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[RETIRED] MTF C-3 "Atlas" Heavy Dropship

Heavy dropship for the deployment of vehicles on a planet.

The Atlas, Landing Craft Utility is the more ambitious project developed by Areodyne Solutions for the MTF. The original prototypes of the project were designed to enable a destroyer or a frigate to operate as an atmospheric capable craft. The idea was soon dropped after initial tests demonstrated that the artillery support provided by said combat ships could be achieved from orbit and the conditions inside of a planet´s gravity well and atmosphere limited many of the maneuvering and speed advantages of the ships. In conclusion making both ship and LCU operate as a single hull made both vessels vulnerable, but by having them operate as separate units each ship could play to their unique advantage without sacrificing performance, so the Atlas LCU was born.

The usual configuration for a planetary assault task force is one destroyer and one frigate each equipped with a long range jump drive support ring and carrying one LCU for a total of two in the group. The destroyer carries two light fighters in her main hangar and can also equip a hangar module to carry a light dropship for close air suppor of the ground forces, or a missile rack for orbital bombardment. In addition, each LCU carries two APCs and two LAVs each.