Our thirteenth optimization looks at one of my personal favorites which I have often tried to improve but have yet to really figure out. The Assassin is a fast moving, highly mobile medium BattleMech that has light hitting power and not much armor. It could be a Scout or Harasser but if this is an Assassin shouldn’t it have some really killing ability especially if you wanted to create a backstabber? I guess we will see what role you think this 3025-era classic should have in a post Clan invasion universe with the best lostech available and I for one will be happy to see that!
Mech of the Week Article on CBT: ASN-** Assassin
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,22400.0.htmlBattleTechwiki Page for the Assassin
https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Assassin Optimal Design Thoughts on the AssassinRole. Once thought of as a replacement for the light Wasp and Stinger by the SLDF the Assassin has proven to be an excellent Light ‘Mech hunter and reconnaissance unit over its service life.
Factories. 0 [1]
[DESTROYED] Maltex Corporation (Errai)
Production of the Assassin began in 2676 during the height of the Star League and lasted for one hundred and fifty-nine years. Fluff indicates that there were two factories producing several hundred Assassins until quality control violations slowed that pace. Not only could the design have served the SLDF and the Marik Militia but it could have also been deployed by the Amaris Empire after its takeover of the Hegemony. Following its collapse, the Draconis Combine held the factory right up till its destruction in the early Second Succession War in 2835.
Internal Structure. The Maltex 40 chassis is one of the few components not to have problems on the Assassin thanks to shoddy workmanship and cutting corners. With the destruction of the Errai factory more than two hundred years ago no new Assassins have been produced since meaning that most everything is a refit or refurbed. Unlike other ‘Mechs which have seen their primary factories obliterated there are some intriguing possibilities here. The Maltex 40 internal structure is interestingly enough the same chassis, at least name wise, on the new Battle Hawk. Additionally, Defiance which builds the Battle Hawk also builds a Lyran Assassin during the FedCom Civil War. While there is a ten-ton difference in these designs so I doubt there is a direct correlation it is a possible connection which could go beyond branding which could open options for a new Assassin chassis here. EndoSteel maybe tough to pull off here though as it would require some new manufacturing center but because of Maltex’s ‘design house’ setup there are possibilities.
Engine. The VOX 280 Fusion Power Plant is the quite capable heart of the Assassin allowing it to move at nearly 120 kph. Unfortunately, it takes up a lot of weight (sixteen tons to be exact) which accounts for forty percent of the design’s overall mass. Thankfully there are plenty of 280 Extra-Light (XL) Engines available at this point already with more on the way. This maybe the best and most feasible way of updating the Assassin at this time.
Jump Jets. Able to jump up to two hundred and ten meters at a time thanks to Seven Lox Lift Series 1 Jump Jets the Assassin is a highly mobile design. This mobility is a definite advantage for it on the battlefield and helps give it character. While some variants remove some of these devices, I really can’t see this BattleMech without some type of jump maneuverability. I will not require them for this contest but designers should probably retain jump jets in one form or another.
Heat Sinks. As a light hitter the Assassin never really needed anything more than ten Single Heat Sinks especially if it doesn’t jump. However, if we really want to upgrade its capabilities Double Heat Sinks are likely a good addition. Thanks to the large 280 Engine as many as eleven of these ‘freezers’ can be mounted without the use of any internal space on the BattleMech.
Cockpit & Gyro. Usually there is nothing to see here and in regards to the three-ton gyroscope which helps balance the massive 280 rated engine there isn’t. All is well until you try and cram your self into what may be the BattleTech universe worse control center EVER!! Noted for its cramped conditions and Mechwarriors with a history of back issues this area could use some definite improvement. I talk about the negative quirks assigned to this design (Poor Life Support and Cramped Cockpit) later on but if anyone can try to get rid of this horrifically designed piece of junk. Priority upgrade needed badly!!
Armor. Certainly not well armored with four and half tons of 100 AFVTA armor plating providing a 72-armor factor which is a little over fifty percent maximum possible coverage. With a maximum armor factor of 137 being possible for 40-ton BattleMech I for one would like to see an increase. 8.5 tons of standard armor would give you a 136 near maximum armor factor while just 7.5 tons of ferro-fibrous would give you a 134 near maximum armor factor.
