates enable them to transport much more cargo, however. The
vessels’ 55-ton cargo capacities and six-passenger accommodations make the K-1
and K-1C more versatile than the KR-61, and these DropShuttles are a common
sight around jump points. The K-1 is equipped with a docking collar, allowing
it to attach to a JumpShip hardpoint. Such usage is rare outside of the Clans,
however, and more often the DropShuttle is relegated to the same duties as
other long-range shuttles.
The Clan K-1C carries much more armor than the Inner Sphere K-1 and
utilizes sophisticated pulse lasers to enhance the firepower and accuracy of
its arsenal. The two designs are nearly identical in all other respects.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: K-1C Dropshuttle (Gio's DS&JS Version)
Mass: 200 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 49.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 6 2.50
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Double 2.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 31.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1.50
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (75 days supply) 3.00
Armor Type: Standard (234 total armor pts) 10.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 68
Left/Right Sides: 58/58
Aft: 50
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) with 1 door 48.50
Crew and Passengers:
3 Crew (3 minimum) 15.00
1 Gunners (1 minimum) 5.00
4 Steerage Passengers 20.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Pulse Laser Nose 7 7 -- -- 8 4.00
1 Medium Pulse Laser RW 7 7 -- -- 4 2.00
1 Medium Pulse Laser LW 7 7 -- -- 4 2.00
1 Medium Pulse Laser Aft 7 7 -- -- 4 2.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 20 200.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 9,075,600 C-Bills
Battle Value: 994
Cost per BV: 9,130.38
Weapon Value: 2,112 (Ratio = 2.12)
Damage Factors: SRV = 35; MRV = 32; LRV = 0; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 1,635
(275 Structure, 890 Life Support, 470 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 3,152 (193% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 6 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 10
Does it really need 4/6 thrust? It's not like the passengers are going to be happy about 2 Gs sustained over long transits, and you can't do much in the way of combat maneuvers with 4/6 either...
Well in the Fan Council game the DropShuttle is a godsend for making flotillas but over all she isn't what she was in the old DS&JS.
Ayup. That was something I intentionally included in those rules, actually, when Ashenwelt and I wrote up the first couple versions of the rules. With that armor though she makes a lower BV Battle Taxi. Refit the cargo to carry marines and you've got a ship to use for boarding actions.
Quite true, actually. While she's not as fast as an NL-42 Battle Taxi, she can carry twice as many battlearmored troopers: AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1B (Battlearmor Transport)
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2536
Vessel Type: Spheroid Small Craft
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 200 tons
Length: 28 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 LRM 5
4 Medium Laser
1 Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1B (Battlearmor Transport)
Mass: 200 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 52.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 6 2.50
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Single 1.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 31.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1.50
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (46 days supply) 6.50
Armor Type: Standard (360 total armor pts) 21.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 140
Left/Right Sides: 60/60
Aft: 100
Cargo:
Bay 1: Battle Armor Points/Squads (4) with 1 door 40.00
Cargo (1) 3.00
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officers (0 minimum) 10.00
2 Crew (2 minimum) 14.00
1 Gunners (1 minimum) 7.00
24 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 LRM 5 Nose 3 3 3 -- 2 2.00
Ammo (LRM 5) 48 --- 2.00
1 Medium Laser Nose 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser Aft 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Small Laser Aft 3 -- -- -- 1 .50
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 15 200.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 9,721,850 C-Bills
Battle Value: 912
Cost per BV: 10,659.92
Weapon Value: 1,751 (Ratio = 1.92)
Damage Factors: SRV = 16; MRV = 1; LRV = 1; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 2,465
(286 Structure, 1,920 Life Support, 259 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 5,289 (215% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 9 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 9
Also, since we're talking "old school" technology, I'm sure the K-1 was high on everyone's list for boarding operations during the Third Succession War, using conventional marines. In fact, you can carry five platoons of jump marines and sufficient consumables for 36 days of operations: AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1M (Marine/Infantry Transport)
Tech: Inner Sphere / 2536
Vessel Type: Spheroid Small Craft
Rules: Level 1, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 200 tons
Length: 28 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Standard
Armament:
1 LRM 5
4 Medium Laser
