Sic transit gloria mundi
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: Sub a boat.
Image Source: Here.
Canon Link: N/A.
Permissions: Permission for all ArmaTech gear and all other subs made by Laira Darkhold's writer here and here.
Primary Source: Patriot Class Amphibious Landing Craft.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Firemane Industries.
Affiliation: Firemane Industries, approved buyers.
Market Status: Closed-Market
Model: FM-TAB1a
Modularity: Limited.
Production: Limited
Material: Durasteel, Kinetic Armour tubes.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Classification: Watercraft.
Role: Fast Insertion Boat.
Size: Small
Weight: Light
Armaments: Very Low
- Light Blastercannon or equivalent weapon.
- AE-CML1 Dampening Chaff
- Lightweight armour plating
- Hydrostatic Bubble
- Rigid hull bottom is joined to side-forming air tubes. These are inflated with air to a high pressure.
Speed Rating: Very High
Propulsion: Repulsorlift.
Minimum Crew: 1
Optimal Crew: 2. One driver, one gunner.
Passenger Capacity: 16.
Cargo Capacity: Average. Aside from standard stuff such as supplies, gear to repair the boat and personal equipment for crew and passengers, it can carry up to four standard rubber inflatable boats or other small boats of equivalent size to them.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- ACS-405 Long Range Sensor Suite
- Sonar Mapper, Subsonic Scanner.
- Individual Field Disruptor
- Encrypted planetary communicator.
- Quiet engines and low silhouette.
- It is a rigid hull inflatable boat. A rigid hull bottom is joined to side-forming air tubes. These are inflated with air to a high pressure. The design ensures that the boat remains buoyant even if it takes on water. In short, it can't be sunk by taking on water.
- Light enough they can be airdropped in via gunship.
- Crew and personnel can fast-rope from a dropship or gunship onto the craft during insertion and climb a ladder or rope from the boat to the dropship/gunship during extraction.
- Tactical infiltration boat. Serves as an insertion and extraction craft for special forces personnel and other special purpose units. Operators can use the craft to carry out a clandestine amphibious landing to, for example, seize tactical objectives, carry out reconnaissance etc.
- Fast and manoeuvrable. Its design gives it great range and speed. Cannot be sunk by taking on water.
- Lightly armed. It is an infiltration boat, not an attack craft. The weapons are mainly supposed to provide cover for the crew when they leave the shore after an extraction. Naturally they can also operators making a landing in a hostile environment...but the main point of the boat is too land covertly without getting in a big firefight.
- Relatively small profile makes it harder to spot, but also makes it less resilient to heavy damage.
Over the decades, Firemane has found itself operating on worlds where the seas and oceans play a huge role in transport, trade and thus also warfare. Tygara and Arkas are chief among them. Ships are needed to counter the maritime fleets of other factions, combat raiders and expand the Kerrigan family business' power. While the surface navy was neglected after the initial conflict with the Xioquo had been settled, it has now undergone a programme to modernise it.
The Aulanerk is a rigid hull inflatable boat that has been designed to facilitate stealthy, rapid insertions for special forces and marine reconnaissance elements. A rigid hull bottom is joined to side-forming air tubes. These are inflated with air to a high pressure. The tubes are made out of the same material as Kinetic Armour. The design ensures that the boat remains buoyant even if it takes on water. In short, it can't be sunk by taking on water, though it can of course still be destroyed by numerous means. While the vessel is capable of limited coastal patrol and interdiction, its primary purpose is to facilitate clandestine insertions and extractions.
An example for a mission would be covertly landing special forces in an enemy-held coastal area to carry out reconnaissance, link up with allied guerrillas or carry out a surprise attack on an enemy bunker or compound. Allied commandos can also launch from the craft to scout out and seize or sabotage offshore facilities in the deep sea. These qualities make it a useful craft for frogmen, and in general operations carried out in a maritime or littoral environment.
The boat is light enough that it can be airdropped in via gunship, despite being longer and wider than the gunship. Typically, the boat operates with a crew of two - a driver annd a gunner. It can carry a unit of up to sixteen soldiers. Seating is designed for comfort and shock mitigation, which is particularly helpful on the high seas or heavy manoeuvring. The soldiers travelling aboard the boat can stand or sit.
Moreover, crew and personnel can fast-rope from a dropship or gunship onto the craft during insertion and climb a ladder or rope from the boat to the dropship or gunship during extraction. The craft is light enough to be airdropped from a gunship, allowing for versatility and rapid deployment into an operational zone. Thus it is not dependent on a surface ship to launch from, though it can always also be deployed in such a manner. The craft features good communications systems and advanced sensors, boosting its reconnaissance capabilities and enabling the crew and the soldiers to relay intelligence, request support and so on.
The boat has a small profile and low silhouette. This makes it more difficult for foes to spot. Its engines are reliable and quiet. The boat is designed for infiltration and speed rather than tankiness, and so insertion operations often take place at night. It relies more on its speed and agility than on raw firepower. Its design allows for tight turns and it can come to a full stop. The features a hydrostatic field similar to the one used by Gungan vessels. This only keeps out liquids, but can be useful if the craft has to float over an acid lake or some other dangerous liquid. The boat uses repulsors and is not impeded by soft sandy beaches, marshes, swamplands and loose surfaces. The vessel can be utilised in hot and extremely cold, arid or humid climates.
Qadiri sailors and marines have become quite fond of the craft, since they can take advantage of their impressive reflexes and inherent navigational skills. While the craft can be armed with a light blastercannon or an equivalent weapon, it is not meant for drawn-out slugfests, though it can provide covering fire soldiers getting to the shore or conversely carrying out exfiltration.
