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IMDC V-12c Osprey Gunship

Update September 1 2023: Very minor update. Incorporated the brand new flat atmospheric thrusters that just released yesterday. This should give you slightly better atmospheric performance and fuel efficiency, and definitely improves the looks. Will update pics later. Realistically it won't make much of a difference except when banking or moving sideways, but every little bit helps. Unfortunately, the update also broke Ascent Cruise Control, the script you use to burn less fuel when getting to orbit. As this script has not been updated in around 5 years, there is no telling if the author is even still active.

IMDC V-12c Osprey Gunship

Lore:

The Osprey V-12c is, like its predecessors the V-11 and V-12a, a small VTOL gunship. The advent of new weaponry and the discovery of higher-gravity planets necessitated an upgrade over its venerable predecessors, both of which were prone to creating new and interesting-shaped craters if great care was not taken in their handling. Protests from Osprey pilots (or their surviving kin) resulted in the V-12c, a much more forgiving craft with support for the latest weapons and technology.

The new version trades the original fixed Rocket Launchers, with their mere four shots apiece, for a reloadable rocket launcher above the cockpit. Replacing the original fixed weapons package, the chin weapons are now designed to be easily swapped based on mission requirements and pilot preference. From the factory, the original four fixed rocket launchers of the original are replaced with four massive railguns firing in sequence, although Assault Cannon are a common substitute. Likewise, the Gatling Guns can be easily swapped for Autocannon should the mission require more of an anti-materiel role. Rounding out the weapons upgrade, the original side Gatling turrets are upgraded to the new rapid-firing Autocannon turrets.

The rear cargo-carrying ability was preserved, with a provision to shut off the rear tail thrusters to allow carriage of wider objects. With the additional thrust, it is now capable of carrying a Puma or other small vehicle into orbit. The V-12c is still capable of transporting two passengers on the rear seats; while not the most comfortable way to get to orbit, it nonetheless provides an excellent view. Don't forget your helmet!

IMDC pilots quickly took a liking to the new hot-rod gunship, and preparations were made to deploy them throughout the fleet. It was quickly found the new gunship threw well above its weight, able to easily perform interdictions on much larger craft that were only armed with shorter-ranged legacy weapons.


Weapons:
2x Warfare Gatling Guns
4x Railguns (interchangeable with Autocannons or Assault Cannons)
1x Reloadable Rocket Launcher
2x Autocannon Turrets
1x Gatling Turret

Equipment:
51x Small Warfare Reactors (See note)
3x O2/H2 Generators
4x Small Hydrogen Tanks


Scripts:
Automatic LCDs 2 by MMaster
Blarg's Ascent Cruise Control by Blargmode
Whip's Weapon Salvo Script by Whiplash141
Whip's Artificial Horizon Redux by Whiplash 141
Whip's Turret Based Radar System by Whiplash 141

Note: the insane number of reactors is entirely due to the railguns' high power requirement while recharging; if you swap to Assault Cannons or Autocannons you can get away with around 10. Even without all those reactors, you won't fall out of the sky in Survival mode; it just doesn't look good having your power show overload even when it's technically harmless.

Recommendations:

1. Swap out the front weapons at will! Modularity was part of the design. It can seamlessly swap the railguns for Assault Cannons or the Gatling Guns for Autocannons. When you set Assault Cannons up for salvo, be sure to assign them a custom fire rate (80 or 160 rpm is recommended) by editing the Custom Data on Problock Salvo.

2. Assign your turrets to target enemy weapons (if you can't snipe them with railguns); they can hit enemy turrets far more accurately than you can, particularly when moving. Use your main weapons to slice through enemy armor and target large easy-to-hit areas.

3. This craft is capable of sustaining around a 40 degree bank angle in 1G gravity before it starts to fall, and then only slowly. Use that to your advantage when turning by pointing your powerful lifting thrusters in your former direction of travel to cancel out the motion. You will often see military helicopters flying in a very similar way during combat maneuvers and demonstrations; this is no coincidence, as JD Horx originally envisioned the Osprey as a helicopter gunship.

4. An option was built in to shut off the four Small Hydrogen Thrusters in the tail in case you need to carry something that would otherwise block these thrusters and cause thruster damage. It's a small detail, but one that does make the craft more useful.

5 This version of the Osprey is capable of lifting all versions of the Puma into orbit. Just ensure the tail thrusters are on and be careful to straddle the front turret with them.

6. This craft does Bad Things™ against hostile large ships in-atmosphere (which spawn if the Air Traffic add-on for the Modular Encounters Systems mod is added). The long range of its Railguns allows you to snipe out enemy turrets before moving in above them to shatter their lift fans with your autocannon turrets. Using this method you can take down large-grid craft and send them plummeting to their demise. Your primary means of evasion should always be vertical thrust (either up or down), as this craft has plenty to spare. It is tested to be survivable, as well, able to take at least one missile hit with no significant impact to its flight capability. Bottom line: this ship actually works.

Based on the V-11 and V-12a Osprey by JD Horx. All design rights belong to him (note: V-12a needs a script update and messing around with some commands in the programmable block before it will work again): https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=813537086

Known compatible carriers:

Europa
Titan
Cerberus
Atlas

Skybox used: Domain - Skybox by Wonkatoad: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=570356466