1 Small Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1M (Marine/Infantry Transport)
Mass: 200 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 52.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 6 2.50
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Single 1.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 31.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1.50
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (36 days supply) 19.50
Armor Type: Standard (360 total armor pts) 21.00
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 140
Left/Right Sides: 60/60
Aft: 100
Cargo:
Bay 1: Infantry (jump) Platoons (5) 30.00
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officers (0 minimum) 10.00
2 Crew (2 minimum) 14.00
1 Gunners (1 minimum) 7.00
105 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 LRM 5 Nose 3 3 3 -- 2 2.00
Ammo (LRM 5) 48 --- 2.00
1 Medium Laser Nose 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser Aft 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Small Laser Aft 3 -- -- -- 1 .50
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 15 200.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 11,741,850 C-Bills
Battle Value: 912
Cost per BV: 12,874.84
Weapon Value: 1,751 (Ratio = 1.92)
Damage Factors: SRV = 16; MRV = 1; LRV = 1; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 6,515
(286 Structure, 5,970 Life Support, 259 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 5,289 (81% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 9 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 9
With that crew-to-passenger ratio these things should be termed DropTaxis - the economics could defintely use some work (and why would a civvie drop shuttle need that much armour and that sort of weapons load out?) I don't mind a few guns, or the original 192 points of armor. The later armor loadout makes no damn sense. Beyond that, though, you're probably right on the economics, though I'd imagine it's meant to be cheap as dirt to operate. Also, when you consider that my version could, sacrificing the cargo hold, take another 9 passengers, and still have 3 tons spare space for food, that does improve things a bit. even your version with 9 passengers and a couple crew members, has as bad a crew/passenger ratio as an executive jet. I mean, say you're a big company looking to transport a half dozen key engineers and their families. Do you have to divert a jumpship and RSVP a dropper just for a couple dozen people?  Depends - are they on board for only a day or two, where you can toss them in 1-ton accomodations the way the S-7 Bus does, or are you planning on having them onboard for a week or two? If it's the former, you'd be able to put more than 70 people aboard my version.
Well in the Fan Council game the DropShuttle is a godsend for making flotillas but over all she isn't what she was in the old DS&JS. ...huh? What is a flotilla in this context, and how is the shuttle useful for it? Ashenwalt and Gio created an abstract ASF rules system to work on top of the abstract campaign rules from Combat Ops. The rules put all naval elements into point based "flotillas". Part of the rules requires all docking collars to be filled for JumpShips and WarShips. The K1 came in handy cause if you were almost out of BV for your flotilla and still had collars open you could buy a K1 for 912 BV and stick it on the collar.
I had actually thought that Small Craft were, for the main part, designed with Dropship rules in Battlespace, with the Mark VII Landing Craft being an exception? Apparently I was wrong...
It's kind of absurd that a clearly spheroid craft is designed as an aerodyne.
On the other hand, 16 days worth of fuel is plenty for most jump-point round trips, and would only require a little longer for others.
I don't believe AT2 actually makes a specific requirement for the kinds of cabins crewmen need to fit into. Steerage spaces would seem appropriate, and Small Craft are noted for unusually sized (small) cabins in any case.
The K1 is a great way for getting around a solar system -- or the Inner Sphere. They're cheap to buy, own, and/or operate, and can fit on a dropship collar or in small craft space.
Depends - are they on board for only a day or two, where you can toss them in 1-ton accomodations the way the S-7 Bus does, or are you planning on having them onboard for a week or two? If it's the former, you'd be able to put more than 70 people aboard my version. You can put 70 people on for a week or two. I suspect, though, that by the end you might be down to 50 or so people, but what they hey, you could do it. I can also see K-1s being used in an orbital harrassment role. Your warship(s) will be busy hunting down the droppers that are fleeing. Your fighters will be down on the planet providing support or keeping you warship(s) and droppers clean. But what to do about those pesky communications satelites? Or how about the recon satelites? You've got to get rid of them. So, you send a K-1. You can either try and capture it, you've got 16 tons, that's enough for most small satelites and certainly enough for the "juicy" parts. Or, you can just obliterate it with your LRMs and lasers. Problem solved.
Why use 1-ton accommodations? Aren't the quarters for foot infantry platoons 5 tons for 28 troops (25 clan)? Just fill those seats with civilians instead. Maybe use the weight saved from not carrying weapons to spruce up the cushions.
