Carbine

Carbine
Production information
Manufacturer
Use	ConstructionMech
Class
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Tournment Legal
Mass
Chassis
Armor
Engine
Communications System	Marconi 63-T
Targeting Tracking System	None
Speed	km/h
Armament	SteelTek Cargo Lifter, Lonca Backhoe
BV (1.0)	235

Description

The Carbine (also known simply as ConstructionMech) was designed for industrial work such as building roads, digging, debris removal and building construction.

The machine has an unusual design, a hunchbacked profile, with its cockpit mounted in front of the main body. Its "arms" are hung over the main body for the best possible lifting positions for its cargolifter and backhoe.

The machine is able to push its ICE engine up to a top speed of 64.8 kph.

History

The original CON-1 Carbine came off of Bluth's Little Rock factory (on the North American continent of Terra) in 2691. It took over ten years to get the design created by Bluth into production due to a legal battle. Once in production, the CON-1 was produced at a pace of dozens a week. In 3028, the CON-7 model was introduced, timed to the marriage of Melissa Steiner and Hanse Davion so as to attract the attention of all the Great Houses. However, the results of the announcement of the Fourth Succession War put a slump in sales until after the war ended. The 'Mech was sold all throughout the Inner Sphere until 3058, when the Word of Blake seized Terra. All sales ceased and all parts for the machine were removed from the market.

However, new CON-7s have appeared in Chaos March that have post-dated 3058. After the end of the Jihad, Republic of the Sphere investigators discovered that the Word of Blake kept the design in production and made several armed versions to augment their militia forces. (These Carbine-MODs are listed in Variants below.)

By 3132, the design was in use throughout the Inner Sphere. When the HPG Black Out occurred, many of the designs were converted over into makeshift combat 'Mechs.

Weapons and Equipment

Though not armed, the 'Mech can use its Lift Hoist and Backhoe as melee weaponry.

Cargo

Its Lift Hoist is rated for 15 tons.

Variants

• CON-1 (RL) 

  This armed variant of the Carbine trades the Lift Hoist and Backhoe for five Rocket Launcher 15 systems mounted across the torso. Three heat sinks keep the heat under control. This version lacks hand actuators, so physical attacks are more difficult. BV (2.0) = 296

• CON-8 

  The variant has Heavier Industrial Armor, Industrial TSM allows the CON-8 have double the lifting power of the CON-7. This 'Mech has large fuel tank, but this does not effect normal game play.

• CON-7 Carbine ConstructionMech MOD 

  This version is the simplest possible MOD: It is a standard CON-7 Carbine with the lift hoist and backhoe replaced with various Rocket Launcher systems. Many were created in the Word of Blake Protectorate but with no fire control or reloads, they were of very limited use in combat.

• CON-9 Carbine ConstructionMech MOD 

  This Word of Blake redesign uses a CON-7 as its base design but replaces the industrial armor with BattleMech armor. It was widely used by militia forces as an anti-infantry and missile support unit. It also retained the Lift Hoist, allowing it to remove obstacles on the battlefield. The CON-9 was used in last-ditch militia actions frequently during Operation SCOUR.

Related Industrial 'Mechs

• ConstructionMech - This generic version was in use in the 3130s. Considered its own design, it used older 'Mech construction rules in its design. The 'Mech has standard armor, but has same equipment and speed as the Carbine. BV (1.0) = 231

• ConstructionMech MOD - First seen in the Dark Age year of 3132, this 'Mech has two and a half tons of standard armor (less than the non-MOD ConstructionMech). It is armed with two Machine Guns with one ton ammo and a ten tube long range missile launcher with one ton of ammunition. BV (1.0) = 223

Design Quirks

The Carbine features the following Design Quirks:

• Exposed Actuators
• Gas Hog
• No Torso Twist
• Stable

Bibliography

• MWDA Novel: Ghost War
• Record Sheets: MechWarrior Dark Age I
• Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex
• Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex Revised