Target Aquisition Gear
TAG
Extinct: 2835 (Inner Sphere)
Recovered: 3044 (Federated Commonwealth)
Though it built on techniques already centuries old in 2600, Grumman Industries’ Alloran In-Line target acquisition gear became the model for the artillery-spotting laser communications system today known simply by the acronym TAG. More than a simple infrared laser-based target designation system, the TAG system tied into the user’s on-board targeting and tracking systems and used its own integral tight-beam laser communications array to link into the receptive guidance systems of certain friendly artillery warheads and guided bombs.
When initially fielded, the Alloran In-Line worked in tandem with the AIL Arrow IV homing missile (also developed by Grumman Industries). Lost during the early Succession Wars, this technology was finally recovered in the early 3030s by the Federated Suns, which began fielding the resurrected TAGs to assist in the targeting of laser-guided bombs. By the mid-3040s, the Capellan Confederation had returned the TAG to ‘Mech use with their enhanced Raven design, which served as a spotter for the more recently recovered Arrow IV guided artillery on their Catapult refits. The Capellans’ decade-long alliance with the Free Worlds League in the 3050s later brought about the advent of the semi-guided missiles that also use TAG as an effective target designator, further expanding the utility of this venerable equipment.
Equipment class: Target Aquisition Gear
Rules
Tech Base: Inner Sphere (TAG only) and Clan (TAG and light TAG)
Unit Restrictions: No restrictions
Game Rules: TAG and light TAG may not be used if the unit is shut down or if its pilot/crew is otherwise prevented from acting.
Construction Rules: TAG and light TAG may be mounted on any applicable unit in accordance with the unit’s standard core construction rules.
Targeting acquisition gear designates (or “paints”) an enemy unit to be struck by another unit’s weapons. Instead of making a to-hit roll for TAG during the Weapon Attack Phase, all units needing to make TAG to-hit rolls do so after the end of the Movement Phase (Aerospace), but before the beginning of the Weapon Attack Phase (initiative is still followed, however). To use TAG equipment for target designation, calculate the tohit number as for a standard weapon attack. Unlike spotting for indirect LRM fire (see LRM Indirect Fire, p. 111), a unit can use TAG to
spot and make a weapon attack with no additional to-hit penalty. If the to-hit roll fails (meaning the TAG spotter fails to designate the target), TAG has no further effect. If the to-hit roll is successful, the system designates the target for that turn’s Weapon Attack Phase; the target unit is designated for any number of attacks from any number of units using TAG. A TAG system cannot designate infantry, but can designate any other target, such as a building or other hex and so on (see Target, p. 42 of Playing the Game).
ProtoMechs: The five ProtoMechs of a ProtoMech Point may declare different targets for any mounted TAGs. For example, if all the ProtoMechs in a ProtoMech Point mounted a TAG, they could declare up to five different targets with TAG in the same turn.
Soooo thats what MechFactory (?) app says.
Do i read that right?
A target is designated for any number of attacks by units using TAG
This doesnt mean, a longbow needs to have TAG itself aswell, but just "uses" the TAG provided by the Raven, right?
