Cataphract CTF-3B

[Black_Knyght]

A  3075 era experimental Federated Commonwealth heavy battlemech for thoughts, opinions, and constructive input.
(I'm actually surprised there are NO canon RAC versions of the Cataphract)



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Cataphract CTF-3B

Code: [Select]

Cataphract CTF-3B
-------------------
Base Tech Level: Experimental (IS)
Level: 4  Era: Succession Wars
-------------------
Experimental     3075 
Advanced      3075-3099
Standard        3100+ 
Tech Rating: E/X-X-F-D

Weight: 70 tons
BV: 1,841
Cost: 11,723,370 C-bills
Source: TRO - Black Knights

Movement: 4/6/4
Engine: 280 Light
Double Heat Sinks: 16 [32]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107
Armor: 203/217 (Light Ferro-Fibrous)
                     Internal  Armor   
----------------------------------------
Head                        3      9   
Center Torso               22     32   
Center Torso (rear)               10   
Right Torso                15     23   
Right Torso (rear)                 7   
Left Torso                 15     23   
Left Torso (rear)                  7   
Right Arm                  11     21   
Left Arm                   11     21   
Right Leg                  15     25   
Left Leg                   15     25   

Weapons          Loc  Heat 
----------------------------
ER PPC            LT   15   
Rotary AC/5       RA    1   
ER Medium Laser   RA    5   
ER Medium Laser   LA    5   

Ammo              Loc  Shots 
------------------------------
Rotary AC/5 Ammo   RT     20 
Rotary AC/5 Ammo   RT     20 
Rotary AC/5 Ammo   RT     20 

Equipment  Loc 
----------------
CASE II     RT

[Nightsong]

Maybe I’m misremembering, but didn’t the Cappies manage to take back the Cataphract-producing factories? Would explain the lack of CataRACs.

[Black_Knyght]

Not sure, to be honest.

I do know Davion built their own version/s, but surprisingly none with their vaunted RACs.

[Demon55]

Looks like a good build.  I like how you have the weapons spread across the chassis.  Both the Cataphract and the Caesar just beg to have their right torsos popped.

[Black_Knyght]

Thanx! I never like the idea of having all my major weapons on one side either, for that very reason. ;)

[Black_Knyght]

And a couple of just because I cans...


Cataphract CTF-3B (v2)

Code: [Select]

Cataphract CTF-3B (v2)
-------------------
Base Tech Level: Experimental (IS)
Level: 4  Era: Succession Wars
-------------------
Experimental     3075 
Advanced      3075-3099
Standard        3100+ 
Tech Rating: E/X-X-F-D

Weight: 70 tons
BV: 1,716
Cost: 11,837,270 C-bills
Source: TRO - Black Knights

Movement: 4/6/4
Engine: 280 Light
Double Heat Sinks: 15 [30]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107
Armor: 197/217 (Ferro-Fibrous)
                     Internal  Armor   
----------------------------------------
Head                        3      9   
Center Torso               22     30   
Center Torso (rear)               10   
Right Torso                15     24   
Right Torso (rear)                 6   
Left Torso                 15     24   
Left Torso (rear)                  6   
Right Arm                  11     20   
Left Arm                   11     20   
Right Leg                  15     24   
Left Leg                   15     24   

Weapons          Loc  Heat 
----------------------------
Ultra AC/10       RA    4   
ER PPC            LT   15 
ER Medium Laser   RA    5   
ER Medium Laser   LA    5   

Ammo              Loc  Shots 
------------------------------
Ultra AC/10 Ammo   RT     10 
Ultra AC/10 Ammo   RT     10 

Equipment  Loc 
----------------
CASE II     RT

Cataphract CTF-3B (v3)

Code: [Select]

Cataphract CTF-3B (v3)
-------------------
Base Tech Level: Experimental (IS)
Level: 4  Era: Succession Wars
-------------------
Experimental     3075 
Advanced      3075-3099
Standard        3100+ 
Tech Rating: E/X-X-F-D

Weight: 70 tons
BV: 1,684
Cost: 11,821,970 C-bills
Source: TRO - Black Knights

Movement: 4/6/4
Engine: 280 Light
Double Heat Sinks: 15 [30]
Gyro: Standard Gyro

Internal: 107
Armor: 215/217 (Ferro-Fibrous)
                     Internal  Armor   
----------------------------------------
Head                        3      9   
Center Torso               22     34   
Center Torso (rear)               10   
Right Torso                15     24   
Right Torso (rear)                 6   
Left Torso                 15     24   
Left Torso (rear)                  6   
Right Arm                  11     21   
Left Arm                   11     21   
Right Leg                  15     30   
Left Leg                   15     30   

Weapons            Loc  Heat 
------------------------------
Light Gauss Rifle   RA    1   
ER PPC              LT   15   
ER Medium Laser     RA    5 
ER Medium Laser     LA    5 
 
Ammo                    Loc  Shots 
------------------------------------
Light Gauss Rifle Ammo   RT     16 
Light Gauss Rifle Ammo   RT     16 

Equipment  Loc 
----------------
CASE II     RT

[Gigastrike]

Very sensible design.  Can't complain.  Looks like a good defender.

Edit: Well actually, I wonder how much value it gains from the RAC/5 being on the arm.  I feel like a major aspect of this mech is the durability, and it might lose too much too easily if the one arm got blown off.  With the jump jets and good heat management, I don't think you would worry too much about positioning the field of fire.  Is it just to fire behind itself with more than just a medium laser?

[Black_Knyght]

Honestly, the inspiration came from the posted picture and the realization than the 'Phract had no canon Davion-esque RAC variants.

[Gigastrike]

I get that.

[Hellraiser]

Maybe I’m misremembering, but didn’t the Cappies manage to take back the Cataphract-producing factories? Would explain the lack of CataRACs.

They had always kept 1 of them, & then, yes, IIRC, it was produced at Tikonov so they got the other one back in 3067, so there was still 5 years in there to make a RAC variant.

RAC-5 is certainly better than Ultra-5 in raw damage, though it suffers in the Range & heat brackets.