A Monitor for the ilClan Era

[Lanceman]

The Monitor is a staple of brown water navies across the Inner Sphere, but it has languished technologically, with Nav Hull shipping out the same kits in 3140 as they did in 3026. No more! With slightly changed hull and power plant requirements, I give you a Monitor for the modern age:

Monitor Naval Vessel (Cell)
Base Tech Level: Standard Mixed (Base IS)
Level                Era                   
--------------------------------------------
Experimental         3057+ (Clan Invasion -)
Advanced             -                     
Standard             3145+ (Dark Ages -)   
Tech Rating: F/X-X-X-E

Weight: 75 tons
BV: 1,690
Cost: 5,877,438 C-bills
Source: Custom
Role: Juggernaut

Movement: 3/5(6) (Naval)
Engine: 195 Fuel Cell

Internal: 40
Armor: 178 (Heavy Ferro-Fibrous)
        Internal  Armor   
---------------------------
Front       8       45     
Right       8       35     
Left        8       35     
Rear        8       28     
Turret      8       35     

Weapons          Loc      Heat   
----------------------------------
SRM 2             RS        2     
SRM 2             LS        2     
SRM 2             RR        2     
HAG/30 (Clan)     TU        6     
HAG/30 (Clan)     TU        6     

Ammo                               Loc  Shots 
-----------------------------------------------
SRM 2 Ammo                          BD    50   
Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle/30 Ammo   BD    4   
Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle/30 Ammo   BD    4   
Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle/30 Ammo   BD    4   
Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle/30 Ammo   BD    4   
Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle/30 Ammo   BD    4   
Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle/30 Ammo   BD    4   

Equipment     Loc 
-------------------
CASE           BD 
Supercharger   BD 

Carrying Capacity
-----------------
Troops - 4.0 tons

A new lighter fuel cell plant gives the room for two massive Hyper Assault Gauss Rifle/30s, giving this Monitor increased inland reach and devastating firepower against other vessels and vehicles. The bog-standard trio of SRM-2s remain to protect the vessel's flanks and rear. The jump troop compartment has been upgraded to support a squad of battle armor. The vessel's protection has increased, now being wrapped in Heavy Ferro-Fibrous, with an extra ton of it over the original to boot. CASE is provided to protect the vessel crew from ammunition explosions. Finally, a supercharger attached to the fuel cell engine allows this new Monitor an additional burst of speed, helping it maneuver and catch up with foes.

One variant of this new model drops the armor protection back down to 8 tons in order to give room for an additional ton of SRM ammo that can be used for specialty ammunitions.     

[Cannonshop]

gee, I would've gone with LTACs instead, given the Monitor's role and mission, or even actual artillery pieces, as it represents an artillery platform that can be VERY hard to overrun with conventional ground forces.

[Daryk]

Agreed on both counts...

[Primus203]

Gonna throw my hat into the monitor ring with my basic budget low tech designs. Several monitor designs made to work together as a little river or costal unit. Three of the 4 designs omit troop carrying for more armor. Also as these are supposedly new build I increased the weight by 5 tons as that barely affected cost but let me put on an extra ton and a half of armor.

Monitor Thumper- Removes all weapons to mount dual thumpers and 6 tons of mixed ammo of your choice. a pair of these makes a good artillery unit.

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Monitor Naval Vessel Thumper

Mass: 80 tons
Movement Type: Naval
Power Plant: 210 ICE
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
     2 Thumper
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 2910
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-C-C-C
Cost: 1,297,800 C-bills

Type: Monitor Naval Vessel
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Movement Type: Naval
Tonnage: 80
Battle Value: 516

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                    8
Engine                        210 ICE                18
Cruising MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Control Equipment:                                  4.0
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             3.0
Armor Factor                  176                    11

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   8         34   
     R/L Side               8/8      34/34   
     Rear                    8         34   
     Turret                  8         40   


Weapons
and Ammo              Location    Tonnage   
2 Thumper              Turret       30.0   
Thumper Ammo (120)      Body        6.0     Monitor Tom - The original Monitor was powerful but woefully short ranged with it's AC-20 and SRM only reaching out 9 hexes. The tom sacrifices pure firepower to extend range. The tom mounts a long tom cannon though lacking artillery fire capability this weapon can fire like an AC-20 but with area of effect and 125 percent more range. 30 rounds standard 10 fuel air. Rather than carrying more long tom ammo it was decided to mount a single AC-2 with 2 tons of flak to support air defense.

