’Mech of the Week: STN-*** Sentinel
Sentinel. One watching for trouble and spreading the alert when he sees it. A robot that hunts mutants. An insane light warjack wielding a chain gun and a shield. And a 40-ton medium BattleMech, a Star League design.
Strangely, two synonyms of the word sentinel have also become BattleMechs.
Watchman and
Sentry. Both 40-tonners.
The
Sentinel is in part a result of a move to expand House Steiner’s personal household forces. Seemingly meant to guard installations, and to provide defensive firepower, this design started out as an exclusively Lyran product. This fact, enforced by contract, caused some consternation with Defiance’s Terran owners.
Entering service in 2651, the STN-1S is built to be a cheap unit in order to limit its effect on the new quotas. Built around a standard chassis and mounting a 240-rated fusion engine, the design can reach ground speeds equivalent to the same-weight Clint. Six tons of standard plate provide 70% of maximum, set in a 9, 12/7, 10/5, 8, 11 pattern (head, center front/rear, side front/rear, arms, legs). Weapons load consists of a left arm-mounted Class-2 autocannon, a right torso mounted 4-pack SRM launcher, and a small laser mounted beneath the SRM launcher. One ton of ammunition is allocated to each dependent weapon. Twelve heat sinks are more than adequate for the heat load, being able to run heat neutral even with an engine hit.
Eventually the -1S spread to Houses Davion and Marik. As well, the SLDF gained access when the Council passed an amendment that expanded all League state armies and specifically opened the
Sentinel to SLDF procurement. As well, they worked with Defiance to make an upgraded version which was slow to be acquired by Lyran purchasers in an economic lesson to the Steiners. This became the iconic STN-3L model. This design replaced the Class-2 autocannon with a Class-5 Ultra version. The 4-pack SRM was reduced to a 2-pack Streak variant. Two heat sinks were removed, as was a half ton of armor, which ends up being two points from the center front and side torso fronts, and one from each leg.
In 2715, the
Sentinel got the Royal treatment. The STN-3Lb utilizes an endo-steel skeleton, an extralight engine, and ferro-fibrous armor. Protection is now 97% of maximum and is laid out in a 9, 17/6, 14/5, 12, 20 pattern. The missile pack was swapped for a medium laser, and the autocannon was traded for a Gauss Rifle, with two tons of ammunition. This variant is one of the many my gamemaster wished he had known of when we did the Tukayyid scenario pack.
The Exodus came, and with it two major effects. First, was that the Lyrans gained total control over Defiance and its production lines. This meant, for a time at least, they could produce as many
Sentinels as they wished, possibly even Royal variants. The second was not as nice. The Succession Wars soon caused the loss of much technological know-how.
In 2830, three downgraded models entered service. The first, the STN-3K differs from the STN-3L , by downgrading the Class-5 Ultra to a standard model, while doubling the ammunition reserves for the weapon. The Streak was replaced with a standard model, the weight savings used to bring the armor load back to that of the STN-1S. The second variant, designated the STN-3KA replaces the Class-5 with a large laser, three heat sinks, and two tons of armor, laid out in a 9, 18/5, 15/4, 11, 18 pattern. The third, the STN-3KB, swaps the Class-5 for a PPC and three heat sinks.
Around the turn of the thirty-first century, the production line was shut down for lack of useable parts. This happened as the
Sentinel did not do well in Succession Wars fighting, and a shift in Lyran thinking (
Zeus for best light ’Mech). The production line was restarted in the 3020’s, but retooled for the
Hatchetman. However, the LostTech renaissaince of the 3030s did allow for the design’s return.
In 3035, the new up-teched STN-3M showed up. It is similar to the STN-3L, but uses a homegrown non-Streak 2-pack SRM launcher, and swaps the small laser for a medium. The next variant, the STN-4D arrived in 3063. This Davion creation swaps the Ultra and SRM pack for a Class-5 rotary autocannon, fed by two tons of ammunition. One ton of armor was added, giving the design protection in a 9, 19/5, 15/5, 12, 14 pattern. In 3065, ComStar decided to create the STN-C model, which takes a -3M model and swaps the medium laser for a C3 Slave unit.
The final variant, the STN-5WB is the result of the Blakist occupation of Hesperus II. Premiering in 3070, this model uses a light engine and replaces the heat sinks with double-strength models. Weaponry consists of two Class-5 light autocannons, fed by one ton of CASEd ammunition, and three extended model medium lasers, one in each torso. Six and a half tons of armor give protection in a 9, 15/4, 11/4, 9, 14 pattern.
Using one starts with realizing that you are not likely to survive a stand-up fight. You need friends. You were designed to be a picket for the main force. In other words, if you see something tell your buddies. Each variant has a weapon that can snipe at range, backed up usually with closer-in weaponry. However, against anything heavier than you, you are likely in deep crap if you get too close. Do note, that if you do end up at range one, you have a free hand to punch (though kicking is also fine, if you have a good pilot). As you don’t have jump jets, try not to get caught in places where you cannot maneuver.
Fighting one is simple. Shoot it until it drops. If you have better speed or maneuverability, close and get behind him to really ruin his day. Do note, that against the Royal variant, he does have a headcapper. His speed is his best defense, but since things like the
Ti Ts’ang can match him on the ground, and jump as well, this is not as good as can be.
While this design could make it through into the Dark Ages, the damage inflicted by the Word of Blake on the Hesperus II production lines may have put an end to its production. And then there is the Republic. Not being sure where the borderlines were drawn, it may be on their side of the border. Whether it would survive the decommissioning fever is unknown. Frankly, if it remained in Lyran control, it is possible that it would be decommissioned in favor of something heavier… like an
Atlas II line.
