Tegaea Alcori
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Hailstorm Repulsor AA Tank
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
[*]Defenses: Low,
[*]Squadron Count: Average: 12
[*]Passenger Capacity: 0
[*]Cargo Capacity: Small
[SIZE=11pt]SPECIAL FEATURES[/SIZE]
It was the strong desire of the owners of Firemane to create a new anti-air vehicle which had good range and power, but also could keep up with an advancing strikeforce. Therefore, the newly created Deathstrike missiles were mounted into pods on a light tank frame.
The newly named Hailstorm support tank carried 16 missiles in two pods. This was mounted to rotate a full 360 degrees and elevate up to 90 degrees. Combined with sophisticated targeting and guidance computers, the missiles fired could hit aircraft up to 50km away. These Model 2 missiles are more than enough to bring down fighters, bombers and gunships with a solid hit. Volleys of these missiles can even damage light corvettes and other ships of similar size.
Reloading these missile pods is considerable work though, and the Hailstorm must be immobile for this process. Thus, conservation of ammunition is important in long battles. What’s more, to allow the Hailstorm to be fast and mobile it has very light plating. If it gets hit by even a moderate punch it is likely to take severe damage. A hit to the missile pods means they are liable to detonate. All this means that the Hailstorm should stay well out of range from enemy ground troops.
All in all the Hailstorm is a powerful vehicle for shutting down enemy air attack, but this is strongly balanced by its weakness to return fire.
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create an updated mobile AA platform for Firemane and allies. This vehicle is designed to be able to get into the action quickly, providing AA support with the front lines. It can also provide limited ground support over ‘open sights’.
- Image Source: Here. From Command & Conquer Tiberian Sun, in game asset.
- Canon Link: N/A
- Restricted Missions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Firemane Industries & Technology
- Model: FM-AA2a
- Affiliation: Closed-Market
- Modularity: Missile types can be switched out before loading from standard to ion to penetration. This is relatively rare though.
- [SIZE=11pt]Production[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]: Mass-Produced[/SIZE]
- Material: Standard vehicle components. Standard electronics.
- Classification:: Anti-Air Hovertank
- Role: Anti-air
- Size: Average
- Weight: Average
- Minimum Crew: 3 – driver, loader, commander.
- Optimal Crew: 5 – as above with comms operator and second loader.
- Propulsion: Repulsorlift
- Speed: Fast - 250km/h max speed, combat speed 100km/h
- Maneuverability: High,
- Armaments: Very High (vs air) Very Low (vs ground)
2 x 8 Deathstrike missile pods (Model 2). - 1 x Light laser cannon
[*]Defenses: Low,
[*]Squadron Count: Average: 12
[*]Passenger Capacity: 0
[*]Cargo Capacity: Small
[SIZE=11pt]SPECIAL FEATURES[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]2 x 8 missile pods hold 16 Model 2 Deathstrike Missiles. These can be fired singly or in volleys.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]Though primarily anti-air, the missiles can direct fire at land targets without guidance by ‘open sights’.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]Vehicle is fast and relatively agile. As a repulsorlift it can move over water freely.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]Has integrated targeting, tracking and communications, allowing fire to be directed accurately.[/SIZE]
- [SIZE=11pt]Has an [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]encryption[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] device to ensure slicing and disruption is kept to a minimum.[/SIZE]
- Skywatch. The Hailstorm can target and fire on enemy aircraft up to 50km away. Integrated targeting and tracking allows it to home in on enemy and have the best chance of scoring a good hit.
- Storm. Each Hailstorm carries 16 missiles distributed in 2 pods of 8. Thus a squadron has a veritable storm of 192 missiles available for use.
- Speedy. The Hailstorm is fast and agile, allowing it to keep up with advancing forces, traverse over water and other difficult terrain and escape danger rapidly.
- Ground. At close range or in an emergency, the Hailstorm can fire directly at ground targets as a final defence.
- Countermeasures. The Deathstrike missiles are fast and powerful, but can be deceived or avoided by the best countermeasures or ace piloting. A lock on is not necessarily a death sentence.
- Ammunition. The sixteen missiles take a very long time to reload. Once the initial payload is expended, it takes time and vulnerable immobility to reload.
- Vulnerable. The Hailstorm has thin armour and minimal armaments to deal with ground targets. One good shot by a medium powered weapon will wreck it. Further, the missiles it carries will go up in a thunderous explosion if hit.
- Grounding. Firing unguided missiles at a ground target is both inaccurate and wildly dangerous for all nearby. Firing over open sights should be avoided at all costs.
It was the strong desire of the owners of Firemane to create a new anti-air vehicle which had good range and power, but also could keep up with an advancing strikeforce. Therefore, the newly created Deathstrike missiles were mounted into pods on a light tank frame.
The newly named Hailstorm support tank carried 16 missiles in two pods. This was mounted to rotate a full 360 degrees and elevate up to 90 degrees. Combined with sophisticated targeting and guidance computers, the missiles fired could hit aircraft up to 50km away. These Model 2 missiles are more than enough to bring down fighters, bombers and gunships with a solid hit. Volleys of these missiles can even damage light corvettes and other ships of similar size.
Reloading these missile pods is considerable work though, and the Hailstorm must be immobile for this process. Thus, conservation of ammunition is important in long battles. What’s more, to allow the Hailstorm to be fast and mobile it has very light plating. If it gets hit by even a moderate punch it is likely to take severe damage. A hit to the missile pods means they are liable to detonate. All this means that the Hailstorm should stay well out of range from enemy ground troops.
All in all the Hailstorm is a powerful vehicle for shutting down enemy air attack, but this is strongly balanced by its weakness to return fire.