Author Topic: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser  (Read 11539 times)

SD501st

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 170
  • Lead me, follow me or get out of my way!
Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« on: 11 February 2017, 20:45:55 »
Since there seem to be no new Warship of the Week/Month/Year articles in the foreseeable future and I can't find one for the Mjolnir, which is a ship class that always fascinated me for it's sheer "IN YOUR FACE" style, I would love to hear about this particular ship class from the community.

What are it's strengths and weaknesses compared to other "new" warships constructed by the Successor States? How does it hold up against Clan Warships? Which conclusions do you draw from the design, how should it be used to maximize it's strengths, and minimize it's weaknesses? How could it have been more optimized for it's intended role? Do you have any particular experiences or stories about playing with one?

Basicly, tell me everything you know and think about it! :))

marauder648

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 8157
    • Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #1 on: 12 February 2017, 08:52:07 »
The Molly is VERY tough, with a massive structural integrity and biblical amounts of armour they are tougher than anything in service anywhere else save the Leviathan II.  They are also fast for their size, being faster than most Clan ships save the York and Lola III (and some smaller vessels). 

Armament wise they are built for close to mid range brawling and suuuuuuuck at long range engagements relying on luck with their few long range weapons to hit at ranges where you might find a Texas or McKenna sitting.  Compared to Clan ships in theory they outgun anything smaller and basically anything save the Potemkin and McKenna, but they are built with different roles in mind.

A Texas and McKenna are both designed to fight at long range, using their big gun batteries to get nice bracket firing bonuses before popping away at extreme range.  And at those ranges the Molly simply can't reliably reply save with its missiles or the odd lucky hit with the heavy and Medium PPC's or heavy guass rifles.  With them at best you can get a maximum of -1 to hit, whilst the Clan ships will be getting -3 or -4 to hit and in space battles thats HUGE. 

Up close where they can bring their NAC-40's to bare the Molly can easily outgun a Texas but you've got to get into range where you can use them accurately as you've only got a limited number of shots so you can't just go DAKKA DAKKA! and hope for hits, with 13/12 roungs per gun you NEED to be sure of the hit.

The Molly has some defences against fighters with her ER large laser and LRM batteries but these are really little more use than deterrence, her main defence will be her 32 fighters and 4 dropships. But here you get a problem.

The Molly has an absolutely TINY cargo capacity, just over 14k tons, and whilst in a pick up game this basically means bugger all, in a campaign this is a HUGE drawback.  This means that the Mjolnir has an absolutely pathetic range as you'll burn through your food and water VERY quickly with a fully loaded ship (including the crews of her dropships).  She'd literally have to go *jump* ATTACK SOMEWHERE *come home again*.  Or what you do is give her say two cargo dropships and load them up with food, water, spare parts etc if you want her to go a little more than one or two jumps before having 3/4 of the crew die of scurvy.  Also there's only 1 (large) grav-deck making life uncomfortable on long missions. This all points to a ship that was designed to go out, punch someone in the throat and then call it a night and go home. Not patrol the borders.

And if you take some cargo dropships (which you would need to do in a campaign) then you've only got two escorting dropships and for the love of Blake don't put a carrier dropship with her as that will just gobble up her supplies even quicker.

There's also no shuttles or small craft so you'd probably have to fit some of those which would reduce your aerospace fighter complement as well.

The way I look at the Mjolnir is she's a big strong body builder of a vessel, but she has no endurance. If you can get close with her, you'll delete anything that gets in her way save a Leviathan II as you can take a pounding on the approach, but if she's unable to close she can't do much.  But if you can get into a brawl with a hostile ship or two, then they are in trouble, and the Molly with her thick hide, can take a real battering before thinking about withdrawing and her heavy guns at short range can smash opposing ships into kindling.

As for Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

Absurdly strong hull and armour
brual firepower up close
Fast for a ship her size.
Adequate fighter compliment

Weaknesses

weak at long range
No AMS or point defence weaponry (which would become an issue in the Jihad when EVERYONE save the Clans was lobbing nukes around in space battles)
Absolutely no edurance without affecting her dropship complement
Light anti-fighter defences that are of better use of scaring off a fighter strike rather than defeating it.

