UrbanMech

This article is about the iconic 30-ton BattleMech. For other uses, see UrbanMech (disambiguation).
UrbanMech
UrbanMech
Production information
Manufacturer Hellespont Industrials

Orgus Industries (destroyed 2837)[1]


Phoenix Heavy Industries

Production Year 2675[2]
Model UM-R60[1]
Class Light
Cost 1,471,925 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass 30 tons
Chassis Republic-R
Armor Durallex Medium
Engine Leenex 60
Communications System Dalban Interact
Targeting Tracking System Dalban Urban
Heat Sinks 11 single
Speed 32 km/h
Jump Jets Pitban 6000
Armament
BV (1.0) 454
BV (2.0) 504[1][2]


Description[edit]

The UrbanMech was designed for just what its name suggests: urban combat and defense, and may be classed as an ambusher. This was achieved by starting with a cheap, easily produced chassis, giving it six tons of Durallex armor to rival the protection found on many medium BattleMechs, and mounting a pair of Pitban 6000 jump jets for a jumping distance of 60 meters. The tradeoff was that it could only mount the miserable Leenex 60 engine, making the UrbanMech the slowest light 'Mech in existence with a cruising speed of 21.6 km/h and top speed of only 32.4 km/h. This was a severe disadvantage if the 'Mech attempted to fight in open country—something for only the foolish or desperate—but offset by the fact that fighting in the close confines of a Star League city left little room to maneuver anyways and the UrbanMech's low profile made it difficult to target. Thus the 'Mech was primarily used for fighting guerrillas and other light 'Mechs in an urban environment, an arena where it also achieved some success fighting medium and even heavy 'Mechs. Standard tactics for an UrbanMech lance was to split up into its constituent parts and occupy various buildings in order to snipe the enemy before falling back to the next defensive line.[2][3][4]

Large numbers of UrbanMechs were produced by Orguss Industries from 2675 until the destruction of their assembly lines. The UrbanMech reentered production at the Betelgeuse facility of Hellespont Industrials during the Jihad,[5] and continued to be manufactured up through 3149.[6] As such, UrbanMechs could be found in all of the armies of the Successor States, however most military leaders saw the slow little 'Mech as a liability, confining their stockpiles to garrison duty or stripping them of parts. This dismissive attitude towards the UrbanMech saved it from the ravages of the Succession Wars and ensured its continued use into the thirty-first century. The Capellan Confederation remained the largest and only user of UrbanMechs to actually deploy them for front-line duty, a result of the devastation of the Fourth Succession War and their desperation for any 'Mech to replenish their losses. The Confederation Reserve Cavalry and Capellan Defense Force had the lion's share of UrbanMechs, followed by the Tikonov Republican Guard and St. Ives Armored Cavalry; outside the Confederation the Federated Suns' Capellan March Militia fielded the largest number of UrbanMechs due to the fact it was composed of large amounts of captured Capellan equipment. Its prominence within the Confederation meant the UrbanMech was among those 'Mechs within the CCAF to receive upgrades following the recovery of lostech; the other States followed suit with much less priority over improving other 'Mechs. Despite this the sheer cost necessary to replace the UrbanMech's engine and increase its top speed meant even the Confederation limited their refit packages to improving the weapons and armor only.[3][4] At some point, the common 'Mech earned a cocktail in its name.[7]

A testament to the desperation of the Word of Blake Jihad, Hellespont Industrials would reactivate a shuttered production facility on Betelgeuse to produce the UrbanMech alongside primitive "retrotech" designs for matériel starved Capellan garrison forces.[8] This plant would maintain production of the UrbanMech in a steadily increasing volume of configurations throughout the Dark Age era as the CCAF secretly expanded before it waged war against the Republic of the Sphere. Rather than dramatic and expensive enhancements, Hellespont's new variants retain the venerable design's low ground speed urban combat focus and can be applied as refits as readily as new production.[6]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The UrbanMech packs a powerful punch for its size. The standard version carries an Imperator-B AC/10 in its right arm and a Harmon Light small laser in the left arm for suppressing infantry as well as a backup weapon. With these two weapons the UrbanMech can constantly harass, or if piloted by an experienced enough MechWarrior, down 'Mechs up to twice its own size. A single ton of ammo for the autocannon, located in the right torso, leaves little endurance for a prolonged fight, though it fits in perfectly with the hit-and-run nature of the 'Mech; one way or another most observers agree the UrbanMech is good for about two minutes of combat.[2][3][4]

Variants[edit]

