C-57 Monitor

The C-57 Monitor was the first major craft produced by Archangel Heavy Industries (AHI) for commercial sale. It is widely known that power armor (PA) units play a vital role in modern military engagements. However, many of the PA types are not suitable for fast, long-range deployment. AHI designed the Monitor to fill this gap by providing a craft to quickly transport PA units long distances. The Monitor is capable of transporting up to 16 large PAs at speeds of up to mach 2. After introduction, it was found that the Monitor is also suitable for transporting other types of cargo such as tanks, APCs, and many other items.

The cargo is carried in transport pods located under each wing. (Each pod can accommodate up to 8 Ulti-Max size PAs. See cargo section for details.) Each pod has doors/ramps on both the front and back and "bomb-bay" style doors on the bottom. Therefore the PAs can be deployed either by landing and opening the front and back doors, or by hovering and opening the "bomb-bay" doors and letting the PAs jump to the ground (or fly out). Most other types of cargo must be unloaded through the front and rear doors.

One of the unique aspects of the Monitor is that the cargo pods can be easily detached from the wings. This allows the cargo pods to be dropped off when needed. Many times, cargo pods have been outfitted as field hospitals or repair stations and positioned near the battle. If needed, the pods can quickly and easily be reattached to a Monitor and extracted from any danger.

The Monitor also has an internal troop bay in the main body large enough to hold two fully-equipped infantry squads. These troops can debark by way of side or bottom hatches and are often used as security while cargo or PA are being off-loaded. In addition, the Monitor is well armed and armored, allowing it to provide fire-support while the PAs are off-loading. Though the armament on the Monitor is quite powerful, it is also relatively short-ranged and specialized. Thus the Monitor is not designed, nor suited, for offensive operations.

AHI engineers have also created an assault gunship support craft based off of the Monitor's chassis. The AC-57 Dreadnought is packed with incredible firepower and often helps support the landing operations of the Monitors or Comanches.

C-57 Monitor Advertisement

Model Type: C-57 Monitor
Class: Military VTOL Transport Support Craft
Crew: Five: One pilot, one co-pilot, one communications officer, two gunners/loadmasters. Up to three passengers can be carried comfortably in the main hull. Each pod normally carries two or three technicians or engineers. They are there to make sure that any power armor or other combat vehicles being carried as cargo are fully operational and ready and also to assist in repairs or reloads.
Troop Payload: Two fully equipped infantry squads in the main body. Each pod is designed to carry a variety of cargo. Refer to the cargo section for specifics.
MDC by location:

[1] Rear Missile Launcher(1) - 120
[1] Missile Launchers(2) - 150
[1] Tri-barrels(3) - 150
[1] Laser Pulse Weapons(3) - 180
[1] Sensor Domes(5) - 110
[1] VTOL Thrusters(8) - 110
[1] Retractable Landing Gear(7) - 90
     Rear Jets(3) - 280
     Cargo Pods(2) - 800
     Wings (2) - 600
     Reinforced Cockpit Compartment - 200
[2] Main Body - 1200

Notes

1. Each of these items is small and/or difficult to strike. Any attacks must be called shots and are -3 to strike.

2. Depleting the MDC of the main body completely destroys the craft.

Speed

Flying: Hover stationary to a maximum speed of Mach 2 (roughly 1340mph/2144kph). Heavier cargos may reduce the craft's performance by over fifty percent.
Flying Range: Effectively unlimited with occasional rest/engine 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: 50,000 feet (15,240 m)

Statistical Data

Height: 38 feet (11.5 m) to the top of the tail
Width: 110 feet (33.3 m)
Length: 120 feet (36.4 m)
Pod Dimensions: Height: 22 feet (6.7 m), Width: 23 feet (7 m), Length: 79 feet (23.9 m). Also see the cargo section.
Weight: 100 tons minimally loaded.
Cargo: Normal troop complement and a storage locker that holds 5 suits of armor, 10 Assault Rifles, 10 LALWs, 4 Plasma Rifles, 4 Mini-missile Launchers, and 20 assorted grenades.
Color: Typically light grey, dark grey, dark blue, military green, camouflage, or Midnight Black.
Power System: Nuclear, average energy life is 20+ years.
Cost: 70 million credits.

Special Systems

  1. Laser Pulse Weapons (2): These are long range high powered assault weapons used for strafing, fire suppression and assault. The wing-mounted cannons can move side to side and up and down 30 degrees. These are typically controlled by the pilot.

