Dual Cockpit
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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, usually a pilot and a gunner.
It should not be mixed up with the Command Console, which provides two complete, independent sets of controls.
The MechWarriors forming a team in a Dual Cockpit must synchronize their neurohelmets, a complex process which requires both team members to be in the cockpit. If one team member is taken out, the other can assume control of the entire 'Mech, but loses all advantages of the Dual Cockpit and operates less effectively than he would in a regular cockpit.
The Dual Cockpit is a very rare piece of equipment. It weighs 4 tons (i.e. 1 ton more than a regular cockpit) and upgrading a 'Mech in this fashion costs approximately 200,000 C-bills.
Dual Cockpit 'Mechs
'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); there are no (other) regular 'Mech models known to feature a Dual Cockpit. Instead, it is usually installed as a refit. All Successor States have developed certain typical Dual Cockpit refits in accordance with their respective military style:
- Federated Suns/Federated Commonwealth: BLR-1G or BLR-1M BattleMaster (removing one heat sink)
- Draconis Combine: DRG-5K Grand Dragon (removing one Medium Laser), WHM-6R Warhammer (removing two Small Lasers), or a WHM-7M (removing one medium laser)
- Lyran Commonwealth/Lyran Alliance: ZEU-6S Zeus (removing one Medium Laser), ZEU-9S (removing one heat sink), or AS7-D or AS7-K Atlas (removing one ton of LRM ammunition).
- Free Worlds League: ON-1V or ON-1M Orion (removing one ton of SRM ammunition), or MAD-3M or MAD-5D Marauder (removing one heat sink from)
- Capellan Confederation: CP10-Z Cyclops (removing one ton of autocannon ammunition) or CP11-A (removing one ton of Gauss Rifle ammunition), or a WHM-6L Warhammer (removing one Flamer) or WHM-7M (removing one Medium Laser)
The Clans do not use the Dual Cockpit. However, the Battlemaster operated by the Red Corsair 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. They must be marked as pilot or gunner cockpit, respectively.
When used by a team of MechWarriors, the Dual Cockpit significantly increases combat performance:
- A Piloting Skill roll to avoid falling is required only after suffering 30 points of damage in a round (instead of 20);
- Improved evasion capability grants better movement modifiers to hit a unit equipped with Dual Cockpit;
- Similarly, modifiers to own fire from own movement are less severe and a secondary target may be fired at with no penalty.
A separate skill from the usual 'Mech pilot/Gunnery skills must be learned to operate a 'Mech from a Dual 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.
Dual Cockpit rules are Level Three rules, and thereby not legal for standard tournament play, according to MechWarrior Companion.