BL-7-KNT-N Black Knight (aka "FrankenKnight")

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GiovanniBlasini
07/20/14 05:01 AM
75.85.176.204

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Another downgraded Star League design from Niops, that, like the PXH-0 Phoenix Hawk, I was able to shove a 270 GM into.

Code:

Black Knight BL-7-KNT-N

Mass: 75 tons
Tech Base: Inner Sphere (Primitive)
Chassis Config: Biped
Rules Level: Era Specific
Era: All Eras (non-canon)
Tech Rating/Era Availability: D/E-X-F-A
Production Year: 3147
Cost: 5,930,750 C-Bills
Battle Value: 1,256

Chassis: Technicron 1L Primitive Primitive Structure
Power Plant: GM 270 270 Primitive Fusion Engine
Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h
Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: 0 meters
Armor: Valiant Primitive Primitive
Armament:
1 PPC
2 Harmon Large Lasers
4 Harmon Medium Lasers
Manufacturer: Niops New Project Workshops
Primary Factory: Niops VII
Communications System: TransComm Alpha
Targeting and Tracking System: TransComm Beta

Overview:
While the Niops New Project Workshops (NNPW) found themselves unable to
domestically produce new BattleMech chassis larger than 50 tons, what they did
find themselves capable of doing was salvaging wreckage of existing BattleMechs
left over from the troubles during the Jihad. One such commonly-available
chassis were from the remains of Niops Association Militia BL-6-KNT Black
Knights that had not been able to be put back in service with the Militia, due
to a shortage of components such as 300-rating engines or replacement myomers.

After review of domestic manufacturing, evaluation of a handful of these
still-wrecked Black Knights, and calculations of expected power output, it was
realized that, while returning these venerable 'Mechs to the standards of the
original, or even Succession Wars downgrade, was impossible, it would be within
the realm of possibility to field a handful of downgraded "RetroTech" Black
Knights using the lower-grade components that NNPW was able to manufacture.
These BL-7-KNT-N Black Knights, it was hoped, would be able to supplement the
Niops Association Militia's forces, reducing dependence upon imported
BattleMech designs, especially if the ability to domestically produce new
chassis was recovered.


Capabilities:
Originally, it was hoped that multiple wrecks could be used to put together a
new skeletal structure that retains the avantages of the original BL-6-KNT
Black Knight's endo steel structure, which earned the project and, later, the
entire 'Mech, the nickname "FrankenKnight". Unfortunately, this proved
completely unworkable, though a prototype downgraded skeletal structure, based
on purchased documentation on the Succession War's BL-7-KNT, was successfully
produced in 3147.

After assembly of the new skeletal structure, NNPW strung the FrankenKnight
with domestically-produced low-grade myomers. When paired with the 270-rating
GM fusion plant, this gave the FrankenKnight a top speed of 54 kph, notably
slower than the original. Communications and targeting systems from the
originals are hoped to be utilized whenever possible, to ease the burdens on
the still-nascent electronics production capability of NNPW. Unfortunately,
control systems tend to be one of those components that take the biggest amount
of abuse on destroyed Black Knights, and new production is not up to the
quality of the original, so, like the PXH-0 Phoenix Hawk series, new BL-7-KNT-N
Black Knights must devote an extra two tons to cockpit and control systems.

Original armor moulds for the Black Knight were not sufficiently intact to
produce new armor plating, which forced NNPW engineers to piece together new
molds from armor plates on active Militia BattleMechs that had previously been
salvaged and put back into the field. Unfortunately, the reduced industrial
base the Niops Association still suffers from reared its ugly head again,
forcing the Militia to choose how badly they wanted to retain the Beagle Active
Probe of the original Black Knight, as this would reduce the mass available for
armament and armor. With the PXH-0b in production, albiet in limited numbers,
it was decided to focus on combat capabiltiy on the FrankenKnight, and 13.0
tons of lower-quality armor no better than the industrial-grade armor found on
many WorkMechs, giving the BL-7-KNT-N less protection than even the Succession
Wars Black Knights. NNPW engineers had hoped to compensate for this with
heavier armor, but the changes necessary proved too difficult to manage.

