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ADA 'Claymore' VTOL-6

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I had done most of this draw when I decided "hay, it'd be cool to have a monotonic shadow below it all cel-shaded like".
So yeah, that was definately an experiment. Looks alright, but the shadow does have quite a few errors.



Originally designed in the psuedo-peaceful years opening the construction of the International Subway System, the VTOL-6 (nicknamed "Claymore" after the scottish sword) became the staple medium gunship-role helicopter for the ADA/AFM. Initially the chopper was created to serve the ISS as a primary means of airspace superiority in addition to the JF-1 Airshark. It can also provide air-convoy cover for VTOL-12 Transport/Carryalls. They were, by standard, armed with a nine-barrel gattling cannon chambered for the 10x75mm anti-air round, with a high ROF.

Additional bonuses included the retracting landing gear and unique aerodynamic design, that does not sacrifice much armour protection and even provides some coverage over the tail rotor.

Destinctively large side-intakes give this chopper an unusually fat forward/rear-axis hit profile, but this was forseen by the designers beforehand and compensated for somewhat. Though a direct hit to the intakes will almost always blow a clean hole through the assembly, the only parts damaged are those that are easily and very cheaply replaced.
The engine will accept unfiltered air intake, but this provides high stress levels for the engine, and eventually the engine may need complete replacing. It was believed this would not be a problem often because the Claymore would always operate close to ISS hubs, which were all outfitted with heliports.

Besides the main 9 barrel cannon, the Claymore can be outfitted with a large number of additional ordinance through the use of removable, modular mounts that "clip" onto the intake assembly shells on either side of the craft. Due to the modular design, a launching hardpoint for most any missile (or bomb, when attached under the intake) could be produced without a total refit.

Though the gunner has poor down-front visibility compared to most other gunships, the firing system primarily relys upon the use of the nose mounted cylinder containing an assortment of targeting and related equipment. In a perfect setting, the gunner could have painted his windows black and still been able to fight at maximum effectiveness. Due to this, the nose of the Claymore is the area an enemy would want to target first. Though some extra armour plating is provided around the cylinder, pilots of the Claymore are trained to cover this area as best they can, trying to keep the much more well-armoured sides of the nose towards any oncoming fire. A direct hit straight into the front of the nose could potentially completely disable all weapons systems in the Claymore, and in the worst case scenario, end up killing both pilot (rear seat) and gunner (front seat).

Still, the VTOL-6 was a highly effective gunship, and compared to others in it's class it is very well armoured, save for the distinctive weak spot. In fact, due to these characteristics it has often been compared to the German Tiger tank, circa WWII, and was feared by gunship crews of the ASUN and NWI alike.


[This work a part of Epiverse]
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sp4depir4te's avatar
i wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of its weapons