  • UM-R50 
    This was a variant without arms. [9] The idea was to give the 'Mech a smaller silhouette in combat. However, the drawbacks of having no arms turned out to be greater than any benefits and this particular variant is generally regarded as a failure. Only very few units of this subvariant survived into 3025.[1][2][3]
  • UM-R60L 
    Generally associated with the Capellan Confederation, who have modified a few of their UrbanMechs in this fashion, the -R60L is an upgrade to make the UrbanMech twice as deadly as the -R60 version. The -R60L sacrifices two tons of armor, allowing it to replace the Imperator-B AC/10 with an Imperator-Zeta AC/20 that is capable of downing most light 'Mechs and severely damaging most medium 'Mechs in a single salvo. Besides the thinner armor this modification comes with a very limited ammunition supply, which made it unpopular.[1][2][3] BV (1.0) = 443; BV (2.0) = 470[10]
  • UM-R63 
    This is the official upgrade kit for the Capellan Confederation's UrbanMechs, distributed for field modification since before 3050. It replaces the AC/10 with a Mydron Excel LB-X AC/10 version and retains the small laser, but adds a Magna 200P small pulse laser. BV (1.0) = 494; BV (2.0) = 540[4]
  • UM-R69 
    This Free Worlds League variant upgrades the autocannon to an UAC/10 and the laser to an ER small laser. This is all made possible by upgrading to five tons of ferro-fibrous armor and the removal of one single heat sink. While the ultra-class autocannon provides superior firepower, it can also eat through the single ton of ammunition at an alarming rate.[4] BV (2.0) = 589[11]
  • UM-AIV 
    This variant of the UrbanMech replaces the standard weaponry with an Arrow IV missile launcher and ER medium laser. It requires an endo steel chassis and small cockpit to provide room, and the UrbanMech can only carry ten rounds for the Arrow system. Despite these limitations, it is still a decent fire support unit. Notably, it can be used to launch nuclear-tipped Arrow IV missiles (see Notes below). BV (2.0) = 603[15]
  • UM-R96 
    Another field refit developed by chronic tinker Njord Wing in 3149, the R96 is an evolution of the R80 with features of Wing's R93 refit. The R80's snub-nose PPC serves as the R96's main weapon, supported by a small X-Pulse laser, reducing its logistical needs. The weight saved allows the use of the R93's hardened armor shell for enhanced protection at the cost of speed. This is partially offset with the addition of three improved jump jets giving the new model a 90 meter range.[6] BV (2.0) = 852[19]
  • UM-R100 SuburbanMech 
    A variant proposed during the Clan Invasion but ultimately never put into production because of high cost and the Clan Invasion, this SuburbanMech would have used a 120-rated engine to reach a running speed of 64 km/h and power four jump jets. 10 double heat sinks were to be installed, and the PPC would be swapped for an extended-range model but the rest of the weaponry matched the UM-R90 variant. Six and a half tons of armor would be carried. BV (2.0) = 915[16]
  • UM-R27 
    This model drops a heat sink and all weapons from the UM-R60. In their place are 3 SRM-6s in the arms benefiting from actuator enhancement. The 3 tons of reloads are protected with CASE. BV (2.0) = 610[20][21]

Apocryphal Variants[edit]

Apocryphal Content Starts

The information after this notice comes from apocryphal sources; the canonicity of such information is uncertain.
Please view the reference page for information regarding their canonicity.

  • "Machine Gun variant" 
    In the entry for the UM-R63 UrbanMech in Technical Readout: 3050 Revised, it is noted that the -R63's small pulse laser was substituted for "the machine gun". As the original UrbanMech has no machine gun in any known variant, it has been speculated that an unspecified UrbanMech variant existed in Capellan Confederation space in significant numbers, in which a machine gun and half a ton of ammo would possibly take the place of the curious and largely useless eleventh single heat sink found on the standard -R60 and most other models including even the -R63. However, this supposed variant is pure conjecture. It was not mentioned in the original Technical Readout: 3050, the reference was removed entirely from Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, no record sheet was ever created for such a variant, and no MUL entry exists.

From MechWarrior Online:

  • UM-K9 K-9 
    Complete with a light bar, the K-9 is an UrbanMech refitted for use by a planetary police department. The standard variant's AC/10 is swapped for a UAC/5 and the left arm small laser is updated to a large laser, with two small lasers mounted in the center torso. While its ground speed remains unchanged, the K-9's heavier weapons loadout is made possible through the use of an endo steel chassis and mounting 10 double heat sinks.[22]

Apocryphal Content Ends

Design Quirks[edit]

The UrbanMech has the following Design Quirks:[24][17]

Notable pilots[edit]

See: Category:Notable UrbanMech Pilots

Related BattleMechs[edit]

  • UrbanMech IIC - The UrbanMech was one of the 'Mechs carried on the Exodus with General Kerensky and the remnants of the SLDF. Their descendants, the Clans, fully upgraded the design, arming it with an Ultra AC/10 and ER Small Laser.

