Pleurodon (Airship)

The Wedo Engineering Pleurodon is an aerial cruiser that uses the pityocampa chassis with many different armaments attached to the sides and underside of the ship. Composed of three heavy self stabilizing platforms, a steering rod, six canons affixed to smart turrets and a single rotor for movement, the Pleurodon is a versatile combat cruiser.
The battleship is purposely slow in order to give the largest window possible for the weapon systems to fire. The cruiser is difficult to maneuver however, and has extremely low fuel autonomy and must be warped out for maintenance after a short period of use. However the short operating window is enough to deal with most enemy positions and the cruiser is mostly used as a vanguard bombardment platform, slowly passing over enemy positions firing its many weapons before ground units arrive for cleanup.
== Mobility ==
The Pleurodon uses a single rotor which makes it notoriously difficult to maneuver, requiring a full time technician to move the ships rotor into positions to facilitate its movement.
It is also impossible to reduce the pleurodon's altitude due to the way self stabilizing platforms work, however this can be counteracted using downwards facing booster rockets.
Gaining altitude with the pleurodon requires pillaring, a method the pleurodon uses to ascend. This is achieved by setting its rotors for upwards thrust, then alternatively raising its bow and stern, the ship will ascend to level the craft on its highest point, lifting the ship into the air.
== Armaments ==
Beyond its six to ten guns, the Pleurodon can deploy GCMP's and bombers in combat.
The Pleurodon sometimes uses thermal emitters instead of cannons.
== Tactics ==
=== Collection ===
When the weapons no longer detect threats, a unit is sent to the surface to collect loot. If threats are still present, the unit will return on board.
=== Aerial Ambush ===
The pleurodon targeting system works by an onboard technician placing beacons onto a target. The battleship will then position itself above the target out of range, then activate its rockets in a controlled descent until in range of the target.
Category:Airships
Category:Wedo Engineering