She's still superior to pretty much anything in House service, and would do well against other House warships from the 3057 or 3067 book as they are all built with the same kind of focus on close in fighting, this also applies to most Clan ships although something like a well handled Black Lion could be an issue and the Texas, Potemkin and McKenna are far more nasty, and if there's a Leviathan II or Blake help you a Leviathan III, time to close your eyes and be prepared for a lot of stinging.  Cpmpaired to the big ships of the other Houses at the time the one she'd not want to face is the Thera.  That many fighters will drown her and disable her, but everything else, as long as she gets in range she can remove them with ease.  The Feng Huan is woefully undergunned (the Feng Huan II cruiser carrier though...) Against an Avalon its a case of not being too badly damaged by missile hits on the approach before engaging at close quarters, the Agamemnon is laughably fragile and a few hits could destroy one. 

A nightmare for this thing to face would be a Kimagure class.  Its both faster and has lots of very long ranged guns with decent bracketing numbers. In a pure gun on gun battle, if the Kimagure can dictate the range (and with her higher thrust rating she pretty much shall) the Mjolnir would have issues hitting her whilst the Kimagure would have to wear down the Molly's armour. 
« Last Edit: 12 February 2017, 09:29:25 by marauder648 »
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

Ruger

  • BattleTech Volunteer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 5561
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #2 on: 12 February 2017, 09:18:54 »
What was just said...there are many design decisions on the Mjolnir that I personally would have done differently (not a big fan of the two largest NAC's; I prefer either triple banks of NAC-20's, or double banks of NAC-30's for the range vs. damage potential...and the limited cargo,  and lack of ammo and AMS...yeesh).

Then again, I also prefer a lot of uniformity in my WarShips' armament rather than a few weapons of all different types here and their...especially in ammo consuming weapons (except missiles...I can deal with a variety on those), as the logistics of supplying all those different weapons would be a nightmare...

But as a brawler (if you can get into range), this WarShip is a bully...

Ruger
"If someone ever tries to kill you, you try to kill 'em right back." - Malcolm Reynolds, Firefly

"Who I am is where I stand. Where I stand is where I fall...Stand with me." - The Doctor, The Doctor Falls, Doctor Who

marauder648

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 8157
    • Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #3 on: 12 February 2017, 09:27:11 »
What was just said...there are many design decisions on the Mjolnir that I personally would have done differently (not a big fan of the two largest NAC's; I prefer either triple banks of NAC-20's, or double banks of NAC-30's for the range vs. damage potential...and the limited cargo,  and lack of ammo and AMS...yeesh).

Then again, I also prefer a lot of uniformity in my WarShips' armament rather than a few weapons of all different types here and their...especially in ammo consuming weapons (except missiles...I can deal with a variety on those), as the logistics of supplying all those different weapons would be a nightmare...

But as a brawler (if you can get into range), this WarShip is a bully...

Ruger

Agreed, she's not perfect but then again, i'm glad that none of the ships really are.  Sure it would make more sense to have a big bank of NAC-20's for longer ranged fire and bracketing but designing a perfect ship is kinda boring. Its like facing a Clan 100 tonner with 5 x LPLs and a targetting computer, sure its effective (and it can be done so you're moving 3/5, full armour and enough HS to remain heat neutral whilst running), but dear god is it boring and no fun to face.  With ships having flaws (See almost all of the SLDF ships in TRO 3057, they all have a LOT of issues, but that could be written off as doctrine, you wont' face one SLDF destroyer, you'd face a dozen, and 3 cruisers, and a battlecruiser.  House warships are built to operate alone, hence them being tougher, better protected and having more varied firepower.

As you said, this things a bully. If you can get in range.
« Last Edit: 12 February 2017, 09:40:47 by marauder648 »
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

Hellraiser

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 13011
  • Cry Havoc and Unleash the Gods of Fiat.
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #4 on: 12 February 2017, 17:06:50 »
She'd literally have to go *jump* ATTACK SOMEWHERE *come home again*. 

