DZ-G3 Dezgra
Mass: 60 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: Pitban 240 Fuel Cell
Cruising Speed: 43 kph
Flank Speed: 65 kph
Armor: Starslab-1 Ferro-Fibrous
Armament:
Valiant Catapult Arrow IV System
Ceres Apple Churchill TAG
Majesty Metals SperryBrowning Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Smithforge Militech
Communications System: Xilex-2000
Targeting & Tracking System: Xilex-2000 T&T
Overview
At the height of the Clan invasion, reports streamed in across the inner sphere of unassailable opponents. Invading battlemechs were faster than their inner sphere opponents, better armed, more resilient, supported by strange, power armored infantry. Most importantly, though, was the advantage of range. Clan units could strike inner sphere opponents at ranges that denied the inner sphere the ability to fight back, outside of those few units starting to be equipped with recovered Star League technology. However, there were far too few of those units to go around.
The Dezgra, ironically named as an insult to the invading clans and their way of battle, was intended as an answer to those problems. A tractor design engineer and former armor trooper working at Smithforge was sketching answers to those problems, and hit on what he thought was a solution. Always ready to find new opportunities, and seeing one in the desperate cry for armaments driven by the Clan Invasion, Smithforge Heavy Industries CEO Mark Smithson XVI leapt at the opportunity and Smithforge Militech was born.
Capabilities
The line between a mobile artillery piece and a main battle tank has usually been a clear one. An MBT focus on heavy armor and direct fire weaponry to engage and defeat opponents while surviving return fire, all the while retaining enough mobility to launch an attack or respond on a defense. The self-propelled gun puts the weight usually assigned to armor and a larger powerplant into pure firepower power, allowing it to support combat operations across a wide front.
The Dezgra combines those two roles. By starting with a licensed Quicksell Bulldog chassis, the Dezgra shaves weight for increased armor and armament by replacing the Bulldog's Diesel engine with a fuel cell design re-purposed from the heavy industrial equipment Smithforge already produced. This allows the Dezgra to match the mobility of the venerable Bulldog while increasing the armored protection by nearly a factor of three. The armor layout was chosen with careful forethought, each side being able to absorb three hits from the dreaded Clan ERPPC without internal penetration, and the front carrying enough ablative plating to allow the vehicle to survive a full five such hits on its front slope before the vehicle is destroyed.
Mobility and protection without a weapon does not make a tank. The offensive punch of the Dezgra comes from a licensed Valiant Catapult Arrow IV Heavy Missile System, backed up by sufficient internal stowage for two and a half minutes of constant fire. Mated directly to a Ceres Apple Churchill TAG system, the Valiant Catapult allows the Dezgra to treat its 'Artillery' Missile System as a direct fire heavy weapon with great range and phenomenal accuracy, assuming at least one vehicle in the unit successfully designates a target.
Entry into service was delayed by the difficulties in mating the TAG with the Arrow system, worsened by Smithforge Militech's inexperience in this area. Further, military procurement officers were uncomfortable with the limited range of the Fuel Cell systems until the final production variant converted a previous fourth ammunition bin into storage for a full ton of additional fuel, straining ammunition supplies but allowing sufficient tactical range to allay the concerns of procurement officers.
Battle History
The most notable engagement of the Dezgra was the defense of the minor world of Spannunsbogen from Jade Falcon raiders in the fall of 3059. Harold's Hardcases had recently purchased a company of the vehicles and was deployed to defend the world, trapped coreward of the Tukkayid truce line.
Initially dismissing a defense that consisted of, by report, ‘A Dezgra vehicle company’, the Jade Falcon commander committed a star of mechs against the defending vehicle company. Cursing the name of the defenders as artillery missiles started to land among his maneuvering forces, the Star Commander brought his machines into point blank range, thinking to crush the dishonorable mercenaries from under the range of their artillery vehicles.
In response to the closed range, the Hardcase's captain ordered his vehicles to illuminate targets for each other, and proceeded to scratch the Jade Falcon mechs off one another's backs with seeking missiles. Though the Falcon mechs were agile and well piloted, at least one Dezgra targeting unit would manage to lock up a target – leaving the unfortunate Falcon warrior the only possible target for a half-dozen or more seeking missiles.
When the smoke cleared, less than half of the Dezgra could crawl off the field, but the Star had been reduced to rubble.
Deployment
The combination of low cost, long range, and heavy armor has made the Dezgra popular with mercenary commanders facing difficult deployments and limited funds. The fact that it shares a chassis with the popular Bulldog Tank, as well as its ability to refuel with the aid of nearby fusion vehicles, serves to increase this popularity.
Variants
Two variants exist of the Dezgra. The pre-production Z2 carried an addtional 5 rounds for its heavy missile system at the price of fuel supply.
The Z4 Dezgra Command Vehicle is intended to deploy one to a company as a 13th, command tank. The Fuel Cell Engine is replaced with a Fusion model, allowing the vehicle to crack fuel for its companions (special hookups are provided for this refueling). The Arrow IV system itself is removed and replaced with command facilities and additional ammunition stowage, allowing the company commander to oversee operations without needing to fight his vehicle, and allowing for emergency resupply of his company if logistical support is interrupted.
A planned Z5 variant with an extra light fusion engine, additional ammunition, and uprated defenses has been discussed, but not yet approved for production as there seems to be a limited market for heavy vehicles that cost as much or more than assault battlemechs.
Notable Warriors
Sandra Riordan and her crew commanded the second Lance's 3rd Tank on Spannunsbogen. Their tank, the 'Luscious Larry' was credited with assists on two different mech kills in the aftermath of the battle - once with a laser hit that brought three missiles into the back of an impetuous Hellbringer, and once late in the fight, after all the seeking munitions had been expended, by 'forward observing' and directing Arrow IV artillery fire on top of itself keep a very angry Ryoken pilot from kicking in Larry's turret.
Type: DZ-3 Dezgra
Technology Base: Inner Sphere / 3058
Ruleset: Advanced (5th edition)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 60
Cost: 3,796,000 C-bills
Battle Value: 821
((I am unable to successfully format stuff here. In the name of legibility, I've transcribed the salient points below))
60 Ton Tracked Vehicle
4/6, 240 Rated Fuel Cell Engine
14.5 Tons Ferro-Fibrous
70 Front
45 Sides
30 Rear
70 Turret
Weapons:
Turreted Arrow IV w/15 Rounds
Turreted Machine Gun w/100 Rounds
Turreted TAG
1 Ton Cargo (extra fuel for Fuel Cell Engine)
