Duellist RA-1D
Mass: 20 tons
Tech Base: Clan
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Dark Ages
Tech Rating/Era Availability: F/X-X-E
Production Year: 3132
Cost: 1,433,440 C-Bills
Battle Value: 699
Chassis: Earthwerks STG / 1A Type 3 Standard
Power Plant: Hermes 100 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Maximum Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Clan Standard Type A1 Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Mk. 3 ER Medium Laser
8 Tau-II AP Gauss Rifles
Manufacturer: Olivetti Weapons
Primary Factory: Sudeten
Communications System: Squawkbox 3.56
Targeting and Tracking System: Olivetti Pinpoint Advanced
Overview:
In the post-Jihad era, a scarcity of BattleMechs placed a great deal of
pressure upon Clan technicans to provide enough equipment for the various
Trials of Position. Clan Jade Falcon in particular was suffering due to the
purging their scientist caste having overflowed into associated groups of
technicians.
However in recruiting new scientists from the population of their occupation
zone, the Falcons received a potential solution: Scientist Ferdinand (Darwin)
suggested that a light BattleMech be built using the many damaged Wasp and
Stinger chassis in Jade Falcon caches. Hundreds of these 'Mechs had been
salvaged from battlefields over the last thirty years and few had been used as
anything but a source for spare parts.
The ostensible purpose of the new design would be to provide garrison clusters
with inexpensive 'Mechs but the Jade Falcons could also ease the strain on
resources by requiring that all BattleMechs used in trials be of this design,
resting the results entirely on the skills of the Mechwarrior rather than on
any advantage in equipment. For this reason the RA-1D proposal was dubbed the
Duellist.
Capabilities:
The Duellist's overall capabilities are rather modest: the engine has been
replaced by a 100-rated fusion reactor (as used on the historic WSP-1 Wasp),
slowing the design to the point where most light and medium designs can outrun
it. This did enable the fitting of a smaller gyro however, something that saved
more tonnage and with the removal of jumpjets, the Duellist can devote an
impressive percentage of its tonnage to weapons and armour. Electronics, often
dating back to the Star League were stripped out and replaced by the
standardised equivalents manufactured by the Clans
The weapons are the only place where Clan technology has been made use of: the
head module has been modified to carry the respected extended-range medium
laser which provides the Duellist with at least some reach. The main weapon of
the 'mech is something else entirely: the Duellist takes inspiration from the
Piranha and each arm and side torso is fitted with a pair of AP Gauss Rifles.
Not only does this provide an enviable ability to clear an area of hostile
infantry, the Duellist is also capable of doing serious damage to light 'Mechs
and vehicles due to the sheer number of the weapons.
Perhaps the most valuable advantage that the Duellist has its price tag. The
Merchant Caste estimate that an entire binary - or even trinary! - could be
built for the same resources needed to build a single heavy OmniMech.
Battle History:
While not fully adopted as the sole 'Mech for trials within Clan Jade Falcon,
the Duellist has seen quite a bit of use when Mechwarriors are able to select
augmented battle against Elementals or ProtoMech pilots. The Jade Falcons also
favour it for use in what they euphemistically refer to as 'riot control'.
Neither of these make Duellist pilots very popular.
Possibly the most notable battle featuring the Duellist was the 3083 Trial of
Possession fought by Clan Diamond Shark. Mechwarrior Terrence made clever use
of terrain to outflank the Piranha bid by the Diamond Sharks and then unleashed
an alpha strike into the rear armour of his opponent, disabling the older but
more advanced 'Mech in a single volley.
Deployment:
The Jade Falcons have build quite a number of the Duellist and despite being
challenged twice by Clan Diamond Shark have retained sole production rights.
However, a number have fallen into the hands of the Hells Horses, the Wolves
and the Lyrans over the years.
Variants:
As a result of gradual attrition of chassis, the number of Duellists is unse is
tapering off. Jade Falcon scientists are currently investigating whether
building entirely new chassis would be desirable or if converting another
chassis in a similar fashion would be of more value.
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 33 points 2.00
Engine: Fusion Engine 100 3.00
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 2 LL, 2 RL
Gyro: Standard 1.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 64 4.00
CASE Locations: LT, RT, LA, RA 0.00
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 8
Center Torso 6 10
Center Torso (rear) 2
L/R Torso 5 8
L/R Torso (rear) 2
L/R Arm 3 6
L/R Leg 4 6
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ER Medium Laser HD 5 1 1.00
2 AP Gauss Rifles RT 2 2 1.00
2 AP Gauss Rifles LT 2 2 1.00
2 AP Gauss Rifles RA 2 2 1.00
2 AP Gauss Rifles LA 2 2 1.00
@AP Gauss Rifle (40) RT - 1 1.00
@AP Gauss Rifle (40) LT - 1 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 30
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 2 Points: 7
5 3 3 0 0 1 1 Structure: 2
Special Abilities: CASE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
Author
Topic: Duellist (Clan light BattleMech) (Read 771 times)