The Pronghorn design below was inspired by Dow Rieder's TL13 Bighorn kinetic
energy drone missile which appeared here some time ago.
Rob Dean
I've been trampled by the Horde...
Balladeer Light Air Raft TL11
The Balladeer is a fast light air raft intended for use by individuals.
An extended seating version is available with the inline roomy seats replaced
by a two by two cramped seat group, but that variation is not popular. A
small array of sensors gives some limited all weather capability, but reduced
speed would be prudent under such circumstances.
CraftID: Balladeer Light Air Raft, TL11, Cr29300
Hull: 1/2, Disp=0.75, Conf=3AF, Armor=2E, Loaded=2.0t,
Unloaded=1.5t
Power: 1/2, 5*FuelCell=0.45MW, Dur=3 days
Loco: 1/2, StdGrav=4t, TopSpeed=1200kph, Cruise=900kph,
NOE=40kph, MaxAccel=1.0G
Comm: Radio=Regional(500km)
Sensors: Passive IR Sensor, Light Amplification, Radar=Dist(5km),
ActObjScan=Form, ActObjPin=Form
Off: Hardpoints=1, No weapons
Def: -
Control: Electronic*7
Accom: Seats=Roomy*2, Env=basic env, basic ls
Other: Fuel=0.144kl, Cargo=0.5kl, ObjSize=Small, EmLevel=Moderate
Notes: The fuel tank can be readily adapted for liquid oxygen for use
in unbreathable atmospheres, with a resulting endurance of
eight hours.
Balladeer Light Air Raft Emergency Conversion TL11
When the planet Nasemin (Spinward Marches/Aramis 3003) was invaded in
1118 by Vargr corsairs intent on setting up a base rather than plundering, the
planetary militia was quickly overwhelmed. In a desperate attempt to provide
air support for a guerilla counterattack on the starport, Colonel Nolan Arme-
nax scraped together a squadron of fourteen Balladeers from local air raft
dealers and armed them with his limited supply of Pronghorn drone missiles
salvaged from a destroyed defense installation. Defending Vargr pilots were
initially surprised by the use of these civilian craft still in their colorful
showroom paint schemes, and two combat pinnaces were destroyed before the
Vargr were able to respond. All fourteen Balladeers were lost, but the cor-
sairs abandoned their downside base rather than face the anticipated level of
guerilla activity.
CraftID: Balladeer Conversion, TL11, No price available
Hull: 1/2, Disp=0.75, Conf=3AF, Armor=2E, Loaded=1.86t,
Unloaded=1.56t
Power: 1/2, 5*FuelCell=0.45MW, Dur=3 days
Loco: 1/2, StdGrav=4t, TopSpeed=1269kph, Cruise=952kph,
NOE=40kph, MaxAccel=1.15G, Agility=1
Comm: Radio=Regional(500km)
Sensors: Passive IR Sensor, Light Amplification, Radar=Dist(5km),
ActObjScan=Form, ActObjPin=Form
Off: 6 launch rails, 6 ship missiles in two volleys of 3.
Missiles=x02
Batteries 2
Bearing 2
Def: DefDM=+3
Control: Electronic*8
Accom: Seats=Roomy*1, Env=basic env, basic ls
Other: Fuel=0.144kl, Cargo=0, ObjSize=Small, EmLevel=Moderate
Notes: One seat was ripped out and an additional control unit to fire the
missiles was added. Six launch rails were attached to the stub
wings, and the speed was reduced as a result of the drag. The
cargo compartment was left empty to compensate for the weight of
the missiles. The missiles had no oxygen tanks and could not
reach orbit, but were adequate for short range atmospheric combat.
Pronghorn Drone Missile TL11
The Pronghorn drone missile is intended for fairly short range atmos-
pheric combat, although it can be adapted for vacuum use with an oxygen tank.
It is not particularly smart, and would ordinarily be used with a launch
vehicle with a more capable sensor system. Once a target is pointed out to
the missile, it can use its own sensors to maintain a track on it, even
through violent maneuvering. With a usable atmospheric acceleration of 6
G's, specialized atmospheric craft may be able to outmaneuver a Pronghorn
temporarily, but very few could continue to do so for the full 160 hour
endurance of the missile. If a target does manage to distract the missile,
it can be programmed to self destruct or to return to base to be used again.
TL12 and TL13 versions of this missile are available, at discounted
costs of Cr31800 and Cr32100 respectively. The TL12 version has a slightly
improved brain with Intelligence of 2 and a skill of GravVehicle-3. The TL13
version has intelligence 3, GravVehicle-4, and a warhead with a penetration
of 67 rather than 65.
RobotID: Pronghorn Drone Missile, TL11, Cr39330 (31500 mass)
Hull: 6/13, Disp=80 Liters, Conf=3AF, Armor=2E, Loaded=57.3kg
Power: 2/4, FuelCell=10KW, Dur=160hrs/17hrs(closed)
Loco: 2/4, LP-HGrav=0.4t, TopSpeed=4200kph, Cruise=3150kph, MaxAccel=7G
Comm: none
Sensors: Passive EMS(VDist), PassEnScan=Form
Devices: none
Off: HEAP Warhead, Penetration:65, Damage:28
Def: -
Brain: CPU=20 Linear, Storage=12 Standard
Program: Low Data, Basic Command, GravVehicle-2
Other: Fuel=16L, Profile=4F11