Weaknesses
weak at long range
No AMS or point defence weaponry (which would become an issue in the Jihad when EVERYONE save the Clans was lobbing nukes around in space battles)
Absolutely no edurance without affecting her dropship complement
Light anti-fighter defences that are of better use of scaring off a fighter strike rather than defeating it.

For all the reasons above, and the lack of LFBs as well, to me, she is deployed as a "Defensive" ship.

Few in #, had the Jihad not happened the Lyran's could have probably kept producing them & slowly deployed them to park in orbit over Capitals & Factories  (Tharkad, Alarion, Hesperus, Skye, Coventry).

Offensively, her only real use is to have a single target in mind, go in, bludgeon your way to it, vaporize it, & then come home.

3041: General Lance Hawkins: The Equalizers
3053: Star Colonel Rexor Kerensky: The Silver Wolves

"I don't shoot Urbanmechs, I walk up, stomp on their foot, wait for the head to pop open & drop in a hand grenade (or Elemental)" - Joel47
Against mechs, infantry have two options: Run screaming from Godzilla, or giggle under your breath as the arrogant fools blunder into your trap. - Weirdo

Arkansas Warrior

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9203
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #5 on: 14 February 2017, 18:46:54 »
If I was the admiral in charge of one, I'd have a Monolith full of cargo droppers permanently assigned to follow me around with supplies.  If we're going into a hot combat zone, they'd initially jump well outside the system proper, but close enough to radio.  A few light-minutes, perhaps.  Once I'm done trashing the defenses, I radio them to drop in and fill me up, but have them keep a point out-system plotted all the time in case trouble jumps in.
Sunrise is Coming.

All Hail First Prince Melissa Davion, the Patron Saint of the Regimental Combat Team, who cowed Dainmar Liao, created the Model Army, and rescued Robinson!  May her light ever guide the sons of the Suns, May our daughters ever endeavour to emulate her!

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40756
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #6 on: 15 February 2017, 09:51:56 »
The Mjolnir's greatest flaw is its heat sink grid, or lack thereof. You've barely got enough heat sinks to fire in one, maybe two directions at once. When you're one of the biggest and most expensive ships in space(and therefore almost every fight will be against greater numbers of weaker enemies), the inability to engage large numbers of targets at once is a serious issue.
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

Decoy

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2704
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #7 on: 15 February 2017, 10:15:07 »

Offensively, her only real use is to have a single target in mind, go in, bludgeon your way to it, vaporize it, & then come home.

Sounds like a certain throwing hammer from a certain myth.

SD501st

  • Sergeant
  • *
  • Posts: 170
  • Lead me, follow me or get out of my way!
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #8 on: 23 February 2017, 18:48:38 »
From what you all are saying(thanks by the way!), it looks like the Mjolnir-Class is designed as a fast response unit, a defensive design on the strategic level, but all out offensive on the tactical level.

I guess the original intention was probably to build more than just 2, park them in vital systems, able to respond to anything within 30 lightyears but able to jump back ASAP if that turns out to be a ruse... it is equipped with Lithium-Fusion Batteries , right?
Well, the same thing could work the other way around too... jump in, smash something, jump back to base.
But then the Civil War threw a wrench into the plan, the Jihad didn't help either, and afterwards warships are rarer than a full vintage Mackie, all original parts. :))

Mhm... here is an interesting question: If you were in charge of developing a partner warship for the Molly, say something in the cruiser/light cruiser category, how would you design it? I am not at all familiar with the Warship construction rules, so all I can do is give a very rough outline of what I would envision.

I would picture something intended to work as both a supply vessel for the larger ship and her fighters and droppers, as well as a warship in it's own right, covering the weaknesses of the Mjolnir... namely Anti-Fighter and Anti Missile defenses as well as some long range punch(it doesn't need to be a lot of firepower), but avoiding ammo dependency... we want as much of the cargo capacity to be available for the Molly  and her complement of fighters as possible.
So, AMS and/or LAMS, batteries of Naval Lasers able to bracket fire as well as swatting enemy aerospace fighters and dropships out of the sky.
Since it's intended as an escort, it would need to keep pace with the Mjolnir, too. Maybe some small craft bays to facilitate fast resupply runs?
What I am unsure about is how much that would leave for armor, and how much armor would be necessary. Another big question mark is the dropship capacity and which kinds of droppers, if any.

