Cerberus (BattleMech)

This article is about the 95-ton BattleMech. For other uses, see Cerberus.
Cerberus (BattleMech)
Cerberus
Production information
Manufacturer LexaTech Industries[1]
Production Year 3054[2]
Model MR-V2[1]
Class Assault
Cost 25,182,626 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 95 tons
Chassis TermoElectron II
Armor Aldis Heavy Ferro-Fibrous
Engine GM 380 XL
Communications System O/P 3000 OSJ
Targeting Tracking System O/P PulseTrack III
Heat Sinks 12 double
Speed 65 km/h
Armament
BV (1.0) 1,791[3]
BV (2.0) 2,001[1][4]


Description[edit]

Designed to compete with 'Mechs like the Atlas and King Crab, the Cerberus is a 'Mech designed around speed and firepower. The Cerberus uses a massive GM 380 XL engine to propel it to a top speed of 64.8 km/h. The 'Mech is also armored with eleven tons of Aldis Heavy ferro-fibrous armor, which provides more protection per ton than standard armor. The large amount of free weight on the 'Mech, almost half of its mass, is dedicated to its weapons systems, which are designed to do as much damage to an enemy at as great a distance as possible.

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The primary weapons on the Cerberus are a pair of Grizzard Model 200 Gauss rifles, each of which is capable of taking one ton of armor off of an enemy at long range. In the event that an enemy does move into short range, the Cerberus is ready for them because it carries four Blankenburg Medium Pulse Lasers and two rear-mounted Sperry Browning Machine Guns. Additionally, for increased defense against missile attacks, the Cerberus carries a McArthur anti-missile system.

Variants[edit]

  • MNT-A-RY-5M 
    The House Marik designation for the MR-5M.
  • MR-5M 
    The 5M variant (Blakist designation) replaces one of the Gauss Rifles with an ER PPC and uses the extra free weight to upgrade the armor to fourteen tons. It also has three additional double heat sinks and two more Medium Pulse Lasers. This modification costs the Cerberus in firepower but adds to its overall armor protection and defensive capabilities.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,633,[5] BV (2.0) = 2,060[6]
  • MR-6B 
    Based on the 5M variant, the 6B is an upgrade of the Cerberus that removes the Machine Guns and their ammunition. Two of the Medium Pulse Lasers have been replaced by ER Medium Lasers and the anti-missile system moved to the left torso to make room for an improved C3 computer, allowing the Cerberus to share targeting data with up to five other friendly units. Armor protection on the limbs is increased.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,679,[7] BV (2.0) = 2,128
  • MR-V3 
    The V3 is a field upgrade of the Cerberus that removes the Machine Guns and their volatile ammunition and replaces them with an additional one and a half tons of armor.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,862, BV (2.0) = 2,094[8]
  • MR-7K 
    This version was introduced in the 3120s. Built around an Endo Steel chassis and protected by Anti-Ballistic Armor, it has upgraded pulse lasers and removes the smaller ballistic weaponry.[9]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Cerberus has the following Design Quirks:[10]

Notable Pilots[edit]

Gallery[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • Author Blaine Lee Pardoe stated in a blog entry that, according to his memory which he admitted could be wrong, the Cerberus was among the BattleMechs which he designed and for which he wrote the original background as initially published in TRO:3055.

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, pp. 186–187: "MR-5M Cerberus". The article header is incorrect – the stats are for the MR-V2
  2. MUL online date for the Cerberus (BattleMech)
  3. Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p. 77
  4. Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged, p. 118
  5. Combat Operations, p. 130
  6. Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged, p. 116
  7. Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged, p. 117
  8. Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged, p. 119
  9. Technical Readout: 3150, p. 224
  10. BattleMech Manual, p. 90: Design Quirk Table - Cerberus
  11. Sword and Fire, pp. 203–217
  12. Impetus of War, p. 204

Bibliography[edit]