OBT Forum

I have been on something of an Ice Hellion kick as I continue to develop the finalized version of the Quicksilver OmniMech. After completing their Rudra Light Assault Tank (an OmniVehicle for Contest 36) I looked again at the 'Huey' and its ICE power plant. With second line forces growing in importance in this setting I decided to refit any Clan Conventional Vehicles with Fusion Power Plants if they lack them. They should be available enough and if such forces are truly second line now (at least for some Clans) it could be done. What do you think? Oh and the Zorya is up next. Please comment and don't hesitate to tell me what you think!

HUITZILOPOCHTLI ASSAULT TANK
Mass: 85 tons
Motive Type: Tracked
Power Plant: Clan Standard 255 Fusion Engine
Cruising Speed: 32 kph
Flank Speed: 54 kph
Armor: Forging ZK11
Armament: 2 Kolibri Omega Series Medium Pulse Lasers
   1 Series 1 Extended Range Small Laser
   1 Type 31 Ultra Autocannon/5
   2 Series IX Machine Guns
   2 Arrow IV Launchers
Manufacturer: Hector Vehicle Works Facility Gamma & Eagle Craft Group
Primary Factory: Hector & Ironhold
Communications System: TJ6 “Bell” Integrated
Targeting and Tracking System: Series VI TTS

OVERVIEW
   The Quicksilver Trails wrought many changes among the Clans especially within their Vehicle Forces. The contentious decision to endorse a new wave of OmniVehicles by the Grand Council bought with it a higher regard for armored designs. Ice Hellion in particular saw the expansion of such units with the promotion of their Flurry Clusters to Second Line status. This touched off a general revaluation of existing conventional assets especially those powered by Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). Such power plants were considered beneath Clan warriors who expected their high technology base to equip them with standard Fusion Engines at worst. While more expensive these devices were plentiful in the Kerensky Cluster and even available as isorla in the InnerSphere. They also tended to increase the operational capability and durability of most war machines.
   The fearsome Huitzilopochtli Assault Tank was one of two ICE Vehicles still in use by the Clans in 3053. This artillery platform had always been fitted with low tech power plants since its construction two hundred years prior. While the Clans considered it too slow to deploy outside a LZ they also deemed this support asset too inconsequential for ritualized combat. Its performance, the invasion, and the subsequent activation of Vehicle Clusters changed all that. The Hellions driven by their artillery spotting tactics were the first to conceive of the refit which was financially backed by their Jade Falcon allies. While this move by the conservative banker Clan surprised many the ‘Huey’ had always been respected even when the Falcons consigned their Vehicles to non-combatant roles.

CAPABILITIES
Technicians began by removing the 170 ICE Engine and the ten Heat Sinks needed to disperse the Assault Tank’s energy weaponry. Early simulations showed a 255 Fusion Power Plant, which also eliminated the need for a half ton power amplifier, would upgrade performance dramatically. Locating these engines would be the key for such an upgrade and luckily an ample supply was found. The Strand 255 proved useful and could be found on Crocketts, Longbows, or Stalkers cached away on the homeworlds or salvaged in battle with the InnerSphere. The mothballed Clan Wakazashi with its Falcon 255 Standard could also be utilized.  These existing stockpiles were added to by manufactured engines from the Thunder Stallion, the new Battlemaster IIC BattleMech, Stone Lion OmniMech (formerly the Blood Kite), and Kubulai OmniFighter.
   These engines radically increased the Huey’s movement and included ten integral Heat Sinks which dealt with its laser arsenal. The newly modified Assault Tanks could now cruise at their former flank speed and its maximum movement rate was now 22 kph faster than before. Such benefits alone would have justified the modification but an additional three tons was still left over after the initial refit. Two of these bonus tons were dedicated to Arrow IV ammunition which along with its new Fusion Power Plant improved its operational endurance dramatically. The remaining ton was dedicated to armor plating which improved the combat vehicle’s front and side protection. Merchants estimated the cost of the enhancement was thirty-seven and a half percent more than the original model which the Khans ultimately deemed acceptable.   

DEPLOYMENT
   Upgraded Huitzilopochtli first began appearing in Ice Hellion Flurry Clusters soon after their promotion to Second Line status. Paired with Icestorm BattleMechs and Asshur Artillery Spotters these units have become infamous for their ability to rain fire down on would be adversaries. Khan Elias Crichell assigned the first newly built Falcon ‘Huey’ to the 1st Raptor Cluster. This armored unit still considered third rate among the conservative Clan is in his words “To set the standard for such commands being deployed to the Periphery and the InnerSphere to maintain order.” Blood Spirit and Hell’s Horses have quickly ordered their existing Huitzilopochtlis upgraded for their Second Line commands which are the Clans’ largest. Of the so-called “Vehicle Clans” only Star Adder followed their example with haste. Wolf and Diamond Shark have been slower to accept large numbers of Combat Vehicles in their Touman. Four Clans (Cloud Cobra, Goliath Scorpion, Snow Raven, and Steel Viper) discontinued Huey production as a consequence of Quicksilver. While interested in such enhancements they seem to have other priorities at the moment. Some Fire Mandrill Kindraa have also begun to plan such upgrades as well as review the ICE equipped Zorya Light Tank which they produce. As with a great many things Ghost Bear has adopted a wait and see approach with the ‘Huey’ modification. This has left only four Clans which have failed to adopt this design improvement whatsoever. Both Coyote and Nova Cat appear too traditional minded to have noticed while Burrock and Smoke Jaguar have “forsaken” the use of vehicles in combat.

Type: Huitzilopochtli Assault Tank
Technology Base: Clan Vehicle
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 85 tons

Equipment                           Mass
Internal Structure:                         8.5
Engine:            255               19.5
   Type:            Fusion
   Cruising MP:         3
   Flank MP:         5
Heat Sinks:            10               0
Control Equipment:                        4.5
Lift Equipment:                        0
Turret:                            .5
Armor Factor:            104               6.5

               Armor Value   
   Front             30
   Right/Left Side                21/21
   Rear            16
   Turret            16

Weapons and Ammo:      Location         Tonnage
Medium Pulse Laser         Turret            4
Medium Pulse Laser         Turret            4
ER Small Laser         Turret            .5
Ultra AC/5            Front            7
Ammo (Ultra AC) 40         Body            2
Machine Gun            Right            .25
Machine Gun            Left            .25
Ammo (Machine Gun) 100      Body            .5
Arrow IV System         Front            12
Arrow IV System         Front            12
Ammo (Arrow IV) 30         Body            6
ECM Suite            Body            1

Original Model Cost = 3,714,954 (62.5% of the cost of the upgrade)
Upgrade Model Cost = 5,942,663 (only 37.5% more to upgrade)