BattleMaster

BattleMaster
Production information
Manufacturer	Hollis Industries
Model	BLR-1G
Class	Assault
Cost	8,501,243 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	85 tons
Chassis	Hollis Mark X
Armor	StarGuard
Engine	VOX 340
Speed	64.8 km/h
Armament	1xPPC 6xMedium Lasers 2xMachine Guns 1xSRM-6
BV (1.0)	1,212
BV (2.0)	1,519

BattleMaster with Draconis Combine insignia

Description

Versatile and powerful, the BattleMaster is one of the best known 'Mechs in existence. Hollis Industries began production in 2633, originally designing it to be the largest and most powerful 'Mech on the battlefield. It has since been eclipsed in both size and firepower by larger and more advanced 'Mechs. Despite this, the BattleMaster is still capable of causing a great deal of damage to any unit that it engages and is capable of carrying out many different roles on the battlefield, from direct fire support to command to urban assault. This versatility is what makes the BattleMaster so memorable and so famous throughout the Successor States.

Armament

The BattleMaster carries a Donal PPC as its main weapon, which allows the 'Mech to cause damage at ranges exceeding five hundred meters. For close range combat, the 'Mech is armed with six Martell Medium Lasers, which gives the 'Mech the ability to unleash a devastating barrage of lasers at short to medium ranges. The short-range firepower is further enhanced with a Holly SRM-6, which can seek out weak points in the enemy’s armor. Finally, the BattleMaster is equipped with two Sperry Browning Machine Guns, which deter infantry attacks.

Variants

• BLR-1C - This rare Star League era command version of the BattleMaster mounts a Command Console and is equipped with Double Heat Sinks. The Machine Guns have been removed. House Kurita received at least one such vehicle from ComStar in full working condition, unmodified and without downgrades, and it served as Theodore Kurita's command vehicle (piloted by Fuhito Tetsuhara) on Exeter in the War of 3039. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = ?

• BLR-1D - The 1D is a basic modification of the 1G model. The SRM-6 and two Medium Lasers have been removed and the 'Mech has had six heat sinks and an additional ton of armor added to make the 'Mech more forgiving when dealing with the 'Mechs intensive heat load from its energy weapon heavy arsenal. BV (1.0) = 1,323, BV (2.0) = 1,522

• BLR-1Gb - The 1Gb is an upgraded BattleMaster that was used by the Terran Hegemony-based SLDF Royals. It is built an an Endo Steel chassis and uses double heat sinks. It only retains the forward-facing Medium Lasers. To those it adds a pair of ER PPCs and a Large Pulse Laser. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = 1,825

• BLR-1Gb2 - A variant of the 1Gb, this model drops a heat sink to incorporate a double cockpit. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = 1,825

• BLR-1Gc - A much less radical upgrade of the 1G, the 1Gc upgrades the heat sinks to double strength models and removes the Machine Guns to make room for a double cockpit. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = ?

• BLR-1S - Another variant built around making the BattleMaster's heat more manageable, the PPC and SRM-6 were removed. They were replaced with an LRM-15, an LRM-5, and two SRM-2 launchers, giving the BLR-1S both long and short range capability. Additionally, two heat sinks have been added to the 'Mech. BV (1.0) = 1,227, BV (2.0) = 1,507

• BLR-2C - Another designated command vehicle from the Star League era sporting a second cockpit (presumably a Command Console) and a Beagle Active Probe wired into the Nirasaki Inciteful Vision targeting system. Instead of the Machine Guns it carries a SureFire Defender Anti-Missile System in the left arm, retaining the rearward firing lasers. Like with the BLR-1C, House Kurita received at least one BLR-2C from ComStar in full working condition and used it to good effect in the War of 3039. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = ?

• BLR-3M - The 3M is a basic upgrade of the BattleMaster utilizing Star League technology. The 'Mech replaces the standard heat sinks with double heat sinks. The 'Mech has also upgraded its primary weapon, replacing the regular Particle Projector Cannon with an extended range model. The 'Mech also removes one of the Machine Guns to add CASE to the design to protect itself in the event of an ammunition explosion. BV (1.0) = 1,495, BV (2.0) = 1,679

• BLR-3S - Another upgrade of the BattleMaster using lost technology from the Star League, the 3S is powered by an XL Engine. The saved weight is used to arm the 'Mech with an LRM-20 launcher as its primary weapon. For close range, this is backed up by an SRM-6 and six Medium Pulse Lasers, two of which are rear-facing. BV (1.0) = 1,165, BV (2.0) = 1,441

BLR-4S BattleMaster

• BLR-4S - The 4S variant of the BattleMaster is a new look at an old 'Mech. The 4S is powered by a Light Fusion Engine and armored with thirteen and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor. The long-range firepower comes from a Gauss Rifle. The 'Mech carries four ER Medium Lasers and two Medium Lasers for intermediate ranges, as well as an SRM-6 with an Artemis IV fire control system. For anti infantry combat, the BattleMaster carries two Small Pulse Lasers. BV (1.0) = 1,606, BV (2.0) = 2,018

