V2.00@ÿÿ? AWarrior Attack HelicopterIIC Ñ (œôëé¢B‚B@A @@VA 001 2 2 —— 8VprbA GSarLon-S (Unknown)W (Unknown)5 (Unknown)ÿÿ = The Warrior H-7 is a tried and true attack helicopter, manufactured by a small division of Lockheed/CBM. First produced in 2950, Warriors can now be found operating throughout the Inner Sphere, and even in some areas of the Periphery. The Warrior was privately designed and produced by Lockheed as a cheap and easily produced alternative to light 'Mechs. As the Lyran Commonwealth suffered many defeats because it lacked the mobility that swifter, lighter 'Mechs provide, Lockheed offered the Warrior to the LCAF. After six years of formal testing, with millions spent in R & D and tooling up production lines, the LCAF finally told Lockheed/CBM that the Steiner forces had no need for their "flying toy." Because of that decision, Lockheed/CBM ordered its VTOL division shut down. A few orders from mercenary units and Periphery worlds kept the production line open for a while longer, but by 2957, the Lockheed VTOL plant had closed its doors. But not for long, however. The ninth battle of Hesperus, which took place later that year, resulted in the destruction of a significant percentage of House Steiner's 'Mech facilities. The LCAF was now frantic for weapons of any kind, even flying toys. They placed a substantial order with Lockheed/CBM at the end of 2957, and the Warrior has been in production ever since. 5 The Warrior is designed around the SarLon AutoCannon. Firing a ten-round burst of 30 mm hypervelocity slugs with each pull of the trigger, the SarLon AC/2 is the most accurate direct fire weapon in any arsenal, which makes it one of the most deadly. The SarLon is mated to a N&D HandsFree tracking and targeting system. Using a HUD display and slaving the autocannon and missile packs to a helmet sight worn by the pilot, the N&D frees the pilot's hands for other functions. To engage a target, the Warrior pilot has only to look at it and to pull a trigger. The TharHes SRM 4 is a standard design. Like the SarLon, it is targeted through the same slaved helmet sight. The TharHes missile system provides the helicopter with close-in protection against targets that cannot be effectively engaged by the SarLon. The aircraft itself is a standard rotary wing design. The two counter-rotating rotor systems negate the need for a tail rotor, as there is no drive torque to be canceled. The tail boom mounts a ducted tail fan that is capable of driving the Warrior up to speeds of 162 kph, while emitting a very low IR signature. The Warrior is also capable of carrying up to 250 kilograms of remote sensors and their monitoring set. This capability allows the 'copter to seed an area with sensors and then retire behind any convenient cover. Once the Warrior acquires a target, it can then move into an advantageous attack position without ever losing contact with the target or exposing itself prematurely. Tactically, the Warrior is best used when it can engage its target at long range and does not have to defend a specific piece of terrain. The SarLon allows the Warrior to stand off from its target while peppering it with shots. If the 'Mech attempts to close in, the Warrior can simply move off. There is a price to pay for this mobility, however. Like all VTOLs, the Warrior is a relatively fragile craft, and its weapon systems, though accurate, do not cause heavy damage. A Warrior cannot afford to place itself in a position where accurate return fire is likely or prolonged. Thus, the standard tactic against helicopters is to close quickly with them. A 'Mech willing to take the damage can always drive off a Warrior defending a position. Once the 'Mech is in close, the helicopter's life can be measured in seconds. W Many Warrior are assigned to garrison units and air-mobile infantry regiments to provide quick response fire support. In many cases, the Warriors will be the heaviest combat unit on the planet. Such was the case in 3021 in the Combine system of Kimball. The planet Kimball II had the majority of the population and the greatest industrial and military concentrations in the system. Kimball VI had a population of only 100,000, a small militia, a mercenary helicopter unit, and no 'Mechs. That is exactly why Redjack Ryan ordered Wilson's Hussars to raid the planet. The only reason that Kimball VI has been settled was to exploit its rich bauxite deposit. Ryan needed the mining and ore processing equipment, and it looked as though Kimball would be easy pickings. The Hussars dropped onto Kimball VI and made for the mines in a mountain range 30 kilometers to the north. Entering the foothills, the Recon Lance was engaged by twelve Warrior H-7s. The Hussars' light 'Mechs needed help because they could not effectively fire on the Warriors, though the situation was not yet critical. When the Recon Lance called for help, Wilson brought up the rest of the company and tried to engage the Warriors. Buzzing around like flies, the Warriors refused to let Wilson's 'Mechs close with them. The Hussars would charge the Warriors, only to see them scatter and reform again. Wilson should have ignored the helicopters and gone straight toward the mines, but he continued to chase the helicopters instead. That chase ended in a box canyon. The Warriors plunged into the canyon' with the Hussars close behind. Wilson thought that now he finally had the elusive machines. Just then, the Griffin next to him exploded as a wave of SRMs rained down on his force. All along the ridge tops, the planetary militia had appeared, armed with SRM launchers and infernos. Wilson made a hasty retreat, leaving behind three crippled 'Mechs. The Warriors harassed the bewildered 'Mechs all the way back to their drop zone. There they boarded their DropShip and went home to Butte Hold to explain their failure to Redjack Ryan.    6Source: 3026 TRO Entered by Larry "Highball" LeslieLockheed/CBM CorporationFurilloICELonganecker PlastiSteel Xilex-2010 N&D Handsfree[ none ]