Hollander

Hollander
Hollander
Production information
Manufacturer Coventry Metal Works[1]

General Motors[2]

Production Year 3054[3]
Model BZK-F3[1]
Class Light
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 35 tons
Chassis Coventry BZK-III [endo steel]
Armor Lexington Ltd. High Grade Ferro-Fibrous
Engine Omni 175
Communications System TharHes Muse 54-58K
Targeting Tracking System Cyclops 9
Heat Sinks 10 single
Speed 86 km/h
Armament

1x Gauss rifle

BV (1.0) 861[4]
BV (2.0) 953[1][5]


Description[edit]

The Hollander was introduced in 3054 specifically to carry a Gauss rifle into combat and act as a sniper. The Federated Commonwealth was in dire need of a response to the fast-moving, long-range firepower of the Clan invaders at the time, and looked at a number of light 'Mech designs featuring PPCs or LRMs as a potential answer. It was Coventry's unorthodox decision to mount such a large weapon, one that had neither the overheating or ammunition explosion drawbacks of the other designs, which won them the contract. With its single massive cannon and use of rediscovered technology, the Hollander can destroy another light 'Mech in a single hit at extreme range and threaten heavier targets easily.[6][7]

Unfortunately, Coventry was a bit too ambitious with the original Hollander design and had to make a number of cutbacks to get a working production model. Even using advanced lightweight materials, space and weight concerns forced a number of concessions in order to mount such a massive weapon. The original six tons of armoring was scaled back, especially around the torso and arms, so that the weapon could fully articulate, and the fusion engine was reduced in size due to the weight of the weapon. Ammunition stores had to be reduced and secondary weapons eliminated due to space concerns as well. As such, the Hollander's speed profile was reduced to that of a Clan heavy 'Mech, and it has nothing to fall back on if it should run out of ammo.[6][7]

In spite of these setbacks the Hollander still boasted tremendous firepower and was cheap to build, leading to its immediate deployment as a light hunter-killer 'Mech. The first production run of Hollanders went to the 17th Skye Rangers and the 1st Kearny Highlanders, operating against Clan Jade Falcon on Barcelona and Mogyorod respectively, where they hoped to prove effective against the Kit Fox. Other units, including prominent mercenary commands, also began to receive Hollander shipments thereafter. Since its debut, numerous variants of the Hollander have attempted to address the flaws in the design, including the use of an even heavier chassis to create the Hollander II models.[6][7]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The only weapon carried by the Hollander is a Poland Main Model A Gauss rifle, taking up the 'Mech's right torso. While incredibly powerful, only two tons of ammunition in the center torso means the Hollander can fire just 16 times before it is completely defenseless. So long as it still has ammo though the Hollander is very dangerous, as its heavily-reinforced legs - fitted with recoil compensators and support hydraulics - allows the 'Mech to accurately target and fire at the enemy even when running at top speed. Built on a Coventry BZK-III endo steel chassis, the 'Mech is protected by four tons of Lexington Limited High Grade ferro-fibrous armor; both design features were meant to save on weight as much as possible. However, its seven-ton Omni 175 engine gives the 'Mech a cruising speed of only 86.4 km/h. While not enough to actually catch its intended targets - light and medium 'Mechs - in a foot race, the Hollander's role as a long-range sniper does not necessarily require a high top speed.[6][7]

Variants[edit]

  • BZK-G1 
    The G1 variant of the Hollander is built to address concerns about the Hollander's lack of backup weapons. First debuting in 3056, the 'Mech replaces the weighty Gauss rifle with an LB 10-X autocannon as its primary weapon, freeing up weight to mount two Defiance B3M medium lasers in its arms as backup weapons and add two tons of ferro-fibrous armor.[1] The G1 is an excellent 'Mech for vehicle hunting as well as anti-aircraft use with its LB-X cluster rounds. BV (1.0) = 768[4], BV (2.0) = 873[8]
  • BZK-G2 
    Developed in the Dark Age, this variant of the Hollander replaces the original weaponry with a light Gauss rifle and a supercharger for the engine.[9] BV (2.0) = 895[10]
    BZK-F5 Hollander II 
    The Hollander II series increases the mass to 45 tons in an attempt to solve the original's flaws. First built in 3058, the F5 still carries a Gauss rifle as its primary weapon, but is backed up by a single medium laser and a Streak SRM-2 launcher.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,084[4], BV (2.0) = 1,214[11]
  • BZK-F7 Hollander II 
    The F7, debuting in 3061, is a modification of the F5 that takes advantage of the Hollander II's larger weapons payload to mount the Lyran Alliance's new heavy Gauss rifle, which is capable of causing a great deal of damage at short to medium ranges. While improving upon the firepower of the variant, the removal of backup weaponry to fit this massive weapon leaves it with the same problems as the original Hollander.[1] BV (1.0) = 1,087[4], BV (2.0) = 1,192[12]

Design Quirks[edit]

The Hollander has the following Design Quirks:[19]

The Hollander II has the following Design Quirks:[20]

Related Designs[edit]

  • Blitzkrieg - Unimpressed with the Hollander's lack of speed, armor, and secondary weaponry, the Lyran Alliance commissioned the Blitzkrieg. Though the Blitzkrieg fails to add a secondary weapons system, it improves upon the Hollander in every other manner, including mounting a devastating UAC/20[21].

Notes[edit]

  • Author Blaine Lee Pardoe stated in a blog entry that he believed that the Hollander was among the BattleMechs for which he wrote the original stats and background as initially published in TRO:3055, though added the caveat that he was not entirely sure regarding this particular design.
  • In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Holländer. The model code was accordingly changed to HOL-N3.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Technical Readout: Clan Invasion, pp. 104–105: "BZK-F3 Hollander"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Technical Readout 3145: Federated Suns, p. 34, "BZK-D1 Hollander III"
  3. MUL online date for the Hollander
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Combat Operations, p. 132
  5. Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged, p. 28
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Technical Readout: 3055, p. 26
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade, p.24
  8. Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged, p. 29
  9. Technical Readout: 3150, p. 223
  10. Record Sheets: 3150
  11. Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged, p. 40
  12. Record Sheets: 3055 Upgrades Unabridged, p. 41
  13. Technical Readout 3145: Federated Suns, p. 81, "BZK-D1 Hollander III"
  14. Record Sheets: 3145 Unabridged, p. 194
  15. Technical Readout 3145: Federated Suns, p. 82, "BZK-D2 Hollander III"
  16. Record Sheets: 3145 Unabridged, p. 195
  17. Technical Readout 3145: Federated Suns, p. 83, "BZK-D3 Hollander III"
  18. Record Sheets: 3145 Unabridged, p. 196
  19. BattleMech Manual, p. 92 BattleMech Quirk Table - Hollander Entry.
  20. BattleMech Manual, p. 92 BattleMech Quirk Table - Hollander II Entry.
  21. Technical Readout: 3060, p. 94

Bibliography[edit]