Garm

Garm
Garm
Production information
Manufacturer Johnston Industries[1]
Production Year 3058[2]
Model GRM-01A
Class Light
Cost 2,882,160 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 35 tons
Chassis Johnston Biped L-25-a2 endo steel
Armor Johnston Duraweave 6000 Ferro-Fibrous
Engine Omni 175
Communications System Lynx-Shur 4.5
Targeting Tracking System Sync Tracker (55-42071)
Heat Sinks 10 single heat sinks
Speed 86.4 km/h
Jump Jets Rawlings 80-beta
Armament
BV (1.0) 662[3][4]
BV (2.0) 701[1]
698[5]


Description[edit]

The Garm is designed to operate as part of a fire support lance, providing long-range direct fire for other units, and as such, the Garm competes directly with the Valkyrie BattleMech. Given the widely used Valkyrie was a signature 'Mech of the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth, initially the AFFC High Command expressed little interest in the Garm, with the 'Mech mostly ending up with mercenary units and with the largest purchase being several production runs to the Taurian Concordat. A disheartened Johnston Industries was preparing to kill the model when news reports of several lances of the Taurian Garm successfully fending off pirate raiders on Mithron finally convinced the AFFC to take notice, now ordering several hundred for their frontline forces.[1]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

To make the Garm capable of carrying the weapons needed to carry out its intended mission, it is built on a Johnston Biped L-25-a2 endo steel chassis that weighs half as much as a standard chassis, while an Omni 175 fusion engine allows it a maximum speed of 86.4 km/h. The mobility enjoyed by the Garm is enhanced with five Rawlings 80-beta jump jets that make the 'Mech capable of jumping up to 150 meters. The Garm does have relatively light armor for a 'Mech of its size, with only three and a half tons of Johnston Duraweave 6000 ferro-fibrous armor; this is because the Garm depends on its ability to engage an enemy at long range rather than closing to short ranges.[1]

The Garm is capable of providing both direct and indirect fire support. For direct fire support, the Garm has a Mydron Excel 5SG LB-X AC/5, capable of firing both standard and cluster ammunition. A Federated 10-Shot LRM-10 launcher provides the Garm with added long-range combat capabilities and allows indirect fire support. Though not part of the original design, Johnston's engineers gave the Garm fully functional hands partly to complement the jump jets in navigating tricking mountainous terrain but largely to allow the 'Mech to try and deal with any Battle Armor swarm attacks.[1]

Variants[edit]

  • GRM-01B 
    The 01B variant of the Garm is built to operate independently of supply lines and increases its long-range indirect fire capabilities. To do this, the Garm removes the heavy LB-X AC/5 and replaces it with an ER large laser. The 'Mech also adds an Artemis IV fire control system to increase the accuracy of its LRM-10 launcher. Finally, the 'Mech adds two single heat sinks and an additional ton of armor. BV (1.0) = 732,[3][7] BV (2.0) = 931[8]
  • GRM-01C 
    Introduced in the leadup to the FedCom Civil War, the 1C's replaces the LB-X AC/5 with an RAC/5 which finally allowed the Garm to gain increasing acceptance within the AFFC mainstream.[9] Two tons of CASE protected ammunition is carried to feed the hungry weapon; when this is depleted the left torso mounted ER medium laser is the 'Mech's only fallback weapon. BV (1.0) = 960,[3] BV (2.0) = 1,140[10]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Garm has the following Design Quirk:[11]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Technical Readout: 3060, pp. 82-83, "Garm Profile"
  2. MUL online date for the Garm
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Combat Operations, p. 127
  4. Record Sheets: 3060, p. 88
  5. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 119
  6. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 120 - Jihad era Plasma Cannon variant of the Garm from Record Sheet: 3060 Unabridged.
  7. Record Sheets: 3060, p. 89
  8. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 121
  9. Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 161: "BattleMech Variants"
  10. Record Sheets: 3060 Unabridged, p. 122 - Rotary variant of the Garm with BV2.
  11. BattleMech Manual, p. 91 Design Quirk Table - Garm Entry.

Bibliography[edit]