Reactive Armor

Reactive armor

Description[edit]

Reactive Armor (sometimes called Blazer Armor) type of specialized armor that uses a series of microscopic explosions to reduce the effects of explosive weapons fire like missiles, artillery, and mortars. When these weapons hit a unit with Reactive Armor protecting the area, the damage is reduced by 50%. The microscopic explosives embedded in the armor redirect the force of the weapon away from the protected unit. This force redirect also reduces the armor-piercing effects of Tandem-Charge Missiles, Armor-Piercing autocannon ammunition, and BattleMech Taser spikes.[1]

Though effective against missiles and artillery, the armor is no more effective than standard armor against other weapon types and physical damage.[1]. In addition there have been several cases where lucky weapon fire has initiated an armor explosion, stripping the Reactive Armor away from the protected location, leaving the unit extremely vulnerable.[1] Another drawback to the armor is its bulk: Reactive Armor occupies as much space on a chassis as standard ferro-fibrous armor, but only provides as much protection as standard 'Mech armor.[2]

Clan Discovery[edit]

The armor was developed by the Draconis Combine in 3063, but Clan Ghost Bear captured several samples during the Combine-Ghost Bear War. The Bear's Scientist caste was able to reverse engineer the armor and put it into limited production two years later.[1]

Revival and Innovation[edit]

The armor would later enter more extensive production by 3081, being reclassified as Advanced Technology.[3] By the thirty-second century it was used on a number of BattleMechs and combat vehicles. The development of Ballistic-Reinforced Armor during the middle thirty-second century would use the Reactive Armor and Hardened Armor as the basis for its combined effectiveness.[4]

Manufacturing[edit]

Reactive Armor is manufactured on the following planets:

Brand Planet Company Used by References
Royal-7R Reactive Arc-Royal Arc-Royal MechWorks Mongrel [5]
Royal-7R Reactive Orestes Odin Manufacturing Mongrel [6]
Durallex Shockwave Reactive Kwangjong-ni Defiance Manufacturing Annex Zeus X [7]
Riese 400 Reactive Calloway VI Earthwerks-FWL, Incorporated Bardiche [8]
Riese 400 Reactive Keystone Earthwerks-FWL, Incorporated Bardiche [8]
Unknown Irian Irian Technologies Xiphos [9]
Unknown Washburn Irian Technologies Xiphos [9]
Forging BL2 Reactive Thermopolis Kallon Weapon Industries Warwolf [10]
Unknown Terra StarCorps Industries Quirinus [11]
Unknown Devil's Rock Rhodes Foundry Ltd. Centaur Battle Armor [12]
Unknown Mannedorf BA Facility Gamma Wraith Battle Armor [13]
Unknown Arc-Royal WC Site 2 Black Wolf [14]
Unknown Weingarten W-7 Facilities Black Wolf [14]
Unknown Stewart Corean Enterprises MacAdams-Suharno Black Wolf [14]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Tactical Operations, p. 282, "Reactive (Blazer Armor)"
  2. Tactical Operations, p. 280, "Advanced Armor Table"
  3. Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. "206, Jihad Technology Advancement Table".
  4. Era Report: 3145, p. 120, "Ballistic-Reinforced Armor"
  5. Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, p. 32
  6. Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, p. 32
  7. Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, p. 42
  8. 8.0 8.1 Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League, p. 18
  9. 9.0 9.1 Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League, p. 9
  10. Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans, p. 46
  11. Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere, p. 5
  12. Technical Readout: 3145 Republic of the Sphere, p. 9
  13. Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans, p. 9
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans, p. 11

Bibliography[edit]