Thoughts on this design?
Age of War and "Reunification War" variant:
Mantid Heavy Hover Tank (Standard)
Mass: 50 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Hovercraft
Rules Level: Introductory
Era: Age of War/Star League
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-E-D-A
Production Year: 2565
Cost: 2,155,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 770
Power Plant: Pinard Protectorates, LTD. 165 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 86.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 129.6 km/h
Armor: Pinard Plate Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Autocannon/10
1 SRM-4
2 Machine Guns
Manufacturer: Pinard Protectorates, LTD./Vandenburg Mechanized Industries
Primary Factory: Pinard, Perdition, New Vandenburg
Communications System: P-DE Comm Suite C
Targeting and Tracking System: P-DE Target Tracking System E
Overview:
Pinard Protectorates began developing the the "Mantid" hover tanks in the
mid-2500's to counter the "insect" scout 'Mechs that were becoming common in
the Inner Sphere. They recieved several successive contracts with the
Concordate military to supply the tank, however sales with other nations didn't
pick up until the 2570's when the Star League was formed.
In 2571 the Magistry of Canopus and the Outworlds Alliance placed small
orders for the Mantid. Coming on the heels of an even larger purchase order by
the Concordate military it forced Pinard Protectorates to license the design to
Vandenburg Mechanized Industries to help complete all of Pinard's contractual
obligations. This placed both companies to take advantage of a massive arms
build up in the Concordate after the Polux Proclamation.
This production ensured that the Mantid would become one of the leading
tanks faced by the SLDF during the Cameron War of Conquest.
Capabilities:
Utilizing one of the most common fusion engines in the Periphery at the
time, a Perdition165, the Mantid can reach speeds of nearly 130kmh. Enough to
keep up even the fastest scout 'Mechs of the era, and out pace the most common
scout 'Mechs.
Given the role it was intended to fulfill, the designers gave the Mantid a
heavy autocannon that could wreck light 'Mechs in just a couple of hits. Given
the size of the primary armament, Pinard chose to follow an older, traditional
armament layout of one main gun and limited secondary weapons. However they did
find room to add short range missiles for close in work and a pair of machine
guns to handle infantry.
The final result was a well armored, high speed tank with a weapon load
that made it serious threat to SLDF forces.
Battle History:
The Mantid was heavily used by the Taurian tank forces throughout the
Cameron War of Conquest, serving on every planet the SLDF invaded. Including
playing a major part in the defeat of SLDF III Corps on Keuterville where the
open plains allowed the Mantid to use its superior speed and heavy autocannon
to repeatedly draw out, cut off and decimate the slower forces of General
Wexworth.
The only major engagement that the Mantid played a significant role in,
outside of the Concordat, was on Sevon in the Outworlds Alliance. Seconded to
Pitcarn Legion while it was on Sevon, was a company of Mantid tanks which
provided yeoman service during the ambush and following pursuit that reduced
General Forlough's 6th Royal Division to shambles and destroyed over 200 SLDF
'Mechs.
Following the conclusion of the Cameron War of Conquest, the Mantid and the
factories that produced it, were destroyed by a vengeful Star League and the
desgin would not be seen in action until after the Jihad when the Calderon
Protectorate would deploy them against pirates as part of its "RetroTech"
rearmament program.
Variants:
As the Cameron War of Conquest ground on, the Taurian Concordat would
introduce an I.C.E. powered variant that was produced locally in small shops
and hidden assembly areas, allowing Taurian forces to continue their heroic
struggle long after they were cut off from the rest of the Concordat. In order
to fit the I.C.E. power plant the designers were forced to reduce the size of
the autocannon to an AC/5. However they were able to add two more tubes to the
SRM launcher and cram in an extra ton of missile ammunition.
After resurrecting the Mantid design around the turn of the 32nd century,
the Calderon Protectorate issued a purchase order for a modernized version from
Protectorate Defense Conglomerate. The modernized version uses technology made
widely available by the Jihad, and recently put in to production by the
Calderon Protectorate. A snub nose PPC gives the Mantid its punch, while an
MML/5 replaces the original SRM4 and the electronics suite has been upgraded
with ArtemisIV for the MML system and an ECM suite to help screen the tank's
movements.