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Monitor Naval Vessel Tom

Mass: 80 tons
Movement Type: Naval
Power Plant: 210 ICE
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
     1 Long Tom Cannon
     1 AC/2
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3080
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-X-F-E
Cost: 2,090,200 C-bills

Type: Monitor Naval Vessel
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Movement Type: Naval
Tonnage: 80
Battle Value: 1,105

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                    8
Engine                        210 ICE                18
Cruising MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Control Equipment:                                  4.0
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             3.0
Armor Factor                  176                    11

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   8         34   
     R/L Side               8/8      34/34   
     Rear                    8         34   
     Turret                  8         40   


Weapons
and Ammo                             Location    Tonnage   
Long Tom Cannon                       Turret       20.0   
AC/2                                  Turret       6.0     
Long Tom Cannon Ammo (30)              Body        6.0     
Fuel-Air Long Tom Cannon Ammo (10)     Body        2.0     
Flak AC/2 Ammo (90)                    Body        2.0     Monitor Dagger - Meant to do the role of the original monitor without the pitiful range. Sacrifices some pure gun power moving from dual AC-20 to dual AC-10 fed by 8 tons of mixed ammo though at least 2 are usually flak. To make up for some of the firepower loss 8 Rocket Launcher 10 are mounted.

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Monitor Naval Vessel Dagger

Mass: 80 tons
Movement Type: Naval
Power Plant: 210 ICE
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
     8 Rocket Launcher 10
     2 AC/10
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3080
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-X-F-E
Cost: 1,538,600 C-bills

Type: Monitor Naval Vessel
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Naval
Tonnage: 80
Battle Value: 910

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                    8
Engine                        210 ICE                18
Cruising MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Control Equipment:                                  4.0
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             3.0
Armor Factor                  176                    11

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   8         34   
     R/L Side               8/8      34/34   
     Rear                    8         34   
     Turret                  8         40   


Weapons
and Ammo               Location    Tonnage   
2 AC/10                 Turret       24.0   
8 Rocket Launcher 10    Turret       4.0     
Flak AC/10 Ammo (20)     Body        2.0     
AC/10 Ammo (60)          Body        6.0     Monitor Support- Lightly armed with a single AC-2 and a single ton of flak to bulk air defense. The main purpose of this ship is to carry stuff. Has 26 tons of cargo space to carry spare ammo or fuel for the other monitors. Has a 5 ton infantry bay though if desired the bolt down chairs and equipment racks can easily be removed to gain another 5 tons of cargo space.

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Monitor Naval Vessel Support

Mass: 80 tons
Movement Type: Naval
Power Plant: 210 ICE
Cruising Speed: 32.4 kph
Maximum Speed: 54 kph
Armor: Standard
Armament:
     1 AC/2
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3080
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-X-F-E
Cost: 829,500 C-bills

Type: Monitor Naval Vessel
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Standard)
Movement Type: Naval
Tonnage: 80
Battle Value: 442

Equipment                                          Mass
Internal Structure                                    8
Engine                        210 ICE                18
Cruising MP: 3
Flank MP: 5
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Control Equipment:                                  4.0
Power Amplifier:                                    0.0
Turret:                                             1.0
Armor Factor                  176                    11

                          Internal   Armor   
                          Structure  Value   
     Front                   8         34   
     R/L Side               8/8      34/34   
     Rear                    8         34   
     Turret                  8         40   


Weapons
and Ammo              Location    Tonnage   
AC/2                   Turret       6.0     
Flak AC/2 Ammo (45)     Body        1.0     
Cargo                   Body        26.0   
Infantry                Body        5.0     What do you think of these monitors. I think they do the job well and better yet they are still on the cheap side.

[Hellraiser]

Hmm.

So HAGs do make for decent ADA which I like.

However, the Monitor traditionally used a Demolisher Turret.

As such,  Demolisher (Gauss)  &  Demolisher-C (c-LB20X)  would be more up my alley.

Not sure Artillery is needed for a River Patrol Boat, that said,  Demolisher (Arrow) would fit the bill there too.

Might have to reduce the SRM2's down to LMGs to pay for the 15 ton guns, but, that would be a solid change IMHO.
The Clan model might even be able to upgrade them to 4/6's.

[Daryk]

If it can fit two Thumpers, it can fit a real Long Tom... ;)

[Cannonshop]

Hmm.

So HAGs do make for decent ADA which I like.

However, the Monitor traditionally used a Demolisher Turret.

As such,  Demolisher (Gauss)  &  Demolisher-C (c-LB20X)  would be more up my alley.

Not sure Artillery is needed for a River Patrol Boat, that said,  Demolisher (Arrow) would fit the bill there too.

Might have to reduce the SRM2's down to LMGs to pay for the 15 ton guns, but, that would be a solid change IMHO.
The Clan model might even be able to upgrade them to 4/6's.

Simple ask on the purposes thing: Why are you bothering to have riverine forces in the first place?  Most of the answers to that question, an artillery piece works better than an autocannon-esp. one with the markedly short range of an AC/20.

HOw so?  most floating weapons platforms are there to support some flavor of ground unit that isn't on a boat.  Riverine/lake based or close coastal waters are not necessarily immediately adjacent to what you're defending or attacking.  Range, therefore, helps.

what also helps, is indirect fire capability and LOTS of range, along with blast radii.  Most ground units aren't particularly useful for overrunning a boat, especially one running over a deep channel. this makes a boaty artillery platform one of the more easily defended locations you can PUT an artillery piece, provided the water runs close enough to influence the battle.

