Behemoth II Heavy Tank (Tom-Tom)
Mass: 100 tons
Movement Type: Tracked
Power Plant: GM 200
Cruising Speed: 21.6 kph
Maximum Speed: 32.4 kph
Armor: Ceres Heavy Stealth
Armament:
2 Long Tom Cannon
4 Rocket Launcher 10
Manufacturer: Aldis Industries
Primary Factory: Terra
Communication System: Olmstead 44
Targeting & Tracking System: Omicron VIII
Introduction Year: 3128
Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-X-X
Cost: 10,078,667 C-bills
Overview
A surprising vehicle to roll out of the Aldis Industries plant on Terra was the so-called Tom-Tom variant of the Behemoth II. Named for it's primary weapons, the Tom-Tom seems completely disconnected from the other Behemoth II configurations. Those configurations are dedicated to a fire support role and are quite formidible against 'Mechs and combat vehicles alike. The Tom-Tom is dedicated to defeating a very different battlefield threat: battlearmor.
Capabilities
Defined by it's primary weapons, a pair of Long Tom Cannons, the Tom-Tom variant has a very different turret profile from other Behemoth II variants. These weapons are ideal for erradicating battle armor squads and conventional infantry. While direct fire and missile weapons often have trouble targeting such units, especially on the modern battlefield where stealth and camo systems are common, the Tom-Tom's cannons can simply aim in the general area where an enemy is located. Even squads 30 meters away from the impact point will be destroyed or seriously damaged. Of course, this is best done in areas where collateral damage is of little concern.
While the cannons have much shorter barrels and range than conventional artillery pieces, they still have a reasonably long range when compared to direct fire ballistic weapons. However, because of their high ballistic launch trajectory, they do have difficulty targeting nearby units. Worse yet, a panicked gunner can end up damaging his own tank in the backblast. This is the primary weakness of the Tom-Tom. The tank includes a number of features designed to mitigate that weakness. First, it is encased in Stealth Armor and an integral Angel ECM. This gives the tank maximum protection against electronic systems and allows it to use it's main guns to maximum effect as an enemy attempts to close. Second, the tank employs a Bloodhound Active Probe. This allows it to detect it's preferred quarry at the maximum possible range. Even hidden units will be detected with more than enough warning to bring the main guns to bear on them. Finally, if an enemy does manage to close with the Tom-Tom, it retains the rocket launchers of the standard Behemoth II. However, they have been mounted in sponsons to enable the Tom-Tom to defend itself in any direction. Despite all of these countermeasures, the Tom-Tom is noticably slow and will not be able to retreat from a determined push. Ultimately it will require an escort or risk finding itself over extended.
The low top speed is apparently due to cost cutting measures by Aldis. Despite the fearsome reputation of the Behemoth II, Aldis had to aggressivly market the original configurations in order to turn any profit on it. Even going so far as to give away the tanks for free to drum up demand. With a production cost rivaling even the most expensive 'Mechs, giving away units was a serious financial drain. With all of the advanced electronics crammed into the Tom-Tom variant, something had to give in order to reduce the financial risk. As a result, the Vlar 300 XL fusion engine which powered the standard Behemoth II configurations was exchanged for a GM 200 fusion engine. This downgrade gave the Tom-Tom a top speed comparable to the ancient Behemoth tanks but , ultimately, speed was not judged a priority for the it's primary mission.
Type: Behemoth II Heavy Tank
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Experimental)
Movement Type: Tracked
Tonnage: 100
Battle Value: 1,726
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 10
Engine 200 Fusion 13
Cruising MP: 2
Flank MP: 3
Heat Sinks: 10 0
Control Equipment: 5.0
Power Amplifier: 0.0
Turret: 4.0
Armor Factor (Vehicular Stealth)240 15
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Front 10 58
R/L Side 10/10 48/48
Rear 10 36
Turret 10 50
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage
Trailer Hitch Rear 0.0
4 Rocket Launcher 10s Sponson 2.0
2 Long Tom Cannons Turret 40.0
Bloodhound Active Probe Body 2.0
CASE Body 0.5
Long Tom Cannon Ammo (30) Body 6.0
Vehicular Sponson Turret Body 0.5
Angel ECM Suite Body 2.0
Features the following design quirks: Improved Targeting (Long)
