Diplan 'Mechyards

Diplan 'Mechyards
Diplan-mechyards.png
Corporation Profile
AffiliationDraconis Combine
HeadquartersBelnet
(Aix-la-Chapelle IV)[1]
LeadershipCEO
Product(s)BattleMechs
Parent CorporationAlshain Weapons
Manufacturing Plant(s)Ozawa

The Diplan 'Mechyards were a major BattleMech producer for the Star League Defense Force and later for the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

Overview[edit]

Although Diplan's role as a major supplier to the SLDF is well-known, the development of a new variant of the popular Mongoose scout 'Mech for the SLDF Gunslinger Program was lost to history until the technical specifications for this new variant were uncovered by ComStar in the 3050s. Only a single model of the new variant, the MON-66GX, was ever produced - the SLDF command were disinclined to place production orders as they felt that the design, which varied significantly from the mainstream model, cost substantially more and closely resembled the specialized Exterminator 'Mech, would lead to inappropriate behavior among its pilots.[2]

One of many manufacturers to be revived by the DCMS's voracious appetite for BattleMechs to recoup the losses suffered during the Clan Invasion, Diplan overextended itself financially and ultimately faltered, finally being bought out by the venerable Alshain Weapons in 3060.[3] Located outside the city of Belnet, Diplan's factory on Aix-la-Chapelle was built as a veritable Castle Brian, allowing the company to weather military attack just as easily as the massive Class 9 storms that constantly batter the world. Additionally, due to the over forty-three days required to travel between Aix-la-Chapelle's Jump Points and the planet itself, Diplan also constructed a component factory incorporating locally processed materials rather than wait for off-world supply shipments, becoming almost totally self-reliant.[1][4]

Unlike Luthien Armor Works, during the Jihad the facility on Aix-la-Chapelle suffered no capital and personnel losses, and had a full production volume of 100% in 3079.[5]

Manufacturing[edit]

Diplan 'Mechyards has manufacturing centers on the following planets:

Aix-la-Chapelle[edit]

Components produced on Aix-la-Chapelle:[1][3][6][7][8]
Component Type
Mechs
Mongoose[1] Light BattleMech
KBO-7A Kabuto[3][6] Light BattleMech
HM-1 Hitman[3][7] Light BattleMech
NX-80 Nyx[8] Light BattleMech (as of 3085)
Chassis
Chariot Type 1 Endo Steel Hitman[7]
Chariot Type 1a Kabuto[6]
Chariot Type I-b Nyx[8]
Extralight Fusion Engine
Leenex 140 XL Kabuto[6]
GM 210 XL Hitman[7]
Pitban 300 XL Nyx[8]
Armor (BattleMechs & Combat Vehicles)
Starshield A Hitman[7] & Kabuto[6]
Communications System
Corean Transband-J12 Nyx[8]
Sipher CommCon SCU-4 w/Guardian ECM Hitman[7] & Kabuto[6]
Targeting-Tracking System
Cat's Eyes 5 w/Artemis IV FCS Hitman[7], Kabuto[6] & Nyx[8]
Medium Laser
Argra 3L Hitman[7]
LRM-5
Thunderstroke-L LRM-5 - Hitman[7]

Ozawa (destroyed 2837)[edit]

With the extinction of endo steel at the end of the First Succession War, the plant switched from the production of the MON-66 to the MON-67. The factory was finally destroyed by retreating Combine troops in 2837 via nuclear weapons.[9] This deprived the DCMS of one its favorite BattleMechs, the JR7-D Jenner. By 3025, the DCMS could not produce new runs of that variant.[10]

Components produced on Ozawa:[11][2]
Component Type
Mechs
JR7-D Jenner[12] Light BattleMech
JR7-F Jenner[12] Light BattleMech
MON-66 Mongoose[13] Light BattleMech
MON-66GX Mongoose Gunslinger[2] Light BattleMech (Single prototype only)[2]
MON-67 Mongoose[11] Light BattleMech
Chassis
Diplan Scout-A JR7-D Jenner
Kell/D Endo Steel MON-66 Mongoose[13]
Kell/D Standard MON-67 Mongoose[11]
Fusion Engine
Nissan 200 MON-67 Mongoose[11]
Armor (BattleMechs & Combat Vehicles)
ProtecTech 6 MON-67 Mongoose[11]
Medium Laser
Argra 27C Jenner[12]
Argra 3L Jenner[12]
Large Laser
Diplan HD Jenner[12]
Communications System
Dawson III Jenner[12]
ON-5 MON-67 Mongoose[11]
Targeting-Tracking System
Bk-309 Jenner[12]
TharHes Mars-1 MON-67 Mongoose[11]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Objectives: Draconis Combine, p. 18: "Diplan 'Mechyards"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Experimental Technical Readout: Gunslingers, p. 3: "MON-66GX Mongoose Gunslinger"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Handbook: House Kurita, p. 157: "Alshain Weapons"
  4. Handbook: House Kurita, pp. 84–85: "Aix-la-Chapelle" planet profile
  5. Objectives: Draconis Combine, p. 4: "State of the Industry at a Glance (Dec 3079)"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Technical Readout: 3060, p. 74: "Produced Kabuto Components on Aix-la-Chapelle"
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p. 18: "Produced Hitman Components on Aix-la-Chapelle"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Technical Readout: 3085, p. 62: "Produced Nyx Components"
  9. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 199
  10. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 136: "Weapons Industries"
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 246: "Produced MON-67 Mongoose Components"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 26: "JR7-D Jenner"
  13. 13.0 13.1 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 189

Bibliography[edit]