[gurps] My 2nd mecha attempt. An artillery drone swarm.

[Clinton N. Fell]

Hey, after my first attempt at a mecha (although I am always more fond of 
the americanized more tanklike 'Mech) I've decided to try a few more to 
see how the new spaceship rules work for making a diversified line of 
vehicles.  Are they really different enough to seem different or are they 
just cookie cutter images of each other.

Again I figure if I go through the effort of doing it, I should probably 
share them with the group.  I'm still working on the Chessmaster or I 
would put it up here as well.

Thanks,

Clint


Here is the D-LAS (Drone Light Artillery Swarm) 1 and D-LAS 1a produced by 
Nelson Mechworks.  The D-LAS series was designed to act as unmanned 
artillery support for light infantry dropped from suborbital craft.  The 4 
legged design offers good mobility over a variety of terrain and allows 
the spinal mounted EM Cannon to fire either directly or indirectly.  These 
drones operate in swarms of up to 20 units without additional command and 
control from external networking elements (see the Chessmaster Command and 
Control Mech for such a design).  The swarm coordinates sensor 
information, and targeting information to allow optimal firetimes and 
spread.  The swarm also coordinates it own point defense systems versus 
counterbattery attacks.  The initial D-LAS was designed for a shoot then 
scoot style of operation, while the 1a model was implemented after the 
fact sacrificing the additional ammunition stores for  a field upgrade kit 
allowing the drones to fire their primary cannon while still moving rather 
than at a pause (as well as maintaining their point defense/anti-armor 
weapons while firing their main weapon).  The D-LAS system can move 
quickly and quietly to cover and wait for further instructions or firing 
orders.  Some infantry units have used swarms of the D-LAS to act as a 
sort of perimeter defense against infantry and light armor - subscribing 
to the "let the drones get shot - not us" theory.  Nelson Mechworks does 
not officially support this application due to its wasteful nature, 
however their field trainers and sales representatives interacting with 
the infantrymen often mention their ability to do so.  The upper very 
rapid fire laser battery is primarily for point defense, but can be used 
on light armored infantry.  The lower rapid fire laser batter is intended 
for thin skinned armor that may engage the swarm.  Against heavier armor 
the swarm is unlikely to fair well - but the main cannon can damage 
significantly armored targets using only conventional ammunition.  The 
external clamp is used to secure the swarm elements to their sub-orbital 
dropcraft.

D-LAS 1/D-LAS 1a  TL 9 SM +4    10 tons loaded weight 10 meters tall.  dST 
15 dHP 15 gHnd 3 gSR 5 gAcl 10 gSpd 20 (top speed 40 mph)
Hull has stealth features reducing the detection  check by -6.

Armor:  Upper Hull dDR 3, Middle Hull dDR 3, Lower Hull dDR3

Weapons:        Point Defense Laser (upper hull turreted) 30KJ very rapid 
fire laser, range C, ROF 20, damage 1dD-2(2)burn, RCL 1
                Light Anti-vehiclular Laser (middle hull turreted) 300KJ 
rapid fire laser, range C/S, ROF 5, damage 1dD+2(2)burn, RCL 1
                Spinal Mount EM Coilgun Cannon (fixed spinal) 10cm, sAcc 
-7, Range S, ROF 1, RCL 3, damage 3dDx5(1 or 2)

Crew: 0  Operating time before refuel: 50 years (6 hours of MHD fuel on 
the 1a)  Total Cost: 1,056,000 for the 1; 965,000 for the 1a

Upper Hull:     1) Armor (metallic laminate)
                2) Spinal Weapon Battery ! (10cm EM cannon)
                3) Enhanced Com/Sensor Array
                4-5) Robotics Legs !
                6) Major Weapon Battery (turret mounted 30KJ very rapid 
fire laser)
                core) control room C6 computer com/sensor 2 no crew 
station
Middle Hull     1) Armor (metallic laminate)
                2) Cargo or Chemical power plant (version 1 carries 80 
shots of 10cm ammunition here, 1a fills cargo section with a MHD turbine)
                3-5) Fission Reactor
                6) Major Weapon Battery (turreted 300KJ rapid fire laser)
                core) Spinal Weapon Battery !
Lower Hull      1) Armor (metallic laminate)
                2-3) Robotics Legs
                4) Spinal Weapon Battery !
                5) Soft Landing System
                6) External Clamp