Sticking to the WW2 general naming convention started with the Patton and Rommel the Messe MBT is named in honor of Italian General Giovanni Messe.
Messe Main Battle Tank
Mass: 55 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Advanced Rules
Era: All Eras (non-canon)
Tech Rating/Era Availability:
Production Year:
Cost: 2,200,000 C-Bills
Battle Value: 764
Power Plant: 220 Fuel Cell Engine
Cruise Speed: 43.2 km/h
Flanking Speed: 64.8 km/h
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
1 Autocannon/10
1 Light PPC
2 Light Machine Guns
1 CASE
Manufacturer:
Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:
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==Background==
The last 50 years the Aporian Republic has been working toward the Messe Main Battle Tank. The Republic has been expanding its industrial base and technical expertise to become totally self-sufficient in terms of arms production. To do this the Republic has resorted to licensed production of some equipment, government funded research and development, and not a little subterfuge to develop the talent and resources.
==Design==
The Messe MBT may not be state of the art in terms of Inner Sphere technology and design but it is state of the art for the Aporian Republic. In line with standard Aporian practice the tank is on the lighter side and fuel cell powered to help keep costs down; its primary firepower is the tried and true Hispano Fabrica 107 autocannon (AC/10), a weapon the Aporians have been producing for decades. The Messe’s electronics are obsolete by most any standard but they are robust, very reliable and, more than adequate for the task. In fact, the Messe has only two technologies that are anything close to new tech: its armor and its secondary weapon, a light PPC.
The Messe is the first Aporian armored vehicle design to be equipped with ferro-fibrous armor, which is produced on the Republic’s capitol world of Trentino. The light PPC has been purchased in quantity from the Capellen Confederation but given the Republic’s ambitions and current production of standard sized PPCs many analysts think it’s only a matter of time before it is building its own. It’s worth noting the Republic only began standard PPC production for its Hippeus Cavalry Tank a few years ago.
As a side note: the Messe was intended to be powered by a fusion engine, the same as that in the Hippeus Cavalry Tank. However, since the Republic’s industrial base has not perfected the art of producing military grade fusion engines and the expense of importing them the High Command decided the Messe will use a fuel cell like most vehicle designs in the Republic. The High Command hopes to have a functional fusion production facility by the time the Bersaglieri BattleMech is ready for production. Until then the Republic must rely on imports, mostly from the Magistracy of Canopus.
==Deployment==
Republic Guard plans for the Messe MBT are to replace the Cavallero medium tank on a one-for-one basis. Cavallero tanks will be shifted to reserve units, replacing elderly Skopios light tanks after refurbishment to extend their service life. Replacing all Cavalleros in frontline service is expected to take a decade or more.
==Variants==
Currently the Republic Guard has developed two variants of the Messe, a command tank and an armored recovery vehicle. The command tank exchanges some of its AC ammunition for the space for C3ISR terminal*. A fifth crewman is also shoehorned into the tank to crew the terminal. The armored recovery vehicle is fairly typical for its type equipped with a bulldozer blade to help anchor the vehicle during a difficult recovery operation and a large combination crane and winch system. The vehicle also carries a full complement of tools for recovery operations and repair work and has space for a complete tech or mechanic squad: assuming the vehicle crew is a part of that squad, which it typically is.
*1 ton of communications equipment to simulate for long range comm gear and a rudimentary C3 system.
==Combat Record==
The Messe MBT has not be involved in active combat yet but given the state of relations with the Marian Hegemony most consider it just a matter of time before it gets its baptism of fire. In realistic field exercises it has proven reliable and is popular with its crews, whether its popularity is due to its own merits or its predecessor’s lack thereof is still up in the air.
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 30 points 5.50
Engine: Fuel-Cell Engine 220 12.00
Cruise MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 5 4.00
Control Equipment: 3.00
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Power Amplifiers: 0.50
Turret: 1.50
Sponson Turrets: 0.50
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous AV - 143 8.00
Armor
Factor
Front 36
Left/Right 28/28
Turret 28
Rear 23
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
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Light Machine Gun LSpT 0 1 0.50
Light Machine Gun RSpT 0 1 0.50
Autocannon/10 T 3 1 12.00
Light PPC T 5 1 3.00
CASE BD - 1 0.50
@AC/10 (30) BD - 0 3.00
@LMG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 5 Points: 8
4t 2 2 1 0 2 0 Structure: 3
Special Abilities: CASE, EE, TUR(2/2/1, AC 1/1/0), AC 1/1/0