Retry
10/20/13 12:19 AM
76.7.226.208
|
The Gnaopsidae is the scientific family name of the Ground Spider. This quad mech was designed by Crossroads(A faction in alternate history) to simply command other Special Operations units. It is also well suited to provide fire support from afar with 2 Light Gauss Rifles, and can do so for an extended period of time with it's 5 tons of ammunition. Null, Chameleon, and Angel ECM gives it sufficient stealth capabilities as well as providing an immensely effective deterrent from long ranged counterstrikes from other snipers and missile boats. It can go prone, being a quad this not only creates a harder target to hit but it also does not suffer from decreases accuracy that many bipeds suffer. CASE II protects the mech from gauss rifle explosions, ensuring that such an explosion will not cripple the side torsos(as well as the front legs attached to them), giving the mech time to fall back if the need arises. In order to get so much equipment onto a quad chassis, tonnage-saving technologies such as Ferro-Fibrous armor, Endo-Steel Structures, and XL gyros and engines were forsaken for standard armor, structures, and engines. A compact gyro was installed for further space savings.
----
Gnaposidae Spec. Ops Command Mech
Mixed (Base Clan)
75 tons
BV: 1,966
Cost: 14,122,500 C-bills
Movement: 3/5
Engine: 225
Heat Sinks: 10 [20]
Cockpit: Command Console
Gyro: Compact Gyro
Internal: 122
Armor: 240/247
Internal Armor
Head 3 9
Center Torso 23 34
Center Torso (rear) 11
Right Torso 16 24
Right Torso (rear) 7
Left Torso 16 24
Left Torso (rear) 7
Front Right Leg 16 31
Front Left Leg 16 31
Rear Right Leg 16 31
Rear Left Leg 16 31
Weapons Loc Heat
Light Gauss Rifle (IS) LT 1
Light Gauss Rifle (IS) RT 1
Ammo Loc Shots
Light Gauss Ammo LT 16
Light Gauss Ammo RT 16
Light Gauss Ammo LT 16
Light Gauss Ammo RT 16
Light Gauss Ammo CT 16
Equipment Loc
Null Signature System RLL
Chameleon Light Polarization Shield RLL
Angel ECM Suite CT
CASE II RT
CASE II LT
----
The biggest, most daunting problem is probably it's carefully balanced heat efficiency. It has enough double heat sinks to run both the stealth systems and the Gauss rifles, but if it takes excessive external heat from any sources(be they fire, infernos, plasma) it won't be long before one or both stealth systems need to be temporarily disabled. It's firepower, though possessing impressive range and endurance, lacks in brute force for a heavy mech. The designers, at least, didn't consider the property a problem as it was not meant to supply firepower but to help direct it.
Variant:
Gnaopsidae Ib: Exchanges the 2 CASE IIs and the Light Gausses for dual Gauss Rifles with 5 tons of ammunition, in order to better supplement special ops sniper mechs and fire support vehicles, sometimes replacing them entirely. For simplicity's sake consider these Gauss Rifles to be clan spec.
|
Cray
10/20/13 12:31 PM
71.47.122.85
|
The disadvantage of this design is the speed. It won't be able to maximize the use of its stealth systems when other units can simply close with it to eliminate the to-hit penalties. Stealthy snipers work best when they keep the range open.
Otherwise, it's a fascinating combination of weapons and stealth that I like.
Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
Disclaimer: Anything stated in this post is unofficial and non-canon unless directly quoted from a published book. Random internet musings of a BattleTech writer are not canon.
|
Retry
10/20/13 12:41 PM
76.7.226.208
|
One could probably exchange the CASE systems or a ton of ammo for clan spec. XL engines and a standard gyro in order to propel it to 4/6.
I personally don't care for such a modification myself, as it makes the design extra vulnerable for opponents that do get close. Every man his own I guess.
Edited by Retry (10/20/13 12:44 PM)
|