OBT Forum

Only two Goliath after all those Scorpions masterarminas?

My muse is focused on other things. 

Many are surprised to learn that the Goliath is one of the more common Assault mechs in the Taurian Defense Forces. The reason for this is that during the Star League era a number of Goliaths were sold to the Periphery states at dirt cheap prices.  This was because the Goliath faced an uphill battle for acceptance due to the poor performance of the Scorpion and the disdain for quad battlemechs.  It was hope that the Periphery states would show the value of the mechs during their operations against pirates and generate interest, and more importantly orders, from the SLDF.  This plan had just begun to work when the Amaris Coup occurred, disrupting the SLDF's plans to acquire the Goliath.  After the Uprisings the TDF deployed a number of Goliaths and continued to work to keep them in operational condition during the Succession Wars.  They were aided in these efforts through a trickle of trade with the Free Worlds League.  Brokered by the Alphard Trading Corps, the TDF was able to acquire just enough parts from the Corean factory on Stewart to keep their Goliaths operational.

With the recovery of lost SLDF technology, the TDF contracted with Vandenberg Mechanized Industries to upgrade the Goliaths.  Several variants were tested before the final design was settled on.  By removing 7 heatsinks and switching to double strength models, the engineers were able to improve the cooling system while simultaneously saving weight to upgrades the weapons.   The weight savings allowed the replacement of the old Holly LRM racks with the Delta Dart LRM 15 launcher that is used on the Thunderbolt.  The engineers were able to use the same missile pod design as the Thunderbolt, only slight modifications were need to the Goliath.  To increase the endurance of the Goliath the ammo supply is doubled to 4 tons. The final addition is a medium laser for close in defense against opposing forces that get under the minimum range of the mech's main weapons. 

To provide more protection to the mech, the old armor has been removed and replaced with a new Duralles Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor.  For the same mass, this significanty improves the armor protection of the mech's legs.

The new Goliath has largely been met with enthusiasm from TDF mechwarriors.  One of the few complaints revolves around the additional ammo for the LRM racks.   As all 4 tons of ammo are located in the left torso, along with the machine gun ammo, there is concern that if enemy fire penetrates the left torso armor it could set off a a catastrophic explosion.  In response to these complaints VMI has begun looking at an alternate configuration, the GOL-2TE1.  This design removes the LRMs in favor of 2 more PPCs.  The ammo bin is replaced by heatsinks, which enables the mech to deal with the higher heat weapons. It was not yet been determined if the Goliaths will be upgraded to the -2TE1 configuration.

Model GOL-2T
Mass: 80 tons
Chassis: Corean VIII
Power Plant: Hermes 320
Cruising Speed: 43 kph
Maximum Speed: 64 kph
Jump Jets:  None
Jump Capacity: 0
Armor: Durallex Heavy Ferro-Fibrous Armor
Armament:
     1 Rand PPC
   2 Delta Dart LRM 15 Racks
   2 Voelkers 200 Machine Guns
   1 Martell Medium Laser
Manufacturer: Vandenberg Mechanized Industries (Refit)
Primary Factories:  New Vandenberg
Communications System:Corean TransBand-J9
Targeting and Tracking System: Corean B-Tech

Type: GOL-2T
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Tonnage:  80 tons

Equipment:                       Mass
Internal Structure               8
Engine     320         22.5
   Walking MP:   4
   Running MP:  6
   Jumping MP:  0
Heatsinks       10(20)       
Gyro                           4
Cockpit                      3
Armor Factor      259      14.5
                  IS      Armor
Head               3      9   
CT               25      30/18
R/L Torso         17      20/13
R/L Front Leg     17     34
R/L Rear Leg        17      34

Weapons & Ammo   Location   Critical   Tonnage
PPC            RT      3    7
LRM 15         RT      3   7
LRM 15         LT      3   7
Ammo (32)      LT      4   4
MG            LT      1   0.5
MG            LT      1   0.5
Ammo (200)      LT      1   1
Medium Laser      H      1   1

Model GOL-2TE1
Mass: 80 tons
Chassis: Corean VIII
Power Plant: Hermes 320
Cruising Speed: 43 kph
Maximum Speed: 64 kph
Jump Jets:  None
Jump Capacity: 0
Armor: Durallex Heavy Ferro-Fibrous Armor
Armament:
     1 Rand PPC
   2 Donal PPCs
   2 Voelkers 200 Machine Guns
   1 Martell Medium Laser
Manufacturer: Vandenberg Mechanized Industries (Refit)
Primary Factories:  New Vandenberg
Communications System:Corean TransBand-J9
Targeting and Tracking System: Corean B-Tech

