Lafeel
09/12/09 02:33 PM
157.157.185.29
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Here's another level 1 assault mech by yours truly.
Code:
Protector Prt-7L
Rules Level: Tournament Legal
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Chassis Config: Biped
Production Year: 2750
Extinct By: Never
Chassis: TTI PRT
Power Plant: VOX 270 Fusion Engine
Cruising Speed: 32.25 km/h
Maximum Speed: 53.75 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Renault Composites 200 Standard
Armament:
2 Aurora Missiliers Deathscap LRM-15s
2 Hyades Weapon Consortium Reprisal Autocannon/5s
4 Martin-Gordan Rapier Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Taurus Defense Conglomorate (destroyed 2582)/Taurus Terretorial Industries (3055-present)
Primary Factory: Taurus
Communications System: Bell & Sun Long Ear model 9
Targeting and Tracking System: Precision Fire Control Systems Phalanx Gold
Dating back to the years prior to the Reunification War, the Protector was one of the largest mechs in service with the Taurian armed forces during the war, and fought the Star League with considerable distinction.
In the years since it has served in the SLDF and the Comguards before returning to service with the TDF some time during Myndo Waterly's tenure as Primus (even Comstar records are unclear on the exact date, ed).
It is unknown if any Protectors were taken along with the SLDF on the voyage to the Kerensky Cluster, but it is entirely possible due to it being in considerable use prior to the Amaris Coup, albeit it mainly as a training mech.
It does however share a certain resemblance if only in capabilities with some of the newer mechs in service such as the Jade Falcon's new Jupiter assault mech.
Capabilities
While not a spectacular design by any means, particularly not when compared with the more modern designs in current frontline service with the great houses, the Protector's simple yet effective design earned it many a admirer among the SLDF training units it was assigned to, and while never as numerous as the Crockett it was well considered by it's users.
Even a cursory examination soon reveals why this is the case, as while it's long range weaponry of two 50mm autocannon and two fifteen shot long range missile launchers is not the heaviest around it is well within the capabilities of the Protector's twelve heat sinks to handle, while the accompanying four medium lasers are also just as easily handled, as long as the pilot is aware that they are to be used for work at ranges where the missiles and autocannon would have targeting issues.
A generous seven tons of ammunition, five of which were dedicated to the lrm racks, gave the Protector considerable staying power, but the presence of one of these ammunition bins in the center torso was considered a weakness, although most mechwarriors got around this by using that ammunition bin before the other lrm ones.
Carrying a full seventeen and a half tons of armor, the maximum possible for a ninety ton battlemech, the Protector was certainly no pushover, even if the large amount of ammunition carried tended to cause a ammunition explosion when the armor was actually penetrated.
Battle History
Editors note: Although information on this ancient design is hard to come by, a recent review of the Helm memory core to try and find information about it gained the following transcript, from a surprising source, to say the least.
It is hard to overstate the service the Protector did the SLDF during it's two centuries of service since the Reunification War.
While the Crockett is more commonly known as a training mech, the Protector's generous heat curve and easy to master controls made it no less ideal than it's more famous SLDF designed counterpart.
My only regret is that it was never upgraded to include Hegemony technology and therefore was denied it's chance to do itself justice during the Coup.
Alexandr Kerensky
Deployment
Extensively used by the Concordant defense forces during the years prior to the Reunification War, and in frontline service during the war. Later taken into service with the SLDF as a training and second line mech up until the Amaris Coup.
Long since thought lost by the 3050's, several copies of the design were put back into service, and, eventually, production, in the Concordant following a technology transfer instigated by then Primus Myndo Waterly.
Along with the Great Bull these would go on to spearhead the Concordant's assault on the Federated Suns, although they met no more success than it's newer half sibling. Even so as a piece of Taurian history the Protector still remains in service in the TDF and is likely to remain so for the forseable future.
Known Variants
As one might expect with such a old design several variants exist.
Ironically the original factory build, the 6L uses two particle projector cannon in place of the autocannon, but severe heat issues saw this discontinued after only a limited production run, according to some sources only fifteen units.
This would, as two of the original units survived to see service with the modern TDF, serve as the basis of one of the two refitted versions, the 6R, which uses ten double heat sinks to finally cure this variant's heat issues, then upgrades both the missile launchers to 20 racks and adds artemis 4. While a extremely capable design, the inability of the Taurians to locally produce artemis 4 means it is unlikely to become the main production variant.
The 7R meanwhile went down a different route by first again removing the extra heat sinks and replacing the remaining ten with doubles, but it then upgrades both autocannon to ultra models, which are a weapon the Concordant can actually manufacture for themselves. However, the fact they still only have twenty rounds each means that any pilot will have to choose when to let off a double blast very carefully.
Extremely rare, since such weapons are are not produced by the Concordant, the 7T meanwhile uses lb5X autocannon instead, using the tonnage gained to add a extra ammunition bin to each autocannon. Interestingly enough this version retains the original's twelve single heat sinks.
Long since lost, as none survived to the present day, is the comparitively rare even in it's heyday 8L which completely replaced the weaponry, using paired arm mounted 100mm autocannon, and short range missiles to turn the Protector into a capable city fighter. The inclusion of three jump jets improved it's maneuverability somewhat, but not enough to really keep up with the designs it faced during the Reunification War, during which all known examples of this interesting variant were lost.
