Commando

Commando
Commando
Production information
Manufacturer	Coventry Defense Conglomerate, Vandenberg Mechanized Industries
Model	COM-2D
Class	Light
Cost	1,891,250 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	25 tons
Chassis	Coventry Metal Works
Armor	Lexington Limited
Engine	Omni & GM 150
Speed	97.2 km/h
Armament	1xSRM-6 1xSRM-4 1xMedium Laser
BV (1.0)	432
BV (2.0)	541

Description

The Commando was commissioned in 2463 to be built by Coventry Metal Works (then known as Coventry Defense Conglomerate) as the Lyran Commonwealth's first reconnaissance BattleMech, but it is also used for close-range support due to its firepower. It carries four tons of armor, but against anything other than other light 'Mechs the difference in the amount of armor is negligible.

It is often claimed that the Commando was designed as a competitor with both the popular Wasp and Stinger light 'Mechs, but these were in fact only developed some years later (in 2471 and 2479, respectively).

The Commando is mainly in Lyran use, while the COM-2D is also produced in the Taurian Concordat and the Marian Hegemony deploys the COM-4H.

Armament

The Commando carries two SRM launchers, a Coventry 4 tube and a Shannon Six Shooter, as its primary weapons. The secondary weapon is a Hesperus-B3M Medium Laser. This weapons load makes the Commando an effective urban combat 'Mech.

Variants

• COM-1A - The original Commando used prototype equipment that was similarly primitive to those found in the Hegemony’s first BattleMech, the Mackie. This version never saw full production and was replaced by its modern successor, COM-2D. It was first constructed in 2463, the 'Mech was equipped with only a Large Laser mounted in its right arm actuator. It was fitted with five tons of Primitive Armor and the engine could move the 'Mech up to the maximum speed of 80+ km/h. These early Commandos were noted in the Battle of Nox in 2475 against Draconis Combine forces. BV (2.0) = 475.

• COM-1B - During the Succession Wars, Lyran engineers revisited the 1A and upgraded it to create the 1B. The 1B wielded a Large Laser and an SRM-2 in addition to the Medium Laser. To make space for these changes, the engineers had to remove the SRM-6 launcher. BV (2.0) = 616

• COM-1D - The original 1D variant has maintained a regular but low-profile in its existence throughout the Commando’s history. It fields a Large Laser and an SRM-6 rack, but only 3 tons of armor. BV (2.0) = 558

• COM-2Dr - This Jihad-era variant drops all of the existing weaponry and replaces it with a CASE-protected MML-7 and a single ER Medium Laser. BV (2.0) = 563

• COM-3A - The 3A variant carries two SRM-6 launchers, a Medium Laser and a Flamer. This was accomplished by removing the SRM-4 launcher and lowering the amount of armor on the 'Mech by one ton. BV (1.0) = 392, BV (2.0) = 540

• COM-4H - The Marian Hegemony 4H variant of the Commando is used in the Periphery and removes all of the SRM launchers and replaces them with six Rocket Launcher 15s as well as a second Medium Laser. BV (1.0) = 628, BV (2.0) = 691

• COM-5S - The 5S variant of the Commando adds an Artemis IV Fire Control System linked to the SRM-6, and replaces the SRM-4 with a Streak SRM-2 launcher. Additionally, the chassis has been upgraded with Endo Steel, the armor has been upgraded to Ferro-Fibrous, and CASE has been added to protect the ammunition, this variant is also equiped with a Cyclops 14 communications system. BV (1.0) = 504, BV (2.0) = 557

• COM-7S - This update of the Commando is built on an Endo Steel chassis and uses a Light Fusion engine. The 'Mech carries two Streak SRM-2 launchers, an SRM-4 with an Artemis IV Fire Control System, and two ER Medium Lasers. BV (1.0) = 601, BV (2.0) = 658

• COM-7B - Following the conquest of Coventry by the Word of Blake, the Jihadists modified the 7S to meet their specifications. The 7B keeps one ER Medium Laser in the left arm, but adds two Flamers to it that make the 7B a lethal threat to unarmored infantry. A small cockpit makes room for two SRM-4s, which are still fed by a CASE-protected ammunition bin. The weight savings enabled engineers to add enough jump jets to rocket the Commando up to one hundred-twenty meters at a time. They also added an additional ton of armor. BV (2.0) = 602

Custom Variants

• COM-7S2 Commando Freyr - The personal 'Mech of ex-Arcturan Guards member turned treacherous Hunter's Paradise guide Zvi Freyr, his Commando has been extensively modified with both Clan and experimental technologies. Retaining only the Endo Steel chassis and CASE of his formerly stock COM-5S model, Freyr has replaced the standard weapons with lighter Clan-tech systems - two Streak SRM-4 launchers in its right arm with a single ton of reloads for the Streak Missile Launchers in the CASE protected right torso, and a pair of ER Medium Lasers mounted in the left arm. The use of a Small Cockpit and a salvaged Clan extra-light engine save enough weight to switch to double strength heat sinks, as well as carry six jump jets and seven tons of Hardened Armor. BV (2.0) = 1,155

Non-Canon Variants

• Blazing Inferno - As of 3028, the techs on Chara III used this designation for a frequent field modification that removed both missile launchers from the COM-2D and exchanged them for three additional medium lasers to the right arm, right torso and head, six small lasers mounted in pairs on each leg and the center torso, and an additional ton of armor (+3 to each leg, +2 to the head, center torso and both torso sides, and +1 to each arm). The canonicity of this variant is questionable because its only source is BattleTech: The Crescent Hawks' Inception, a computer game.)

Related BattleMechs

• Commando IIC - The remnants of the SLDF did take a few Commandos with them on their exodus. Clan Goliath Scorpion later upgraded these 'Mechs with Clan technology, creating the Commando IIC. BV (1.0) = 816, BV (2.0) = 978

Notes

BattleTech line developer Herbert A. Beas II stated on the CBT forums that the Technical Readout: 3039 was incorrect:

“

"The introduction date for the Commando was 2463" and "all references the Commando being built as a Stinger/Wasp competitor are also in error; the Commando was actually one of the Commonwealth's first forays into light 'Mech design." The starting sentence should therefore read: "Coventry Metal Works (then known as Coventry Defense Conglomerate) produced the Commando as one of the Commonwealth's first home-grown entries into the newly created industry of BattleMech design and manufacture. Far lighter than most contemporary units, the Commando was also the Lyran Commonwealth's first bona fide reconnaissance BattleMech."

”

This was announced in the "Ask the Writers" section of the CBT forums and the verdict is therefore supposed to be canonical information.

BattleMech Gallery

• 

  The original picture of the Commando from TRO:3025

• 

  Primitive COM-1A Commando

• 

  COM-2D Commando of the Lyran Regulars

• 

  COM-5S Commando

• 

  COM-5S Commando in combat

• 

  COM-7S2 Freyr

Bibliography

• Experimental Technical Readout: Primitives, Volume 1
• Master Unit List: Battle Values
• Record Sheets: 3039
• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrade (Inner Sphere)
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Technical Readout: 3050
• Technical Readout: 3050 Revised
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3060
• Technical Readout: 3085

External Links

• The Commando is the symbol of Cavalier Cavalry Productions' Miniature Rules webcomic.