Inspired by this artwork:
https://www.deviantart.com/karanak/art/Octopus-331333863I also gave it a plausible history of successive updates.
Octopus II HovertankMass: 50 tons
Movement Type: Hover
Power Plant: 215 Fusion
Cruising Speed: 97.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 151.2 kph
Armor: Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
1 'Mech Mortar 1
2 LRM 5
1 ER Large Laser
Manufacturer: Grumman Industries
Primary Factory: Terra
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 2618
Tech Rating/Availability: E/E-F(F*)-F-E
Cost: 2,731,333 C-bills
Overview
The Octopus II Hovertank was a rare sight in the armies of the Terran Hegemony. It was built primarily as a test bed for the Hegemony's new Extended Range Large Laser but it was also a contemporary update of a fearsome hovertank from the early days of the Hegemony. The original Octopus was also a test bed for a fearsome new weapon, at the time referred to as a Laser Cannon. Now, more often referred to as a Large Laser, it is a robust and reliable weapon system that has been in service across the Inner Sphere for centuries. During the days of the Terran Alliance Civil War it was truly a weapon to be feared, able to compromise the heaviest armor of the day in a single discharge and able to fire with impunity. It was fitting then that an updated Octopus would be one of the first vehicles to bear that weapon's direct successor. The Octopus II would go on to serve in the SLDF until the fall of the Terran Hegemony.
Capabilities
The original Octopus gained a reputation as a fast and fierce striker, able to close with the enemy rapidly and quickly disable its targets. However, after the advent of modern armor and BattleMechs this first strike tactic was no longer effective and the Octopus was simply too fragile to trade blows with the enemy. By the end of the 25th century, they had all been retired. The revived Octopus II was a cutting edge hovertank for it's day. It's modern fusion engine was more efficient than its predecessor, making it lighter while maintaining the same top speed of over 150 kph. Seven tons of Ferro Fibrous armor make it relatively tough for a hovertank and it's main gun, the ER Large Laser offers respectable firepower at long range. The original Octopus carried two front-facing rocket launcher packs to enhance its first strike capabilities. The Octopus II carries two LRM-5 racks in place of the one-shot weapons. The ideal range for the launchers matches well with the effective range of the main gun, making the Octopus II into a fast-moving, elusive sniper. One tactic that gave the original Octopus it's name was the smoke grenade launcher it used to create a smoke screen when it needed to cover to escape. The Octopus II replaces the short range grenade launcher with a smoke mortar system mounted in the turret. This allows it to deploy smoke more strategically, creating heavy visual cover at a long distance and then darting into it.
Variants
In 2738, Grumman released an upgraded Octopus II for the SLDF Royal regiments. This variant upgraded to an XL Fusion reactor, increasing the vehicle's top speed to over 160 kph. It also installed an experimental insulator on the main gun to reduce its heat output and the size of the cooling system needed for it. With the weight savings, the forward LRM racks were upgraded to a 15 tube launcher and CASE was installed to protect the ammunition bins. On paper, the Royal version was more effective at its role, even if it cost three times as much. However, the insulator caused problems with the main gun and it needed constant maintenance. On rare occasion, it would overheat in a fight and cease functioning until it could be repaired. In 2741, Grumman released another update to alleviate these issues. This Royal II variant replaced the laser and insulator with an experimental Snub Nose PPC, which proved more reliable. While the experimental PPC was effective at the ideal range for the LRM launcher and hit harder than the laser it replaced, it could not damage targets outside 450 meters. This limited the hovertank's ability to provide suppressive fire, but many viewed it as an acceptable tradeoff.
History
The original Octopus was a primitive hovertank. The first prototype units were unveiled in 2312, just before the Terran Alliance Civil war. As their main gun, they carried a prototype Laser Cannon, which required a massive cooling system. Its backup weaponry were two coaxial machine guns, also mounted in the turret. These were mainly used to fend off infantry ambushes, but could also add to damage against armored targets. The primitive fusion reactor could power the weapon almost indefinitely, but only gave the tank a top speed of just under 130 kph. It was protected by the best armor of the day, but its primitive frame could only support two and a half tons of armor. So, it relied on hit and fade tactics, trying to disable enemy tanks with its powerful main gun and then retreat. As mentioned, it also carried a defensive smoke grenade launcher. This contributed to its naming, as it was similar to defensive ink clouds released by some Terran cephalopods. However, its articulated suspension system arguably contributed more. The system consisted of four suspensor arms that rotated laterally away from the body of the tank to provide better control at cruising speed. They could also fold in next to the tank body to provide greater acceleration and flanking speed. Many observers of the hovertank in motion were struck by the likeness to the Terran octopus. After the Terran Alliance Civil War, Grumman released an updated Octopus that would serve until the end of the 25th century. The exhaust heat issues with the prototype Laser Cannons had been solved, greatly reducing the mass of the cooling system required. The weight savings allowed the installation of a larger fusion reactor, upgrading the tank's top speed to just over 150 kph. It also allowed for the installation of two forward-firing primitive rocket launcher packs.
