’Mech of the Week: AS7-D* Atlas III
Atlas III. Chosen BattleMech of Exarch Jonah Levin. Jason with a minigun. The Terminator. Last ’Mech of the
Atlas Legacy (so far).
And still as intimidating as its forebear.
Produced on Robinson, the
Atlas III is perhaps the best thing that the Federated Suns has going for it. Too bad the factory is now in Kurita hands. Anyway, apparently conceived of as a way to make the Atlas more ferocious, and to use some Clan equipment they had gotten their hands on, the AS7-D2
Atlas III entered service in 3110.
Built around an endo-steel chassis, the
Atlas III is still powered by the same 300-rated Vlar engine of its predecessors. Nineteen and a half tons of standard plate give the design maximum protection in a 9, 50/12, 32/10, 34, 42 pattern (head, center front/rear, side front/rear, arms, legs respectively). Weapons consist of paired medium x-pulse lasers, a 6-pack Streak SRM launcher, a Clantech Class-30 Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle, and finally a 20-rack Clan Streak LRM launcher (to paraphrase a great man, “Where did they get such wonderful toys?”). One ton of SRM, two tons of LRM, and four tons of HAG ammo are stored in the CASEd (II) side torsos. A targeting computer is tied into the weapons that allow it, and an Angel ECM suite sits in the centerline to disrupt enemy fire. Twelve double-strength heat sinks do moderately well with the heat loads. An armored cockpit helps mitigate semi-bad hits to the head (really bad ones don’t leave a head).
This model soldiered forth and fought well for a time. Then, in 3122, the scientists of House Davion perfected the Radical Heat Sink System. This piece of technology is essentially MASC for heat sinks (right down to the failure rate) and works in the same fashion as a coolant pod, but without the one-shot nature of that technology.
While it is apparent that the decision was made to add it to the flagship design, it took until 3137 for the AS7-D3 to stride forth. In order to fit this item, the targeting computer was removed and the HAG swapped for a Class-2 rotary autocannon with two tons of ammunition. Two more medium x-pulses were also installed. And finally, the now iconic wristguards (small shields) were added. Somehow, one of these made its way to Exarch Levin (though I’m not sure when exactly the Fortress went up).
Using one is like using an
Atlas. You are a presence on the battlefield, expect a lot of attention. Your can have heat issues, though the latter variant has a way of dealing with it, though don’t overtax it. While a Radical Heat Sink failure does not appear to be explosive, when it is damaged it leaks coolant causing you to suffer even greater heat woes. You can choose to wade into your foes, bringing the fear of Death to them. Or, as you are a lot better armed than your forebear in long-range firepower, shoot from a distance.
Fighting one is a beast. The original model has a Gauss Rifle that shoots small slugs and an LRM rack that locks on target and hits you with everything. And that’s without dealing with the ECM suite. And while C3 is still around, and in some cases advancing (Boosted models), that ECM suite still will jam them if you get too close. The best you can do is pound him until he stops coming. Gauss Rifles, Particle Cannons, and other means of removing his head should always be used. Heat-inducing weapons are also nice if he gets close enough, especially if it forces him to overuse that Radical Heat Sink System. And if you have the gunnery skill and the equipment to do so, targeting one of his side torsos (the right has the bonus of removing the big long range weapons; though the more recent variant has that Radical Heat Sink system in the left) works too. Even though the torso won’t technically vaporize in the explosion, the pilot still takes damage. On the second variant, do be careful if you crit the rotary. He may decide to take a page from the 3145 technical readout, drop it, flex his hands, and wade in with punches.
As noted above, while the
Atlas III was the pinnacle of Davion design, hopes and dreams, the factory is now in the hands of House Kurita. And since they never would turn down an
Atlas, this means the forces of the Sun will have to face their own creation. This could be both good and bad. Either way, it is bound to have an effect in the days to come.