Well, back to the professionals then!   O0

marauder648

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 8157
    • Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #9 on: 24 February 2017, 01:39:42 »
The ironic thing is that the Space Tuetons had a perfect escort for her.  Just one that had been extinct since the 2nd Succession War.

The Commonwealth class Light Cruiser - http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Commonwealth_(WarShip_class)

6 dropships for escort roles, 18 fighters, heavy AMS, guns for long and short range, all in all a superb cruiser.

The Avalon - http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Avalon would also be a good escort, as its absurdly tough like the Molly, and its big battery of missiles can swat down fighters and engage at long range too.
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

Wrangler

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 24875
  • Dang it!
    • Battletech Fanon Wiki
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #10 on: 02 March 2017, 08:01:37 »
I just have big issues with big ships escorting big ships.  Anything over 500k is a large combatant in Battletech terms, your using a battleship to escort your slightly large battleship.  It's too bad Navies of 31st Century were extremely hobbled and limited. DropShips never cut the mustard on that role.
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

sillybrit

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 3939
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #11 on: 02 March 2017, 20:39:33 »
it is equipped with Lithium-Fusion Batteries , right?

No, the Mjolnirs don't have LF batteries, nor do they have the spare mass to have batteries fitted without removing something else first.

YingJanshi

  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 4507
  • Switch Friend Code: SW-4326-4622-8514
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #12 on: 02 March 2017, 22:06:18 »
The ironic thing is that the Space Tuetons had a perfect escort for her.  Just one that had been extinct since the 2nd Succession War.

The Commonwealth class Light Cruiser - http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Commonwealth_(WarShip_class)

6 dropships for escort roles, 18 fighters, heavy AMS, guns for long and short range, all in all a superb cruiser.

The Avalon - http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Avalon would also be a good escort, as its absurdly tough like the Molly, and its big battery of missiles can swat down fighters and engage at long range too.

Except the Avalon is much more likely going to be shooting at the Mjolnir rather than protecting it . 

Initiate of the Order of Valhalla

(HBS: Backer #4,960)
(Clan Invasion: Backer #314)
(Mercenaries: Backer #6,017)

JPArbiter

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 3139
  • Podcasting Monkey
    • Arbitration Studios, your last word in battletech talk
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #13 on: 02 March 2017, 22:09:20 »
Except the Avalon is much more likely going to be shooting at the Mjolnir rather than protecting it .

when both ships were on the design table, that was not the case.
Host of Arbitration, your last word in Battletech Talk

Arkansas Warrior

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9203
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #14 on: 02 March 2017, 23:18:31 »
No, the Mjolnirs don't have LF batteries, nor do they have the spare mass to have batteries fitted without removing something else first.
Too bad there's no way to "pod-mount" a jumpship's LF batteries in a dropship.  "Just plug it in and jump again!"
Sunrise is Coming.

All Hail First Prince Melissa Davion, the Patron Saint of the Regimental Combat Team, who cowed Dainmar Liao, created the Model Army, and rescued Robinson!  May her light ever guide the sons of the Suns, May our daughters ever endeavour to emulate her!

Dragon Cat

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7827
  • Not Dead Until I Say So
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #15 on: 03 March 2017, 00:10:38 »
No, the Mjolnirs don't have LF batteries, nor do they have the spare mass to have batteries fitted without removing something else first.

Which wouldn't necessarily hurt the ship since she can't fire everything at the moment anyway

when both ships were on the design table, that was not the case.

It's true during the FedCom era the Avalon and Mjolnir would have gone together and given their armour would have hurt many ships unfortunately both lack cargo reserves I guess that's why the Fox is around to act as an armed DropShip carrier with pop gun armament

Parking a Mjolnir and Avalon in a system would have given the FedCom a decent defence over March capitals or important systems
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

marauder648

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 8157
    • Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #16 on: 03 March 2017, 03:56:31 »
IIRC the Molly actually started out as a Alliance made/designed 'light cruiser' that would work with the Avalon, but after the split the Alliance decided to scrap it being a small vessel and added a LOT of mass, completely changing the design and making it into the battlecruiser we now know.

