the Mudfighter

An odd entry to the 1989 GI Joe arsenal, the Mudfighter is a short ranged, fighter/bomber aircraft. It's designed to dump an impressive amount of ordnance onto surface targets while having the ability to defend itself in dogfights with twinned Gatling cannons.

While it cannot quite match the offensive capabilities of Cobra's most dangerous aircraft, the Mudfighter is perfect for loosening up the ground-based troops of that terrorist organization - and instilling a bit of terror on its own with its loud, non-ducted, rear-mounted propeller.

The Mudfighter possesses the following vehicular characteristics:

C       S       B       P
Gd 10   Rm 30   Ex 20   Ex 20

Armored Cockpit: the cockpit of the Mudfighter has a blast-proof, puncture-resistant, anti-laser titanium shield. This heavy duty cover provides the Protection rating listed above, as well as 1 CS of deflection and damage reduction against laser fire.

Bombs: the Mudfighter is equipped with sixteen (!) AS-99 1 ton air-to-surface bombs. These inflict Remarkable (30) Edged Attack (fragmentary) damage each, adding a +1 CS for each doubling of bombs used (up to Unearthly (100) for all sixteen on a single target area).

Communications Array: the Mudfighter is equipped with a gigahertz frequency, frequency wobbler clandestine operations radio system. This provides its pilot Remarkable (30) communications (with a 500 mile maximum range), featuring signal encryption of like complexity.

Gatling Cannons: the Mudfighter has two twinned, rotary-barreled cannons mounted beneath its armored cockpit. These guns can fire a short burst of ammunition to inflict Remarkable (30) Shooting damage, or Incredible (40) Shooting damage when fired continuously.

Radar: the nose of the Mudfighter is equipped with an advanced warning, infrared telescopic radar dome, which allows it to track targets in the air or on the ground with Good (10) ability; this translates into a theoretical maximum range equal to twenty-five miles.