AeroTech 2 Vessel Technical Readout
VALIDATED
Class/Model/Name: Buccaneer GZT Rebuild
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3067
Vessel Type: Aerodyne DropShip
Rules: Level 2, Custom design
Rules Set: AeroTech2
Mass: 3,500 tons
Length: 136 meters
Power Plant: Standard
Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum
Armament:
4 ER Large Laser
2 Small Pulse Laser
6 ER Medium Laser
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==Overview:==
The Buccaneer has become one of the most popular cargo haulers ever
produced. Initially designed in the early 2700s as a military craft, the
Buccaneer failed to win a Star League contract for a 'Mech transport. The
vessel's designers then made a few modifications to the Buccaneer and marketed
it as a merchant vessel.
Ground Zero Salvage and Technology Company has breathed new life in to
the concept of using the Buccaneer as a military transport. With the recent
expansion of its production facilities and its military arm, Ground Zero
Salvage and Technology has felt a need for a transport that can be used to
insert and extract small raiding forces, which Ground Zero Salvage and
Technology has been growing increasing known for within the last few years.
With the loss of their primary dropship, the Leopold, used in these raids,
Ground Zero Salvage and Technology set out to find a suitable replacement that
could carry a raiding force of six Battlemechs and two Aerospace Fighters in
addition to suitable cargo space. One choice that has been work on and
delivered to Ground Zero Salvage and Technology is that of a modified
Buccaneer.
Normally, the Buccaneer is outfitted with three large cargo holds which
provide the Buccaneer with massive cargo space: two 1,000-ton holds located on
either side of the fuselage, and one 300-ton hold situated above the transit
drive. However, these bays would need to be modified and returned to a
configuration similar to that of the original design concept presented to the
Star League. The modifications to the bays would be extensive as each of the
main bays was striped to the bulk heads, and the outer armor plating of the
vessel removed to expose the internal components. Installed in to each main
bay were three Battlemech repair gantries and transport cradles along with all
the support equipment necessary for normal transport operations. In addition,
the vessel's external structural bracings were modified and lightened on each
side to allow for the instillation of three 'mech sized bay doors on each of
the main bays. This feature would allow for the quick deployment of the
raiding forces and insure deployment even if the vessel was to receive damage
that disabled one or two of the bays doors.
The two main bays were not the only bays to receive a good reworking. Do
to the specifications put forth by Ground Zero Salvage and Technology and this
bay's awkward placement and perfect size meant that it was the logical choice
to be refitted to be used as the vessel's Aerospace Fighter bay. Similar to
the main bays, the repair gantries and transport cradles were installed into
the bay while new bay doors were installed. Unlike the main bays, the
structural layout of the bay needed to be modified so that the Aerospace
Fighters could be quickly, easily, and safely launched. This required a
slight reworking of the bays roof and the vessels upper surface. However, the
final result had many unexpected benefits one of which was that with the
modifications the upper surface of the vessel now served as an extended runway
surface that could be used during launch and retrieval operations.
None-the-less, some back draws could not be overcome do to the placement of
the bays above the transit drive and the presence of vessels aerodyne rudder
and elevators which was found to complicate fighter dock procedures during
flight.
After the bays had been reworked, the team began work on secondary
requirements and systems. The first system refitted was the vessels transit
drives which were redesigned from the ground up and expanded to produce an
additional half G of thrust for combat insertions. These modifications
required that the dimensions of the two main bays be reduced, reducing the
total cargo capacity by about twenty percent in each bay, to allow for the
additional mass of the refitted transit drive. Next with all of the major
internal modifications completed, the refit team started securing the armor
plating back on to the vessels frame. Computer projections that were done by
the refit team of the vessel's internal structure showed that specific bulk
heads could be removed, modified, or lightened to allow for the thickening of
the vessels armor plating, and it was decided that the vessel would be
refitted with Ferro-Aluminum plating instead of the standard plating. In the
end, the team was able to increase the vessel protection capabilities by
nearly 140%. And finally with all the vessels primary systems refitted and
replaced, the team upgraded the weapon systems. Most of the upgrades were
simple refits of older model lasers with extended-range variants. The only
extensive modifications to the weapons system was to replace the nose mounted
LRM-5 Rack with another large laser turret, the addition of a large laser
turret in each wing, and the addition of a forward and rear firing pulse laser
point defense turret.
