Catapulta High Mobility Fire Support System
Mass: 49.5 tons
Movement Type: Wheeled
Power Plant: Mercedes Turbodiesel
Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph
Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph
Armor: Avibrás Armadura do veiculo
Armament:
1 LRM 20
Manufacturer: Avibrás Indústria Aeroespacial
Primary Factory: Terra
Communication System: WEB LingClara
Targeting & Tracking System: WEG Alvo
Introduction Year: 2320
Tech Rating/Availability: D/C-D-C-C
Cost: 692,674 C-bills
Overview
First introduced in 2320 to support the expansion of the Terran Hegemony, the Catapulta Mobility Fire Support System (or MFSS) was a vehicle built by the Brazilian-based Avibrás industrial concern. It was intended to give the Alliance a highly mobile fire support platform to use in the field. It was known for being a rugged, simple to maintain weapons platform capable of off-road operations, and for being light enough to be easily transported across interstellar distances.
Capabilities
The Catapulta was built around a single weapons system. The LRM-20 had been introduced in 2315 as a part of James McKenna’s expansion of the Terran military following the foundation of the Hegemony. At the time of its introduction it was the most powerful missile system ever fielded, and the Alliance had several defense contractors attempting to get a platform adopted. Most concentrated on the highest technology they could come up with, with various attempts at high speed movement and advanced fire control being used. Avibrás on the other hand kept things quite simple. They built around a 6x6 wheeled chassis previously in use for logging on undeveloped planets. They kept the fire control quite basic, choosing the build the platform around the weapon and its crew. They used a Mercedes turbodiesel power plant that was known to be rugged and, importantly, easy to get parts for. They kept their costs, and therefore their prices, low.
History
The result was a vehicle that would be around for centuries. Though the Catapulta would be obsolescent only a few years following its release, its proven formula of long-range firepower and offroad capability, combined with its ability to be easily adapted into existing logistical trains, meant that secondhand and copycat Catapultas would be in use by nearly every military in the Inner Sphere until the 26th Century, with garrison units, mercenaries, or Periphery units still using derivative designs as late as the Amaris Civil War.
Indeed, a copy of the Catapulta was considered as the primary fire support weapon for the newly-born Marian Hegemony in the early 30th century. That nation upon its founding had the industrial base to manufacture heavy trucks, but not modern military vehicles. It was instead decided to use the fortune brought on by the Germanium deposits on Alphard to purchase a relatively modern military core, while allowing the native industry to eventually catch up.
Type: Catapulta
Chassis Type: Wheeled (Medium)
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Mass: 49.5 tons
Battle Value: 348
Equipment Mass (tons)
Chassis/Controls 23
Engine/Trans. ICE 11.5
Cruise MP: 4
Flank MP: 6
Heat Sinks: 0 0
Fuel: 0.5
Turret: 1
Armor Factor (BAR 5): 46 1.5
Internal
Structure Armor
Value
Front 5 12
R/L Side 5/5 9/9
Rear 5 7
Turret 5 9
Weapons
and Ammo Location Critical Mass (tons)
LRM 20 Turret 5 10
LRM 20 Ammo (12) Body 2 2
Cargo None
Notes: Features Off-Road, Environmental Sealing Chassis and Controls Modifications, Basic Fire Control(0.5 tons)