Notes[edit]

  • Throughout the BattleTech fan community, the quirky UrbanMech is something of a beloved mascot 'Mech that features in many fan-made cartoon strips, video clips and memes. Joke variants or derivatives of the UrbanMech, and even joke products, abound:
    • A canonical example is the UM-AIV variant, which was thought up as a means to bring a nuclear weapon and nuke the Kell Hounds at the gaming table for Gen Con 2011; it even famously featured in the Gen Con diorama.
    • A 30 ton UM-L99 UrbanMech LAM was listed, among numerous other joke units, in the Random Allocation Tables of the non-canonical Third League Turning Points: Free Taiw...St. Ives 2012 April Fools publication. Over the course of the 2019 Clan Invasion crowdfunding campaign, CGL produced an April Fools update (Update #99, dated 2 April 2020) in which they presented Technical Readout-style drawings of an UrbanMech LAM by fan Bishop Steiner. A Salvage Box: UrbanMech LAM was seen amid product for 2024 Adepticon, though because it was still pre release and close to April Fools its canonicity is still unknown.
    • Third League Turning Points: Free Taiw...St. Ives also included a Record Sheet for the 70-ton UBL-20 UrbanLord. It has a 4/6/6 movement profile, 204 points of armor, and is armed with a "Gauss Cannon/20" and a "Large Grazer".
    • When CGL sought fan input for additional stretch goals for their wildly successful 2019 Clan Invasion crowdfunding campaign, the fans opted for, and received, an UrbanMech Plushie – the first-ever BattleTech plush toy.
    • In a similar vein, the BattleTech Salvage Box: UrbanMech was created as a special reward that backers of the crowdfunding campaign received for free.
      • Doubling down on this, the UrbanMech Company Box started as a joke but the enthusiastic fan response resulted in the joke becoming a real product in 2022.
  • An inflatable UrbanMech was present at Gen Con 2022 in Indianapolis, IN. It was a big eye-catcher and promoter of BattleTech and Catalyst Game Labs.
  • MechWarrior Online features the UrbanMech in many of its standard variants, including all of their classic strengths and weakness. However, players are able to customize their UrbanMech with higher rated engines and/or additional jump jets to greatly improve their mobility and forego the chassis' traditional drawback, albeit at the expense of tonnage for weaponry and other equipment. This interpretation of the 'Mech also features the unique ability to freely rotate its torso 360 degrees without ever needing to turn back, an apocryphal quirk that helps it stand its ground in its favored urban environment.
  • In German products, the unit's proper name was altered to Stadtkoloss, which literally means Urban Colossus. The model code was accordingly changed to ST-K60.
  • In French products, the unit's proper name was translated as UrbMach.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Technical Readout: Succession Wars, pp. 30–31: "UM-R60 UrbanMech"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Technical Readout: 3039, pp. 108–109
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, pp. 22–23
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
  5. Objectives: Capellan Confederation, p. 16
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 2, p. 13: "UrbanMech"
  7. A Fox on Galatea
  8. Objectives: Capellan Confederation, p. 16: "Sian Commonality - Industrial Systems - Betelgeuse"
  9. The armless variant was originally mentioned, without mentioning its specific alphanumerical code, in Technical Readout: 3025 and Technical Readout: 3039. In the German edition of the former book the regular UM-R60 UrbanMech was translated as ST-K60 Stadtkoloß and the armless variant was designated ST-K50. The Master Unit List does indeed list a UM-R50 variant and references Technical Readout: 3039 as a source; the only unnamed variant mentioned there is the armless variant
  10. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 80
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 160
  12. Record Sheets: Upgrades, p. 52
  13. Technical Readout: 3085, p. 190
  14. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 64
  15. Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New, p. 63
  16. 16.0 16.1 Shrapnel #4, SuburbanMech article
  17. 17.0 17.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Republic, Volume 2, p. 7
  18. MUL Profile for the UM-R93 UrbanMech - Alpha Strike Card, Introduction Date, and BV2 included.
  19. Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 2, p. 14: "UrbanMech UM-R93"
  20. ForcePack Record Sheets UrbanMech Lance
  21. The designation on the Master Unit List is a correction.
  22. MechWarrior Online Resistance Heroes Sale Page
  23. MechWarrior Online Solaris-7 Sale Page
  24. BattleMech Manual, p. 95: Design Quirk Table - UrbanMech Entry

Bibliography[edit]