BattleMech Recovery Vehicles reworked

[sillybrit]

Inspired by this thread, both the original BattleMech Recovery Vehicles from TRO3060U have been switched to Fuel Cells, with the saved mass allowing a more versatile tracked motive system and some other small improvements. In the case of the Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle, I upped the mass to 75t so that the two vehicles can share the same engine.

I've edited the HMV output to get the correct masses for the fuel cells, but I've yet to amend the C-Bill cost and will adjust that later.

Intended for Light Vehicle Bays, the BattleMech Recovery Vehicle II provides the minimum capability, but suffers from the inability to recover all but the smallest of Heavy 'Mechs, with Assaults being totally out of the question. In addition to the switch to a Fuel Cell, tracked motive system, increased armor and limited amphibious capability, a Cargo Lift Hoist was installed to assist the loading of damaged 'Mechs plus a trailer hitch to allow towing, and there's a small cargo increase, leaving some spare capacity even if a maximum 60t 'Mech (or vehicle) has been loaded.

Code: [Select]

          BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
                      VALIDATED

Type/Model:    BattleMech Recovery Vehicle II
Tech:          Inner Sphere / 3060
Config:        Tracked Vehicle
Rules:         Level 3, Standard design

Mass:          50 tons
Power Plant:   300 Fuel Cell
Cruise Speed:  64.8 km/h
Maximum Speed: 97.2 km/h
Armor Type:    Standard
Armament:     
  1 Cargo Lift Hoist
Manufacturer:  (Unknown)
  Location:    (Unknown)
Communications System:  (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System:  (Unknown)

--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    BattleMech Recovery Vehicle II
Mass:          50 tons

Equipment:                                 Items    Mass
Int. Struct.:  20 pts Standard               0      5.00
Engine:        300 Fuel Cell                 0     23.00
    Cruise MP:   6
     Flank MP:   9
Heat Sinks:      1 Single                    0       .00
Cockpit & Controls:                          0      2.50
Crew: 4 Members                              0       .00
Armor Factor:   40 pts Standard              0      2.50

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Front:                     5         10
   Left / Right Sides:        5      10/10
   Rear:                      5         10

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Items    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Cargo Lift Hoist       Rear     0          1      3.00
1 Trailer Hitch          Rear                1       .00
Cargo Bay Capacity       Body                1     12.00
Limited amphibious       Body                0      2.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                           0          3     50.00
Items & Tons Left:                          12       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        1,305,000 C-Bills
Battle Value 2:    190 (old BV = 52)
Cost per BV:       6,868.42
Weapon Value:      0 / 0 (Ratio = .00 / .00)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 0;  MRDmg = 0;  LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2:      MP: 6T,  Armor/Structure: 0 / 2
                   Damage PB/M/L: -/-/-,  Overheat: 0
                   Class: GM;  Point Value: 2
                   Specials: tran12

Requiring a Heavy Vehicle Bay, the Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle II can handle any size of standard 'Mech. Like the smaller BattleMech Recovery Vehicle II it is a Fuel Cell-powered tracked vehicle with limited amphibious capability, with a hitch and hoist to assist cargo handling.

Code: [Select]

          BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
                      VALIDATED

Type/Model:    Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle II
Tech:          Inner Sphere / 3085
Config:        Tracked Vehicle
Rules:         Level 3, Standard design

Mass:          75 tons
Power Plant:   300 Fuel Cell
Cruise Speed:  43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Armor Type:    Standard
Armament:     
  1 Cargo Lift Hoist
Manufacturer:  (Unknown)
  Location:    (Unknown)
Communications System:  (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System:  (Unknown)

--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle II
Mass:          75 tons

Equipment:                                 Items    Mass
Int. Struct.:  32 pts Standard               0      7.50
Engine:        300 Fuel Cell                 0     23.00
    Cruise MP:   4
     Flank MP:   6
Heat Sinks:      1 Single                    0       .00
Cockpit & Controls:                          0      4.00
Crew: 5 Members                              0       .00
Armor Factor:   48 pts Standard              0      3.00

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Front:                     8         12
   Left / Right Sides:        8      12/12
   Rear:                      8         12

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Items    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Cargo Lift Hoist       Rear     0          1      3.00
1 Trailer Hitch          Rear                1       .00
Cargo Bay Capacity       Body                1     31.50
Limited amphibious       Body                0      3.00
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                           0          3     75.00
Items & Tons Left:                          17       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        2,244,375 C-Bills
Battle Value 2:    223 (old BV = 61)
Cost per BV:       10,064.46
Weapon Value:      0 / 0 (Ratio = .00 / .00)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 0;  MRDmg = 0;  LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2:      MP: 4T,  Armor/Structure: 0 / 3
                   Damage PB/M/L: -/-/-,  Overheat: 0
                   Class: GH;  Point Value: 2
                   Specials: tran31

A variant of the Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle II, the Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle IIU has been modifed for vacuum operations, replacing the limited amphibious capabilty with environmental sealing.