Weapons & Equipment. With only a right arm mounted Medium Laser and side torso two side torso missile racks (LRM-5 and SRM-2 each with one ton of ammunition) the Assassin is a light hitting Medium Mech capable of 14 points of damage. With the range limitations of the LRM and the ammo load problems of the SRM this arsenal is further handicapped. Personally, I want to see more even if only a limited refit is proposed. Much better can and certainly should be done.
Design CriteriaDesign: Assassin Medium BattleMech
Era: 3052, just following the Truce of Tukayyid
Tech: InnerSphere Level 2
Mass: 40 tons
Tech BaseThe tech base for this enterprise will be InnerSphere Level 2, also known as Star League lostech, circa 3053. Remember some Level 1 standards which Bradshaw and myself think still have value like Large Lasers and PPCs which feature the same damage factor as their higher tech brethren with less range and perhaps most significantly less heat. Here is a list for your design reference. Let me know if there is anything I missed!
Star League LosTechAnti-Missile System
Arrow IV Artillery Missile System
Extended Range Large Laser (ER Large Laser)
Extended Range Particle Projection Cannon (ER PPC)
Gauss Rifle
Ultra Autocannon/5
LB 10-X Autocannon
One-Shot Missile Packs
Pulse Lasers (Small, Medium, & Large)
Streak SRM-2
Swarm LRMs
Thunder LRMs
Artemis IV FCS
Beagle Active Probe
Guardian ECM Suite
Myomer Accelerator Signal Circuitry (MASC)
Narc Missile Beacon
TAG
Cellular Ammunition Storage Equipment (CASE)
Double Heat Sinks
Endo Steel Internal Structure
Ferro-Fibrous Armor
Extra Light (XL) Engine
InnerSphere Low TechBlazer Cannon (or Binary Laser)
Recon Camera
Remote Sensor Dispenser
New InnovationsTriple Strength Myomer
Hatchet
C3 Computer
Design Traits of this Setting The Free Worlds League in particular have embraced massed LRM-5s over the larger batteries to provide closer mass equivalents to Clan LRMs. Thanks to a corresponding increase in NARC units these ‘fire teams’ have become quite effective in the Marik Civil War. Also, the Blazer has made an appearance in the shattered FWLM searching for an advantage over their former brethren.
Both the Federated Commonwealth and ComStar seem to have gone in the other direction with LRM batteries preferring larger LRM-15s and 20s linked to Artemis IV FCS to enhance accuracy.
Many Draconis optimizations have included the C3 System which is accelerated from the canon setting which saw their deployment lag.
Regional factions like the Draconis March and the Periphery have seen the introduction of some ‘simple’ lostech items like Double Heat Sinks, Ferro-Fibrous, Streak SRM-2s, and Pulse Lasers. Extra-Light (XL) Engines remain too expensive and have drawbacks which make their deployment unlikely here. Advanced orbital facilities needed for EndoSteel manufacturing also remain out of reach at this point. They are not beyond using PPCs and Large Lasers either which they view as more efficient than their ER successors.
DeploymentIt seems that the Assassin can be found in the service of every Great House however it is important to note its use is declining. Mechwarrior 2nd Edition RAT (page 20) which is set circa 3052 has only the Federated Commonwealth (which has each half with a 8.3% chance of having the Assassin occupy a Medium ‘Mech spot in their units) and the Free Rasalhague Republic (5.56% chance of a random Medium) fielding this BattleMech at this time. Kurita, Marik, and Liao all seem to have phased it out of front-line service but I am positive they remain. Marik was at one time among the most noted user of the Assassin along with the SLDF and there are noted examples of Kurita Mechwarriors using this Mech. Liao is always desperate for Mechs and in canon future seems to have deployed them in a specific role. The ComGuards also deployed the ASN-21 and ASN-23 on Tukayyid against the Clans and it seems to be this Mech would be a natural mercenary choice. The Taurians and Canopians also have use for the Assassin so oppurtunities abound for your faction choice here.
