Tier V Sub Fighter


 * The Tier V Sub Fighter or Eagle Ray Sub Fighter, as it was named by the UNSC, was the Granchio marine superiority fighter. First used in 2144 in the 4th and final Granchio Civil War by the Hives of Progress against the Granchio Conservancy Council. The same models would be used against the Covenant and the UNSC in later conflicts.

Overview

 * The Eagle Ray Sub Fighter was an advanced machine designed for swift hit and run strikes on larger Sub Cruisers, such as the Type 1002 Marine Suppression Platform or the Tier H Assault Platform, and attacking marine infantry. Shaped like a Manta Ray the Tier V Sub Fighter is caperble of darting and dodging enemy munitions before attacking with either torpedoes or wing mounted canons before moving out of range for another hit-and-run attack. The usual pilot is a sub caste of Marine requiring the Eagle Ray to process a pressurized control canopy, as well as a supply of air for the pilot. Capable of diving to depths of 700m the Eagle Ray is guided by a wide array of sensor apparatus allowing it to navigate at night or in deep water without having to used the high powered search lights mounted on the front of the vehicle. As well as its anti vehicle/infantry role the Eagle Ray also acts as reconnaissance and wildlife suppression due to its powerful armament and sensors. When attacked the Eagle Ray has the ability to emit a dark cloud of ink from rear mounted chambers as a smokescreen to escape or mount a counter attack.

Construction

 * The Eagle Ray Sub-fighter is constructed from various materials to ensure that it can withstand environmental pressures and enemy projectiles. The chassis is constructed from Titanium to create a frame that is strong enough to resist enemy pressure. Layered on top of the base chassis is a steel coating further reinforcing the craft from high pressure if it should accidently enter deep water. The final layer is a lightweight carbon steel, with a carbon content of 0.81%, to act as a durable yet light weight armour especially from bladed and cutting weapons such as those used by Granchio Barbarians. The control canopy is constructed from Perspex so that it can withstand small arms and more importantly the strain of pressure. Despite its relative strength this is considered the weakest part of the Eagle Ray Sub-fighter and both Granchio Soldiers and Elite Rangers have used various melee weapons to cut through the canopy.


 * The internal structure is split into chambers with the canopy isolated from the ordinance storing 'wings' of the craft and the rear mounted energy cell used to propel the craft. The fuel cell chamber contains channels that hook up to the power source's exhaust emissions that carry the waste water away from the electrical cables to prevent the Sub-Fighter from shorting out. Exhaust from the fuel cell is isolated in specialized chambers arranged along the wings and can be ejected via pump-jets which also increase the sub-fighters speed for a short amount of time. In the ordinance chambers internal reinforcing was later introduced to protect the pilot from accidental detonation and those from the penetration of enemy fire into these chambers.