Background
As Khan Vlad Ward sought to rebuild the Wolves battered Tourman during the 'quiet' after the Jihad several projects were afoot, the 70 ton Blood Reaper was one of the fruits of this rebuilding, another was a new Medium Mech to work alongside the popular Stormcrow. Unfortunately for the Wolves, the Stormcrow was becoming rare in their Tourman due to heavy losses and a lack of production facilities. Designed in part with assistance from Clan Hells Horses who would also produce the Mech to help restore their equally mauled Tourman the Mech was designed in the general mold of the Stormcrow although its more angular and aggressive hull and broad shouldered stance led to it being called a 'mini-Blood Reaper'. Unfortunately Khan Ward would not see the Mech enter service as delays in its production and development due to its armour saw it delayed several times and Khan Ward was killed in battle months before the first Battleborne was produced.
Design
At 55-tons the Battleborne is at the top end of the Medium Mech weight scale and like the Stormcrow its 330 rated XL engine lets it hit a top speed of 96kph on even ground. Built around endo-steel bones the Mech's most notable feature and the cause of its repeated delays during development is its armour. Layered with 13.5 tons of the newly developed Ferro-Lamellor armour the Battleborne could take far more punishment than one might expect for a Mech its size. Unfortunately the newly developed armour proved difficult to forge in large quantities and it was the first paring of omni-technology with the new armour type and the gyro system had to be balanced very carefully.
Unfortunately the weight and bulk of the armour does limit the podspace but with no fixed equipment the Mech can still carry 19 tons of weapons or associated system. The initial design could only move at 86kph at full speed, and although this offered 25 tons of pod space, it was refused due to it being seen as too slow as it could 'only' move as fast as typical Clan Heavy Mechs. No Scientists was brave enough to point out to Khan Ward that the Wolves Tourman had slowed considerably thanks to Mech's like the Blood Reaper or Tundra Wolf and that Mech's like the Timberwolf were a growing rarity.
Produced in growing numbers following the formation of the Wolf Empire despite resources being syphoned off to a new Stormcrow that was rumored to be under development the Battleborne became a more common sight in the 3100's.
Deployment
Due to its delayed introduction to service followed by the upheaval of the Wolves moving to Marik Space the Battleborne remains quite uncommon although it will most often be found in Striker Stars as the ride of the Star Commander. In Clan Hells Horses service the Mech fits in well with their interpretation of the Mongol Doctrine and as most variants place an emphasis on energy weapons it can remain in the field for longer than older generation Mechs.
Variants
Prime - Clearly drawing inspiration from the Stormcrow the Prime's armament is mostly energy based although a formidable ATM-9 with 3 tons of ammunition fills out one of its torsos. With the brutal fighting of the Jihad in mind, the Prime has fully articulated hands and arms if a Warrior needs to punch with the Mech. An ER large laser and a quartet of ER Medium lasers form the main armament and although it is somewhat undergunned by Clan standards, the weapons mix is viable at all ranges and the cooling system allows a Warrior to use their weapons if used wisely, a full alpha strike is not advised due to the heavy heat surge.
Battleborne Prime
Clan advanced
55 tons
BV: 2,294
Cost: 15,853,206 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 330 XL
Heat Sinks: 13 [26]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 91 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 185/185 (Ferro-Lamellor)
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 18 27
Center Torso (rear) 9
Right Torso 13 20
Right Torso (rear) 6
Left Torso 13 20
Left Torso (rear) 6
Right Arm 9 18
Left Arm 9 18
Right Leg 13 26
Left Leg 13 26
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER Large Laser LA 12
ER Medium Laser RA 5
ER Medium Laser RA 5
ER Medium Laser RT 5
ER Medium Laser LT 5
ATM 9 RT 6
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
ATM 9 Ammo RT 7
ATM 9 ER Ammo RT 7
ATM 9 HE Ammo RT 7
!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
A - Built for duels and long running battles the A only carries two weapons but these are an ER PPC and an Improved Heavy Large laser, both of which are tied into a targetting computer. This gives the Mech a ferocious bite at shorter ranges and allows it to make itself known at longer ranges. Popular with Horse Warriors who follow the Mongol Doctrine, they prefer the A's punch and aggression to the more measured approach of the Prime.