Had the FedSuns stuck together the Avalon/Molly tag team would have been very formidable.

I mentioned the Commonwealth as she's got a good mix of lasers with 10 gun batteries for broadside work and a nice AMS defence.  She's got 6 dropship ports for additional firepower as well as 18 fighters.  Seeing as they were the escorts for Tharkad class battlecruisers they'd do the job nicely if they were built again and could potter around with the Molly.
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

Hellraiser

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 13011
  • Cry Havoc and Unleash the Gods of Fiat.
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #17 on: 05 March 2017, 17:07:43 »
It's true during the FedCom era the Avalon and Mjolnir would have gone together and given their armour would have hurt many ships unfortunately both lack cargo reserves I guess that's why the Fox is around to act as an armed DropShip carrier with pop gun armament 

As mentioned.  The Mjolnir was on the drawing boards as a Light Cruiser smaller than the Avalon.
We don't actually know if it had limited cargo.  It might have actually had a lot more cargo than the Avalons & Foxes.
Only with the 57 split was a decision made to revamp it into a mega Battle Cruiser to outclass the Avalon.

I think somewhere it was mentioned to be in the 700KT range but I don't know that for sure.
All I can guess about it is that the original plans probably had 4 DC & no LFB since those 2 wouldn't likely have dropped.  The size, guns, & even speed would have been a lot different however.
3041: General Lance Hawkins: The Equalizers
3053: Star Colonel Rexor Kerensky: The Silver Wolves

"I don't shoot Urbanmechs, I walk up, stomp on their foot, wait for the head to pop open & drop in a hand grenade (or Elemental)" - Joel47
Against mechs, infantry have two options: Run screaming from Godzilla, or giggle under your breath as the arrogant fools blunder into your trap. - Weirdo

DarthRads

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2184
  • Trust me...I'm the Doctor...
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #18 on: 08 March 2017, 20:26:48 »
I just love how it was a light cruiser...then the Lyrans took over the design process and it became the biggest thing outside of the SL/Clans

Wrangler

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 24875
  • Dang it!
    • Battletech Fanon Wiki
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #19 on: 09 March 2017, 12:07:43 »
I wonder what she was suppose to be like as a Light Cruiser.  I love Mjolnir, but the original be interesting to see stat wise.
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

Dragon Cat

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 7827
  • Not Dead Until I Say So
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #20 on: 09 March 2017, 13:34:06 »
While personally I'd have preferred to see something along the Commonwealth lines I have a feeling Davion was driving the WarShip program so I'm guessing a mix of NAC or Gauss, AR10 or cudas, and maybe a couple of token NLs

She'd have flown the wrong way probably carried not enough fighters and cargo but had plenty ammo and armour
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Wrangler

  • Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 24875
  • Dang it!
    • Battletech Fanon Wiki
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #21 on: 10 March 2017, 06:56:43 »
On things i says it frustrating with WarShips in general (fluff wise) lack of diversity.  Mjolnir is all powerful big boat of the Lyran Navy, but she stand alone in her role.  Battlecruiser needs screening elements.  It needs other ships to do stuff, Lyrans arguable have worse selection of escort ships available before.   

When they had a Warship fleet, they Battlecruiser Tharkad, while screened by the ancient Commonwealth Light Cruiser and (lucky it exists) Mako Class Corvette. 

The Fox is hold over from it's FedCom years, but not designed support the big hammer.  Lyrans don't have alot A3 anymore due to loss of Skye to the Republic in later years of it's existence. 
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

The Eagle

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2308
  • This is what peak performance looks like!
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #22 on: 10 March 2017, 07:07:16 »
Really, though, the only House navy that grew large enough to merit those kind of distinctions and squadron organization was the Mariks.  And once the Jihad started, that didn't survive very long.
RIP Dan Schulz, 09 November 2009.  May the Albatross ever fly high.

