Editing Vampire

{{Update Needed|[[Record Sheets: 3150]]}}
{{InfoBoxASF
| image = [[Image:Vampire.jpg|191px]]
| name = ''Vampire''
| manufacturer = [[Markesan Astronautics]]
|production year = 2715
|year reference = <ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5333/MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
| model = None
| Class = Aerodyne DropShip
| Tech Base = Inner Sphere (IS)
| mass = 400
| structural integrity = 11
| Length = 42
| Width = 28
| Height = 9.5
| frame = Standard
| power plant = Donovan XVIII 
| Safe Thrust = 3 g
| Maximum Thrust = 4.5 g
| Fuel = 38 tons
| Burn Rate = 20.7 days
| armament = 
* 4x [[medium laser]]s
*1x [[SRM-6]]
*2x [[LRM-20]]s
*2x [[Large Laser]]s
| communications system = ???
| tracking & targeting system = ???
| heat sinks = 34
| Escape Pods/Life Boats = 0/0
| BV (1.0) = 1,827
| BV (2.0) = 2,142<ref name=TRO:3075p232>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 232, "Vampire Profile"</ref> 2,113<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 135</ref>
}}

==Description==
One of the smallest [[DropShip]]s ever to see combat, the '''''Vampire''''' could easily be mistaken for a heavy [[aerospace fighter]] based on its speed and weaponry, but in actual fact it was the fastest [[Infantry|Jump Infantry]] carrier in existence.<ref name=TRO:3075p232/>
 
Conceived to minimize the time [[Federated Suns]] jump troopers were exposed to enemy aerospace fighters, ''Markesan Astronautics'' simply made the ''Vampire'' the equal in performance of any fighter it would encounter. When over the target, the jump infantry would be released via specialized drop hatches on the craft's ventral surface, at long range this gave the ''Vampire'' look of being an aerospace Fighter on a bombing run. This misidentification would prove highly effective during the brief "[[Border War (28th c.)|Border War]]" between the Federated Suns and the [[Capellan Confederation]], with [[Liao]] troops thrown into total confusion when jump infantry began to rain down instead of bombs.<ref name=TRO:3075p232/>

While highly effective in its role, the ''Vampire'''s high performance came at a cost; its engines. The powerful high-performance Donovan XVIII drive system had a relatively short lifespan and soaked considerable resources in maintenance compared to other propulsion units. Like many advanced designs that required a steady supply of spare parts to remain in operation, the destruction of the Markesan Astronautics manufacturing facilities during the [[Draconis Combine]]'s [[First Succession War]] thrust towards [[New Avalon]] effectively doomed the few ''Vampire'' that survived the fighting.<ref name=TRO:3075p232/> 

Thanks to the recovery of the [[Hegemony Memory Core]] during the [[Jihad]], [[Jalastar Aerospace]] was able to revive the ''Vampire'' and produce it for the [[AFFS]]'s special forces.<ref name=TRO:3075p232/>

==Armament==
Focused towards its high-speed infantry carrier role, the ''Vampire'' carried a meager weapons array more akin to the aerospace fighters it superficially resembled. Two [[medium laser]]s and an [[SRM-6]] were carried in the nose, while a single [[Large Laser]] and [[LRM-20]] were mounted in each wing. As if to reinforce its fighter-like weaponry, a further pair of medium lasers were carried aft to fend off any pursuit. Two tons of SRM reloads and a shared three tons of long-range missile reloads gave the DropShip more than enough endurance for its high-speed, low-loiter role.<ref name=TRO:3075p232/>

==Cargo==
The ''Vampire'' featured a single infantry bay capable of carrying three [[platoon]]s of jump infantry in highly cramped conditions. For this reason the troops assigned to a ''Vampire'' normally traveled on other ships, only transferring to the craft for the actual ground assault. The infantry bay was linked to four special drop hatches along the ''Vampire''s ventral surface, allowing the craft to continue on without stopping and often leading to misidentification as an aerospace fighter dropping bombs.<ref name=TRO:3075p232/>

==Variants==
*; Vampire II : This version of the ''Vampire'' was created for the [[AFFS]] [[Rabid Foxes]] for battle armor infantry deployment. The design weighs half as much again as the standard ''Vampire'', and is equipped with four battle armor infantry bays. The weapons of the ''Vampire II'' are energy based. Four [[Heavy PPC]]s mounted in the nose are supplemented by a pair of [[Large X-Pulse Laser]]s in each wing. To provide protection from missiles, each wing mounts a pair of [[Laser AMS| Laser Anti-Missile systems]]. Another pair of Laser AMS and a pair of [[ER Large Laser]]s cover the aft arc. A small control center located beneath the cockpit is equipped with eight tons of communications equipment.<ref name=XTRO:Pp13>''Experimental Technical Readout: Phantoms'', p. 13</ref>

*; Vampire III : This ''Vampire'' variant is protected by [[Heavy Ferro-Aluminum]] armor, has several battle armor bays, and uses more advanced missile and laser systems. Double heat sinks are also installed.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3150'', p. 224</ref> 

==Design Quirks==
The ''Vampire II'' variant is subject to the following [[Design Quirks]]:<ref name=XTRO:Pp13/>
* [[Difficult to Maintain]]
* [[Improved Communications]]
* [[Poor Performance]]
* [[Weak Undercarriage]] 

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Vampire.jpg|Original ''Vampire'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3026 Revised|TRO:3026 Revised]]''
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Experimental Technical Readout: Phantoms]]''
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3026 Revised]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3150]]''


[[Category:DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Aerodyne DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Inner Sphere DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Military DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Transport DropShip classes]]
[[Category:Troop Transport DropShip classes]]