First introduced by the settlers that would go on to found the nation of Parnassus, the Scorpion tank has been the standard heavy combat platform used by the warring states of Goldbluff for centuries. While often derided as "popcorn" or "militia trash" among the more affluent armies of the Inner Sphere, on Goldbluff it is a powerful, flexible weapon platform well suited to operate alongside and fight against the large formations of infantry that make up the bulk of Goldbluff's armies, and as a consequence, the world may actually be home to the single largest concentration of Scorpion tanks in known space.
Being the largest of the handful of military grade combat vehicles produced by the nations of Goldbluff, the Scorpion hull has been reused to produce a number of variant models to handle specialized jobs. Two of the most common are the Anti-Air and the Mortar Carrier. The AA variant requires the most changes, not only stripping off nearly half the armor, but dropping in a smaller powerplant, all to make room for twin 40mm flak cannons. These guns (and the associated fire control radar) are exceptionally well suited to engaging the conventional aircraft used by the various powers, and are also equipped to function in a secondary ground support role (though at reduced effectiveness). Thin armor makes an individual vehicle vulnerable to the very aircraft it's meant to defend against, so the vehicles always operate in close, mutually supporting batteries, and usually as part of a larger air defense network that will incorporate other batteries, fighter support, and towed anti-air guns.
The armies of Goldbluff lack any sort of mobile artillery. The only heavy artillery pieces in their arsenals are found in fixed fortifications and aboard large naval vessels, and none of Goldbluff's nations have successfully developed an effective artillery piece small enough to be adapted to a Scorpion hull. As such, fire support during ground combat is provided by a mixture of close support aircraft and Mortar carriers. These vehicles were a much simpler conversion than the AA model, requiring simply changing out the weapons for a four barrel autoloading mortar. Though this weapon system doesn't have the reach to replace true artillery, the Mortar Carrier is still an effective close support system, especially when clearing out dug in formations of infantry or providing cover for an assault.
While these two examples are the most common, there are a number of other specialized Scorpion variants in service, such as minesweepers, bridgelayers, and recovery vehicles.
Scorpion Light Tank (AA)
Base Tech Level: Advanced (IS)
Level Era
-----------------------
Experimental -
Advanced 3025-3069
Standard 3070+
Tech Rating: E/X-F-F-E
Weight: 25 tons
BV: 224
Cost: 319,063 C-bills
Movement: 3/5 (Tracked)
Engine: 75 ICE
Internal: 15
Armor: 40
Internal Armor
---------------------------
Front 3 8
Right 3 8
Left 3 8
Rear 3 8
Turret 3 8
Weapons Loc Heat
--------------------
AC/2 TU 1
AC/2 TU 1
Ammo Loc Shots
----------------------------
Flak AC/2 Ammo BD 45
Additional Design Quirk: Anti-Air Targeting
Scorpion Light Tank (Mortar)
Base Tech Level: Standard (IS)
Level Era
-----------------------
Experimental -
Advanced 3025+
Standard -
Extinct 3025-3043
Tech Rating: E/X-F(F*)-F-E
Weight: 25 tons
BV: 252
Cost: 303,333 C-bills
Movement: 4/6 (Tracked)
Engine: 100 ICE
Internal: 15
Armor: 64
Internal Armor
---------------------------
Front 3 16
Right 3 11
Left 3 11
Rear 3 10
Turret 3 16
Weapons Loc Heat
---------------------------
'Mech Mortar 4 TU 5
Ammo Loc Shots
------------------------------------------
Anti-personnel Mortar 4 Ammo BD 6
Anti-personnel Mortar 4 Ammo BD 6
Smoke Mortar 4 Ammo BD 6
And before anybody says "But actually, you can fit a thumper on a twenty five ton chassis," rest assured that I am aware. It's just a bad idea. :P
