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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