|
The Black Asp is a 45 ton hover vehicle capable of speeds in excess of 150 KPH. While only light armed for a tank of its size, it's speed allows the Black Asp to quickly close range and unleash a barage of missle and laser fire. The Black Asp's heavy armor allows it to take considerable damage, but it still suffers the same weakness of all hover tanks, an easily damaged air skirt. Initial design work on the BA-12C Black Asp began in 3057. However, technical problems with the Vox powerplant caused a delay in the production of the first prototype. A further failure of the powerplant in the first prototype caused the design team to scrap the Vox plant all together in favor of a slightly larger GM fusion engine. This proved to be an excellent decision. The Black Asp is armed with 2 Chiscomp 39 medium lasers, 2 Magna 200P small pulse lasers and a Holly SRM6. This is supplemented by 2 Sperry Browning machine guns mounted in the brow for anti-infantry use. While this armament may be considered quite light, the furious speed at which the Black Asp can close on its target to unleash a full barrage maximizes the effects of the weapons. Black Asp production began in earnest in 3061 at the Akula Corporate Engineering plant on Taurus. Current buyers of the unit include the Taurian Concordat, Magistracy of Canopus, and the Outworlds Alliance. Limited numbers of Black Asps have been seen in the St. Ives Compact and Capellan Confederation. |
| Equipment | Mass | ||||
| Engine: | 170 Fusion | 9.0 | |||
| Cruise MP: | 9 | ||||
| Flank MP: | 14 | ||||
| Internal Structure: | Standard | 4.5 | |||
| Heat Sinks: | 10 | 0 | |||
| Turret: | 1.0 | Control Equipment: | 2.5 | ||
| Lift Equipment: | 4.5 | ||||
| Power Amplifier: | 0.0 | ||||
| Armor Factor: | 200 | 12.5 | |||
| Internal | Armor | ||||
| Structure | Value | ||||
| Front: | 4 | 40 | |||
| Right: | 4 | 40 | |||
| Left: | 4 | 40 | |||
| Rear: | 4 | 40 | |||
| Turret: | 4 | 40 | |||
| Weapons and Ammo | Location | Heat | Mass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Laser | Turret | 3 | 1.0 | |
| Medium Laser | Turret | 3 | 1.0 | |
| SRM-6 | Turret | 0 | 3.0 | |
| Machine Gun | Front | 0 | 0.5 | |
| Machine Gun | Front | 0 | 0.5 | |
| Ammo-Machine Gun | Body | 0 | 0.5 | |
| Small Pulse Laser | Turret | 2 | 1.0 | |
| Ammo-SRM-6 | Body | 0 | 2.0 | |
| Small Pulse Laser | Turret | 2 | 1.0 |