I like the K2 and K3 Catapults, but feel that they're really sub-optimal in many ways. Here's my version of an optimized K3 (with twin ERPPCs) that retains the jumpjets (in the legs) and still benefits from improved armor. It's completely crit-packed, and only works because the Catapult lacks lower arm and hand actuators. It was fun sourcing the components -- the Outworlds Alliance really has a nice system of specialist companies, all of which were perfectly positioned to supply the necessary components for a 'Mech like the Catapult below.
Type: CPLT-OA3
Production: Outworlds Alliance (Alliance Defenders, Limited, Alpheratz)
Combat Value: 1663 BV
Total Cost: 6,311,526 C-Bills (including x1.65 tonnage premium)
Tonnage: 65t
Internal (standard): 6.5t
Engine (Magna 260): 13.5t
Walking: 4
Running: 6
Jumping: 4
Heat Sinks: 18(36): 8t
Gyro/Cockpit (std): 6t
Armor (Ferro-Fibrous): 11t
Head: 3/9
Center Torso: 21/28/9
R/L Torso: 15/20/8
R/L Arm: 10/20
R/L Leg: 15/28
Quirks: Arms Flip, No/Minimal Arms
2x ER PPC (6cr, 14t) RA/LA
2x Medium Lasers (2cr, 2t) CT
Following the rebuild of the Mountain Wolf BattleMechs facility on Alpheratz in the early 31st century, as passion project on the part of Alliance scion Brandon O’Leary, the company was unable to produce the Star /League era light ‘Mech designs with the technology available at the time, instead designing a durable and easily maintained, versatile and mobile heavy ‘Mech designated the Merlin. An instant success, the Merlin quickly became the dominant heavy ‘Mech of the Outworlds Alliance, and by the late 3040s, Mountain Wolf was seriously impacting the bottom line of fellow Alliance ‘Mech producer, the venerable Alliance Defenders, Limited, also located on Alpheratz. ADL had specialized in 20-ton light ‘Mechs, and their lightly armored “Bug Mechs” were no longer able to dominate the Alliance procurement budget as they had throughout the later Star League and the Succession Wars.
ADL therefore began looking for an alternative that would not only be able to directly compete with the Merlin, but which could be a practical and profitable export design to their larger House neighbors. Hollis Incorporated of Corey was at the time looking to license some of their Star League era designs, in order to raise capital to rebuild their production lines. The Catapult was of comparable weight and mobility to the Merlin, and was a viable export, with likely buyers in both the Federated Commonwealth, and particularly the Combine – in the late 3040s, the Combine was famously undersupplied with double heat-sinks, and could not produce enough of these vital components to manufacture their signature K3 design – in fact, the Combine would not have sufficient components to begin full-scale native production of their own Catapult designs until the late 3060s.
Sensing a clear business opportunity, ADL began sourcing the necessary components for an all-energy, ranged fire-support design. Using their numerous industry contacts, ADL put together what they designated the Catapult OA3, an Alliance variant of the Kuritan K3 that used entirely Alliance components.
ADL converted their under-performing Locust line to Catapult production, modifying and scaling up the Locust internal structure and myomers, but keeping many of the same design elements and processes, as the two ‘Mechs are similar in design and layout (digitigrade, without lower arm or hand actuators). They retained the standard structural components of the Catapult, lacking the expensive orbital facilities necessary for Endosteel production, and turned to long-time partner Praxton Fusion Products, Ltd, to manufacture the massive Magna 260 engines, and ship them to Alpheratz for assembly. By the 3060s, the Magna 260 was being used in Rommel tanks, as ADL continued to expand their product line.
Magna Metals Inc not only licensed their fusion engine design, but also their double heat sink technology and Sunspot-brand ER PPC, the latter two of which Lushann Industries, Ltd was able to put into production for ADL – the first recovered Star League era armaments manufactured by the venerable Alliance weapons firm. Lushann also provided the Diverse Optics Type 2 Medium Lasers – already in production for use in ADL’s light ‘Mechs. Their joint success with the Sunspot eventually led to similar licensing agreements, and by the late 3050s, Lushann was also manufacturing Diverse Optics brand pulse and ER lasers, not only for partner ADL, but also for the far more lucrative Alliance aerospace fighter market.
ADL was able to produce the Chilton 460 jumpjets in-house, using their own centuries of expertise producing the lighter-weight Chilton 360s (for their Wasp and Stinger lines), as well as the design specifications and tolerances made widely available as part of the Grey Death Memory Core. Long time partner Arenthir Electronics, also located on Alpheratz, was easily able to produce the O-P-spec comms and targeting gear for the Catapult, as they already produced the O-P family of designs not only for the Wasp and Stinger, but also for the Seydlitz and Lightning. Finally, one last partner, Alliance Mining & Geology of Sevon, provided the cutting-edge StarSlab-1 ferro fibrous armor, happily beginning production of the recovered technology, which quickly found its way into ‘Mech and vehicle production throughout the Outworlds Alliance in the decades to come.
The biggest hurdle for ADL, ironically, was in producing the massive gyroscopes necessary for the 65-ton heavy Catapult frame – the firm had to built an entirely new facility to provide the component. Quality testing began in 3047, with the first production Catapult-OA3 ‘Mechs being made available to the Alliance Military Corps in early 3049. It was an immediate best-seller – more mobile and better armored than the K3, while still at a highly competitive price point due to its standard fusion engine and limited advanced components. With the stunning arrival of the Clans later that year, ADL found itself perfectly placed to ramp up production to meet the sudden and heavy demand from both the Combine and the Commonwealth, decisively wresting regional market share from Mountain Wolf BattleMechs – even as both firms prospered greatly throughout the decades prior to the Jihad.
