Catalyst 35XT001 - Experimental ...

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INTRODUCTION
To :
Kiyomori Minamoto
Gunji-no-Kanrei
, DCMS
Luthien
Eyes Only
The Blakists’ savagery in prosecuting their Jihad has wounded the Dragon more severely than any other conlict in our history. The surprise
they achieved in launching their initial attacks allowed them to achieve tremendous gains at our expense. The sudden need for war materiel this
caused derailed a number of our advanced research projects, preventing them from reaching fruition. However, now that we have managed to deal
the Blakists several setbacks, such as on Deiron and Luthien, several select projects have resumed under the direct supervision of the ISF. Some have
even played a role in achieving our most recent victories.
It is critical to note that many of the upgraded units and chasses to be found in the attached report have not yet been tested under ire. Others
are still on the drawing board for the most part, with perhaps one working prototype to speak of. Few have seen proper ield-testing, with the
requirements of combat against the Blakists diverting even those lesser MechWarriors usually tasked with proving such action. For those units that
have seen combat, the performance and theater of use will be noted. The research eforts span the range of unit types, from battle armor to tank,
aerospace ighter to DropShip, with ive new ’Mechs highlighting the development projects.
The integration and application of new and reined technology remains somewhat problematic. Compounding production and delivery issues
for the quantities requested is the ideal design philosophy for its use. While some of the newly- and re-designed units found on the following pages
may never serve the Dragon in a large-scale fashion, some seem to sufer from “new toy” syndrome, where a more modern or experimental item is
included rather than a more reliable and better-suited older tech item. Nevertheless, the eforts continue apace despite (and because of ) the war
with the Blakists.
If recent history has taught us nothing else, it is that we need be prepared to face enemies from all sides at any moment. With the Clans to
one side, the Suns on another, pirates and other periphery scum to another, we were hit from within by the Black Dragons and stabbed deeply by
the Blakists, plus the internecine ighting on the Azami worlds. We thus must ever pursue the highest quality weapons and the newest technology
available to prevent any enemy from attaining a battleield edge over our forces. While we succeeded against the Clans less than two decades ago,
they fought less brutally than the Blakists do. We must prepare especially for those foes that possess superior technology and lack the honor of
restraint. The following entries are but one step in the eternal path towards preparation.
Shakir Jerrar
ISF Director
New Samarkand
3 June 3078
1
INTRODUCTION
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
The ’Mechs, combat vehicles, and i ghters described in
Experimental Technical Readout: Kurita
provide players with a sampling of the various
custom designs that have arisen in the technical divisions of the military manufacturers of the Combine. The designs featured in this book rel ect
limited-run prototypes and “one-of s” that have yet to reach full factory production—and most likely never will.
The rules for using ’Mechs, vehicles and i ghters in
BattleTech
game play can be found in
Total Warfare
, while the rules for their construction
can be found in
TechManual
. However, the experimental nature of these designs also draws upon the Experimental-level rules presented in
Tactical
Operations
. Thus, none of the units featured in this volume are considered tournament legal, and their use in introductory games is discouraged.
Furthermore, the extreme rarity of these machines is such that none of them should occur in a
BattleTech
campaign as a chance encounter, but the
capture or destruction of any one of these prototypes could be potential objective for
BattleTech
scenarios, tracks and role-playing adventures.
Project Development
: Herbert A. Beas II
Development Assistance:
Randall N. Bills and Jason Schmetzer
BattleTech Line Developer
: Herbert A. Beas II
Primary Writing
: Geof Swift
Writing Assistance:
Herbert A. Beas II
Production Sta
Cover Design and Layout
: Matt Heerdt
Original Illustrations
:
Doug Chaf ee
Brent Evans
Chris Lewis
Jim Nelson
Factchecking/Playtesting
: Joel Bancroft-Connors, Roland M. Boshnack,
Joshua Franklin, William Gauthier, Keith Hann, Johannes Heidler, Daniel Isberner,
Luke Robertson, Chris Smith, Peter Smith and Patrick Wynne.