Type: Octopus II Hovertank
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Movement Type: Hover
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 981
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 5
Engine 215 Fusion 14.5
Cruising MP: 9
Flank MP: 14
Heat Sinks: 12 2
Control Equipment: 2.5
Lift Equipment: 5.0
Power Amplifier: 0.0
Turret: 1.0
Armor Factor (Ferro) 125 7
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front 5 28
R/L Side 5/5 25/25
Rear 5 20
Turret 5 27
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage
2 LRM 5 Front 4.0
'Mech Mortar 1 Turret 2.0
ER Large Laser Turret 5.0
LRM 5 Ammo (24) Body 1.0
Smoke Mortar 1 Ammo (24) Body 1.0
The Royal variant:
Type: Octopus II Hovertank (Royal)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Movement Type: Hover
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 1,192
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 5
Engine 265 XL 10.5
Cruising MP: 10
Flank MP: 15
Heat Sinks: 11 1
Control Equipment: 2.5
Lift Equipment: 5.0
Power Amplifier: 0.0
Turret: 1.0
Armor Factor (Ferro) 125 7
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front 5 28
R/L Side 5/5 25/25
Rear 5 20
Turret 5 27
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage
LRM 15 Front 7.0
'Mech Mortar 1 Turret 2.0
Laser Insulator Turret 0.5
ER Large Laser Turret 5.0
Smoke Mortar 1 Ammo (24) Body 1.0
CASE Body 0.5
LRM 15 Ammo (16) Body 2.0
The Royal II variant:
Type: Octopus II Hovertank (Royal II)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Movement Type: Hover
Tonnage: 50
Battle Value: 1,219
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 5
Engine 265 XL 10.5
Cruising MP: 10
Flank MP: 15
Heat Sinks: 10 0
Control Equipment: 2.5
Lift Equipment: 5.0
Power Amplifier: 0.0
Turret: 1.0
Armor Factor (Ferro) 134 7.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front 5 30
R/L Side 5/5 27/27
Rear 5 20
Turret 5 30
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage
LRM 15 Front 7.0
Snub-Nose PPC Turret 6.0
'Mech Mortar 1 Turret 2.0
Smoke Mortar 1 Ammo (24) Body 1.0
CASE Body 0.5
LRM 15 Ammo (16) Body 2.0
The Primitive Age of War Octopus:
Type: Octopus Hovertank
Chassis Type: Hover (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Mass: 50 tons
Battle Value: 569
Equipment Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls 13.5
Engine/Trans. 17.0
Cruise MP:9
Flank MP:14
Heat Sinks 8 8.0
Fuel 0.0
Turret 1.0
Armor Factor (BAR 7) 54 2.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front 5 12
R/L Side 5/5 10/10
Rear 5 8
Turret 5 14
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage
Vehicular Grenade Launcher Front 0.5
2 Prototype Rocket Launcher 10 Front 1.0
2 Machine Gun Turret 1.0
Large Laser Turret 5.0
Machine Gun Ammo (100) Body 0.5
Cargo
None
Notes:
Advanced Fire Control(1 ton)
The Primitive Prototype:
Type: Octopus Hovertank (Prototype)
Chassis Type: Hover (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Mass: 50 tons
Battle Value: 457
Equipment Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls 13.5
Engine/Trans. 14.0
Cruise MP:8
Flank MP:12
Heat Sinks 12 12.0
Fuel 0.0
Turret 1.0
Armor Factor (BAR 7) 54 2.5
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front 5 12
R/L Side 5/5 10/10
Rear 5 8
Turret 5 14
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage
Vehicular Grenade Launcher Front 0.5
Primitive Prototype Large Laser Turret 5.0
2 Machine Gun Turret 1.0
Machine Gun Ammo (100) Body 0.5
Cargo
None
Notes:
Advanced Fire Control(1 ton)