Fortunately, one thing there was room for was weaponry. With no active probe
or small laser, and unable to add more armor, the reduced mass of the 270 GM
not only allowed NNPW to mount the single PPC, twin large lasers, and quad
medium lasers of the original Black Knight, along with an extra heat sink the
original lacked. Despite this, the problems with heat buildup of the original
Black Knight are still present in the BL-7-KNT-N, though it is a familiar
problem with NAM mechwarriors.


Battle History:
With only the prototype completed, the BL-7-KNT-N has not seen live combat to
date, instead only seeing simulated combat evaluations.

The reduction in speed has been a concern of NAM commanders, as has the
downgraded armor protection. Still, with the exception of the head, the
FrankenKnight can withstand a single gauss rifle or heavy PPC hit to any
frontal location without being breached, and its back offers limited protection
against standard-grade Inner Sphere lasers. Because of its reduced speed, the
Niops Association Militia plans to use the BL-7-KNT-N strictly in defensive
operations of static locations. In this role, it would serve as a second line
of defense, with the faster, more advanced BattleMechs of the NAM engaging
invaders and raiders as far as possible from Niops' critical infrastructure.


Deployment:
With only the prototype completed, the BL-7-KNT-N Black Knight has not seen
widespread deployment in the Niops Association. While the New Project
Workshops continue to expand, it NNPW only expects to have a second
FrankenKnight completed by the end of 3147, expanding to a rate of production
of one every four months through 3148.

At present, less than a dozen BL-6-KNT Black Knights remain operational, and it
is expected that parts shortages for the 300 Vlar engines, as well as
replacement armor and endo steel components, could cut that number in half over
the next five years, as scavenging existing 'Mechs for components that haven't
been made in over six decades becomes more critical, making domestic
manufacture of a replacement during a time when warfare across the Inner Sphere
and Periphery is on the rise all the more critical.

In order to show his approval for the new Black Knight, Brigadier Zeb Kindarps,
commander of the Niops Association Militia, has assigned himself the
FrankenKnight, reassigning his BL-6-KNT to frontline duty, where it will
replace another Black Knight suffering from systemic problems due to its age
and shortages of replacement parts.


================================================================================
Equipment Type Rating Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Primitive Structure 114 points 7.50
Engine: Primitive Fusion Engine 270 14.50
Walking MP: 3
Running MP: 5
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks: Single Heat Sink 21 11.00
Heat Sink Locations: 1 CT, 3 LT, 3 RT, 2 LL, 2 RL
Gyro: Standard 3.00
Cockpit: Primitive 5.00
Actuators: L: SH+UA+LA+H R: SH+UA+LA+H
Armor: Primitive AV - 139 13.00

Internal Armor
Structure Factor
Head 3 8
Center Torso 23 17
Center Torso (rear) 8
L/R Torso 16 16
L/R Torso (rear) 5
L/R Arm 12 16
L/R Leg 16 16

================================================================================
Equipment Location Heat Critical Mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser RA 3 1 1.00
PPC RA 10 3 7.00
Medium Laser LA 3 1 1.00
Large Laser RT 8 2 5.00
Medium Laser RT 3 1 1.00
Large Laser LT 8 2 5.00
Medium Laser LT 3 1 1.00
Free Critical Slots: 25

BattleForce Statistics
MV S (+0) M (+2) L (+4) E (+6) Wt. Ov Armor: 5 Points: 13
3 3 3 1 0 3 2 Structure: 6
Special Abilities: ENE, SRCH, ES, SEAL, SOA
Member of the Pundit Caste
"Which side are we on? We're on the side of the demons, Chief. We're evil men in the gardens of paradise, sent by the forces of death to spread devastation and destruction wherever we go. I'm surprised you didn't know that." -- Col. Saul Tigh, BSG2003
ghostrider
07/20/14 11:40 AM
24.30.141.170

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If your up to it, why not do a series of the downgraded retro tech like kj did? Would be interesting to see what you can come up with.
CrayModerator
07/20/14 12:38 PM
67.8.171.23

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It's fragile, but the firepower is nothing to sneeze at. That'd make a decent "pocket assault 'Mech."
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.
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