Special Thanks
: Thanks to Herb for this opportunity and to Ben for letting me
play in his sandbox. This one’s for Team Davion and the High Commandos (in no
particular order): Chris, Jonathan, Edward, John, Ethan, Vanessa, Ben, Dave, Ray,
Frederic, Jay, Rob, Thomas and others through the years since GenCon ’05. Hey,
only someone from TD could design worthy opposition for us, no?
Record Sheets
: David L. McCulloch
©2010 The Topps Company, Inc. All
Rights Reserved. Experimental Technical
Readout: Kurita, Classic BattleTech,
BattleTech, BattleMech, ’Mech and the
Topps logo are registered trademarks and/
or trademarks of The Topps Company, Inc.,
in the United States and/or other countries.
Catalyst Game Labs and the Catalyst Game
Labs logo are trademarks of InMediaRes
Productions, LLC.
CAT35XT001
STAR LEAGUE
STAR LEAGUE ERA
ERA
CLAN INVASION ERA
CLAN INVASION ERA
JIHAD ERA
Under License From
SUCCESSION WARS ERA
CIVIL WAR ERA
CIVIL WAR ERA
DARK AGE ERA
DARK AGE ERA
®
2
 JR10-X JENNER
Field Testing Summation:
Prototype JR7-K Chassis Reit
Producer/Site:
Luthien Armor Works, New Samarkand
Supervising Technician:
Manohar Kulkarni
Project Start Date:
3072
Non-Production Equipment Analysis:
Type:
JR10-X Jenner
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Tonnage: 35
Battle Value: 1,452
Composite Internal Structure
Equipment
Mass
Torso-Mounted Cockpit
Internal Structure:
Composite
2
Null-Signature System
Engine:
245 XL
6
Angel ECM
Walking MP:
7
Running MP:
11
Overview
The
Jenner
has delivered exemplary service to the Combine
ever since its introduction in 2784. The design is so robust and
well-conceived that the Clans designed their own
Jenner IIC
after
being humbled by our forces during their invasion. Throughout
its long service, few variants were built until the push to get
upgraded ’Mechs to slow the Clans. The minimally upgraded
JR7-K began construction in 3049, when proper ield testing was
cut short. The
Jenner
was never revisited for upgrading.
To increase survivability of our recon forces, several prototype
Jenner
s were designed and construction begun on Luthien prior to
the Jihad’s outbreak. The destruction of the Luthien Armor Works
facilities on Luthien saw the prototype construction shift to their
New Samarkand factory. The lack of proper tooling for the
Jenner
has stalled production. Thus far, the JR10-X has been built in only
a short test run. Scale-up is on hold until industrial engineers can
properly conigure the factory tooling, which allows more time for
battle testing. Production of the JR7-K was commissioned Aix-la-
Chapelle to supplement combat losses in the meantime.
Two factors governed the design of the JR10-X. First,
protecting the MechWarrior and second, increasing the ’Mech’s
lethality. The irst goal was approached by moving the cockpit
from its forward-mounted position into the torso itself. An Angel
ECM system, long in development but still absent from common
construction, and a Null-Signature system, give the MechWarrior
exceptionally protection. With both a composite internal structure
and an XL engine, enough weight was saved that more armor
could be used than on any prior
Jenner
variant. The vulnerable
missiles were removed and replaced with additional medium
lasers. This removes the danger posed by the ammunition. Even
though the JR7-K used CASE, this would remain an unsuitable
arrangement given the JR10-X’s XL engine. Two additional jump
jets and upgrading to double heat sinks complete the changes.
One JR10-X accompanied the Second Dieron Regulars
when they landed on Dieron in 3077. The Angel system fared
exceptionally at disrupting the Blakists’ C
3
i networks. While this
led to concentration of ire upon the prototype, its null-sig system
and exceptional armor protection served their purpose. The new
cockpit location also succeeded when experienced enemies
focused their aim on the old location and the MechWarrior was
spared. Extreme damage, however, resulted in the MechWarrior
retreating, which luckily saved him and the ’Mech when the LAW
factory was destroyed.
