The Matador is a high speed forward command patrol boat.[2] It is used by the RDA for water patrol missions and tulkun hunting.
Specifications[]
The Matador is a small patrol boat with a double-deck design and features a large complement of seven to eight sailors: five gunners, a pilot, a spotter and a captain.[3] The upper deck is the control deck and features the cockpit and navigational controls, whilst the lower deck is for the gunners.
The Matador is decently armed for its size, featuring three Hydra Machine Guns on the boat's port, starboard and stern, an additional co-axial Chunker placement on the top of the second deck next to the pilot and a large Harpoon Gun on the boat's bow.[3]
The Matador features a "deep V" hull and twin jet drives which propel the crew of eight at more than 40 knots (46mph/74kph) whilst offering exceptional maneuverability.[1] When launched from the SeaDragon's magnetic launch ramp, the Matador's military grade shock-mitigating seats protects the crew from the kinetic impact of the Pandoran heavy waves.[1]
Service history[]
One Matador was attached to the SeaDragon deployed to hunt Tulkun and later to locate Jake Sully, typically leading a fleet of Picador boats during hunting parties. It was immobilized during the Skirmish at the Three Brothers after Payakan dragged it onto a pile of rocks via its harpoon cable, later severing part of the bridge after the cable wrapped around the boat.
Trivia[]
- In real life, a matador de toros ('killer of bulls' in Spanish) often has assistance from a picador during bull fights, who uses a lance to attack the bull and give information to the matador. This is reflected in the fact that Picador boats often use their sound cannons to weaken and disorientate a Tulkun before the Matador fires its harpoon gun to ensnare the Tulkun.
- The Matador resembles the Swedish Strb 90 fast attack boat, both in appearance and role.
References[]
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