EARTHFORCE GROPOS GUNSHIP

Craft: Earthforce Gropos Gunship
Type: Infantry support gunship
Scale: Starfighter
Dimensions:
-Length: 26.78,
Skill:
Crew: 3
-Gunners: 1 or 2
-Troops: 40
-Skeleton: 1/+10
-Emergency Evac: 80/1 week
Crew Skill: Astrogation 3D, Sensors 3D, Space transports 4D, Starship gunnery 5D
Passengers: N/A (see Troops)
Cargo Capacity: 50 metric tons
Consumables: 2 weeks
Cost: Not available for sale
Hyperspace Jump Engines: No
Nav Computer: Yes
Maneuverability:
-Space: 2D
-Atmosphere: 3D
Speed:
-Space: 6
-Atmosphere: 330; 950kmh
Hull: 5D
Shields: N/A
Sensors:
-Passive: 20/0D
-Scan: 40/1D
-Search: 60/2D
-Focus: 3/2D+2

AUXILIARY CRAFT CAPACITY: N/A (may carry light vehicles for troops)

WEAPONS:
   Dual Pulse Cannon Turret
      Location: Mounted in nose
      Fire Arc: Partial turret (front/right/left)
      Crew: 1 (pilot or gunner)
      Skill: Starship gunnery
      Scale: Starfighter
      Fire Control: 2D
      Range:
      -Space: 1-3/12/24
      -Atmosphere: 100-300/1.2/2.4km
      Damage: 4D
      Rate Of Fire: 3

   2 Missile Pods (fire-link optional)
      Location: Mounted in hull sides
      Fire Arc: Front
      Crew: 1 (gunner)
      Skill: Starship gunnery
      Scale: Starfighter
      Fire Control: 1D
      Range:
      -Space: 1/3/7
      -Atmosphere: 50-100/300/700m
      Damage: 6D
      Ammo: 25 missiles per pod
      Rate Of Fire: 1-5

DESCRIPTION:

   The Earthforce Gunship was a medium to heavy assault craft used by Earthforce that has seen action in both Operation Sudden Death and the Battle For B5 Independence.

Characteristics

   A small and nimble attack craft, the Gunship, while capable of operating in space it is best suited to manoeuvring within a planetary atmosphere, usually in the role of infantry support.

   The Gunship's hull had a distinctive twin boom configuration, a single, central snub nosed fuselage containing the cockpit, primary thrust engine and the chin mounted dual pulse cannon turret. The outboard nacelles contained the Gunship's two forward mounted missile tubes, it's four vectoring V/STOL thrusters and aft mounted inward canted vertical stabilizers.

Behind the Scenes

   The Gunship was designed by Steve Burg, based somewhat on the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The intent was for the design to be a strictly subsonic craft limited to the troposphere, however later uses of the model in ("Severed Dreams") featured the craft flying in open space (and hyperspace) as part of the Earthforce task force.

OTHER INFO:
Status: Active (as of 2260)
Affiliation: Earthforce
Class: Gunship
Jump Capable: No
Gravity: No
Weapons:
-Two missile tubes
-One dual pulse cannon