Name: General AeroSpace AL-22C/D Skybolt/Skyfire
Type: Assault Lander
Nation: America
Warp: NA
Power Plant: 0.5 MW MHD Turbine
Fuel: 33.6 tonnes, sufficient for 12 hours and one planetary transit
AL-22C: 5 tonnes auxilary tank, sufficient for 16.66 hours
AL-22D: 12 tonnes auxilary tank, sufficient for 40 hours
Range: none
Mass: AL-22C: 196.832 tonnes
AL-22D: 197.252 tonnes
Volume: AL-22C: 308 cubic meters
AL-22D: 320 cubic meters
Cargo: AL-22C: 36.33 m^3
AL-22D: 78.36 m^3
Comfort: 0
Life Support: AL-22C: 54
AL-22D: 10
Sensors: Radar, FLIR, laser designator, laser ranger
ECM: (ONLY AL-22D): AAQ-345 IR Jammer
ALR-399 Radar Warning Receiver
APQ-401 Jammer
ALQ-200 Jammer
Price: AL-22C: Lv 3,063,500
AL-22D: Lv 5,511,000
Crew: AL-22C: Pilot, 3 gunners, 50 drop troops
AL-22D: Pilot, 8 gunners, 1 ECM operator
Weapons: AL-22C: 3 CLP-1A ROF: 5 Range: 1600 DP: Tamped, EP=15
5 general missile tubes, up 350mm in diameter
Ammunition: 500 rounds for each CLP-1A
AL-22D: 8 CLP-1A ROF: 5 Range: 1600 DP: Tamped, EP=15
5 general missile tubes, up 350mm in diameter
Ammunition: 1000 rounds for each CLP-1A
Combat Data:
Movement: NA Radial Reflection: 1 Radial Profile: -2
Radiated Signature: 1 Lateral Reflection: 2 Lateral Profile: -3
Targetting Computer: 0 Screens: 0
Active Sensors: NA Passive Sensors: NA
Armour: AL-22C: 6
AL-22D: 9
Hull hits: AL-22C: Minor: 7, Major: 14, Total: 28
AL-22D: Minor: 10, Major: 20, Total: 40
Power Plant hits: Disabled: 1, Destroyed: 3
Original Date of Design: February 11, 2292
Date of 1st Redesign: March 29, 2293
Date of 2nd Redesign: October 1, 2293
Date of Final Design: December 29, 2293
First Example Laid Down: December 31, 2293
First Example Delivered: April 6, 2294
Fleets of Service: America (USSN, Marines), Australia
Designed for the demanding XM-2291/AL-req.12.3 requirement, the
assault lander had a very bad start. The technology demonstator crashed
killing the pilot, after the advanced power plant caught fire. Two
redesigns followed, with 3 differing power plants. Two of the unmanned
test vehicles crashed in power plant fires, and the project manager
resigned.
The American government intended to transfer the project to
Ramco-Grumman concern and, in an act of desperation, GAS decided to
install the well known, if not overly advanced General Electric MHD-3
into the remaining test vehicle.
Surprisingly, the vehicle proved very reliable and quite versatile.
Within 2 months, the American government requested a pre-production run
of 5 vehicles.
Heavily armoured and armed for ground support, the AL-22 proved to be
a very useful addition to the US Marine Drop Forces. However, it had
short range of operation. Anxcillary fuel tanks were installed to
rectify this problem.
At the request of the USMC, a specialized gunship version was built,
to provide heavy support fire and defence suppression. The AL-22D has
50% more armour and more than twice the firepower, as well as an
extensive ECM suite.
Elated with their success, GAS tried to produce a special, heavy
weapon, version. One AL-22D model was converted into a test vehicle in
which a 7cm mass driver was installed. This vehicle is now undergoing
trials, but the feeling is that such a vehicle shall not be needed.
Recently, Senator Brian M. Cuff (D, Ellis) called for the installation
of a Jerome drive in the AL-22 line of landers instead of developing a
dedicated insystem troop transport.
Each Marine Drop Battalion has 20 AL-22 landers, plus 5 AL-22D
gunships.