OBT Forum

AST-1A Assailant

Pinard Protectorates Limited made the contribution to Phase V of Project 3000 by modifying four of their Mantis heavy-weight BattleMechs from Phase IV.

Lacking the facilities for a full production run, PPL executives and design engineers took four stock 'Mechs from the production line and removed the engine and jumpjets.  A smaller, lighter GM 210 Fusion Engine was then installed, providing for a walking speed of 32.4 kilometers per hour and a running speed of 54.0 kph.

All weapons and heat sinks were then removed.  The Assailant, as the new prototype was designated, would be based on the Awesome.  Although PPL realized that their design would not be as robust and able to absorb damage as that 80-ton zombie, they believed that they could achieve a very similar product on a 70-ton chassis.

Initial plans to mount three High Energy System Corona PPCs were quickly discarded, as the excess overheat production was simply too high.  Instead, PPL decided to mount two HES Coronas along with a Martin Gordon Lance Large Laser.  Combined with 26 standard heat sinks, this would allow the Assailant to run and gun with an Alpha Strike for minimal excess overheat production (+4).  By holding fire from the Lance every other firing cycle, the Assailant would be heat-balanced in the long term.

Only four prototypes were modified and these were assigned to the elite 1st Battalion of the Taurian Guards for field testing.  So far, reviews from the field have been positive as the design is hard-hitting and very durable on the battlefield.  However, some detractors cannot help but point out that this 70-ton pocket assault cannot fully duplicate what the Awesome has to offer. 

But since the Taurian Concordat does not produce the Awesome, PPL points out that the Assailant is quite close enough to filling the same niche. 

So far (in 3039), the TDF has made no public decision about whether or not to try to place the Assailant in general production, either by converting an existing production line or by attempting to expand production capability.

Assailant AST-1A

Mass: 70 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-E-D-A
Production Year: 3035
Dry Cost: 5,398,520 C-Bills
Total Cost: 5,398,520 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,404

Chassis: Concordat Heavy 70 Standard
Power Plant: GM 210 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Renault Composites 208 Standard Armor
Armament:
    2 High Energy Systems Corona PPCs
    1  Large Laser
Manufacturer: Pinard Protectorates Limited
    Primary Factory: Pinard
Communications System: Wintershaven Comm IVIS Mk XII
Targeting and Tracking System: Bell & Sun Phalanx Gold

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     107 points                7.00
Engine:             Fusion Engine                210                       9.00
    Walking MP: 3
    Running MP: 5
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             26                       16.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 CT, 3 LT, 3 RT, 3 LA, 3 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA+LA+H    R: SH+UA+LA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 208                 13.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     22           30       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  11       
                                           L/R Torso     15           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  6         
                                             L/R Arm     11           20       
                                             L/R Leg     15           29       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Large Laser                                  RA        8         2         5.00
PPC                                          RT        10        3         7.00
PPC                                          LT        10        3         7.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 22

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 14
3          3       3       2       0      3     0   Structure:  6
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA

TPT-1A Tempest

The final entry into the Phase V competition is the TPT-1A Tempest fielded by Taurian Territorial Industries.  Using a modified Huntsman chassis, TTI design teams attempted to replicate the 85-ton Stalker on a far lighter 70-ton frame.

The design features eighteen standard heat sinks, which--while not capable of dissipating all of the heat this 'Mech can generate--can allow a MechWarrior to utilize his long-range or short-range brackets without serious excess overheat production.

At long range, the Tempest features a Martin Gordon Lance Large Laser in the center torso supported by four Aurora Missiliers Privet LRM-5 launchers, each fed by a ton of ammunition.  Although this is a reduction in firepower compared to the original Stalker, this weapons arrangement allows for twice the combat endurance in the field, and is perfectly calibrated to be heat neutral even on a run.

In close, four Martin Gordon Rapier Medium Lasers are main weapons, supported by a pair of Aurora Missilier Foxglove SRM-4 launchers (each with a ton of ammunition).  Once again, this weapons arrangement is slight lighter than that of the Stalker, but only generates movement heat as excess overheat production.

When missile stores are running low, a MechWarrior assigned to the Tempest can instead use the large laser and all four medium lasers for minimal overheat production (before movement).

As an added bonus, armor protection was only slightly less than that found on the original Stalker design (although the 'Mech's internal structure is not quite as robust and thus more easily damaged or destroyed; easily being relative, of course).

Along with PPL and VMI, TTI produced four Tempest prototypes for field testing with the 1st Battalion, Taurian Guards.  Reviews of this 'Mech in particular have been extremely optimistic.  While the slow speed of this pocket assault gives some TDF officers pause, the sheer firepower that the design can deliver on the battlefield makes it a valued addition to any unit.  It is all but certain that the TDF will approve the Tempest for full scale production within the next year.

Tempest TPT-1A

Mass: 70 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Succession Wars
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/X-E-D-A
Production Year: 3035
Dry Cost: 5,349,900 C-Bills
Total Cost: 5,523,900 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,313

Chassis: Concordat Heavy 70 Standard
Power Plant: GM 210 Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
    Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Renault Composites 208 Standard Armor
Armament:
    1 Martin Gordon Lance Large Laser
    4 Martin Gordon Rapier Medium Lasers
    4 Aurora Missiliers Privet LRM-5s
    2 Aurora Missiliers Foxglove SRM-4s
Manufacturer: Taurus Territorial Industries
    Primary Factory: Taurus
Communications System: Wintershaven Comm IVIS Mk XII
Targeting and Tracking System: Bell & Sun Phalanx Gold

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                     107 points                7.00
Engine:             Fusion Engine                210                       9.00
    Walking MP: 3
    Running MP: 5
    Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             18                        8.00
    Heat Sink Locations: 2 LT, 2 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 2 LL, 2 RL
Gyro:               Standard                                               3.00
Cockpit:            Standard                                               3.00
    Actuators:      L: SH+UA    R: SH+UA
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 208                 13.00

                                                      Internal       Armor     
                                                      Structure      Factor     
                                                Head     3            9         
                                        Center Torso     22           30       
                                 Center Torso (rear)                  11       
                                           L/R Torso     15           24       
                                    L/R Torso (rear)                  6         
                                             L/R Arm     11           20       
                                             L/R Leg     15           29       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat    Critical    Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Medium Lasers                              RA        6         2         2.00
2 LRM-5s                                     RA        4         2         4.00
2 Medium Lasers                              LA        6         2         2.00
2 LRM-5s                                     LA        4         2         4.00
SRM-4                                        RT        3         1         2.00
SRM-4                                        LT        3         1         2.00
Large Laser                                  CT        8         2         5.00
@LRM-5 (48)                                  RA        -         2         2.00
@LRM-5 (48)                                  LA        -         2         2.00
@SRM-4 (25)                                  RT        -         1         1.00
@SRM-4 (25)                                  LT        -         1         1.00
                                            Free Critical Slots: 23

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      7    Points: 13
3          3       3       1       0      3     3   Structure:  6
Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA, IF 1

Not bad bud. Thought you'd go to 75 or 80 tons. What's your primary AC/20 deliverer, Mech wise? I ask cause you either have a fast hard hitter or a slow take a pounding but I'll dish out twice as more going on. With such a light force seige assaults and heavy planetary defense might be beyond your capabilities.

I always considered the Orion the Atlas-lite anyway. So I might bug you for a 75 or even 80 tonner and stop there.