’Mech of the Week: DRG-*** Dragon/Grand Dragon
Dragon. A mythological creature of extreme power, often fire-breathing. A symbol used in ancient times for lands such as Wales, England, and Transylvania. (Dracula meaning among other things, Son of the Dragon.) Totem of the Draconis Combine. A constellation in the night sky (Draco). An iconic 60-ton BattleMech ubiquitous with House Kurita.
And very useful for modification. (One version of which helped me discover why putting a HV AC on certain designs can end with amputations…)
The
Dragon even comes in two flavors. Those with autocannons tend to be the standard
Dragons, while those toting PPCs tend to be
Grand Dragons. Designed as a strike ’Mech to break up stagnant battles, it lends itself to the catchphrase almost anyone uses when using this machine for the first time.
Enter the
Dragon!
The
Dragon came about as the result of the SLDF looking to purchase a replacement for their aging
Shadow Hawks. Presented to the SLDF agents by Luthien Armor Works, the DRG-1C model was turned down in favor for an upgraded version of the 55-tonner. LAW execs and their House Kurita masters were incensed at this.
Now a slight discrepancy needs mention. The original Tech Readout: 3025 text says the model being replaced was the SHD-1R variant, the original primitive version. Its replacement was the SHD-2H. This could make the Kurita beef somewhat understandable. Problem is, the -2H served in the Reunification War. According the XTRO: Primitives 1, the -2H was the design looking to be replaced. And the Star League chose the SHD-2Hb as its replacement. You know, the Royal
Shadow Hawk. Expecting the DRG-1C to beat a design with a Class-10 LB-X autocannon, endo-steel, and ferro-fibrous is like expecting an F-4
Phantom II to beat an F-22
Raptor in a procurement test.
This test took place sometime around 2752. The DRG-1C utilized a Vlar 300-rated engine to give it ground speed equivalent to that of the
Shadow Hawk. The design mounts maximum armor protection, laid out in a 9, 28/12, 18/10, 20, 28 pattern (head, center front/rear, side front/rear, arms, legs). Ten heat sinks cover the heat dissipation. Weapons consisted of a Class-2 autocannon in the right arm, a centerline 10-rack LRM, and a medium laser in the left arm, and left torso, the latter rear-facing. The biggest issue I have with this design is the right torso. The only object in there is the ammunition for the autocannon. And forty-five rounds of ammunition is incredibly difficult to fire off before someone breeches the location. Two tons of ammunition was allocated for the LRM.
Another side note. As the DRG-1C is the model submitted for Star League approval, it also would be the one in the memory cores taken by Aleksander Kerensky on the Exodus. Thus, the DRG-1C is also the one found by Clan Mongoose and used as basis for their
Great Wyrm design.
LAW made a determination that the Class-2 autocannon might be the reason they were turned down. So in 2754, they unveiled the DRG-1N model. This model, the standard for nearly 300 years, replaces the Class-2 with a Class-5 autocannon, supplied with two tons of ammunition. Three tons of armor was removed to facilitate the switch. This leaves the protection at 9, 27/12, 16/8, 14, 18.
As the standard Kurita heavy of the Succession Wars period, the
Dragon underwent surprisingly little changes. In 3024, though, a new variant premiered that would change everything. The DRG-1G, designation “
Grand Dragon” appeared. Apparently the brainchild of Takashi Kurita who wanted something with more punch, the
Grand Dragon swaps the autocannon for a Lord’s Thunder PPC. A medium laser was added to the right torso. And two heat sinks were installed to try and help with the upped heat issues. This quickly became the preferred Dragon variant.
Around the year 3025, we are introduced to the personal variant of Warlord Syovo Yorioshi of the Benjamin Military District. Presented in Historical Turning Points: Galtor, his
Dragon is designated DRG-2Y. The autocannon was replaced with a large laser, the rear-facing medium was removed, and the LRM was replaced with a 4-pack SRM and a flamer. A small laser was installed in the head. A total of sixteen heat sinks deal with the heat output. Armor is near maximum in a 9, 30/9, 21/7, 20, 28 pattern.
In 3028, during the Battle of Northwind in the Fourth Succession War, one Douglas Running-Elk from Barrow, Alaska, serving with Team Banzai as a coolant truck operator managed to “capture” a DRG-1G
Grand Dragon. By this, I mean the MechWarrior walked his machine up to the coolant truck and promptly passed out from his wounds. He promptly had the machine refitted to allow for his Alaskan brain to survive. The PPC was replaced with a Class-5 autocannon, and the LRM rack downgraded to a five-shot model. The medium lasers were exchanged for a 6-pack SRM. (While this design comes from the Unique ’Mechs record sheet compellation, it is noted on the MUL, so I decided to include it.)
By the time the War of 3039 rolled around, the rediscoveries from the Helm Memory Core had spread far. Sorenson’s Sabres was tasked with testing out some prototype technologies. One of their number, Emory Wilk, piloted a
Grand Dragon which mounted an experimental extended-range large laser, three prototype freezers, CASE, and prototype endo-steel. The LRM rack was also upgraded to a 15-shot version. A ton and a half of armor brought protection up to a 9, 26/9, 20/6, 18, 26 pattern. Mr. Wilk continued to use his model as a testbed until his death due to the failure of a prototype Gauss weapon.
