’Mech of the Week: BLD-** Blade
Blade. Business end of an axe or sword. The subject of three movies about a vampire hunter. A 35-ton BattleMech that first appeared in the maligned Dark Age game. Notably as the ride of the reviled Ezekiel Crow.
To see how his story ends, see
Dark Age Turning Points: Liao. (Note: he isn’t using a
Blade there.)
The path to the
Blade begins with the victory of the Coalition against the WoBblies. As the Coalition forces began to transition to becoming the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Sphere, the eclectic nature of the military equipment caused consternation among the higher-ups. As part of the standardization/stream-lining protocols put into place by Commanding General Victor Steiner-Davion, bids were accepted for a new standard light ’Mech. Even though their factory is technically outside of Republic space, New Hessen WorkMechs won the contract.
Producers of the
Rook, New Hessen reused many of that machine’s components to streamline manufacturing and maintenance. Included in that are the electronics, cockpit, and a pared-down version of the heavier design’s chassis. This pared-down chassis now is made with endo-steel. Light-class ferro-fibrous armor was installed in a flat plate state that gives the design an IndustrialMech feel. Protection is one point off maximum and laid out in a 9, 16/5, 12/4, 12, 16 pattern (head, center front/rear, side front/rear, arms, legs respectively). A 245-rated GM extralight engine gives the design similar speeds to the infamous Blakist
Gurkha. An extralight gyro adds to the weight-savings measures used. Weaponry consists of paired extended-model medium lasers and a Class-5 rotary autocannon, fed by three tons of ammunition stored in the CASEd right torso. Ten double-strength heat sinks deal admirably with the heat load. I will note that all of the weaponry is placed in the right arm, but this is less egregious for being on a light, fast machine (and a well-armored one for its weight).
This model, the BLD-XL entered service in 3087. Because of the semi-modular nature of the autocannon mount, two variants also appeared at the same time. The first, the BLD-XS swaps the rotary for an old-school Class-10 autocannon, with one ton of ammunition. The second, the BLD-XX instead uses a Class-10 LB-X autocannon, with two tons of ammunition. (Note: the fluff for the -XX model states that the ammunition bins should use the same type of ammo, yet the record sheet in the 3085 compilation ignores this.)
The popularity of the
Blade soon outgrew production, so the design was licensed to Graham-Davis Enterprises on Tamarind. Budget-saving measures however downgraded the -XL’s gyro to a standard model, swapped one of the mediums for an extended-model small, removed the CASE. The BLD-7R also uses standard ferro-fibrous, but loses two points of protection from the center torso front. This variant is the source for most of the bad reputation that the design as a whole receives.
Using one of these starts with remembering the paradigm, “Speed is armor.” Keep your speed up, get in, strike, get out. While a running Alpha is easily taken care of by the heat sinks, do be careful with the rotary models. Jamming is still a possibility, and clearing it will require you to only walk. While protecting the right side is a good idea, as a light ’Mech any hits can be fatal.
Fighting one is a pain. You can fight like with like and bring your own fast machines. The standard fallbacks of pulse lasers, targeting computers and precision-loaded autocannons can assist with his to-hit numbers. On the subject of targeting computers, if you can target sections, the right torso is a great target. All of them have ammunition that if it explodes will at least take the
Blade out, as losing the section will destroy the engine. And if he somehow trips or is knocked down, be sure to hammer him as he struggles to his feet.
The
Blade is likely to continue to serve, at least until the nebulous end of the Dark Age period. Numbers are likely still in service with the Republic and Federated Suns, with some additional number with mercenary commands. Noting that the second factory is in the Duchy of Tamarind, part of the reborn Free Worlds League allows for them to have gained some, as should the Capellans (after New Hessen’s fall). This means the
Blade is likely to be on the front lines (on both sides in some cases) for the time to come.