OK, after recontemplating previous commentary, I came up with what I think is a finalized version of this one. Did this one up in my phone in Mech Factory instead of sleeping.
Wasp (Not-LAM) WSP-100NL
3150 IS Light
Source: My Own Custom /
Type/Model: Wasp (Not-LAM) WSP-100NL
Tech: Inner Sphere / 3150
Config: Biped BattleMech
Rules: Level 4, Experimental design
Mass: 30 tons
Chassis: Harvard 12H
Power Plant: 150 Fusion
Walking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Running Speed: 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets: 5 Standard Jump Jet
Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Jump Jet Manufacturer: Rawlings 46 FX
Armor Type: Durallex Light Standard
Armament:
1 SRM 2
1 Medium Laser
1 Machine Gun
1 LRM 5
Manufacturer: Niops Project Workshops
Location: Niops V
Communications System: System: Rand 1200
Targeting and Tracking System: Rand LAMTar 100
==Overview:==
After their success with recreating the SHD-X2 Shadow Hawk LAM, and then modifying it for both their Militia and Interstellar Expeditions in the form of the SHD-X3, the Niops Association hoped to recreate that success by recreating the WSP-100 series Wasp LAM. They were less than successful, with the added complexities of a trimodal LAM proving beyond their abilities, forcing them to move in a different direction.
With the difficulties stemming primarily from the trimodal LAM conversion, Niopian engineers first sought to see if the conversion gear could be simplified and bulked up to make it bimodal. That too proved fruitless.
The next plan, then, was to take a page from the SLDF and make a standard BattleMech out of the Wasp LAM. This, of course, was famously done as the Valkyrie. Unfortunately, attempts to obtain a license to produce the Valkyrie proved impossible, so engineers had to essentially reinvent the wheel, starting with the basic WSP-100 chassis, to produce a new `Mech, the WSP-100NL Wasp, with the "NL" designating it as "Not-LAM".
==Capabilities:==
After discovering what they could not do, Project Workshop engineers sat down and carefully determined what they could do. While an LAM conversion proved impossible, the wing mounts of the original LAM were retained, with a simplified wing structure functioning in a manner equivalent to the partial wing system making headway on some Inner Sphere and Clan designs. When combined with a full set of conventional jump jets, this allowed the new Wasp to make leaps of up to 210 meters in standard atmospheres, and provided adept pilots a means to make unique maneuvers while airborne.
As with both the WSP-100A, the WSP-105M variant Wasp LAMs and, of course, the Valkyries the Niops Association Militia originally wanted, and LRM rack was chosen as the main standoff weapon for the new Wasp 100NL. Plans to use an LRM-10 were abandoned, however, over concerns of causing shortages in the revamped Burke tank program, as well lawsuits from Corean Enterprises for straying too close to the Valkyrie series in layout.
Militia procurement officers also differed in opinion with the MechWarrior corps. The MechWarriors wanted concentrated LRM fire in the new Wasp, essentially wanting a light, hard-hitting and durable `Mech like the Valkyrie, allowing other light `Mech to cover other roles. The procurement officers, however, pointed out the realities of the Militia budget, and that the new Niops Project Workshops may find themselves constrained to producing only five major combat units: the Prowler multi-terrain vehicle and Shadow Hawk LAM programs, both of which saw production split between the Militia and Interstellar Expeditions, and the Burke defense tank, Spad/Issedone aerospace fighter and Wasp 100NL being devoted exclusively to the Militia. There would be no room for another BattleMech design, and no real budget for a larger BattleMech.
The resultant weapons layout of the WSP-100NL Wasp looks exactly like you would expect: that it was designed by committee. Like the Wasp LAMs its derived from, and its cousin the VLK-QA Valkyrie, a single medium laser was mounted to the new Wasp, in this case centerline underneath the cockpit, providing it extra protection and freeing the use of both hand actuators for military engineering tasks. A lone LRM-5 launcher resides in the right torso, behind what was originally a blast door over the LAM`s bomb bay. Backing that up is a weapon seen as ubiquitous to Wasps everywhere, a single SRM-2 launcher mounted centerline, with its ammunition also riding in the side torso space vacated by the former bomb bay, and a torso-mounted machine gun provides a modicum of anti-infantry defense that, unlike a small pulse laser or flamer, won`t set things on fire. As an added benefit, engineers were able to convert the bomb bay space, now occupied by weaponry and ammunition, into cellular ammunition storage equipment, letting the WSP-100NL vent the explosive force of a premature ammunition detonation without utterly destroying the `Mech, and leaving it still largely able to maneuver and fight.
Unfortunately, what engineers found themselves unable to do was to add to the protection of the baseline WSP-100 chassis. Four tons of Durralex Light standard-grade armor plating protect the Wasp Not-LAM, leaving it vulnerable to larger weapon strikes in the battlefield, and forcing pilots to scrape every bit of maneuverability out of the `Mech, which, at least, is something it`s well-suited to do, but which does not help it`s reputation as an inferior knockoff of both the Wasp LAM and the Valkyrie.
==Deployment:==
To date, the new Niops Project Workshops have only managed limited production of the design for the Niops Association Militia, though they hope to be able to gear up eventually to the famous "one a month" production the automated Valkyrie factory once produced.
==Variants:==
With the new `Mech out the door, engineers and Militia Commander`s have already proposed a new dedicated recon variant of the new Wasp, one that trades almost all of existing weaponry and jump jets in favor of eight improved jump jets, a recon camera and remote sensor dispenser, with inky the medium laser of the current weaponry being retained. While no faster on the ground, this variant would maximize the use of the partial wing system, "flying" at speeds up to 108 kph, in a manner reminiscent of its progenitor`s AirMech mode.
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Type/Model: Wasp (Not-LAM) WSP-100NL
Mass: 30 tons
Equipment: Crits Mass
Int. Struct.: 51 pts Standard 0 3.00
Engine: 150 Fusion 6 5.50
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP:5 [7]
Heat Sinks: 10 Single 4 0.00
(Heat Sink Loc.: 2 LT,2 RT)
Gyro: 4 2.00
Cockpit, Life Supt., Sensors: 5 3.00
L: Sh+UA+LA+H R: Sh+UA+LA+H 8 0.00
Armor Factor: 64 Standard 0 4.00
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 8
Center Torso: 10 9
Center Torso (Rear): 3
L/R Side Torso: 7 7/7
L/R Side Torso (Rear): 3/3
L/R Arm: 5 5/5
L/R Leg: 7 7/7
Weapons and Equipment Loc Heat Ammo Crits Mass
---------------------------------------------------------
1 SRM 2 CT 2 50 2 2.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
1 Medium Laser HD 3 1 1.00
1 Machine Gun RT 0 100 2 1.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT*)
1 LRM 5 RT 2 24 2 3.00
(Ammo Locations: 1 RT)
CASE Equipment: RT- 0 1 0.50
1 Partial Wing LT 0 4 1.25
1 Partial Wing RT 0 4 1.25
5 Standard Jump Jets: - 0 5 2.50
(Jump Jet Loc: 1 CT,2 LL,2 RL)
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TOTALS: 7 5 12.50
Crits and Tons Left: 22
Calculated Factors
Total Cost: 2,281,240 C-Bill
Battle Value (BV1):619
Battle Value (BV2):648
