Guillotine

Guillotine
Guillotine
Production information
Manufacturer Newhart Industries, Irian BattleMechs Unlimited
Production Year 2499[1]
Model GLT-3N
Class Heavy
Cost 6,300,484 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 70 tons
Chassis Crucis-I Endo Steel
Armor Ulston Prime
Engine VOX 280
Communications System StarLink 955G
Targeting Tracking System Pulsar Tri-X
Heat Sinks 25
Speed 64.8 km/h
Jump Jets Anderson 398
Armament
BV (1.0) 1,296[2]
BV (2.0) 1,418[3]


Description

The Guillotine was originally designed in 2499 as a front line BattleMech and was the Star League Defense Force's standard heavy 'Mech for generations. While its weaponry was ample for the time, more recently designed heavy 'Mechs are significantly better armed. This transition towards more raw firepower has changed the Guillotine's role. No longer used as the backbone in assaults, it is now primarily used for raiding — a task it excels at. A 'Mech considered old near the end of the Star League, it was one of the most maneuverable 'Mechs that could be fielded. As such, there was never any intent of stopping production of the design until the destruction of its main factory on New Earth in 2776. During the Succession Wars the 4L variant remained in sporadic production at Irian BattleMechs Unlimited on Irian in the Free Worlds League, which gets later retooled to produce the 5M.[4]

Weapons and Equipment

The Guillotine carries a Sunglow Large Laser as its primary weapon. This is backed up by four ExoStar II Medium Lasers, giving the 'Mech a low dependence for the primary weapons. The final weapon on the design is a single Coventry-6 SRM-6. While the SRM alone is not threatening, it gives the Guillotine a greater chance of scoring a critical strike on an enemy that has already taken damage. The SRM ammunition is protected by CASE.

The Guillotine is a BattleMech with an armament that is fraught with problems. While the Sunglow Large Laser is an excellent weapon, there are issues with the power cabling. Running near the surface of the underarm, it is all too easy for a MechWarrior unused to the Guillotine to snap the cable, preventing use of the 'Mech's most powerful weapon. Replacing the power cabling is an extremely time consuming process requiring considerable effort.

The Medium Lasers suffer from a similar symptom resulting from a different problem; while the peculiar non-standard housings they utilize ensure a higher survival rate, they are extremely difficult to replace or repair in the field. Finally, there is the Conventry-6's refusal to arm missiles five and six. A stubborn problem, it has resisted all attempts at solving it; including a complete redesign of the arming system.

Variants

  • GLT-4L 
    The 4L Guillotine is a downgraded version of the original 3N model. The 3N used a significant number of off-the-shelf components, the two exceptions being its Endo Steel internal structure and the use of CASE to protect its ammunition bay. The 4L was a simple redesign that consisted of utilizing a standard internal structure, removing its CASE-system and three single heat sinks to free up the necessary tonnage. The replacement chassis was a Crucis Type V. BV (1.0) = 1,222[5], BV (2.0) = 1,400[6]
  • GLT-4P 
    This variant of the 4L model replaces the Large Laser with a PPC at the expense of two tons of armor.[4] BV (1.0) = 1,190, BV (2.0) = 1.376 [7]
  • GLT-5M 
    The 5M model is a redesign performed after the technological renaissance that started in the late 3040s. The 5M is a 'Mech that is nearly identical to the original 3N. With the sole exception of the Large Laser being upgraded to an ER model for extended reach, the 5M has an almost identical weaponry configuration, speed profile, and armor coverage as the 3N. BV (1.0) = 1,295[8], BV (2.0) = 1,472[7]
  • GLT-8D 
    The 8D variant picks up where the 5M left off. All of the lasers have been upgraded to ER versions and the SRM-6 has been replaced with a Streak SRM-6 and an additional ER Large Laser has been added to the design. The heat sinks have been upgraded to double heat sinks. Finally, to make the design even deadlier than it was before, a Targeting Computer has been added, allowing the Guillotine to dispatch its foes with deadly accuracy. BV (1.0) = 1,627[9], BV (2.0) = 1,891[7]
  • GLT-6WB3 
    Following the Blakist defeat, many of their weapons were changed for the victorious powers. This version of the GLT-6WD Guillotine exchanges the Improved C3 CPU for a Guardian ECM and standard a C3 slave CPU. BV (2.0) = 1,741[10]

Related BattleMechs

  • Guillotine IIC - The Guillotine was one of the 'Mechs carried on the Exodus with General Kerensky and the Star League Defense Force. The Clans have created their own variant of the Guillotine called the Guillotine IIC, which is an upgraded version manufactured solely with Clan technology. BV (1.0) = 2,187, BV (2.0) = 2,377

'Mech Gallery

  • GLT-3N Guillotine

  • GLT-3N Guillotine during combat

  • GLT-4L Guillotine

  • GLT-4L Guillotine

  • GLT-5M Guillotine

  • GLT-5M Guillotine in motion

  • A Guillotine under fire

  • A Guillotine in a city fight

References

  1. ↑ MUL online date for the Guillotine
  2. ↑ Combat Operations, p. 106
  3. ↑ Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade, p. 211
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Technical Readout: 3039, p. 268
  5. ↑ Combat Operations, p. 121
  6. ↑ Record Sheets: 3039, p. 156
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Master Unit List: Battle Values, p. 104
  8. ↑ Combat Operations, p. 130
  9. ↑ Record Sheets: Upgrades, p. 122
  10. ↑ Record Sheets: 3050 Unabridged Clan & Star League pg.284

Bibliography

Retrieved from "https://www.sarna.net/wiki/index.php?title=Guillotine&oldid=340580"