Defiance (BattleMech)

This article is about the flagship BattleMech produced by Defiance Industries. For other uses, see Defiance (disambiguation).

Defiance
Production information
Manufacturer	Defiance Industries
Production Year	3057
Model	DFN-3S
Class	Heavy
Cost	15,275,750 C-bills
Technical specifications
'Mech type	Inner Sphere BattleMech
Mass	75 tons
Chassis	Defiant V Endo Steel
Armor	Durallex Heavy Standard
Engine	Edasich 300 Light Fusion Engine
Communications System	Angst Discom
Targeting Tracking System	Angst Accuracy
Heat Sinks	12 Double Heat Sinks
Speed	64.5 km/h
Jump Jets	None
Armament	2x ER PPCs 1x LB 10-X AC 2x ER Medium Lasers 1x SRM-6 2x ER Small Lasers 1x Machine Gun
BV (1.0)	??
BV (2.0)	1,940

Description

Originally developed in 3057, the prototype Defiance was intended to be the flagship design of venerable Defiance Industries, only to become mired in Field Marshal Brandel Gareth's abortive revolt (subsequently put down by the Gray Death Legion) and passed over for the successful Fafnir. The Defiance's fortunes changed with the loss of Hesperus II to the Word of Blake, with the LAAF scrambling for any available 'Mech designs. Though configured mainly to produce light and medium 'Mechs, the remaining Defiance factory on Furillo was able to retool one of their medium lines to produce a heavy 'Mech, selecting to produce a modernized version of the Defiance in 3074.

Described as a "Warhammer on steroids", the Defiance is visually similar to the original WHM-6R, carries a similar weapons array, and uses a searchlight linked to the 'Mech's targeting system. Where it differs from the classic design is in the use of digigrade instead of humanoid legs, and modern construction components such as a Endo Steel skeleton, Light Fusion Engine and Triple Strength Myomers. Due in part to the high heat levels required by its specialized myomers, as well as weight constraints, the Defiance carries only twelve double heat sinks, forcing it to rely upon Volley fire to avoid shutdown, much like the design upon which it was based.

Weapons and Equipment

The Defiance for the most part closely apes the weapon load-out of the Warhammer, with two Defiance 1001 ER PPC in the 'Mechs handless arms as primary weapons, backed up by a Coventry 90mm SRM-6 rack, two pairs of Diverse Optic ER Small and Medium Lasers and a Trellshire MiniGun. The most significant addition is a torso mounted Defiance Disintegrator LB 10-X Autocannon, which has a similar range to the arm-mounted ER PPCs and is capable of firing standard or cluster munitions.

Variants

• DFN-3C 

  The original prototype Defiance produced on Hesperus II, this version was powered by a Edasich 300 XL Engine and used an experimental Compact Gyro, which freed up space to mount a second SRM-6 rack in the center torso. As Extended range versions of medium and small lasers were not yet available to the Federated Commonwealth, it carried two pairs of Small and Medium Pulse Lasers instead, the increased weight devoted to weapons limiting the armor to twelve tons. BV (2.0) = 1,817

• DFN-3T 

  A common field refit choice for ER PPC mounting 'Mechs as much as a way to overcome material shortages during the Jihad, the 3T swaps two Magna Hellstar standard PPCs for the advanced models. While reducing range, it also reduces the heat load on the 'Mech's overstressed coolant systems, leading to it being offered as a factory configuration. BV (2.0) = 1,981

Related BattleMechs

• Warhammer - Bearing a visual resemblance to the Defiance, the classic Star League Warhammer BattleMech is the inspiration for the Defiance. Both BattleMechs boast a strong complement of particle weapons, SRMs and a search light.

Bibliography

• Operation Excalibur (novel)
• Record Sheets: 3075
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - The Cutting Edge
• Technical Readout: 3075