OBT Forum

Inspired by wolfcannon's FC Black Lanner as well as the Rakasha and other InnerSphere copycats of Clan designs I went back to my old files for a Behemoth I did. This InnerSphere version is the closest I can come to duplicating a Clan BattleMech with their lesser technological base. Please let me know what you think!

MAMMOTH
Mass: 100 tons
Chassis: Star League Monster II
Power Plant: Vlar 300 XL
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: Geotec 300
   Jump Capacity: 90 meters
Armor: Aldis Plate Standard Armor with CASE
Armament: 2 Grizzard Model 200 Gauss Rifles
   2 Blankenburg Large Pulse Lasers
1 Blankenburg Small Pulse Laser
Manufacturer: Skobel MechWorks
   Primary Factory: Terra
Communications System: Skobel Wave VI
Targeting and Tracking System: Falcon 12b Watcher

OVERVIEW
ComStar, as well as the Great Houses, searched for a way to replicate Clan weapon systems during their fearsome invasion of the InnerSphere. Project Copycat set out to reverse engineer the Invaders BattleMechs utilizing available technologies. Lostech from the Star League era and existing InnerSphere gear however were just not as efficient as their advanced counterparts. Despite these bulkier, shorter ranged, hotter running limitations technicians pressed ahead. While several designs ran headlong in these obstacles that slowed their development or led to their eventual discontinuation the Behemoth facsimile picked up momentum.
Capturing the imagination of all involved in the project the Behemoth or Stone Rhino as the Clans called it was based on an Amaris BattleMech of massive proportions. Known as “Amaris’ Folly” it was developed to overcome an assault by an SLDF ‘Mech company late in the Coup but failed to overcome design limitations. The fact the Clans had made the concept work as well as the historical impact of the war machine and its clear potential drove ComStar personnel forward. Technicians carefully salvaged wrecked Clan hulks from battle sites on Tukayyid as archivists painstakingly researched all references to the original Matar boondoggle.
   What they discovered was the Clan version had slightly downsized the original concept to resolve overloaded leg actuators which had doomed the Usurper’s ultimate weapon to operational immobility. Furthermore, utilizing a Vlar 300 XL Engine which had already proven itself on Clanbusters deployed first on Tukayyid could save enough weight to place larger InnerSphere weapons on a new ComGuard version. Thus, the M2 Mammoth was born adding to a rebuilding ComStar force that could take the battle to the Clan juggernaut.

CAPABILITIES
While outwardly identical the Mammoth and Behemoth have many differences thanks in large part to their technical basis. With InnerSphere equipment consuming more mass and space than Clan equivalents certain redesigns had to be incorporated. The biggest change came thanks to the space consumed by the Extra Light Engine which necessitated some internal rearrangement. Gauss ammo was repositioned from side torsos to legs swapping spots with two jump jets which now became torso mounted. Geotec 300 Jump Jets used on the Crockett proved suitable for the Mammoth chassis.
On the plus side an extra half ton left over from the new power plant was available for increased armor protection. While some design purists wanted to match the Behemoth’s armor layout this addition forced their hand. Protection was significantly increased to the Mammoth’s legs while its rear armor was decreased from the Behemoth’s. While this optimization was a compromise from the design’s original mission statement everyone realized some alterations had to be made. The side torsos also so an increase in protection to help better guard against critical damage to the enlarged XL Engine.
Despite their increased size the two Star League era Grizzard Model 200 Gauss Rifles originally used on the Excalibur matched their more compact Clan rivals in performance. With the Mammoth’s main guns functioning identically as the Behemoth’s it should in theory be able to outperform its Clan predecessor thanks to slightly better armor. However, some designers are concerned with the location of the Gausses next to the XL Engine. Even with a CASE present their destruction could result in disabling damage to the entire BattleMech.
More concerning to some was the inferior performance of the two Blankenburg Large Pulse Lasers. Slightly less damaging then superior Clan version the best InnerSphere version could only fire at half the range despite weighing a full ton more. This caused some to advocate for their replacement with either standard or Extended Range PPCs which while not as accurate could match or exceed Clan range while approximating their firepower.
Purists won out here intent on fulfilling their mission to copy the Behemoth faithfully. Thankfully designers were able to reverse engineer the retractable shock-absorbing cowls over the Large Pulse Lasers allowing Mechwarriors to utilize its arms as battering rams. As InnerSphere pilots are more adept and willing to engage in physical attacks than their Clan contemporaries these innovations should get more use here than in Clan service.
Likewise, the inclusion of the cosmetically important Small Pulse Laser was another victory for the design purists. Needed to complete the look of the Behemoth the InnerSphere version of this small energy weapon only possessed half the range. While other options including a Medium Laser were again possible designers again went for the copy. In the end the Mammoth proved to be a suitable replica of the Behemoth which possessed slightly improved armor, equal movement rates, while operating a shorter ranges.


DEPLOYMENT
   Production contracts for the Mammoth went to Skobel MechWorks with certain component parts being made at Blankenburg Technologies. With both companies located on Terra and ramping up operations to supply the ComGuards after Tukayyid assembly went smoothly. Initially manufacturing runs went to rebuilding assault formations based on Terra and in the Free Rasalhague Republic where they were needed most. Reaction to the Mammoth has been overwhelmingly positive but it has yet to face actual large-scale combat. Work continues on at least two variants that will research an even larger version that will push the boundaries of BattleMech construction and a more practical field version that will optimize the designs full potential.

Type: Mammoth
Technology Base: InnerSphere Level 2
Tonnage: 100 tons

Equipment                           Mass
Internal Structure:                         10
Engine:            300 XL            9.5
   Walking MP:         3
   Running MP:         5
   Jumping MP:         3
Heat Sinks:            10 (20)               0
Gyro:                              3
Cockpit:                           3
Armor Factor:            296               18.5

            Internal Structure      Armor Value
   Head            3            9
   Center Torso           31            45 / 14
   R/L Torso         21            31 / 10
   R/L Arm         17            33
   R/L Leg         21            40

Weapons and Ammo:      Location      Criticals   Mass
Large Pulse Laser         Right Arm      2      7
Large Pulse Laser         Left Arm      2      7
Gauss Rifle            Right Torso      7      15
CASE               Right Torso      1      .5
Ammo (Gauss) 16         Right Leg      2      2
Gauss Rifle            Left Torso      7      15
CASE               Left Torso      1      .5
Ammo (Gauss) 16         Left Leg      2      2
Small Pulse Laser         Head         1      1
Jump Jet            Right Torso      1      2
Jump Jet            Left Torso      1      2
Jump Jet            Center Torso      1      2