Cronus

Cronus
Cronus
Production information
Manufacturer Gilmour MilTech[1]
Production Year 3060[2]
Model CNS-5M[1]
Class Medium
Cost 12,567,478 C-bills[2]
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 55 tons
Chassis Earthwerk SHD II endo steel[1]
Armor Maximillian 43 with CASE[1]
Engine VOX 330 XL[1]
Communications System Cipher ComSys1-C with C3 module[1]
Targeting Tracking System RCA Instatrac Mark XII[1]
Heat Sinks 14 double heat sinks[1]
Speed 97.2[1] km/h
Jump Jets Northrup 12000[1]
Armament
BV (1.0) 1,437
BV (2.0) 1,579[1][2][3]


Description[edit]

The Cronus was designed by Angus Gilmour to be a cost-effective 'Mech for use by mercenaries and small Periphery units using scrapped military equipment. After retiring from service with the Free Worlds League Military in the 3rd Succession War, Gilmour and many ex-technicians he recruited began working for the family business, Gilmour MilTech, on his home planet Talitha. While Gilmour MilTech would spend much of its time rebuilding and restoring wrecked equipment, technicians constructed small numbers of the Cronus with their free time. An inexpensive, hand-built design, the Cronus combines design aspects of many different 55-ton BattleMechs seen on the modern battlefield.[1]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The upgraded Cronus is built on a lightweight Earthwerks SHD II endo steel chassis that carries a VOX 330 XL engine, providing a top speed of 97.2 km/h. This mobility is enhanced by six Northrup 12000 jump jets that allow the 'Mech to jump up to 180 meters. It is protected with 10.5 tons of Maximillian 43 armor, with CASE. The Cronus is able to handle the heat from its weapons with 14 double heat sinks and is fitted with a C3 slave unit, allowing it to be integrated into a C3 lance.[1]

The Cronus is armed with a Magna Sunspot ER PPC as its primary long ranged weapon, which is capable of delivering consistent damage at all of its range brackets. For close combat, two Diverse Optics ER medium lasers and a single Diverse Optics ER small laser are mounted. Finally, to seek out weak points in an enemy's armor, the Cronus carries a Harpoon-4S Streak SRM-4.[1]

Variants[edit]

  • CNS-3M 
    An older variant of the Cronus, the 3M uses all standard technologies that have been available to the Inner Sphere in 3031[4]. As its primary weapon, the 3M has a large laser, which is backed up by three medium lasers and an SRM-4 launcher. The 3M is slightly slower than the 5M, with a top speed of 86.4 km/h and it carries a price tag of 4,896,656 C-bills, which is over 7,000,000 less than the 5M. BV (1.0) = 1,070[5] BV(2.0)=1,339[6][4]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Cronus is subject to the following Design Quirk:[9]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 Technical Readout: 3067, pp. 72-73, "CNS-5M Cronus"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 MUL online entry for the Cronus
  3. Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged, p. 111
  4. 4.0 4.1 MUL online entry for the Cronus CNS-3M variant
  5. Herb Beas has indicated Historical: War of 3039 is in error in listing this variant as CNS-3M, rather than CRS-3M, per Technical Readout: 3067 and Record Sheets: 3067 (June 16, 2009; CBT Forums). (dead link)
  6. Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged, p. 110
  7. 7.0 7.1 MUL online entry for the Cronus CNS-TD9 variant
  8. Record Sheets: 3067 Unabridged, p. 112
  9. BattleMech Manual, p. 91 BattleMech Quirk Table - Cronus Entry.

Bibliography[edit]