KitK
05/09/12 04:39 PM
70.64.129.30
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Meerkat MRKT-140A
Mass: 20 tons Tech Base: Inner Sphere Chassis Config: Biped Rules Level: Tournament Legal Era: Clan Invasion Tech Rating/Era Availability: E/X-X-E Production Year: 3068 Cost: 2,897,440 C-Bills Battle Value: 1,024
Chassis: CMCD Orbital Endo-steel (Light) Endo-Steel Power Plant: Nissan 160 Fusion XL Engine Walking Speed: 86.4 km/h Maximum Speed: 129.6 km/h (172.8 km/h) Jump Jets: None Jump Capacity: 0 meters Armor: Valiant Scutum / New Smarkand Royal Light Ferro-Fibrous Armament: 3 Martel ER Medium Lasers 2 Death Blossom Rocket Launcher 10s 1 Sunglow Prism-Optic Small Pulse Laser Manufacturer: CMCDesigns Primary Factory: El Dorado (FS) Dieron (DC) Communications System: Sony MSF-31 Targeting and Tracking System: Winston Sidewinder
Overview:
The Meerkat MRKT-140A was unveiled on Tharkad on the eve of the Fourth Whitting Conference to take advantage of free publicity and the inordinate amount of government officials from across the Inner Sphere on the planet. As its name and 20 ton design suggests, the Meerkat is a lighter cousin to the venerable Mongoose battlemech. The previous eighteen years of heavy fighting had bereaved the Houses of hundreds of Mongoose-67s, and the replacement Mongoose-66s were being pushed back into their Star League command roles, creating a niche market to establish the new mech in. Further, CMCDesigns hoped that the Meerkat would even be able to supplant the Mongoose, over time, by matching and enhancing its firepower and speed, while keeping cost increases below 50%.
Capabilities:
The Meerkat features a 200 XL fusion engine. The engine’s powerful output is further enhance by MASC circuitry, giving the Meerkat a 10/20 movement profile and making it one of the fastest mechs mass produced in the Inner Sphere. It maintains the Mongoose’s base weapon loadout but with ER versions of the four lasers. Accuracy is enhanced by integrating computerized control equipment with the targeting system. The core of the mech is made with Endo-Steel. Ferro-Fibrous armor permits the 140A to carry maximum armor. And, double heatsinks are employed to control heat.
The one dark cloud hanging over the Meerkat’s head is the stigma of its XL engine. The engine’s cost and exposure to damage, combined with the advent of a viable light engine, have turned opinions in the Inner Sphere away from the XL engines that once garnered such enthusiasm. CMCDesigns rationalizes that the increased speed compensates for the drawbacks. But of course terrain and pilot error can eliminate those advantages without much warning, leaving pilot dispossessed of his/her mech.
Deployment:
CMCDesigns was preparing its first production runs on Dieron (DC) and El Dorado (FS) for 3068. However Dieron’s fall to the Word of Blake delayed production until the Philadelphia plant could be tooled to produce the mech in 3073. The El Dorado plant delivered its first lance to the 1st Davion Guards RCT on schedule in 3069.
Variants:
One variant, the MRKT-140B, is offered at the point of sale. Due to the Meerkat’s diminutive and compact design, modifications are very difficult. Further complicating matters, the variant changes engine size and armor type as well as adding weapons. As a result the MRKT-140B is best produced in the factory because field modifications are impossible. Modifications are even difficult (at best) for a well equipped repair facility. The 140B trades in some of its speed for a more flexible array of weapons, which expands the Meerkat’s role as a striker and also into anti-infantry. The engine is reduced to a 160 XL, requiring the placement of several more heatsinks outside the engine. And, the armor is downgraded to light ferro-fiberous, slightly reducing its armor protection. This move permits the exchange of the small laser for a small pulse laser, adding anti-personnel capability to the design. Also, a rocket launcher 10 is added to each side torso, boosting the little mech’s firepower.
================================================================================ Equipment Type Rating Mass -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Internal Structure: Endo-Steel 33 points 1.00 Internal Locations: 3 LT, 3 RT, 3 LA, 3 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL Engine: XL Fusion Engine 160 3.00 Walking MP: 8 Running MP: 12 (16) Jumping MP: 0 Heat Sinks: Double Heat Sink 10(20) 0.00 Heat Sink Locations: 1 LT, 1 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA Gyro: Standard 2.00 Cockpit: Standard 3.00 Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H Armor: Light Ferro-Fibrous AV - 67 4.00 Armor Locations: 1 LT, 2 RT, 1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LL, 1 RL
Internal Armor Structure Factor Head 3 9 Center Torso 6 8 Center Torso (rear) 2 L/R Torso 5 8 L/R Torso (rear) 2 L/R Arm 3 6 L/R Leg 4 8
================================================================================ Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Small Pulse Laser HD 2 1 1.00 ER Medium Laser CT 5 1 1.00 Targeting Computer CT - 1 1.00 Rocket Launcher 10 RT 3 1 0.50 Rocket Launcher 10 LT 3 1 0.50 MASC LT - 1 1.00 ER Medium Laser RA 5 1 1.00 ER Medium Laser LA 5 1 1.00 Free Critical Slots: 0
BattleForce Statistics MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 2 Points: 10 10 3 2 1 0 1 0 Structure: 1 Special Abilities: SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
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Karagin
05/09/12 04:58 PM
217.5.180.117
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I like the fluff and the overall load out is very suited to a light mech.
Karagin
Given time and plenty of paper, a philosopher can prove anything.
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KitK
05/10/12 10:25 AM
70.64.129.30
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Thanks Karagin. I've been trying to slot my designs into eras and timelines, which helps with the fluff a bit.
The loadout permits a more aggressive role as a skirmisher or striker. But the speed allows it to scout too.
KK
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Karagin
05/10/12 10:54 AM
217.5.180.117
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I can see this getting a lot of use and being something many mercs would have as a scout.
Karagin
Given time and plenty of paper, a philosopher can prove anything.
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