Quirky Design It appears that the Assassin is an extremely quirky design featuring no less than five design oddities. On the good side it seems Easy to Maintain which makes it simple to keep in the field and repair when necessary. Although I don’t understand how with Non-Standard Parts which are pretty tough to come by especially since the factory went boom! Then there are two cockpit negatives (Poor Life Support and Cramped Cockpit) which makes the Mechwarriors life even more difficult. Not to mention the Ammunition Feed Problem which the SRM-2 seems to have in earlier models which are still plugging along. Certainly, makes this interesting and adds flavor but I wouldn’t mind if you guys addressed these in your refit or remodel.
The Maltex Connection While I wouldn’t call Maltex the next Quicksell company in the BattleTech universe things are definitely a little shady here. They cut corners on the Assassin in particular during the height of the Star League and didn’t fix the SRM bug until the Succession Wars were underway. Not a good track record here when it comes to quality which could be attributed to corruption. However, the depravity of the Succession Wars clearly made them a bit better perhaps out of sheer desperation. They fixed the SRM problem only to get their factory on Errai blown up two decades later. This increased the licensing of their designs far and wide so that several different manufacturers across the InnerSphere were making Maltex products. Then they get involved with the Hatamoto-Chi maybe but one thing is clear, this corporation is shady.
Future Production Errai – Rebuilding Maltex’s facilities on Errai is quite possible in my opinion earlier than canon. The same plant was expanded presumably from an AgroMech plant upgraded following the 4th Succession War by the Draconis Combine to produce the first Hatamoto-Chis. (Dark Age: Republic Worlds 3130). ComStar provided Maltex with investment capital to reconstruct their Errai factory for production of the Wyvern and Thug following the formation of the Second Star League (TRO 3050 Upgrades) with both reaching manufacturing by 3064. In my setting you have two events which may significantly accelerate things but how this relates to the Assassin I leave to you. One, is the Martial Accords which I outlined here earlier (link below) which establish a formal anti-Clan alliance whose short-term goal is replacing the lost manufacturing of the Free Worlds League. The opening of Terra by ComStar and the formation of the Ceti March by the Federated Commonwealth attack that problem directly by attempting to restart the old industrial centers of the Terran Hegemony and yes, the Draconis Combine is onboard. Industries on Errai could be jump started by all three factions committed to defeating the Clans with Maltex and the Assassin all benefitting.
Defiance – Either on Furillo (Objectives: Lyran Alliance) or Hesperus there is a definite possibility that the Federated Commonwealth may authorize production of the Assassin to help defeat the Clans. There are links between Maltex and Defiance (canon licensing deals not to mention the Battle Hawk connection) which shows that such things are very possible.
Sian – Hellespont ‘Mech Works eventually (TRO 3050 Upgrades) produces the Assassin for the Capellan Confederation and its Periphery allies in canon. With licensing deals perhaps already in place or in the near future I could certainly see House Liao which in this setting is struggling to help Isis take over the Free Worlds League could authorize new construction of this ‘Mech to fill its needs. Plus, there is the Canopian angle which is starting to come together as early allies of this effort to see Isis on the throne.
Keystone – Earthwerks Incorporated already has a deal in place with the Maltex Corporation to produce the Thug and with the Civil War on more production may just be needed like the Assassin. I for one have an idea in mind to turn this light hitting Mech into a real killer for House Marik that promises to eliminate key dissenters on the battlefield. I could see other Provincial factions turning to the Assassin as well for necessary support during the war.
Please do your research (think Objective Raids) for available components as this will be another factor in rapid production. I love fluff and your winning designs will be featured in my BattleTech Salient Horizon alternate setting. I'd like to go beyond the refits bought to you by Technical Readout 3050 and delve into extensive redesigns of your BattleTech favorites. Sharpen up your favorite war machines perhaps drawing on past or current variants while remembering the spirit or role of these Mechs. Don't forget to justify the expense of your project and multiple winners are possible. Figure that all entries have to be completed and posted on these forums by Friday March 13th, 2020 by 11:59 PM which should give you all a full two weeks for this contest, good luck!!
