Shuklaar Kyrdol
CEO of Breshig War Forge Consolidated
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a close-in point-defense weapon against missiles, rockets, torpedoes and starfighters for use by Breshig War Forge Consolidated, Strill Securities and select others.
- Image Source: Here.
- Canon Link: N/A.
- Permissions: N/A.
- Primary Source: Cluster Bomb.
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
- Manufacturer: Breshig War Forge Consolidated.
- Affiliation: Breshig War Forge Consolidated and Strill Securities.
- Market Status: Closed-Market.
- Model: PCBL-01 Point-defense Cluster Bomb Launcher.
- Modularity: Different cluster munitions may be loaded. Can be mounted on any starship and station larger than fifty meters.
- Production: Minor.
- Material: Duranium frame, dallorian alloy coated barrel, Duranium-reinforced duraplast composite reinforcement, cryoban cooling system, enhanced power cycler, dedicated capacitor component, combat de-ionizer, ultrachrome wiring and railgun components.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Classification: Electromagnetically Accelerated (railgun-based) Bomb Launcher.
- Size: Large.
- Weight: Heavy.
- Ammunition Type: Cluster Bomb.
- Ammunition Capacity: Average.
- Effective Range: Personal.
- Rate of Fire: High.
- Damage Output: Extreme.
- Recoil: Average.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Sensor(s):
- Dedicated Energy Receptor
- Electro Photo Receptor
- Life Form Indicator (cannot bypass stealth systems)
- Radiation Sensor
- Long-range Heat Detector
- Scanner(s)
- Controller/Processor:
- Full 'Manda' tactical battlenet compatibility
- Heuristically learning Gunnery Droid Brain (with targeting assistance when manual override engaged)
- Targeting Suite:
- Ranging Laser
- Macrolaser Tracker
- Sragivagr Compatible Combat Multi-view Display (for manual override)
- Tracking Systems:
- Optical Transducer Panel(s)
- Computers:
STRENGTHS
- Lethal: Against its intended targets of starfighters and ordnance the cluster bomb launched by the PCBL-01 is capable of doing extreme damage. Even if targets are not affected by the initial blast, the magnetized grenades and shrapnel are likely to do cause damage.
- Predictive Targeting: The intelligent targeting computer and coordinate with the craft's Manda tactical battlenet module (if present) to compute the best firing solution based on the target type.
- 'Manda' Tactical Battlenet Compatibility: The turrets extend the ship/vehicle's sensor net and provide more data such that the Manda's ability to coordinate weapons fire is only made more effective.
- Fast-track: The launcher is fast enough to track incoming starfighter and ordnance such that the cluster bomb can be launched into an intercept vector.
- Auto-loading Feed: The launcher's auto-loader allows it to maintain a high, steady rate of fire for a cluster bomb launcher, decreasing the likelihood that it is overwhelmed by starfighters or ordnance.
- Dedicated Sensor and Targeting Suite: With a dedicated sensor and targeting suite, the system is significantly less affected by jamming attempts against the host vessel/station and additionally is less likely to be overwhelmed by targets.
WEAKNESSES
- Indiscriminate: These cluster bombs do not differentiate between friend and foe, and will hit anything in their area of effect. As such, careful targeting and careful positioning on the part of friendly fighters is required.
- Data Parsing: The additional sensor data means that there's more data for targeting suites to parse. In the case of platforms equipped with the 'Manda' tactical battlenet, this is usually not a problem, but can lead to buffer overloads.
- Corvettes and Larger: Most corvettes and other similarly sized craft, and even some particularly well defended larger starfighters, bombers and gunships do have the armor and shielding to avoid potentially taking significant damage from the bomb.
- Loader Malfunction: Should the feed be damaged, then any bombs lower down in the feed relative to the damage will be unable to be loaded into the weapon till it is repaired.
- Sympathetic Detonation: A penetrating shot into the ammunition storage can cause the cluster bombs to detonate, detonating every bomb in storage and potentially other ordnance stored close at hand.
- EMP/Ion Damage: Most of the components of the system are sensitive to EMP/Ion damage, and while well protected, should said protection be overwhelmed, those components are likely to be rendered inoperable.
- Limited Ammunition: A limited number of cluster bombs means that till replenished, the launcher is entirely useless till that supply is replenished.
DESCRIPTION
"Your last resort shouldn't have to be a desperate gambit."
- Breshig War Forge Consolidated marketing slogan for the PCBL-01.
The PCBL-01 was designed by Breshig War Forge Consolidated to serve as a last-ditch defense against enemy starfighters and ordnance once they're close enough that point-defence might even be rendered ineffective. This was done to account for the fact that Strill Securities ships often found themselves severely outnumbered by their foes, and that Strill's starfighters aren't always enough to ward off hordes of usually more numerous enemy fighter craft. During the evacuation of Breshig, Strill Securities naval vessels proved just why the cluster bombs were necessary. Though in the chaos of close-in combat, the indiscriminate nature of the bombs can prove to be just as deadly to friend as to foe.
Due to the nature of it's tasking, the PCBL-01 features a dedicated sensor and targeting array to take the edge off enemy electronic warfare, and to reduce the likelihood of being overwhelmed by high saturation of enemy targets. The additional sensor data means that there's more data for targeting suites to parse, however. In the case of platforms equipped with the 'Manda' tactical battlenet, this is usually not a problem, but can lead to buffer overloads. In automated mode, the PCBL checks to see if targets have already been engaged and then computes the probability that they will be destroyed by point-defence and then checks for friendlies in the immediate area. Provided both conditions are false, the launcher will track the target and choose the best firing solution based on whether the target is a starfighter grouping or incoming ordnance and then fire the cluster bomb into its path.
Against its intended targets of starfighters and ordnance the cluster bomb launched by the PCBL-01 is capable of doing extreme damage. Even if targets are not affected by the initial blast, the magnetized grenades and shrapnel are likely to do cause damage. This high damage potential is augmented by the launcher's autoloader, which allows it to maintain a high, steady rate of fire for a cluster bomb launcher, furthermore providing the additional benefit of a decreased likelihood that it is overwhelmed by starfighters or ordnance. Most corvettes and other similarly sized craft, however, and even some particularly well defended larger starfighters, bombers and gunships do have the armor and shielding to avoid potentially taking significant damage from the bomb.
The launcher's limited ammunition supply, it's vulnerability to EMP and Ion damage owing to its large number of electronic components and the chance of damage to it's loader causing feeding issues are matters that should be noted, as they greatly influence operation of the weapon system as well as the decision to include it on a starship. However, careful use of ammunition and appropriately protected mounts will likely mitigate these issues enough such that Breshig War Forge Consolidated is convinced that most customers will see the value of this weapon system.
Last edited:
