BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat
BattleTech Player Boards => Fan Articles => Topic started by: Moonsword on 14 November 2011, 18:11:10
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Vehicle of the Week: Aithon Assault Transport
One of the newest vehicle offerings from the Hell's Horses, long-time proponents of combined arms warfare among the heirs of Kerensky, the Aithon is in a lot of ways the Clan answer to the Trajan. The product of Swedenberg Heavy Industries on Kirchbach, a possession the Wolves had overlooked but the Horses retooled to produce the Zephyros, the Aithon is suggested by the Republic's analysts to replace the Oro and the Indra. Leaving aside my usual suggestion of drugs in the water tank, there's a little something to the idea, although like the Zephyros, there's also a few details someone at Republic DMI seems to have forgotten about. Built as a transport and attached to assault forces for engaging and defeating strong points, the Aithon has also seen some use as salvage vehicles or prisoner transports.
At 100 tons, the Aithon is as big as it gets for ground combat vehicles under standard rules (although the design is not a standard rules unit), and it's obliged to use tracks under those same rules. Power is provided by a 300-rated extralight fusion engine; whatever you want to say about the cost, the Aithon's effectiveness at being an assault IFV depends on having a lot of tonnage available, so getting rid of it means a severe cut to speed, armament, or toughness. The Horses have a point to what they're doing here, although whether it's worth the price is a somewhat different issue. Personally, I think it's not a bad option for the job, but I'm sure others are going to disagree with that. One other feature of the motive system goes into explaining why that tonnage was so necessary - at 10 tons, the armored motive system is heavy but also means that while it operates in an environment prone to flank attacks, it's less vulnerable to motive hits than most vehicles. Since it's also less vulnerable to damage thanks to the 12.5 tons of ferro-lamellor armor, the Aithon is fairly well off thanks to the distribution of 37/37/34/30. The last non-weapon feature is the 10 ton battle armor bay. Before I get into explaining how wasteful the energy armament is, I want to point something out: It's fairly effective. Clan MPLs are very nearly the equal of the old ISLL that was used in singletons or pairs as main guns by a number of units for damage back in the day and inside their reach, their accuracy makes them a severe nuisance. Anyone getting close to an Aithon is going to know they got kissed, especially if Elementals or Gnomes start piling out to say hello. You don't have to like the tradeoffs made to get the MPLs but I've seen far more dubious choices of armament out of tanks in the process of writing this column for a year and a half. (My personal vote for the oddest still goes to the Panther's side-mounted LRM 20s.) Combine them with the LTC's ability to lay a serious hurt down on lighter units as they close and you've got an armament that's strange, quirky, inefficient, and most importantly, works reasonably well. That said, when I said wasteful, I meant it. The extra heat sinks involved mean that the 3rd MPL costs you 4 tons, while the 4th MPL (and any others afterward) would be 6 tons each; combined, it's 10% of the Aithon's tonnage tied up in two MPLs. This isn't actually the worst problem with the weapons, although it probably explains it. No, that would be that the Long Tom Cannon is forward mounted, so when someone gets into your flanks, it's down to the pulse lasers to deal with them. Granted, you don't want to be firing an LTC right next to you, but the loss of flexibility hurts.
The first thing you want to do using an Aithon is assign a crew to it that knows what they're doing. While LTCs are reasonably accurate against units moving fast enough to generate TMMs, the fact that they scatter when they miss means you need to take care with what you're doing anyway lest it scatter either onto your own forces or onto something you don't want to get hit, like a building. And that's not just about reducing collateral damage, either - a scatter into a building can bring some of them down and if you're using the right rules out of TacOps, the collapse may hit your own forces anyway. Or you might hit a gas tank, with similarly destructive results. On the other hand, that same potential for mayhem makes the LTC an enormously useful tactical demolition tool. It's as powerful as a Sniper or Arrow artillery piece but can be employed immediately, not whenever the round lands. So, overall, what we have here is a siege machine, an assault-level infantry fighting vehicle that, combined with close integration with the battle armor it operates alongside, can pack a significant punch. We may also be looking at part of an integrated Horse solution to heavy urban assault scenarios: Aithons to smash strongpoints and Elemental IIs, which are much better at moving through buildings despite their lighter weapons. Combine them with standard Toads or Gnomes operated out of Anhurs for air assault and a mixture of assault and jump-capable fast 'Mechs to provide the armored fist and I can see why the Horses did what they did. For all the complaints about the C-Bill price, the price in BV is nicely low considering what you're getting, low enough to get a couple of points of APGR Elementals and still be under 3k.
Stopping Aithons is... interesting. They aren't as vulnerable to the usual method of dealing with assault tanks, namely disabling them with crit-seekers, and their armor is decent enough considering their weaponry. That said, they're still going to be slow whatever happens and the armor isn't that tough, either, especially if you're Clans Wolf or Jade Falcon and therefore have Clan weapons to throw at the problem. One worthwhile option is bringing your own artillery cannons or other AE weapons to deal with the Aithon and pound its battle armor down quickly. The last thing you need while you're fighting one of these beasts is a couple of points of Elementals (or worse, Gnomes, Golems, or other heavy armor under TW weights) coming in swinging. Another is Infernos, which couldn't care less about the armored motive system and can wreck things like the weapons or engine. Whatever you do, try to stay out of the front arc and don't clump up. LTCs may not do just oodles of damage but they can hurt, especially smaller units. In particular, keep battle armor at a safe distance - LTCs that hit dead on will destroy any suit in the game.
Reference: Once again, we're out here ahead of the curve, with no one else covering the vehicle just yet, but I do have a picture (http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/2461/aithon.png).
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Puma, not Panther btw :)
As for the rest..let me look over the design and I'll get back to you on it :)
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...Just how big is that monster? It's got a freakin' observation deck on it! :D
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Great article. This tank and the Hephaestus Jump Tank both make me want to run a Hell's Horses Jihad-era campaign.
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It's a StuG or maybe an ISU-152 with a full complement of tank-descent battle armour on board. Maybe someone thinks being ambushed by Demolishers in a parking garage just isn't funny anymore.
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I have a really sick thought. The Ironholds are listed as being "extensively deployed" and it shouldn't be hard at all for an honorable trial or two with the Horses. Anyone want to picture the ugly idea of a point of Fire Ironholds popping out of an Aithon for an assault Nova? [rockon]
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I have a really sick thought. The Ironholds are listed as being "extensively deployed" and it shouldn't be hard at all for an honorable trial or two with the Horses. Anyone want to picture the ugly idea of a point of Fire Ironholds popping out of an Aithon for an assault Nova? [rockon]
In other words, the Rommel howitzer's introduction is quite timely?
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...Just how big is that monster? It's got a freakin' observation deck on it! :D
Its a patio. If I ever get a mini for it I will be putting a BBQ, umbrella, table and mini-bar out there.
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Its a patio. If I ever get a mini for it I will be putting a BBQ, umbrella, table and mini-bar out there.
Aithon Recreational Transport? Replace the cannon with a giant tower of beer?
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I'm trying very hard to not like the Aithon. I really am. Too expensive, too gadgety... but... god I just can't get past the image of this vehicle flattening the stuff getting in its way. I think I'm in love.
Though I wonder if the fixed forward gun is a safety feature for the battle armor contingent. That Short Tom will reduce any point of any battle armor to ash in a single blast. With it fixed forward like that, as long as the battle armor knows not to stand in front of the aithon, they don't have to worry about sudden accidental vaporization.
this seemed relevant (http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2007-05-22)
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I get the design for the most part..or atleast I get what its supposed to do. I'm just not sure the design clicks with me. Drive up, hit defensive positions with the Long Tom Cannon, then move the infantry in.
I suppose it works well for the Assault Clusters, but I'm having a hard time seeing this replacing the Indra, which seems geared towards killing conventional infantry. Sure, the Aithon can do that, but only as long as the infantry is in front of it. Once they get to the side, the design is in trouble, even with 4 MPLs providing cover.
So..I get it. I just don't..get it I guess.
Not to mention I'm always confused when it comes to how Artillery cannons work exactly and if all of those modifiers really apply :)
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I am not totally convinced of the utility of the Armored Motive System given the way FL Armor removes the threat of LB-X cluster ammunition - the 3rd and 4th MPL are a bit of a waste but given the role I am hard pressed to find an alternative.
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While the Aithon is expensive, it serves a role in transporting and supporting assault battle armor in high-intensity sieges, and is therefore worth the cost for assault units. On the other hand, I have to wonder what those analysts where smoking. Indra is for fast deployment of conventional infantry, Oro is a tank that also serves as an AA platform.
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I am not totally convinced of the utility of the Armored Motive System given the way FL Armor removes the threat of LB-X cluster ammunition - the 3rd and 4th MPL are a bit of a waste but given the role I am hard pressed to find an alternative.
I wouldn't mind seeing the 4th MPL dropped for some APGRs (Maybe 6 + 2 tons of ammo and an active probe) to deal with unarmored infantry or to finish of BA "wounded" by MPLs.
Cheers,
LCC
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It's an AT-AT, pure and simple. An AT-AT that does not fear NARC bola pods. "The SDS will be down momentarily, Khan Vader. You may begin your descent."
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I am not totally convinced of the utility of the Armored Motive System given the way FL Armor removes the threat of LB-X cluster ammunition [...]
Except, of course, that ferro-lamellor armor doesn't actually do anything about motive system hits at all, and even a shot reduced to zero damage by it can still cause one. (Ferro-Lamellor Armor rules text, TacOps p. 280)
No, that armored motive system is still there for good reason.
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I wouldn't mind seeing the 4th MPL dropped for some APGRs (Maybe 6 + 2 tons of ammo and an active probe) to deal with unarmored infantry or to finish of BA "wounded" by MPLs.
See, that was my thought as well.
On the other hand, I have to wonder what those analysts where smoking. Indra is for fast deployment of conventional infantry, Oro is a tank that also serves as an AA platform.
Well, relatively fast deployment. The Indra is only 5/8. Some of the new upgrades from RS3060U put it to shame.