Notable Tanks & Tank Commanders:
Corporal Fedrov Liebermann - "Concordate Concubine": Part of the Concordate
forces on Keuterville Cpl. Liebermann and his tank, the "Concordate Concubine,"
were credited with killing a scout lance of mixed Wasp's and Locust's. Striking
from ambush the Concubine's first salvo managed to wreck one of the Wasps.
Drawing the faster Locust 'Mechs away, Corporal Liebermann was able destroy
them with his autocannon. With the Locusts 'Mechs destroyed it was easy enough
for the Concubine's crew to dictate the engagement range with the remaining
Wasp and destroy it.
Section Leader Tereshkova - "Plowshare": In command of the 12th Armored
Company, of the Alliance Military Corps, Section Leader Tereshkova was at the
forefront of the fighting on Sevon. Placing his company in ambush positions,
the 12th Armored Company savaged the 6th Royal Division when General Forlough
launched his attack on the Pitcairn Legion. After the initial salvo, Colonel
Pitcairn used the 12th Armored as a mobile reserve, lending their massed
firepower to trouble spots in the battle. The larger ammunition reserves of the
Mantid tanks combined with their speed allowed Section Leader Tereshkova to
harass the SLDF forces all the way back to their dropships keeping them off
balance until Colonel Pitcairn caught up.
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 25 points 5.00
Engine: Fusion Engine 165 9.00
Cruise MP: 8
Flank MP: 12
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Control Equipment: 2.50
Lift Equipment: 5.00
Turret: 1.50
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 120 7.50
Armor
Factor
Front 27
Left/Right 24/24
Turret 25
Rear 20
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun FR 0 1 0.50
Autocannon/10 T 3 1 12.00
Machine Gun T 0 1 0.50
SRM-4 T 3 1 2.00
@AC/10 (20) BD - 0 2.00
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
@SRM-4 (25) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 8
8h 2 2 0 0 2 0 Structure: 3
Special Abilities: TUR(2/2/0, AC 1/1/0), AC 1/1/0
And the "modern" variant for the Calderon Protectorate:
Mantid Heavy Hover Tank (Dark Ages)
Mass: 50 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Hovercraft
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-F-A
Production Year: 3126
Cost: 3,453,333 C-Bills
Battle Value: 990
Power Plant: Protectorate Defense Conglomerate 215 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 97.2 km/h
Flanking Speed: 151.2 km/h
Armor: Protectorate Superior Plate (ferro-fiborous) Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
1 Snub-Nose PPC
1 MML-5 w/ Artemis IV FCS
1 Machine Gun
1 Guardian ECM Suite
Manufacturer: Protectorate Defense Conglomerate (3100s)
Primary Factory: Diik (3100s)
Communications System: P.D.C. Comm Array 1151
Targeting and Tracking System: P.D.C. Shield and Bow System
Overview:
Pinard Protectorates began developing the the "Mantid" hover tanks in the
mid-2500's to counter the "insect" scout 'Mechs that were becoming common in
the Inner Sphere. They recieved several successive contracts with the
Concordate military to supply the tank, however sales with other nations didn't
pick up until the 2570's when the Star League was formed.
In 2571 the Magistry of Canopus and the Outworlds Alliance placed small
orders for the Mantid. Coming on the heels of an even larger purchase order by
the Concordate military it forced Pinard Protectorates to license the design to
Vandenburg Mechanized Industries to help complete all of Pinard's contractual
obligations. This placed both companies to take advantage of a massive arms
build up in the Concordate after the Polux Proclamation.
This production ensured that the Mantid would become one of the leading
tanks faced by the SLDF during the Cameron War of Conquest.
Capabilities:
Utilizing one of the most common fusion engines in the Periphery at the
time, a Perdition165, the Mantid can reach speeds of nearly 130kmh. Enough to
keep up even the fastest scout 'Mechs of the era, and out pace the most common
scout 'Mechs.
Given the role it was intended to fulfill, the designers gave the Mantid a
heavy autocannon that could wreck light 'Mechs in just a couple of hits. Given
the size of the primary armament, Pinard chose to follow an older, traditional
armament layout of one main gun and limited secondary weapons. However they did
find room to add short range missiles for close in work and a pair of machine
guns to handle infantry.
