Karnov VSTOL Transport 3025 Variant

[Morgan Blake]

          BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
                      VALIDATED

Type/Model:    Karnov UR Transport 
Tech:          Inner Sphere / 3025
Config:        V.T.O.L.
Rules:         Level 1, Standard design

Mass:          30 tons
Power Plant:   190 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed:  118.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 183.6 km/h
Armor Type:    Star Slab 1.5 Standard
Armament:      None
Manufacturer:  New Earth Trading Company
  Location:    Terra
Communications System:  Johnston Q-Rotor 
Targeting & Tracking System:  (Unknown)

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==Overview:==
    The Karnov UR Transport is a heavy lift helicopter.  It is no longer known
when the Karnov first entered service, but most experts believe it is a Terran
design hundreds of years old.  Equally puzzling is the fact that the Karnov is
currently sold by the New Earth Trading Company, NETC has no known VTOL
production facilities, nor does any other firm admit to producing the Karnov
on a sub-contractual basis with NETC.  It is already a century since New Earth
first began to offer new Karnovs for sale, however.  Their sales
representatives write up the orders and the Karnovs arrive on the next NETC
DropShip.
    Whatever its origin, the Karnov has proven to be a reliable and hardy
machine.  All of the Successor State armed forces and many mercenary units use
at least some Karnovs for supply and logistics missions.  Many commercial
firms also use the Karnov for local transportation of cargo, and as a flying
crane.


==Capabilities:==
    The Karnov UR is built around a DAV 190 I.C.E. aircraft engine, which is
known for its superior reliability and ruggedness.  Centrally mounted in the
top of the fuselage, the DAV connects by drive shafts that extend down the
fixed wing to pylons, where the twin rotor blades are housed.  The pylons are
able to rotate in a 90-degree arc, which allows the Karnov UR horizontal
speeds of close to 184 kph.  This makes it one of the fastest heavy transport
VTOLs in use.
    This speed does not come with out cost, however.  The rotors are so large
that they must be rotated to a vertical position when landing or else they
will strike the ground.  Many new pilots forget this simple rule and have
destroyed their vehicles.
    The Karnov has a variable landing gear.  At maximum extension the
helicopter can straddle a load up to 3.3 meters tall.  With the landing gear
fully collapsed, the interior cargo bay ramp can be lowered and cargo loaded
on or off.
    Its Star Slab armor gives the Karnov a reasonable chance of survival if
attacked by a lightly armed attacker. Its rotors are quite delicate, however,
and offer rather large targets.  Many crashed Karnovs can be seen on a
battlefield with their fuselage intact but their rotors totally shot away


==Battle History:==
    Like most modern support vehicles, the Karnov UR is not designed for
combat.  Slow when fully loaded, lacking weaponry and with vulnerable rotors,
the Karnov is a sitting duck for any combat unit.  Some logistical units have
managed to make a name for themselves using the Karnov, however.
    Hsien's Hotheads had four Karnovs in their supply section when the unit
landed on Loongana in Marik space in 3012.  The Hotheads were making a
resource raid for Steiner and expected an easy time, but the Marik garrison
was expecting them.  What should have been a cakewalk for the Hotheads became
a wild and confused free-for-all.  At one point in the battle, Colonel Hsien
decided to commit the orbital reserves.  A company of light 'Mechs were to
drop in what was thought to be an open field in the enemy rear area.  Again,
the Marik defenders were well-prepared, having mined all potential drop zones.
 When the 'Mech company landed, every single one was crippled by mine
explosions and stranded in the middle of the field.  Though Hsien needed to
withdraw, he couldn't abandon his reserve company.  He ordered the Karnov
section to recover the crippled company.
    The Marik defenders were still entangled with the rest of the Hotheads,
but did send a company of foot infantry to ensure that their potential
MechWarrior prisoners or salvage did not get away.  The infantry unit could
not enter the minefield because some of the 'Mechs still had functioning
weapons and the 'Mechs could not move out on their own.  A standoff occurred,
with the Marik infantry content to wait in the woods for the arrival of some
heavier equipment to deal with the crippled units.
    When the Karnovs came in over the treetops and positioned themselves over
four of the 'Mechs, every one was astonished.  The Marik commander was not
able to organize his troops until well after the first four airlifted 'Mechs
vanished over the hills.  On their next pass, the Karnovs were not as lucky,
however.  All took hits from Marik small-arms fire, with one of the Karnovs
crashing into the field and setting off another mine.  The three other
helicopters did succeed in making off with their cargo.  Twice more during the
afternoon, the Karnovs came over the field. A pilot positioned the helicopter
over a ''Mech, lowering a cargo sling down to a frantic MechWarrior, and then
lifted the 'Mech out.  The Hotheads lost one more Karnov in the process but
they retrieved all their 'Mechs and warriors.
    The last two Karnovs made a final flight to the minefield to pick up their
downed comrades.  This time the Marik infantry company had finally gotten some
help.  As the helicopters crested the tree line, first one then the other
exploded.  A Marik Rifleman lumbered over to check the flaming wreckage.
    Hsien's Hotheads lifted off without the eight Karnov crewmen.  Their
widows were granted a MechWarrior's pension by the regiment and the crewmen
were posthumously awarded the Order of the Tamar Tigers.


==Variants:==
    Variant models of the Karnov are not supplied by NETC. In fact the basic
design has not changed in a single detail since NETC started supplying the
craft 100 years ago.  In most cases variants on the Karnov are made in the
field by arming it with some form of small weapon.  Often the internal cargo
bay is used to mount machine guns or missile racks.

==Notable Vehicles & Crew:==
Manfred von Kalowski
        Manfred von Kalowski is a Marik Karnov pilot assigned to a garrison
unit on Irain.  Every day his red-painted Karnov carries equipment and
machinery up to the construction site of the new 'Mech factories.  Manfred is
viewed as an oddity, not only because of the paint scheme on his helicopter
but also because he likes to wear leather flying helmet, jacket and a long
white scarf while piloting his Karnov.  His eccentricities have ensured that
no rear seat pilot will fly with him any longer than he must.
    


--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Karnov UR Transport 
Mass:          30 tons

Equipment:                                 Items    Mass
Int. Struct.:  15 pts Standard               0      3.00
Engine:        190 I.C.E.                    0     15.00
    Cruise MP:  11
     Flank MP:  17
Heat Sinks:      0 Single                    0       .00
Cockpit & Controls:                          0      1.50
Crew: 2 Members                              0       .00
Rotor Equipment:  Main/Tail Rotors           0      3.00
Armor Factor:   24 pts Standard              0      1.50

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Front:                     3          6 
   Left / Right Sides:        3        5/5 
   Rear:                      3          6 
   Rotor:                     3          2 

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Items    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
Cargo Bay Capacity       Body                1      6.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                           0          1     30.00
Items & Tons Left:                          10       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        550,000 C-Bills
Battle Value:      19