Because people need something to live on. That 5 tons just accomidates the troopers, their gear, and their seats. Are you going to sit in your seat for the one to two week trip to the jump point? Giving each passenger 1 ton gives some room for a cot, a little space to move around in, and a few basic necessities. You'd still be horribly cramped and ready to kill someone at the end of the trip, but it would be doable. Hmm, that makes sense, but it opens up an entirely new problem. What about all those dropships that carry infantry platoons/BA? I know that some WarShips have full-fledged passenger quarters for their battle armor, but I haven't seen any dropship with similar stats. Usually they're listed as "bay personnel". If the 5 tons/platoon doesn't allow for sustained living on a ship, then why have it at all? All those infantry-transporting dropships would need Monarchs tagging along just to carry their troop complement. Otherwise ships like the Excalibur, Nagumo, Seeker, etc, need to recalculate each platoon at 5 tons/soldier (140 tons/platoon of infantry?  ). So, neither way makes much sense, but I'd say that the 5/tons per platoon is sustainable (if not comfortable) if it makes use of barracks-style arrangements, with just cots/bunks crammed into as small an area as possible. Welcome to the wonderful, confusing world of life support systems on Battletech spacecraft. All we can say with any degree of certainty, and even then we're not certain, is that infantry barracks on large spacecraft tend to be one big open room. No privacy, no dividing walls, no private staterooms, etc. As for sustained living, it has never, ever been spelled out by the writers. We simply don't know. The implications, though, are that infantry barracks are "short-term", whatever that means.
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Arkansas Warrior
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 9909 Men fight most fiercely in defense of their Home.
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| Y'know, this seems like it could almost be just the thing for the independently wealthy freelance merc. You've got transport without buying a whole DropShip, and once you rip out most of the passenger accomodations, or all if this guy knows how to serve as a ship crewman, you've got room to stow a fair-size 'mech as cargo. If I had HMA I'd do a sample readout, but doing it the Hard Way I'm calculating you could prob'ly get it up to, oh, 60 tons or so of cargo without a major refit like a smaller engine. |
Recipient of ColBosch's Pedant of the Month Award for February 2007, for Reply #27 here. 'shovels we have, shovels we will use, bayonet charge or not.'-Beachhead1973 FGC Personas: Galaxy Commander Carolus Magnus, Rho Galaxy, Clan Ghost Bear Field Marshal Nathaniel Hasek, Capellan March, Federated Suns.
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Welshman
Manei Catalyst ModeratorPosts: 11622 We are the finders of your secrets 
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If you drop the steerage quarters, one ton of food and 2.5 tons of armor you can just fit a single Mech as Cargo.
Remember however it is loaded as cargo not as a Mech cubicle. When you land you have to unload it like frieght, it is not going to just walk off the ship.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1
Mass: 200 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 52.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 6 2.50
Total Heat Sinks: 10 Single 1.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 31.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1.50
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (100 days supply) 2.00
Armor Type: Standard (320 total armor pts) 18.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 121
Left/Right Sides: 59/59
Aft: 81
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) 50.00
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officers (0 minimum) 10.00
2 Crew (2 minimum) 14.00
1 Gunners (1 minimum) 7.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 LRM 5 Nose 3 3 3 -- 2 2.00
Ammo (LRM 5) 48 --- 2.00
1 Medium Laser Nose 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser RW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser LW 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Medium Laser Aft 5 -- -- -- 3 1.00
1 Small Laser Aft 3 -- -- -- 1 .50
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 15 200.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 8,991,850 C-Bills
Battle Value: 832
Cost per BV: 10,807.51
Weapon Value: 1,661 (Ratio = 2.00)
Damage Factors: SRV = 16; MRV = 1; LRV = 1; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 1,263
(284 Structure, 720 Life Support, 259 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 5,289 (419% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 8 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/-/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 8
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GiovanniBlasini
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 11316 Comstar Explorer Service - Lost in Spaaaace!!!!
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If you drop the steerage quarters, one ton of food and 2.5 tons of armor you can just fit a single Mech as Cargo.
Remember however it is loaded as cargo not as a Mech cubicle. When you land you have to unload it like frieght, it is not going to just walk off the ship.
I suspect something like this forms the basis for the 'Mech carrying small craft described in the Kyushu entry in TR3057. Cut the fuel down to what you need to take off and land, and drop to steerage quarters for the crew, and you can add on even more tonnage for 'Mechs. Cut the engine down to 3/5, and that's still more.