In addition to all of the major modifications, the standard 12-man crew
has been expanded to 22 and occupy the area directly forward of the cargo
section with each crew member in a spacious double-occupancy room. In
addition, the crew's food and waters supplies have been expanded and
additional escape pods installed in the crew section. Likewise, the vessels
fuel, heat and cooling, and life support systems have been upgraded and
expanded to handle the vessels increased crew and mission requirements.
All of these modifications add up to make an effective if not exceptional
vessel for conducting small raids, which was the goal of Ground Zero Salvage
and Technology proposal in the first place.
At present, only one vessel exists and no other company has launched an
upgraded version of the Buccaneer or announced plans to do so.
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Class/Model/Name: Buccaneer GZT Rebuild
Mass: 3,500 tons
Equipment: Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control: 910.00
Thrust: Safe Thrust: 4
Maximum Thrust: 6
Structural Integrity: 7 122.50
Total Heat Sinks: 41 Double 26.00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps: 179.00
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters: 27.00
Fire Control Computers: .00
Food & Water: (68 days supply) 13.00
Armor Type: Ferro-aluminum (575 total armor pts) 30.50
Standard Scale Armor Pts
Location: L / R
Fore: 194
Left/Right Wings: 143/143
Aft: 95
Cargo:
Bay 1: BattleMechs (3) with 3 doors 450.00
Cargo (1) with 1 door 350.00
Bay 2: BattleMechs (3) with 3 doors 450.00
Cargo (1) with 1 door 350.00
Bay 3: Fighters (2) with 2 doors 300.00
Escape Pods: 4 (7 tons each) 28.00
Crew and Passengers:
4 Officers (3 minimum) 40.00
16 Crew (0 minimum) 112.00
2 Gunners (2 minimum) 14.00
16 Bay Personnel .00
Weapons and Equipment Loc SRV MRV LRV ERV Heat Mass
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1 ER Large Laser Nose 1(8) 1(8) 1(8) -- 12 5.00
1 ER Large Laser Nose 1(8) 1(8) 1(8) -- 12 5.00
1 Small Pulse Laser Nose 0(3) -- -- -- 2 1.00
1 ER Large Laser L/RW 1(8) 1(8) 1(8) -- 24 10.00
2 ER Medium Laser L/RW 1(10) 1(10) -- -- 20 4.00
2 ER Medium Laser Aft 1(10) 1(10) -- -- 10 2.00
1 Small Pulse Laser Aft 0(3) -- -- -- 2 1.00
1 Lot Spare Parts (2.00%) 70.00
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TOTALS: Heat: 82 3,500.00
Tons Left: .00
Calculated Factors:
Total Cost: 179,629,200 C-Bills
Battle Value: 2,253
Cost per BV: 79,728.89
Weapon Value: 3,837 (Ratio = 1.70)
Damage Factors: SRV = 63; MRV = 45; LRV = 9; ERV = 0
Maintenance: Maintenance Point Value (MPV) = 25,862
(13,758 Structure, 11,000 Life Support, 1,104 Weapons)
Support Points (SP) = 25,884 (100% of MPV)
BattleForce2: MP: 4, Armor/Structure: 10 / 9
Damage PB/M/L: 6/5/3, Overheat: 0
Class: DM; Point Value: 23
Note: The design is still constructed under the Civilian dropship guidelines like it's parent design.
_________________ one must work hard to cultivate the mind and body. and one must always cultivate the mind.
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