Type: GOL-2TE1
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Tonnage:  80 tons

Equipment:                       Mass
Internal Structure               8
Engine     320         22.5
   Walking MP:   4
   Running MP:  6
   Jumping MP:  0
Heatsinks       14(28)       4 
Gyro                           4
Cockpit                      3
Armor Factor      259      14.5
                  IS      Armor
Head               3      9   
CT               25      30/18
R/L Torso         17      20/13
R/L Front Leg     17     34
R/L Rear Leg        17      34

Weapons & Ammo   Location   Critical   Tonnage
PPC            RT      3    7
PPC            RT      3   7
PPC            LT      3   7
MG            LT      1   0.5
MG            LT      1   0.5
Ammo (200)      LT      1   1
Medium Laser      H      1   1

Very nice Irose!

Nice drakensis!

Substituting an XL engine for a standard engine always seems like a major overhaul (not that I have not done it on occassion.)  If I were going for a field refit of the Goliath I would do something like this:



One of the largest users of the Goliath, the former Lyran Commonwealth made great efforts to maintain them.  While they did not produce new Goliaths, Defiance Industries would produce replacement parts, allowing the LCAF to repair all but the most badly damaged units.  With the recovery of lost Star League technology, the AFFC felt it was important to develop a field refit kit for the GOL-1H.  Several different field refit kits were developed before the AFFC finally settled on what would be come the -1S model.  This model removed all of the Goliath's weapons in favor of a new weapons array.  The Rand PPC has been replaced by the new Defiance 1001 ER PPC.  This provides a longer range punch, allowing the mech to engage clan mechs at nearly equal ranges.  The old LRM launchers have been removed and replaced with a Poland Main Model A Gauss Rifle mounted on the left side of the mech.  This weapon has equal range to the old LRMs but provides a stronger punch, one that is able to tear through the armor of most mechs.  Backing up the main guns are 2 Defiance B3M Lasers and 2 Maxell Small Pulse Lasers.  The B3Ms are used to deal with enemy mechs, typically lighter units, that get too close t o Goliath, while the Small Pulse Lasers fill the anti-infantry role that had been taken care of by the old Machine Guns.

The added mass of the Poland Main Model A required the design team to remove 7 heatsinks.  To compensate for this, the GOL-1S uses double strength models for the remaining heatsinks.  This allows the Goliath to maintain a steady rate of fire in all but the heaviest combat.  Finally in an effort to improve the protection of the Goliath the old StarSlab/3 armor has been replaced with the newer Glasgow Limited Primo Ferro-Fibrous Armor.  While weighing the same amount as the older armor, the advanced plating has significantly improved protection, especially on the mech's vulnerable legs.


Model GOL-1S
Mass: 80 tons
Chassis: Corean VIII
Power Plant: Hermes 320
Cruising Speed: 43 kph
Maximum Speed: 64 kph
Jump Jets:  None
Jump Capacity: 0
Armor:  Glasgow Limited Primo Ferro-Fibrous Armor
Armament:
   1 Defiance 1001 ER PPC
     1 Poland Main Model A Gauss Rifle
   2 Maxell Small Pulse Lasers
   2 Defiance B3M Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Defiance Industries (Refit)
Primary Factories:  Furillo
Communications System:Corean TransBand-J9
Targeting and Tracking System: Corean B-Tech

Type: GOL-1S
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Tonnage:  80 tons

Equipment:                       Mass
Internal Structure               8
Engine     320         22.5
   Walking MP:   4
   Running MP:  6
   Jumping MP:  0
Heatsinks       10(20)       
Gyro                           4
Cockpit                      3
Armor Factor      259      14.5
                  IS      Armor
Head               3      9   
CT               25      30/18
R/L Torso         17      20/13
R/L Front Leg     17     34
R/L Rear Leg        17      34

Weapons & Ammo   Location   Critical   Tonnage
ER PPC         RT      3    7
Medium Laser      RT      1   1
Gauss Rifle      LT      7   15
Ammo (16)      LT      2   2
Small Pulse Laser   LT      1   1
Small Pulse Laser   LT      1   1
Medium Laser      H      1   1

