Excalibur (BattleMech)

Excalibur
Production information
Manufacturer	Yankee Weapons Systems
Model	EXC-B2
Class	Heavy
Cost	16,075,087 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	70 tons
Chassis	Corbine 1
Armor	Pribak 9000 with CASE
Engine	Ford 350 XL
Speed	86.4 km/h
Armament	1xGauss Rifle 1xLRM-20 with Artemis IV 1xAnti-Missile System
BV (1.0)	1,361

Description

The Excalibur is designed to engage an enemy at long-range and use its mobility to dictate the ranges that the an enemy is engaged at. The 'Mech first saw service in 2520 and has become a commonly seen unit in both the ComGuard and the Word of Blake Militia. The 'Mech has an impressive top speed of 86.4 km/h, which is made possible through the use of a Ford 350 XL engine. The Excalibur carries a relatively light seven and a half tons of armor, with CASE in both side torsos to protect against an ammunition explosion. With its mission of long-range combat, the Excalibur does not need a very large amount of armor protection. The Excalibur dissipates its waste heat through the use of eleven heat sinks. For added protection against missile attacks, the Excalibur has a McArthur Anti-Missile System.

Armament

As its primary weapon, the Excalibur carries a powerful Grizzard Model 200 Gauss Rifle that has an effective range of up to six hundred and sixty meters. This is backed up by an Ingrid Systems LRM-20 with an Artemis IV fire control computer for increased missile accuracy.

Variants

• EXC-B2b - The B2b is very similar to the B2, except that the use of an Endo Steel structure allows for an additional three and a half tons of armor. This variant was utilized by the SLDF Royals.

• EXC-C1 - The C1 configuration of the Excalibur increases its defensive combat capabilities. This is done by removing the Anti-Missile System from the 'Mech, as well as removing one of the 'Mechs double heat sinks. The tonnage saved goes toward adding an additional Medium Laser and increasing the 'Mechs armor protection to nine tons. BV (1.0) = 1,456

• EXC-CS - Following the fall of Terra in 3058, ComStar no longer had any factories, let alone ones that could produce the Excalibur. They solved the latter problem in mid-3067 by contracting with Independence Weaponry on Quentin to produce a variant that has been well-received in both the ComGuard and DCMS. The CS removes the Gauss Rifle to make way for a Lord's Light 2 ER PPC and twelve double heat sinks. Four ER Medium Lasers and an ER Small Laser ensures that the Excalibur CS is a threat at close range, as well. Thirteen and a half tons of armor protect this variant better than any other configuration of the Excalibur. A Targeting Computer helps guide the direct-fire weapons. Finally, Triple Strength Myomer harnesses the heat buildup of the CS to make it faster.

• EXC-D1 - The variant is a radical reworking of the Excalibur by Word of Blake that was first reported to have been seen in 3067 on Outreach. All the weapons are removed to make way for eleven and a half tons of armor and enough jump jets to vault the 'Mech up to one-hundred fifty meters at a time. A short-range arsenal is in place for the remaining tonnage, anchored by a Rotary Autocannon/5. It, along with two ER Medium Lasers, are made more accurate through an advanced Targeting Computer. A Streak SRM-6 enables highly-accurate missile fire. An Improved C3 CPU aids in targeting with the other five members of the Level II.

References

• Combat Operations
• Record Sheets: 3055/3058
• Record Sheets: 3058 Upgrade
• Rhonda's Irregulars, pg 30
• Technical Readout: 3058, pg 124-125
• Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3075