Hit me up for BattleTech in the WV Panhandle!

marauder648

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 8157
    • Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #23 on: 10 March 2017, 08:35:17 »
The whole Battletech fleet balance is a mess from head to foot.  There's no logistics support vessels other than Yardships, there's no anti-fighter escort destroyers, no missile heavy ships (in service), no fleet carriers etc etc etc. 

Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

I am Belch II

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 10106
  • It's a gator with a nuke, whats the problem.
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #24 on: 10 March 2017, 08:53:14 »
Its one of my favorite ships, lots of armor.
Walking the fine line between sarcasm and being a smart-ass

The Eagle

  • Captain
  • *
  • Posts: 2308
  • This is what peak performance looks like!
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #25 on: 10 March 2017, 10:08:06 »
no fleet carriers

The FWLS Santorini would like a word with you.
RIP Dan Schulz, 09 November 2009.  May the Albatross ever fly high.

Hit me up for BattleTech in the WV Panhandle!

Arkansas Warrior

  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 9203
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #26 on: 10 March 2017, 11:16:36 »
The FWLS Santorini would like a word with you.
The Potemkin class as well, albeit in a rather different manner.
Sunrise is Coming.

All Hail First Prince Melissa Davion, the Patron Saint of the Regimental Combat Team, who cowed Dainmar Liao, created the Model Army, and rescued Robinson!  May her light ever guide the sons of the Suns, May our daughters ever endeavour to emulate her!

Jellico

  • Spatium Magister
  • Freelance Writer
  • Major
  • *
  • Posts: 6120
  • BattleMechs are the lords of the battlefield
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #27 on: 13 March 2017, 07:06:50 »
The whole Battletech fleet balance is a mess from head to foot.  There's no logistics support vessels other than Yardships, there's no anti-fighter escort destroyers, no missile heavy ships (in service), no fleet carriers etc etc etc.

Last time I checked cargo droppers with 50,000 ton cargo bays were a thing and WarShips could deploy their own scaffolding.

Where is the calling for anti-fighter escort destroyers, missile heavy ships, fleet carriers etc beyond a wargamers desire to tick off boxes on a list?

Honestly were is the call for anything more than a Starlord with a Mammoth, Vengeance, and four Avengers?

Weirdo

  • Painter of Borth the Magic Puma
  • Catalyst Demo Team
  • Major General
  • *
  • Posts: 40756
  • We can do it. We have to.
    • Christina Dickinson Writes
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #28 on: 13 March 2017, 09:55:22 »
The whole Battletech fleet balance is a mess from head to foot.  There's no logistics support vessels other than Yardships, there's no anti-fighter escort destroyers, no missile heavy ships (in service), no fleet carriers etc etc etc.

Any particular reason you're ignoring the great many DropShips that fulfill these roles so that WarShips can focus on carrying the big guns that only they can?
My wife writes books
"Thanks to Megamek, I can finally play BattleTech the way it was meant to be played--pantsless!"   -Neko Bijin
"...finally, giant space panties don't seem so strange." - Whistler
"Damn you, Weirdo... Damn you for being right!" - Paul
"...I was this many years old when I found out that licking a touchscreen in excitement is a bad idea." - JadeHellbringer
"We are the tribal elders. Weirdo is the mushroom specialist." - Worktroll

Kit deSummersville

  • Precentor of Lies
  • Freelance Writer
  • Lieutenant Colonel
  • *
  • Posts: 10397
  • The epicness continues!
    • Insights and Complaints on Twitter
Re: Tell me about the... Mjolnir Class Battlecruiser
« Reply #29 on: 13 March 2017, 10:15:05 »
Any particular reason you're ignoring the great many DropShips that fulfill these roles so that WarShips can focus on carrying the big guns that only they can?

Given enough cargo room, DropShips can carry them too!  :D
Looking for an official answer? Check the Catalyst Interaction Forums.

Freelancer for hire, not an official CGL or IMR representative.

Everyone else's job is easy, so tell them how to do it, everyone loves that!

Millard Fillmore's favorite BattleTech writer.