Code:
Technology Base: Inner Sphere 90 tons
Chassis Config: Biped Cost: 8.272.600 C-Bills
BV2: 1.756 Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/C-E-D
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure: 9.0
Engine: 270 Fusion Engine 14.5
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: 12 - Single (10 in engine) 2.0
Heat Sink Locations: 1 LL, 1 RL
Gyro: Standard 3.0
Cockpit: Standard 3.0
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA R: SH+UA+LA
Armor: 279 points - Standard 17.5
Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head: 3 9
Center Torso: 29 44
Center Torso (rear): 14
R/L Torso: 19 29
R/L Torso (rear): 9
R/L Arm: 15 30
R/L Leg: 19 38
Weapons and Ammo Location Criticals Tonnage
LRM-15 RT 3 7.0
Medium Laser RT 1 1.0
Medium Laser RT 1 1.0
LRM-15 LT 3 7.0
Medium Laser LT 1 1.0
Medium Laser LT 1 1.0
Autocannon/5 RA 4 8.0
Autocannon/5 LA 4 8.0
@LRM-15 (8) CT 1 1.0
@LRM-15 (8) RT 1 1.0
@LRM-15 (8) RT 1 1.0
@AC/5 (20) RT 1 1.0
@LRM-15 (8) LT 1 1.0
@LRM-15 (8) LT 1 1.0
@AC/5 (20) LT 1 1.0
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Karagin
09/12/09 04:42 PM
72.178.75.99
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It seems to mix several mech weapon loadouts, you have a similar setup as the Archer, then you have the dual AC5s, which adds the flavor of the Mauler to the mix. It is indeed different enough to give folks a headache or two and it can lay down impressive long range support firepower with it's 5 tons of ammo for those LRM15s.
Karagin
Given time and plenty of paper, a philosopher can prove anything.
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Lafeel
09/12/09 07:09 PM
157.157.185.29
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Which is the basic idea for it's role. Which is also half the reason for it's name, as it protects the advances of smaller and or more short ranged mech's.
As for the other part, well last time I knew the ruler of the Concordant was called the Protector, so..
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Tripod
09/13/09 05:17 AM
192.91.75.30
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All those ammo bins allows for an impressive array and munitions choices as well...
Imo, one of the better designed (level 1) assault mechs I've come across. Well done!
TBA
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Lafeel
09/13/09 06:04 PM
157.157.185.29
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Why thank you. 
Of course they can also make for one hell of a impressive explosion if hit, but that's the risk you run when using ammo in level one play.
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KamikazeJohnson
09/14/09 12:34 AM
142.161.158.84
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Quote:
Of course they can also make for one hell of a impressive explosion if hit, but that's the risk you run when using ammo in level one play.
That's why ammo stocks is one of the role-defining factors of a design...Lower ammo stocks for the front-line bruisers that do their damage and withdraw with heavy damage or are destroyed about the time they run out of ammo. Larger stocks are for support 'Mechs that stand back and endure minimal return fire.
Peace is that glorious moment in history when everyone stands around reloading.
--Thomas Jefferson
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Prince_of_Darkness
09/14/09 10:06 AM
205.202.120.216
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Quote:
Quote:
Of course they can also make for one hell of a impressive explosion if hit, but that's the risk you run when using ammo in level one play.
That's why ammo stocks is one of the role-defining factors of a design...Lower ammo stocks for the front-line bruisers that do their damage and withdraw with heavy damage or are destroyed about the time they run out of ammo. Larger stocks are for support 'Mechs that stand back and endure minimal return fire.
In that sense, he would do well with removing some armor for another heat sink so he could fire more.
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Lafeel
09/14/09 02:52 PM
157.157.185.29
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Of course they can also make for one hell of a impressive explosion if hit, but that's the risk you run when using ammo in level one play.
That's why ammo stocks is one of the role-defining factors of a design...Lower ammo stocks for the front-line bruisers that do their damage and withdraw with heavy damage or are destroyed about the time they run out of ammo. Larger stocks are for support 'Mechs that stand back and endure minimal return fire.
In that sense, he would do well with removing some armor for another heat sink so he could fire more.
Not the first to suggest that actually, Master Arimas over on S7 suggested it as well. Ultimately I decided against it seeing as it doesn't need to move very much in it's primary role.
Plus you did notice where I put those two extra heat sinks, didn't you? Belive me, that was no accident. 
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Prince_of_Darkness
09/14/09 03:00 PM
205.202.120.216
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Quote:
Plus you did notice where I put those two extra heat sinks, didn't you? Belive me, that was no accident.
Oh, I know- but adding another would allow you to walk. Plus, it would give a better appearance as an old level one machine 
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Lafeel
09/14/09 03:03 PM
157.157.185.29
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Technically modifying it now would be cheating seeing as it's a contest entry..Now isn't that ironic, all three of my level ones (all three I am quite proud of, flaws and all) have been contest entries. This for LiS's money contest, the Great Bull for Clash of the Titans, and the good ole Frank for the old merc mech one.
Edited by Lafeel (09/14/09 03:03 PM)
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