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DESCRIPTION: |
The Sting Raider is an update to the
Sea Ray
tactical submersible deployed by Cobra in 1987 and the stolen
Wave Crusher
design from 2001. Due to the impracticalities eventually displayed in the Sea Ray (reconnection of sub and glider after separation, etc.), Cobra commissioned
MARS in 2002 to produce a combination submarine/plane that could work in frigid and warm environments, be stored compactly, launch from mobile air platforms (cargo planes), and provide an overall better design than the Wave Crusher (S.H.A.R.C.) design for espionage and sabotage. Two years later, the result was the Sting Raider, a versatile naval and air attack craft, capable of limited aquatic object manipulation, offensive payload, two propulsion methods, submerged pilot deployment, and compacted air deployment/storage. The most important feature of the Sting Raider is the ease-of-use with the integrated HUD system which allows for a fast pilot training program. This appealed to Cobra more than anything else as they can easily train any trooper to use the Sting Raider. Currently, however, Cobra is deploying
Eels as the trooper of choice to pilot Sting Raiders. It is presumed
Lampreys, Sea Slugs, and
Sub-Vipers are also qualified to pilot a Sting Raider.
For Cobra pilots, the most difficult feature of the Sting Raider to comprehend, is the rear-firing "Mini-Pulverizer" dual cannons. The HUD integrates a rear-view camera with a two-trigger-targeting system. The triggers are on the
steering handles of the Sting Raider allows for manual fire or computer-controlled auto-fire. With the right-trigger is the manual firing trigger and couples with the video feed on the HUD. For a pilot concentrating on piloting, the left trigger provides computer-controlled auto-fire. The
targeting system tends to be "gun-happy" and over-uses ammunition. For your average trooper,
piloting, watching the HUD for the targeting reticule, and firing conservatively requires constant training to master. Also considering that the right-hand is the dominant hand for most soldiers, many pilots prefer to fly holding down the left trigger and risk running out of ammunition.
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