As the “new” technologies emerged, the
Dragon received a few. As a bridge design between the old and the new, the DRG-5N
Dragon premiered in 3047. This machine swaps the rear-firing medium laser and the Class-5 standard autocannon for a Class-5 Ultra model. One ton of Class-5 ammo was removed to install CASE in both side torsos.
This made way in 3050 for the DRG-5K
Grand Dragon, which became the standard being churned out. The -5K swaps the -1G’s PPC for an ER model, adds CASE for the LRM ammo, and makes the right torso-mounted laser rear-facing. Thirteen double heat sinks help with heat dissipation. Finally, a Hermes 360-rated extralight engine was used to give the design ground speeds similar to the Star League
Lancelot. Two sub-variants exist. The first is the DRG-5K-DC model which removes two heat sinks and the right torso laser to add a Command Console. The other is the DRG-C, which swaps the right torso laser for a C3 Slave unit.
In 3063, the DRG-7K
Grand Dragon arrived. This swaps the LRM rack for a 10-rack MRM launcher. The three medium lasers are now in the left arm, and are all extended models. Fifteen double heat sinks deal with the heat load as best they can. A Slave is in the right torso. MASC was installed. And an endo-steel skeleton was used.
That same year, the DRG-7N
Dragon appeared. This monster also swaps the LRM rack for an MRM. Endo-steel is also used. The engine was upgraded to an extralight version. The rear-firing laser was moved to forward-firing. The autocannon was downgraded to a standard model and replaced the medium in the left arm. Finally, a Gauss Rifle was installed in the right arm.
Back to Sorenson’s Sabres. Member Mark Kisomita piloted a
Grand Dragon (possibly Wilk’s old model). In 3067, his version of the -7K used a 300-rated light engine, a 15-rack LRM, MASC, and swapped the PPC for a Heavy version. Twelve double heat sinks deal with the heat load. Endo-steel and ferro-fibrous armor were used, giving the design a 9, 26/8, 19/6, 18, 25 pattern.
Then the Jihad hit. LAW saw its factories destroyed, including the one on Luthien in nuclear fire. Able to finagle a way to produce the design again, the DRG-9KC model walked off the lines in 3071. This model uses light ferro-fibrous to give it protection in a 9, 25/8, 17/5, 16, 21, 22 pattern (head, center, side, arms, left leg, right leg according to the record sheet). The PPC is now a Snub-Nose model. The LRM has been replaced with a 5-rack MML with two tons of ammo capacity. And a C3 Master was added to the right torso.
In 3076, a field-refit of the -5N appeared. Described as going back to the design’s roots, the DRG-5Nr, uses a Light Class-5 autocannon, moves the LRM rack to the left torso to add Artemis IV and puts two medium lasers in the left arm. The rear-mounted left torso laser is still there, though the C3 system mentioned in TRO: 3085 is missing.
Finally, in 3077, the DRG-7KC
Grand Dragon appeared. Seeming to be a modification of the -7K this design swaps the MRMs for a 5-shot MML rack. CASE is gone. The Slave unit is now an experimental Boosted unit. Light ferro-fibrous was used to give the design protection in a 9, 24/8, 16/6, 16, 22 pattern.
In the days between the Jihad and the Dark Ages, a new
Grand Dragon premiered. Designated the DRG-10K, the design is nominally based on the -7K. It mounts a Snub-Nose Particle Cannon, two medium lasers, and a 20-pack MRM launcher, tied into an Apollo system. Armor is the new Anti-penetrative ablation (ABA), which is bulkier than standard plate, but adds some protection against armor-piercing rounds. Pattern is 9, 27/10, 22/6, 20, 25. Ten double heat sinks deal with the heat load as best they can.
Using one is simple. You are designed to break-up stagnation and stalemates. Do so. Half the variants have some sort of long-range firepower that has minimums. So keep those in mind. On the other hand, the other half seem to have the close-in brawler feel. Most have heat woes if you are a little too Alpha-happy. With the
Dragons, with the lone exception of the DRG-5N and the Yorioshi model, you have an autocannon. Usually with a bit too much ammunition. Use the specialty ammo. Precision is great when dealing with jumpers and fast annoyances. If you have C3, bring friends. Since you are likely in the Combine, you have a lot to choose from. Even other
Dragons.
Fighting one is not easy. Most have good armor. And they can be a bear when coming at you in groups. Especially the MASC-equipped ones. That said, they do have heat problems, so Plasma can be most useful. Crit-seekers also. All carry ammo, so hitting it is always a plus. Against the C3 models, deal with them as quickly as you can. Stealth helps in this case. Bonus points if you can shut down the -9KC. Though with that one, it might be best to find cover in its area. Heavy weapons also help, as you need to wear down some of that armor. Though, do note that the -7N will likely be able to fire back at the same ranges with a head-capper of his own.
I do suspect that the
Dragon (or at least the
Grand Dragon) will soldier on into the Dark Ages. The only potential issue is the
Shiro, which I believe is a heavy design, so might take away some of its luster.
