Scorpion Light Tank (Fusion, Post-3067)

[Giovanni Blasini]

No fluff on this one, because I'm seeing it as super generic, and kind of a counterpart to the STG-3P Stinger; it even uses the same main gun and engine.

First, I dropped the mass by a ton to 24 tons, to allow that GM 120 fusion plant to drive the tank at 5/8 movement.  Next, the AC/5 and machine guns were dropped:  we've got 10 single heat sinks in the engine now, and a light PPC has the same range and damage curve as a standard AC/5.  We lose specialty ammo, yes, but we gain so much in return.  Machine guns were also dropped in favor of twin SPLs, which removes the potential shrapnel bomb the MG ammo in the hull represented.

Next up, that free mass got ploughed into more armor, increasing it to the 8 tons maximum that MML will allow me to mount.  Front and turret locations got increased to 30 points each, left and right sides to 22, and rear to 20 points.  I'm considering dropping the sides to 21 each and increasing the rear to 22, so that it can take an AC/20 hit anywhere and still have some armor left, but I figure the merits of that are open to discussion.

Lastly, I had a half-ton left over.  I could've added a standard small laser, since I had the heat dissipation, but decided that a single RL10 launcher on the turret might be a better use, since it gives a standoff panic button weapon, but a vehicular grenade launcher would also be a valid, and perhaps better, choice - thoughts?

Cost is surprisingly cheap.  Admittedly, it costs about as much as two regular Scorpions, but it's also faster, twice as hard to kill, and has a minimal ammunition budget to worry about.

Code: [Select]

Scorpion Light Tank (Fusion)

Mass: 24 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 120 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
     1 Light PPC
     2 Small Pulse Laser
     1 Rocket Launcher 10
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3150
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-X
Cost: 635,500 C-bills

Type: Scorpion Light Tank
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 24
Battle Value: 584

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                  2.5
Engine                        120 Fusion              6
Cruising MP: 5
Flank MP: 8
Heat Sinks:                   10                      0
Control Equipment:                                  1.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             0.5
Armor Factor                  124                     8

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   3         30   
     R/L Side               3/3      22/22   
     Rear                    3         20   
     Turret                  3         30   


Weapons
and Ammo              Location    Tonnage   
Small Pulse Laser      Front        1.0     
Light PPC              Turret       3.0     
Small Pulse Laser      Turret       1.0     
Rocket Launcher 10     Turret       0.5     



[Goose]

This guy gets it. :thumbsup:

[chanman]

You lose the anti-infantry ability, but it's possible to swap the LPPC and SPLs for a standard LL. Alternately, if you can find another half ton, you can squeeze on a SNPPC, which could be useful with that long short range to make up for the mediocre gunnery of second or third-line forces.

[Retry]

Had a similar idea and called it the "Super Scorpion".  Kept it at 25 tons though.  5/8, Fusion engine, armament replaced with either a Large Laser + SPL or a PPC with a bit less armor (LPPC was a bit too late for the era I was envisioning).

With the LPPC idea, I'd consider ripping out the hull-mounted SPL and adding a targeting computer instead to make the turret weapons more effective.  Maybe also have an upper-end upgrade package that makes the turreted SPL an X-Pulse variant.

[acksed]

Not bad. Incidentally you can have a hover version with the same engine if you're willing to drop a SPL and a touch of armour. Even pricier, but speedy:

Code: [Select]

Scorpion (hover)

Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Hovercraft
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-A
Production Year: 3668
Dry Cost: 822,750 C-Bills
Total Cost: 822,750 C-Bills
Battle Value: 616

Power Plant:  120 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 108.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 162.0 km/h
Armor:  Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  Light PPC
    1  Rocket Launcher 10
    1  Small Pulse Laser
Manufacturer:
    Primary Factory:
Communications System:
Targeting and Tracking System:

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                2.50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                120                       6.00
    Cruise MP:  10
    Flank MP:   15
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.50
Lift Equipment:                                                            2.50
Turret:                                                                    0.50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 120                  7.50

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     28       
                                          Left/Right   24/24       
                                              Turret     24       
                                                Rear     20       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Pulse Laser                            FR        2         1         1.00
Light PPC                                    T         5         1         3.00
Rocket Launcher 10                           T         3         1         0.50

[boilerman]

And I thought putting a fuel cell on a Scorpion was losing the cheap flavor.  ;D

Still, I think it's my kind of tank, small and cheap, relatively  speaking, with lots of armor for its weight class and respectable firepower, complete with 2 AI weapons. All vehicles and mechs should have an AI weapon, 2 is better.

[VhenRa]

Honestly, I don't really bother with downsizing to 24t. A 125 std fusion engine weighs exactly the same as a 120 std fusion.

Had a similar idea and called it the "Super Scorpion".  Kept it at 25 tons though.  5/8, Fusion engine, armament replaced with either a Large Laser + SPL or a PPC with a bit less armor (LPPC was a bit too late for the era I was envisioning).

With the LPPC idea, I'd consider ripping out the hull-mounted SPL and adding a targeting computer instead to make the turret weapons more effective.  Maybe also have an upper-end upgrade package that makes the turreted SPL an X-Pulse variant.

That one is pretty much the Desert Scorpion from one of those Touring the Stars books. Except with pulse instead of MGs.