Code: [Select]

          BattleTech Vehicle Technical Readout
                      VALIDATED

Type/Model:    Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle IIU
Tech:          Inner Sphere / 3085
Config:        Tracked Vehicle
Rules:         Level 3, Standard design

Mass:          75 tons
Power Plant:   300 Fuel Cell
Cruise Speed:  43.2 km/h
Maximum Speed: 64.8 km/h
Armor Type:    Standard
Armament:     
  1 Cargo Lift Hoist
Manufacturer:  (Unknown)
  Location:    (Unknown)
Communications System:  (Unknown)
Targeting & Tracking System:  (Unknown)

--------------------------------------------------------
Type/Model:    Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle IIU
Mass:          75 tons

Equipment:                                 Items    Mass
Int. Struct.:  32 pts Standard               0      7.50
Engine:        300 Fuel Cell                 0     23.00
    Cruise MP:   4
     Flank MP:   6
Heat Sinks:      1 Single                    0       .00
Cockpit & Controls:                          0      4.00
Crew: 5 Members                              0       .00
Armor Factor:   48 pts Standard              0      3.00

                          Internal    Armor
                          Structure   Value
   Front:                     8         12
   Left / Right Sides:        8      12/12
   Rear:                      8         12

Weapons and Equipment    Loc  Heat  Ammo   Items    Mass
--------------------------------------------------------
1 Cargo Lift Hoist       Rear     0          1      3.00
1 Trailer Hitch          Rear                1       .00
Cargo Bay Capacity       Body                1     27.00
Environmental sealing    Body                0      7.50
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                           0          3     75.00
Items & Tons Left:                          17       .00

Calculated Factors:
Total Cost:        2,739,844 C-Bills
Battle Value 2:    223 (old BV = 61)
Cost per BV:       12,286.3
Weapon Value:      0 / 0 (Ratio = .00 / .00)
Damage Factors:    SRDmg = 0;  MRDmg = 0;  LRDmg = 0
BattleForce2:      MP: 4T,  Armor/Structure: 0 / 3
                   Damage PB/M/L: -/-/-,  Overheat: 0
                   Class: GH;  Point Value: 2
                   Specials: tran27


[Khymerion]

A very well reasoned series of next generation recovery vehicles.   Definitely will have to add them to the fleet of logistics vehicle designs maintained locally.   Thank you for sharing!

[Nikas_Zekeval]

Interesting, though personally I'd go with the original concept on the 50 ton vehicle, where armor was there to protect from cargo shifting around, and keep it wheeled.  Maybe get it up so the basic can haul a 70 ton mech?

Why the limited amphib capacity?

[Khymerion]

I would guess flooded fields and damaged bridges as obstacles for salvaging.   It would definitely be nice.

[sillybrit]

^^^ Saved me the reply.  :)

The choice of tracks instead of wheels is for similar reasons: it enables your forces to more easily recover 'Mechs from difficult terrain. Obviously wheeled versions could have a higher payload, perhaps freeing further mass by removing the amphib and/or winch, or reducing armor, so it's a question of what features are valued most.

[Siden Pryde]

These look great as-is.  The shared engine (and likely many other parts in fluff) cuts costs and simplifies logistics for the operator, while the tracked and limited amphibious chassis allow it to get to more places a downed mech would be than the original versions.  The lift hoist and trailer hitch just make it more versatile as well.  O0

[Matti]

Had you used two Lift Hoists, vehicle could haul 'Mech (or other stuff) up to its own weight with only -1 penalty to its cruise speed. With maximum of 4 Lift Hoists, vehicle can carry cargo TWICE ITS OWN WEIGHT with only the -1 to cruise speed! Unless it's been errataed... Anyway I've designed recovery vehicles myself and limited those to two Lift Hoists each. For comparison:
Heavy (tracked, multiple designs)
Medium (wheeled)
Light (hover)

[Khymerion]

Had you used two Lift Hoists, vehicle could haul 'Mech (or other stuff) up to its own weight with only -1 penalty to its cruise speed. With maximum of 4 Lift Hoists, vehicle can carry cargo TWICE ITS OWN WEIGHT with only the -1 to cruise speed! Unless it's been errataed... Anyway I've designed recovery vehicles myself and limited those to two Lift Hoists each. For comparison:
Heavy (tracked, multiple designs)
Medium (wheeled)
Light (hover)

Oh my, didn't realize that.   Good to know and thank you very much for sharing!