OBT Forum

Interesting very Interesting

Transition is an interesting question. It only happens once in BTech and is an area untouched by the fiction.

Before the BattleMech the tank reined supreme, so front line units were dominated by conventional forces. With the introduction of the BattleMech two changes to existing front line units were likely to occur. One, the small conversion of pre-existing conventional soldiers to MechWarriors, i.e retraining, and two, the eventual full replacement of all conventional forces with new MechWarriors.

I'm sure there was plenty of turmoil in the ranks as previously important and prestigious conventional positions were supplanted by new MechWarriors, or when former conventional troops changed professions.

Makes ya wonder what happened to the former front line tankers who didn't serve the dreaded "Skull Cap" test? Downsized? Horizontally shifted, or just marginalized?   

Knightmare, I think it all depends on:
- how fast the new units are being deployed,
- how fast the Inner Sphere armies adapt and develop their new pure 'Mech model,
- what they really decide to do with their former armies.

Of course. I think it's easier to use the Hegemony to create a model, but transitions are always fun to chat about.

I'd say no, but the transition was probably super quick – to take advantage of the new technology. If Nox was any example of the era, then the Hegemony was attaching, or straight up deploying BattleMechs as soon as they were available in almost any quantity.

Who knows, maybe they were directly attached to front line conventional formations to start, and then slowly to over as new machines and MechWarriors were supplied...

I don't totally agree with you.

Once the surprise is over (i.e. after Nox) and depending on the production, I think you would have BattleMechs units moving from unit to unit to be at the spearhead of any offensive/defensive action.

I think that's what I said. The battle of Nox doesn't describe additional units present, but it's silly to think only a small unit of BattleMechs was deployed to fight an equally small unit of tanks. The Hegemony was probably attaching BattleMechs as soon as they were available in almost any quantity. So moving from unit to unit (logistics allowing it), is probably not far off during those crucial first months/years.

But that's not really conversion, now is it? 

Nor is the little amount produced that's still be rotated around. What I was talking about earlier was the transition period – the premise of the thread I think, yes?

How quickly preexisting front line units were transitioned from strictly conventional to mixed to pure BattleMech would depend on a ton of factors, but the two most pressing would be the availability of machines and pilots to use them. Not to mention the logistical burden of creating a network and supporting the new technology. BattleTechnology was revolutionary in its components. It's great for survivability and kicking butt,  but because preexisting "primitive" weapon technology operated on a different – mostly incompatible – component network you're looking a brand new supply apparatus being attached, or superseding the original (once conventional units start utilizing the technology themselves).

And it's worth noting that a lot of existing conventional units never transitioned.

True but since the focus for so many years has been on BattleMechs and with little regards to the rest.
Jjust look at the other units strength or numbers, nearly every big nation on Earth has more units than a couple of much bigger states.

BattleTechnology was revolutionary in its components. It's great for survivability and kicking butt,  but because preexisting "primitive" weapon technology operated on a different – mostly incompatible – component network you're looking a brand new supply apparatus being attached, or superseding the original (once conventional units start utilizing the technology themselves).

This is a good question but the real one is when did they really move from primitive tech to standard one.
If they did so before the BattleMech, then there is no real need for a new logistical network.

We might have 3rd gen soon too.