Grand Admiral, First Order Central Command
OOC DETAILS
Image Source: Victor KamIntent: To give our new driver something cool to drive. Also to make a Chaos Canon replacement for the oft-maligned Chariot.
Development Thread: N/A
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: First Order Corps of Imperial Engineers (secretly also House Tregessar)Model: LAVr FI-H8b 'Hussar' Command Speeder
Affiliation: The First Order (secretly also House Tregessar)
Modularity: N/A
Production: Minor (Limited for House Tregessar)
Materials: Quadanium Steel Hull with Trimantium Armor Plating
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Role: Mobile Command and Control CenterHeight: 2.8m
Length: 12.7m
Width: 5.9m
Weight: 35 tonnes
Minimum Crew: 1 (Pilot)
Optimal Crew: 5 (Pilot, Gunner, Comms, Commander, Engineer)
Propulsion: Repulsorlift
Top Speed: 188 km/h
Armaments: 1 x Twin Repeating Blaster Cannon Turret
Squadron Count: N/A
Passenger Capacity: If you throw out the computers, you can fit about 50, uncomfortably. Otherwise after the ops crew of 14 you're looking at maybe another 8-10.
Cargo Capacity: While not designed to transport cargo, can hold two metric tonnes quite easily. More if you throw out the computers
Misc. Equipment:
- Active Countermeasure System – Besides the usual passive defenses, the Hussar features an active countermeasure system to defend against ordnance and missile weapons. Utilizing the robust sensor system, the ACS is able to track inbound warheads and launch a counter-weapon (a small low-yield mini-missile) to detonate it before it can hit. While very effective against most projectiles, is totally useless against energy weapons.
- Deflector Shield Generator – That first layer or protection.
- Advanced Encrypted Comms Suite - Includes long-range antennas for communication with orbiting ships, tactical data links to share information across units, and secondary squad-level combat links.
- Advanced Sensor Suite and Targeting Suite - Providing extensive precision close-range sensors and hi-update long range Over-the-Horizon capability. Target and Fire Control Information can be relayed via datalinks to support units and even basic infantry.
- Command and Control Facility – Dramatically enhances the ability of battlefield commanders to coordinate operations. Able to coordinate over 3000 troops with a full staff or more with reduced effectiveness.
- Fully Sealed Environment System - For hostile climate operation, whether that be a Zero-G planet or a battlefield where chemical weapon use is anticipated or active.
- Ionic Defense Suite - Including Cap Drains, Anti-Ion Mesh, and standard EMP reinforcement. A repulsorcraft without power is a formerly floating brick, after all.
- Battlefield Command and Control
- Well Protected
- Large Target
- Poorly Armed
- Repulsor Vulnerability
Built from dense Quadanium Steel it is surprisingly large and heavy for a speeder, out-massing some light tanks. This also means of course that the armoring is extremely resilient to enemy fire, and the mass is at least partially offset by fitting the craft with four very large triple-array repulsors. The craft is additionally able to maintain a 15m ceiling, though it typically moves along much lower than that. A single turreted dual-barrel repeating blaster cannon (very effective against infantry and light vehicles) is the only armament, with the list of defenses rounded off by a capable deflector shield generator and a standard suite of active and passive defenses.
Of course being a 'Command' craft the Hussar is not a frontline combatant. When used in the role its designed for it excels, able to fit a whole command staff, the Control Center that take occupies almost 2/3s of the Hussar is able to effectively coordinate an entire Regiment, and in a pinch could be used to exercise command of a full Legion. Multiple Hussar's along a front can effectively coordinate entire armies, including maintaining tactical uplinks with orbiting fleets, and are able to direct airstrikes, reinforcements, and orbital fire support with pinpoint accuracy.
Unfortunately a focus on something other than assault operations means that inevitably, the craft is not well-suited for them. Generally speaking this is not a speeder to keep on the front line, though it is rather well protected and quite durable. The repulsor skids are unable to be fully armored, of course, and as a weight-saving measure only the forward pair have an armor plate attached. It is also a large target, and while relatively fast (for a big heavy landspeeder) easily outpaced by aircraft and dedicated combat speeders. This is a pity of sorts, because the sensor system on the Hussar is extremely capable and by uplinking with squads in the field is able to dramatically increase overall situational awareness and readiness and response times. Generally speaking, whether or not to use the Hussar as a front line command post or mid-tier battlefield command unit is a strategic decision, with benefits and costs for both options.
Typically one Hussar is issued per First Order Army Regiment, with additional units generally going to forward-deployed or veteran Regiments.
Unbeknownst to the FOCIE the Grand Admiral, ever loyal to his house, acquired a set of the plans and delivered to Shadowline R&D for dissemination and production. Thus far only a handful of Hussars have been produced for the Axxilan Great House, and it is unlikely to ever see significant production there.
Primary Sources:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/PX-4_Mobile_Command_Base
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Heavy_Tracker
