[BT]: Warhammer Replacement
Richard V. Hoffman
Tonnage: 70 tons
Chassis: Standard
Engine: 280 Fusion
Maximum Speed: 64.8kph
Jump Jets: 4, maximum of 120 metres
Armour: Standard
Weapons:
2 Large Lasers
3 Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Olivetti Weaponry, Sudeten, Lyran Commonwealth
Overview
Over the centuries, the Warhammer has proven itself to be a
popular and hard-hitting heavy 'Mech. However, more than a few of its
pilots have complained about its excessive heat burden as well as its
lack of agility when compared to medium classics like the Griffin or
Shadow Hawk. As the Succession Wars continued, more and more Warhammers
were lost in combat since after overheating they lacked the ability to
duck into cover and successfully disengage from the enemy.
Several mercenaries, led by Carl Gustav of Gustav's Mounted
Rifles, approached Olivetti Weaponry on Sudeten and negotiated for the
limited production run of a highly modified Warhammer. Being practically
hand-crafted, this new 'Mech series recently began production at two a
year starting in 3023.
The BattleMech is named "Surt" after the Old Norse fire demon,
"with sword brighter than the sun," who will set the world on fire
during the Twilight of the Gods.
Capabilities
It is unknown how much of the Surt's internal machinery and
parts is based on the WHM-6R Warhammer. Certainly the Surt has the same
type of engine and armour brand, but in outward appearance it is
radically different. It lacks the SRM-6 launcher, and the PPC arms have
been replaced with true 'Mech arms ending in fully articulate hands. The
head, which has been raised up to provide better overall visibility, has
a small swiveling searchlight mounted on it to replace the larger unit
originally on the Warhammer. The head is even more striking in that it
is built around a single medium laser, giving it a passing resemblance
to the are THE-S Thorn 'Mechs.
Large lasers are mounted on the arms; with less punch and range
than the PPCs, the large lasers also give off less heat while still
offering accurate targeting at close ranges. Each large laser is in a
TDR-5S Thunderbolt-type weapons mount, with the laser's barrel extending
far beyond the hand. (Several of our analysts claim that the Surt's arms
are simply upscaled versions of the Thunderbolt.)
The torso of the Surt is radically different in appearance from
the Warhammer; the large shoulders with their massive maintenance covers
are deleted, giving the torso flush flanks and a thicker waist. The
numerous medium weaponry mounts have been removed, leaving only one
medium laser in each side torso.
According to inside reports, the greatest difficulty with the
Surt program was adapting the original chassis to mounting a full
jump-jet system. Original proposals detailed that new production legs
should be made with the exhaust ports, but these were shelved when the
technicians realized how much work they had to do in just redesigning
the trunk of the 'Mech. Excepting for the side blisters, the Surt
obviously uses Warhammer-type legs (i.e., man-walker). On the rear of
the Warhammer, one can note the two large jump jet exhaust port
assemblies. The installation of this system probably further complicates
internal arrangements in the Surt's main body.
In combat capability, the Surt is an efficient but not
outstanding design. It enjoys excellent manoeuvrability for a heavy
'Mech, even rivalling that of the famed Grasshopper. Indeed, the Surt
inadvertently resembles the Grasshopper in some operational parametres.
The Surt overheats by 7 points (the Grasshopper by 4, the WHM-6R by 16),
and the Surt at medium ranges can inflict 31 damage (~31 for
Grasshopper, ~38 for WHM-6R). In armour protection, the Surt is clearly
superior to the standard WHM-6R (which is also produced at Olivetti
Weaponry). At long range, of course, the WHM-6R is still the leader with
its two Donal PPCs.
Obviously, though, the Surt is a mercenary design. It needs only
minimal maintenance for its simple (and common) weapon systems, and it
can operate at a variety of battlefield ranges. Most importantly, the
Surt requires no ammunition and has an impressive battlefield endurance
matched only by similar designs like the Grasshopper or the Flashman
(which has begun resurfacing [TR3025: revised] in recent decades).
Deployment and History
To date, only 4 Surts have been produced and sent to their
buyers. Carl Gustav's Mounted Rifles fields the majority (3), while a
larger mercenary group named the Eyr Cuirassiers has purchased the other
operational Surt. While the Eyr Cuirassiers are currently on garrison
assignment on the Lyran frontier world of Hood IV, Gustav's Mounted
Rifles have put their Surts through combat already. What these results
were is not known --- the Mounted Rifles were on a pirate-hunting
expedition and have released their combat reports only to their
employer, the Lyran Commonwealth. It is known, however, that the Mounted
Rifles deploy their Surts with their few remaining Grasshoppers in
mobile strike lances.