If it can fit two Thumpers, it can fit a real Long Tom... ;)

coverage.  The blast pattern isn't nearly as large, but you can put one down and still maintain flak fire with the other one, or put one down here, and another there and create a fire zone.  a single Long Tom can put dinner plate blasts at random.  Random isn't always the same as useful.

[Daryk]

At the low cost, I was thinking more than one... ;)

[Cannonshop]

At the low cost, I was thinking more than one... ;)

There's a certain amount of support cost, material cost, maintenance cost, and mass cost involved.  one ton of Long tom shot is five shots, you can get 20  of Thumper shot for the same mass (and possibly volume).  For the kind of low priority operations a Monitor's really optimized for (Counterinsurgency, some local defense tasks, and shore bombardment in support of ground forces) that's not a small consideration-the ability to lay down sustained fire, even if each blast is less impressive than a Long Tom, can be a powerful thing when you're going for terrain denial or other tasks that might be done well from a motorized barge in the river or swamp.

"Terrain control" is one of the "Killer applications" for artillery units, right along side drilling through fortifications.

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

Simple ask on the purposes thing: Why are you bothering to have riverine forces in the first place?  Most of the answers to that question, an artillery piece works better than an autocannon-esp. one with the markedly short range of an AC/20.

HOw so?  most floating weapons platforms are there to support some flavor of ground unit that isn't on a boat.  Riverine/lake based or close coastal waters are not necessarily immediately adjacent to what you're defending or attacking.  Range, therefore, helps.

what also helps, is indirect fire capability and LOTS of range, along with blast radii.  Most ground units aren't particularly useful for overrunning a boat, especially one running over a deep channel. this makes a boaty artillery platform one of the more easily defended locations you can PUT an artillery piece, provided the water runs close enough to influence the battle.

Well, since it's monitor, it doesn't needs for an artillery at all to be functional, so why you are bothring to have to argue for that in the first place? It's the river patrol boat and is expected to deal with something on the riversides, and is not expected to operate on the wide river either which is why it employed a pair of AC/20s, for its short range wasn't actually a matter at all because it won't found its supposed target to be outrange it in the first place and the opponents have to face to face with the monitor when engage it all the time. Not to mention that it's expected to be the cheaper asset.

It doesn't intended to be support the ground units by itself. Well, it indirectly supports them by take the patrol duty on the riversides, though.

Anyway, no one argue that urbanmech is useless because it's no in use on the wide plains, so do shotguns on the similar battlefield. It's rather stupid or desperate to bring such things on such an out of place assets.

[Dragon Cat]

The one good thing about the HAG variant over the Artillery is you can use it and not worry about collateral damage or use it in a harbour patrol aspect

The Monitor isn't what I'd use in a front-line unit it's designed to escort supply boats up rivers, defend fishing boats or harbours from raiders in those instances you want something that can shoot at specific targets not lob artillery shells

Now I completely agree for supporting ground forces artillery is way more useful but general river patrol/escort/harbour defence I'll take the HAG variant

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

Yeah. It is correct that the artillery would be contribute much, but monitor has its own role and is have some needs, which is not appropriate for an artillery ship. If you want to take the general support craft then monitor isn't what you need.

It is correct that a MBT is better combatant than a light tactical vehicle, but if you want a light armored car that is able to transport some infantrymen and able to move on the road include in the city(not during the combat!) then you cannot pick a MBT before lost your mind. Although is it powerful does matters for the weapon, but ultimately the usefulness of all the tools, include weapons, are depend on its demand.

[Hellraiser]

Simple ask on the purposes thing: Why are you bothering to have riverine forces in the first place?  Most of the answers to that question, an artillery piece works better than an autocannon-esp. one with the markedly short range of an AC/20.

I don't disagree.
But I would point out that the canon Monitor has AC20's, soooo, there's a reason in there in BTU somewhere :)

[PuppyLikesLaserPointers]

I don't disagree.
But I would point out that the canon Monitor has AC20's, soooo, there's a reason in there in BTU somewhere :)

It was explicitly mentioned that its range isn't short at all on its intended playground, and I think that it already explains enough. Simply put, who will pick a sniper rifle if they are thrown to the 25m² square of gladiator's cage and fight against an opponent, when they can pick a shotgun, handgun or assault rifle instead?

[Dragon Cat]

Yup I see it as a Militia Policing unit more than anything designed to support planetary customs, security and patrol forces

It would be a lot more efficient to have two of these escort an important ore shipment down a wide river than have a pair of BattleMechs do it from the coast, or have a monitor sit at a harbour entrance and stop some more traditional sea pirate type raiders

ACs or HAGs in that kind of environment works better than arty

EDIT and have infantry for boarding actions, secure locks on rivers, or to support harbour security during offloading