MT/191 Drop-Ship
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Name/Model# : | MT/191 Drop-Ship
Designer/Manufacturer : | Meller & Dax
Combat Designation : | Special-Purpose Shuttle and Troop Transport
Scale : | Starfighter
Length : | 52.5 Metres
Skill : | Space transports: 191 Drop-Ship
Crew Skill : | Sensors 3D+2, space transports 4D+2, starship gunnery 4D+1 and starship shields 3D+2
Crew : | 1
Skeleton Crew : | None
Troop Capacity : | 160 Troops
Cost of Craft : | Not available for sale
Nav Computer : | Most likely none
Sublight Speed : | DURING DROP 10 Space Units ON RETURN FLIGHT 2 Space Units
Hyperdrive Rating : | Most likely none
Hyperdrive Backup : | Most likely none
Atmospheric Speed : | DURING DROP 1,200 kph (WEG=415) ON RETURN FLIGHT 650 kph (WEG=225)
Manoeuvrability : | Unknown
Cargo Capacity : | 200 Metric Tons
Consumables : | 1 Day
Weapons : | 1 Forward Laser Cannon (Retractable) Fire Control: 1D Space Range: 1-5/10/17 Space Units Atmospheric Range: 100-500 metres/1 km/1.7 km Damage: 1D
Sensors : | Passive : 10 Space Units/0D Scan : 20 Space Units/1D Search : 30 Space Units/1D+2 Focus : 1 Space Unit/2D+2
Shields/Hull Rating : | Shields 1D. Hull 4D
The MT/191 Drop-Ship which sees widespread service throughout the Empire is deployed for the rapid transport of ground troops from ship to planetside during combined assaults, directly into hot zones. Since Stormtroopers usually possess their own assault shuttles, this design is primarily employed to move Imperial Navy and Army company-sized units. Not only does the MT/191 serve as a troop transport, it also serves as an intra-fleet cargo vessel and shuttlecraft. Although it is sufficiently armoured and shielded against light ground weapons, the MT/191 remains exposed to up-to-date starfighter weapons. Its forward light laser cannon is mounted directly above the cockpit, and is only intended to be a mild deterrent if needed during shuttle runs in combat zones. Since the weapon is so underpowered, it only usefully serves in the anti-personnel/anti-vehicle capacity. The weapon can only be used when it is extended from the craft's body, however, it is never in the ready position during drops. This older design was designed to drop in a rapid powerdive to the planet's surface, and then landing in a controlled manner at the end of its decent. Before a drop the craft is covered with VACX, an ablative coating which raises the hull's temperature rating. Once at the planet's surface, the VACX coating has burned off. Furthermore, the MT/191 is also outfitted with heavy duty gravity compensators and inertia dampers to reduce turbulence experienced by those onboard. The MT/191 does have the ability to land normally. Current doctrine demands that the MT/191's landing zones be pre-bombed and that they land in numbers, while being escorted in by TIE Fighters. It must be noted that two flights of MT/191s are employed in the elite Scimitar Assault Wing's Special Unit Squadron. Unfortunately, a small number of MT/191s have been captured by the vile Rebellion and thus have been pressed into use as troop shuttles and Rebel SpecForce assault taskforces. For the Rebels the all important VACX is hard to acquire, and due to this local Rebel units employing this craft must frequently fashion their own VACX substitutes with what ever is on hand. Because of the varied nature of the coatings created, there have been some problems of fusing, melting, burning off, and in one interesting case ignition of the VACX substitute. From Rebel experiments which are still on going, it was discovered that an air-foam/silicate ceramic mix appears to give the best results.
Sources: ISB***Pg 137 / ROETRSH***Pg 104, 105
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