[Sartris]

pew pew

Code: [Select]

Scorpion Light Tank (Sniper)

Mass: 25 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: 125 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 54 kph
Maximum Speed: 86.4 kph
Armor: Heavy Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
     1 Machine Gun
     1 ER Large Laser
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3150
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-D
Cost: 1,094,167 C-bills

Type: Scorpion Light Tank
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 25
Battle Value: 535

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                  2.5
Engine                        125 Fusion              6
Cruising MP: 5
Flank MP: 8
Heat Sinks:                   12                      2
Control Equipment:                                  1.5
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             1.0
Armor Factor (Heavy Ferro)    89                    4.5

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   3         24   
     R/L Side               3/3      17/17   
     Rear                    3         14   
     Turret                  3         17   


Weapons
and Ammo                      Location    Tonnage   
ER Large Laser                 Turret       5.0     
Machine Gun                    Turret       0.5     
C3 Computer                     Body        1.0     
Half Machine Gun Ammo (100)     Body        0.5     
CASE                            Body        0.5     


[Goose]

Honestly, I don't really bother with downsizing to 24t. A 125 std fusion engine weighs exactly the same as a 120 std fusion.

There's a whole monetary system to help one judge such things …

[Giovanni Blasini]

Not only that, but there's logistical concerns to consider, too.  The 120-rating engine is dirt common.  The 125-rating, while the same mass, is technically a different engine, using a different stockpile of parts. Any dinky militia or small-time merc units fielding the STG-3P can operate my 24-ron Scorpion and use a lot of parts in common: engine, heat sinks, light PPCs. In fact, I may want to consider ferro-fibrous armor, too, though I figure standard is pretty common, and common parts was my priority.

Now, I fudge this myself, sometimes, but usually in the opposite direction, where the higher-rating engine that fails QA gets used for the lower rating. That happens all the time in real life with, say, CPUs. The reverse is less common.

[chanman]

Not only that, but there's logistical concerns to consider, too.  The 120-rating engine is dirt common.  The 125-rating, while the same mass, is technically a different engine, using a different stockpile of parts. Any dinky militia or small-time merc units fielding the STG-3P can operate my 24-ron Scorpion and use a lot of parts in common: engine, heat sinks, light PPCs. In fact, I may want to consider ferro-fibrous armor, too, though I figure standard is pretty common, and common parts was my priority.

Now, I fudge this myself, sometimes, but usually in the opposite direction, where the higher-rating engine that fails QA gets used for the lower rating. That happens all the time in real life with, say, CPUs. The reverse is less common.

Well, it's at least not unusual if you're willing to accept a tradeoff in durability (thinking of car tuners here). Restoring a de-rated part to original spec isn't too weird, even if you aren't going to convert a 550hp PT6A-21 to a 1600hp PT6A-68B

[VhenRa]

I have to point out, the fluff for the Desert Scorpion...

by employing an up-rated version of a common light ‘Mech fusionengine

Is interesting.

[Giovanni Blasini]

Huh. That is interesting.

[Cannonshop]

IIRC, someone (I think it was CRAY) did a Fusion engine conversion of the Scorpion with a PPC instead of the AC/5.  (shit, that would be over a decade ago now...)

[Sabelkatten]

I think it's been done dozens of times by now. :D I simply called mine the SuperScorpion.

But I just realized a much funnier thing you can do with a FCE. Saves two tons. Guess what just weights two tons extra? Swapping the standard AC/5 for a RAC/5! Who needs ammo endurance anyway? ;D

[Sharpnel]

I went with the original design in this thread and added the extra ton of mass and managed to add another Rl-10 and a small laser to the rear facing

Code: [Select]

Scorpion Light Tank (LPPC)

Mass: 25 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere
Motive Type: Tracked
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Era: Clan Invasion
Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E-D
Production Year: 3070
Dry Cost: 692,604 C-Bills
Total Cost: 692,604 C-Bills
Battle Value: 615

Power Plant: SitiCide 125 Fusion Engine
Cruise Speed: 54.0 km/h
Flanking Speed: 86.4 km/h
Armor: ProtecTech Light Standard Armor
Armament:
    1  Light PPC
    2  Rocket Launcher 10s
    2  Small Pulse Lasers
    1  Small Laser
Manufacturer: Hellespont Industries
    Primary Factory: Sian (Hellespont)
Communications System: Basix 200
Targeting and Tracking System: OptiSight-12

================================================================================
Equipment           Type                         Rating                   Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard                      15 points                2.50
Engine:             Fusion Engine                125                       6.00
    Cruise MP:  5
    Flank MP:   8
Heat Sinks:         Single Heat Sink             10                        0.00
Control Equipment:                                                         1.50
Lift Equipment:                                                            0.00
Turret:                                                                    0.50
Armor:              Standard Armor               AV - 124                  8.00

                                                      Armor     
                                                      Factor     
                                               Front     30       
                                          Left/Right   22/22       
                                              Turret     30       
                                                Rear     20       

================================================================================
Equipment                                 Location    Heat     Spaces     Mass 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Small Pulse Laser                            FR        2         1         1.00
(R) Small Laser                              RR        1         1         0.50
Small Pulse Laser                            T         2         1         1.00
Light PPC                                    T         5         1         3.00
2 Rocket Launcher 10s                        T         6         2         1.00

BattleForce Statistics
MV      S (+0)  M (+2)  L (+4)  E (+6)   Wt.   Ov   Armor:      4    Points: 6
5t         2       1       1       0      1     0   Structure:  2
Special Abilities: TUR(1/1/1)



[Dave Talley]

I think it's been done dozens of times by now. :D I simply called mine the SuperScorpion.

But I just realized a much funnier thing you can do with a FCE. Saves two tons. Guess what just weights two tons extra? Swapping the standard AC/5 for a RAC/5! Who needs ammo endurance anyway? ;D

call it 4 rounds of fire on average, fine, not like the armor will survive more than that anyway :-)

[DOC_Agren]

call it 4 rounds of fire on average, fine, not like the armor will survive more than that anyway :-)

and when that thing starts firing it will draw more then it's share of firepower aimed at it