Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a mini-rocket launcher in the vein of the canon RLR-331
- Image Source: here modified by yours truly
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Lucerne Personal Defense
- Affiliation: Directorate, Silver Jedi Concord, Lucerne Personal Defense Customers
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: LPD-63 Hellfire Rocket Carbine
- Modularity: sights/scopes; ammunition
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: hadrium frame with condensed-matter composite reinforcement, permex furniture, Magnatomic Grip Panel, repulsor coil, typical rocket launcher components
- Classification: rocket rifle
- Size: Small
- Weight: Heavy
- Ammunition Type: wrist rockets / power packs
- Ammunition Capacity: Average (16 rockets)
- Effective Range: Long Range
- Rate of Fire: Low
- Damage Output: High
- Recoil: High
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Repulsor Assist: Unlike most rocket launchers, the Hellfire uses a repulsor coil to rapidly push the rocket out of the barrel even as its activated. Not only does this improve the rocket's speed and range to those on par for a blaster rifle bolt, but it also greatly reduces the amount of the heat that can build up on the weapon's barrel.
- Variable Ammunition: The Hellfire can fire almost any type of wrist rocket, giving the user a wide variety of options from anti-personnel rockets to anti-vehicle explosives to exotic poison rockets and searing plasma rockets.
- Targeting Laser: The Hellfire does have an integral, variable power targeting laser located just above its barrel and inline with the weapon's stock. This allows for quick, instinctive aiming of the weapon. It also allows the Hellfire to 'paint' a target for some 'smart munitions' to follow.
- Picatinny Rail: The Hellfire does have a topside Picatinny rail which allows it to use a variety of over the counter weapon's attachments such as tactical lights, grappling spike launchers, and scopes.
- Folding Stock: The Hellfire has a side-folding stock, which can make it extremely compact for concealment, ease of transport, or maneuvering in tight quarters. While it can be fired with the stock folded, the high recoil tends to become even harder to control.
- Compact: The Hellfire is a surprisingly compact weapon, especially with its stock folded, which makes it easier to conceal or store away.
- Long Range: The Hellfire's can launch rockets hundreds of meters away, giving it exceptionally good range for a weapon of its type.
- Heavy Hitter: Depending on the rocket chosen, the Hellfire can pack an exceptional punch, with most types able to defeat heavy personal armor and even significantly damage some vehicles.
- Low Rate of Fire: The Hellfire's build-up of heat and time needed to recharge the repulsor coil make its rate of fire slower than most personal weapons.
- High Recoil: The Hellfire's repulsor assist gives its rockets significantly greater range, but it also gives the weapon a more hefty kick despite its heavy build.
- Heavy Weapon: Despite its small size, the Hellfire is a fairly heavy weapon due to its thick hadrium frame designed to best withstand the heat of firing rockets.
A compact weapon that fires wrist rockets, the Hellfire Rocket Carbine provides the user with the reach of a rifle but the explosive power of a grenade launcher. This makes it fairly effective at dispatching heavily armored infantry and large battle droids, but specialty munitions can allow it to be tailored to a variety of munitions, from disabling electronics to blinding enemies to poisoning beasts. Aside from this diversity of rocket choices, perhaps its greatest advantage is its small size - unlike most heavy weapons, it's entirely possible for a person to conceal it underneath a large coat or stash in a brief case. Of course, this small size also means that the Hellfire still has a bit of kick to it when fired, though it is not overly harsh.
The Hellfire's unusual abilities doesn't fit neatly into most military's doctrine. This has led to it being more popular among independent operators and special units who tend to have more leeway in choosing weapons to personal preference. The company's close ties with the Silver Jedi Concord have meant that the weapon sees some service with the Forces of the Concord Guard and local defense forces.
