Viper class A-4

The Viper-class A-4, formally known as the Grid-03-27xA or simply the Viper A-4, was a lightly armed yet heavily armoured transport designed to ferry troops to the frontlines, used by the Nation of Grid and first deployed during the war with the ZOM Coalition. It was originally a civilian design but was converted to military use after the ZOM Coalition started gaining and the Grid population needed more ships. While used mainly for command and military parades, the later years of the war found them used as troop transports to ferry troops to far-off planets.

#### Description

“It'll be at the front lines before you can say green!” -Magnus Infernus XXXVI

Equipped with heavy plasma cannons, torpedo launchers and anti-aircraft batteries, the A-4 was a force to be reckoned with. The government production lines were busy with other weapons and logistics at the time so production was offloaded to the Universal Trolling Cooperation. Their conversion from the civilian A-3 meant that a more powerful engine, stronger armour and weaponry would be required. Almost completely different to its former cousin, the Viper A-4 was given a roof turret to defend against air targets and small dogfighters. Two torpedo tubes could launch a total of either three mark-7 heavy torpedoes or six mark-5 light torpedoes.

However, the most notable change was the large fins attached to the front of the ship. Inspired by the lighter craft and unique designs of the Sigmarian air force, the intended use was to ram the enemy in case of weapon failure. This did not help much, as trials found that the ram would shatter on impact, and was removed in the A-5.

Even though the ship was powerful against fortifications and other large flagships, it was found that the A-4 was vulnerable to dogfighters. The rear engines were not very well-protected, which let enemy torpedo-bombers to strike the engine, causing the ship to stall. The A-4b was an attempt to fix this, uparmouring the engine and giving it more weaponry, including multiple Anti-aircraft light cannons and a belly turret. These attempts were futile, however, and escorts were required. An example could be the AZ-2 "Azza" strike fighter or the ENGI “Evangeline” recon shuttle.

#### History:

The A-4 was first used in the war against the ZOM coalition. The reason given for upgrading the A-3 stopgap into the A-4 were simple; the Grid navy simply did not have a medium fighter and either had to attack very quickly with no firepower or very slowly with heavy firepower. Extremely popular with the infantry, the A-4 was used extensively to land assaults on enemy ground. The torpedo launchers were popular with crewmen, and the roof turret could defend against light aircraft, tanks or even infantry.

Postwar Use:

#### Variants:

XA-4

The prototype version of the ship. Trials were quite successful, and the top military generals of Grid was quite pleased with the ship. Put onto display as part of the Air and Space Museum, in the Rothorishan capital Ancediff's famous museum corridor

A-4

Original design put into serial production.

A-4b

An Up-armed and armoured variant of the A-4. While it was envisioned to replace the original, it was slow and cumbersome. The extra gun batteries and armour took a toll on the engine, which ran through oil quickly. After a bomb raid on the factories producing the A-4b, the model was discontinued.

A-4c

A transport variant of the original, this craft was stripped of all the armour and weapons, instead being used to store supplies. It could carry a small squadron of light reconnaissance aircraft, such as the branch of ENGI recon shuttles, and was given a room to store provisions for troops. It was a popular ship, and although highly vulnerable when parked or cruising, many of these were because of lacklustre planning, and many instances of A-4c’s outrunning larger ships have been published.

A-5

The second attempt at an A-4 replacement, the A-5 was a design simplified for ease of production. It had a similar top speed despite having lighter armour. It was a result of a weaker engine, as the heavier engines used on the prior A-4s were found to be inefficient for their size and were usually tore apart for spare parts if it was irreplaceable. Only 54 were built.