MH-42 Comanche

The MH-42 Comanche is designed as a quick-response "infantry" transport. To accomplish this mission, it can transport 14 man-sized troops (traditional infantry or man-sized power armor) quickly and efficiently. It can act as a complement to the C-47 Monitor, work as part of a group of Comanches and/or Comancheros, or operate as a stand-alone craft.

Comanches have gained an enviable reputation as a special forces insertion craft. Many units, including the Gabriel Defense Force's own Black Operatives use this craft. It provides many characteristics useful to them including speed, troop capacity, versatility, cost, and firepower.

The Comanche is designed to offer enough firepower to effectively provide covering fire while the troops disembark. These abilities have made the Comanche a valuable addition to many mercenary and military forces.

MH-42 Commanche

Model Type: MH-42 Comanche
Class: Military VTOL Troop Transport
Crew: Four: One pilot, one co-pilot/gunner, two door gunners/comm-techs.
Troop Payload: Fourteen fully equipped man-sized troops. These can be traditional infantry or man-size power armor such as the Super Trooper, Terrain Hopper, and other small armors. Flight capable power armors such as the SAMAS or Predator can be carried, but only at half the payload (7 troops).
MDC by location:

[1] Door Guns(2) - 100
[1] Nose Cannon(1) - 100
[1] Retractable Landing Gear(3) - 80
     Wings(2) - 200
     Main Thrusters(2) - 175
     VTOL Thrusters(4) - 115
     Reinforced Pilot's Compartment - 100
[2] Main Body - 375

Notes

Speed

Flying: Hover stationary up to a maximum speed of Mach 1.8 (roughly 1250mph/ 2012kph)
Flying Range: Effectively unlimited with occasional cooling stops. The craft will need to rest for 2 hours after traveling at over 50% engine output for more than 20 hours.
Maximum Altitude: 20,000 feet (6096 m) However, the troop bay is unpressurized and anyone in the bay will need oxygen masks above 10,000 ft.

Statistical Data

Height: 18 feet (5.5 m) tall
Width: 50 ft (15.2 m)
Length: 85 feet (25.9 m)
Weight: 13 tons fully loaded.
Cargo: Normal troop complement and a small area that holds 4 suits of armor, 5 Assault Rifles, 5 LALWs, 2 Mini-missile Launchers, and 10 assorted grenades.
Color: Typically light grey, dark grey, dark blue, camouflage, military green, or Midnight Black.
Power System: Nuclear, average energy life is 20+ years.
Cost: 33 million credits.

Special Systems

  1. Nose Weapon Turret (1): This weapon pod contains a devastating Iron Heart style vulcan laser system. It consists of six rotating laser cannons capable of cycling through six shots per second. The turret can rotate 130 degrees to each side, 15 degrees up, and 45 degrees down from center.

    2. Range: 4000 feet (1212 m)
    Damage: 3D4x10 MD (burst)
    Rate of Fire: Burst
    Payload: Unlimited

  2. Door Vulcan Lasers(2): On each side of the troop compartment is located another vulcan laser system operated by one of the gunners. These weapons are mounted so that they can be traversed 90 degrees side to side, 20 degrees up and 65 degrees down from center. The weapons are identical to the nose weapon except for mounting and the need for an independent gunner.

    3. Range: 4000 feet (1212 m)
    Damage: 3D4x10 MD (burst)
    Rate of Fire: Burst
    Payload: Unlimited

  3. Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispenser(1): This is located in the tail of the craft. When tailed by missiles, clouds of chaff and flares are released to confuse or detonate the missiles. However, each time the system is engaged, the system fires off one chaff and 1D4 flares. (The system uses the same effects as the TRIAX(TM) model.)

    4. Effects: roll percentile dice to determine results.

    Percentile Roll Effect

    01-50

    		 Enemy missile or missile volley detonates due to the chaff or flare - the threat is over.

    51-75

    		 Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in the wrong direction (may lock onto another nearby aircraft).

    76-00

    		 No effect! Missiles still on target!!

    Payload: 20 chaff, 40 flares

  4. Standard Equipment: Long-range communication, radar, and radar tracking same as robot vehicles plus the following:
    1. Enhanced Radar: Can Identify and simultaneously track up to 65 different targets. Range: 500 miles (800 km).
    2. Life Support and G-Force Suit: Pilots wear standard-issue GDF flight suits. These provide not only an independent air supply for the pilot, but both the upper and lower g-suit promote blood circulation even during high-G maneuvers, thus decreasing the possibility of pilot black- or brownouts.
    3. Pilot Ejection System: The craft contains a standard ejection system. Each crew member is ejected individually from the craft. Each ejection seat contains a standard survival kit, a break-apart assault rifle, and five grenades.

[ TRIAX(TM) is a trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

Artwork by Mike Faller (hell_storm@hotmail.com).
Slightly edited by Chris Curtis.

Designed by Chris Curtis (curtis@thepentagon.com) and Brian Melcher (melcher@iname.com).