The final result was a well armored, high speed tank with a weapon load
that made it serious threat to SLDF forces.
Battle History:
The Mantid was heavily used by the Taurian tank forces throughout the
Cameron War of Conquest, serving on every planet the SLDF invaded. Including
playing a major part in the defeat of SLDF III Corps on Keuterville where the
open plains allowed the Mantid to use its superior speed and heavy autocannon
to repeatedly draw out, cut off and decimate the slower forces of General
Wexworth.
The only major engagement that the Mantid played a significant role in,
outside of the Concordat, was on Sevon in the Outworlds Alliance. Seconded to
Pitcarn Legion while it was on Sevon, was a company of Mantid tanks which
provided yeoman service during the ambush and following pursuit that reduced
General Forlough's 6th Royal Division to shambles and destroyed over 200 SLDF
'Mechs.
Following the conclusion of the Cameron War of Conquest, the Mantid and the
factories that produced it, were destroyed by a vengeful Star League and the
desgin would not be seen in action until after the Jihad when the Calderon
Protectorate would deploy them against pirates as part of its "RetroTech"
rearmament program.
Variants:
As the Cameron War of Conquest ground on, the Taurian Concordat would
introduce an I.C.E. powered variant that was produced locally in small shops
and hidden assembly areas, allowing Taurian forces to continue their heroic
struggle long after they were cut off from the rest of the Concordat. In order
to fit the I.C.E. power plant the designers were forced to reduce the size of
the autocannon to an AC/5. However they were able to add two more tubes to the
SRM launcher and cram in an extra ton of missile ammunition.
After resurrecting the Mantid design around the turn of the 32nd century,
the Calderon Protectorate issued a purchase order for a modernized version from
Protectorate Defense Conglomerate. The modernized version uses technology made
widely available by the Jihad, and recently put in to production by the
Calderon Protectorate. A snub nose PPC gives the Mantid its punch, while an
MML/5 replaces the original SRM4 and the electronics suite has been upgraded
with ArtemisIV for the MML system and an ECM suite to help screen the tank's
movements.
Notable 'Mechs & MechWarriors:
Corporal Fedrov Liebermann - "Concordate Concubine": Part of the Concordate
forces on Keuterville Cpl. Liebermann and his tank, the "Concordate Concubine,"
were credited with killing a scout lance of mixed Wasp's and Locust's. Striking
from ambush the Concubine's first salvo managed to wreck one of the Wasps.
Drawing the faster Locust 'Mechs away, Corporal Liebermann was able destroy
them with his autocannon. With the Locusts 'Mechs destroyed it was easy enough
for the Concubine's crew to dictate the engagement range with the remaining
Wasp and destroy it.
Section Leader Tereshkova - "Plowshare": In command of the 12th Armored
Company, of the Alliance Military Corps, Section Leader Tereshkova was at the
forefront of the fighting on Sevon. Placing his company in ambush positions,
the 12th Armored Company savaged the 6th Royal Division when General Forlough
launched his attack on the Pitcairn Legion. After the initial salvo, Colonel
Pitcairn used the 12th Armored as a mobile reserve, lending their massed
firepower to trouble spots in the battle. The larger ammunition reserves of the
Mantid tanks combined with their speed allowed Section Leader Tereshkova to
harass the SLDF forces all the way back to their dropships keeping them off
balance until Colonel Pitcairn caught up.
================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 25 points 5.00
Engine: Fusion Engine 215 14.50
Cruise MP: 9
Flank MP: 14
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 10 0.00
Control Equipment: 2.50
Lift Equipment: 5.00
Turret: 1.00
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 134 7.50
Armor
Factor
Front 32
Left/Right 26/26
Turret 30
Rear 20
================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Machine Gun FR 0 1 0.50
Snub-Nose PPC T 10 1 6.00
MML-5 T 3 1 3.00
Artemis IV FCS T - 0 1.00
Guardian ECM Suite BD 0 1 1.50
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
@MML-5 (LRM Art-IV) (24) BD - 0 1.00
@MML-5 (SRM Art-IV) (20) BD - 0 1.00
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 4 Points: 10
9h 2 2 1 0 2 0 Structure: 3
Special Abilities: ECM, TUR(2/2/1)