Jumping MP:
7
Heat Sinks:
10 [20]
0
Gyro (Compact):
4.5
Cockpit (Torso-Mounted):
4
Armor Factor (Light Ferro):
118
7
Internal
Armor
Structure
Value
Head
3
9
Center Torso
11
16
Center Torso (rear)
5
R/L Torso
8
12
R/L Torso (rear)
4
R/L Arm
6
12
R/L Leg
8
16
Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
2 Medium Lasers RA 2 2
2 Medium Lasers LA 2 2
2 Medium Lasers H 2 2
Angel ECM RT 2 2
Null Sig System * 7 0
3 Jump Jets RT 3 1.5
3 Jump Jets LT 3 1.5
Jump Jet CT 1 .5
*The Null-Signature System occupies 1 critical slot in all locations
except the BattleMech’s head
3
WFT-2X WOLF TRAP "BEAR TRAP"
Field Testing Summation:
Prototype WFT-1 Chassis Reit
Producer/Site:
Luthien Armor Works, New Samarkand
Supervising Technician:
Akihisa Inoue
Project Start Date:
3075
Non-Production Equipment Analysis:
Type:
WFT-2X Wolf Trap “Bear Trap”
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Tonnage: 45
Battle Value: 1,211
Silver Bullet Gauss Rile
Equipment
Mass
Medium X-Pulse Lasers
Internal Structure:
Endo Steel
2.5
Engine:
270 XL
7.5
Overview
The
Wolf Trap
never met with the reception its designers
had hoped for. Though a capable design, it largely failed in its
role for defeating the Lyran
Wolfhound
s it was built to hunt. There
was also the successful argument that ielding a ’Mech solely to
face one speciic threat was a waste of resources. That the
Wolf
Trap
is heavier than and as fast as its prey makes the cost even
harder to bear given its relative lack of success;
Wolfhound
s can be
constructed faster and cost less to replace than any losses the WFT
might generate. Thus, while new variants have proliferated even
for newer ’Mechs than the WFT-1, virtually no variants of the
Wolf
Trap
have been produced since its premier.
Choosing to use the
Wolf Trap
chassis as a test bed for new
weapons was proposed at an engineering meeting and met with
some approval (or, rather, the least disapproval, given the lack of
enthusiasm among some of LAW’s design staf ). After considering
various prototype reits, one design deemed extremely radical on
paper was eventually constructed—but only after a compromise
with the obstinate Akihisa Inoue, the lead engineer who laid down
the specs.
Rather than drop all secondary weapons and redesign the
torso to mount a heavy Gauss rile (as Inoue originally proposed)
as its solitary weapon, a lighter “Silver Bullet” Gauss rile was
used instead, the irst such weapon produced in the Combine.
Nicknamed “
Bear Trap
” by many, the WFT-2X thus gains greater
range and killing power. Backing up the Gauss are two medium
X-pulse lasers, which mate the accuracy of pulse lasers with the
range of standard lasers. As both weapon systems were initially
developed in the Federated Commonwealth, the WFT-2X is the
irst DCMS prototype to mount either. While all other components
were re-used from the WFT-1, the armor was replaced with a
greater amount of light ferro ibrous to alleviate the oft-voiced
concern of the WFT-1’s thin skin.
Unfortunately, the “
Bear Trap
” has not seen combat yet. The
design appears sound on paper, but with only one operational
prototype developed as proof-of-concept, the utility of the ’Mech
remains to be proven.
Walking MP:
6
Running MP:
9
Jumping MP:
0
Heat Sinks:
10 [20]
0
Gyro:
3
Cockpit:
3
Armor Factor (Ferro):
143
8
Internal
Armor
Structure
Value
Head
3
9
Center Torso
14
17
Center Torso (rear)
5
R/L Torso
11
17
R/L Torso (rear)
5
R/L Arm
7
14
R/L Leg
11
20
Weapons and Ammo
Location
Critical
Tonnage
Silver Bullet Gauss Rile
RA
7
15
Ammo (Silver Bullet) 16
RA
2
2
2 Medium X-Pulse Lasers
LT
2
4
4
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