'Mech of the Week: Bear Cub
(sorry I'm a little late getting this up, so busy I forgot which day it was)
Pay attention you sibko brats! Soon you will be given the privilege of piloting and fighting in actual 'Mechs. But only if you can learn what I will teach you today and pass the simulator tests. The 'Mech you will train in and fight in is the Bear Cub, pay close attention for this 'Mech will teach you some of the most important lessons you will need to learn to successfully fight in a 'Mech.
First, the Bear Cub is made by our Clan, the Ghost Bears. It is 25 tons. Since it is used as a training 'Mech or in second-line forces, in their wisdom, our scientists and our Clan's Khans have decided not to waste the resources necessary to use Endo-Steel internal structure or Ferro-Fibrous armor. However, the resources were expended to give it a 200 XL engine, capable of moving at speeds up to 129 kph. While the expense of an XL engine may be more than the armor and structure combined, it is justified since it allows you cadets the chance to learn how to handle losing a side torso and how that damage affects your heat and the durability of your 'Mech's engine. In order to force you to learn heat management, the Bear Cub carries only 12 single heat sinks. That is correct, I said single heat sinks. No fancy double heat sinks for you, you have not earned the right to use double heat sinks. Double heat sinks are a luxury afforded to true Clan warriors to allow them to focus on defeating a better armed opponent or multiple opponents.
While advanced armor is not used on the Bear Cub, the armor you have been given is carefully laid out to maximize its coverage. The Bear Cub carries 72 out of 89 maximum possible armor points, resulting in 80% coverage. Each arm, front side torso, and the head carries 7 points of armor. The front center torso and both legs each carry 10 points of armor. Lastly the rear center torso carries 3 points of armor and the rear side torsos each carry 2 points of armor. For those of you who have not yet mastered the standardized armor coverage and damage approximations, what are you surats waiting for? This means an ER or Pulse Medium Laser will strip the armor from an arm, front side torso, or the head. An ER or Pulse Large Laser or a Heavy Medium Laser will strip the armor from the front center torso or a leg. And when you fall, which will happen often, if you land on a side torso on your back, you WILL cause damage to the internal structure of the 'Mech.
For training purposes the Bear Cub has been given a variety of weapons, an ER Medium Laser in each arm, an ER Small Laser mounted in the center torso, an LRM 5 in the left torso, an SRM 4 in the right torso. Each missile rack has been given one ton of ammunition, and before you ask Cadet Alex, you will not be given any special munitions. There are a few variants out there, most likely a result of battle damage and limited spare parts for a training 'Mech. The first variation replaces the LRM rack with a second SRM rack where the LRM rack was housed. The second variation reverses that, putting a second LRM rack where the SRM rack is normally housed. Those are the only two variations and more than enough for you to learn how to fight.
Lest any of you look down upon this fine machine of war, you should remember the Hind Paw Sibko, which was on a training mission on Thule using two stars of Bear Cubs when a force of Periphery raiders attacked. The raiders were not expecting to find any Clan forces so close to their objective and they attempted to flee. Although the raiders 'Mechs were in heavier machines, the two sides had approximately equal firepower and the Bear Cubs had superior speed. The Binary of sibko cadets destroyed every raider 'Mech and killed all the raider pilots, even hanging the 4 raiders who survived the destruction of their 'Mechs.
Any questions?
What would I rate it cadet Andrew? Well as a training 'Mech I give it an 8/10, it teaches all the basics, but there are still more aspects of combat and more weapon types to learn. As a combatant, I would rate it a 4/10, there is a reason it is used primarily for training, although the speed and weapons still make it foe to be wary of.
Cadet Sam wants to know how would I change it to improve it? You sibbies should be learning how best to fight with a 'Mech as it is not try to mess with it. But if I had to change it, double heat sinks are the way to go, but there is not much tonnage to be saved by any other minor changes.
And speaking of learning how to fight with a Bear Cub, you do not have much armor, so use your speed as armor, keep moving as fast as you can to not give your opponent an easy shot. While you do not have double heat sinks, you do have enough to use most of the weapons if you learn to handle a little overheating.
And if you ever have to face a Bear Cub, whenever you get a decent shot, fire as much as you can, since one or two hits will likely destroy a section of the 'Mech, limiting its combat value.