Osprey

Osprey
Osprey
Production information
Manufacturer Achernar BattleMechs[1]

Hollis Incorporated[1]


Skobel MechWorks[1]

Production Year 3076[2]
Model OSP-26[1]
Class Medium
Cost 9,154,946 C-bills[2]
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 55 tons
Chassis Hollis Mk II Endo Steel
Armor Durallex Heavy with CASE
Engine DAV 220 XL
Communications System O/P COM-211
Targeting Tracking System O/P 1078 with Beagle Active Probe
Heat Sinks 10 double
Speed 64 km/h
Jump Jets Anderson Propulsion 25
Armament
BV (2.0) 1,541[1][2][3]


Description[edit]

Originally a rare and little-known urban combat 'Mech from the Star League era, the Osprey reached new levels of prominence thanks to the Jihad.

Designed by Hollis Incorporated to fulfill a Star League Defense Force contract for a mobile, medium-weight fire support unit, when Blue Shot Weapons' Lynx design won the bid the Osprey was relegated to a limited contract for the SLDF's Royal units in an urban defense role. Rendered virtually extinct during the Succession Wars, the Word of Blake commissioned Skobel MechWorks to revive the design to bolster its own militia forces, resulting in massive production runs at Skobel and later Achernar BattleMechs during the Jihad. Impressed by the durability and effectiveness of the design during the brutal fighting to take Achernar and Terra, both the Republic of the Sphere and the Capellan Confederation placed a priority on restarting production for their own armed forces after the Jihad.[4]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The modern Osprey's main ranged weapon was its dorsally mounted M-7 Gauss rifle supported by Holly MML-7 rack underneath. At closer ranges the 'Mech carried a pair of Diverse Optics ER medium lasers and a single ER small laser. The small laser and a Beagle active probe were designed to fit into mountings identical to the medium lasers, thus giving the impression the 'Mech mounts two medium lasers in each of its stubby arms. Two tons of ammunition for the Gauss rifle and the MML-7 were carried in CASE-protected ammo bays in the Osprey's torso, allowing the missile system to flexibly use both LRM and SRM missiles and giving the design some but limited independence from supply lines.[4]

To allow the Osprey to carry such a heavy weapons loadout for its size, the 'Mech was built using a weight-saving endo steel chassis and a DAV 220 XL extralight engine. Clad in 11 tons of standard armor and equipped with 10 double heat sinks, the design also employed a Beagle active probe to weed out hidden units in urban environments. To make up for the Osprey's low ground speed, four Anderson Propulsion 25 jump jets were mounted, split between its torso and legs.[4]

Variants[edit]

  • OSP-25 
    This was the original, revived version of the Osprey that the Word of Blake used prior to the OSP-26 in 3074.[7] This version upgraded the OSP-15's 'Mech's standard medium lasers to ER medium lasers.[1] BV (2.0) = 1,630[8][7]

Custom Variant[edit]

Design Quirks[edit]

The OSP-26 Osprey is subject to the following Design Quirks:[13]

The OSP-36 Osprey is subject to the following Design Quirks:[10]

Notes[edit]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Technical Readout: Jihad, pp. 116–117: "OSP-26 Osprey"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 MUL online data for Osprey
  3. Record Sheets: 3085 Print Edition, p. 64
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Technical Readout: 3085, pp. 82–83: "OSP-26 Osprey"
  5. 5.0 5.1 MUL online data for Osprey OSP-15 variant
  6. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge, p. 121
  7. 7.0 7.1 MUL online data for Osprey OSP-25 variant
  8. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge, p. 122
  9. 9.0 9.1 MUL online data for Osprey OSP-36 variant
  10. 10.0 10.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 3, p. 7: "OSP-36 Osprey"
  11. 11.0 11.1 MUL online data for Osprey OSP-26 (Lawrence) variant
  12. BattleTech Dossiers: Lamenkov's Liability, p. 16
  13. BattleMech Manual, p. 93: BattleMech Quirk Table - Osprey Entry

Bibliography[edit]