Axel "Ullr"
Mass: 65 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Advanced Rules
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-D-A
Production Year: 3052
Cost: 1,388,063 C-Bills
Battle Value: 723
Power Plant: DAV 195 I.C.E.
Cruise Speed: 32.4 km/h
Flanking Speed: 54.0 km/h
Armor: StarSlab 6 Standard Armor
Armament:
1 Sniper
3 Cyclops, Inc. Kicker Machine Guns
1 Buzzsaw Anti-Missile System
Manufacturer: Gorton, Kingsley, and Thorpe
Primary Factory: Satalice
Communications System: TharHes Muse
Targeting and Tracking System: TharHes Mars5
Overview:
"Ullr" was a highly modified Axel heavy tank constructed by techs from the 2nd Karbala Heavy Armor following the Battle of Tukkayyid. Ullr made extensive use of salvaged ComStar technology to turn the tank from a standard line tank into a highly effective fire support platform.
The 21-day battle for Tukkayyid left the planet littered with the husks of ComStar and Clan weaponry. While the 2nd Kavalleri and it's associated armored regiment the 2nd Karbala Heavy Armor sat out the conflict due to ComStar's desire to adhere to Clan norms, they were moved to the world following the Truce that followed the battle.
The Free Rasalhauge units had been ravaged by being in the path of the invading Crusader Clans, and turned to whatever they could to rebuild as quickly as possible. Accordingly, they salved whatever technology that they could from the wreckage of Tukkayid to help rebuild.
Initially ComStar raised some objections to this. They had won a significant victory over the Clans, and many of the technologies they had employed were LosTech within the Inner Sphere. However, following the embarrassing failure of Operation Scorpion they withdrew their objections.
Capabilities:
Ullr was built by Sergeant Olaf Isaacsson using the chassis of a badly damaged Axel as a base. The existing tank had lost its primary weapon during combat against Clan Wolf on Lothan. It was originally to be scrapped as not only the main gun but also the primary turret structure had been badly damaged.
Instead, Isaacsson and his techs built an entirely new frame. Into that frame went a single weapon, a massive Sniper artillery piece scavenged from a destroyed Com Guard Marksman artillery tank. This weapon massed considerably more than the class-20 autocannon that the original turret had house, but it was discovered that with no other weapons installed the turret ring could just barely withstand the shock of firing the massive weapon.
The originally Autocannon ammunition bays were modified to house Sniper ammunition instead. However, because the Sniper's auto-loading system was designed for rounds of a considerably larger diameter, an entirely new feed path had to be carved into the hull by hand. This was by far the longest part of the conversion process, and involved having to completely revamp the hydraulic systems of the tank.
Secondary firepower had to be drastically changed. The long-range missile rack was removed entirely. It and its attendant ammunition compartments simply took up to much mass with the addition of the Sniper cannon. Only one piece of secondary weaponry was retained; the forward-facing machine gun.
Originally the co-axial machine gun had been retained by design. However, it was discovered that the shock of firing the much larger gun would cause the ammunition feed to disconnect from the gun, rendering it useless. To maintain some security against infantry a pair of remotely-operated machine guns were mounted to either side of the tank, for use against infantry attack.
The final piece of scavenged technology came from a downed Com Guard Bombardier battlemech. The Buzzsaw anti-missile system that had protected the mech was mounted to a spot on the Ullr's prow. This weapon was intended to protect the tank against counter-battery fire from long range missiles. While useful, it did have the drawback that it's mounting location made direct fire of the Sniper effectively impossible without damaging or destroying the AMS.
Battle History:
The Ullr was popular as a one-off tank within the 2nd Kavalleri. It gave them some much needed long-range fire support without having to rely on their ComGuard allies or air support.
The Free Rasalhague Republic spend the next decade following the Truce of Tukkayid repairing and re-arming their forces. Because almost all of their territory lay behind the truce line they did not have the same level of conflict with the Clans that some of the other Great Houses did.
On raids and during exercises the Ullr proved popular enough that the Axel's original manufacturer considered offering a production version as a variant. As technology advanced and the more popular (and lighter) Arrow IV Artillery system became the standard in the Inner Sphere however, those plans were largely abandoned.
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Equipment Type Rating Mass
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Internal Structure: Standard 35 points 6.50
Engine: I.C.E. Engine 195 16.00
Cruise MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 0 0.00
Control Equipment: 3.50
Lift Equipment: 0.00
Turret: 2.00
Armor: Standard Armor AV - 168 10.50
Armor
Factor
Front 36
Left/Right 36/36
Turret 36
Rear 24
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Equipment Location Heat Spaces Mass
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Anti-Missile System FR 1 1 0.50
Machine Gun FR 0 1 0.50
Machine Gun LS 0 1 0.50
Machine Gun RS 0 1 0.50
Sniper T 10 1 20.00
@Sniper (30) BD - 0 3.00
@Anti-Missile System (12) BD - 0 1.00
@MG (1/2) (100) BD - 0 0.50
BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 6 Points: 7
3t 3 0 0 0 3 0 Structure: 4
Special Abilities: AMS, ARTS, EE, TUR(2/0/0)