Y'know, this seems like it could almost be just the thing for the independently wealthy freelance merc. You've got transport without buying a whole DropShip, and once you rip out most of the passenger accomodations, or all if this guy knows how to serve as a ship crewman, you've got room to stow a fair-size 'mech as cargo. If I had HMA I'd do a sample readout, but doing it the Hard Way I'm calculating you could prob'ly get it up to, oh, 60 tons or so of cargo without a major refit like a smaller engine.
Something like that. Before I quit the Solaris 7 game on the board here, I was using a pair of these (along with a modified Buccaneer and Invader) as part of a Lostech prospecting operation. Each DropShuttle carried a WorkMech or, in one case, a Mercury and a light vehicle, along with a handful of personnel in GDL Scout suits. |
"Good charts, strong ship, and a sextant have made it possible to weather more than one storm." -- Anastasius Focht [00:01] auren_shiro: Land a Dropship on it. [00:02] colbosch: This is Cthulhutech. It might get back up, then eat your DropShip." "You can't see or hear the dinosaurs rampaging throughout your living room, but they're there." -- Physicist Michio Kaku FGC Character: Director Rayanne Nellis, Niops Association
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Lt. Nebfer
Major Posts: 3366 Zakus FTW!!
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My take on what the K-1 should be like.
AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1 Refit
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3055
Vessel Type: Spheroid Small Craft
Rules: Level 2, Standard design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 200 tons
Length: 28 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum
Armament:
1 LRM 5
5 ER Medium Laser
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class/Model/Name: DropShuttle K-1 Refit
Mass: 200 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 52.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 6 2.50
Total Heat Sinks: 12 Double 3.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 31.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 1.50
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (30 days supply) 1.50
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum (409 total armor pts) 21.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 103
Left/Right Sides: 102/102
Aft: 102
Cargo:
Bay 1: Cargo (1) 50.00
Crew and Passengers:
1 Officers (0 minimum) 3.00
2 Crew (2 minimum) 4.00
1 Gunners (1 minimum) 2.00
6 Steerage Passengers 18.00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 LRM 5 Nose 3 3 3 -- 2 2.00
Ammo (LRM 5) 24 --- 1.00
2 ER Medium Laser Nose 5 5 -- -- 10 2.00
1 ER Medium Laser RW 5 5 -- -- 5 1.00
1 ER Medium Laser LW 5 5 -- -- 5 1.00
1 ER Medium Laser Aft 5 5 -- -- 5 1.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (1.00%) 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS: Heat: 27 200.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 11,620,600 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,142
Cost per BV: 10,175.66
Weapon Value: 2,226 (Ratio = 1.95)
Damage Factors: SRV = 23; MRV = 18; LRV = 1; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 1,662
(288 Structure, 1,020 Life Support, 354 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 5,289 (318% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 10 / 0
Damage PB/M/L: 1/1/-, Overheat: 0
Class: DS; Point Value: 11
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WWII: How you can not have hatred for the Russians after your experiences with them?
Erich Hartmann: One thing I learned is this: Never allow yourself to hate a people because of the actions of a few. Hatred and bigotry destroyed my nation, and millions died. I hope most people did not hate Germans because of the Nazis, or Americans because of slaves. Never hate, it only eats you alive. Keep an open mind and always look for the good in people.You may be surprised at what you find.
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GiovanniBlasini
Lieutenant Colonel Posts: 11316 Comstar Explorer Service - Lost in Spaaaace!!!!
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I'd probably switch to steerage quarters, simply because the DropShuttle's kind of a long-range craft, meant, really, to fufill the same role as a DropShip. I mean, sure, you'd lose some cargo, but since I'd also drop it to 4 passengers standard, you'd only be losing 13 tons - take the difference out of food & water, and spare parts (make 'em part of general cargo) and you're still pretty well off.
Other than that, though, I like the use of ERMLs, and the armor increase, especially if you're thinking of taking this in harms way. This would be a pretty decent military version of the K-1. |
"Good charts, strong ship, and a sextant have made it possible to weather more than one storm." -- Anastasius Focht [00:01] auren_shiro: Land a Dropship on it. [00:02] colbosch: This is Cthulhutech. It might get back up, then eat your DropShip." "You can't see or hear the dinosaurs rampaging throughout your living room, but they're there." -- Physicist Michio Kaku FGC Character: Director Rayanne Nellis, Niops Association
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Lt. Nebfer
Major Posts: 3366 Zakus FTW!!
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| Well my view is that this is a shuttle not a pasanger liner, why should it need the same equipment as used on a dropship? after all you are probly going to spend most of your time on your mothership than in your &quo | |