GOL-2ADA Goliath

The GOL-2ADA Goliath was an initial concept developed by Corean Enterprises of Stewart before the full realization of the potential of recovered technology was understood.  This version of the 80-ton Quad 'Mech reduces the engine to a smaller 240 standard fusion engine, reducing ground speed to just 32.4 kilometers per hour walking and 54.0 kph running.  Corean decided to utilize double-strength heat sinks, but retained the standard chassis and armor (although armor protection was increased to 16.0 tons).  Due to the time involved in a redesign of the side torsos, CASE was not fitted, despite the heavy dependence on ammunition based weaponry.

The GOL-2ADA focuses on Air Defense and is rather optimized for that role.  The longest-ranged weapons are pair of Holly LRM-5 launchers (right torso and left torso), fed by two tons of ammunition for 24 tandem salvos.  Next is a Diverse Optics Sunbeam ER Large Laser (center torso); while not quite as powerful as the Rand PPC originally mounted, the Sunbeam was chosen for its additional bit of range and slightly more compact nature.

Two Imperator Code Red LB-10X Autocannons come next (right torso and left torso), each fed by two tons of ammunition, typically one each of cluster and slug.  These weapons are formidable in the air-defense role and serve equally well against vehicles and 'Mechs.

Ten double-strength heat sinks eliminate all weapons heat from these weapons, but movement heat is still generated as excess overheat.

At close range--and to defend against infantry attacks--there is an Olympian Flamer in the right torso.

Finally, the design team fitted a powerful Irian Illuminator Searchlight in the head.  With a range of 5,100-meters (170 hexes!), this powerful spotlight can illuminate distant targets (both ground and air) for other 'Mechs and vehicles in the same unit as the GOL-2ADA.

Although slow, the GOL-2ADA proved a superb air-defense platform, as the stability of the Quad design simply adds to the effectiveness.  In the end, however, Corean only produced roughly sixty of the GOL-2ADA, deciding instead to reserve production lines for the newly developed GOL-2M that would be the "official" Free Worlds League model.  An occasional example is produced when requested for a small and select client base, but otherwise only those first sixty units remain in service.  However, it is rumored that Captain-General Marik is considering expanding the production lines on Stewart to restart limited construction of the GOL-2ADA alongside the GOL-2M.

Goliath GOL-2ADA

Mass: 80 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Quad
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-D-A
Production Year: 3053
Dry Cost: 7,530,300 C-Bills
Total Cost: 7,654,300 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,665

Chassis: Corean VIII Standard
Power Plant: Hermes 240 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: StarSlab/3 Standard Armor
Armament:
    1 Diverse Optics Sunbeam ER Large Laser
    2 Imperator Code Red LB 10-X ACs
    2 Holly LRM-5s
    1 Olympian Flamer
    1 Irian Illuminator Searchlight
Manufacturer: Corean Enterprises
    Primary Factory: Stewart
Communications System: Corean TransBand-J9
Targeting and Tracking System: Corean B-Tech

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     130 points                8.00
Engine:             Fusion Engine                240                      11.50
    Walking MP: 3
    Running MP: 5
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Double Heat Sink             10(20)                    0.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: H+UL+LL+F    R: H+UL+LL+F
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 256                 16.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     25           35       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  12       
                                           L/R Torso     17           26       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  8         
                                       L/R Front Leg     17           33       
                                        L/R Rear Leg     17           33       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM-5                                        RT        2         1         2.00
LB 10-X AC                                   RT        2         6        11.00
Flamer                                       RT        3         1         1.00
LRM-5                                        LT        2         1         2.00
LB 10-X AC                                   LT        2         6        11.00
ER Large Laser                               CT        12        2         5.00
Searchlight                                  HD        0         1         0.50
@LRM-5 (24)                                  RT        -         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (10)                      RT        -         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Slug) (20)                         RT        -         2         2.00
@LRM-5 (24)                                  LT        -         1         1.00
@LB 10-X (Cluster) (10)                      LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 8

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      9    Points: 17
3          3       3       3       0      4     0   Structure:  6
Special Abilities: SRCH, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1, FLK 1/1/1

Some intriguing concepts there guys. I've seen cargo space on Mechs before but not actual bays for infantry.