• BLR-5M - The 5M is an upgrade that reflects the current weapons trends in the Free Worlds League. The 'Mech is armed with a Light Gauss Rifle, giving it a range exceeding seven hundred meters. The Light Gauss is backed up by an ER Large Laser for long-range engagements. For close ranges, the 5M carries six ER Medium Lasers, two of which are rear-facing. BV (1.0) = 1,484, BV (2.0) = 1,766

• BLR-10S - The 10S is built around a rugged Edasich Compact Engine that gives it a maximum speed of 54.4 km/h. It also has a Heavy-Duty Gyro that further adds to the 'Mech's durability. The 10S is armed with a Defiance 1001 ER PPC as its primary weapon and is backed up by six Diverse Optics ER Medium Lasers, a Diverse Optics ER Small Laser, and a Coventry TH4b Streak SRM-4 for close combat with two Defiance Razorback B-Pods for anti-battle armor use. The 10S also has a Guardian ECM Suite for defense against electronic warfare systems. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = 1,930

• BLR-CM - The CM variant of the BattleMaster is built to command a C3 company. The 'Mechs speed has been reduced to 54.0 km/h. This allows the CM variant of the BattleMaster to carry two C3 Master Computers. The 'Mech is armed with an ER PPC and two ER Medium Lasers. It is armored with sixteen tons of armor to protect the valuable computers that allow it to coordinate an entire company. BV (1.0) = 1,651 (C3: 182), BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = 1,883

• BLR-K3 - Another 'Mech that is built to utilize C3 technology, the K3 BattleMaster is built using an XL Engine. The 'Mech is armed with an ER PPC and two ER Large Lasers for long-range combat. The 'Mech has four ER Medium Lasers and a Streak SRM-6 launcher for close combat situations. Finally, the 'Mech has a C3 Computer. BV (1.0) = 1,498 (C3: 291), BV (2.0) = 1,851

• BLR-M3 - A C3 command version of the BattleMaster, the M3 utilizes a Light Gauss Rifle as well as two Light PPCs to keep its enemies at long range. The 'Mech has an MML-5 launcher that is capable of firing both LRM and SRM ammunition, allowing it to be used in any range bracket. The 'Mech is powered by a Light Fusion Engine that gives it a top speed of 64.8 km/h. It is protected by thirteen and a half tons of Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor with CASE to protect against ammunition explosions. The M3 also has two Medium Pulse Lasers for close range defense and has a C3 Computer to link together a lance of C3 equipped units. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = 1,674

• Dual Cockpit refits: The BattleMaster is one of the Federated Suns' (and Federated Commonwealth's) preferred 'Mechs to install Dual Cockpits. Standard refits usually install the Dual Cockpit on a BLR-1G or BLR-3M, removing one heat sink. BV (1.0) = varies, BV (2.0) = varies

• BattleMaster C - This variant was designed by Clan Jade Falcon scientists following the capture of Red Devil Industries during the FedCom Civil War. This 'Mech is built on an Endo Steel chassis that is protected by sixteen and a half tons of armor. Based on the 4S, the Clan-tech variant replaces the Gauss Rifle with a Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle 30 and four tons of ammunition. All the medium lasers are front facing, four Medium Pulse Lasers and two ER Medium Lasers. All of these weapons are guided by a Targeting Computer. The short-range missile launcher is replaced with an ATM 6 and three tons of ammunition to ensure the ability to make use of the flexibility offered by the Advanced Tactical Missile System. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = 3,025

• Red Corsairs Battlemaster - Almost identical to the BLR-1Gb2, the only main difference is that all the weaponry is clan. The PPCs are now clan ER PPCs. The Large Pulse Laser is also upgraded to clan standard, and the medium lasers are now Extended Range Medium Lasers. Three more Double heat sinks help keep the mech cool.

Related BattleMechs

• Warlord - Produced in a new GM facility on El Dorado, the BLR-2G Warlord is an industrially streamlined, all-energy weapon variation of the venerable BLR-1G BattleMaster introduced during the Jihad. BV (1.0) = ?, BV (2.0) = 2,033

Notable Pilots

• Prior to rising to leadership of their respective nations, both Hanse Davion and Takashi Kurita favored the BattleMaster as their 'Mech of choice.
• The clan's Red Corsair used a BattleMaster with a double cockpit in her attempts to shatter the truce of Tukayyid.
• Wayne Waco, commander of Waco's Rangers, piloted a Battlemaster throughout his career and during his final duel with Jaime Wolf.

References

• BattleMaster
• Combat Operations
• Heir to the Dragon
• Record Sheets: 3025/3026
• Record Sheets: 3050
• Record Sheets: 3067
• Record Sheets: Phoenix Upgrades
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3075
• Technical Readout: Project Phoenix
• Natural Selection