GTF Hercules Mark III

GTF Hercules Mk3.

Retexture by Jadehawk.

Inferno Nostos reskin.

Description:

ITDoH Tech Room Description

Hercules Mk.III is a new heavy assault fighter. Some Hercules 2 pilots complained about its low number of primary guns compared to the older model. To solve this, Herc3 has 8 primary gunmounts and high-powered engine provides sufficient energy for sustained firing. This power also increased topspeed and afterburner power. With all these additions, the Hercules 3 has a reduced secondary loadout compared to its predecessors.

Inferno Nostos Tech Room Description

Terran heavy assault fighter.

Although the Hercules Mark II had been a successful design, following the Second Shivan Incursion, the GTF Ares supplanted its predecessor by trading speed and maneuverability for extremely heavy armor and massive secondary capacity. Having been rushed into production in the final days of the NTF civil war, the Ares saved tens of thousands of lives in the bomber-heavy battlespaces of Capella through the careful application of massed Trebuchet fire. However, in following years, the Ares began to show reliability problems arising from fundamental design flaws, leading to the Admiralty ordering a replacement.

Commissioned in 2384, RNI's Hercules Mark III is primarily a missile platform. Possessing three rotary-feed secondary banks and four primary hardpoints in a 2-2 bank configuration, the Herc III is a born killer, able to mount most fighter-grade primary and secondary weapon systems. The Hercules Mark III is slower and less maneuverable than other fighter designs, and survives engagements with its powerful shield system and heavy armor plating. While the Hercules can dogfight if pressed, optimal tactics involve engaging enemy fighters at range with aspect-seeking missiles. In the war with the Earth Alliance, the Hercules is primarily used to conduct long-range anti-subsystem strikes with Stiletto III missiles, in addition to the traditional heavy assault role of mauling cruisers and freighters with Hurricane volleys.

Credits List

• Model by Hamano

Performance:

Statistics

Type	Heavy Assault
Manufacturer	RNI Systems
Maneuverability	Average
Max Velocity	60.0 - 70.0 mps
Max Afterburner Velocity	130.0 mps
Armor	Heavy
Hitpoints	275
Shields	610
Length	22 m

Armaments

• Gun Mounts

Default Statistics			Inferno Nostos
Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout	Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout	Capacity
1st	4	Subach HL-7	1st	2	Subach HL-12	1500
2nd	4	Prometheus R	2nd	2	Prometheus	1500
Compatible Primaries			Compatible Primaries
Subach HL-7, Akheton SDG, Morning Star, Prometheus S, Prometheus R, Lamprey, Circe, Maxim			Subach HL-12, Subach SD-14, Prometheus, Hastor, Vulcan, Typhoon, Aquinas

• Missile Banks

Default Statistics			Inferno Nostos
Bank	Capacity	Standard Loadout	Bank	Capacity	Standard Loadout
1st	64	Harpoon	1st	50	Shocker
2nd	80	Hornet	2nd	50	Hurricane
			3rd	60	Maelstrom
Compatible Secondaries			Compatible Secondaries
Tempest, MX-64 Rockeye, Harpoon, Hornet, Tornado, Trebuchet, TAG-A, TAG-B, EMP Adv., Infyrno			Shocker, Hurricane, Shadow, Stiletto III, Hornet M, Maelstrom, Helldart, Corinthos, Venom

Veteran Comments

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This craft is painfully slow in Nostos. I mean really, really slow. With max afterburner speed of 100m/s, Herc. III is not only slower than staple heavy fighters of FS2 like Erinyes or Herc II but is also slower than original Hercules. New Nostos release will fix bug with max Oclk Speed, but it does not provide it with any reliable speed boost. You will suffer badly spamming your Tab in escort missions. Herc III inherited 2+2 primary weapon configuration from Herc II, but they are placed quite far from the center rendering Herc III rather mediocre dogfighter. For those reasons absolutely never pick it for escort missions... But here disadvantages ends. I bet it is one of the most survivable craft in FS mods. With insanely strong shielding and sheer amount of hitpoints, Herc III is very safe pick for long and exhausting battles involving multiple capships and enemy fighters. Herc III is fully centered around it's enormous missile capacity divided into convinient 3 banks. Pack it with Shadows, Hurricanes and Hornet M/Stiletto 3/Maelstrom/Corinthos then go save the world. It's capable of withstanding focused fire of multiple enemy fighters or dense point defense envelope of enemy capital ships. I found it as very specialised, niche craft performing extremely well as assult but it's also barely capable of doing anything else. It is overally solid craft, but it's extremely not liberal nature renders Ereshkigal or Perseus Adv better choice for majority of missions.

Download link:

• http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.193
• Into the Depths of Hell (chp4): http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.64
• Retexture by Jadehawk: http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.502