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06/26/15 05:03 PM
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Mouse Armored Combat Car Mk.I
Clan experimental
15 tons
BV: 708
Cost: 790,125 C-bills
Source: Crossroads
Movement: 8/12 (Wheeled)
Engine: 100 XL
Internal: 10
Armor: 70 (Ferro-Lamellor)
Internal Armor
Front 2 18
Right 2 16
Left 2 16
Rear 2 8
Turret 2 12
Weapons Loc Heat
Medium Pulse Laser TU 4
Medium Pulse Laser TU 4
Micro Pulse Laser TU 1
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Based upon the Packrat Long Range Patrol Vehicle, the Mouse was modified extensively to meet the needs of the small faction.
Being "tech-rich" and lacking the massive population pools of Terra or the massive Great Houses, Crossroads relies on fielding significant numbers of high-tech weapons from the population base it does have. The Crossroadian Armored Corps has lighter vehicles on average than any main powerhouse; While others field 100 ton Behemoths or 80 ton Demolishers as their main battle tanks, Crossroads instead uses a native 55 ton MBT design. This 15 tonner is a light armored car capable of fighting light forces in most settings and is an effective supplemental force in urban combat.
The Packrat was a good basis for the design requirement of a fast, adequately armed and armored light car, but it could be improved. One design requirement was the use of the 100 XLE, and to retain high speeds with this less powerful powerplant required cutting the weight of the vehicle. Fortunately, the 100 XLE was much lighter than the 140 SFE reactor, which allowed the mass of the vehicle to be reduced to 15 tons.
The space from the infantry bay was used to install a turret assembly on top of the original Packrat chassis, equipped with dual medium pulse lasers for anti-armor and a micro pulse laser for anti-infantry. To control the weapon package, the single driver utilizes a HDS(Helmet Display System), which slaves turret movement to the helmet. The driver can either lock onto a target with the HDS and allow an AI to open fire at the locked on target or control the aiming manually. This system is fairly demanding, and since there's still a second seat available a dedicated gunner is often used to take control of the HDS.
The armor protection of 5 tons of Ferro-Lamellor armor provides enhanced protection against small arms, making the Packrat far more durable against infantry threats. It can also withstand an AC/20 shell on the front and side locations, or a clan-spec ERPPC on the turret location, impressive for its weight class.
The Mouse is comparable to the Zephyros ISV, which is heavier and has a similar weapon layout. The Mouse and Zephyros have the same speed, and the Zephyros has better rear, turret, and frontal armor protection against anti-armor weaponry. However, the Mouse weapons are more accurate and are especially effective against fast mechs and vehicles, and has an armor type that can better shrug off low-firepower weapons like the AC/2, SRM, and small arms. The Mouse is also lighter and costs nearly 200k C-Bills less.
The Armored Combat Car can deal well with general light and medium assets of Periphery powers, and can be transported in bulk via dropship. Thanks to these facts, the Mouse is often deployed from generic cargo holds after dropzones have been secured to provide support to infantry forces, destroy light armored vehicles and harass medium vehicles.
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