Dual Cockpit

A Dual Cockpit, also called Dual Cockpit Combat (DCC) System, is a non-standard cockpit layout for BattleMechs that splits 'Mech operation between two operators, a pilot and a gunner. (It should not be mixed up with the Command Console, which provides two complete, independent sets of controls.)

The Dual Cockpit weigths 4 tons (i.e. 1 ton more than a regular cockpit) and costs approximately 200,000 C-bills.

'Mechs known to mount a Dual Cockpit include the RVN-1XL DC Raven and the DRG-1GKDC Grand Dragon (neither of which meets the criteria for Canon, however, as they were never published in an English language source); the Battlemaster operated by the Red Corsair (in the novel Natural Selection) was also expressly described to feature a Dual Cockpit.

Associated Rules

In game terms, the Dual Cockpit occupies two critical hit slots: Besides the standard cockpit slot (slot #3 in the head hit location), which houses the pilot, it also occupies slot #4 there to house the gunner.

A separate skill from the usual 'Mech pilot/Gunnery skills must be learned to operate a 'Mech from a Double Cockpit in conjunction with another pilot.

For the purpose of determining Battle Value, a Dual Cockpit counts for four times the tonnage of the 'Mech it is installed in.

References

• BattleTechnology#Issue 17
• Solaris VII: The Game World (German edition)