Confederate Dauntless Colonel
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Multiple Rapid Missile Launch System for the Confederacy of the Independent Systems
- Image Source: Robert Wray - Russian Victory Day Preparations This image, which was originally posted to Picasa Web Albums.
- Canon Link: None
- Permissions: None
- Primary Source: None
- Manufacturer: Confederate Defense Forces
- Affiliation: Confederacy of the Independent Systems
- Model: RMLS-1 "Hurricane"
- Modularity: The type of ammunition used can be changed, barrels can be taken off to reduce size and weight.
- Production: Minor
- Material: Durasteel for the tube-barrel and Duranium for the inner coating to promote longevity from the heat of the rockets.
- Classification: Multiple Launch Rocket System
- Size: Very Large
- Weight: Heavy
- Ammunition Type: Standard 122mm Diameter and 2.87-meter long Explosive Rockets
- Ammunition Capacity: Average 40 Rockets
- Effective Range: Battlefield 30-40 KM Maximum Range
- Rate of Fire: Average 4 rounds per second
- Stopping Power: Very High
- Recoil: Average
- Indirect - This Rocket Artillery System does not require a line of sight on the target to deal damage. With even a minimally trained crew and decent ground spotters, the barrage of rockets will be able to land anywhere on the battlefield, dealing massive damage in but seconds.
- Direct Fire - It is able to fire directly on targets with a line of sight, even at extremely close range, but it not recommended as this will often result in the possible injury/death of any operator.
- Extremely mobile - it is able to be mounted on most trucks with few modifications needed. Even the barrel systems can be sawn off and taken apart so that an elite insurgent/infiltration team will be able to hide in large vehicles, unveiling it at the last moment to deal an apocalyptic barrage before slipping back and disappearing into the crowd.
- Rapid Rate of Fire - The main advantage of a Rocket Battery over conventional solid-slug gun-based Artillery is the massive firepower it can bring down quickly. It can deliver far more explosive in a short period of time than even the heaviest of howitzers with forty 122mm Rockets. The most effective period of any bombardment is the first few seconds of the first few salvos when the target is unaware, unprepared, and out of position. With this, they can saturate as much land as possible, wreaking havoc, killing enemies, with as much confusion before they can even react and respond. Basically, its first strike delivers extremely high firepower. An added bonus its ability to "shoot and scoot" since they can deliver the suffiant amount of explosive before moving quickly from the position to avoid any possible counter-battery fire that might land on their position.
- Simple - The Hurricane is very, very simple, essentially unguided rockets in a straight tube with an electrical charge to activate the ignite the propellant. Therefore, it is extremely durable and if it is ever damaged, it can be easily repaired by field equipment. It cannot be jammed by EMP strikes, though any targeting computer connected to it would falter and the crew forced to use basic measurements.
- No Recoil -Being a Rocket Launch System, the is very little recoil as the opposing force is vented through the back of the tube instead of being a charge that propels the round forward.
- Banshee Wail - the 122mm Rockets create a horrible scream as they fly through the air, like demons for myths before a tremendous explosion. Against undisciplined or tribal forces, the psychological effect on their minds cannot be underestimated. Prolonged bombardment will often induce traumatic disorders that will reduce long-term combat capability. The rockets can even be further modified to make this effect much, much louder, and terrifying.
- Sustained Fire - The Hurricane, however, is not built for long-term bombardment. With over forty rockets and no auto-loader, it takes a long period of time to reload it for another salvo. If a force exclusively uses only rocket artillery, it would give any target some breathing room as crew rushes to ram into new rounds and any shock and awe delivered would quickly fade away.
- Inaccurate - Due to the fact that the propellant method of rockets being used and the effect of launching so many in close proximity to each other, the Hurricane is not a particularly accurate weapon. Instead of being launched at a single specific target (ie. a tank or a single squad) but instead at an area (ie. known fortifications, enemy formations, encampments, urban areas)
- Backblast Effect - hot and extremely dangerous gases are violently vented through the back, possibly causing injury and death to any mispositioned operators. A side-effect of this is that it throws up an incredible amount of dust. Any enemy spotters observing the area with the Hurricane would easily be able to spot the location.
DESCRIPTION
Developed in 858 ABY by Confederate Weapon Designers when certain CDF strategists began to emphasize a more mobile sort of ground war. This doctrine where a fast-moving unit would find and exploit weak-points in an enemy line. In order to this, their foe would need to be sufficiently damaged to prepare for an offensive while keeping the element of shock and surprise as strong as possible, so that confusion and fear would slow down reinforcements. The most effective way they judged that such an objective could be accomplished was the saturation of a small area with a high amount of explosives in a short amount of time.
The basic design of the RMLS is extremely simple, just being a bundle of steel tubes with explosive rockets attached together. This lends itself to easy maintenance and high and cheap production rates. For aiming systems, it can be attached to a targeting computer or even basic paper calculations by any competent mathematician.
During field use, it is often attached to trucks or any vehicle capable of carrying the System. It is highly recommended to be used in mass numbers with other RMLS for maximum damage. Due to its fire-rate and ease of transport, it is very effective at "shooting and scooting," able to deploy its payload and then evacuating the area to avoid any counter-battery fire. Its shock effect cannot be underestimated by users. The shrill sounds created by the rockets during travel strike fear into its targets and sustained use during combat will cause enemy soldiers to associate the sound with death. At this, it is likely that entire units would break and flee the field upon hearing the banshee wails.
However, it does have flaws as it is slow to reload and therefore is ineffective at sustained bombardment over a long period of time and the amount of ammunition consumed in such short times can often be detrimental to logistical systems. As well as this, it was not designed to be a precision weapon and should not be used against rapid moving small units or HVTs.
In all, the RMLS-1 is a weapon built for sheer indiscriminate devastation of a small area in a short amount of time, often striking fear into its targets simply with the sound of its rockets announcing to the enemies that they have come here to die.
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