TZA-1 Tizona
Mass: 90 Tons
Chassis: Assault Mark 1
Power Plant: Magna 270
Cruising Speed: 33.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 57.2 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 Meters
Armor: Ecto-Mineral Armorplate 10
Armament:
2 Weston Assault Autocannon Class 20
6 Bolt-2 Short Range Missile Racks
3 Westen Heavy Machine Guns
Manufacturer: Taurus WarWorks
Primary Factory: Taurus
Communication System: VeraTech MilCom Suite 6
Targeting & Tracking System: VeraTech MechTnT XVT26L
Type: Tizona
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 90 tons
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 9
Engine 270 14.5
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0
Heatsinks 12 2
Gyro 3
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 264 16.5
IS Armor
Head 3 9
CT 29 38/15
LT/RT 19 25/13
LA/RA 15 30
LL/RL 19 33
Weapons & Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
AC/20 LA 10 14
Ammo (AC/20) 10 LT 2 2
2 SRM 2 LT 2 2
1 SRM 2 LT(R) 1 1
Ammo (SRM) 50 LT 1 1
1 MG LL 1 0.5
Ammo (MG) 100 CT 1 0.5
1 MG CT(R) 1 0.5
2 SRM 2 RT 2 2
1 SRM 2 RT(R) 1 1
Ammo (SRM) 50 RT 1 1
Ammo (AC/20) 10 RT 2 2
1 MG RL 1 0.5
AC/20 RA 10 14
Overview:
Many people are surprised to learn that prior to the Reunification War the Taurian Concordat was one of the most heavily industrialized nations in Human space. Most worlds featured at least one industrial center and many had several large factory complexes. These valuable facilities soon became targets for raiders from the Capellan Confederation, Federated Suns and various pirate bands operating in the area. As a result the TDF, much to it's dismay, found itself with a need for a mech capable of fighting in the close quarters of these facilities, as well as urban environments. While the TDF typically preferred general purpose designs, the need to defend their factories led to a request for a new mech in 2512. Several entries were submitted but ultimately Taurus WarWorks won the competition with a mech based on their successful Thor Assault mech. Never produced in huge numbers, the Tizona, named after the famed sword of El Cid which was said to inflict fear on opponents, has become the backbone of Taurian urban defense units.
Capabilities:
The Tizona is designed for close combat in urban and built up environments. The main punch of the mech is a pair of massive Westen Assault Autocannons. Inflicting devastating firepower at close ranges, the autocannons allow the Tizona to destroy almost any mech with a single volley. Supporting the autocannons are 6 short range missile launchers and 3 machine guns. These are intended for use against enemy vehicles and infantry which are commonly encountered in urban combat. Typically the SRMs are supplied with a mix of high explosive rounds and inferno rounds. An unusual feature of the Tizona is that several of these weapons are mounted on the rear of the mech. These are used to protect against enemy forces which may sneak behind the Tizona during combat.
While the Tizona share many of the same motive power and structural components as the Thor, there are several notable differences. The armor protection on the Tizona is slightly less then that of the Thor. It has also been redistributed to provide better protection for the rear of the mech. The Tizona also has fewer heatsinks then the Thor. While the weapons of the Tizona generate less heat then those of the Thor, overheating remains a problem with the design if the mechwarriors tries to fire all of his weapons at the same time.
Mechwarriors assigned to the Tizona generally have 2 complaints about the design. The first is that the mech's slow speed and lack of long range firepower make it a liability on open battlefields. For that reason the mech was never deployed outside of the built up areas except in emergencies. The other issue was with the mechs dependance on ammo dependent weapons. To help counter this problem the TDF typically established special resupply centers in their industrial complexes. Designed to look like any other building, these buildings could accommodate a Tizona inside. During battle when a mech began to run short of ammunition, it could disengage and get resupplied out of sight of the enemy. As these buildings were stocked with a large quantity of explosive ammunition, the buildings were heavily armored to prevent them from being damaged by random shots.
Deployment:
The Tizona only saw deployment in special urban defense formations. These units were assigned to defend the many industrial complexes and urban centers on the Taurian worlds. Slow, and lacking long range firepower, the Tizona was considered a liability on open battlefields, but was incredibly powerful in urban environments. There were numerous instances of a company of Tizonas holding off battalions and even entire regiments that attempted to attack Taurian industrial centers.
Variants:
The only variant of the Tizona was an experimental model developed during the final days of the Reunification War. Incorporating captured SLDF technology, the design replaced the standard heatsinks with double strength models. The design removes 2 of the Heatsinks and adds a CASE in each torso as well as an additional ton of armor. Only a handful of these mechs were produced before the war ended.
Notable Pilots:
Subaltern Dexter McIntyre – Subaltern McIntyre was assigned to the 111th Concordat Chasseurs on New Vandenberg. Commanding the regiment's urban defense company, his unit was tasked with defending the Vandenberg MilTech factory at Harmony. During the battle Subaltern McIntyre found himself commanding a mixed force of his company of Tizonas, fast hovercraft, conventional and VTOL aircraft and elite anti-mech trained jump infantry. This force managed to hold off 2 SLDF divisions and 3 Striker regiments for a week, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy. Unable to break through, the SLDF resorted to orbital bombardment of the plant. Subaltern McIntyre and most of the defenders were killed in the strike.
