Rockhammer ProspectorMech (Fission)
Mass: 40 tons
Chassis: Ford RH-1
Power Plant: SMR Pattern 120 Fission
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Jump Jets: Rawlings 52+
Jump Capacity: 60 meters
Armor: Ford Safeguard
Armament:
1 Medium Laser
1 Fluid Gun
Manufacturer: Ford Motors Aldebaran
Primary Factory: Aldebaran (production halted in 2791)
Communication System: Astar-5
Targeting & Tracking System: None
Introduction Year: Circa 2800
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-E-D-D
Cost: 1,799,820 C-bills
Though the vast majority of raw materials that have fed human industry are havested within the boundaries of what might be described as "settled space", the territory beyond national borders has always enticed mineral prospectors looking to strike it rich for some very basic reasons. Sure, operating in the wilds of the Periphery cut off from support, rescue, or protection was certainly dangerous, but at the same time they were also free from oversight, regulations, taxes, fees, and (for more malicious prospectors) labor laws. Though many of these prospecting expeditions would end in failure, as finding a good mining site in the uncharted depths of the periphery could take years of expensive searching and surveying, a good strike on a vein of strategic metals could net a crew more than they could ever hope to earn in the Inner Sphere, or even leave them set for life.
Though it was not specifically built for this market of would be periphery gold hunters, the Rockhammer ProspectorMech, produced by the Aldebaran Branch of Ford Motors, was and still is a common tool of the periphery prospector, even if the march of time (and loss of technology) has forced some changes over the years. The most familiar version of the Rockhammer still maintains most of the capabilities of the original. Designed for the hazardous or completely airless environments of the planetoids and asteroids where the richest mineral deposits can often be found, the Rockhammer is a fully environmentally sealed and protected with four and a half tons of industrial grade Ford Safeguard plating, making the machine reasonably resistant to debris or micro meteor impacts. The Rockhammer is not particularly fast or mobile, nor does it need to be for its design role, however the mech does include a pair of jump jets specifically for more easily navigating zero or near zero gravity environments, though even then only experienced pilots are generally expected to make use of this capability.
Though a ProspectorMech isn't strictly the same thing as a MiningMech, the basics of the job aren't terribly dissimilar, and the Rockhammer is equipped accordingly. In addition to a mining drill arm, the standard Rockhammer carries a military grade medium laser on the opposite arm for cutting through particularly stubborn materials, as well as a fluid gun typically used to deliver chemical solutions formulated to soften or break up certain material deposits either for collection or to clear them out of the way. Though these systems are intended for industrial use, and the Rockhammer lacks anything more than the most basic computer aided fire control system, over the centuries more than a few Rockhammers have used these weapons to defend themselves from pirates, thieves, or claim jumpers. Harvested materials could then be hauled back to base camp for analysis either using the mech's hand, or loaded onto the mech's lift hoist. Once a profitable vein of material was located, Rockhammers could then assist with the extraction, though this often took the form of simply drilling the holes where rockbreaking charges (anything from large conventional explosives to nuclear warheads) would be placed.
The most substantial change to the Rockhammer since their heyday in the Star League era has been the replacement of the fusion power plant with a new one, most commonly a thorium or uranium fission reactor based on the Gas Cooled Small Modular Reactor designs dating from as far back as before the outer reaches rebellion. Though building and fueling such reactors are expensive, the actual design of the reactor is surprisingly simple, particularly compared to modern fusion or even some fuel cell alternatives, and the fission plant allows a modern Rockhammer to operate to largely the same capacity as its fusion powered predecessors. Though cleanup of a damaged or destroyed Rockhammer creates its own challenges, and the use of fissionable fuels can cause problems on many more "civilized" worlds, it is an effective system that has kept most Rockhammers in service long past the point where other IndustrialMechs might have been abandoned or scrapped for parts.
In addition to the large numbers once employed by more established firms in the Inner Sphere and Near Periphery, many thousands of Rockhammers found their way into the Periphery during the golden age of the Star League, and despite production grinding to a halt following widespread damage to Aldebaran during the First Succession War, many hundreds still operate in the periphery today, often alongside newer models of ProspectorMechs like the Rockhound. Though newer machines are arguably more capable and reliable, many old hands continue to swear by their centuries old Rockhammers even as alternatives become more and more common.
Variants:
The original specifications for the Rockhammer called for the same GM fusion engine used by the Wasp and carries three additional tons of armor plating. Though rare, examples of Rockhammers in their original configuration still operate both in the Inner Sphere and the Periphery, and their numbers have actually increased to some degree since the 3050s, as greater availability of fusion power plants have seen some owners convert their Rockhammers back to fusion power. A large scale effort to do the same with those that remain is unlikely, however, as many of those who aren't happy with their Rockhammers as is are more likely to look into purchasing a "spacehound" variant of the Rockhound instead.
While a fission plant was the most common replacement for a Rockhammer's original engine, it was not the only solution. Some users instead went with a fuel cell engine, which required giving up the jump jets entirely but did allow for a tiny bit of extra armor. Though this refit is arguably capable enough in most circumstances, the loss of zero-gravity mobility means it is much less well regarded in what passes for the prospecting community.
While most Rockhammers have suffered from the general decline of the Succession Wars, some have most definitely suffered more than others. The so called "stripped" Rockhammer has given up its engine, its armor, and even its environmental sealing and any equipment more advanced than its mining drill. Now confined to planets with breathable atmospheres, these Rockhammers operate more like traditional MiningMechs, and commonly mount an additional lift hoist and cargo space to increase their hauling capacity.
And of course, the periphery being what it is, there are "MilitiaMech" variants of the Rockhammer as well. One common pattern removes the fluid gun and lift hoist for an extra medium laser and a small missile rack, and is usually used as a guard mech at a dig site or mining outpost. A more traditional MilitiaMech variant starts with a "stripped" Rockhammer, and adds back the medium laser along with an appropriately intimidating amount of rockets. Looks can be deceiving, however, as this version has only limited heat dissipation capability, and a pilot that doesn't know to husband their shots is very likely to push their machine into shutdown.
Type: Rockhammer ProspectorMech
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Tonnage: 40
Battle Value: 328
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure Industrial 8
Engine 120 Fission 7
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 2
Heat Sink 5 0
Gyro 2
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor (Industrial ) 48 4.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head 3 5
Center Torso 12 7
Center Torso (rear) 2
R/L Torso 10 5
R/L Torso (rear) 2
R/L Arm 6 5
R/L Leg 10 5
Right Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm, Lower Arm
Left Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm, Lower Arm, Hand
Weapons
and Ammo Location Critical Heat Tonnage
Environmental Sealing - - - 4.0
Heat Sink CT 1 - 1.0
Jump Jet RT 1 - 0.5
Lift Hoist/Arresting Hoist RT 3 - 3.0
Medium Laser LA 1 3 1.0
Fluid Gun LA 2 0 2.0
Fluid Gun Ammo (20) LA 1 - 1.0
Jump Jet LT 1 - 0.5
Searchlight LT 1 - 0.5
Mining Drill RA 4 - 3.0
Record Sheets of the Rockhammer and its variants, as well as so many other units, can be downloaded using the link in the first post of this thread:
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=84454.0Author's note: I made this because the Rockhound has an introductory date of 3042 and the periphery needed a prospector mech