Variants
None exist, since the Surt is a basic design that appeals to the
fighting style of its original contractors. Nor is it likely that any
variants will exist in the future; the LCAF has turned down Olivetti
Weaponry's submission of the Surt on the basis that, "The SRT-1A, while
in manoeuvrability fitting our new doctrine, is too lightly armed and
too specialized for standard military use." No other mercenary group has
shown interest in the Surt, partly because for the time being Carl
Gustav and Rumwold Fulham (C/O of the Eyr Cuirassiers) will be buying up
all of Olivetti's limited output.
Model: SRT-1A Surt
Technology: Level 1, 3025
Tonnage: 70 tons
BV: ~1249
CBV: ~4,114
Cost: ~5,721,972
Internal Structure: Standard 7.0
Engine: 280 16.0
Walk MP 4
Run MP 6
Jump MP 4
Heat Sinks: 22 12.0
Gyro: 3.0
Cockpit: 3.0
Armour 192 12.0
Head 9
Centre Torso 37/6
R/L Torso 24/6
R/L Arm 20
R/L Leg 20
Weapons/Equipment Loc Crit Ton
Large Laser LA 2 5.0
Large Laser RA 2 5.0
Medium Laser LT 1 1.0
Jump Jets (2) LT 2 2.0
Heat Sinks (2) LT 2 2.0
Medium Laser RT 1 1.0
Jump Jets (2) RT 2 2.0
Heat Sinks (3) RT 3 3.0
Heat Sinks (2) CT 2 2.0
Heat Sinks (2) LL 2 2.0
Heat Sinks (2) RL 2 2.0
Medium Laser H 1 1.0
--
Richard V. Hoffman
r...@ksu.edu
"Oh Lord, if you will not grant us victory this day, then don't give
it to those bastards on the other side!"
Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau, Battle of Kesselsdorf, 1745
William Pora
not banned... Oh forget it!
--
To reply to my email type: wporaATixDOTnetcomDOTcom
changing the AT's and DOT's to the appropriate
symbols of course.
W30vista
In article <35F468A...@NOSPAM.ix.netcom.com>,
wp...@NOSPAM.ix.netcom.com says...
>
>Guys! You don't need to make replacements They're
>not banned... Oh forget it!
>
>
Your right, they are not banned and still legal.
They are however, not in the Tech Readouts or novels,
Less and less mention is being made of them.
Eventually FASA is going to redo the record sheet books,
they've done it before, Will you guarantee, the Unseen will
be in them? I know I wouldn't.
William Pora
Well for the moment, they are still legal, they are still in
novels that have already been published, and in any case
should they ever be replaced (which i doubt) FASA will have
their own playtesters design new mechs themselves complete
with artwork (the key problem with the unseen) and publish
the designs for a hefty profit
Thomas Wolf
William Pora wrote:
>
> Well for the moment, they are still legal, they are still in
> novels that have already been published, and in any case
> should they ever be replaced (which i doubt) FASA will have
> their own playtesters design new mechs themselves complete
> with artwork (the key problem with the unseen) and publish
> the designs for a hefty profit
Well Will,
First of all you have to seperate between the Mech-stats
and the artwork. While FASA has agreed not to use the artwork
again, noone can ever prevent them from using the stats.
So why shouldn't they mention the "Unseen" Mechs in their novels,
or mention them in any sourcebook. They just aren't allowed to
use the artwork.
Second, as I remind an e-mail I got from Randall Bills (FASA),
they won't be redoing the "Unseen" Mechs, because they don't
want to destroy the "aged players" view of these designs.
It's just like they want some myth given from old players
to new ones when using these Mechs :-)))
Thomas Wolf
"Hey, it's my real name.
And no, Jaime Wolf isn't my brother-in-law!"
William Pora
>
> Second, as I remind an e-mail I got from Randall Bills (FASA),
> they won't be redoing the "Unseen" Mechs, because they don't
> want to destroy the "aged players" view of these designs.
> It's just like they want some myth given from old players
> to new ones when using these Mechs :-)))
I don't know.... I mean are harmony gold and playmates
actually doing anything meaningful with this artwork?
Is it key to the development of their products? Or are they
just being spiteful SOBs and holding out for more money
from FASA?
Peter La Casse
>I don't know.... I mean are harmony gold and playmates
>actually doing anything meaningful with this artwork?
>Is it key to the development of their products? Or are they
>just being spiteful SOBs and holding out for more money
>from FASA?
I think FASA should acquire Harmony Gold. I don't think HG can be
doing too well financially... or do they do something other than
Robotech that's highly successful, that I don't know about?
Peter La Casse