    2. Range: 6000 feet (1800 m)
    Damage: 1D6x10 MD (single) or 2D6x10 (linked)
    Rate of Fire: Single or linked
    Payload: Unlimited
    Note: +2 to strike

  2. Tri-barrels (3): These are a new concept for vehicle weapon systems. One NG style Plasma Cannon, one WI style Automatic Grenade Launcher, and one modified Laser Pulse Weapon are mated to a bubble turret providing devastating close weapons support. Any or all of the weapons can be linked to fire together. One turret is located on the top of the fuselage, one is mounted forward on the belly, and the third is mounted aft on the belly. Each turret can rotate 360 degrees and can be raised and lowered 90 degrees, providing complete coverage. The tri-barrels are usually operated by the gunners.

    3. The tri-barrel system was originally designed as an anti-infantry defense. However, after testing it was found that it was also effective in an anti-armor role. The bottom turrets are generally used to clear out a landing zone (LZ) as the transport is coming in. While on the ground the firing arc is severely limited from the danger of hitting friendlies. The top turret is used to provide longer ranged support while on the ground and to discourage attacks from above while both in the air and on the ground.

    Barrel 1: Plasma cannon

    Range: 2000 feet (606 m)
    Damage: 1D6x10 MD (single)
    Rate of Fire: Single or linked
    Payload: Unlimited

    Barrel 2: Modified Laser Pulse Weapon

    Range: 3000 feet (910 m)
    Damage: 1D6x10 MD (single)
    Rate of Fire: Single or linked
    Payload: Unlimited

    Barrel 3: Automatic Grenade Launcher

    Range: 3000 feet (910 m)
    Damage: 1D4x10 MD (single) or 3D6x10 (burst)
    Rate of Fire: Single/Burst (10 rounds) or linked
    Payload: 2000 rounds each

  3. Nose Weapon Turret (1): This weapon pod contains another laser pulse weapon and an Iron Heart style vulcan laser system. The turret can fire independently or can be linked to fire with the wing lasers. The turret can rotate 130 degrees to each side and 45 degrees up and down. The turret is normally controlled by either the pilot or gunners.

    4. Laser Pulse Weapon:

    Range: 6000 feet (1800 m)
    Damage: 1D6x10 MD (single)
    Rate of Fire: Single or linked
    Payload: Unlimited
    Note: +2 to strike

    Vulcan Laser System:

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

  4. Wing Medium Range Missiles (4): 2 medium range missiles are housed in a launcher on the tip of each wing.

    5. Range: Varies with type (Use new missile/bomb tables).
    Damage: Varies with type (Use new missile/bomb tables).
    Rate of Fire: 1,2,3,4
    Payload: 4, 2 per wing

  5. Rear Short Range Missiles (4): 4 short range missiles are housed in a launcher to protect against rear attacks. This can be a very nasty surprise to anyone trying to get into a tail position. The launcher is almost always loaded with Armor Piercing missiles.

    6. Range: Varies with type (Use new missile/bomb tables).
    Damage: Varies with type (Use new missile/bomb tables).
    Rate of Fire: 1,2,3,4
    Payload: 4 Armor Piercing short range missiles

  6. 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.)

    7. 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

  7. 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.

Cargo

The Monitor is capable of transporting a wide variety of cargo. Cargo carrying capacity depends on the usable floor area and the usable height as well as the weight of the cargo. Because of the way the pods are designed, the center is the highest point with the edges/sides being a fair bit shorter. Each pod has a usable floor area of 19 feet (5.8 m) by 65 feet (19.7 m). The center of the pod has a height of 20 feet (6 m).

Any piece of cargo intended to be deployed for combat will need some amount of clear space around it so that the pilot may get in, techs can get to the suit and so that it can be (re)armed. Generally, most things should have at least two to three feet added to each dimension in regards to how much floor space is taken up.

Each type of cargo usually requires its own special arrangements. Most power armor are stored suspended from the ceiling to enable them to be deployed through the bottom bay doors. Obviously some different types of power armor will require different suspension gear. If troops are to be transported, combat seating will need to be installed. Tanks or other vehicles will need special bracing and lock-down arrangements to insure that they are secure. These special arrangements have to be installed prior to deployment of the Monitor for each specific cargo. However, the cargo pods are designed to allow easy and quick changes of the arrangements. The necessary gear for each type of arrangement must be purchased separately. Each type costs 200,000 credits per craft (two pods).

Additionally, transporting heavy cargo reduces the top performance of the craft. For every 10 tons (18,100 kg) of total cargo carried, reduce the top speed by 5%.

Examples of possible cargo: Performance reduction is for both pods filled with the same cargo. Having different cargo weights in each pod is not advised.

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

Original design by Chris Curtis (curtis@thepentagon.com) and Brian Melcher (melcher@iname.com).
Revisions and additions by Chris Curtis (curtis@thepentagon.com) with ideas provided by many people.

Original artwork generously done by Ron Nutter.

Ron Nutter's Art Gallery