Battleborne A
Clan advanced
55 tons
BV: 2,300
Cost: 15,304,603 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 330 XL
Heat Sinks: 17 [34]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 91 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 185/185 (Ferro-Lamellor)
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 18 27
Center Torso (rear) 9
Right Torso 13 20
Right Torso (rear) 6
Left Torso 13 20
Left Torso (rear) 6
Right Arm 9 18
Left Arm 9 18
Right Leg 13 26
Left Leg 13 26
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER PPC LA 15
Improved Heavy Large Laser RA 18
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Targeting Computer RT
!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
B - Originating with Clan Hells Horses the B is built to operate as part of their combined arms approach and engage hostile combined arms forces. A HAG-20 fed by a 3-ton ammunition drum lets it engage targets at all ranges and act as a fearsome AA gun to counter hostile VTOL and aerospace assets. An ER large laser and pair of AP Gauss rifles round out the Mech's armament, making it equally fearsome against armoured and unarmoured targets. The biggest criticism though comes from its limited endurance and its reliance on the HAG.
Battleborne B
Clan advanced
55 tons
BV: 1,961
Cost: 15,296,853 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 330 XL
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 91 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 185/185 (Ferro-Lamellor)
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 18 27
Center Torso (rear) 9
Right Torso 13 20
Right Torso (rear) 6
Left Torso 13 20
Left Torso (rear) 6
Right Arm 9 18
Left Arm 9 18
Right Leg 13 26
Left Leg 13 26
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
HAG/20 LA 4
ER Large Laser RA 12
AP Gauss Rifle LT 1
AP Gauss Rifle RT 1
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
HAG/20 Ammo LA 6
HAG/20 Ammo LA 6
HAG/20 Ammo LA 6
AP Gauss Rifle Ammo CT 40
!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
C - Originating with Clan Wolf the C is what they called a more 'balanced skirmisher and brawler' compared to the A favoured by the Horses. Featuring the same ER PPC for long range firepower the C's short to mid range armament is more varied and flexible than the all or nothing nature of the A. To this end a pair of Streak SRM-6's each with their own ton of ammunition are supported by a pair of medium pulse lasers. Unfortunately the cooling system is not much improved and full alpha strikes are not advised.
Battleborne C
Clan advanced
55 tons
BV: 2,323
Cost: 15,424,728 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 330 XL
Heat Sinks: 11 [22]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 91 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 185/185 (Ferro-Lamellor)
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 18 27
Center Torso (rear) 9
Right Torso 13 20
Right Torso (rear) 6
Left Torso 13 20
Left Torso (rear) 6
Right Arm 9 18
Left Arm 9 18
Right Leg 13 26
Left Leg 13 26
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
ER PPC LA 15
Streak SRM 6 LT 4
Streak SRM 6 RT 4
Medium Pulse Laser RA 4
Medium Pulse Laser RA 4
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
Streak SRM 6 Ammo LT 15
Streak SRM 6 Ammo RT 15
!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
D - Designed as a support unit, the D's main punch comes from a pair of Artemis V enhanced LRM-15's each with their own 2-ton ammunition bin. These launchers are mounted on the arms to give the widest possible firing arcs. For defensive firepower the Mech has a pair of Improved heavy medium lasers and a pair of ER medium lasers, cooling again is a problem, but only if a Warrior fires everything. Although it lacks a solid knock-down punch, Warriors do appreciate the D's flexibility and long range firepower.
Battleborne D
Clan advanced
55 tons
BV: 2,198
Cost: 16,953,706 C-bills
Movement: 6/9
Engine: 330 XL
Heat Sinks: 11 [22]
Gyro: Standard Gyro
Internal: 91 (Endo-Steel)
Armor: 185/185 (Ferro-Lamellor)
Internal Armor
--------------------------------------
Center Torso 18 27
Center Torso (rear) 9
Right Torso 13 20
Right Torso (rear) 6
Left Torso 13 20
Left Torso (rear) 6
Right Arm 9 18
Left Arm 9 18
Right Leg 13 26
Left Leg 13 26
Weapon Loc Heat
----------------------------------------
LRM 15 LA 5
LRM 15 RA 5
Improved Heavy Medium Laser LT 7
Improved Heavy Medium Laser RT 7
ER Medium Laser LT 5
ER Medium Laser RT 5
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------------------
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo RA 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo LA 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo RA 8
LRM 15 (Clan) Artemis-capable Ammo LA 8
Equipment Loc
----------------------------------
Artemis V FCS LA
Artemis V FCS RA
!MechView.CarringCapacity!One battle armor squad
With the Battleborne I was kind of going for a 'missing link' and testbed all in one. With advanced armour coming more common the Wolves would want to make an 'answer' to the growing number of Mech's with advanced armour as well as being able to see what works and what does not. It could also be a missing link in the development of the Ryoken Skinwalker.
As always, thoughts and comments are most welcome!
Author
Topic: Battleborne - Clan Wolf Medium OmniMech. (Read 493 times)