Blackjack (BattleMech)

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Blackjack
Production information
Manufacturer	General Motors
Model	BJ-1
Class	Medium
Technical specifications
Mass	45 tons
Chassis	GM BJ-I
Armor	Durallex Medium
Engine	GM 180
Speed	64.8 km/h
Jump Jets	Whitworth Jetlift
Armament	2xAutocannon/2s 4xMedium Lasers
BV (1.0)	795
BV (2.0)	949

Contents 1 Description 2 Armament 3 Variants 4 References

[edit] Description

The Blackjack was designed by General Motors in a bid for a fire support and counter-insurgency 'Mech. The prototype version of the Blackjack was designed to carry Flamers, but were replaced with two light autocannons in the production version of the 'Mech. In long range engagements, the Blackjack has lackluster performance. Where the 'Mech excels is in close quarters combat because its short ranged weapons, jumping distance of up to one hundred and twenty meters, and heavy armor make it a devastating street fighter.

[edit] Armament

The Blackjack carries two Whirlwind-L Autocannon/2s for long range, direct fire support. These autocannons provide excellent reach at the cost of damage capability. For close combat, the Blackjack has four Intek Medium Lasers. These lasers, when combined with the Blackjacks maneuverability, make the 'Mech very dangerous in an urban setting.

[edit] Variants

• BJ-1DB - The 1DB Blackjack is a variant intended to increase the 'Mech's lethality. The two autocannons have been replaced with two Large Lasers and several heat sinks have been added to the design to handle the extra heat load. BV (1.0) = 881, BV (2.0) = 1,015

• BJ-1DC - The 1DC Blackjack sacrifices the 'Mech's jumping ability in order to add two Small Lasers and additional heat sinks to deal with the additional heat load. BV (1.0) = 718, BV (2.0) = 917

• BJ-2 - The BJ-2 upgrade of the Blackjack upgrades the 'Mech with two Diverse Optics Sunbeam ER Large Lasers and four Hovertec Streak SRM-2 launchers. This variant also upgrades the heat sinks to double strength versions. [note, the BJ-2 was errata'd to use double heat sinks by FASA Corporation after its release] BV (1.0) = 1,050, BV (2.0) = 1,148

• BJ-3 - The St. Ives Compact upgraded their Blackjacks to this configuration when they were still a part of the Capellan Confederation, during the Fourth Succession War. The 'Mechs carry two Ceres Arms Smasher PPCs and four Medium Lasers and used double heat sinks to dissipate the extra heat. The majority of the BJ-3 models were turned over to the Federated Suns by the Compact after the Fourth Succession War. BV (1.0) = 1,099, BV (2.0) = 1,271

• BJ-4 - Many Blackjacks in the Federated Suns were upgraded to this model during the FedCom Civil War. A half-ton of armor is removed, though it is upgraded to Light Ferro-Fibrous, resulting in almost the same amount of armor protection. All the weapons of the -2 were stripped out and a Light Fusion Engine was included to free up additional mass. Each arm mounts a Light Autocannon/5 and an ER Medium Laser. CASE-protected magazines provide enough ammo bins to allow the -4 to make use of special munitions. A Targeting Computer makes all the weapons more accurate. BV (2.0) = ???

• Blackjack Omni - This OmniMech version of the venerable Blackjack debuted around 3058.

[edit] References

• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3025 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3050 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Battlepack Fourth Succession War