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It's an AT-AT, pure and simple. An AT-AT that does not fear NARC bola pods. "The SDS will be down momentarily, Khan Vader. You may begin your descent."
oh my god, that's SO the line i am going to use when i bring these puppies to a game. :D
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When?! I'm hosed...
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well, i worked out a few forces utilizing the machines from TRO:Protos and the various 3085 sheets... so far i've used the Boosted C3 force, the Lyran Heavy PPC orgy, and i've got Aithons / Hephestus jumpers, and Elemental IIs to try.
fear the Stampede of Steel!
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Puma, not Panther btw :)
Well, I had another name for the cat the vehicle's named after. That's an improvement over some of the typos.
Great article. This tank and the Hephaestus Jump Tank both make me want to run a Hell's Horses Jihad-era campaign.
Both units are introduced in the early Dark Age, actually, but I can understand the sentiment. Keep in mind that one of the things that's around to handle big problems for an Aithon is the Hellstar. That's going to be all kinds of fun.
I wouldn't mind seeing the 4th MPL dropped for some APGRs (Maybe 6 + 2 tons of ammo and an active probe) to deal with unarmored infantry or to finish of BA "wounded" by MPLs.
Cheers,
LCC
I'm with you on that and love the proposed loadout. I think part of the reason they didn't go that route was the fact that it's supposed to be operating closely with various types of BA. Elemental IIs and most Elemental loadouts can more than handle conventional infantry, so focusing on providing accurate fire to tear into armor probably made some sense. It's the sort of design decision I can see being made by the Horses or by
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This is the Land Raider of the CBT universe. I can see one charging through a building to disgorge
Angrymarines Elementals. These things (backed up by Indras with conventional infantry, and a couple hephestus jump for the lulz) would pretty much make an entire area a no-go zone.
I don't think there is a similar mechanized battlearmor force solution to these things other than airdropping your metal men directly on top of the force and praying to your local god(s) of choice. Even arty isn't the best solution, as the Aithon is pretty tough and can shrug off a couple of direct hits before getting to worried.
I wonder, does this monster have a foosball table and beer fridge in it?
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oh my god, that's SO the line i am going to use when i bring these puppies to a game. :D
The amusing thing is It's name can be constructed to be AT-AT, as it's AiThon Assault Transport.
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This is the Land Raider of the CBT universe. I can see one charging through a building to disgorge Angrymarines Elementals. These things (backed up by Indras with conventional infantry, and a couple hephestus jump for the lulz) would pretty much make an entire area a no-go zone.
I don't think there is a similar mechanized battlearmor force solution to these things other than airdropping your metal men directly on top of the force and praying to your local god(s) of choice. Even arty isn't the best solution, as the Aithon is pretty tough and can shrug off a couple of direct hits before getting to worried.
I wonder, does this monster have a foosball table and beer fridge in it?
A few Rommel Howitzers, Demo IIs, or Challengers can do a lot to make it a very unfriendly neighbourhood.
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It certainly takes the Taihou to the next level in the realm assault transports.
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Its like a bigger, harder hitting Marksman. Not thrilled with the armoured motive system, but it makes sense for the assault gun/assault BA transport it is.
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I just noticed the BV... that's cute :P
Great article BTW, and thanks to Einhander I will now always think of Elementals as Angrymarines :D
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Its like a bigger, harder hitting Marksman. Not thrilled with the armoured motive system, but it makes sense for the assault gun/assault BA transport it is.
It's not just that. These things are meant to get into urban or might-as-well-be-urban combat, where you're frequently taking a lot of flank shots and light hits from infantry or skirmisher units. An armored motive system significantly reduces the risk of getting disabled from those hits, especially with ferro-lamellor reducing the damage as well. The fact that they blunt the risk of "Whoopsies!" with the LTC, at least to the tank itself, is pure gravy.
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I wouldn't mind seeing the 4th MPL dropped for some APGRs (Maybe 6 + 2 tons of ammo and an active probe) to deal with unarmored infantry or to finish of BA "wounded" by MPLs.
hmm .... I'd trade the 4th MPL ( + 4 Heat sinks) for a LB 2-X and a ton of ammo :D (nothing says "The Dice Don't Like You!" like being plinked from 30 hexes away and having your pristine unit taken out by a GoldenBB). And, even without TAC's, the range + flack bonus for cluster ammo makes even a single LB x-2 a threat to anything that flies.
I'd then trade the 3rd MPL ( + 2 heat sinks) for 6 APGRs and a ton of ammo [two APGRs in the turret, 1 mounted on each side?)
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hmm .... I'd trade the 4th MPL ( + 4 Heat sinks) for a LB 2-X and a ton of ammo :D (nothing says "The Dice Don't Like You!" like being plinked from 30 hexes away and having your pristine unit taken out by a GoldenBB). And, even without TAC's, the range + flack bonus for cluster ammo makes even a single LB x-2 a threat to anything that flies.
I'd then trade the 3rd MPL ( + 2 heat sinks) for 6 APGRs and a ton of ammo [two APGRs in the turret, 1 mounted on each side?)
AMS, you can never go wrong with AMS on assault tanks!